25 February 2015

MANITOBAN the

THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER

UMSU elections Clear Slate takes on Your UMSU Page 3

Decolonize the academy Manitoba universities embrace indigenous learning Page 5

Big Bang or bust A look into the Big Bang (or not) theory Page 12

Vo l 1 0 1 · N o 5 2 · F e b r ua ry 2 5 , 2 0 1 5 · w w w.t h e m a n i to b a n .co m

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Index

VOL. 101 NO. 52 February 25, 2015

Editorial

Editor-in-Chief Fraser Nelund

Tiresome Tweets

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

Business manager Angela England

accounts@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

Advertising Coordinator Sara Bulloch

Vapid social media outreach makes CBC look foolish

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Editorial

Senior News Editor Dana Hatherly

news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

page 7

News Editor Ethan Cabel

news@themanitoban.com/ 474.6770

Comment Editor Tom Ingram

Comment

comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Assisted suicide

Managing Editor Craig Adolphe

me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

science & technology Editor Chantelle Dubois

science@themanitoban.com/ 474.6529

Readers debate end of life issues

arts & Culture Editor Lauren Siddall

arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Sports Editor Mike Still

sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Copy Editor Carlyn Schellenberg

page 9

copy@themanitoban.com/ 474.6520

Arts & Culture

Cappuccinos and creators

Ten Thousand Villages teams up with young creatives page 17

Design

Design Editor Bradly Wohlgemuth

design@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

Graphics Editor Bram Keast

graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

Photo Editor Carolyne Kroeker

photo@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

design associate Scott Ford

scott@themanitoban.com

graphics associate Evan Tremblay

evan@themanitoban.com

Reporters

News Emily Zarychta News Bushra Tahir Science Jeremiah Yarmie arts & culture Ian T.D. Thomson arts & culture Alana Trachenko Sports Andy Che Assistant copy editor Kristy Hourd

Volunteer Contributors

Mark Stewart Devon Hanel Nick Schroeder Mark D. Stewart Justin Ladia Leslie Yakimishyn

Science

Detecting soildwelling smells

Kyle Lees Will Gibson Dany Reede Raylene Paci Joey Senft Jeff Miller

Kenny Oliver Justin Krantz Matt Duboff Caroline Norman

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Uncovering earthy aromas after the rain

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Semi-final surge

Women's hockey advances

page 21

Design Design Editor: Bradly Wohlgemuth Contact: design@themanitoban.com / 474.6775 Graphics Editor: Bram Keast Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775 Photo Editor: Carolyne Kroeker Contact: photo@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

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

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News

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Senior News Editor: Dana Hatherly News Editor: Ethan Cabel Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

UMSU elections campaign kicks off, 2 slates face off Your UMSU and Clear Slate set to square off for executive seats Craig Adolphe, staff

graphic by Bram Keast

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list of candidates for the 2015 UMSU General Election has been finalized. The deadline for applications passed on Friday, Feb. 13 at 5 p.m.

Two slates, previously reported by the Manitoban, have been confirmed as the only two in the race for executive seats. The names of the slates have also been confirmed: Clear Slate and Your UMSU. Clear Slate consists of Spencer Yasui running for president; women’s representative Reanna Blair running for vice-president external; Zach Leclerc running for vice-president internal; Bénédicte LeMaître run-

ning for vice-president student services; and Jesse Greenberg running for vice-president advocacy.

Shawn Singh is registered as campaign manager for the Clear Slate.

Your UMSU is composed of outgoing vice-president internal Jeremiah Kopp running for president; international students’ representative Astitwa Thapa running for vice-president external; Christopher Bélanger running for vice-president external; Jessica Morrison running for vice-president student services; and Rebecca Kunzman running to retain her position as vice-president advocacy.

The registered campaign manager tion by UMSU Council at a meeting in October. Charles Kimball will be for Your UMSU is Matt Carvell, who in October. running for LGBTTQ* representawas appointed by UMSU as the chair Two candidates were confirmed in tive, and Mujtaba Abdul Jalil will be for UMSU Council over the course the race for women’s representative: running for international students’ of the 2014-15 executive year.

Alana Robert and Fariba Shakibani. representative.

Candidates for UMSU’s five comOnly one candidate applied for The campaigning period for the munity representative positions were each of the remaining three com- election officially opened on Feb. 23 also finalized, including three that munity representative positions. at 9 a.m. and ends on March 6. The had not been identified in a prelimi- Running unopposed means that voting period is held from March 4 nary list of candidates reported by candidates will be required to collect to 6 at polling stations to be available the Manitoban. more votes in favour of than against throughout the university.

Three candidates were confirmed in order to be elected. for students living with disabilities Current Aboriginal students’ rep- Visit the official UMSU General representative: Alan Bridgeman; resentative Will Landon is running Election website, operated by the Daniel Tingskou; and current rep- to retain his seat after having been Chief Returning Officer, at umsu. resentative Andrew Fenwick, who elected by UMSU Council to the ca/elections for more information. was elected to the then-vacant posi- then-vacant position at a meeting

Nomination period closes for UMGSA election President, vice-president academic, and senate are the only seats to be contested Craig Adolphe, staff

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he University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA) closed nominations for their annual elections on Feb. 13 – the same date as the closing of nominations for the UMSU General Election.

The UMGSA includes over 3,000 U of M graduate students, from the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses, as well as some students from the Université de Saint-Boniface.

Two candidates submitted nomination papers to run for president of the UMGSA. Junhui Gong and current vice-president academic Kristjan Mann, are both running to replace outgoing president Laura Rempel.

Aida Adlimoghaddam and David Terrazas Gonzalez are both running for vice-president academic – the only

contested vice-president position. that do not fall under the scope of the The other three vice-president U of M Board of Governors. positions to be filled in the elecThe UMGSA elects three stution each feature a single candidate: dents to sit on the senate as part of Enoch A-iyeh for vice-president the annual UMGSA elections. This external, Valery Agbor for vice- differs from undergraduate students, president internal, and Beibei Lu for who are represented on the senate by vice-president marketing and events. the UMSU president and 25 other Both Agbor and Lu are looking to student representatives directly retain their current positions on the elected through their faculty councils. executive.

The CRO has confirmed two Four candidates are running to slates in the election. Mann, Agbor, fill the three U of M senate seats Lu, Gonzalez, A-iyeh, From, and reserved for UMGSA representa- Sidhu are running together. Gong, tives: Gustavo Mejicanos, Kathryn Adlimoghaddam, and Mejicanos are Marcynuk, Gagan Sidhu, and running together as an incomplete Richard From. From is the only slate. Marcynuk will be running incumbent. independently.

The senate is the senior academic The position of vice-president governing body, responsible for all health sciences, currently held by academic matters at the university Melissa Rabb, is a position reserved

on the UMGSA executive for the Acosta for vice-president St. Boniface, president of the Health Sciences Michelle Perner for vice-president Graduate Students’ Association marketing and events, and Hadeesha (HSGSA). Members of the UMGSA Piyadasa for a seat on the senate on vote to elect their own HSGSA behalf of HSGSA. executive each year, including for Marc-Antoine De La Vega and president, vice-president internal, Mohammed Fazle Rabbi are competvice-president external, vice-presi- ing for the vice-president external dent academic, vice-president mark- position – the HSGSA’s only coning and events, and vice-president tested position.

Saint-Boniface.

Only health sciences graduate The nomination period closed students may run or vote in HSGSA on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. for the HSGSA elections. In last year’s HSGSA election. election all of the positions went Colin Graydon was the only can- uncontested. didate nominated for the position of HSGSA president.

Online voting for the UMGSA Other candidates include and HSGSA executives will Chuwunonso Onyilagha for vice- take place March 16-18. president academic, Deepak Upreti for vice-president internal, Crystal

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News

Senior News Editor: Dana Hatherly News Editor: Ethan Cabel Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Candlelight vigil honours slain students Winnipeg supporters show solidarity for murdered in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Craig Adolphe, staff

photo by Craig Adolphe

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embers of Winnipeg’s Muslim community hosted a candlelight vigil at the University of Manitoba on Friday, Feb. 13 to pay tribute to victims of a triple homicide – the three Muslim students who were killed in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earlier this month.

Craig Hicks shot and killed Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21; her husband, Deah Barakat, 23; and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19 in the victims’ apartment on Feb. 10.

Chapel Hill police have reported that the incident was the result of a parking dispute. Friends and family of the victims have called that determination premature and suggest that

the shooting was motivated by religious hatred.

Suzanne Barakat, sister of Deah Barakat, has been speaking out to the media, arguing that there was more to the attack than an argument between neighbours.

“This is a pattern, this is not an isolated incident,” Barakat said in an interview on MSNBC. “This was premeditated murder. Someone came into my brother’s home when they were unarmed, murdered them by shooting bullets into their heads, execution-style. You don’t do that over a parking dispute.”

President Barack Obama released a statement on Feb. 13 in response to the shooting, offering his condo-

lences to the victims’ loved ones, say- Church minister and chair of the eduing that, “No one in the United States cation committee of the Manitoba of America should ever be targeted Multifaith Council; Shaden because of who they are, what they Abusaleh, U of M global political look like, or how they worship.” economy student; and Manitoba Grade 12 student Aboudul qudus Local support Abusaleh.

Following the incident, there has Shahzad Musaddiq, U of M alumseen an outpouring of support for nus and director of the Canadian the slain students through rallies and Muslim Leadership Institute, served charitable fundraising. as MC for the event.

The candlelight vigil hosted at Musaddiq said that the Muslim the U of M began with a series of Student Association provided a lot of speeches, ending with a moment of support in coordinating the event, but silence, held at the Fireside Lounge that the organizing work represented in University Centre. Over 100 peo- a broader effort from Winnipeg’s ple were in attendance, including Muslim community. students and non-students of all ages.

“This is kind of unique because it’s Rami Elzayat, one of the event not really a group formally. We all organizers, said it was important that represent different organizations in the event be held on campus. the city.

“The people that died were stu“So it’s sort of a coming together dents so we felt that it’s only fair and of a lot of different groups.” proper to have it on campus,” said Maryam Bezzahou, Association Elzayat. “They’re students, so stu- Etudiante de l’Université de Saintdents will sympathize more.”

Boniface representative of student life, Speakers at the event included was in attendance at the event. She U of M president David Barnard; said that she hoped the event could Zeeshan Zamir, president of the U raise awareness of violence towards of M Muslim Student Association; the Muslim community.

Jeremiah Kopp, UMSU vice-presi“Their deaths are tragic, but it dent internal; Lynda Trono, United happens all over the world. So we’re

here not only to support their work and to honour them, but also to raise awareness for all those other people: all those other Deahs, and Yusors, and Razans all over the world that are neglected, that we never get to hear about because of the media and lack of coverage.

“It’s just to come show support, show humanity, because the world lacks humanity nowadays.”

Ifrah Zohair, a second-year student in the faculty of science, also expressed concern about what he called a lack of media coverage in the days following the murders.

“When something like this happens, when Muslims are on the other side, it’s just not represented enough so people don’t know about it. And I think that’s what we wanted to do, create awareness, but then also come together and celebrate their lives and join together in peace to kind of say we’re with you and we’re sorry for their loss for their families.

“Even though what happened was in North Carolina, it was in the United States, it still affects us because in Islam we’re all brothers and sisters even if we don’t know each other.”

U of W students’ union proposes mandatory indigenous studies course Proposal garners mixed reaction from student leaders Ethan Cabel, staff

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hile required science and a year to refine a course list before reap the kind of benefits the UWSA humanities courses are cus- the requirement is implemented in imagines. tomary for undergraduate students September, 2016. The requirement Will Landon, UMSU Aboriginal across the country, the University would only apply to new students students’ representative, told the of Winnipeg Students’ Association enrolled at the U of W as of that date Manitoban that one three credit hour (UWSA) seeks to add another and not be applied retroactively to course is not enough to address the requirement for U of W students – a any current U of W undergraduate systemic absence of indigenous perthree credit hour indigenous studies students. spectives in a plethora of academic course.

As part of their preparation for disciplines.

“We want to create something that the motion, the UWSA analyzed the “It only scratches the surface of lets students take a course they’re university’s course calendar and found where indigenous people are comactually organically interested in over 100 courses that they believe can ing from,” Landon said. but that also focuses on a particular fulfill the new requirement.

Landon told the Manitoban that perspective that is largely ignored in Mcleod Arnould told the there are two primary issues with the Canadian society,” said Rorie Mcleod Manitoban that the UWSA considers requirement. First, it forces students Arnould, president of the UWSA. four general themes as falling within to take a course that they may not be “What we’re doing here is the the indigenous studies field. These interested in, which can be countergoal of any undergraduate univer- include the indigenous lived experi- productive. Second, the requirement sity degree, which is to give people ence in Canada, indigenous history, cannot be a substitute for the incorpothe broad tools they need to succeed, indigenous culture, and indigenous ration of indigenous perspectives in not only in an environment of higher epistemology, which deals with the education system more generally. learning, but also as leaders in their spirituality and the belief systems of “One thing that can happen, is if communities.”

Canada’s indigenous peoples. people are going to be experts in their The UWSA motion, which will The motion, which was drafted field, they can also become somebe considered by the University of with the help of the University of what of an expert in the indigenous Winnipeg senate over the next two Winnipeg Aboriginal Students’ side of what they’re working on,” he months, would require all U of W Council, has received broad sup- said, adding that primary and secundergraduate students to take a port from senior administration ondary school are the time to introthree credit hour indigenous studies and faculty at the U of W, accord- duce students to general indigenous course in order to graduate. ing to Mcleod Arnould. However, perspectives.

If the senate approves the UWSA not everyone is convinced that an “The secondary system should be motion, the university will have indigenous studies requirement will our main focus because that can hit

more people. If we’re hitting universities we’re only hitting a small percentage of students who go on that far because colleges are starting to become more prominent now as opposed to the university level.”

The primary and secondary school curriculum has been a hot topic in Manitoba since a report late last year by the Council of Ministers of Education ranked the province last in the country for mathematics, science, and literacy.

Accord ing to Manitoba Progressive Conservative education critic Wayne Ewasko, the social studies and history curriculum also needs to be improved in the wake of the report, particularly in order to teach students about indigenous history before they reach the post-secondary level.

While supportive of the UWSA motion, Ewasko argues that much of the supplemental indigenous curriculum that has already been developed has not been implemented in Manitoba primary and secondary schools.

“I think the curriculum is there already, I think the teachers are teaching it and doing a good job with

it [but] I think there is supplementary material that has been developed and there’s been tons of time put in by experts and grassroots, local, indigenous people, and I don’t believe the minister’s department is putting the emphasis on it,” Ewasko said.

For his part, Mcleod Arnould maintains that the indigenous course requirement complements necessary education on indigenous perspectives at the primary and secondary school levels.

“A course that will be offered in a high school is going to be that rather generic, holistic course. It’s the nature of education at the high school level, whereas this gives students the ability to branch off, to take something they are genuinely interested in, and hopefully spark their interest in the indigenous perspective on that topic,” he said.

“This requirement is one of the ways that we [ . . . ] look at the larger social condition of Winnipeg, and, more broadly speaking, the social conditions of Canada, and say, ‘what can we do here that would help push back against racism and create more welcoming, peaceful communities?’”

VOL. 101 NO. 52 February 25, 2015

News

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Decolonizing universities for indigenous achievement University of Manitoba strategically plans to decolonize, emphasize indigenous success Dana Hatherly, staff; with files from Bushra Tahir, Staff

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n light of the University of Manitoba’s five-year strategic plan, the university community gathered at the U of M earlier this month to learn about various approaches for “decolonizing” post-secondary institutions from across the nation.

The plan, titled Taking Our Place: University of Manitoba Strategic Plan 2015-2020, exclusively prioritizes indigenous achievement and ways of knowing at the province’s only major research university.

About 15 per cent of Manitoba’s population is indigenous – one of the highest rates in Canada.

That number is growing.

Predictions based on Statistics Canada Census data indicate that indigenous people will compromise nearly 19 per cent of the province’s population by 2026.

In a statement following a Maclean’s magazine article on racism in Winnipeg, U of M president David Barnard commented on the need for improved efforts to decolonize the university.

“We’re trying to work with indigenous leaders to try to build a welcoming environment on campus and to make the indigenous reality in this province a larger part of what’s visible at the University of Manitoba,” Barnard said.

Established almost 140 years ago under the passage of an act that described the university’s purpose as one of “raising the standard of higher education in the province, and of enabling all denominations and classes to obtain academical degrees.”

According to Barnard, the U of M remains committed to fulfilling that mandate.

Proportionate achievement

Deborah Young, the executive lead of indigenous achievement at the U of M, told the Manitoban that she is excited to promote indigenous learning at the university.

“Not only is indigenous achievement a standalone priority, but it is woven throughout all of the priority areas, including an acknowledgement statement at the beginning, affirming the university’s commitment to advancing reconciliation efforts, connecting to indigenous students, staff, and academics, and forging new relationships with partners and communities,” said Young.

Since the summer, Young told the Manitoban in an email interview, she has organized planning sessions with elders, indigenous support staff, academics, and non-indigenous allies.

For the first time, Young said, the indigenous community came together to build on the existing foundation of support at the university, ranging from indigenous recruitment and student support services to the hiring of indigenous scholars, working to advance indigenous ways of knowing.

photo by Carolyne Kroeker

Strategic plans

The 2009-2014 Strategic Planning Framework was intended to guide decision-making, providing some direction and a degree of specificity, about programs, structures, and the allocation of resources and energy at the University of Manitoba.

Building on the backbone of the former five-year plan, the 2015-2020 strategic plan signals strong commitment to indigenous achievement as a separate, but integral, priority in the strategic plan.

University senators were generally supportive of the increased focus on, and commitment to, indigenous achievement indicated throughout the draft of the plan. Senior administration at the U of M will be held accountable, ensuring that priorities, goals, and supporting actions of the strategic plan are achieved and that operational plans are developed in pursuit of the common goal towards indigenous achievement.

As the first priority for implementing the plan, the university will develop a framework to ensure that its priorities are implemented. The framework will ensure that university administration is accountable to the board of governors.

So far, some baseline targets have been established at the U of M, such as those for indigenous enrolment.

Now, the university is tasked with developing an assessment framework that encompasses both the qualitative and quantitative dimensions to measure progress on priorities—such as indigenous achievement—and be accountable to the board of governors, the senate, and the university community.

Some skeptical senators

A draft of the 2015-2020 Strategic Plan was provided to the senate for comment in the fall.

According to the senate minutes, the draft generated a significant amount of thoughtful feedback at the senate meeting. As part of a broader consultative process, Joanne Keselman, vice-president (academic) and provost, said that the strategic planning committee took that into account when developing the final draft of the strategic plan.

“We are losing our language [ . . . ] Are we doing well?” – Robina Thomas (Qwul’sih’yah’maht), University of Victoria director of indigenous academic and community engagement With respect to equity and diversity, Tina Mai Chen, department head of history, argued at the senate meeting that gender and indigenous issues overshadowed other important issues in the strategy plan.

Chen proposed that the document clearly outline the university’s commitment to equity and diversity in broader terms. She cautioned that, given the current fiscal climate, any decisions about what constitutes an appropriate range of academic programs offered at the university should be based on academic priorities. With the university’s international engagement in mind, Chen suggested supporting actions that might promote or foster knowledge of other parts of the world.

Several members also expressed

concern that, with a focus on quan“We are losing our language,” titative metrics and those tied to rev- Thomas said, adding that the loss of enue and research dollars, research in traditional languages should prompt basic sciences and humanities may significant reflection. not be measured using quantifiable Linc Kesler, associate professor of means.

First Nations studies and English at Young said that measured out- the University of British Columbia, comes and results are significant suggested the need for an exchange indicators of success. of ideas and information from within “As we are developing our imple- and between communities and instimentation plans both for the Strategic tutions, derived from a long history Enrollment Management and Taking of relations between people, places, Our Places, there will be clear activi- and the land. ties identified, along with timelines Kesler said the indigenous connecand indicators of success,” she said. tion must be made to “train another “I am also working on developing generation of students, experts, and a new Aboriginal Self-Declaration practitioners who look back on this Strategy to help increase more aware- basic knowledge about our country, ness on the importance of self-dec- culture, and history.” laration,” said Young, adding that Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, viceobtaining reliable data about those provost of Aboriginal initiatives at of indigenous identity is key for rel- Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, evant assessment. said that comprehensive dialogue to decolonize universities must be Indigenous education inclusive and socially justifiable; idenelsewhere tifying existing barriers and boundMany universities and colleges aries, and incorporating indigenous have put indigenous education at the knowledge and world views to make forefront of their plans. visible commitments to inclusion and At the recent Decolonizing the change.

University workshop at the U of M, “Indigenous people are duelling speakers presented about building with academies on one hand, and new relations and working towards duelling with the dire results of the reconciliation and coordination to imposition of artificial communisupport them, affirming that decol- ties on the other hand,” Wesleyonization is a mindful process that Esquimaux said. needs to be reflected in secondary Young said that, although more school and university curricula. needs to be done at the university, she Robina T h o m a s believes that “as an academic institu(Qwul’sih’yah’maht), director of tion, we are certainly heading in the indigenous academic and commu- right direction. nity engagement at the University of “As a Cree woman and a former Victoria, said that the university she university student, although there represented introduced programs for is much work that still needs to be promulgating indigenous norms and done, it truly delights me to see postrights, including an elders’ lounge, secondary institutions stepping up drum groups, counselling services, their efforts on moving indigenous an office of indigenous affairs, aca- achievement forward.” demic and community engagement, and hiring of faculty members.

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News

Senior News Editor: Dana Hatherly News Editor: Ethan Cabel Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

U of M students push for campus accessibility improvements Students with disabilities seek updates to outdated facilities, services Emily Zarychta, staff

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tudents with disabilities at the University of Manitoba are pushing for accessibility upgrades for several campus facilities and services.

Andrew Fenwick, UMSU representative for students living with disabilities, told the Manitoban that several campus facilities are outdated and must be brought up to current standards.

“Lots of the people that are in charge don’t see things the same way, so it’s kind of hard to figure out how to make things better for this group of people they don’t belong to,” Fenwick said, adding that his proposals for change have received positive reaction from the university so far.

“It’s really awesome because they are really open to all of the things I’ve brought up.”

Fenwick explained that some of the ramps around campus have a slope of 10 or 13 per cent when the standard for new buildings in Manitoba is eight per cent or lower.

According to the 2010 City of Winnipeg Accessibility Design Standards, the maximum allowable ramp slope in a retrofit situation is just over eight per cent. The standard outlined by the city is between five and 6.7 per cent, with the ideal slope being 20 inches in length for every one inch in height.

Fenwick told the Manitoban that there is a plan to extend a ramp over the summer that has an 11.5 per cent incline.

However, these are not the only issues for students with disabilities on campus.

While Fenwick is impressed with the accessibility of the new Active Living Centre gym, which will be open to students this week after several delays, he is currently fighting for the ability of quadriplegic students to opt out of the $75 sports and recreation fee levied on all students to pay for the Active Living Centre.

Rocco Scarcella, president of the Beyond Abilities student group at the University of Manitoba, told the Manitoban that the U of M is accessible to students with disabilities, but there is room for a great deal of improvement.

“When I think about accessibility I think about breaking down barriers and making the university more inclusive for all students,” he said.

“The university does provide for the opportunity to make the cam-

pus more accessible, and that’s primarily done by students, like myself and others.”

Scarcella proposed an UMSU motion with respect to accessible voting ballots for the UMSU General Election, which would mean large print and braille ballots for blind and partially sighted students. The motion passed unanimously on Feb. 9.

“Participating in the democratic process will now be accessible for all students.”

University response

Accessibility comes in many forms and services: hearing, learning, injury-related, mental health, physical, visual, and temporary (like breaks or strains).

Carolyn Christie, coordinator of Student Accessibility Services, said that while the U of M campuses are accessible, “there is always room for improvement,” adding, “the U of M has shown its commitment to continue this journey toward accessibility.”

In terms of accessing technology, Christie told the Manitoban that the Student Accessibility Services office is increasing its accessibility technology program, which includes an accessibility technologist, production lab, and will eventually incorporate a dedicated accessibility technology lab.

“The U of M is the first, and may be still the only, to have university policy and procedures regarding the creation of accommodation teams and accessibility advisory committees; these are made up of academic staff members along with a Student Accessibility Services representative to discuss non-standard accommodations in relation to academic standards,” Christie said.

She said Student Accessibility Services, Physical Plant, and the UMSU representative for students living with disabilities belong to an accessibility committee looking at physical accessibility issues on campus and setting targets to improve those areas.

Rebecca Kunzman, UMSU vice-president advocacy, said that in terms of access, “a lot still needs to be done.”

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Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Fraser Nelund Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Media medium matters

CBC shows complete lack of awareness with awkward Manitoba Tweet Up event Craig Adolphe, staff

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n Feb. 12, CBC Manitoba together. hosted a special event, CBC “I kind of feel like I’m inside my Tweet Up Manitoba, at which local Twitter feed right now. There’s a social media “leaders”—identified whole bunch of my followers here, as “tweeps” by CBC—were asked to and people that I follow. So I’m meet up and do something. It’s not pretty excited about getting to meet clear what they were meant to do, or these people in the flesh. But that’s what putting them all in a room with the thing about Twitter [ . . . ] you a plate of cheese and mini sandwiches don’t necessarily need to know people could accomplish, but rest assured, face-to-face to connect with them. I the lack of defined purpose didn’t can tweet just as easily the chef of stop them. my favourite restaurant as I can the The CBC spent the hour jump- mayor of the City of Winnipeg.” ing in and out of coverage of the event to talk about what a magnificent game-changer tweeting is for There was no journalism. The public was encourcontext; no aged to participate—whatever that means—by tweeting using the information was hashtag #CBCtweetupMB. The request rang particularly hol- provided; it was selflow since it wasn’t evident there was celebratory mess even a meaningful way for the actual attendees to participate in anything.

People were shown looking at their Late night news host Marjorie phone screens and taking pictures Dowhos provided additional comof themselves. Admittedly, several ment from the Tweet Up event. were seen talking in the background, “I’m live here in studio 41 and take but it’s unclear what the organizers a look at this place. Look at this hoped that would lead to. There was spread that they have here. Look no context or information provided; at all of this food. A lot of people it was self-celebratory mess. tweeting about the food that’s here Two online articles on the CBC at this Tweet Up event. The room is website profiling the event were just packed right now. Take a look posted shortly after the Tweet Up and at this, people are socializing, getprovided no additional information ting to know one another. More than as to why the CBC had bothered to what we just see on Twitter, you know host the event, what they had hoped we always see the hashtags or we see to accomplish by putting social media the handles and we don’t actually see socialites together in a room, or how some people face to face. Well this is the 109 “most prolific Manitoba the chance for that to happen.” tweeters” were selected.

All in all, at least six CBC employees were on hand reporting from the Tweet Up coverage event throughout the news hour.

The first half hour of news included over eight minutes of con- The unexplored fusing coverage of the awkward consequences of ures. I have reservations about the Tweet Up event. Notable activities the digital era notion that people’s voices will be included posing in front of the meteSusie Erjavec Parker of heard more clearly with Twitter. Is orologist’s green screen with a blue SPARKER Strategy Group provided there any reason to think tweets will shirt, taking selfies with a selfie stick, comment for a pre-recorded segment be taken more seriously by politicians and of course everybody’s favourite: about Twitter’s impact on the public’s than letters? standing in place and continuing to relationship with government. The How does Twitter address the talk about Twitter. segment also included interviews fact that the majority of people are The CBC’s first cut to the event with NDP MLA and leadership just tuned out from politics? It’s the took place less than a minute into candidate Steve Ashton and Mayor same handful of people contacting the news coverage, in the middle Brian Bowman. the mayor, city councillors, and other of describing their lead story of the “I always say that Twitter and elected officials as it’s always been – night: a 67-year-old man being physi- social media have turned what was now they just have a new toy to do cally assaulted after leaving a bingo once a broadcast into a dialogue and it with. parlour. a conversation,” said Parker. “Now I respectfully disagree with Even more tasteless, the banter if you tweet out something about Parker’s conclusions. Similarly, I recused to segue to a story about a young budgetary concerns I get to say ‘Hey, ognize that social media outreach girl coping with cancer treatment those cuts are going to affect my dis- may play a positive role in campaignused a cheesy reference to the previ- trict immediately and I have some ing and media relations for both ous Twitter segment. things to say about that.’”

Ashton and Bowman, while taking “Well this little girl still likes it It’s true we no longer have a sin- a skeptical stance on its effects on when people put pen to paper,” said gular broadcast but it’s certainly not the public’s overall relationship with CBC News host Janet Stewart, refer- a discussion. A discussion isn’t done government. ring to letters of support the little girl as an act of public presentation, it’s I disrespectfully disagree with receives while being forced to live not done without having to interact is the CBC’s position. Their job is in an isolation room in Children’s with another person, and it’s not done to provide insightful coverage. That Hospital. in 144 characters or less. Instead, we means using a critical eye to analyze “She just finished her seventh have a series of people broadcasting these ideas in-depth. But there’s round of chemotherapy and she’s titbits back and forth to each other. nothing insightful or critical in the only four.”

We haven’t been able to assess shallow rhetoric and self-glorification In a subsequent cut to the event the full impact of a digital society they used to promote their strange in CBC’s Studio 41, where the party yet. It’s unclear what the full range party. was hosted, Katie Nicholson, a CBC of consequences will be on how we employee, continued to string words relate to one another and public fig-

graphic by Evan Tremblay

Broader trends

As much as this event highlights the obliviousness of the CBC in how to integrate social media into journalism, it’s only an example—although an admittedly cringeworthy one—of a broader trend towards increasingly vapid coverage and filling time with inexpensive social media outreach gimmicks.

It’s true we no longer have a broadcast but it’s certainly not a discussion. Instead we have a series of people broadcasting back and forth to each other These obnoxious practices now seemingly permeate every major media outlet. The CTV regularly features videos of animals and babies pulled from YouTube in their nightly news hour.

The Winnipeg Free Press’ editorial page, which used to exclusively fea-

ture short comment pieces about topical issues or submitted in response to earlier news stories, now fills space with reprinted comments and messages drawn from their website.

Anyone who’s spent time looking at the comment section of an online newspaper knows that it’s a black hole for intelligent and respectful discourse.

The idea of turning the comment section into a form of content legitimizes the anonymous and often aggressive commenters who populate the paper’s online comment section and shrinks the size of submissions from short pieces that strive to concisely make a point to mind-numbing quips that pretend to make one.

It suggests the people making these editorial decisions either don’t understand the difference between substantive and vapid content or they don’t care. These trends are an easy way out for news outlets because they’re easier to produce and fill time with than actual, heavily researched news stories – the kind that people need to navigate social and political issues in their communities.

We need the CBC to prov ide serious coverage. So #GetItTogetherCBC.

Comment Comment Editor: Tom Ingram Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

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Point/Counterpoint: Budget cuts

Photo by Dana Hatherly

Unsustainable spending has made budget cuts necessary

Money is available, but administration’s priorities are misplaced

Mark Stewart

Devon Hanel

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ver the course of the last few months a cost to it, though back then it was students fighting to increase their own tuition. there has been a rising chorus of voices calling on the University of Manitoba adminThe same organizations that got us into istration to put an end to the proposed cuts this mess are the ones leading the charge to the budget. This collective of students and for a stop to the budget cuts, but what you unions, including the Canadian Federation do not see is a plan. There is no alternative of Students, places the blame for the cuts on proposed to the university on how to deal the shoulders of the administration, claiming with its shortfalls. As a result, any legitimate that the funding priorities are astray. points are buried in the rhetoric.

There is a silent majority of students that There does need to be a discussion about understand this these budget cuts are in fact the university’s budget, and there does need the unfortunate repercussions of the pro- to be student representation. But instead of longed tuition freeze that Manitoba went a loud and disorganized rabble amassing and through in the 2000s. Since the freeze has making noise in Chancellor’s Circle, let us been lifted, the university has been heavily use the established systems to have these restricted in how much tuition can be raised, discussions. limiting it to the rate of inflation.

For a change, let’s actually have a voice This would work if the university’s operat- speak for all 24,665 of us undergraduates, ing costs were bound to the rate of inflation as rather than the couple hundred that hold well, but this is not the case. The University a particular viewpoint and decided to hold of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) a rally. Let UMSU Council be the site of is one of the organizations that has signed legitimate debate on the merits of the issues.

Just because “A Rally for the Understanding on to criticize the administration, but it can be argued that they are doing more than that Things Cost Money” isn’t as catchy as their fair share towards creating the fund- “Stop the Cuts” does not mean this viewpoint ing gap. A quick perusal of their collective is any less valid. agreement (readily available online) shows We are at a crossroads where we as stuUMFA members earning a raise of around dents must decide whether we want a cheap 3 per cent per year, while Statistics Canada education or a quality education. I for one shows the annual rate of inflation is closer to would rather pay for quality, and am sick and 1.5 per cent. tired of a small segment of the student body UMFA’s involvement in any opposition to claiming to know what is best for me. The fact budget cuts is highly suspect, and downright remains that the student leaders who have hypocritical considering that the entitlement been in any budget-related discussions underfelt by its membership that has contributed stand that this is an inevitability. So to those to the situation we are in. The ones that suf- that stand in opposition to the budget cuts I fer in a budget cut are not the professors, but ask but one question: what is your alternative? students and the sessional instructors who do the lion’s share of our educating and are not Mark Stewart is in his final year of UMFA members. a bachelor of arts. He has previously It’s time for those that claim to represent served as the senior stick of arts. students to understand that they do not speak for us all. There is a silent majority of students who recognize that the calls for reduced tuition but no corresponding budget cuts are not sustainable. Just like the engineering students realized in 2007, a quality education has

aculties and other non-academic units at the University of Manitoba are being asked to prepare for three to four per cent cuts not just this year, but also the next.

When such a reduction is prescribed it is a responsibility to treat this evaluation with due skepticism.

President David Barnard claims “the financial demands associated with operating our institution have outpaced the growth of our resources” and that as a result the funding model in place is inadequate. An inadequate funding model combined with the requirement for the University of Manitoba to maintain a balanced budget would superficially appear to lend credibility to austerity measures.

The majority, 56 per cent, of the U of M’s funding is provided by the provincial government through an operating grant. Tuition fees account for 24 per cent, while the remaining 20 per cent is provided by other sources such as campus businesses and sales of goods and services.

As it stands the U of M is facing a $10.5 million budget shortfall for 2015-2016.

Administration claims a 2.5 per cent increase in the provincial operating grant this year and last is meagre compensation for a province which has the third lowest tuition fees in the country.

Given inconsistent provincial funding and a cap on tuition already low, with perceived room to increase, it is regrettable, though unsurprising, many are willing to stop here and embrace a position of comfortable credulity in favour of cuts. Perhaps now is the place where a responsibility for skepticism is to be practised.

The U of M produced $43.3 million in net revenue for 2014. Now, why does the need to cut anything exist given this simple figure?

The answer is that the majority of this revenue is shifted, through inter-fund transfers, from the operating fund to the capital fund.

The capital fund is used for expenses such as library acquisitions, equipment purchases,

construction, and renovations.

At the year-end of 2014, $42 million was transferred to the capital fund, meaning that 97 per cent of the year’s net revenue had already been spent.

Of this capital money, $10.5 million was spent on library acquisitions. There is no doubt to the importance of increasing library collections, however what is the use of a wellstocked library if we have fewer professors and less qualified, underpaid instructors? This is to say nothing of the exorbitant construction projects, such as the $3.6 million spent on the Welcome Centre.

Consider also that there is over $130 million in unrestricted general investments which hypothetically may be used to remedy the U of M’s budget woes. The administration claims these funds in reserve are “virtually all committed” and that utilizing them would lead to cancellation of upcoming projects critical to the U of M’s goals. The particulars of such investments and goals remain in question, though the primacy of retaining quality academics is not.

Further, the administration says that the reserves “serve as an important cushion in the case of an emergency or unexpected situation.” Well, when the province decreases its promised funding, offering less than expected two years in a row, how are we not in an unexpected situation if not an emergency?

Is it that foolish to think that cuts themselves count as an emergency? Those who believe the primary focus of a university is education give an emphatic “no.”

The question to be asking is not whether budget cuts are inevitable or necessary: of course they are not. Rather, we should ask this same question of the university administration’s priorities and principles, or, if you must, “strategic plans.”

Devon Hanel is a third-year science student with an interest in philosophy and political theory.

VOL. 101 NO. 52 February 25, 2015

Comment

9

Point/Counterpoint: Assisted suicide

Graphic by Scott Ford

Legalizing assisted suicide is in keeping with modern thinking on patients’ rights Nick Schroeder

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paradigm shift beginning in the latter half of the 20th century has led to an increased focus on patient autonomy in the physician-patient relationship. Physicians, who were once considered the primary decision-makers in regards to their patients’ wellbeing, now grant the same patients absolute control of their own health care.

Perhaps, then, Margaret Somerville, an ethicist at McGill University, finds false irony when she writes in her book The Ethical Canary that “the norm that we must not kill must now be defended more vigorously than its opposite – that we may take human life in certain circumstances.”

If total patient rights are truly what our society ought to be progressing towards, then it appears that control over one’s own end-oflife decisions is an inevitable consequence. The practice of physician-assisted suicide gives patients the ability to decide when pain and suffering have increased to intolerable levels and death is preferable to a prolonged arduous existence.

Moreover, the practice of assisted suicide provides those with healthy lives the harmless reassurance that they will not need to live through tremendous suffering if they do reach such a point in their own lives.

A common concern from opponents of assisted suicide is it allows doctors to kill – something seen as fundamentally incompatible with our conception of good health care. In Canada, it can be argued, patients have the negative right to refuse treatment but are not granted the positive right of having a physician end our life.

This worry, however, may be a matter of framing as the “negative right” against undesired interference can be considered a positive right to control our own bodies. If we view the issue in this manner, it appears that

assisted suicide coincides well with our notion of health care.

The act of killing, if undertaken within the guidelines to be set by upcoming health legislation, ought not be considered morally different than the act of letting someone die.

Suppose a person has expressed the desire not to continue on life support in the event of serious illness. It would broadly be agreed upon that although the person died of the illness, the death was the outcome of the patient’s decision.

This does not seem morally distinct from a case of the same patient expressing consent for a doctor to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to end her life. In both cases, the death was the result of the patient’s autonomous decision for her life to be over and the physician responding appropriately.

Finally, there would be no risk to current hospice and palliative care practices and funding. In jurisdictions where physician-assisted suicide is already implemented, it affects a very limited portion of the population.

Since the 1997 ruling allowing for physician-assisted suicide in Oregon, there have only been 859 cases of patients dying from the practice. Assisted suicide accounted for 73 deaths in Oregon in 2013.

Similarly, in the Netherlands, physicianassisted suicide only accounted for 286 deaths in 2013. This suggests that the number of people wishing for physician-assisted suicide is so insignificant in comparison to the general population that a person who desires traditional end-of-life care methods will be unaffected by the Supreme Court ruling.

Nick Schroeder is a master’s student in the department of philosophy interested in bioethics and health policy.

Legalizing assisted suicide is short-sighted Mark D. Stewart

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upport for legalizing assisted suicide here life of the suffering and those around them. in Canada is not limited to secular soci- Christians believe that Jesus Christ’s sufferety – it is also embraced by Christians. As a ing reunited humanity to God. Catholic, I was particularly shocked to find The Church encourages us to discover how that a recent Ipsos Reid poll of 2,500 people to be compassionate, and how to enter into found that 83 per cent of Catholics support and share the burden of suffering of oththe legalization of assisted suicide. For this ers. This is why a great emphasis needs to be reason, I wish to take this opportunity to re- placed on strengthening and utilizing palexamine what the Catholic Church teaches liative care, and for family and friends to be strong when loved ones feel weak. on end-of-life decisions such as assisted suicide.

Assisted suicide is not a private matter, When the Supreme Court of Canada for it requires a change of law to sanction it upheld the law against assisted suicide in the and a third party to carry it out. Such a law case of Sue Rodriguez in 1992, Justice John may jeopardize the consciences and roles of Sopinka stated that “distinctions based upon medical practitioners, whose purpose is to intent are important, and in fact form the safeguard life. basis of our criminal The Catechism law. While factually states that “suicide Assisted suicide is not the distinctions may, contradicts the natuat times, be difficult to ral inclination of the a private matter, for draw, legally it is clear.” human being to preWhat has changed serve and perpetuate it requires a change since then? his life. It is gravely of law to sanction Our lives are not at contrary to the just our disposal. So when love of self. It likeit and a third party can medical intervenwise offends love of to carry it out tion be withheld or neighbour because it withdrawn from a unjustly breaks the patient? The Church ties of solidarity with teaches that the key principle is that one does family, nation, and other human societies to not will to cause death. which we continue to have obligations.”

The author of the assisted suicide In short, assisted suicide is contrary to bill recently presented to the senate is love. Love is not always about good feelings.

Conservative MP Steven Fletcher. He is a If it were, love would not be willing the good Christian, and his support for this legislation of others, but willing the good of yourself stems from a tragic car accident that left him instead. In this light, assisted suicide is opting a quadriplegic, as he does not think God out of a selfless love. would have wanted this for him. Fletcher, like so many, misunderstands what the Catholic Mark D. Stewart is a first-year student Church teaches with regard to God’s will at the University of Manitoba with an for suffering. interest in church history and religion.

The Church recognizes that suffering is not good in and of itself; however, it can have great meaning and redemptive power in the

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Science & technology Science & Technology Editor: Chantelle Dubois Contact: science@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

The intelligence of crows A murder of crows is like a bad analogy Jeremiah Yarmie, staff

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rows are extremely intelligent birds that are part of the corvid family, which also includes magpies and blue jays. Research done in collaboration between Moscow State University and the University of Iowa shows that crows are capable of analogical reasoning. This same reasoning does not develop in humans until the age of three or four.

The study relies on the crows’ ability to identify “sameness,” the characteristics between two objects that makes them the same. The crows were presented with three cards with a pair of shapes on each of them that differed in type, colour, and size.

The crows were tasked with choosing the flanking card that was analogous to the middle card. This ability,

termed relational matching-to-sample, can be demonstrated using letters.

Which is analogous to BB? CD or EE. Okay. Which of those is analogous to AB? These were the kinds of problems that the crows were presented with. They succeeded over three-quarters of the time and did so spontaneously, without prior training.

group, and has the right hardware, those are the prime things for the evolution of intelligence [ . . . ] A lot of the corvids fit into those categories.”

“Research just started pouring out showing that birds can plan, they can reason for the future, they can do relative concept learning,” said Kelly. “And that just snowballed.

“We’re studying the Clark’s nutDebbie Kelly’s research at cracker. It’s not a social bird,” said the University of Manitoba Kelly. “It’s a food-storing bird and Interest into the social brain it stores 10 to 30 thousand seeds in hypothesis helped focus research the mountains, and then six months later it has to go and remember where interest onto corvid intelligence.

According to psychology profes- those seeds are.”

“What seems to be the key is that sor Debbie Kelly, the social brain hypothesis states that “[if] a species they learn it relationally,” said Kelly. has long developmental periods, lives They remember where their caches to a long age, lives in a complex social are by learning its position relative to

graphic by Justin Ladia

landmarks, such as between two trees. 2014 showed that a crow’s level of “We have just submitted a paper casual intelligence rivals that of a that is very similar to the analogy five-year-old. paper. We have shown for the very Aesop’s fable The Crow and the first time a corvid that is better than Pitcher tells the story of a thirsty crow any non-human primate studied to that comes upon a pitcher containing date in being able to quickly form a water that it can’t reach. Too weak relative concept,” said Kelly. to push the pitcher over, the crow Clark’s nutcrackers that were pre- drops pebbles into the pitcher one sented with samples of eight images after another until the water level can determine same versus different, rises enough for the crow to drink. even with images that they have never The 2014 study presented crows seen before. with Aesop’s fable. Crows presented “Rhesus monkeys needed more the ability to raise the water level in training than that,” said Kelly. “None glass tubes by dropping objects into of the other species tested were able them, understanding to choose solid to do it with as few examples as the objects over hollow ones and sinking Clark’s nutcrackers.” objects over floating ones.

I’ve just seen a face

Research published in 2012 from John Marzluff’s lab at the University of Washington shows how well crows remember human faces.

Crows use both dangerous firsthand experience and word-of-beak social information to distinguish the faces of dangerous humans. The tradeoff for the crows is accuracy versus cost.

Crows typically respond to dangerous individuals by scolding them, characterized by aggressive crowing at the individual, typically following them around in a big mob.

In the study, researchers wore a unique “dangerous face” mask while capturing, banding, and releasing crows. The captured crows immediately scolded the dangerous face.

The number of scolding crows increased over a number of years, and the scolding area steadily grew.

Bystander crows witnessing the masked individuals capturing their friends would join in on the scolding of the dangerous mask.

Unaffected crows learned to scold the dangerous mask by joining in mobs with previously captured crows, a form of horizontal social learning.

Younger birds that were born after the capturing took place were taught by their parents to scold the dangerous mask, a form of vertical social learning.

Cause and effect

In 2012, Bryce Hoye wrote for the Manitoban about new research at the time indicating that crows are capable of causal reasoning, the ability to understand cause and effect.

Another study from early in

Too weak to push the pitcher over, the crow drops pebbles into the pitcher one after another until the water level rises enough for the crow to drink Why birds, why now?

Crows and other animals are burdened with the task of adapting to human-made urban environments.

“Cognitive abilities help us to get into all sorts of different environments. That probably is what selected for this behaviour in crows too,” said U of M biological sciences assistant professor Kevin Fraser.

“There is a climate change context here too. Birds that are most flexible and able to figure out new problems are more likely to be the ones that can deal with the changing environment,” said Fraser.

The list of fascinating studies on crow behavioural intelligence goes on and on. They are remarkably intelligent birds.

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Science & Technology

Science & Technology Editor: Chantelle Dubois Contact: science@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

The Big Bang The many theories on the origins of the universe Chantelle Dubois, staff

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osmology has been shaken up by new theories on the origins of the universe which have recently received attention in the media. Did the universe begin with a big bang?

With two? Or with none? Or perhaps, some other way altogether?

The Big Bang theory

In 1927 Georges LeMaitre, a

Belgian physicist and priest, developed mathematical models based on Einstein’s general relativity equations which suggested the universe was expanding.

The consequence of LeMaitre’s model was that the universe had to begin at a singular point, which he called the “primeval atom.” He reasoned that if the universe was

expanding with time, then at the This discovery supported LeMaitre’s cooled; the second in which the Big beginning of time, approximately 13.8 theory.

Bang is the inflation of the universe billion years ago, everything must LeMaitre described the initial being guided by energy inherent to have existed in a very dense and com- cause of the expansion as an insta- space itself – or vacuum energy. pact state. bility in the primeval atom, resulting The difference would be that Shortly after in 1929 Edwin in an explosion and then expansion. the universe is inflating instead of Hubble, an American astronomer, Fred Hoyle, an English astrono- expanding, and that the beginning published his discovery of the red mer, criticized the theory and made of the universe wasn’t the “Big Bang.” shift – the acceleration of distant a sarcastic remark suggesting the galaxies away from the Milky Way. universe began in a “big bang.”

No Big Bang This name stuck, and today Some cosmologists believe the we know LeMaitre’s model of an biggest flaw in the Big Bang theory is expanding universe as the Big Bang that it cannot explain what happened theory. during the singularity, or before the Since then, several variations of Big Bang; the model only explains evidence have been discovered to sup- what happens immediately after the port the Big Bang theory.

Big Bang occurs.

One of the most important is the Researchers from Lethbridge, accidental discovery of the cosmic Alberta and Benha, Egypt came up microwave background radiation by with a new model, combining quanArno Penzias and Robert Wilson in tum mechanics and general relativity.

1965.

This new model removes the possibility of singularities, including the one the Big Bang theory suggests is One of the biggest the beginning of the universe.

In addition, it also suggests there flaws of the Big will be no ending singularity, or the Bang theory is that it “Big Crunch.” This is when the universe is said to begin collapsing on cannot explain what itself until it is a single point once happened during the more.

The result is that there is no beginsingularity, or before ning and no end, and that the universe has always existed. The model the Big Bang; the does account for a smaller universe model only explains in the distant past, but not one which was a singularity. what happens This theory also explains dark immediately after energy and dark matter as the result of gravitons which existed earlier in the Big Bang occurs the universe’s history and have no mass.

Cosmic microwave background radiation was predicted to exist as the Ekpyrotic Model result of when approximately 400,000 The Ekpyrotic Model suggests years after the Big Bang the universe that the Big Bang was the result of cooled enough to allow the forma- two three-dimensional universes coltion of hydrogen atoms. These atoms liding in a fourth dimension. then began emitting high frequency The only aspects in which this radiation. model differs from the Big Bang Since the universe is expanding, theory is that the beginning is difonce the radiation reaches Earth it ferent, and that it is based on the should be in the form of microwave string theory. radiation, and should be uniform This collision explains the Big and detectable from any point in the Bang, and also explains what existed universe. Looking further into the or happened before the Big Bang. universe is similar to looking back Instead of a dense singularity, two in time, and so these microwave fre- universes which were both mostly quencies originated 13.8 billion years empty and cold came in contact. ago.

When this contact occurred, the Another piece of evidence more kinetic energy turned into electrons, recently discovered is the primordial protons, and quarks. Ripple in the B-mode polarization. Patterns in the fourth dimension causes the effects cosmic microwave background radia- of the collision to happen everywhere tion which result from gravitational in both universes at different times, twisting of the early expansion of the which can explain fluctuations in universe are expected in measure- radiation and energy densities. ments taken. However, this discovery This model remains unproven, and by researchers at Stanford University is but one of many theories being may have been compromised by cos- developed by cosmologists to explain mic dust that was not accounted for, the beginning of the universe. and currently the results are being The many theories on the origins further analyzed. of the universe shows that it continues to be a topic of great interest to Two big bangs cosmologists and physicists around The Two Big Bangs theory sug- the world. gests there are two definitions of the Big Bang. The first in which all matter and energy was contained in a singularity, which exploded and then graphic by Bram Keast

VOL. 101 NO. 52 February 25, 2015

Flying with Magellan UMSATS’ preliminary design review

Science & Technology 13

There’s a storm brewing My nose knows Jeremiah Yarmie, staff

Jeremiah Yarmie, staff

photo by Leslie Yakimishyn

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tudents participating in the spacecraft, or a specific object you Canadian Satellite Design want the spacecraft to transport.

Challenge flocked to Magellan The payload is the reason the rest Aerospace on Feb. 17 and 18 to of the spacecraft was built in the attend a Preliminary Design first place,” said Glowacki.

Review (PDR).

The PDR allowed the UMSATS Members from the University of team to gain insight into the other Manitoba Space Applications and projects in the works.

Technology Society (UMSATS) Viridania Ureña Ramírez, a joined individuals from the microbiology master’s student at University of British Columbia, the University of Manitoba, says York University, Concordia that some of the other teams intend University, and the University of to develop payloads which focus on South Wales in Australia, among wildfire recognition and spectrosothers. copy to measure pollution in the The Winnipeg location of atmosphere.

Magellan Aerospace specializes “I think our project has good in engineering and support services. foundation thanks to our advisors,” “Winnipeg actually has a very said Ureña Ramírez. large aerospace industry, which The UMSATS tardigrade projmany people may or may not be ect may have relevance in future aware of,” electrical engineering research into sending biological master’s student Pawel Glowacki samples into space, for example, told the Manitoban. to seed Mars.

The two days were filled with The project may also give insight workshops and presentations put into the hardiness of tardigrades, on by Magellan. which may have organ preservation “One engineer gave us a lecture applications. about orbital mechanics – the theThe next big test for the ory of how objects move in space,” UMSATS team will be this fall when the team presents their critisaid Glowacki.

The main focus of the PDR were cal design review.

10-minute presentations where the participating teams presented their Visit umsats.ca for more informaplanned payloads. tion about the U of M’s Canadian “A payload is essentially an Satellite Design Challenge team. experiment you do onboard a

graphic by Evan Tremblay

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he smell of rain is earthy and As the bubbles fizzled away, Streptomyces bacteria, which also distinct. Raindrops splatter they released bits and pieces that it produce the majority of naturally against the ground and release picked up from the soil. Not only sourced antibiotics that we use. earthy odourant molecules into could odourant molecules that we Besides the earthy smell of a storm, the air, but the exact mechanism associate with the smell of rain geosmin also contributes to the flaof this event hasn’t been elucidated be aerosolized, but so could soil- vour of beets. until now. dwelling bacteria and viruses.

Humans are able to detect geosRecent research from the This process is very quick, occur- min in the air as diluted as five parts Massachusetts Institute of ring on the magnitude of one-mil- per trillion. That’s the equivalent Technology sheds light on exactly lionth of a second. The formation of three seconds per 100,000 years. how rain spurs these hidden Earth of bubbles only occurs during light This sensitivity may be due to the smells. to moderate rain. Raindrops during fact that our ancestors relied on rain In their study published in heavy rainfall move too fast for this for its life-bringing properties.

Nature Communications, mechani- process to occur.

Before a storm, a different cal engineers Young Soo Joung Petrichor is a term coined by scent fills the air. Ozone is formed and Cullen Buie took to observing Australian mineralogists in the in a series of chemical reactions drops of water as they hit porous 1960s describing the earthy smell trigged by lightning in the sky. materials using powerful high- that is liberated from the ground Atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen speed cameras. during rainfall. are split apart and react to form the As the simulated raindrops hit One of the molecules respon- ozone molecule, which is made up the materials, small bubbles of air sible for rain’s earthy aroma is the of three oxygen atoms. Ozone’s formed at the contact point, rose organic molecule geosmin. The name is derived from the Greek through the body of the drop, and molecule tends to stay suspended word ozein, which means “to smell.” fizzled out of the top, forming in the air after a storm passes, and Unfortunately there is no hope aerosols. This phenomenon was is responsible for the earthy post- of scenting summer storms in the observed upon synthetic materials, rain smell. midst of a Winnipeg winter. We as well as soil samples.

Geosmin is synthesized by can only long for petrichor.

Diversions Graphics Editor: Bram Keast Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

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illustrations by Bram Keast

VOL. 101 NO. 52 February 25, 2015

Diversions

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A sculptor works on one of the many show sculptures at Festival du Voyageur on February 14, 2015. photo by Matt Duboff

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Arts & Culture Arts & Culture Editor: Lauren Siddall Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Making connections: one coffee at a time

So you got an arts degree…

Ten Thousand Coffees announces new partnership with Etsy

ACI hosts their fourth annual workshop for recent arts grads

Raylene Paci, volunteer staff

Alana Trachenko, staff

photo provided by ACI Manitoba

photo by Mackenzie Ewing

F

or the past year, Ten Thousand Coffees has been breaking down barriers between young entrepreneurs and those who are already well-established in their field – all over a cup of coffee.

With the announcement of a national partnership with Etsy, a new “maker” category has been added to the online platform, allowing users to interact with some of Etsy’s best creative professionals.

Launched in January 2014, Ten Thousand Coffees has revolutionized the way young people make connections in the business world.

“We knew that if we could create a platform where industry professionals and the next generation could easily connect and engage over something as simple as coffee to share ideas and insights, that the possibilities of what could come from these conversations would be endless,” said founder Dave Wilkin.

Users can join as either a novice or a professional. Once they complete their profile, novices are able to browse the platform and invite experts for a coffee in person, over email, phone, or Skype.

“One of the best memories I think I have was when one of our team members was invited for coffee by a young woman who was hearing impaired. This young woman was smart and a very talented writer but was apprehensive to participate in networking events hosted by her school because she was more of an introvert,” said Wilkin.

“Going on a one-on-one coffee

chat with our team member gave make changes in their tactics to her confidence to invite more peo- reach the next generation.” ple for coffee and made her realize By partnering with Etsy, Ten that a one-on-one coffee chat was a Thousand Coffees will open doors great way for her to be able to net- to thousands of upcoming creatives work with people.” and reach a broader audience than Seeing firsthand how something ever before.

“Etsy is not only the largest maras simple as access to a conversation can provide people with the tools, ketplace for creative entrepreneurs, ideas, insight, and confidence they it’s also a people-powered economy,” need to move forward constantly said Wilkin.

“Ten Thousand Coffees believes encourages Wilkin. that the power of people and the advice they have to share can “Ten Thousand enable experiences that move the next generation forward. The Coffees believes launch of the makers category is that the power of bringing together artists, designers, and makers from diverse backpeople and the grounds to engage in conversations, advice they have to exchange ideas, and spark insights about their industry.” share can enable To celebrate this new partnerexperiences that ship, Etsy will be providing 20 free listings to any newcomer opening move the next an online shop on their website. A generation forward” $5,000 merit-based grant is also up for grabs to help one lucky entrepre– Dave Wilkin, neur kick-start his or her creativity into a business. founder of Ten “We know the impact converThousand Coffees sations between two people can have. We want to see thousands of conversations happening across “Every day we have users email, Canada between makers and young phone, or even come up to us on creatives,” Wilkin said. the street and tell us how valuable “This current generation is the their coffee conversations were. most educated, technology savvy, People have found jobs that they and entrepreneurial generation yet. otherwise wouldn’t have known We want them to gain the confiabout, industry professionals have dence and advice they need to turn learned insights about their indus- their crafts into their own business.” try that has encouraged them to

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f you have recently graduated and to be reminded that success is from one of the many arts pro- defined by the individual – not only grams available in Manitoba, you does it look different for everyone, are likely being asked a lot of ques- but it also develops and fluctuates tions right now. Your parents are over time.

“Many grads will discover that, wondering when you will get a job and how you are going to support unless they disregard what they yourself, and your friends nod in learned from their degrees and go feigned understanding when you work in another industry, it can be use terms like “freelance” and hard to find a full-time job where you get to exer“Kickstarter cise your art in campaign.”

“We all want to its purest form, Graduating as an arts student whether it be support each can be scary – the creative fiction other and see writing, experistructure of daily life is replaced by mental filmmakeach other the sudden freeing, or classical do well, and dom of making Shakespearean your own schedacting,” Faucher I think that’s ule. Even if you said. have found a job “To do those important in your desired things, you work for emerging field, the indusfrom one gig to try has evolved the next, taking artists to in such a way opportunities as encounter” – that a lot of your they come. You end up being a time will be spent Alicia Faucher freelancer, or looking for work.

To speak to even fully selfthe daunting questions freshly- employed if you work hard enough.” minted grads have, the Arts and Freelancing is one of the topics Culture Industries Association of covered at the symposium, helpManitoba is hosting their fourth ing to quantify a style of work annual symposium titled Putting that is considered insecure and Your Arts Degree to Work. The open-ended. workshop will cover topics such “I think some concerns for graduas budgeting, networking, and ating arts students are that they may mentoring. not find as much support for their Alicia Faucher of the Arts and pursuits as other grads might. They Culture Industries Association of will have to fight and work harder Manitoba says that there is a lot to than most in other careers to be take away for those who are new to taken seriously and be successful,” the creative field.

Faucher said.

“I think seeing people speak “The satisfaction in being happy who are currently working in the with their lives and the work they industry, who are happy, warm, produce for a living is quite a and eager to share their stories will reward in itself.” encourage attendees to keep at it,” Faucher said.

The workshop will be taking place at “We all want to support each 245 McDermot on Feb, 28. Tickets other and see each other do well, are $10. For more information, and I think that’s important for visit: 245mcdermot.ca/events/345/ emerging artists to encounter.” creative-entrepreneurshipFaucher thinks the workshop is putting-your-arts-degree-work a good place for grads to network

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Lauren Siddall Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

For what HITS worth David Cross’ directorial debut premiers at Park Theatre, brings pay-what-you-want format

Robot Invaders from the Death Galaxy Winnipeg surf rock band the Thrashers release robotic new album Ian T.D. Thomson, staff

Ian T.D. Thomson, staff

photo by Ian Thomson

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og off of your Facebook and Instagram pages – HITS, a dark comedy film examining the social media generation, has its Winnipeg premiere at the Park Theatre on March 4.

The movie presents a striking portrait of the need to be famous in the 21st century. Set in upstate New York, HITS tells the story of Dave, a municipal worker played

by Matt Walsh (Ted, The Hangover, Veep). After a video of him ranting at a town hall meeting goes viral on YouTube, Dave quickly becomes famous to the dismay of the townsfolk.

The proceeding events have the small town of Liberty, New York filter through delusions of grandeur.

His daughter, a fame-addicted 20-something itching to “make it” on the reality show The Voice, becomes jealous and frustrated at her father’s random fame.

“I should be famous,” sighs his daughter.

The movie marks the directorial debut of David Cross. Cross, known primarily for his role as Tobias in the critically acclaimed show Arrested Development, acts as both writer and director for the film.

Although a celebrity himself, Cross finds the fame-obsessed characters—who are constantly connected to social media—in the film despicable.

“The idea that you can monetize something as nebulous and meaningless as a bunch of followers on Twitter, [such as] ‘I have a million friends on Facebook!’ is insane to me,” explained Cross in an interview.

“But that’s the language now.”

With HITS exploring the concept of going viral in the digital age, the fact that the movie became a viral phenomenon provides an ironic context for its release. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. While several distributors approached Cross to release the film in a traditional format, Cross admits that the distributor’s plans were lackluster.

It was with this that the movie became a film experiment.

“We want you to decide how much tickets cost and you pay artists directly, not distributors or studios. This is an experiment, a first of its kind to see if we can make it more sustainable for both fans and filmmakers,” said David Cross in statement to the press.

The digital film became available on Feb. 13 after being released on the file-sharing program BitTorrent.

It is the first feature-length film to be released on BitTorrent with the pay-what-you-want model.

However, Cross also admits to wanting the film released in the classic movie theatre format.

“I’m psyched people can watch it on their laptop, but that’s slightly distasteful to me. I want it to be in the theatres. And that’s where the Kickstarter to get it into as many theatres as possible [came up],” said Cross.

Through the success of a Kickstarter campaign, supporters of the film raised over $100,000 to help distribute HITS to theatres.

What started as a modest goal of premiering in two cities developed into the film’s premier across several North American theatres, including Winnipeg’s Park Theatre on March 4.

The screening at the Park Theatre introduces the unique paywhat-you-want format. Purchasers are given the option to pay anywhere from one dollar to upwards of $20.

This format has been used frequently in the music industry, gaining notoriety in 2007 when Radiohead released their album In Rainbows in this format. However, the pay-what-you-want method has not been frequently used in the movie industry. Cinemas such as SilverCity still charge $10.50 general admission no matter what you may want to pay.

HITS premieres at the Park Theatre on March 4. Ticket reservations are available at ticketfly.com

photo by Joey Senft

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hen it comes to blending “We figured a title like Robot With the Robot Invaders from retro aesthetic with robot Invaders from the Death Galaxy the Death Galaxy receiving a proper invasion, no one in Winnipeg has was equal parts straightforward, release at the WECC, expect the the musical concept down quite humorous, and intriguing,” said show to be just as extravagant as like the Thrashers. Focusing their Bercier. the album title. Along with the efforts on punk band’s developed live rock and roll, the show, the release party “We figured a title like Robot Winnipeg trio is will be a full stage show set to release their featuring a nine-footInvaders from the Death Galaxy new album Robot tall robot. was equal parts straightforward, Invaders from the “We like to think Death Galaxy at the we’re putting our humorous, and intriguing” – West End Cultural own ’50s sci-fi twist Jesse Bercier, the Thrashers Centre on March 28. on an Alice Cooper The Thrashers’ stage show,” explained music is a throwback Bercier. to retro genres, with the group citWhile the group notes that the ing influences of ’50s rock and roll, record is not a concept album, many The Thrashers take the stage at ’60s surf rock, and ’70s punk rock. of the tracks detail elements sur- the WECC on March 28 with The group started with two friends, rounding a “mechanical invasion.” punk acts the Zorgs and Mobina Jesse Bercier and Iaian Loeppky, Songs such as “Dynamite,” pre- Galore. Tickets are $12 in advance and a humorous inspiration. sented as a quick 99 seconds of rock and are available at Into the “Iaian and I [ . . . ] started writing and roll music, give the impression Music and Music Trader. a few songs together after agreeing that there will be an even faster that the concept of a surf band from tempo when performed live. the prairies was both a funny concept and something that we should take a stab at,” explained Bercier to the Manitoban.

Rounding off the trio with Sean G. on drums, the local band has gone on to release three albums since its conception in late 2007.

Their last release was 2012’s Ramp Locals, a three-song EP described as an essential for anyone who skateboards.

Robot Invaders from the Death Galaxy, their newest full-length album, is comprised of 10 songs taken from the group’s live set.

Named after one of their songs, the album is rooted in the idea Bercier and Loeppky had of making a short film involving robots invading Earth.

VOL. 101 NO. 52 February 25, 2015

Couples that write together, stay together Husband and wife publishing team are gathering an international fanbase

Arts & Culture

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Art for Trade GoSA exhibit explores alternative economies Lauren Siddall, staff

Alana Trachenko, staff

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ony Nesca admits his favourite type of writing, as a kid, were genres such as science fiction. As an adult, however, Tony writes short stories and poems that are dark and lyrical. Rather than searching for a publishing company that would take him on to write in his preferred style, Tony started Screamin’ Skull Press in 1994. In 2007, the company grew by one with the addition of Tony’s wife and writing partner, Nicole Nesca.

“We were both publishing online,” Tony said when asked how he and Nicole met. “We noticed each other’s writing and we started corresponding purely as fans of each other’s work [ . . . ] we were each other’s groupies first.”

Since then, both Tony and Nicole have published a number of works, including short stories, poems, and novels. They have also had the opportunity to publicize their work online, as well as travel around Canada and to the United States to do book signings.

Their distinct, melodic style of graphic by Bram Keast writing has attracted a significant fanbase that enjoys the contrast between the poetic language and after living in it for 20 years, and with sales and exposure, they are hanging around the neighbour- not ready to take on other writers the brassy content. quite yet.

“It’s not short sentences the way hoods that populate his writing.

“I’m not blind to the city’s prob“It costs a lot of money to proHemingway or Bukowski would write [ . . . ] the words flow down lems, but I think it’s a great place,” mote and market,” Tony said. “It the page like music,” said Tony. “I Tony said. “Other writers that write wouldn’t be fair to other writers not was a musician first. I played in a about Winnipeg always write about to be able to back them as a publishband for many years, and the way the farm on the prairies, but they ing company should, even an indie I write is the way I play guitar, in don’t write about our huge down- company.” town, and that street corner where If things pick up, Tony and a sense.”

Nicole are interested in publishing Being a part of Winnipeg’s people drink and do drugs.”

While Tony doesn’t suggest works by other authors that are simmusic scene gave Tony an appreciation for its vivid urban scene, mak- navigating to those areas of the ilarly minded, whose works cohere ing an appearance in the majority city, he feels that Winnipeg writ- with what Screamin’ Skull Press ers should comment on it. Nicole has put out so far. of his work.

“I’ve been told by people that writes about urban life as well, but have read my books that Winnipeg having lived in Ohio for most of Works by Screamin’ Skull Press is like another character,” Tony said. her life, her work comes from an are available at Coles in Cityplace, McNally Robinson, and online at “My latest book Crazy Legs is almost American perspective.

For now, Screamin’ Skull Press screamingskullpress.blogspot.ca a love letter to Winnipeg, but about remains a company of two. Even the gritty, downtown Winnipeg.”

Tony said he knows the city well though the pair has been successful

image provided by Carolyn Mount

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s much as we like to believe we are all independent, autonomous individuals, our lives are all intertwined. We are all connected to each person we cross paths with; they become part of our story. But can more than a mere memory capture these fleeting moments?

A current master of fine art student at the University of Manitoba, Carolyn Mount, aims to prove it possible with her current exhibit in the Gallery of Student Art, entitled Art for Trade.

Mount uses intersecting lines in her silkscreen works to demonstrate the nature of our interconnectedness – aiming to emphasize the line as a means of forging new connections. Undulating between form and the formless, she creates abstract works of art, demonstrating the subjective experience of social interaction.

While attempting to capture the intimacy of intersecting lives is a difficult task in itself, Mount has also dedicated her time to creating moments of connection with her patrons. All artwork in the exhibit, as suggested by the name, is available to be taken home by viewers.

The kicker is you cannot simply purchase the works; they must be traded for.

Mount has accumulated, among other things, a pearl necklace, an antique tricycle, and hand-knit socks through the alternative economy. This system creates vulnerability for the artist—each buyer sets their own price—that will inevitably create a connection between artist and patron. The barter structure suffuses the transac-

tion with a sense of comradery our capitalistic market lacks.

The exchange of the artwork also acts as a more tangible representation of Mount’s exploration of social connection. By setting up camp in different public spaces— such as flea markets, community markets, and on campus—the artist is entwining herself in the community and creating new moments of connection.

“I decided to commit myself to giving or trading all my work for a one-year period as an alternative way of being in and building community,” explained Mount.

“Originally my research was going to be focused on financial debt [ . . . ] I was struggling with the isolation and shame of it all.

However, I believe we are not limited by what we owe and I wanted to explore ways of building and sharing in community outside the social and environmental limitations of the market economy.”

The result is a cyclical, almost self-maintaining process. Mount creates artwork to illustrate moments of connection among people, which she then trades with new individuals to create new connections, that are then transformed into more artwork for the exhibit.

Art for Trade will be displayed in the Gallery of Student Art until Feb. 27. All artwork and traded pieces will be exhibited in Mount’s MFA thesis, ExChanged, showing in the School of Art Gallery June 4-12. Trade times are Feb. 24, 26, and 27 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Lauren Siddall Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

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Sports Sports Editor: Mike Still Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Bison Briefs Playoff recap Mike Still, staff

P

ost-season action heated up this past weekend for the University of Manitoba Bisons; however, the end result wasn’t in the herd’s favour, as both the men’s basketball and hockey teams saw their seasons come to an end.

Men’s hockey fell in three games to the host the UBC Thunderbirds, while men’s basketball was swept 2-0 on the road against Calgary.

Men’s hockey

Manitoba entered the playoffs as the fifth seed, but were just one point behind opponents from UBC heading into the weekend matchup.

Despite taking three out of four games against the Thunderbirds in the regular season, the Bisons failed to match UBC’s intensity when it

counted, falling two games to one in their quarter-final matchup.

The home squad took advantage of their opportunities, scoring first in each of the three games, even though the Bisons outshot their opponents in the first two games of the series.

Game one on Thursday night saw UBC open up a two-goal cushion in the first three minutes of the game, a deficit that the Bisons weren’t able to come back from. The Thunderbirds received goals from five different players, en route to a 5-1 victory.

Manitoba’s lone goal came from Kyle Rous, who scored at 9:57 of the first period.

With their backs against the wall on Friday night, the Bisons were able to respond, forcing a third and final game. The herd showed incredible

resolve, coming back from one goal down on three separate occasions, pulling out a 4-3 overtime win. Their only lead ended up coming from the game-winning goal just 44 seconds into the extra session, off of the stick of Darren Bestland.

The Bison’s other goals came from Shaquille Merasty, Brett Dudar, and Josh Elmes.

Saturday’s deciding third game featured physical intensity from both squads, with a combined 48 minutes in penalties being dished out. It was UBC that would get the advantage on the scoreboard though, winning 3-1.

Manitoba ran into a hot goalie as Eric Williams was on top of his game, stopping 28 of 29 Bison shots, and fell just five seconds short of a shut-out, which was ended by Jory Coates.

Men’s basketball

Losers of seven straight games entering the post-season, the men’s basketball team was looking to change their fortune against a 12-8 Dino squad, which Manitoba had taken one out of two games against on the road earlier in the season.

Unfortunately, the herd was unable to extend their season, losing 92-81 on Friday, and 93-81 on Saturday.

Friday’s stat sheet was relatively equal, with the difference occurring the first and fourth quarters. Calgary out-scored Manitoba 27-17 in the first and 22-15 in the fourth.

All five of the Dinos’ starters reached double figures, with Lars Schlueter leading the way with 21 points off of 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. AJ Basi also had 21

points to head up the scoring for the Bisons.

Game two, on Saturday, was another close contest, with free throws playing a key factor in the result. Manitoba entered the fourth quarter down by just eight, but couldn’t capitalize on their chances from the line in the final 10 minutes, shooting just 69 per cent, compared to 83.9 per cent for Calgary.

Veteran Jarred OgungbemiJackson played a crucial role down the stretch, hitting a few contested shots to pad his team’s lead. He finished with a game-high of 23 points.

Basi led the way again for the Bisons with 20 points.

Redemption against Regina Women’s hockey tops Cougars in 3, advances to conference semifinals Mike Still, staff

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he University of Manitoba Bison the whole year – you don’t change for women’s hockey team proved that the playoffs.” age is just a number this past weekend, Gavelin would come up big the as their rookie-fuelled roster took very next night, notching a hat trick down the visiting Regina Cougars to lead the way for Regina, who two games to one at the Wayne pulled off a 4-3 double overtime vicFleming Arena, in the opening tory, taking the series to a deciding round of the Canada West confer- third game. ence playoffs.

The Bisons led the game 1-0 after It was the ultimate act of revenge the first intermission, and 2-1 after for the Bisons, who were upset by the the second; the third period and extra very same team at home in last year’s session, though, were where Gavelin quarter-final matchup. took over, recording all three of her Manitoba entered the playoffs goals in that span. with the number three seed, after Rook ie sensation A lanna finishing the regular season with 54 Sharman would get the scoring points. Their opponents from Regina started in this one, tallying her first finished sixth, with just 38 points; goal of the playoffs at 17:11 on the however, the three-game contest was power play, which was the lone goal highly competitive. in the opening 20 minutes.

Manitoba grabbed game one, with Carleen Meszaros answered back a 4-1 victory, in which they basically in the second for Regina, scoring a dictated the pace start to finish. The power play goal of her own, at 2:23.

Cougars finished with 10 total pen- Keen would net her second of the alty minutes, resulting in their down- series with the extra attacker at fall, as they were never able to grab 13:24, and Regina found their season consistent momentum. pushed to the brink, down 2-1 headThe herd outshot Regina in every ing into the third. period, and also cashed in on two Gavelin sparked the troops, howof their man-advantages, with goals ever, scoring just a minute in to yet coming from Michelle Pawluk and again tie things up. Alana Serhan captain Maggie Litchfield-Medd on would restore the Bisons’ lead at 11:52 the power play. Courtlyn Oswald on the power play, but Gavelin made and Lauryn Keen also scored for sure that momentum was short-lived, Manitoba. Kylie Gavelin notched tying things up at three just under the Cougars’ only goal of game one. two minutes later.

Bison head coach Jon Rempel, It took a second set of overtime for fresh off being named 2014-15 Canada Regina to pull out the come-fromWest Coach of the Year, made sure behind victory, but they eventually to instill the same level of intensity got it done, as Gavelin cashed in on in his team from what they demon- a wrap-around a minute in, sending strated in a strong regular season. both teams to the brink for Sunday’s “Just before the game I told them final game. not to change too much,” Rempel It was fitting that Sunday’s decidsaid. “Your team’s personality is what ing game would also take more than it is, and you’ve got to play that way 60 minutes to find a winner, with

both squads upping the compete level. Medd and Sharman would also Oswald would be the hero for provide goals for Manitoba, who Manitoba, potting the game and will now move on to play the UBC series winner at 6:06 of the extra Thunderbirds on the road this coming session, en route to a 3-2 Bison vic- weekend in one of two conference tory. First-line sensations Litchfield- semifinals.

Game one will go Friday, Feb. 27 at 9 p.m., with game two on Feb. 28 at 5 p.m., and, if necessary, game three, on March 1 at 5 p.m.

Photo by Jeff Miller for Bison Sports

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Sports

Sports Editor: Mike Still Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Big Horn Breakdown

End-of-year report Kenny Oliver

t’s hard to visualize what will hap- Learning experiences and beaking that occur at every As a group, we attracted a variety game. Lexi Janovcik, from our Bison pen after a season ends. Most players can empathize with the cloud of of third-party opinions. Some people women’s volleyball team, demanded emotions and memories that trigger loved us, especially the families of fried chicken be eaten in front of the when they realize that their season is team members, while others would Thunderbirds. over. When we sit down at the end prefer that we just didn’t rock the of the year for one last drink among boat. Change for a community is We look forward friends, we will reflect on the good difficult and everyone experiences and the bad, the new experiences growing pains. to seeing you all gained, and the new mistakes we’ve— We developed a rivalry with the on campus. Please hopefully—learned from. engineering band, who have accused The Big Horns started with an me on several occasions of trying to stop in and say hello, idea. You select a place with a distinc- copy their concept. I appreciate that and participate tive look for those interested in cam- they think of us constantly and I hope pus spirt and culture to congregate. to see them stay for a whole game at in a new era of We pitched our initial ideas to least once before I retire. campus culture We were ineffective at generatChristian Pierce and a few other UMSU representatives. They were ing a rivalry with the Wesmen. They surprised that our proposal included notice when we show up at their camprops that we had stayed up all night pus, but mostly they just think we are Season recap to make in preparation for the meet- louder than they are and would prefer The Big Horn season started ing. I was impressed that Pierce was we cancelled the game as opposed to strong this year. We had a good so approachable and he even joined cheering against us. turnout for the soccer game against our student group that week and We have found a proper nemesis, Calgary, and the battle for Winnipeg became one of our strongest support- The UBC “Thunderturds,” who never against the Wesmen. ers and most loyal members. fail to get involved in the cheering The Big Horn “grand poohbah,”

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Darren Sancartier, was master of under construction, students didn’t ceremonies at our campus pep rally, congregate the same way they had a turnout of approximately 23 Big before.

Horns, most of whom were new The Big Horns had one major applicants. The season was looking success that has lasted since day one. prosperous and we had more poten- Senior members and our returning tial members than any time before. members feel that they own it. They In an effort to make membership also feel that they own a piece of cameasier to attain, we offered it to mem- pus, that they have a profound conbers based on casual commitment nection to their community. Many of over a period of a month. As a result, our members are from other countries we gained many new people, but as and have developed a second family the term continued we were losing within the Big Horns. memberships as fast as we were gainOur mandate was to create a nexus ing them. of campus spirit, and we have been We failed to create lasting rela- successful in doing so. We want to tionships with people as we had done continue doing charity work, attendin the past. New members entering ing social functions, competing the group didn’t feel as welcome, and against residences, gathering food we look forward to rectifying this for the campus food bank, and mainnext year. taining our attendance every week.

When the Big Horns were at their We look forward to seeing you all peak performance, we had events on campus. Please stop in and say every Friday including an informal hello, and participate in a new era of lunch meeting in University Centre. campus culture. In short, the state of With the campo and science lounges The Big Horns is prosperous.

First Nation sensation

Bison thrower Justin Krantz named co-winner of 2014 aboriginal male athlete of the year award Mike Still, staff

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t’s been a long journey for University of Manitoba Bison thrower Justin Krantz. Originally hailing from the small town of

Roblin, Manitoba, the multi-sport athlete at Goose Lake High School began as a thrower eight years ago, and started taking track and field

seriously in Grade 10. Since then, he has put in an excessive amount of work and mileage to get where he is today.

Photo provided by Justin Krantz

“I’ve been throwing competitively discus thrower by Athletics Manitoba. for the last four years, mainly by Those recognitions helped him not myself as it was tough to have pro- only get recruited, but also gave him fessional coaching living in rural the distinction of being named a coManitoba,” Krantz said. winner of the Manitoba Aboriginal A breakthrough moment in Sport Male Athlete of the Year for Krantz’s career occurred when he 2014. met Bruce Pirnie, the current throw“I was extremely surprised when I ing coach for the Bisons, who was first found out that I won the award, also a member of the 1972 and 1976 as I didn’t know I was even nomiCanadian Olympic teams in shot put. nated,” Krantz said.

Pirnie first approached Krantz “It was a great accomplishment when he was in 10th grade, asking for myself. I felt honoured and very to train him after he had placed sec- proud that I could represent my ond in junior varsity shot put at high hometown and my culture.” school provincials. Up to that point, Along with his achievements Krantz had been training every day in sport, Krantz—who is of Métis on his own. heritage—has also embraced his “I would travel to Winnipeg to train indigenous roots, giving back to the with coach Pirnie as much as I could, community when possible. but obviously it was very expensive He is currently on the northwest considering I lived five hours away Métis youth recreation and wellness from Winnipeg,” Krantz said. committee, and has been a long-time Despite the issue of distance, volunteer with the Roblin Métis band.

Krantz stayed committed and conAlong with his coach, Krantz was tinued to hone his craft, both on his also thankful for his family’s support own and with Pirnie, who had a large in getting to this point. impact on his growth.

“My parents and brother sacrificed “I look up to all his accomplish- endless amounts of time and effort ments and how he has affected the into helping me compete, and for that athletics community Canada-wide. I I’m forever grateful,” Krantz said. aspire to be as great as him one day,” The future looks very bright for Krantz said.

Krantz, and if he keeps up at this pace, This past winter, Krantz officially expect to see more awards coming committed to the Bisons after a stellar his way.

2014 campaign, which included setting the provincial shot put record, as well as being named Manitoba’s top male

VOL. 101 NO. 52 February 25, 2015

Sports

23

Killing 2 birds with 1 stone

Breaking down Winnipeg’s blockbuster Kane, Bogosian trade Andy Che, staff

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innipeg Jets general man- effort in Detroit, and then scored the ager Kevin Cheveldayoff was shootout winner. likely breathing a sigh of relief when Perhaps the most advantageous it was officially confirmed that mis- aspect in comparing Kane to Stafford fit Evander Kane was traded to the is that the Jets are relieving themBuffalo Sabres in a packaged deal selves of Kane’s six-year, $31.5 milwith included defenceman Zach lion contract. Already in the third Bogosian and the rights to prospect season of that deal, he was evidently goalie Jason Kasdorf on Feb. 11, 2015. performing well short of that five While Kane’s infamous “money- million-per-year level. phone” and, more recently, “moneyOn the other hand, Stafford pushup” posts on social media went becomes an unrestricted free agent viral, the 23-year-old left-winger’s at the end of the season, in the final latest rambunctious antics finally season of a four-year $16 million conreached a boiling point when he tract. It certainly wouldn’t hurt the reportedly violated the Jets’ formal- Jets to lock up Stafford long-term; ity policy by donning a tracksuit to however, he may be look appealing a team meeting before their clash to other teams if Cheveldayoff wants against the Vancouver Canucks on to move up a few draft picks during Feb. 3. An altercation ensued with his the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. teammates and Kane appears to have authorized himself a healthy scratch Head-to-Head: Myers v. Bogosian one hour before puck drop.

Two days following the incident, Perhaps the most effective piece Kane was placed on injured reserve of the acquisition so far has been the with season-ending shoulder sur- revelation of Tyler Myers. Known gery. Yet the details of his run-in for his towering six-foot-eight frame, with Dustin Byfuglien continued to the native of Houston Texas is revivemerge. ing his rookie days “What happens which saw him in the room stays win the 2009-10 Kevin in the room,” Jets Calder Trophy as Cheveldayoff captain Andrew NHL Rookie of the Year. After Ladd told tsn.ca to has proved alleviate the locker impressively scorhis worth in room drama; howing 21 goals and 85 ever, by that point points during his handling playerthe situation had first two NHL for-player deals already escalated seasons, Myers beyond repair. was locked up to which could hint Cheveldayoff’s a lucrative sevendeal with Buffalo year, $38.5 million the reason for Myers’ sudden offenat further bold marks the first contract in 2011. sive rediscovery. After starring for transitions in the player-for-player Since then, Buffalo, with under-fire support on his offensive per- the blue line, the 25-year-old could trade since the Jets franchise Jets’ return to the formance on the have dipped due to the pressure of nearing the NHL, and it came blue line has suf- early comparisons as the next Chris with some instrufered, totalling Pronger or being labelled as the trade deadline mental value. only 66 points in league’s next great defenceman.

Winnipeg the previous four Whatever the case may have been, acquired forward Drew Strafford, seasons as a Sabre. In four games as Myers’ rewarding introduction has defenceman Tyler Myers, prospects a Jet, Myers has averaged a point per certainly marked a new cornerstone Brendan Lemieux and Joel Armia, as game, scoring one goal and adding on the Winnipeg defence and could well as a first-round draft pick which five assists. serve as a positive influence on the belong to either the St. Louis Blues Zach Bogosian signed a seven- budding Jacob Trouba as well. or New York Islanders. year, $36 million contract extension at the beginning of last season, but Like father, like son Head-to-head: unlike Myers, his all-around defenWhile it’s safe to say that Stafford v. Kane sive play does not warrant such lucra- Winnipeg probably won the battle on While Stafford is unlikely to tive figures. the blue line, the Jets’ two new prosprovide the offensive expertise of Similar to Myers, Bogosian pects acquired from Buffalo could Kane, who averaged a goal every was a top draft selection from the one day compensate for the loss of three games as a Jet, the 29-year-old famous “defence-dominated” 2008 Kane on the team’s frontline. processes a smart, versatile, two-way NHL draft class and is capable of Brendan Lemieux is the son of game and can be deployed in all three controlling the defensive side of the four-time Stanley Cup champion forward positions. ice. The 25-year-old defenceman has Claude Lemieux, and from what The 13th overall selection of the never lived up to the offensive upside the 18-year-old is displaying for the 2004 draft, Stafford is a veteran of he established in his final season of Barrie Colts this season, he is provnearly 600 NHL games, along with junior hockey. ing the apple does not fall far from 20 in the post-season and adds greater Bogosian has averaged 18 points the tree. forward depth to a team which ranks per year in seven NHL seasons, comHe has scored 37 goals and 54 19th in the league this season in goals. pared to Myers’ 26 points per year in points in 49 OHL games, while killHe potted his first Winnipeg goal six seasons. ing off 130 penalty minutes. Although during the Jets’ dramatic comeback The change of scenery could be a slightly undersized power forward

Graphic by Caroline Norman

at six feet, Lemieux’s knack to agitate pect goalie opens up breathing room his opponents and wicked nose for for the two promising netminders in the net could result in the 31st overall the team’s depth chart, namely Eric selection of 2014 turning pro as soon Comrie and Connor Hellebuyck. as next season.

Buffalo may have a deeper goalThe other prospect heading to tending depth compared to the Jets, Winnipeg is Finnish winger Joel but with less well-rounded prospects Armia. While he was a hyped pros- in goal, Kasdorf may have a better pect during his Finnish junior career, crack at the NHL if he is signed to capped off with 12 points in six games an entry-level contract with another at the 2013 World Junior tournament, organization.

Armia is coming off his first season The first-round draft selection in the AHL and clearly has work do from Buffalo will be either the St. to in adjusting to North American- Louis Blues’ or New York Islanders’ style hockey. first-round pick in the upcoming A consistent sniper in Finnish draft. Since both teams are destined Elite League, he scored just seven for the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Jets goals and 20 assists in 54 AHL games will likely gain a late-in-the-round with the Rochester American in 2013- pick.

14. Time is on the 21-year-old’s side Though the Winnipeg Jets may to continue improving with the St. have very well won this trade in the John’s IceCaps; however, with the early going, more is yet to be told. likes of Nic Petan and Nikolaj Ehlers Whatever the case may be, Kevin possibly turning pro next season, Cheveldayoff has proved his worth Armia will have to prove himself in handling player-for-player deals sooner rather than later. which could hint at further bold transitions in the Jets franchise nearing Other Details the trade deadline.

Goaltender Jason Kasdorf, who hails from Winnipeg, had his NHL rights traded to Buffalo. He has yet to sign to an entry level contract.

Cheveldayoff’s choice to move a pros-