15 March 2017

SCIENCE

Human-animal embryos The ethical pros and cons

PAGE 10

NEWS

2017 UMSU election results One UMSU sweeps executive positions PAGE 3

NEWS

Supporting refugees Robson Hall students volunteer at Welcome Centre PAGE 4 SPORTS

Shooting the breeze

Talking with some seniors on the Bison men’s basketball team PAGE 20 VO L 1 0 2 · N O 2 6 · M A R C H 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO B A N .CO M

Index

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VOL. 103 NO. 26 March 15, 2017

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Craig Adolphe

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

BUSINESS MANAGER Daniel Parys

accounts@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Vacant

ads@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR Lauren Siddall

me@themanitoban.com

NEWS EDITOR Garett Williams

news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

NEWS EDITOR Levi Garber

levi@themanitoban.com/ 474.6770

COMMENT EDITOR Shawn Garbutt

comment@themanitoban.com

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Malak Abas

science@themanitoban.com

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Seamus Hamilton-Pattison

arts@themanitoban.com

SPORTS EDITOR Ryan Stelter

sports@themanitoban.com

COPY EDITOR Sarah Doran

copy@themanitoban.com

ARTS

Boarder X at the WAG SPORTS

Trophy haul

Bison volleyball players and coach earn some hardware

DESIGN

DESIGN EDITOR Bram Keast

Exhibit features Indigenous artists who surf, skate, and snowboard

design@themanitoban.com

PAGE 13

photo@themanitoban.com

GRAPHICS EDITOR Kelly Campbell

graphics@themanitoban.com

PHOTO EDITOR Miguel Yetman DESIGN ASSOCIATE Kellie Huynh GRAPHICS ASSOCIATE Aldo Rios PHOTO ASSOCIATE Chantal Zdan PHOTO ASSOCIATE Star Roxas

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PHOTO ASSOCIATE Megan Colwell

REPORTERS

NEWS Osho Samuel Adetunji NEWS Diana Ubokudom COLUMNIST Jeremiah Kopp COLUMNIST Shaden Abusaleh ARTS & CULTURE Olivia Michalczuk ARTS & CULTURE Emelia Fournier SPORTS Kellen Taniguchi SPORTS Jason Pchajek COPY Joseph Gonzalez

VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS

Isaac Weldon Tim Liao Justine Mamucud Mike Still

COMMENT

Democratic failure

Will Gibson Sari Habiluk Janis Maudlin Anthony Labonté

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

Online voting won't fix student politics PAGE 8

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News

News Editors: Garett Williams & Levi Garber Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

One UMSU sweeps executive positions in 2017 general election Student election sees highest turnout in years with online voting LEVI GARBER, STAFF

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n an election with the largest voter turnout in recent memory, One UMSU has won all five executive positions. The incoming executive will be led by incumbent UMSU president Tanjit Nagra.

Voter turnout reached 27.7 per cent, a full four points higher than the 20-year high set in 2013.

In addition to the One UMSU victory, four community representatives were elected: Zobia Aamir as women’s representative; Chris Otisi as international students’ representative; Noah Wilson as Aboriginal students’ representative; and Sarah White as LGBTTQ* representative.

The students living with disabilities representative position had no nominees this year, and will likely be filled by council appointment later in 2017.

Nagra handily defeated UMSU United presidential candidate and former Nigerian Students’ Association president Oyindamola Alaka by a margin of 3691 votes (64.8 per cent) to 2009 (35.2 per cent).

Following her win, Nagra said she and her team are excited to get to work next term.

“I'm very proud of the One UMSU team. They worked tirelessly throughout the campaign period and they'll continue to work tirelessly for students next term,” Nagra told the Manitoban.

“We are excited to start building a strong union, and working towards a better campus for everyone.”

PHOTO BY STAR ROXAS

One UMSU vice-president advocacy candidate and Arts Student Body Council senator Allison Kilgour beat out UMSU United’s Chance Paupanakis with 3625 votes (64.3 per cent) compared with Paupanakis’ 2012 votes (35.7 per cent).

Wilfred Sam-King defeated UMSU United candidate Mathew Scammell to hold on to his position of vice-president external for another year with 3685 votes (65 per cent) compared to Scammell’s 1988 votes (35 per cent).

One UMSU’s Jehan Moorthy beat Stephen Paul-Michael for the

Second year political studies major students’ representative position with position of vice-president finance and operations with 3012 votes (54.7 per from Nigeria Chris Otisi won the 3041 votes and Sarah White took the cent) to Paul-Michael’s 2490 votes position of international students’ position of LGBTTQ* representative (45.3 per cent). representative with 423 votes (43 per with 2994 votes in uncontested races.

The position of vice-president stu- cent), defeating second year political dent services was taken by Jeremy studies student Christina Aliu and Semchyshyn with 3222 votes (57.5 Abdul Qadir, who received 328 votes per cent), who beat UMSU United’s (33.3 per cent) and 233 votes (23.7 per Debbie Steinmann with 2382 votes cent) respectively.

(42.5 per cent).

Second year kinesiology student Zobia Aamir defeated first year stuCommunity representatives dent Hifza Jalbani for women’s repreOnly two of the five community sentative with 1836 votes (53.4 per cent) representative positions were con- to Jalbani’s 1604 votes (46.6 per cent). tested in this election.

Noah Wilson won the aboriginal

Laura Garinger and UWSA Connect sweep U of W student elections CRAIG ADOLPHE, STAFF

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he University of Winnipeg union’s current vice-presidents.

470 votes and Rising Voice candidate Northam, Momentum’s fourth sentative; and Lester Aidoo and Students’ Association (UWSA) Students’ Voice was led by current Felisha Hartig’s 271 votes. member.

Waarengeye Vikram as senate stuhas elected a new executive and board vice-president internal affairs David The largest margin of victory for Among the other contested posi- dent representatives. of directors for the upcoming 2017-18 Fanhbulleh; UWSA Connect was led UWSA Connect, however, went to tions this year, Sia Kermani beat out Voting for the UWSA 2017 elecacademic year.

by Garinger; and Rising Voice was vice-president internal affairs can- Daniel Denton for science direc- tion ran from March 6 to 8 with turnCurrent vice-president student led by current vice-president external didate Morgan Brightnose, who tor; Janel Bortoluzzi beat out Evan out reaching 13.8 per cent. affairs Laura Garinger won in the affairs Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie. received 697 votes compared to Krosney and David Wiebe for arts Chief elections commissioner race for president with the other Garinger defeated her three com- Students’ Voice candidate Elena director; and Jade DeFehr beat out Hollie Swart said with 28 candidates three members of her slate UWSA petitors with 463 votes compared to Spitcyna, who received 486 votes. Patricia Nosal for status of women having run for 14 positions this “may Connect taking the union’s other Fanhbulleh’s 376 votes, Nellis’ 247 Rising Voice didn’t field a candidate director. [have been] the largest ballot in close executive positions. The incoming votes, and Lavoie’s 196 votes. for internal affairs after Mitchell van Several other directors were also to 10 years.” executive will include Megan Linton Linton won the vice-president Ineveld submitted his nomination elected after running uncontested as vice-president external affairs, external position with 490 votes, forms with the wrong position listed including Taylor Daigneault as Brenden Gali as vice-president stu- defeating Students’ Voice candidate and was unable to change it after the education director; Simran Badhan dent affairs, and Morgan Brightnose Teruni Walaliyadde and Rising nomination period closed. as international students’ director; as vice-president internal affairs.

Voice’s Andrew Vineberg, who In 2016, the UWSA elected a Avery Letkemann as environmenThree slates – Students’ Voice, received 409 votes and 317 votes mixed slate, with Garinger, Lavoie, tal ethics director; Mohamed Behi UWSA Connect, and Rising Voice respectively. and current UWSA president and Andrew Minenko sharing the – faced off for the executive positions Gali won the vice-president stu- Kevin Settee elected as part of role of accessibility director; Devin with one more independent candi- dent affairs position by only 4 ballots, the Momentum slate. That year, Woodbury as business and economdate, James Nellis, running for presi- with 474 votes compared to Students’ Fanhbulleh, running with the ics director; Abraham El-Giadaa dent. Each slate was led by one of the Voice candidate Oladele Ojewole’s United Voice slate, beat out Jonathan as board of regents student repre-

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News

News Editors: Garett Williams & Levi Garber Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

U of M law students working with Welcome Place to challenge US-Canada refugee agreement Robson Hall students also helping refugees prepare asylum claims GARETT WILLIAMS, STAFF

the union representing border officers comparing the boundary to “Swiss cheese” – is unhelpful.

“Yes, there is an increase in arrivals, but the floodgates aren’t open,” she said. “We have a very robust system here. I think there is a bit of fear mongering that’s happening and definitely some misconceptions.”

“It can be really moving. What all of these refugee claimants have gone through – as someone who is so privileged to be living here, it’s unimaginable, in a sense” – Maddie Pearlman, Welcome Centre volunteer

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ith a record number of immi- that was very similar to the stories I those people and I didn’t even think grants travelling north through grew up with about my family,” said about it,” she said. unmanned sections of the Canada- Victoria Weir, a second year U of M Weir has been volunteering in U.S. border, Manitoba’s refugee set- law student who has been volun- three- to four-hour shifts for the past tlement resources are being nearly teering at the Manitoba Interfaith two weeks helping asylum seekers overwhelmed.

Immigration Council’s Welcome prepare general application and basis But a group of University of Place, Manitoba’s largest refugee of claim forms.

Manitoba law students are stepping settlement agency.

Completing the application up to help carry some of the load. includes learning the stories of the Since the beginning of the year, refugees, including one man who she more than 200 refugees have entered “I am doing it said fled to Russia after facing politiinto Canada at unmonitored sections cal charges in Ethiopia. He made his because I am a of the Canada-U.S. border near way to Cuba, and then to Columbia Emerson, Man. The asylum seekers where he began the trek north to Canadian and a are often travelling on foot – crossing Canada, much of it on foot.

“Just to hear the journey that peothrough ditches and fields – and brave Winnipegger and a extreme winter conditions to make a ple have gone on and what they’ve law student – you claim for asylum in Winnipeg. been through – and you’re talking During a severe late-season snowto them after they’ve gotten here the don’t have to be storm that shut down a number of day before – it’s just really amazing a former refugee area highways last week, 19 made to see what people will go through the trek north from North Dakota. when they believe their lives are in to help other According to reports, two were disdanger,” she said. refugees” – Kobra covered the evening of March 7 and Second-year law student Maddie another 17 just before dawn on the Pearlman said she was moved to orgaRahimi, Welcome 8th, huddled together in a carport at nize student volunteers after learnan old golf course. ing through media reports how far Centre volunteer In December, two Ghanaian refuWelcome Place’s resources are being gees had all of their fingers save for stretched. their thumbs amputated after sufferWeir’s family immigrated to Pearlman, with fellow law student ing frostbite following hours outside Canada from Hungary as refugees Kobra Rahimi and assistance from in freezing temperatures. in the 1950s and she said she did not Robson Hall immigration and refu“A lot of the stories of people walk- hesitate when the call for volunteers gee law professor Shauna Labman, ing from the States and from conflicts opened. has lined up the 10 U of M law stureally resonated with me, because “I think I saw a lot of my family in dents who are volunteering weekly

“It can be really heartbreaking,” she said of learning the stories that bring some of the refugees to Winnipeg.

“It can be really moving. What PHOTO BY STAR ROXAS all of these refugee claimants have gone through – as someone who is shifts at Welcome Place. so privileged to be living here, it’s The students supplement Welcome unimaginable, in a sense. And the Place staff and assist asylum seekers claimant is just really appreciative in completing their claims forms. and they show immense strength in Pearlman said even more students so many ways.” signed up to volunteer but language Rahimi herself immigrated to barriers – ideal volunteers speak Canada as a refugee in 2001, when either French or Arabic – and capac- she was 14. Her parents fled Iran in ity set the cap at 10, who rotate two 1979 and spent the next 22 years in an shifts of three or four hours per day Iraqi refugee camp before landing in through the week.

Winnipeg.

“I don’t think that you would need Pearlman was also instrumental in organizing the U of M branch of to experience it yourself to have a nationwide law student research- empathy for them but I think that a-thon in February examining the sometimes I have a better, or deeper, Safe Third Country Agreement with understanding of what they are going through,” she said. “There were many the U.S. Under the agreement, asylum individuals that supported us when seekers must claim refugee status we came here and I feel that it’s kind in the first safe country they arrive. of my duty to support others who Canadian border officials must turn are in need.”

She dismissed complaints that away any such claimants trying to enter Canada via customs at U.S. land refugees are an overall burden, sayborders. ing, like anyone else, they immigrate Many of the refugees who are to Canada to build a better life. making the crossing in Emerson – “It’s just right now they need help,” as well as Hemmingford. Que., and she said. “There was a time where I other areas – are seeking refuge in needed help, my parents needed it, Canada to avoid toughened immigra- and now we don’t. It’s temporary.” tion laws in the U.S. “I’m not doing this because I am a “This is unprecedented,” Pearlman former refugee,” she added.

“I am doing it because I am a said of the number of immigrants crossing into Manitoba through Canadian and a Winnipegger and a Emerson. She added that the recent law student – you don’t have to be a rhetoric – including from the head of former refugee to help other refugees.”

VOL. 103 NO. 26 March 15, 2017

News

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Active Living Centre to offer women and non-binary gym hours U of M facility follows University of Winnipeg, other universities in setting aside special hours DIANA UBOKUDOM, STAFF

PHOTO BY MIGUEL YETMAN

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he University of Manitoba Active groups and people that are needing Living Centre (ALC) is orga- equality,” she said. nizing special hours for women and “So we wanted to give them that non-binary gym users. equity that they needed.”

Advanced by Aly Raposo, womSaif Baloch, international stuen’s representative for the Arts dents’ commissioner with the Student Body Council and founder Canadian Federation of Studentsof the Women’s and Gender Studies Manitoba, is helping develop the Student Association, similar initia- initiative alongside Raposo and said tives are already underway at other the proposal received strong support Canadian universities, including the from various student groups and the University of Winnipeg.

ALC alike.

The U of W began the inclusive “They were very open-minded gym initiative pilot project in the fall, about it and they were very welcomproviding exclusive hours to women, ing,” he said. “They’re framing the non-binary students, and other mar- wording and being careful of the ginalized student groups. language, being very inclusive.”

Raposo said she was inspired by Raposo and Baloch both emphathe move and decided to propose sized the importance of the initiative, a similar program for the U of M, saying inclusivity and safety for all though she admitted it is a tougher students are key values which they sell in the larger University of hope to promote.

Manitoba environment.

“It’s something that we pay in our “The motive behind the initiative tuition fees. It’s something that is for was that there are people of minority all of us. But if people aren’t using it,

we need to find out why,” said Raposo.

“And if they’re not using it because they’re not comfortable, then I want them to be comfortable.”

Raposo said the ALC is currently organizing a trial hour for the initiative on Wednesdays. As soon as the hours are finalized, the initiative will be officially announced.

Backlash

Both Raposo and Baloch said that while most of the response to the initiative has been positive, there has also been some backlash, especially when it was initially brought forward to the University of Manitoba Students’ Union council.

“When we proposed the idea to the council, there was a lot of confusion and backlash and a lot of allegations calling it a ‘reverse segregation,’ which doesn't make sense to me at all,” said Baloch.

Despite the criticisms, Raposo

said she is resolved to push forward the initiative, especially after the positive feedback she received from students complaining they don’t feel safe or comfortable using the facility.

“We wanted to give them that equity that they needed” – Aly Raposo, ASBC women’s representative “I had not just a lot of negative backlash, but I also had lots of very positive feedback from people who wanted the space and who wanted these hours because they wanted to go to the gym very badly but they couldn't because of the way they

felt – unsafe,” she said.

Raposo said women and nonbinary students had raised concerns about gym culture.

“They [said they] had people that were taking pictures of them in the gym. There were a lot of bodyshaming instances. There was a lot of people who didn't feel comfortable.”

Raposo expressed optimism about the project, saying that if things unfold the right way it could become sustainable for the long term.

“It’s going to be a great success in my eyes,” she said. “And if the right promoting is done, signage is done, as it’s announced, and people are aware that this is happening, and know that it’s available to them, then I think there’s an absolute chance that it could be used as something that will benefit everyone in the long run.”

Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Craig Adolphe Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

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UMSU needs to get organized to fight tuition increases and budget cuts, and quick CRAIG ADOLPHE, STAFF

PHOTO BY MIGUEL YETMAN

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ith another UMSU election in our collective rear view mirror, it’s time to look toward the next year of student action.

After successive years of departmental budget cuts and with tuition increases looming on the horizon, now more than ever the union needs to re-establish its advocacy and lobbying roles.

The new PC provincial government has signalled plans to nix a provincial regulation that holds tuition to the rate of inflation. These changes, which could signal a new era of increasingly unaffordable postsecondary education, might be proposed as soon as the provincial budget announcement which is scheduled for April 11.

Unfortunately, there were few signals during the UMSU election that either slate had serious plans for any fierce opposition to this development, with both slates being either focused on more superfluous issues or unable to effectively communicate a full plan.

However, the March 7 election forum saw some lively responses from both slates on this issue: the strongest

anti-tuition increase rhetoric of any ple,” Paupanakis said. “Essentially, seen during the campaign. the administration should be answerVice-president advocacy candi- ing to us. We should be the ones makdates Allison Kilgour and Chance ing the rules here at the University Paupanakis answered a question for of Manitoba, not the administratheir respective slates about how they tion, not the provincial government. would respond to possible tuition And our slate would genuinely lobby increases enabled by the provincial for the lowering of tuition fees, we government and enacted by the wouldn’t just sit in our offices and university. write letters... We would get out on the streets, we would get out onto the marches, and actually fight for If the last few years the lowering of tuition fees.”

Kilgour responded with equal are any indication, vigour, even signalling interest in the executive walkouts.

“Our team is committed to fightwon’t take action ing for lower tuition for students,” without pressure Kilgour said. “All this year, Tanjit and Wilfred have been working with from students different groups on campus like the U of M student action network, like Paupanakis told the crowd and different faculty councils, to organize viewers watching an online stream different events, to work on lowering that his slate was “dedicated fully to tuition.” actually lobbying and actually sitting “We’re going to work so hard next down with government and talking year to keep these fees down. We’ve about the issues that plague our stu- been doing it all year on different levdents here.” els... and we’re going to make sure “We have the power of 25,000 peo- next year that we’re a strong voice for

you folks, that we do everything in our power to make sure that tuition stays affordable for students. You know, I’ve heard rumours of student walkouts. Let’s do it. Let’s show everyone that University of Manitoba students are united and that we can work together to lower these fees.”

Kilgour and Paupanakis’s answers were the strongest anti-tuition increase rhetoric in a campaign that tended to focus on superfluous issues These responses might have given a casual observer hope that whichever way the election went, there could be a pushback by student representatives, but if the last few years are any indication, the executive won’t take action

without pressure from students.

Recent UMSU executives have repeatedly stressed having a seat at the table, and that can be valuable when the other parties have good intentions and are open to change.

But a seat at the table does nothing if the others sitting around it aren’t listening.

It’s time for the executives to stop playing patty cakes with admin and the government, get out front of the student union, and get students organized to fight budget cuts and tuition increases, because they are coming.

Here’s hoping those answers meant something.

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Comment Comment Editor: Shawn Garbutt Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Online voting won’t save student democracy Substantial engagement is what will bring students to the polls, not slick voting methods ISAAC WELDON

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magine a campus full of students that this year we saw a comparative just waiting for the opportunity increase of only four per cent. 2016 to voice their opinions, express their saw a lull in voter turnout at 16.8 per concerns, and cast their ballots. But cent of electorates, an amazing 6.9 per voter turnout is low and everyone is in cent decrease from 2013. It gets worse: despair because of a cumbersome vot- compare 2013 with 2012 when voter ing processes and inaccessible polls turnout was an abysmal 7.3 per cent, that result in the inability to easily and the difference between those two cast ballots. years is 16.4 per cent!

Someone has an idea: what if students can vote online, on their Blaming the system phones or computers, from anywhere in the world with just a touch of a is easier than button? Perfect, just the solution we were waiting for! Online voting gets blaming ourselves, implemented in the student union’s but blaming the general election for the first time ever on campus – students rush online electorate for with a newfound sense of hope in the poor turnout is a system’s ability to accurately reflect their concerns. Our dilapidated syscowardly excuse tem is pulled out of a rut of dismal voter turnout by the implementation of online voting. Except, not really.

Sure, voter turnout saw a 10.9 per Voter turnout in the 2017 UMSU cent increase from last year, but this general election was low, but it was fluctuation pales in comparison to the not because of a lack of ability to vote. evidence apparent in the larger trends It was because of a lack of desire to of voter turnout. At best, you could vote. Online voting was an artificial say online voting is causally inconclumessiah for a superficial democracy. sive and democratically insignificant Hold on, voter turnout reached a when it comes to mass engagement record high this past election with a in student politics.

Don’t worry – we’re not alone in whopping 27.7 per cent of electorates participating. This indicates some this struggle. Evidence from across hope, right? Not so fast. A simple the country where student unions examination of the last five years of implemented online voting shows voter turnout numbers contradicts similarly disappointing results. any claim that online voting is a rem- Although there appears to be an edy for apathetic student democracy. uptick in voter turnout in years closely Take the difference between the following the initial use of online votsecond-highest turnout rate in the ing, the correlation only holds tenulast five years and compare it with ously in the long run. Considering our numbers this year. In 2013, turn- this, I guess we should not have out was 23.7 per cent, which means expected much else for UMSU.

PHOTO BY MIGUEL YETMAN

So why did we think online voting was the saviour of poor participation?

Easy: blaming the system is easier than blaming ourselves, but blaming the electorate for poor turnout is a cowardly excuse. We, the student leaders, are all guilty for failing the students.

Every election season student leaders have the opportunity to drive the discourse of their campaign. This opportunity comes hand

in hand with the responsibility to not getting what you want, and the identify the issues that face students other is getting it.” and present meaningful ways that We wanted online voting, and these issues can be addressed. Voter now we have it. What’s our excuse turnout is a critical reflection of the now? quality of the discourse during an election combined with the candiIsaac Weldon is the president of the dates’ abilities to display their com- Arts Student Body Council . mitment to addressing fundamental issues.

Oscar Wilde once said: “There are two tragedies in life. The first is

Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau missed the point of International Women’s Day, but so did the people attacking her SHADEN ABUSALEH, STAFF

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ophie Grégoire-Trudeau sparked controversy when she posted an Instagram photo of her and her husband, Justin Trudeau, holding hands on the eve of International Women’s Day. In the caption she asked her female followers to take a picture holding hands with a male ally with the hashtag “tomorrow in hand” – a call for us women to “celebrate the boys and men in our lives who encourage us to be who we truly are, who treat girls and women with respect, and who aren’t afraid to speak in front of others.”

That’s because, as many have wryly pointed out, men should be handsomely and publicly acknowledged for doing the bare minimum: believing that women are human beings worthy

of respect and celebration. remember all women suffragists who International Women’s Day marks But Grégoire-Trudeau makes a fought tenaciously to expedite their all the progress that women have fair point, and her heart’s clearly in agency in the world. It should be a made in the battle for equal rights the right place. Feminism is about day where we remember the women and acknowledges how far they have gender equality, including the advo- who stood up and continue to stand yet to go, so, let’s hold hands with cacy of women’s the women in our rights. This inevilives who have tably entails that Let’s hold hands with the women in our lives inspired, encourmen, women, and aged, and conwho have inspired, encouraged, and continue tinue to motivate others need to stand together at us throughout our to motivate us throughout our struggles the forefront in struggles. And support for equal let’s also recognize rights. up against a patriarchal society that that women are in no need of having But like other holidays recogniz- continues to find ways to infringe their hands held. ing important people in our lives upon women’s rights and freedoms.

Gregoire-Trudeau’s message that have made tremendous change, It should be a day to celebrate that may be infuriating to some, comInternational Women’s Day should womanhood comes in all shapes and ing across as explicit faux-feminism. be a day about women. Just read the forms, and that each is a beautiful ode But International Women’s Day is name. It should be a day where we to the mosaic of expression. also about making room for dialogue

and achieving progress. This means that instead of bashing and slamming those we disagree with, we must react to the dissenters and obstacles we face with a prioritization of respectful dialogue. That is the ideal representation of what International Women’s Day is all about: equality, inclusion, and respect.

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Science & technology Science & Technology Editor: Malak Abas Contact: science@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Manitoba First Nations Science Fair comes to the U of M Indigenous students from all over the province come together to talk science MALAK ABAS, STAFF

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n March 9 and 10, the University of Manitoba hosted the 15th annual Manitoba First Nations Science Fair.

The fair featured projects from students ranging from grades four to 12, and consisted of visual displays, live experiments, and written reports. Students travelled from all over Manitoba to compare projects, and are all from First Nations schools.

Each one of the hundreds of students attending were given either a bronze, silver, or gold medal for their work, and four projects will be chosen as winners.

“Science and the scientific process, and all of the things we’re trying to teach in science, have been part of First Nations culture for as long as they’ve been living on this land” – Rudy Subedar, founder of the Manitoba First Nations Science Fair The fair, which is presented annually by the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC), hopes to inspire children in First Nations schools to take part in, be inspired by, and enjoy the pursuit of scientific discovery. The program was founded by

Rudy Subedar, who now works for the University of Manitoba in the University 1 transition program, but was the science and technology program manager for MFNERC for 15 years, and founded the First Nations Science Fair in 2002. Subedar believes that the science fair is crucial not only for the sake of individual students’ research, but also for communication and solidarity between schools.

“What this program does is it engages more and more of First Nations students into science and technology, and by hosting the science fair itself, it brings the students together from different communities,” Subedar told the Manitoban.

“So that they by meeting each other, by networking with each other, by seeing each other’s work, they support each other’s interests in science and technology.”

“Listeners of the Earth”

The fair’s theme this year, “Listeners of the Earth,” was meant to inspire students to pursue a project that connected their research to their environment. This practice, Subedar mentioned, is a central component of Indigenous culture.

“Science and the scientific process, and all of the things we’re trying to teach in science, have been part of First Nations culture for as long as they’ve been living on this land,” Subedar noted.

“When you look at all of the technologies they’ve developed over thousands of years to actually survive in, and thrive, in a harsh environment, when you look at the traditional knowledge, and the traditional technologies – the thinking, the skills that went into that, and developed those

PHOTOS BY MANITOBA FIRST NATIONS EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE

processes, is exactly what we’re trying to teach in science classrooms today.”

This sentiment has become especially relevant in recent years, with more and more scientists in Canada using Indigenous oral tradition to supplement their research. Just last year, a study connected ancient DNA collected from sites in Prince Rupert in British Columbia to their descendants living in the Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla First Nations in British Columbia. The researcher’s findings – particularly that the Metlakatla First Nations had lived in the area for thousands of years – were not news to people living in the area, as these facts had been the subjects for traditional oral stories passed down through generations of Metlakalta people.

Subedar added that communitybuilding programs like the Manitoba First Nations Science Fair help Indigenous students bridge that connection between “Westernized” school plans and their own cultures.

“So in that way, it’s a really good fit,” said Subedar.

“Even though in our school system, it might not seem that way, because of the western perspective on how we teach science, and what we teach about science and the history of it, this gives the Indigenous students

an opportunity to see that in fact a lot of the knowledge and the traditional practices that existed within their communities and their culture is no different from what it is we teach in a science classroom.”

Subedar added that communitybuilding programs like the science fair help Indigenous students bridge that connection between “Westernized” school plans and their own cultures First Nations people are particularly underrepresented in the STEM fields in Canada. According to Canada’s 2006 census, only eight per cent of Aboriginal Canadians have a university degree, compared to 23 per cent of non-Aboriginal Canadians.

Subedar believes that statistics like these are the obvious result of Canada’s long and dark history of

colonialization and marginalization of First Nations people.

“First Nations people are underrepresented not only in science, but in a lot of places in Canadian society, simply because of systemic racism and the fact that they are a marginalized population that live in the margins of society. Period. That’s it.”

A project with a personal touch

Present at the Manitoba First Nations Science Fair were Kateri and Rochelle – grade 9 and 10 students respectively from St. Theresa Point high school – who were kind enough to explain their project to the Manitoban. Their experiment, which was presented with the help of a display board and an iPad, was on the positive effects of pranmaya yoga exercises on blood pressure levels.

Rochelle said that her favorite part of the project was hosting a “mini yoga class,” and that she even got her family involved.

“I even tried it on my mom,” Rochelle explained, proudly presenting photos of the yoga sessions on the iPad. “And it worked for her too. After she finished, she said she felt so much better.”

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Science & Technology

Science & Technology Editor: Malak Abas Contact: science@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Recent human-pig hybrid embryo raises ethical concerns, hopes for new research TIM LIAO

ing experimentation. However, in a separate study published in Nature, a team of researchers from universities in Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. recently demonstrated functional application when mouse pancreatic cells were grown and harvested in rats and transplanted back into mice.

Clinical applications are many years away but in the short-term, chimeras may provide a way to study human organs in a more accurate, living system — something that is very difficult to do in the lab today.

GRAPHIC BY ALDO RIOS

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or most of us, the word “chimera” evokes grotesque imagery: in Greek mythology, the chimera was a fire-breathing hybrid of lion, goat, and snake. A recent study attracted worldwide attention when researchers reported the first construction of a human-animal chimera last month.

In this context, a chimera refers to a non-human animal embryo that contains human cells. In this particular

situation, the non-human embryo was a pig’s. This interspecies study marked a step forward in a field that promises new sources to grow human organs for transplants.

In this study led by Juan Carlos Ezpisua Belmonte at the Salk Institute and published by the journal Cell, chimeras were generated by injecting human stem cells into developing pig embryos at very early

stages. These human stem cells are unique in their ability to make any tissue from all over the body — in this case they focused on making heart, eye, and pancreatic cells. Pigs were chosen as a suitable host animal because they are relatively similar to humans in organ size and biology. As instructed by ethical guidelines, these chimeric embryos were not allowed to develop past the fetal stage dur-

The growth of healthy human tissues in non-human animals provides a potential clinical alternative to donor organs, but it raises its own host of bioethical concerns The need for organ donation is increasing, as hundreds die every year while on the list of more than 4,500 people waiting for organs in Canada

alone. The growth of healthy human tissues in non-human animals provides a potential clinical alternative to donor organs, but it raises its own host of bioethical concerns.

Due to these bioethical implications, this study was strictly funded by private sources, as public funding for chimera experiments is prohibited in the U.S. and Canada. Indeed, there is a ubiquitous “yuck” response to chimerism, which seems informed by moral intuitions. However, a general sense of ethical revulsion has not served well as a moral compass in the past for cases like blood transfusion and organ transplantation, as well as many other social issues.

Instead, some have argued for our duty to protect human dignity. This does seem to be a necessarily human issue, as interspecies plant and animal breeding are much less controversial.

What constitutes a uniquely human quality? Is human dignity based on appearances and intuition or psychological qualities like consciousness and the capacity for moral decisionmaking – emergent properties of a nervous system? These questions dictate whether this study, which combined less than one human cell in 100,000 pig cells, warrants the public horror that it has garnered.

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Diversions Graphics Editor: Kelly Campbell Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

GRAPHIC BY ALDO RIOS

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Seamus Hamilton-Pattison Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

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New GoSA photo exhibit centers on U of M faculty strike, student feelings EMELIA FOURNIER, STAFF

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he Gallery of Student Art’s (GoSA) latest exhibit, Our Voice, was showcased from March 6 to 10 to give some U of M students the opportunity to showcase how they were affected by the recent U of M Faculty Association (UMFA) strike through quotations and photography, employing a qualitative research method called photovoice.

cussed. Some students, on the other hand, often found themselves caught in the middle of the conflict.

The strike went on for three weeks, after negotiations that had been ongoing since the spring broke down. Students were left in an odd state of purgatory while the negotiations between UMFA and the administration were at an impasse.

The fall term was extended into the New Year, the winter term started later, and students’ graduation dates were pushed back, affecting travel PHOTO BY EMILY FOURNIER plans, job opportunities, and many more aspects of students’ lives.

All of the photographs collected Student photographers captured were taken by students of varying different student perspectives of the backgrounds from a fourth-year strike. One student captured the environment and geography course serenity accompanied with the suscalled Applied Qualitative Research: pension of university responsibilities.

Making a Difference.

Another showed a science student Over the course of the strike attempting to scrape off a “Students last November, the drama between Support UMFA” sticker in resistance UMFA and the U of M administra- to the “formal” stance taken by the tion was largely publicized and dis- University of Manitoba Students’

Union (UMSU) on students’ behalf. and all are equal. This represents the One international student who possibility if all of the university staff, participated in the project noticed students, unions and associations the absence of other international working together and supporting one students in the protests. There were another they can accomplish many images of the picket line, of students goals [...] only if they work together,” themselves, and of the silent, empty read her caption.

Our Voice captured a wide range campus.

Leanna Fehr took the strike as an of emotions felt during the strike. opportunity to unwind and reflect, Anger, frustration, humour, relaxcapturing her sense of peacefulness ation, and stress were showcased with a shot of her walk to St. John’s through the different perspectives. absent of people in the middle of the These photographs and captions, day. Fuyan Gu captured the absence while valuable, did not offer much of students differently, with an eerie depth in the motivation behind why shot of the empty tunnel between the students did or did not support the Engineering complex and University strike, and a very limited number of Centre. voices were captured.

One student, Sarah Flattery, This is understandable, given the offered a photograph of a tipi cap- small amount of students involved tioned with the explanation of how in the project. However, it would it can be used as a metaphor for her be valuable to have a project with a solution to the strike. “When all the wider scope to truly capture a faculty [tipi] poles stand in a circle leaning on strike’s impact on students, as well as one another they become even stron- the way students perceive this disrupger and can withhold [sic] any storm tion of their lives.

’Toban turntable Want us to review your band? Email arts@themanitoban.com today!

SEAMUS HAMILTON-PATTISON, STAFF

hidden beneath walls of synthesizer chords, awkwardly paced for dancing, or utterly washed out in the mix by everything else.

It seems as though this is being done with the goal of creating a spacious, atmospheric sound, but it just sounds awkward paired with the band’s party-positive lyrics and wordy, arena hall-style vocals.

That’s really the root of the problem with Animal Kingdom. It’s not that VIKINGS can’t pull off a drastic stylistic shift – in fact, they should be applauded for making the effort alone – but the change feels half-measured here. Most successful pop songs are anchored on grandiose vocal lines and irresistible hooks – two things uncharacteristic of Vikings’ bare bones, VIKINGS closer to pop-oriented song struc- concise approach to dance music, Animal Kingdom tures and dense instrumentation, as and two things virtually missing 2/5 opposed to the relatively minimal- on Animal Kingdom. ist, yet propulsive and boisterous All this said, one can’t help wonIKINGS are a local electronic electronica of the band’s self-titled der where the band will go from pop trio that has been playing release of 2013.

Animal Kingdom. Amidst what both locally and abroad for nearly Regrettably, this shift is not sounds like a confused half step half a decade. Over the years, the working for them. into new territory, the album’s last group has played many local mainWhile each track on Animal track “Queen of the Night” is an stay events – Festival du Voyageur, Kingdom contains a lush tapestry absolute winner. The song sports Jazz Fest, and the U of M’s own of synthesizers, trigger pads, and a deep, ominous, and prominent Frost Fest to name a few – amidst all other requisite electronica-what- bass synth throughout the verses, tons of other gigs, and have even have-you that’s applicable, gone are and a magnificent, disco-infused found the time to pump out a the pulsing, danceable tempos of hook on the chorus. Here’s hoping couple EPs. the group’s past. the group explores these vibes for a Animal Kingdom is the group’s The first three tracks on Animal more energetic, vital release down latest offering, and seems to show Kingdom are plodding numbers that the road. something of a stylistic shift for the offer little variation throughout. A band – perhaps an attempt to move solid backbeat on these is either

V

Bill & Joel Plaskett Solidarity 3.5/5

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olidarity marks a heartwarming, collaborative new step for Nova Scotian indie rocker Joel Plaskett.

After gaining notoriety and the ability to pursue music full-time within the bands Thrust Hermit and (more recently) the Emergency – while maintaining a steady solo act – Joel’s latest release sees him adopting a mellower sound reminiscent of 60s protest folk and teaming up with his father, Bill Plaskett.

It should be immediately noted that this album contains some great guitar-playing. Opener “Dragonfly” makes this known immediately with some delicate intricate fingerpicking that would sound right at home on a record like Neil Young’s Harvest – that is, until the younger Plaskett’s spastic, twangy guitar solo bursts in to cue the song’s outro.

“Blank Cheque” sports a bluesshuffle sort of rhythm, with Joel’s

exuberant, yelping vocals front and centre – the song’s lyricism and vocal melody are actually a little repetitive of Joel’s breakout tune “Lightning Bolt” from 2012’s Scrappy Happiness. The reference/self-plagiarism however, can be forgiven, as “Blank Cheque” is indisputably the best song on the record, featuring a phenomenally catchy chorus, rough and passionate guitar leads, and some of Joel’s best one-liners, like “You can’t get higher, than a climate change denier.”

Overall, while the talent on Solidarity is very apparent and often well used, this album doesn’t quite have the immediacy to truly blow any minds. Aside from standouts like “Dragonfly,” “Blank Cheque,” and the Bill-led “Help Me Somebody Depression Blues” – which carries a real keepon-truckin’, classic Bob Dylan vibe – most of this album tends to run together, many songs going in one ear and out the other, albeit pleasantly so, with little variation.

Plaskett’s latest is not the searing, guitar-centric Canadian indie masterpiece we may want. What Solidarity is, however, is a heartwarming and fun experiment of an album, with overt and understandable chemistry between its two stars.

Solidarity leaves one wanting, but curious what future collaborations between the two could bring.

VOL. 103 NO. 26 March 15, 2017

Arts & Culture

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WAG exhibit gives platform to Indigenous artist-boarders EMELIA FOURNIER, STAFF

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unning through April 2 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Boarder X features Indigenous Canadian artists who surf, skate, and snowboard.

Board sports are, at their core, about working with the surrounding environment, be it concrete, ocean, or snow, rather than attempting to control it. Boarder X seeks to highlight the way in which Indigenous individuals can challenge the mostlyCaucasian status quo of board-sports and perform Indigenous conceptualizations of nature through their practice.

The Boarder X exhibit carries themes of land navigation and respecting nature. Entering the exhibit, the viewer’s focus is first drawn to Mason Mashon’s giant photograph of a lone snowboarder on top of imposing, scintillating slopes, the largest piece in the main exhibition room.

Roger Crait’s colourful, bold painting is also eye-catching. Crait’s lively interpretation of urban life contrasts with the serenity of Mashon’s piece, portraying the sprawl and unbridled dynamism of the city that he skateboards through. Subtle messages like a sign that reads “IMFraud” and “This land is your land” are incorporated to the painting, along with an offensive “Indian” mascot cut out.

There is protest and joy in Crait’s work, making the painting a critical but excited rendering of his city.

Meghann O’Brien – a snowboarder and textile artist – has an installation of suspended woven white balls in front of a painting. They

appear to be weightless, suspended like giant snowflakes frozen mid-fall.

Videos on display also showcase the talent of different kinds of boarders navigating their urban or natural elements, as well as exploring their individual histories with their boards.

In description of their works, the artists collected all tie their art-making in with their boarding practices by seeing both mediums as forms of self-expression, acts of perseverance,

and sources of identity creation and confirmation.

While the collection of pieces is fairly small, Boarder X still managed to highlight many different Indigenous boarders’ experiences.

Learn more about Boarder X, and about hours of operation and admission at www.wag.ca

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY EMILY SIKORA

Nic Dyson dead set on Searchlight finals Local singer/songwriter advances to regional finals in CBC’s musical competition OLIVIA MICHALCZUK, STAFF

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ocal singer/songwriter Nic Dyson “Now, it has evolved into anything “After months of believing it would opportunity to play a show in his shop, silence I sometimes get to experience, has made it to the regional finals and everything. From folk favorites be the only song I ever wrote, I dis- without having heard him play or any when I can feel that everyone in the for CBC Searchlight 2017 compe- like Iron and Wine, the Head and covered I was wrong.” of his music before. Ever since, Dyson room is hanging onto every word,” tition. The Canada-wide competi- the Heart, and the Paper Kites to In the summer following his expe- has been creating and sharing music said Dyson. tion is looking across the country for Modern Baseball, Citizen, the rience at camp, Dyson used music at larger and larger venues in the city.

“There's nothing quite like that, no musicians to celebrate Canada’s 150th Front Bottoms, John K. Samson, the as a type of therapy to aid in some His first album release nearly sold out words to describe it. Worst part is birthday based on votes cast online Weakerthans, Lights.” life-altering experiences. the Park Theatre in 2014, and he has the constant self-doubt that I'll never for musicians nationwide.

Dyson’s now established write another song again, or everyThe ultimate winner of CBC interest in music himself as an act one will suddenly just stop listening, Searchlight will receive a lucrative started at a in Winnipeg’s or that I can always do better. I am “[The] best part is the respectful silence I “career booster” package, a commis- young age but punk and hard- never satisfied, constantly pushing sometimes get to experience, when I can feel sion on an original song for Canada’s only came to core scene as myself to write and perform better 150th, and a two-week songwriting fruition in recent that everyone in the room is hanging onto every well. than before.” residency with a celebrity mentor, years. In his last Dyson’s word” – Nic Dyson, Winnipeg singer/songwriter shows are genu- Nic Dyson is celebrating the release among other amenities. Dyson is year of high one of approximately 230 regional school, Dyson ine, and littered of his second full-length album Where finalists, and one of the top 10 voted met a group of with hard-hit- We’re From at the Park Theatre on in Manitoba. inspiring and like-minded young With time, Dyson decided to ting lyrics, emotional highs and lows, June 16. Tickets are available through Dyson’s initial musical inspiration individuals at an arts camp. Along share his songs with a select few and sweet guitar picking that leaves the bands, the Park Theatre, and online was the headliner for this year’s upcom- with life-changing friendship, they people that he trusted with his music, you feel like you’re floating inches at www.ticketfly.com ing Folk Festival – City and Colour. also provided him with inspiration to something that exposed the most vul- above the ground. Hooked on his “He was the one to make me fall sing and play music. nerable parts of himself. every word, the audience is wrapped in love with the acoustic guitar and Kelly Hughes, the former owner around his finger and melts in the “When it was over, I missed them honest songwriting,” Dyson told the so much I wrote a song about it,” of now-defunct local venue/store palm of his hand.

Manitoban. said Dyson.

Aqua Books, gave Dyson the first “[The] best part is the respectful

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Tobi Nifesi Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

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Sports Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Bisons’ impressive run comes to an end at nationals in Halifax KELLEN TANIGUCHI, STAFF

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his weekend the University of Manitoba men’s basketball team took part in the U Sports Final Eight Championships in Halifax.

The Bisons dropped their opening game to the McGill Redmen 63-53 on Thursday, and were sent to the consolation bracket where they fell 92-84 in the semi-finals to the Calgary Dinos on Friday.

Thursday

Justus Alleyn got the Bisons on the scoreboard early with a good layup and jumper to give his team an early 4-0 lead. The Redmen avoided being put in an early hole and answered with a 9-0 run, and didn’t give up the lead for the remainder of the game. Manitoba shot just 31 per cent from the field in the first frame, while McGill found twine on 42 per cent of their looks to give them an 18-10 first quarter lead.

After a difficult opening quarter, the herd came out and shot 57 per cent from the field to claw back into the game. The Bisons were able to spread the ball out more in the second quarter with AJ Basi, Brett Jewell, and Ilarion Bonhomme all scoring five points. McGill guard Jenning Leung put up six of his total 13 points in the second frame to help his team

take a 35-30 heading into halftime.

The third was dominated by defensive play with the Redmen stealing four balls, the Bisons stealing three, and both sides forcing five turnovers.

McGill shot a dismal 25 per cent in the quarter, while the Bisons shot the rock a little better at 33 per cent.

McGill outscored Manitoba 11-8 in a quarter dominated in the defensive ends.

This weekend the University of Manitoba men’s basketball team took part in the U Sports Final Eight Championships in Halifax With McGill leading 56-49 midway through the final quarter, they were able to pull further away by going on a late 7-0 run. The Redmen held their strong lead and went on to win the game 63-53. Francois Bourque netted eight points in the

second half for the Redmen and finished the game with a doubledouble of 13 points and 15 rebounds.

Keith Omoerah scored nine points in the second half and finished with 13 points, which was tied with Basi for the team-high.

Friday

Manitoba came out firing on all cylinders and opened the consolation semi-final on an 11-0 run. With the score 17-6, Calgary strung together seven straight points to cut the Bison lead to four points, and clawed back within two points to end of the opening quarter. Alleyn knocked down seven of his team-high 17 points in the opening quarter.

Thomas Cooper converted an early second quarter layup to tie the game for the Dinos, but Manitoba went on a massive 15-0 run to take a 37-22 lead. Calgary responded with a 9-0 run of their own to get back into the game, and ended the half with a 12-2 run to put the Dinos on top 43-42 at the buzzer.

Omoerah and Basi each scored six points for the herd in the second frame, with Omoerah finishing the game with 15 points and Basi finishing with 13, while Jasdeep Gill put home all 10 of his points for Calgary in the frame.

PHOTO BY MIKE STILL

Calgary went on an 8-0 run, and a 10-0 run within the first six minutes of the third to take a commanding 15-point lead. Manitoba didn’t go away and ended the quarter strong by going on a 9-2 run, which cut the Calgary lead to 69-66. Cooper scored 10 of his game-high 30 points in the third and came down with 11 rebounds for the Dinos to finish with a double-double.

Calgary scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to expand their lead to nine points early on.

Bonhomme came up big, and netted nine points in the final quarter for Manitoba and finished with a total of 16 in the game. The Dinos grabbed the 92-84 win to end Manitoba’s impressive season.

Bisons come up short at Canada West Final Four Manitoba can’t overcome Trinity Western in the final, will head to nationals next weekend RYAN STELTER, STAFF

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his weekend, the University of Manitoba men’s volleyball team played host to the Canada West Final Four. They started the weekend off with a 3-0 win versus the UBC Thunderbirds in the semi-final, and lost a close battle 3-2 in the final on Saturday against the Trinity Western Spartans.

the 2,200 fans at the IGAC roaring.

“We don’t get [that many fans] very often,” left side hitter Evan Jackson said post game. “I’ll give a shout out to our fans because they definitely helped us.”

The Thunderbirds managed to claw their way back in the latter half of the set but the Bisons escaped 25-22 set victors after Cam Fennema Semi-final botched a serve.

The Bisons and the Thunderbirds The third set was more of the same took to the court on Friday night for with the Bisons leading throughout. the first semi-final of the Canada Ken Rooney gave the Bisons a 16-11 West Final Four. Manitoba came with a massive kill that sliced through out 3-0 match winners after a com- UBC’s block. petitive game.

Manitoba cruised to a 25-17 A tightly contested first set opened third set win to sweep the UBC with four missed serves by both Thunderbirds and earn a spot in the teams. The Bisons’ play off the serve Canada West final. Devren Dear, was the story of the first set as they who finished with a game-high 13 made eight service errors and gave up kills said that they were able to shut two service aces. down UBC’s attack.

The Bisons managed to take a 16-11 “We knew what their strong points lead into the technical timeout and were,” he said. “We knew that their held that lead to win the opening set best players are their setter and left 25-22. side hitter and we were able to key in In the second set, the Bisons on them big time. That just shut their opened the floodgates a little bit, offence right down.” doubling up the Thunderbirds by the technical timeout. Luke Herr came Final up with three huge digs in a set just It was a rematch of the final before the technical timeout that had game of the regular season between

the first-ranked Trinity Western usual suspect Dear making the score Spartans and the second-ranked 29-27 to win it after a 44-second rally.

Bisons for the Canada West final. In Dear finished with a team-best 17 the closest way this match could’ve kills and a .130 hitting percentage. finished, the Spartans won in five sets Manitoba was fired up for the against the host Bisons. third set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead, The first set was a seesaw affair, prompting a Spartan timeout. The with the teams exchanging the lead. herd never looked back from there, The Spartans were able to pull ahead fueled by the raucous crowd at the late after some service aces, and IGAC, the Bisons took the third set Canada West Player of the Year Ryan 25-16.

Sclater then hammered home the setIn the fourth set, the Spartans winning kill. Sclater was named the turned the tides and dominated the Canada West MVP of the Final Four proceedings. The Bisons managed to tournament. make it close with some good serving, In the second set, it was yet again but the Spartans sent it to a fifth and another back-and-forth affair, with final set with a 25-20 victory. neither team able to go on a big run.

The Spartans grabbed hold of The set needed some extra time, with the momentum in the fifth set and

PHOTOS BY STAR ROXAS

took it 15-9 to win the Canada West championship.

The Bisons will head off to the University of Alberta for the U Sports volleyball nationals in Edmonton on March 17-19.

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Sports

VOL. 103 NO. 26 March 15, 2017

Reid Duke of the Brandon Wheat Kings joins the Golden Knights JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF

“He faced adversity straight on,” McPhee said discussing the signing.

“We like those players that it hasn’t been easy for them. They become scrappers.”

“I like to think of myself as a passfirst player” – Reid Duke, Vegas Golden Knight forward

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ate Monday afternoon the Golden Knights signed the first player in the team’s history, inking forward Reid Duke to a three-year, entry-level deal.

On a somewhat slow news day in the NHL, history was made with very little fanfare around the league.

With the final expansion payment clearing, and the Vegas Golden Knights given the greenlight to start making deals on March 1, it took a

few days for them to take that allimportant first step.

Duke, a former Minnesota Wild draft pick back in 2014, has spent the last three years with the Brandon Wheat Kings. He has recorded 88 goals and 180 points over those three seasons, after recording 25 goals and 70 points over the same span of time with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

“I’m a really good two-way forward,” Duke said in an interview with

An easy assignment for a team that will be built off the dregs of the other 30 teams in the league.

It appears that Duke was a known quantity for the brass in Sin City.

Assistant GM Kelly McCrimmon is the longtime owner of the Wheat Kings, acting as the GM and head PHOTO PROVIDED BY BRANDON WHEAT KINGS coach consistently over the years. He Sportsnet. “I like to think of myself as a was the one responsible for bringing pass-first player, but also someone that Duke over from the Hurricanes in enjoys scoring and using my shot too.” 2014, and coached the young forward The Calgary native is one of those until this summer when he replaced hard-working, blue-collar type players himself with David Anning.

“I think what’s impressive with that the Golden Knights have mentioned they will be targeting. Knights Reid is a high skill level and yet a GM George McPhee noted that the guy that’s able to play a big, strong, identity of the team will have that heavy game,” McCrimmon said in a edge, saying they want to target guys statement regarding Duke.

McCrimmon may have the chance that have worked hard for the chances they’ve got. to bring another one of his products

into the Vegas fold, as the Golden Knights have the third best odds to land the first-overall pick in the 2017 NHL entry draft. Although many analysts have pegged this year’s draft class as a particularly weak one, with a shallow talent pool, it still appears that Brandon centre Nolan Patrick is set to be taken first.

However, after the last three drafts producing names like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Aaron Ekblad, anything short of a masterclass will look shallow.

Patrick is no slouch himself, putting up 42 points through just 28 games in an injury-shortened season.

Although he’s unlikely to hit the 102 points he reached last season, Patrick is lighting it up heading into the draft.

McPhee and the rest of the Golden Knights front office are not the only ones in the organization who are excited about the prospect of picking the Winnipeg native in the draft.

“I think it’d be pretty cool if Patrick was there with me,” Duke said when asked who he’d like to play with in Vegas. “That would be crazy if we ended up there together.”

For now though, McCrimmon and Duke are the only Wheat Kings alum headed for the strip.

VOL. 103 NO. 26 March 15, 2017

Sports

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Bison volleyball programs take home Canada West hardware Men’s volleyball head coach Garth Pischke, players Ken Rooney and Kearley Abbott take home awards RYAN STELTER, STAFF

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ast week, Bison men’s volleyball always games where you play really head coach Garth Pischke was amazing, then there are some weeks named the Canada West coach of the that aren’t that great. My teamyear for the first time in his 35-year mates were really good at helping career. Ken Rooney, a fifth-year me through that time.” middle for the men’s volleyball team, took home the Canada West StudentAthlete Community Service award. “These kids really He is now nominated for the Dale look up to us, even Iwanoczko Student-Athlete award, the national award. though we as Kearley Abbott of the women’s student-athletes volleyball team was named the Canada West rookie of the year. don’t think we’re that The last two times a Bison won the big of a deal” – Ken Canada West rookie of the year, they went on to win the national award Rooney, middle Bison as well.

Abbott was a stud for the Bisons, men’s volleyball team leading the Bisons with 247 kills, which was 11th in the Canada West.

The jump from high school volShe was 19th in the Canada West with a .206 hitting percentage and leyball to university volleyball took eighth in the conference with 306 Abbott a little bit to get used to, but points. The Winnipeg native fin- the preseason helped her adjust. ished second on the team with 187 “The first couple weeks were pretty digs. Abbott played in every single challenging,” she said. “I just rememset this season, a big accomplishment ber swinging as hard as I could and for any rookie. not getting any points. I think after “I think the first half of [the season] preseason that got me adjusted to how was pretty good,” she said. “There’s I needed to play.”

PHOTO BY STAR ROXAS

Abbott was also named a first year captain for the Bisons, and head coach Jon Hykawy did not see that as part of her game.

“She led more by how she played,” he said. “I never expected her to play that well. She really helped our group this year in just the sense of her compete level. It’s a big honour for Kearley to get that Canada West rookie of the year [award].”

Rooney, who is four years removed from his rookie year, is honoured to have been given the Community Service award.

“I just really enjoy giving back to the community,” the fifth-year middle said. “These things are really important to me. These kids really look up to us, even though we as student athletes don’t think we’re that big of a deal.”

Rooney has been a three-time U Sports Academic All-Canadian, as well as a captain on the Bisons for the past four seasons. He has been a volunteer for Manitoba’s “I Love to Read Month”, Siloam Mission, and a club volleyball coach during his whole five-year career at Manitoba.

For Pischke this is the first time he has been named Canada West Coach of the Year, although he was named Coach of the Year numerous times when Manitoba played in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).

“It feels great, this is team of the year, the team of the regular season,” Pischke said. “I felt our team played great this regular season, we played exceptionally well at home. This is just a symbol of how good my staff is and how well the players played.”

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Sports

Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Breaking down the NCAA March Madness Tournament JUSTINE MAMUCUD

GRAPHIC BY ALDO RIOS

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hocks and upsets are the name of the game as the highly anticipated March Madness Tournament will be in full swing this week. The following teams have proved to be powerhouses in the 2016-17 season and they are gunning for the coveted NCAA title.

Kansas Jayhawks

The Jayhawks have been a longstanding institution when it comes to college basketball and this year, they uphold the outstanding reputation that they have built from prior years.

Led by Frank Mason III, Kansas has a strong chance of winning the title this year. Heavy reliance on Mason’s talents, however, means they must maximize his time on the floor. The starting point guard is the catalyst for this team’s championship contention this year.

winning season that was a challenge to defend.

UCLA Bruins

The Bruins are back and gunning for championship contention this year with the arrival of Lonzo Ball. They are known for their seemingly loaded backcourt with returning players such as Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton who appear to be allergic to injuries.

UCLA could make a serious run with the addition of the best point guard recruit in the country, Ball. If the Bruins could overcome their defensive woes, this UCLA team could be the undoing of the Final Four heading into the championship.

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Oregon Ducks

This year, Oregon finally have their ducks in a row, as they easily establish themselves as one of the tournaments elite shot blocking teams. Led by their brand of the twin towers in Jordan Bell and Chris Boucher, the duo forms a formidable wall in the paint for the Ducks. If the Ducks could supplement their elite shot blocking with perimeter defense, this lineup could make a deep run in the brackets even against teams that rely heavily on guard play.

North Carolina Tar Heels

The Tar Heels are back this year sporting the same high level of intensity on the offensive glass this year with players like Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks who have developed as monsters on the offensive glass. Both players are top 80 in the nation for offensive boards and lead North Carolina in rebounds. With their deep arsenal of weapons in the paint, North Carolina rivals even the Ducks as the undisputed kings of the paint in the coming weeks.

ment of three five-star quality freshmen along with a transfer in Keanu Pinder. Likened to the Gonzaga Bulldogs, the Wildcats can field a soccer team filled with quality players, which has the potential to make a deep run in the tournament this year.

The Cardinals, as their name might suggest, are one of the peskiest teams in this tournament Kentucky Wildcats

With the loss of their top scorThe Wildcats are perhaps the most ers from last season, most fans have offensively creative team of this tourcounted Gonzaga as a bracket risk. nament. Kentucky’s offence runs on Villanova Wildcats Their one light of hope however, lies the “dribble-drive” offense developed The defending champions are in the return of their premier frontcourt

by Vance Walberg that guarantees a back and this time they attempt to in Przemek Karnowski. The sevenbasket in every possession if poorly defend their title against the likes foot-one Polish centre has returned defended. Led by one of the highly of Kansas and UCLA. This year, from injury along with a handful of sought-after NBA draft picks, Malik the Wildcats have Josh Hart and quality players like Josh Perkins and Monk, Kentucky simply have their Kris Jenkins, who can play a variety Silas Melson. With the sheer size of guards dribble to the basket for an easy of positions ranging from shoot- quality players on their rosters, a team Arizona Wildcats layup, or dish out the ball to the open ing guards to power forwards. This like Gonzaga can be playing two games This year, the Wildcats appear man if the defense responds. With their means the Wildcats could replicate simultaneously. It will be a challenge to be weaker in the paint with the “small ball” like forwards who stand at the “Small Ball Death Squad” that defending against the Bulldogs this departure of last season’s talented six-foot-nine who enjoy standing at the the Golden State Warriors of the year as they have at least two solid play- frontcourt. To supplement this, the perimeter shooting threes, this lineup NBA sported in their 2015 title- ers who can play in each position.

Wildcats acquired a massive recruit- becomes a nightmare to defend.

Baylor Bears

Baylor is another example of a team that refuses to give teams a chance in the paint. With Johnathan Motley leading the Bears with his outstanding numbers, the Bears’ main highlight is their ability to grab offensive boards. In the past couple of seasons, Baylor’s rebound game has been top of the pack. If they can stay healthy, this squad can prove to be a solid contender this year despite their lacking perimeter defense.

Louisville Cardinals

The Cardinals, as their name might suggest, are one of the peskiest teams in this tournament. Louisville takes pride in their defense. The Cardinals average 18.6 seconds per defensive possession, ranked secondoverall, which results in a buffet of turnovers and bad shots for opposing teams. One of the troubles this team runs into is its lack of veterans on the floor. With its young core of players, this squad is prone to stumble against other giants within the tournament who have seasons and seasons of experience on the big stage.

VOL. 103 NO. 26 March 15, 2017

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Homegrown herd a success on the basketball court How local talent has turned the men’s basketball program into a consistent Canada West contender MIKE STILL, VOLUNTEER STAFF

PHOTO BY MIKE STILL

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hen Kirby Schepp took over of the high schools and the provincial highly recruited. Schepp knew what head coaching duties of the teams and elite development systems they could do though, and a few years Manitoba Bison men’s basketball that have been really, really good, later, Basi – a Sturgeon Heights grad team for the 2009-10 season, he was especially in the last number of years.” – became one of the best shooters in tasked with guiding a program that Local players such as Jonar the conference and a two-time cohadn’t seen the postseason since 2004. Huertas, Kevin Oliver, and more captain. Jewell – a John Taylor alum It didn’t take long for the former recently Amir Ali and Wyatt Anders – developed his post-up game and standout coach at Sturgeon Heights have all left their mark on the pro- became a tough matchup inside. to right the ship, as he guided the gram in recent years, due largely to “Kirby’s known my family for a Bisons to the playoffs in just his sec- the fact that Schepp brought out the very long time, and so my relationond year at the helm, doing so with best in their games. He believed in ship with him has been good for a primarily local talent – players that them, knowing they would fit a role very long time. That’s sort of the reahe’d had the opportunity to either on his team, and as the years went son why I ended up going to the U coach or see develop during or after by, each individual’s development of M was because of my relationship their high school years. increased. with him,” Basi said.

Through his first eight seasons, This 2016-17 roster was no differFor Omoerah and Nitychoruk, Schepp has led the herd to the play- ent, with fifth-years AJ Basi, Brett patience was the key. A standout offs five times and he continues to Jewell, and Keith Omoerah all local from Grant Park, the former had a prove that developing homegrown high school products, as well as stint with the herd early in his unitalent and trusting the process can fourth-years Joey Nitychoruk, Justus versity career, but lacked the maturity lead to success.

Alleyn, and Malik Irwin. Rookie to balance school and athletics. The “It’s part of our philosophy that the James Wagner from John Taylor also latter was highly recruited coming core of our team is going to be local fits the bill. out of St. Paul’s, but chose to attend guys, and we’ll continue to do that.

Lakehead instead, earning a trip to We’ve been fortunate in the last little Breaking down the nationals with the Thunderwolves while to be able to recruit some of the local talent along the way. best local guys,” Schepp said.

The assortment of Winnipeg high Fast forward to 2015, and a more “In some ways I think it speaks to school graduates came to Manitoba mature Omoerah and Nitychoruk the quality of play in Manitoba and under different circumstances. Basi both found themselves a spot on the quality of the development system and Jewell, for example, weren’t Schepp’s roster, providing invaluable

leadership and strong two-way play.

“I wanted to play for the U of M, I wanted to play for coach Kirby Schepp,” Nitychoruk told the Manitoban in 2015, shortly after returning home from Lakehead.

“It’s part of our philosophy that the core of our team is going to be local guys, and we’ll continue to do that” – Kirby Schepp, head coach, men’s basketball “I like being in my community, I love my city, I love everything that has to do with Winnipeg, so I wanted to really support it here with the U of M program.”

Alleyn and Irwin were both highly touted recruits coming out of St. Paul’s in 2013-14, while Wagner was arguably the most sought-after prospect in the province this past year coming out of John Taylor Collegiate.

All three chose to stay home, and have reaped the benefits. This season for example, Alleyn was named a Canada West All-Star, while Wagner was named to the All-Rookie Team.

The proof that honing in on local talent has been evident, specifically over the past two years. In 2015-16, the herd made it all the way to the Canada West Final Four, and this past season, they earned a trip to nationals for the first time since 1986.

For Schepp, it’s all about trusting the process.

“We’ve been fortunate that those guys that have stayed have bought in.

Their work ethic has been outstanding and we’ve managed to keep that culture up and keep getting better each year,” he said.

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VOL. 103 NO. 26 March 15, 2017

AJ and Brett: Reflecting on a memorable five years Q & A with two cornerstones for the men’s basketball program MIKE STILL, VOLUNTEER STAFF

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uard AJ Basi and post Brett Jewell have left a permanent impression on the Bison men’s basketball team over the past five years, and have been fixtures in the starting lineup.

This past season, the two local products helped lead the herd back to nationals for the first time since 1985.

While the end result wasn’t what they would’ve hoped, the journey itself was just as fun. The Manitoban sat down and talked to both players; they shared about their time playing for Manitoba.

THE MANITOBAN: What was it like to finish your career off at nationals with coach Schepp, someone you both know quite well?

BRETT: I wasn’t really highly recruited out of high school, and I was going to go to U of M anyways for my education and that’s when I met with Kirby. Kirby saw something in me, I gave it a shot and five years later, to still have a role and on a national team, is pretty cool.

M: What was your nationals experience like?

AJ: It’s an unreal experience to be a part of, and it’s an honour just to

be here and to be recognized as one of the best teams in the country.

Definitely years ago this would have been a far-fetched dream. I think the fact that we took steps every single year to get closer and closer to climbing the situation and to be able to get to nationals and get a Can West silver medal, it’s been a blessing of a last year and it’s really capped off the journey.

B: Just getting here, and realizing the teams that are here, we can compete with them, and now the younger guys travelling can get to see what the competition level is like at nationals, and kind of realizing that we belong here.

It’s going to raise the program up.

M: What would you say is the biggest development you made as a player during your university career?

AJ: I think the biggest development I made was maturing over my time here, and becoming a leader. That was something that wasn’t probably expected of me in my earlier years.

Coach talked to me in my third year and fourth year and started pushing me to take on more of a leadership role and lead by example for younger guys. Not even basketball-skill related, coach sort of challenged me and helped me develop as a person and as a leader.

M: Aside from nationals, what has stood out for you during your five years with Manitoba?

PHOTOS BY MIKE STILL AJ: I think the relationships and sort of the culture that we formed around this team and around this program together ended in Calgary and to go now, is really starting to stick out. I to Calgary this year and beat them thought Coach has done a phenom- in the semi-finals was pretty special. enal job ever since he stepped foot at We started to see the kind of team the U of M in making it sort of a local we were and the kind of team we core and then build up from there. I could be and sort of coming in to think the character of guys and the our potential. people that he brought together on the team kind of sticks out.

B: I just remember the playoff games and every year we sort of took a step forward. The last two seasons