28 January 2015

MANITOBAN the

THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER

"We are in a revolutionary period" Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire incites activism Page 4

Hungry for Hemingway A Moveable Feast: downtown dining tour hits the streets Page 18

What gives? The Manitoban's Charity Feature Chillin' for Charity

Geldof

Shinerama

Vo l 1 0 1 · N o 4 9 · J a n ua ry 2 8 , 2 0 1 5 · w w w.t h e m a n i to b a n .co m

Page 11 - 14

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Index

VOL. 101 NO. 49 January 28, 2015

News

Ditching the dinosaurs Fossil fuel divestment movement emerges in Manitoba page 6

Editor-in-Chief Fraser Nelund

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

Business manager Angela England

accounts@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

Advertising Coordinator Sara Bulloch

ads@themanitoban.com / 474.6535

Editorial

Senior News Editor Dana Hatherly

news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

News Editor Ethan Cabel

news@themanitoban.com/ 474.6770

Comment Editor Tom Ingram

Editorial

comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Women warriors underrated

Managing Editor Craig Adolphe

me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

science & technology Editor Chantelle Dubois

science@themanitoban.com/ 474.6529

arts & Culture Editor Lauren Siddall

arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Women's hockey not given the exposure it deserves

Sports Editor Mike Still

sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Copy Editor Carlyn Schellenberg

page 7

copy@themanitoban.com/ 474.6520

Science

Arts & Culture

Malaria malaise

Nuts for RAW: almond

The science behind rising drug-resistance

Dinner may be sold out, but brunch is better

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

page 15

page 19

evan@themanitoban.com

Reporters

News Emily Zarychta News vacant Science Jeremiah Yarmie arts & culture Ian T.D. Thomson arts & culture Alana Trachenko Sports David Grad Assistant copy editor Kristy Hourd

Volunteer Contributors

Arts & Culture

Sports

Songs for uke

Stick it to them

James Hill debuts new ukelele album

page 17

Women warriors underrated

page 23 Correction

The graph titled "General Operating Fund Net Revenue 2006 - 2014" on page 3 of January 21st, 2015 was provided by Janet and Cameron Morrill

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

Justin Ladia Devon Hanel Caroline Norman Anny Chen Jessica Rosenbaum Samantha Secter

Aldo Rios Keegan Steele Emma Higgs Bailey Trevithick Travis Ross Jeremiah Valle Sean Tam

Kyle Lees Will Gibson Mariana Munoz Dany Reede Andy Che Jeff Miller Keila Dapape

MANITOBAN 105 UN IVERSITY CENTRE U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A N I TO B A WINNIPEG, MB R3T 2N2

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The Manitoban is the official student newspaper of the University of Manitoba. It is published monthly during the summer and each week of regular classes during the academic year by the Manitoban Newspaper Publications Corporation.

The Manitoban is an independent and democratic student organization, open to participation from all students. It exists to serve its readers as students and citizens.

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.

Students and other interested parties are invited to contribute to any section of the newspaper. Please contact the appropriate editor for submission guidelines. The Manitoban reserves the right to edit all submissions and will not publish any material deemed by its editorial board to be discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic or libellous. Opinions expressed in letters and articles are solely those of the authors. Editorials in the Manitoban are signed and represent the opinions of the writer(s), not necessarily those of the Manitoban staff, Editorial Board, or the publisher.

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News

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

U of M budget challenges in line with national trends Faculty unions come under scrutiny for university financial challenges Ethan Cabel, staff

David Bernard, University of Manitoba president

photo by Beibei Lu

U

niversity of Manitoba president David Barnard delivered a clear but controversial message to a room full of students, faculty, and staff last week – cuts are coming, but they’re necessary for the financial health of the university.

“We’ll make decisions with an emphasis on fairness [ . . . ] but some decisions will have to be made,” Barnard said.

“We need to find savings and not just delay the inevitable.”

The town hall meeting last Wednesday included vice-president administration Paul Kochan, vicepresident external John Kearsey, and vice-president academic Joanne Kesselman. The president and senior administrators provided information on the impending budget cuts, which are slated to be four per cent in each of the next two years.

Barnard emphasized that the cuts will not be across the board, meaning that some departments will be more affected than others.

“We have many classes that have very low enrolment, we have a range of success factors for how many students complete classes successfully and how many people complete their program successfully,” Barnard said.

“In the time that I have been here, which is now 6.5 academic years, we’ve added a lot of programs to the

university. We have removed very their current rates cannot keep pace ties,” Clark said.

“The students pay for it one way few.” with growth in faculty salaries, which “Something has to give if you have or the other, either through higher When asked by the Manitoban already make up the vast majority of faculty salaries increasing at higher tuition or through lower services.” about whether departments with low U of M budget expenditures. than inflation, and tuition and govenrolment will face the brunt of the The 2013-16 collective bargain- ernment grants restricted to infla- Faculty response cuts, Barnard said, “That’s clearly a ing agreement (CBA) between tion or lower. What has been giving The University of Manitoba place to look.” administration and the University consistently, in Ontario and the Faculty Association (UMFA) main“It will not be solely a question of of Manitoba Faculty Association rest of Canada, has been two main tains that faculty salaries have been where is the largest amount of money (UMFA) built in a 6.9 per cent salary things; class sizes, more students per declining relative to the budgetary to be found to free up. It needs to increase over three years. The previ- full-time professor, and more use of surpluses that the U of M consistently be a looking and saying, ‘What are ous CBA over 2010-13 gave faculty a part-time teaching faculty who are transfers to capital assets. the implications of this? What’s the 4.4 per cent raise. In last year’s budget, paid less than half of what full-time Janet Morrill, associate profesimpact of this?’” required salary increases amounted professors are per teaching amount.” sor of accounting and finance at the Alex Usher, president of Toronto- U of M, has spent years crunching The cuts have been justified by U to $17 million. based consulting firm Higher numbers, along with her husband of M administration as a necessary Education Strategy Associates, writes Cameron, for UMFA. response to several financial con- National trends The University of Manitoba is a blog dedicated to Canadian postMorrill said she was critical of straints – namely low tuition, insufhow much money the university ficient government grants, and rising not alone in facing budgetary chal- secondary education policy. faculty salaries. lenges as universities across Canada Usher argues that universities, transferred from its operating budget Between 1999 and 2009, tuition are grappling with how to reduce because they are constrained in their to cover capital expenditures, arguing ability to lay off academic staff and that the transfers, which amounted fees were effectively frozen in their costs.

Ian Clark, professor in the School are often obligated to pay out three or to $49.5 million last year, are the real Manitoba before the province allowed universities to raise tuition of Public Policy and Governance at four per cent salary increases due to source of the university’s budgetary by up to 4.5 per cent in 2009 and five the University of Toronto, has writ- collective bargaining, often attempt woes. per cent in 2010. ten extensively on the state of post- to make cuts in non-salary areas.

“Given that some of the capital However, the non-salary budget expansion that we’re doing is coming The provincial government capped secondary education in Canada.

Clark argues that the primary “never amounts to more than 25 per at the expense of class sizes and class tuition fee increases at the rate of inflation in 2011, promising that it problem for Canadian universities cent” of the total budget, according offerings, I would like to be sure that would raise the operating grant for is how labour is distributed among to Usher. the choices that are being made are “If you build that four per cent a the choices that the students would universities by five per cent a year for faculty members.

The primary mandate for universi- year in on the academic side, and the make,” Morrill said. the next three years as compensaWhile the faculty association cites tion for low tuition. The government ties is to teach students but, according non-academics tend to get something reneged on that commitment in 2013 to Clark, faculty members generally similar, and you don’t get four per several new capital projects as responand has increased the operating grant negotiate a split in their labour that cent increases from tuition and gov- sible for draining the university’s for universities by 2.5 per cent in each works out to 60 per cent teaching ernment revenue, then all the adjust- financial resources, including the over and other services, and 40 per cent ment happens on that 25 per cent,” $4.7 million Welcome Centre and the of the last two years.

The unexpected drop in the research. This split is protected under Usher said, adding that cutting those over $45 million Active Living Centre, vice-president administration Paul increase rate of the grant precipitated their CBA and, when coupled with areas is not sustainable.

According to Usher, faculty unions Kochan told the Manitoban that the over $10 million in cuts over the last salary increases, severely constrains across Canada bargain as though they university faces over $300 million in two budget cycles. It also prompted university finances.

“The whole collective bargaining are in a public sector environment, deferred maintenance costs.

Barnard to speak out against low “It’s a massive problem for us. tuition fees. Manitoba students pay framework needs to be re-examined where the government can raise taxes the third lowest tuition in the country, as it applies to university faculty to cover salary increases. However, We’re trying to chip away at it; some around $2,000 less per year than the negotiations to see if adjustments universities have limited control over of the transfers that we transfer from can be made to increase incentives their own revenues, meaning that operating to capital goes into a fund national average.

Barnard pointed out that increases on both parties to come to an agree- students end up covering the cost of to address deferred maintenance,” Kochan said. in tuition and government grants at ment that recognizes financial reali- faculty raises, he said.

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News

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

Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire Millennials, humanitarianism, and an alternative approach to conflict Emily Zarychta, staff

One U of M psychology student Fiona Axelsson described the event as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience to be with a Canadian legend.”

University of Manitoba students Ntwali Fabrice and Namurambaho Raoul, from Rwanda, had the chance to meet Dallaire after the presentation. Ntwali said, “I wanted to know him; I wanted to hear what he experienced in our country.”

Both students lost family members in the Rwandan genocide, and felt it was meaningful to meet and talk to the man who helped protect Rwandan refugees.

“The world could handle 10,000 Rwandans being slaughtered every day, but it couldn’t handle 450 peacekeepers being killed”– Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire Interview with Roméo Dallaire

Manitoban: If you could give a call to action to millennials, with regards to human rights and social justice, what would that be?

photo by Emily Zarychta, staff

L

ieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire—who, after witnessing to the 1993-1994 Rwandan genocide as the force commander for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda, has become an advocate for human rights, mental health, and child soldiers—spoke at the University of Manitoba on Jan. 22 as part of UMSU’s Frost speaker series.

The atrium of the Engineering and Information Technology Complex was filled with spectators for Dallaire’s speech, with a handful of audience members waiting upwards of two hours for front row seats.

Dallaire touched upon personal experiences from his time in Rwanda.

He explained how he saw his son’s eyes when he looked into the eyes of a Rwandan child, found in a house of decaying bodies. He said, “That child

was just as human as my son, yet look at the constructs of which they find themselves.”

The topic of inherent equality and universal humanity resurfaced a number of times throughout Dallaire’s speech.

Dallaire was ordered out of Rwanda because “the world can’t handle more peacekeepers being killed.

“The world could handle 10,000 Rwandans being slaughtered every day, but it couldn’t handle 450 peacekeepers being killed.” He said his morals kept him from leaving, because he was protecting 30,000 Rwandans and as a nation, and we ask ourselves if we should spill our blood to protect others, or if we intervene only when it suits us.

With the end of the classic era of giant armies facing other giant

armies, our classic methods of the use of force have also ended and the world has fundamentally changed since his generation, he said, asking the audience if they accept the recent restrictions of civil liberties, denial of human rights, acceptance of torture, and Guantanamo Bay. “We are in a revolutionary period.”

He argued that the only solution to perpetual conflict is to address the rampant poverty that exists in the world, because poverty breeds rage. For this reason, long-term commitments are necessary to begin to alleviate poverty, which will stabilize a country. The 12-year Canadian involvement in Afghanistan was much too short; Dallaire argues that commitments up to 60 years in length may be needed to build stable democracies.

Dallaire: I think that you’re going to have to listen to my presentation, particularly some of my last slides; because that’s where I give you guys some guidance.

First of all, the perception of how you’ve described your generation is there only because it has not been informed enough. We’re seeing far more of your generation going to visit developing countries than that go to Europe, which is a massive shift than from before, when everything was in Europe. I think that’s the first thing.

The second thing is that you are already a generation without borders, which I’ll explain. Okay, you’re already global, so you’ve got a much better ability to feel what the hell is going on in the world and humanity than we ever had. And so, you’re empowered by so much capability the only thing that is required is to give you a sense of participation, and essentially, activism. I’m saying that you guys have all the reasons to be activists, you’ve got the tools to coalesce, you’ve got the tools to influence, and, by becoming activists you will gain, in fact, that momentum to change.

And, to give you credibility is you’ve got to go and get your boots dirty.

So I say that your generation, you should have a sort of a rite of passage, which I’ll explain later, which is

underneath your bed, there should be a pair of sneakers or boots that have been dirtied or soiled in the earth of a developing country. Go for three weeks, a month. Just go, see, taste, hear, feel what’s going on with 80 per cent of humanity. Bring that back and join non-governmental organizations, create NGOs, get out there and become activists.

M: What do you think of students using social media as a form of activism?

D: I think that you cannot erase the facts of humanly being on the ground.

So, the social media does not replace that; what it does, it’s a force multiplier. It permits you to get that out there more, to be able to exchange it more, to bring your own picture, live, from where you are in the field to the gang back home.

I think, also, the social media is still a very immature system, so you’ve got to watch it because sometimes you can create movements that just, are either not credible or are not ethical. Invisible children, remember that? Go get Kony, right? And the world went wild. There is no way you could do that; and some of the material that was used was wrong. And so, you know what Kony did with that? It empowered him. I mean hey, the world knows about him now, he doesn’t give a shit.

“I think, also, the social media is still a very immature system, so you’ve got to watch it because sometimes you can create movements that just, are either not credible or are not ethical" – Roméo Dallaire M: How can students lobby to increase Canada’s commitment to multilateralism and peacekeeping?

D: Engagement in the NGO world, and help them coalesce and become the lobby of the community, of the population. It’s not necessarily joining political parties, it is using tools to influence the political parties. And, I think the coalescing of NGOs, who are the eyes and the ears, the witnesses of humanity, they are without borders, and so, I believe they will become that body that’s going to bring the voice of humanity to the politicians to change policy, to influence public opinion. So that’s the route to go.

VOL. 101 NO. 49 January 28, 2015

News

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Lost lobby letters to Manitoba’s education department Education critics question advisory committee representation, concentration of powers Dana Hatherly, staff

the departments can now work more collaboratively.

One of the major concerns is the transition that students face from high school to university, according to Bjornson. In an interview with the Manitoban following the minister’s presentation, Wayne Ewasko, the province’s Progressive Conservative education critic, agreed with this premise.

Along with some Manitoban academics, Ewasko did have reservations pertaining to the composition and centralized power of the advisory committee.

Wayne Ewasko, Progressive Conservative education critic photo provided by Lac du Bonnet constituency office

M

inister of education and advanced learning Peter Bjornson spoke at the University of Winnipeg last week about the state of post-secondary education in Manitoba. He outlined the government’s new approach to post-secondary education policy with reference to the new advanced education advisory committee, which replaces the former Council on Post-secondary Education (COPSE).

While the first meeting of the advisory committee was held last week, Bjornson’s speech did not get into the specifics of the meeting.

Consisting of both post-secondary and non-post-secondary appointees, the committee is responsible for allocating funds and directing the Manitoba post-secondary education system. Since COPSE was dismantled last year, the minister of education and advanced learning has effectively assumed the role of the council, with power centralized in his office under the guidance of the advisory committee.

Bjornson told the U of W audience that technically, the advisory committee did not replace COPSE, and that legislation and amendments were made to address the former role that COPSE had.

“We had some pretty frank discussions and some good heated debate,” Bjornson said of the first meeting of the advisory committee.

Post-secondary and K-12 education were put under the same umbrella in the province’s education department over the past year.

Bjornson was asked whether issues particular to post-secondary students and institutions would be left behind.

“No, I don’t think so at all, in fact, because we still have the same people within the department dedicated to doing the work that they need to do,” he said.

“By virtue of having that model, we have one lens looking at the system from K-12 to post-secondary,” Bjornson continued, adding that

secondary institutions. make-up of AEAC [advanced was occupied at the time by minister “So now, we are in a situation in education advisory committee],” James Allum.” which post-secondary institutions read the letter Pierce was refer“If I had mentioned that we sent are playing nice with the minister.” ring to in response to Bill 63 – the a letter to minster Bjornson, I was Ewasko said that there is “no Advanced Education Administration mistaken, and it was minister Allum watchdog until after the fact” – until Amendment and COPSE Act, which that we were dealing with at the time,” after funding allocations have been established the committee.

Pierce said of the missing letter. determined.

According to Bjornson, UMSU Although the present minister “The thing is that it is out of the did not bring up the issue of student expects to hear from student organipublic’s purview.” representation on the committee dur- zations about this, Bjornson told the When asked about the power ing their meeting with the minister Manitoban that he was content with bestowed by the minister and the after he was appointed. the current post-secondary student committee, respectively, UMSU viceTim Johnson, special assistant to representation on the committee. president external Christian Pierce the minister, said he called Pierce The Manitoban requested the full told the Manitoban that centraliza- regarding the unrecorded letter, but list of committee members from the tion of authority is not an issue and did not receive a call back by the time minister’s office. According to the list that the power balance is similar to of publication. received, in total there are currently the configuration under COPSE. “If we see it, we’ll look at it,” 18 committee members – including Education critique “I think the power balance remains Johnson said.

Ewasko, Lac du Bonnet MLA, one U of M student named Kathleen told the Manitoban that the concern similar in respect to the minister When asked about the letter BlueSky. coming from a lot of the post-sec- because he still has a committee advocating for more student repreondary institutions is that “students reporting to him,” Pierce wrote in sentation on the advisory committee, Pierce told the Manitoban that are not necessarily coming very an email.

A letter to the minister of educa- UMSU sent the letter to “the minister well-prepared.”

“We are asking everybody within tion from UMSU, provided to the of education and advanced learning Manitoba, any political stripe, to Manitoban by Pierce, applauded the office at the end of May 2014, which bring forward ideas about how to notion of centralized authority for reasons of accountability. On the make changes,” Ewasko said.

With regards to some of the other hand, it read that the “minischanges underway within the depart- ter will hold even greater power and ment of education, Ewasko spoke authority over PSE institutions in about how, during James Allum’s this province” and that “this could term, the former education minister lead to the temptation to intervene and now Manitoba justice minister, inappropriately in institutional effectively dissolved COPSE, “bring- autonomy.” ing in all the power into the departLetter to the minister ment, into the minister’s office.”

Bjornson has stated that Canadian “How is this going to work?”

Federation of Students-Manitoba Ewasko said.

“Technically every decision in chairperson Zach Fleisher is the only regards to post-secondary would fall student representative on the advisory not only onto the minister, but is then committee, representing students going to be delivered by the minister.” from campuses across the province.

In his email to the Manitoban, Ewasko questioned the authority Pierce said, “I will continue to comand influences of the committee.

“From what I saw in the bill, that municate with Zach to ensure he basically put the power of COPSE knows what issues UMSU feels into the minister’s office, is that, yes, should be voiced at these committee there is an advisory committee, but meetings.”

Pierce told the Manitoban last it is exactly that. It’s an advisory week that UMSU had sent a letter committee.”

Ewasko added that with the rec- to minister Bjornson advocating for ommendations given to the minister more student representation on the from the advisory committee, the committee.

Bjornson said that the decision minister “can take it or leave it.”

In terms of the positions held on to give the Canadian Federation of the advisory committee, Ewasko Students-Manitoba the sole student reaffirmed that these positions are representative spot on the committee not elected or legislated, noting that was based on “recommendations with the minister may essentially decide respect to individuals as part of orgathat one person is no longer required nizations that should be at the table.”

“The participants are based on not on the committee, and then not fill the vacant seat; or the minister can just who they are, but the hats that appoint anyone to fill the position, they wear, and when they do get to since criteria to fill all of the positions the table, everyone’s taking their hats off,” Bjornson said. are not legislated.

When asked about the letter, Ewasko added that, with vast representation on the committee, he Bjornson said that he had “read that hopes that members are doing it for UMSU sent us a letter.”

“We have a very sophisticated the “rights reasons,” based on “experience and expertise within their fields tracking system,” and in regards to reception of the letter from UMSU, and not just for political gain.”

When asked about the effec- Bjornson responded that the mintiveness of the advisory committee, ister’s office did “not have any trace Ewasko responded, “Only time will of it.”

The letter indicated that the capactell.”

He said his number one con- ity of the advisory committee was cern with the committee was that too limited, with no requirement to “COPSE had to provide reports,” add- deliberate on tuition fees or other ing that the council was in charge of policy matters.

“Most critically, however, is the directing the funds to various post-

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News

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

University of Winnipeg Students’ Association advocates oil company divestment UWSA, CFS-Manitoba endorse fossil fuel divestment campaigns, target Energy East Pipeline Keila DePape

graphic by Caroline Norman

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n coordination with campus stu- gram, a summer science program for dent groups, the University of inner city youth funded by the oil comWinnipeg Students’ Association pany Enbridge, the university cancelled (UWSA) is launching a fossil fuel the initiative due to community presdivestment campaign on their cam- sure. The program, re-titled Sciencepus to encourage the University of Kids on Campus, is now funded by the Winnipeg to discontinue the practice government of Manitoba and a range of investing in fossil fuel companies. of community groups.

The launch week, which begun on What divestment seeks to attain, Monday, includes activities such as a however, is a full break from any petition drive, panel discussion, and relationship, financial or otherwise, film screenings to raise awareness between universities and oil compasurrounding climate change caused nies like Enbridge or TransCanada. by burning fossil fuels. The objective The University of Winnipeg is to engage as many campus stake- Foundation, a charitable public founholders as possible, including the dation that engages in fundraising University of Winnipeg Foundation, and asset management for the U of the Board of Regents, faculty, and W, does not make the specifics of the administration. their investments public. This makes Manitoba students have been it difficult to determine which fossil preparing for a fossil fuel divestment fuel companies are in their investment campaign targeting TransCanada due portfolio and how they affect the value to the proposed Energy East pipeline, of the endowment fund that is used to which is slated to transport oil sands support scholarships, academic probitumen from Alberta to refineries grams, and infrastructure, Veitch said. on Canada’s east coast, according “I think we have to assume that to a press release by the Canadian there will be some initial cost, but Federation of Students-Manitoba. one of the things that we’re very The current UWSA campaign cognizant of, is not only saying that emerged when the national office of investing in fossil companies is wrong, the Canadian Federation of Students but also providing alternatives for the passed a unanimous resolution to foundation,” said Veitch, noting that endorse a national campaign for fossil advocating for greater transparency fuel divestment at their general meet- on the part of the foundation is coning in the spring of 2014. Delegates nected to the campaign. representing the UWSA at that Jeremy Read, executive officer and meeting then brought the resolution advisor to the president at the U of W, to their Board of Directors. Shortly confirmed to the Manitoban that six per after the CFS resolution, the UWSA cent of the U of W’s endowment fund board passed a motion to endorse the is invested in petroleum and associated campaign. industries such as plastic and asphalt.

In discussing their current initia- When asked about the administrative, UWSA vice-president advocate tion’s stance on divestment, Read said Peyton Veitch said that there is sig- that divestment would need to fit into nificant need for oil sands divestment a larger framework of long-term goals given the current economic and envi- and strategies for sustainability. ronmental climate in Canada.

“The reality is, our economy as a “There’s a level of urgency to this whole is petroleum- and gas-depencause that’s really worth highlighting,” dent, and if the long-term goal is Veitch said. reduction of fossil fuel dependency “We have to be really clear in say- and greenhouse gas emissions in ing that fossil fuel companies and terms of impact on climate change, their business practices, if left to their then I think as an institution we want own devices, will push the planet to to make sure we’re at the table with the point of runaway climate change.” the people we need to have those conVeitch cited at least one example versations with,” Read said. where pressure from the community Al Turnbull, president of the led to divestment from an oil com- University of Manitoba Students’ pany at the U of W. Union, told the Manitoban that the In 2013, when scrutiny was put on student union does not have an offithe university’s campus Eco-Kids pro- cial stance on fossil fuel divestment

as of yet. widespread social and global state “Moving forward we need to con- pressure, aided in isolating the South sider a time without fossil fuel invest- African economy, which facilitated ments and fossil fuel dependency. On the eventual collapse of the apartheid behalf of myself, I think universities system. Divestment campaigns have should be cognizant that they are been implemented on a wider scale places of higher learning and pro- and realized by federal legislation gressive thinking, and they need to since the 1980s. Since then, sweatconsider all the options. Fossil fuel shop labour, use of landmines, and divestment—and conversely, clean tobacco companies have all been energy investment—is something we targets of divestment. need to be cognizant of,” Turnbull said.

In early December, Concordia University became the first Canadian National, global divestment post-secondary institution to begin Over the past 50 years, divestment divesting from fossil fuel companies, has been used as a tactic to facilitate with a commitment to withdraw $5 social change on university campuses. million worth of holdings and dediThe most widely known move- cate it to “social and ethical investing.” ment took place in the 1970s and ’80s Dalhousie University’s Board of when student activists demanded that Governors recently voted against schools divest from companies doing divestment, but agreed to consider business with South Africa to protest environmental, social, and goverthe country’s apartheid system. nance factors in their practice, and Those efforts, combined with to incorporate the UN Principles for

Responsible Investments. Dalhousie has also committed to publishing annual reports on investments.

The University of Manitoba has not announced any plans for oil divestment, but their current Strategic Plan states: “The university will need to continue its efforts to promote institutional sustainability and to pursue the principles of environmental, social, and economic sustainability defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development as meeting ‘the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’”

The UWSA campaign is linked to Fossil Free Canada, a “national campus-based fossil fuel divestment movement,” which acts as a platform to connect nearly 30 student divestment groups across Canada.

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

In the absence of body checking An examination of sexism on the ice Carlyn Schellenberg, staff

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hen Canadians watch hockey and less access to status and prestige,” according to M. Ann Hall today, we are watching men.

Riddled with patriarchal language, and Dorothy A. Richardson in the hockey—and ringette— was created book Fair Ball: Towards Sex Equality with men in mind. This is evidenced in Canadian Sport. by the names of penalties such as Sports involving body contact “too many men,” and terms such as were forbidden to women in the early “defencemen.”

1900s, a ban rooted in the notion of women as dainty beings who canBut where are all the women?

Canadians began playing hockey not risk damaging their reproductive in the 1880s. Women began playing organs and consequently abandoning as early as 1891 in Ottawa. Dressed their compulsory maternal role. It in long wool skirts and figure skates, turns out, though, that female reprowomen hockey players were accepted ductive organs are well-protected. As for a short time as equals on the highlighted in Fair Ball, “the uterus ice in certain provinces – namely is surrounded in an aqueous material Saskatchewan. that absorbs and distributes forces so This did not last, as doctors well that injury is highly unlikely.” warned women of the “dangers Females were left out from hockey of athletic exertion,” and dissent partly because it served as a training against women playing hockey grew. ground for professional leagues, and During the 1920s and ’30s, women’s there was and still is no professional hockey, which at the time involved league for women. Other reasons body checking and slashing, received included the still pervasive belief more publicity than the decades that that women are physically inferior followed. As Joanna Avery and Julie to men. Fair Ball asks, “Are women Stevens note in the book Too Many athletes inferior for biological reasons Men on the Ice, during this time period, or because they haven’t benefited over some women were discouraged or the years from the same systemic and forbidden from the sport altogether rigorous training as men?” graphic by Justin Ladia by their husbands.

Another harmful idea that disDuring the Second World War, courages women from playing hockey The problem of females entering aspects of ringette have changed as than shocked to see a boy playing the women’s hockey took a backseat is that women shouldn’t have mus- the traditionally male domain of well. As Hayley Mick writes in the sport. Ringette is still seen as a female to the men’s game. While women cles because muscles are masculine aggression and violence (ie. ice Globe and Mail, “Today’s ringette sport and, unfortunately, therefore a already received the bottom of the traits; women should be slender and hockey) was addressed through the is not your grandmother’s ringette. lesser sport. barrel with regards to ice time and attractive, and bearing traditionally creation of sports made specifically Modern ringette is stocked with good While boys don’t need access to equipment, now athletic funds for masculine traits such as muscles for females.

Canadian stuff like the occasional ringette, as they have the privilege women were being cut and entire makes women undesirable to men.

Enter: ringette, which is similar to busted rib.” Adding a shot clock, of men’s hockey, the problem with teams collapsed. Men’s hockey was An aggressive sport such as hockey hockey but is not a contact sport – an which gives the team with ring pos- gendering sports is that it causes a seen to be more profitable, with the risks women’s femininity. There is ideal arena for girls and women to session only 30 seconds to shoot, for divide and serves to exclude the marNational Hockey League being a case also a stigma for aggressive, strong uphold their “feminine charm.” higher levels has also quickened the ginalized group. If a boy or man were in point. women: all successful female athletes Ringette was invented in 1963 by game. to play ringette, they would undoubtIn the 1960s, women’s hockey are lesbians. This belief serves to pre- Sam Jacks in North Bay, Ontario, edly be ridiculed and viewed as less of experienced a restoration at the uni- vent women from playing hockey due who found that girls were not playa man – because ringette is supposed The problem of versity level. At Queen’s University to the homophobic harassment that ing hockey and needed an ice sport as to be free of all “masculine” traits. in Kingston, Ontario, the women ensues. well. In the beginning, much like Eve It’s only been 17 years since females entering the played a physical, aggressive game, was allegedly created out of Adam’s women began playing hockey in the traditionally male in spite of a rule prohibiting body rib, ringette sticks were made from Olympics. Progress takes time – time Sports involving checking. hockey sticks with the blade removed. domain of aggression for competition to build, more players Associations and individuals lob- body contact were In this safer environment, female to join the game, and for sexism to and violence (ie. bied for women’s hockey. In 1974, a athletes could thrive. Ringette dissipate. It’s also been 52 years since forbidden to women player on the Queen’s University team quickly grew; in 1983, there were over ringette was invented. Hockey and ice hockey) was requested in vain that the American 14,500 ringette players.

According ringette are increasingly accessible in the early 1900s, solved by the Hockey Association include to On the Edge, in that same year, to women and girls who want to play rooted in the notion women’s hockey as an Olympic “the number of players registered in aggressively on the ice, but for equity creation of sports sport. The Ontario Women’s Hockey women’s hockey was a mere 5,379, less to be achieved, we need to start with of women as dainty Association, started in 1975, lobbied than 40 per cent of ringette’s num- made specifically a successful professional women’s beings who cannot for inclusion in the Ontario Winter bers.” Today there are over 80,000 hockey league so that women can for females Games, the national championships, girls playing hockey. make a living playing the sport they risk damaging their and the world championships.

When women’s hockey banned love as well.

Despite these efforts, women body checking in 1986, some ringPerhaps if hitting and fighting reproductive organs could not access hockey the way ette players moved on to hockey. In Canadian Olympic gold medallist were incorporated into women’s and consequently men could. The Canadian Hockey spite of this, the only year ringette Hayley Wickenheiser has seen career hockey it would be more entertainAssociation didn’t recognize women’s registration actually decreased was success playing in a professional men’s ing and profitable. The current rule in abandoning hockey until 1982 after the inception in 1998, most likely due to women’s league, and women’s hockey has also the Olympics is that while only some their compulsory of the National Female Council. A hockey becoming an Olympic sport come a long way, but, as noted earlier, men require partial visors, women 1992 National Collegiate Athletic for the first time. There are currently there is still no professional women’s must wear full face masks. This rule maternal role Association study examined gender more than 27,000 ringette players in league. So while men have leagues would need to be changed in order for equity in ice hockey. The study Canada. such as the NHL to aspire to, women women’s hockey to be taken seriously revealed that males received 69.6 The levels of ringette play in typically cannot make a living play- – or fighting banned from and face per cent of scholarship money. The Elizabeth Etue and Megan K. Canada were divided into Bunny, ing hockey. National Hockey League masks made compulsory for men’s recruiting budget received was 82.8 Williams write in On the Edge: Women Novice, Petite, Tween, Junior, Belle, commissioner Gary Bettman said a hockey. Some argue that women’s per cent for males, and 17.2 per cent Making Hockey History, “Harassment, and Open. These categories, as noted women’s professional hockey league hockey is faster than men’s because for females. The media also largely inadequate access to ice time, under- in On the Edge, “leave no room for doesn’t make business sense, yet. it is exempt from fighting and hitting. ignored female hockey, at least in funding and the underrepresentation confusion about one’s sexual identity.”

Ringette and women’s hockey In order for these rules to change, contrast to the attention men’s hockey of women on organizational bodies The names of these levels have are still entrenched in gender norms. society’s ideas about weak, fragile received. all attest to a sports world that pro- recently been changed to U8 (under While boys are technically allowed women will need to evolve.

Women lacked access to the sport; motes and guards the aspirations of eight), U10, U12, U14, U16, U19, and to play ringette until age 12, and you there were “fewer psychological and some boys and views the aspirations 18+, perhaps to abandon the notion of may see the occasional male goalie material rewards for women athletes of girls as a threat.” females as delicate creatures. Other in higher levels, you would be more

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

Against political hipsterism Don’t like how the debate is being conducted? Get involved!

Tom Ingram, staff

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n the wake of the Charlie Hebdo extensive research on the political than we actually receive on a weekshootings, a number of political circumstances of Nigeria. And make to-week basis. As a result, our covertropes have renewed their currency. it snappy. I haven’t got all day.” age reflects, for better or worse, the There has been an awful lot of talk This is a lazy cop-out, a symptom thoughts and opinions of our staff about freedom of speech and the free- of the rankest political hipsterism. and the small number of regular voldom to offend. Almost as much has The Manitoban is a student news- unteers we have. been said about the alleged racism of paper. That means that we rely to a By this I do not mean that our Charlie’s cartoonists, France’s alleged great extent on volunteers – students coverage simply reflects our opinions discrimination against Muslims, and interested in contributing to the dis- on the issues. Our coverage reflects the disturbing anti-Muslim backlash course surrounding current events, which issues we see as important that has been occurring. students interested in a career in enough to be worth having an opinGiven my position as the journalism, and community members ion on. If our coverage is not diverse Comment Editor of the Manitoban, with ties to the university weighing enough, that is because we print one of these tropes enrages me espe- in on their areas of expertise. material written by a small number The reliance on volunteers is dou- of people, and it’s more or less the cially: the notion that covering one violent, tragic incident and not cov- bly true of the Comment section. I same people every time. ering another reflects some insidi- am currently the only staff member The solution to this problem is to ous ideology-driven editorial policy. of the Manitoban whose job is to write get more voices, and a greater variety Whenever you cover—or, indeed, opinion articles. And much as it pains of voices, involved in the discussion. I speak about—any significant disaster, me to admit it, I don’t know every- want to run articles about economics. someone will always wriggle out of thing. More importantly, I have only I want articles written from a relithe woodwork to criticize you for not my own point of view to work with. gious point of view. I want articles discussing some other, more impor- A certain uniformity of opinion is talking knowledgeably about educatant, disaster. already one of the great weaknesses tion. I want articles discussing the As the tragedies get more horri- of the student press, and it would help local politics of far-off lands in a way ble and more public, the probability matters very little if I were to turn our accessible to Winnipeggers. I want that this will happen approaches one. opinion pages into the Tom Ingram vicious polemics and quietly wellThese people are not, for the most Variety Hour. informed dissertations that barely part, involved in the discussion. They I see my job as rendering my con- count as opinion pieces.

Some of these topics I see rarely, do not write about the issues they tributors’ opinions in print, to the believe are important. They advocate greatest extent that I can, regardless while some I have never seen in the for their pet issues only when current of whether I agree with them. So I four years I’ve been writing for the events bestow a high-profile tragedy almost never reject articles that are Manitoban. These are just a few I that is supposedly less deserving of sent to me. I have done it only twice pulled off the top of my head; doubtthis academic year. attention. less there are more interesting topics In short, they simply want to dicBut the very best we can do is that would never have occurred to tate what other people—and media publish every article that gets writ- someone like me. outlets—devote their attention to, ten and sent to us. And the sad fact I believe that we as a student without making any meaningful is that we don’t get very many vol- body can do better. I challenge us contribution. “You there, with the unteer contributions. We have the to do better. If you do not like how notebook and recorder! Go and do resources to publish far more articles the debate is being conducted, get

involved. Steer it in a different direction. Or do something – just don’t sit idly and cast aspersions at the goodfaith efforts of others.

The question is often asked: “Why isn’t somebody talking about X?” There is only one answer to this question: “Hey, I’m somebody!”

graphic by Bram Keast

Clash of civilizations?

In responding to the Charlie Hebdo shootings, best to avoid simplistic narratives of left and right Devon Hanel

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t is worth appreciating the this (I intend to be an “equal oppor- compared to just 12 in Western coun- on Western countries, is to be noth- the other fascists, who might enact immense outcry that has flooded tunity offender”), as many on the tries as a result of terrorist attacks ing more than unsophisticated as one violence and discrimination upon the pages of broadsheets in the days left have taken it upon themselves to in 2013, it might be prudent to ask resorts to accepted assertion. It is an France’s impoverished Muslim comfollowing the senseless slaughter of speak of, or for, a singular indivisible where this supposed clash is really ironic claim to make after announc- munity. This and the fear of reprisal satirists. A series of appraisals, expla- “Muslim community” and to know taking place. ing the need for “an honest account” ought to be shared. nations, and condemnations are in more than I suspect one can about the Many who are weary that the of the terrorist threat’s “origins, aims, Understanding Charlie as wide selection, and a simple inventory causes, or at least antecedents, of this press is adopting the rhetoric of those and motives.”

Islamophobic seems to follow with of this mass of text reveals a freedom act of murder. This is to say nothing who have the ability to curtail liberty The fault of mainstream journalists the idea that the Muslim community of speech in recuperation. of the vitriol and bigotry that the far- for security or launch unjust inter- is their indolence; their lack of exam- is a unitary one. Seymour and his This diagnosis, however lacking it right employs in an unjust backlash ventions will be made uneasy when ination into the socioeconomics of comrades are wrong to “essentialize,” may be, is corroborated by the choice against those of the Islamic faith.

Ethan Cabel, in a Jan. 14 article in the French society and the Islamic world, as Seth Ackerman puts it, Muslims of certain publications, including the By now immersion into the rhet- Manitoban, writes that “we are at war the context in which radicalization in just the same way the right does.

Manitoban, to reprint the blasphe- oric of war is complete with many with radical Islamism...” which is a arises, but also the abnegation of the There is no one Muslim sensibility to mous images that made Charlie Hebdo world leaders echoing sentiments “well-organized movement that seeks responsibility to criticize, for example, be spoken for and those who act as a litmus test for freedom of speech. similar to those of Stephen Harper, to impose theocratic Islamic fascism the free speech crimes of world leaders though there is are also resorting to However, much of the content who said that “they have declared war on the rest of the world through the who proclaim “Je suis Charlie.” the superficial. of the current discourse is far from on anybody who does not think and use of violence.”

The mainstream may not remedy The freedom to deride religion in helpful. In fact, it would seem that act exactly as they wish” – “they,” in There is no doubt Cabel is right our myopic discourse, but neither the most vulgar way is to be upheld the temptation of vacuous cliché and this case, referring to the nebulous when citing al-Qaeda in Yemen as an does much of the left. against those who feel the censorious platitude has taken hold of more than “international jihadist movement.” example of “Islamofascism” and there In Jacobin magazine Richard impulse. For this reason one ought just the mainstream press, where it is The tired expression those in are many others whose ideology fits Seymour describes Charlie Hebdo as a to feel solidarity with Charlie, while expected, but has become the de facto power are reaching for is the “clash the ticket. But to say that there is a “frankly racist publication.” From this simultaneously repudiating the climanner of speech. of civilizations.” When 22,000 people “well-organized movement” seeking charge many claim that Charlie has chés that are the current narratives The mainstream is not alone in are killed in non-Western countries imposition of fascism, presumably been stoking the fire for the far-right, of right and left.

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

Letter to the Editor Letters published in the Manitoban are edited for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Views expressed in the letters are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Manitoban.

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would like to respond to an article ing the resignation because those in the Jan. 21, 2015 edition of the details should be confidential until Manitoban titled “UMGSA con- they are resolved. Therefore, I profusion” by Ethan Cabel. The main vided the Manitoban with the details points of this article revolve around of our involvement in the anti-cuts excerpts taken from a leaked confi- campaign but not the resignation. dential resignation letter, and partici- The content of the resignation letpation in the anti-cuts campaign with ter was taken out of context, which the Canadian Federation of Students made it appear there was a scandal to be uncovered. The resignation letMB (CFS-MB).

A confidential issue that was being ter was not the result of UMGSA dealt with in our UMGSA Council involvement in the “Stop the Cuts” became a public affair when an indi- campaign, but rather stems from a vidual shared a document with the different issue.

We are an autonomous organizaManitoban. Upon contact from the Manitoban, I refrained from discuss- tion working to stop campus auster-

ity measures with six other student and worker unions on the “Stop the Cuts” campaign, one of which is the CFS-MB. We are also working with representatives from AESES, CUPE Local 3909, UMFA, UMSU, and Unifor Local 3007. This does not make us members of those organizations. We are participating with the campaign on a case-by-case basis so the UMGSA Executive and Campaigns Committees can evaluate which activities are most appropriate based on member goals.

To set the record straight, we pledged $1,000 to the anti-cuts cam-

paign with council’s endorsement; this is very different from a “donation” that was stated in the Manitoban’s article. We did not donate the $1,000 to CFS-MB; no money has changed hands. UMGSA will retain all control over the funds and the allocation of them.

The article tagline “Council confusion” seems to insinuate these processes took place without council consent instead of as a product of their involvement. Our council has had discussions around the anticuts campaign; critical questions have been raised and caution exercised.

The budget cuts will impact many stakeholders on campus and we should not let organizational politics restrict us from doing what is best for the student body. Moving forward I hope we can focus on the anti-cuts issues rather than unsubstantiated allegations.

Sincerely, Laura Rempel President University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association

Scientist movies are watereddown hagiography The Hollywood treatment does not do justice to Turing and Hawking Tom Ingram, staff

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ast year saw the release of two Awards. high-profile films about famous With all the attention these films scientists: The Imitation Game, star- have received, it seems that there ring Benedict Cumberbatch as the is a heartening new interest in sciill-fated computer scientist Alan ence among the movie-going public.

Turing, and The Theory of Everything, Doesn’t it? with Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Not so fast. The Imitation Game Hawking, the theoretical physicist. has numerous problems – there’s no Both are up for several Academy focus, it lacks any interesting visu-

als or sounds, and the characters are mostly nonexistent. But most distressing is the fact that it utterly fails to engage with Turing’s ideas in any meaningful way, even as it sexes up the historical events he was involved in and attempts to change the strange but amiable Turing into some sort of bizarre combination of

graphic by Caroline Norman

Cumberbatch’s Sherlock and Sheldon going to go digging in the private from The Big Bang Theory. affairs of living or recently dead No one expects a biopic to be a people, it behooves you to avoid disdocumentary, but a viewer with no torting, inventing, or glossing over prior exposure to Turing would leave important details of their lives. Or, this film with only the vaguest idea of at the very least, you should make a why he was important. There is only a good movie. slight hand wave made in the direcThe scientific work of two famous tion of explaining the mathematics scientists is not a small thing you can that made up Turing’s life’s work – just neglect to mention. Their work though some of his concepts are quite cannot be meaningfully detached simple and elegant. from their lives. Cinematic biogThe Theory of Everything is at least raphers who don’t care—or expect a serviceable movie. It focuses mainly their audience not to care—about on the romance between Hawking this major aspect of their subjects’ and his first wife Jane Wilde from lives simply do not care about their their early days at Cambridge up subjects as individuals. to the dissolution of their marriage With this in mind, it is not surin 1990. The film’s supporting cast prising that these films have felt makes at least some impression, the clammy touch of the Academy which is more than can be said for Awards, which have long been a celThe Imitation Game. There are even ebration of middlebrow mediocrity. moments of genuine humour here The Academy loves stories of overand there. coming disability as much as it loves But again, Hawking’s scientific stories of discrimination that hapwork fades to the background. There pened just long enough ago that we are a few spots where the film looks can’t be blamed for it, and these two like it’s going to discuss Hawking’s films offer up a fine example of each. conception of time, but each time it These two films are sanitized of cuts away or changes the subject. The the quite challenging and revolutionfilm does not treat Hawking’s ideas ary ideas of their subjects until nothwith any seriousness. Instead we get ing is left but platitudinous pablum, technobabble and a whole lot of irrel- as exemplified in the clunky slogan evant agonizing over the existence or of The Imitation Game: “Sometimes nonexistence of God. it is the people who no one imagines This is clearly worse than noth- anything of who do the things that ing, since the film’s version of sci- no one can imagine.” entific vacuity leaves viewers with The watered-down hagiography the erroneous idea that they know of the Oscar-ready biopic fails to give something of Hawking’s work—the Alan Turing and Stephen Hawking broad strokes if not the details—and their due. These were complex men connects it to some simplistic and who developed complex theories, and readily available sociopolitical argu- their respective lives and bodies of ment that it really has nothing to do work deserve a complex cinematic with. look, one that likely won’t fit any preFar be it from me to suggest that conceived social narrative. biographical films must be rigorNo doubt such a film would not ously accurate to history. But I don’t win an Oscar. approve of prurience, and if you’re

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Features Managing Editor: Craig Adolphe Contact: me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

Introduction to the charity feature The merits of charity Craig Adolphe, staff

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wo months ago, as students finished their courses for the fall term, a number of them invested their additional free time into volunteering for local charities.

Of course, charities operate yearround and informal giving permeates our social world. We’re encouraged by the media and through cultural narratives to consider those who don’t have the same quality of life we do. When faced with a recognition of the suffering of others and

the level of inequality in our society, most people’s first reactions are to want to help.

While some people offer criticisms about the efficacy of charitable organizations and the models they operate by (we certainly will here), we can also take heart in the intents of people contributing to charities. People are giving their time and financial resources out of a desire to do good for others.

These reactions are a central fea-

ture of human nature. Charitable giving is, in part, a manifestation of this desire to help and protect others.

The ubiquitous nature of the desire to help others makes it a topic worthy of discussion and a perfect candidate for the first feature of the year.

A comprehensive discussion of charity should look at a number of topics: it should explore the social psychology of giving, question the idea of altruism, look at the social institutions that necessitate charity,

analyze specific charitable organiza- an interview with Donald Benham, tions and events, and feature personal Winnipeg Harvest’s director of hunnarratives of individuals giving as ger and poverty awareness, and a look well as receiving from others. at Bob Geldof ’s influence on musical Unfortunately, we won’t be able charity initiatives. to touch upon all of these in the time I hope that the acts of charity and space allocated to us, but I hope profiled in this section inspire you that what’s presented here can serve to address social problems in your as the launching pad for a number of own communities and that the critidiscussions about charity. cal discussion about the nature of This feature will include profiles charity as an institution encourages of several charitable initiatives that you to think about the most effective have U of M student involvement, ways to address those social problems.

Charity for now: the Winnipeg Harvest philosophy An interview with Donald Benham, Winnipeg Harvest’s director of hunger and poverty awareness Craig Adolphe, staff

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innipeg Harvest is a staple in Winnipeg Harvest’s long-term said Benham. “And if she’s on welfare the city. One of Winnipeg’s planning is supported by their hun- she’s got about half of that. So every most well-respected and well-recog- ger and poverty awareness com- time she goes to the store for milk and nized charities; for decades Winnipeg mittee, which is made up of people bread, for every dollar she needs she’s Harvest has worked to eliminate hun- who are low-income and defined as got 50 cents. And she never gets the ger in the province, and has done a oppressed—including clients and for- other 50 cents. She is always behind. great deal to reduce hunger through mer clients of Winnipeg Harvest— So we say is that fair? Is that fair to the collection and distribution of and people who are of higher incomes that mom? Is that fair to those kids?” food. who are not oppressed. The commitWinnipeg Harvest calculates that Winnipeg Harvest distributes tee is meant to be a place for respect- even working a full-time, full-year food through more than 350 part- ful dialogue where people of different job at minimum wage, a mother of ner agencies in Manitoba, includ- backgrounds are able to contribute two children would only have 75 cents ing churches, community centres, their knowledge to developing a strat- for every dollar she needs for basic schools, post-secondary education egy for achieving the organization’s dignified living. facilities, day cares, soup kitchens, vision.

“We think this is a very important and community agencies. In 2013, the Major projects being developed example of what people need to know organization distributed more than by Winnipeg Harvest go before about living in poverty in Winnipeg.

12.8 million pounds of food. the committee so they can discuss “What should we do about that?”

Winnipeg Harvest’s mission whether it will work towards ending Benham asks. “What would be a statement might best be described the need for food banks. The commit- better way? What would be a better as succinct. It lays out a vision for the tee also works to develop new plans system to make sure that those kids organization: to create “a community that work towards the same goals. have enough food in them before they that no longer requires the services go to school every day so they can of a food bank” as well as a three- The problems: hunger learn properly?” point mission for the organization: and poverty “1. Share food with hungry families; Research done by Winnipeg A solution: guaranteed 2. Facilitate training and learning Harvest has found that roughly annual income opportunities for [their] clients; and 60,000 people use emergency food The most crucial idea, according 3. Focus attention on hunger within programs a month in Manitoba, 45 to Benham, is a guaranteed annual our community and move towards per cent of whom are children. As income. long-term solutions.” astoundingly large a number as that “We say, let’s take a look at someNestled in that brief statement is may be, there’s another key figure to thing that happened in Dauphin, a radical idea: a desire to put them- keep in mind; although the figure Manitoba from 1974 to 1978,” said selves out of business. stays at roughly 60,000 people using Benham, referring to the Mincome The Manitoban spoke to Winnipeg emergency food programs month basic income project, which was Harvest’s hunger and poverty aware- to month, Winnipeg Harvest’s piloted in Daupin and has recently ness director, Donald Benham, about researchers have found that with the regained notoriety through research their philosophy and the role it plays start of a new month the 60,000 fig- done by U of M researcher Evelyn in the organization’s efforts to allevi- ure includes 3,000 new users who had Forget in order to determine what ate hunger in the city. not been clients the previous month. impact the project had.

“That view is held within Winnipeg “It’s not the same people all the As part of the Mincome program, Harvest, from everyone who works time. It’s important that people families in Dauphin were given suphere and everyone who volunteers understand that and it’s impor- plementary income. The program was here, [to] our board,” said Benham. tant that we understand that,” said available to all low-income families, “We are very clear, top to bottom and Benham. including the working poor. Families every way sideways, that we’re all The number of people utilizing of people who were unemployed and working on ending the need for food food bank services in the province receiving Mincome, who went on banks and thus putting Winnipeg shouldn’t come as a surprise in light of to find work, were not penalized by Harvest out of business and closing poverty levels and the current inade- losing access to their financial supits doors. quacy of funding for the welfare state. port. Instead it was reduced slightly “But only when we’re satisfied, “Bottom line, for a mom and two depending on their income. when the need is met, that everyone kids—a single mom and two kids— Since then, researchers have found in Winnipeg, and Manitoba [ . . . ] is just as one of the examples [of the that the unconditional financial supgoing to have enough to eat.” basic cost of living] is $38,000 a year,” port for low-income families had not

photo by Anny Chen

significantly reduced participation in the labour force, as many feared it would. The two exceptions: married women deciding to stay at home longer having children, and teenagers who didn’t get full-time jobs until they were slightly older.

However, the effects of making it available to everyone that needed it have been manifold: it helped to reduce poverty; it has been described as less stigmatizing than conditional social welfare benefits; it contributed to radically increasing high school graduation rates; and it reduced hospitalization rates – an effect that extended indefinitely, beyond the duration of the experiment.

Benham was excited by the implications of the findings for poverty elimination strategies.

“High school enrolment increased so much that they were actually pulling in drop-outs from previous years,” said Benham. “And there’s actually been a permanent good—a permanent change—in the well-being of

the people of Dauphin when it comes to hospitalization for mental illness or mental health issues and for accidents and injuries.”

“Because health care is a public responsibility, if we could save that much money on health care by implementing a guaranteed annual income, we think that would be not only the [ . . . ] humane thing to do,” said Benham, “but we think it would be the smart thing to do. The economically efficient thing to do. Because we would save money in the long run on our health care system as well as a number of other social benefits from having more people food secure and having enough to eat. Including all those kids going to school.”

Winnipeg Harvest lays out a vision for how we can work to eliminate poverty and the need for food banks while also serving as a model for how to think of the role of charity: with compassion, with dignity, and only as long as we need it.

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Features

Managing Editor: Craig Adolphe Contact: me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

Charity on campus A look at some of the work being done by U of M students Craig Adolphe, staff

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he university is a hive of activity, and students and staff at the University of Manitoba seem particularly generous in their time and finances. Amongst the various student groups, unions, faculties, and departments on campus there are dozens—perhaps hundreds—of charitable projects and efforts worthy of profiling. This article looks at only a few of the most notable efforts championed by students.

University of Manitoba Students’ Union

The University of Manitoba Students’ Union is the main representative body of students at the U of M. As such, it takes an active role in spearheading charitable initiatives supported by U of M students. It provides funding to some charitable student groups, contributes financially to key causes important to students, and manages its own charitable projects such as the holiday hamper.

Local student groups are given support through space, access to tables during orientation, and occasional funding from UMSU for special events. Several of these groups have charitable mandates and are affiliated with national or international charities and non-profits. The groups include Let’s Talk Science, Active Minds at University of Manitoba, MEFLIFE Manitoba, the University of Manitoba group for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council, the Justice for Women Student Group, and University of Manitoba Operation Smile, among others.

The holiday hamper program has been run by the students’ union for over 10 years. The program is meant to help students in need over the holidays. Students in need are able to confidentially sign up to receive a

hamper through UMSU while student groups, faculty councils, associations, and faculties participate in the program through the “Adopt-AHamper” initiative, in which they help collect and deliver goods.

“I wanted to try to get Bison athletes engaged in a community that they don’t normally engage in” – Lindsay Poggemiller-Smith, Siloam Mission’s director of human resources and volunteer services, and former Bisons athlete

photo by Sean tam

and the generous donations of all the student groups, faculty councils and associations, offices, and individuals who participated.

“The three-day block over which the program really comes together is an intensive one. This year was an amazing success due to the number of great volunteers who came out and helped us on the packaging, wrapping, and especially delivery days.”

This year, UMSU was able to distribute over 200 holiday hampers to the families of students in need.

Rebecca Kunzman, UMSU vicepresident advocacy, said that the union had doubled the capacity of the holiday hamper program compared to last year.

The students’ union also runs an annual toy drive. The toys are col- University of Manitoba lected by donation in University Athletic Council Centre and go to the children of The University of Manitoba students receiving hampers.

Athletic Council (UMAC) is a stuKunzman started work on the dent group made up of student athunion’s hamper program in early letes who play for the Bisons.

November, but emphasized the conJessica Rosenbaum, UMAC voltributions of other students in the unteer coordinator and athlete with success of the program this year. the Bisons’ women’s hockey team, “This program would not be possi- told the Manitoban UMAC’s purble without the help of our volunteers pose is to provide a venue for “com-

munity outreach; social planning; to The University of Manitoba provide a forum for discussion for Athletic Council’s partnership all athletic-related issues; to regulate with Siloam started when Lindsay all other unified activities done by Poggemiller-Smith, director of varsity athletes; and to be the voice human resources and volunteer serof all student athletes on behalf of vices at Siloam Mission and a thenBison Sports.”

Bison athlete from the women’s But on top of all of its other roles, volleyball team, brought her team to UMAC is particularly active in its volunteer. The initiative expanded charity efforts. as other Bison teams began to join This year was UMAC’s 10th year the effort. volunteering at Siloam Mission over “I wanted to try to get Bison the holidays. The volunteers—who athletes engaged in a community included athletes from track and that they don’t normally engage in,” field, swimming, basketball, soccer, Poggemiller-Smith said in an interhockey, volleyball, and golf—worked view with Shaw TV. “Siloam was a in Siloam’s kitchen and drop-in cen- great place to do that and so I brought tre, and sorted donations. some of my friends down, brought The Bison swimming team also my volleyball team down, and then donated over $500 to Siloam Mission the coaches were graceful enough to after raising money with sales of let me expand it to other teams until event programs at their 2014 Bison UMAC got involved.

Sprint meet.

“And for the last seven or eight years there’s been a different rep carrying it to bring people down to Siloam for Christmas.”

“We obviously think it’s really important and we all like to give back and try to do what we can,” said Rosenbaum in reference to UMAC’s charity work.

The University of Manitoba Athletic Council and various Bison teams engage in a variety of other charity initiatives throughout the year. This year, the women’s hockey and basketball teams supported the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with Shoot for the Cure games.

Throughout the year UMAC also runs two programs in Winnipeg elementary schools: Bisons Against Bullying and Bison Book Buddies.

Upcoming projects, set for February, include raising funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation during Bison games and having student athletes read to children as part of I Love to Read Month.

photo by Jessica Rosenbaum

VOL. 101 NO. 49 January 28, 2015

Commerce Students’ Association

Features

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attending classes and engaging in their daily activities. The campaign ended up raising $27,350 for RaY, a local non-profit organization that works with Winnipeg’s homeless youth up to the age of 29. The organization intends to provide a nonjudgmental environment in order to make young people comfortable and provide programs and services focused on ensuring health and wellness, access to employment and housing, and opportunities for recreation.

The Commerce Students’ Association (CSA), which represents students in the Asper school of business, is, in conjunction with Asper, another leader on campus in terms of charity efforts. Their annual activities include Chillin’ for Charity which raises funds for the United Way, 5 Days for the Homeless which raises funds for Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY), and Shinerama, which raises money for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“All of that money In November 2013, over 50 students took turns diving into a pool of gets invested in icy water as part of the University of services through Manitoba’s Chillin’ for Charity event, which was organized by Asper stu- agencies and dents. They raised over $17,500, with through programs all the proceeds going to the United Way of Winnipeg. The fundraiser throughout is an annual activity and is done in Winnipeg” – Louise conjunction with business schools across Western Canada.

Waldman, United United Way of Winnipeg, the recipient of funds, is a major charita- Way of Winnipeg ble organization in the city. Founded director of 50 years ago as a joint venture of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce communications and the Winnipeg Labour Council, it works to fundraise and distribute to various groups in the city. It has 5 Days for the Homeless origialso expanded its focus to broader nated at the University of Alberta, planning in the charitable and non- spreading to other universities in profit sector.

Canada in 2008. Since its inception, Louise Waldman, United Way 5 Days for the Homeless has raised of Winnipeg director of communi- over $985,000 for Canadian charitable cations, said that the funds it raises, organizations. including those raised by the U of M’s Shinerama is the national fundChillin’ for Charity event, go towards raising campaign for the Canadian a variety of initiatives throughout the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. city.

Volunteers for the annual campaign “All of that money gets invested include over 35,000 students from 60 in services through agencies and Canadian universities and colleges, through programs throughout who raise money primarily by shining Winnipeg. shoes. However, volunteers also cook “There’s so many people whose burgers, wash cars, and contribute in lives are touched by United Way; a number of other ways. they may not realize it but the netThe U of M plays a major role work of programming we support in the campaign every year, with is so broad: from mental health and local activities being organized by physical health, to community and members of the CSA. The U of M family resource centres, to youth pro- campaign raised over $32,000 in 2014 gramming, to cultural groups. It’s just and over $35,000 the year before that. a really important part of the fabric Since the campaigns first launch in of our city.”

1964, Shinarama has raised close to In 2014, 5 Days for the Homeless $25 million, which goes towards cystic saw six students from the Asper fibrosis research and care. school of business camping outside on the Fort Garry campus while still

photos provided by Asper School of Business

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Features

Managing Editor: Craig Adolphe Contact: me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

Someone’s looking at you Bob Geldof and the strange contradiction of celebrity activism Tom Ingram, staff

graphic by Samantha Secter

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he field of benefit concerts and place. Live Aid, which was put on in the cooperation of Western NGOs, charity singles is dominated July of 1985 at the Wembley Stadium some of which were funded by Band by one man: Bob Geldof, the Irish in London, featured performances Aid, with the Ethiopian governrocker who was one of the driving by David Bowie, Dire Straits, the ment’s resettlement plan at the time forces behind the Live Aid and Live Who, Paul McCartney, and, most of the famine.

8 concerts and who has corralled pop memorably, Queen.

This resettlement uprooted singers into recording and releasing 600,000 people from their homes in order to move them out of disputed his charity single “Do They Know The Geldof-style It’s Christmas?” four times since 1984 territory and into the areas that were under the umbrella of “Band Aid.” controlled

by Ethiopia’s communist benefit concert is Geldof ushered in a new era of regime. At least 50,000 people died in a lavish spectacle celebrity activism where every actor the resettlement, and Médecins Sans and pop star supports their own pet Frontières president Claude Malhuret featuring as many cause and everyone who’s anyone in likened it to the Khmer Rouge genothe charity world has some vaguely cide in Cambodia. big-name pop famous person to be the public face Médecins Sans Frontières refused stars as he can of their organization. Whether or not to cooperate with the resettlement, this is a positive change, it is one of but other NGOs such as Oxfam and fit in one place the factors that drives the charitable Save the Children, as well as some world even today.

UN agencies, cooperated in order With Band Aid 30’s record—the The concert brought in 100 million to remain in the country to distrib30th anniversary version of “Do They pounds for famine relief in Ethiopia, ute aid. Reports of the resettlement Know It’s Christmas?”—released last so no one can doubt Geldof ’s effec- reached the western media, but the November, and the 30th anniversary tiveness at raising funds. But Live narrative of the famine was by this of Live Aid fast approaching, Geldof Aid, Band Aid, and the rhetoric point largely driven by Geldof, who has found himself back in the head- surrounding them have come under criticized Médecins Sans Frontières lines. Just as in the 1980s, much of fire over the years from two different and defended the NGOs who stayed. what is being said about him is not angles.

Rieff claimed that staying in positive.

On the one hand were criticisms of Ethiopia put these organizations The Geldof-style benefit concert is the way the money was used. David in the position of being “unwilling a lavish spectacle featuring as many Rieff, in an article published in the collaborators” with the Ethiopian big-name pop stars as he can fit in one Guardian in 2005, called attention to regime, and he castigated Geldof for

purveying bland platitudes that gloss Geldof ’s fundraising is indeed over the real political complications unimpeachable, but some have sugof aid work. gested that it has produced little “Predictably, Geldof takes a mor- in the way of structural change, as ally serious dispute, with respectable Ethiopia remains one of the poorarguments on both sides [ . . . ] and est countries in the world while the turns it into a pissing match in an rhetoric surrounding the problem of alley behind a pub,” wrote Rieff in African poverty still assumes that the another article. entire continent will perish without the help of a rock musician who has not put out a worthwhile record since Ethiopia remains 1979.

For many years now Geldof has one of the poorest arguably been an activist first and a musician second, so he can hardly be countries in the unaware of these criticisms. world while the Yet Geldof has a rosy view of Live Aid and Band Aid as “something that rhetoric surrounding was wholly good and incorruptible the problem of and that worked.” His refusal to dignify arguments such as Rieff’s betrays African poverty still what could be a quaintly idealistic assumes that the devotion to this idea. Still, when he does respond to criticism, he occaentire continent sionally seems to reveal a certain cynicism about the listening public. will perish without He is under no illusions about the the help of a rock artistic quality of his charity singles; he has gone on record describing “Do musician who They Know It’s Christmas?” as one of has not put out “the worst songs in history.” As far as Geldof is concerned, it seems, the a worthwhile music is beside the point.

“The reality behind the pop song— record since 1979 Christmassy, corny, whatever you think about it—the reality behind it On the other hand, many have is stark,” said Geldof to Rolling Stone, criticized Geldof for glossing over a “If it’s a pop song that can help ease whole other set of complex political the pain, the agony, if they can die realities. In his speeches and lyrics, with a little more dignity then, yeah, Geldof tends to talk about Africa I’m there. It’s pretty simple.”

He responded to criticisms of his monolithically, in the abstract, and depiction of Africa by saying that “It’s with little reference to individuals.

He also tends toward portraying a pop song, it’s not a doctoral thesis” Africans as abject victims desperately and inviting critics to “fuck off.” He in need of heroism from the West. believes that Band Aid has brought This is an image that has become the discussion of international aid to especially unpalatable in recent years the general public, and that it gives a as African voices have become more boost to voices the public ordinarily available to the average Westerner. doesn’t hear – such as, perhaps, Al In response to Band Aid 30, which Jazeera’s interviewees.

This is the strange contradiction is to help fund the fight against Ebola in West Africa, Al Jazeera published of celebrity activism: either benefit an article in which they asked several concerts and charity singles are supAfrican intellectuals for their opin- posed to unite the world spiritually or ions on Western charity singles for they are an elaborate put-on to trick the drones (i.e. you) into behaving as Africa.

“Producing an Ebola song now required (i.e. donating). In the forto raise money, nearly one year after mer case, the images and words we the first reported case in Guinea, is use matter a great deal, perhaps even belated at best,” said Robtel Neajai more than the actual effectiveness of Pailey, a PhD student from Liberia. the charitable dollar.

In the latter case, it’s all right for “It reeks of the ‘white saviour complex’ because it negates local efforts that them to be a little broad or cartoonish, since it’s all just an excuse to extract have come before it.” “[Ethiopia] has been trying to money from wallets. You can’t have depict a new bright image to the it both ways, but it would seem that’s world so as to attract tourists and how Bob Geldof wants it. foreign direct investment. But this uphill battle is always hindered when such reminders of the past appear again on the screens of the people that are trying to be persuaded,” said Dawit Gebreselassie, an Ethiopian financial analyst.

Another criticism that has arisen on occasion is that Geldof ’s benefit concerts for Africa have largely excluded African performers – Live Aid, for example, had none.

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

Where imagination and innovation meet Visionary Conversations - Popular Science Jeremiah Yarmie, staff

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isionary Conversations is a speaker series featuring University of Manitoba researchers and alumni hosted by president and vice-chancellor David Barnard.

Individuals filled Robert B. Schultz Theatre to attend the fourth Visionary Conversation of the 2014-2015 academic year. The topic of the panel’s discussion was the intricate relationship between popular imagination and scientific innovation.

The panel consisted of Jayanne English, physics and astronomy associate professor; Pourang Irani, computer science professor and Canada research chair in ubiquitous analytics; and Scott Young, alumnus and manager of science communication and visitor experiences of the Manitoba Museum.

“I think there is an eventful shift in innovation [ . . . ] it is accessible to the masses,” said Irani. “Great innovations are indeed at the root of what is possible regarding imagination [ . . . ] the ones that are the most impactful are the ones that actually turn the minds of people.”

Irani’s research interest, ubiquitous analytics, involves exploring information with interactive methods and visualization tools to allow individuals to access information effectively and efficiently.

English introduced the idea that popular imagination is currently misaligned with scientific innovation, an idea which permeated the conversation.

“Have we been failing in our communication somehow?” asked English. English’s research involves

studying the formation of galactic structures and tracing dark matter.

Her career has found her coordinating the Hubble Heritage Project and serving as a columnist for the CBC Radio 1 program Quirks & Quarks.

“The relatively small cadre of scientists and innovators are imagining these great things, and coming up with these great innovations, but not always being able to communicate that to the public,” said Young.

“The process of science is the kind of thing that everyone can understand, the process of discovery.”

Young has been active in astronomy since the 1980s and is a former national president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Young also moonlights as a musician in the “kindie” band Seanster and the Monsters, and even has an asteroid named after him.

The conversation then turned to audience-provided questions, which were addressed by the panel.

“How do we encourage young girls to seek a career in science and technology?” asked a member of the audience.

“Role models,” answered English, “and mentorship, to be able to be told that you are capable of doing what you wish to do.”

“What do you think is the source of imagination?” asked U of M immunology assistant professor Afshin Raouf from the audience.

“I think, to me, imagination is your brain thinking about a subject that you are passionate about when you’re not really paying attention [ . . . ] I think, ultimately, it’s an outcome of passion,” replied Young.

English touched on the cyclic nature of the scientific method and how it inf luences imagination.

“Imagination involves creativit y,” added English.

“Innovation and exploration are the inherent nature of the human species,” said Young.

graphic by Aldo Rios

Popu la r Sc ience occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 21st, 2015. The next Visionary Conversation is on Wednesday, March 4, 2015, and is entitled “Are You Happy Now? The Pursuit of Happiness in the Modern Age.” Visit umanitoba.ca/visionaryconversations for more details.

Malaria resistance The genetic basis of emerging drug-resistant malaria Jeremiah Yarmie, staff

A rise in the resistance of treat- the malaria parasite will develop ment in malaria parasites recently to favour factors that enable arteprompted scientists to investigate misinin survival. This is something further into the cause. As a result, that is often seen in drug resistance. scientists have discovered mutated Malaria is a devastating disease. genetic sequences that link to the It is estimated by the World Health development of malaria tolerance. Organization (WHO) that in 2012, Malaria is a mosquito-borne more than 200,000,000 clinical disease caused by parasites of the episodes, and more than 500,000 genus Plasmodium. Most lethal deaths were caused by malaria. In cases of malaria are attributed to 2010, 91 per cent of deaths from the species P. falciparum. Malaria malaria occurred in Africa. typically occurs along the equator The initial signs and symptoms in tropical and subtropical areas, of malaria are often flu-like, and and is spread by female Anopheles may include headache, fever, and chills. Malaria is often diagnosed mosquitos.

Drug-resistance is a huge prob- by using microscopy to detect the lem in the fight against malaria. parasite in blood smears.

Current treatments for malaria The first anti-malarial drug, chloroquine, is just one of many to have include the natural products artecome and gone due to the develop- misinin, first isolated from the Qinghaosu sweet wormwood plant, ment of resistance.

Artemisinin is currently the and quinine, from the cinchona only anti-malarial drug class tree. Both plants have been used for without widespread resistance. centuries in traditional medicine.

Quinine contributes to the Unfortunately, artemisinin resistance is emerging in south-east bitterness of tonic water. Tonic Asia, as artemisinin has been show- water was originally developed as ing decreasing efficacy in the last a medicinal drink to treat malaria, five years. To make matters worse, but commercial consumption artemisinin is currently the front became popular and quinine levline and most effective treatment for malaria.

To decrease the likelihood of the development of resistance, artemisinin is often used in combination with other drugs.

WHO-coordinated efforts against malaria and resistance development are currently supported by the Government of Australia and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Research recently published in Nature Genetics looks into the underlying genetics of artemisinin-resistance.

The genome-wide association study is the largest known of its kind in P. falciparum. Researchers compared artemisinin resistance to gene variations of over 1,600 samples from locations like Thailand and Laos.

Anti-malarial drug resistance seems to consistently begin at the Cambodia-Thai border. Some contributing factors may include high rates of parasite inbreeding and poor public health treatment in the area.

The study showed at least 20 different mutations in a gene called kelch13 which are linked to artemisinin resistance. The most widespread mutant variation has developed independently in a number of areas.

Four other genes associated with other anti-malarial drugs, fd, arps10, mdr2, and crt, were also shown to have variants associated with artemisinin resistance. These gene variants indicate a genetic background which favours the formation of kelch13 resistance mutations.

In P. falciparum’s 50 million years of evolution, kelch13 has seen little change. Because of this, researchers believe that the gene is required for survival, meaning that

graphic by Evan Tremblay

els decreased. Quinine is also the reason why tonic water fluoresces under UV light.

The fight against malaria benefitted from these findings. Through understanding the genetic cause of these resistance mechanisms, researchers will be able to better track and predict the development of these mutations.

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Science & Technology

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

Ethics of gene selection Precise DNA methods now a reality, will lead to important debate on ethics Chantelle Dubois, staff

graphic by Keegan Steele

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ecent developments in the field of genetics have made it possible to precisely edit DNA in mice, creating the need for a discussion of the ethical implications of the technology.

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CR ISPR) technolog y takes advantage of a protein called Cas9,

which is used by bacteria to eliminate viral genomes with fissuring.

Manipulating Cas9 has allowed scientists to edit DNA by cutting, removing, and inserting genetic sequences.

Anthony Perry, an expert in cloning, has used CRISPR technology successfully in experiments with

mice at the University of Bath. The lation of DNA in order to eliminate pre-disposition to talent or ability. If procedure is performed within three hereditary disease may argue that a generation of athletes were born hours of egg fertilization using Cas9 altering DNA at the meiotic stage with genetic modifications that make to precisely alter DNA. The mice in may create unknown mutations or them even better athletes, anyone the experiment then showed success- consequences, which will then be who does not have selective gene ful replication of the altered DNA. passed down to future generations. therapy may be at a disadvantage.

In an interview with the BBC, If the procedure is not performed The consequences of genetic Perry said, “It is approaching 100 per correctly, it may produce unwanted manipulation are frequently explored cent efficiency already, it’s a case of results worse than the condition in mainstream media. ‘you shoot you score.’” eliminated.

In the 1997 sci-fi drama Gattaca, This development is a potenThe rights of unborn children, or the very premise of the movie is that tial step forward in germline gene fetal law, is a highly controversial of a future society in which genetic therapy, allowing for the selective topic. In the American Convention engineering has become ubiquitous, removal of genetic material, which on Human Rights, humans have legal and parents are able to choose freely is responsible for inherited diseases rights at the moment of conception. which characteristics their children or conditions. Cystic fibrosis, hae- An unborn child would not be able are born with. The main character, mophilia, and colour blindness are to give consent to genetic modifi- Vincent Morrow, is at a disadvantage such examples. cations. However, those in favour as he was born the “natural way.” In Once an inheritable disease is of DNA manipulation could argue the movie, Vincent aspires to be a eliminated in meiotic cell DNA, it that an unborn child would have no celestial navigator, but genetic discan no longer be passed down to the control over which genes it would crimination prevents him from purnext generation. inherit anyway. suing his dreams. “Invalids,” those While precise and accurate germEconomic benefits of eradicat- born without genetic engineering, are line gene therapy sounds purely ben- ing inheritable diseases would free discriminated against and considered eficial, since it may eradicate many up many of the financial resources a lower class. Despite being qualicurrently incurable conditions, the currently being used to treat diseases fied intellectually, emotionally, and treatment is not legal in many coun- in health care systems. However, a otherwise, the only way he is able to tries including Canada, the United social imbalance may occur if germ- achieve his dream is by impersonating Kingdom, and Australia. line gene therapy is only accessible to someone with better DNA. This is due to the many potential those who could afford it, potentially On the ethics of human genetic ethical implications of the procedure. creating even more disparity in social modification, Perry commented to Ethical considerations include: Are equality. the BBC, “on the human side, one the benefits greater than the risks?

Additionally, it is possible for has to be very cautious.”

Are individual human rights consid- DNA manipulation to be used not ered? Is it accessible and affordable? only for the eradication of disease Is it needed? but for specific traits to be selected It has already been mentioned by parents which are deemed to be that many hereditary diseases can more appealing. This could include be eliminated with germline gene physical characteristics such as hair therapy. Those opposed to manipu- colour, eye colour, skin colour, or even

Funding flowing to the U of M $1,025,839 has been awarded to fund 4 projects on campus Chantelle Dubois, staff

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he Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has recently granted just over one million dollars to four research projects at the University of Manitoba.

The funding comes from the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JRELF) and is awarded to help attract and keep the best researchers at Canadian institutions.

Funding from the JRELF will go towards investing in facilities to build an infrastructure that enables cutting-edge research, develop research support packages which are competitive, and cover research costs from partner organizations.

Recipients of this funding are leaders in their fields of research, are pursuing research and development that is innovative, and hold a full-time academic position with a research institution. In addition, the research should benefit Canadians.

The four projects to which the funding was granted are in the fields of plant science, electrical and com-

puter engineering, soil science, and mechanical engineering.

High oil and high meal protein content canola cultivars

To increase the value of canola crops in Canada, researchers will work on developing methods to increase the oil and meal protein content of canola to above 50 per cent.

Currently, oil content of commercially produced Canadian canola is on average 42 to 45 per cent, and meal protein content of hybrid commercial canola 46 to 47 per cent. The recipient of this award is Robert Duncan, from the department of plant science.

Condition monitoring of high voltage power systems

New methods to monitor the condition of online and offline high voltage power systems will help Canadians identify aging insulation. This will enable Canadians to replace insulation before equipment

failure occurs and increase reliability.

Investment in power infrastructure has not kept up with the demand for electric power in North America, resulting in increased stress on the system and reduced stability. The recipients of this award are Behzad Kordi, Sherif Sherif, and Derek Oliver, from the department of electrical and computer engineering.

Soil erosion and sedimentation

This research and development program will be expanded to aid in the assessment of sedimentation and soil erosion, create management practices for land and water resources, and to develop ways to improve policies and practices. The recipients of this award are David Lobb, from the department of soil science, partnered with Philip Owens, from the University of Northern British Columbia.

Ice engineering

Funding will go towards investing

in time-resolved tomographic particle image velocimetry equipment and a water tunnel. This equipment will allow researchers to measure the threedimensional velocity of airflows and water turbulence, enabling an investigation into the effects of channel roughness and ice covers. In addition, the characteristics of water jets and turbulent air will be examined. The recipients

of this award are Mark Tachie, from the department of mechanical engineering, and Shawn Clark, from the department of civil engineering.

The CFI was founded in 1997 by the Government of Canada to support and develop world-class research and development which will benefit Canadians.

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

Awesome Canadian cartoons Canadian artists nominated for animationrelated categories at the Oscars Ian T.D. Thomson, staff

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he nominees for the 87th Academy Awards were announced in Beverly Hills, California on Jan. 15. American movie heavyweight favourites, such as The Grand Budapest Hotel and American Sniper, lead the nominations. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences acknowledged Canada’s contributions to the silver screen mainly in categories involving animations.

Difficult families, dragons, and Danish bricks are the backdrop for three Canadian stories in this year’s Oscars.

Torill Kove, Me and My Moulton

Nominated for Best Animated Short Film is director and animator Torill Kove. Kove is a Norwegianborn Canadian, based out of Montreal. This is her third time being nominated in this category.

In 1999 she was nominated for her film, My Grandmother Ironed the King’s Shirts. In 2006, she won the Oscar for the Best Animated Short Film for The Danish Poet, a story about a poet searching for inspiration by travelling to Norway to meet author Sigrid Undset.

This year, Kove is nominated for her short film, Me and My Moulton, an autobiographical tale about Kove’s experience as a young child and middle sister of three growing

up in Norway.

Dean DeBlois (How to Train The film explores the dynamic Your Dragon 2) vs. Graham between the perceived wants and Annable (The Boxtrolls) needs of children and the imposing In the category of Best projection of perceived needs of the Animated Film, two Canadian parents. Me and My Moulton uses directors lead the charge for their the purchase of a bicycle to dem- respective works, both geared to onstrate this dynamic. The sisters younger audiences. Dean DeBlois wish for a certain bicycle, only to is a writer and director from Aylmer, receive the one that the parents Quebec. DeBlois’ most notable films are immediately recognizable, wished to have. such as 1998’s Mulan and 2002’s Lilo & Stitch.

While the song lacks Writer and director of Disney’s How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, any groundbreaking DeBlois was nominated in 2010 for musical innovations Best Animated Film for the first iteration, and is now nominated in its three minutes for its sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 2. of pop electronic, In the other corner is Graham the music is able Annable, co-director of The Boxtrolls. Annable—born in Sault to encapsulate Ste. Marie, Ontario—has a more the optimism varied resume, having worked as an animator for several video of childhood games in the mid-2000s. While Annable’s previous works include exploration 2012’s ParaNorman, Annable’s most notable work is not a movie, but “It has topics that are quite a series of comic drawings and universal,” explained Kove in an animations called Grickle. This is interview.

Annable’s first nomination in the “Also it’s funny film. And I think category of Best Animated Film. humour is always a good way to reach people.”

Tegan and Sara, The

Lego Movie

One can argue about how the movie based on Swedish toy blocks was unfairly snubbed for nomination in its appropriate categories.

However, the movie’s mantra, “Everything is Awesome!” has been appropriately appreciated by the Academy, being nominated for Best Original Song.

While the song lacks any groundbreaking musical innovations in its three minutes of popelectronic, the music is able to encapsulate the optimism of childhood exploration – a theme integral for a film based around building blocks.

“It’s awesome to win, it’s awesome to lose,” raps comedian Andy Samberg in a dubstep-style breakdown.

U.S. singer-songwriter Shawn Patterson wrote the song, however it is performed by Canadian sisterpop duo Tegan and Sara, featuring the Lonely Island, led by Samberg.

“We couldn’t be more proud to see ‘Everything is Awesome’ has been nominated for an #Oscar for Best Original Song!! Congrats to the whole team!” tweeted the sister duo Tegan and Sara.

graphic by Bailey Trevithick

Love, loneliness, and ukulele Album Review of James Hill’s The Old Silo Emma Higgs

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ova Scotia songwriter and with a cheerful ukulele accompaniukulele player James Hill ment. It is one of many songs on the made waves in the Canadian music record that highlights Hill’s strong scene last fall with the release of lyric writing, including the meanhis new roots/Americana album, dering and sweet “Gold Digger.”

The Old Silo.

Featuring banjo, spoons, and Hill is an experienced performer, ukulele, “The Village Belle” is with five other albums to his name. another standout from the album, He is also a well-known ukulele sounding like an indie-rock intereducator and clinician, as well as pretation of a country hoedown the co-author of a ukulele method tune. Other songs on the album book series. He began learning also hint at country classics; ukulele early in life in his home- “Promenade” is a crowd-pleaser with town of Langley, B.C., where he a breakdown and harmonica solo, honed his technique throughout and “Lovebirds” a classic country/ his teenage years. roots tune with Hill cites Troy a bluesy piano His re-imagining Fernandez, Ohtaopening.

San, J. Chalmers Pared down of the ukulele love songs with Doane, John and its role in haunting vocal King, and Kimo harmonies are Hussey as his modern music contrasted by largest ukulele is an impressive influences. hard-driving tunes like “She’s The Old Silo display of his Still Got It” and was recorded innovation and in Dartmouth, “Tie One On,” Nova Scot ia which evoke creativity as and produced modern indie/ by acclaimed alternative rock a songwriter indie-rock musibands, featuring and musician cian Joel Plaskett edgy vocals and (who is also feabaritone ukulele tured on the riffs from Hill. album).

“The Brightest Lights” is another Hill brings virtuosic ukulele highlight from the album, filled technique and a wealth of musical- with rich notes from the ukulele ity to The Old Silo. His reimagining and cello, as well as soaring vocal of the ukulele and its role in modern harmonies. music is an impressive display of Hill demonstrates his strong his innovation and creativity as a musical instincts throughout the songwriter and musician. album by masterfully combining The Old Silo is a fresh take on the tones of different instruments folk/roots rock music, and incorpo- to create an effortlessly unique rates elements of country and indie roots/Americana album. rock. Cellist/vocalist Anne Janelle, Hill creates beautiful narratives pianist Bill Stevenson, and har- and imagery that infuse everymonica player Joe Murphy join Hill thing from love to loneliness into and Plaskett on the album, creating the record. The Old Silo reflects the a wide spectrum of instrumentation musical maturity and experience Hill uses to present various styles of Hill and Plaskett, delivering in and sounds throughout The Old Silo. every aspect of music-making.

The album opens with “New Moon,” a timelessly catchy tune

photo by Lauren Siddall, staff

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Arts & Culture

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

A Moveable Feast A downtown dining tour worthy of a Hemingway title Lauren Siddall, staff

G

rab your snowsuit, your bicycle, and your stretchiest pair of pants – a Moveable Feast, winter edition, takes to the streets of Winnipeg Feb. 6.

The idea is simple: purchase a ticket and you will be taken on a guided bicycle tour of downtown Winnipeg and surrounding areas, with pit stops at seven restaurants – each providing a different component of the meal, such as the appetizer, entrée, or dessert, to create a mélange of delicious food.

“In 2013, our board of directors, which are businesses elected to be on our board, said, ‘Can we do something more creative than just a billboard campaign that shows restaurants? What can we do to give people a more intimate interaction with the businesses downtown?’ So they challenged us to create a full platter of downtown tours, with the idea being, ‘Where would you take your friends? What would your approach be?’” said Jason Syvixay, Downtown Business Improvement Zone (BIZ) managing director and University of Manitoba graduate student.

“The inspiration behind [a Moveable Feast] was an informal tour that I did with my friends in Wolseley, where we just went from one house to the next. And so we thought, can we do something similar downtown?”

Not only does this innovative tour share the delicacies of downtown with Winnipeggers, it also advocates being downtown without a car.

“I think it’s more than just restaurants. It’s about showcasing those bike paths and being able to change attitudes about the convenience of bicycling. This is an excellent opportunity to do that, and grab a bite to eat.”

A Moveable Feast also provides an opportunity to challenge the general public’s perception of downtown.

By removing the car window barrier from the participants, they are exposed to the beauty of the architecture and green spaces that is ordinarily passed by.

“You can navigate differently and go through alleyways, and go through the river trail and see more of the landscape and more of the beauty of the buildings that you wouldn’t see while in your car. And that is one of the missions of the tour, showing people that you can take a pause and see some of these beautiful things downtown and change people’s perceptions,” said Syvixay.

“For this specific tour, we will choose businesses strategically, so businesses that have a winter view; businesses that have large windows where you can take in the winter landscape, because it’s about celebrating Winnipeg as a winter city. Or trying to find a business that’s really high up so you can see the general Winnipeg landscape in the winter.”

Emphasizing Winnipeg as a winter city is a new concept for a Moveable Feast; up until last

February, it was strictly a summer event. With the visit of the Winter Cycling Congress, however, a Moveable Feast began to be viewed as a cross-seasonal affair.

“There was a great opportunity with the Winter Cycling Congress that was happening in Winnipeg at the time. And that congress was all about encouraging attitudes about cycling in the winter. So they brought in delegates from Japan, China, and Finland where winter cycling is a thing, people just do it. It’s not stigmatized; it’s a natural thing there,” Syvixay said.

The goal is for winter cycling to become the norm here too. This year, a Moveable Feast is partnering with the Canadian Association of Planning Students conference at the U of M to showcase the ease with which Winnipeg can be navigated sustainably.

“I know that [a] Moveable Feast is bigger than just a tour throughout downtown" – Jason Syvixay Bringing more sustainable means of transport to the downtown area is only a portion of the overarching goal of a Moveable Feast. As a downtown BIZ production, events, such as a Moveable Feast, also help to fulfill the Downtown BIZ mandate.

“I always think it’s important to get some context [ . . . ] Our mandate is stipulated by the City of Winnipeg bylaw: to maintain, improve, and beautify downtown; undertake and promote economic development; attract and encourage the development of new businesses in the zone; and to undertake under actions to carry out the mandate.”

To accomplish such broad goals, several departments have been created, including place-making and cleanliness; community safety; events and promotions; marketing and communication; transport, parking, and transit; advocacy; and homelessness.

While festivals and tours are cre- safety and comradeship downtown. ated for the enjoyment of participants A component of creating a safe, and to celebrate the downtown— welcoming community is addresswhich is approximately 361 hectares, ing issues of poverty and homelessthe size of Vancouver’s downtown ness that seep into the perception area—the rippled effect they have of downtown, which is a priority on other aspects of the community for Downtown BIZ. A social work is huge. platform has evolved from this idea, “I find that it is important to know which targets the chronically homewhy we do things. A lot of folks think less in the downtown area. that we’re just a festival organization, “I know that [a] Moveable Feast and that’s a big part of what we do, is bigger than just a tour throughout but downtown is so unique that it downtown. It’s about changing perneeds to be addressed from a lot of ceptions, it’s about challenging urban different angles. I think that we fill sprawl, it’s about getting people into a lot of the gaps.” the core. I think [ . . . ] it’s important A seemingly unrelated example to contextualize.” is the issue of homelessness. Events, such as a Moveable Feast, push A Moveable Feast takes place on Feb. 6 towards a feeling of community and tickets are available online for $40.

photo by Lauren Siddall, staff

VOL. 101 NO. 49 January 28, 2015

The pop-up restaurant is sold out for dinner, but there’s still brunch Alana Trachenko, staff

nless you’ve been living under a rock (which there’s no reason to do, it hasn’t hit -45 yet), you’ve heard about RAW: almond. In Winnipeg, we don’t do moderation – not when it comes to the weather, the length of our river trail, or the intensity with which we embrace our harsh winters.

Enter RAW: almond – the popup restaurant on the river. On its own, the idea of eating on the river is pretty unique, but the chefs of Winnipeg—staying true to their style— bumped it up a notch by not only creating a building from a contest-winning design, but also serving a five-course dinner.

“The project is a really good one,” said Talia Syrie, chef at the Tallest Poppy. Syrie will be serving brunch on the weekends during the allotted 21 days of business. Although dinner is sold out, and has been for weeks, brunch is first come, first serve, and more affordable.

However, those who managed to get a ticket are getting their money’s worth.

“You’re getting five courses from some of the top chefs not just in Winnipeg, but in Canada, in a restaurant, on the river, that we built,” said Ben Kramer, a chef and one of the event’s organizers.

When Kramer isn’t planning for nationally heralded events, he works at Diversity Food Services, runs a catering company, and provides food backstage at Folk Fest – about 50, 000 meals.

“So I’m all over the place,” said Kramer. He added that catering has made him comfortable going into situations with makeshift kitchens and creating high quality meals in a variety of settings. That skill will be a real asset while working at RAW: almond, where the potential for things to go wrong is unusually high. Kramer said they’re prepared with plans B, C, and D in case a breaker goes or the heater fails.

Dinner guests will be seated at

three tables of 14, each table with its own chef and menu. Chefs have the freedom to plan their entire menus, and get a chance to showcase dishes that they may not be able to sell at their respective restaurants because they seem intimidating, according to Kramer.

With both brunch and dinner, the freedom is refreshing for chefs who are used to working within the limits of their set menus.

“You can do a little bit of experimentation,” said Syrie. “We try to do things that are more fun, and reflect the environment that we’re in.”

“The amount of organization and coordination is like watching a dance” – Ben Kramer, chef and organizer Syrie also added that because guests are coming with no expectations, aside from prepping their palate for delicious food, there is more opportunity to work outside the box with dishes and menu planning.

In addition to creating an event that makes winter seem slightly more tolerable, the pop-up restaurant gives the chefs of Winnipeg a chance to work with each other, an otherwise rare occurrence.

“Everyone jumped on Twitter in the last couple of years, and started getting to know each other virtually, bringing the community a little closer together,” said Kramer. “Now we find time to do projects like this [ . . . ] we’re all just a bunch of kids really. Throwing parties so we can play together.”

Dinner at RAW: almond is more than just eating good food and drinking good wine; it’s a chance to get to know your fellow

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Folk Fest Thursdays

Winnipeg is nuts for RAW: almond

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Arts & Culture

Winnipeggers. Because the tables seat 14 people, you’ll likely be sitting next to someone you don’t know. Kramer explained that couples and small groups, as well as single diners, fill most spots.

Guests will also be close to the action in the kitchen, because of the open layout of the restaurant.

“The idea of having three chefs doing three menus simultaneously is insane to watch,” said Kramer.

“Especially from the dining room.

The amount of organization and coordination is like watching a dance.”

Unlike the restaurants where most of the chefs normally work, RAW: almond breaks the barrier between chef and diner.

The unique project has piqued the interest of many. Not only has it been featured in local, national, and international media, it was also the subject of a locally made documentary by Colin Enquist and Anthony Carvalho. The short film features locals bundled up in full winter gear, grinning through the cold, and eating the renowned Red River Cereal.

Syrie said brunch guests can expect the Red River Cereal this year, but with a twist. She’s also bringing back the Shmallow.

“It’s perfect timing. It kind of breaks up the winter a bit, and it gives everybody involved something to do that’s so out of the norm,” said Kramer.

“We live here, it’s cold. Every year, the same thing happens. So you know, you have to learn to enjoy it. I committed to living here. I can hate life for six months of the year, or I can get into it.”

For more information about RAW: almond, visit raw-almond. com/#about. To view Enquist and Carvalho’s documentary, visit rawalmonddoc.com

photo by Alana Trachenko, staff

Non-profit organization announced new bi-weekly folk event series Ian T.D. Thomson, staff

photo by Travis Ross

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hile the Winnipeg Folk Festival is most known for putting on their acclaimed summer festival at Birds Hill Park, on Jan. 15 the non-profit organization announced a new concert series happening in the upcoming months. Folk Fest Thursdays will be a bi-weekly concert event series at the Good Will Social Club to promote folk/roots music in Winnipeg on a more regular basis.

As a newer venue in town, the Good Will has been building a reputation as a prominent location for live performances. The venue has been secured as one of nine locations for the upcoming Big Fun Festival, alongside more established venues such as the West End Cultural Centre.

The Winnipeg Folk Festival saw the potential in the venue to be the home for its new series.

“We are always looking for new and exciting community partnerships, and the opportunity to present a night of folk music at the Good Will—a great new venue— feels like a perfect fit,” explained Kelly Romas, Folk Festival marketing and communications coordinator, to the Manitoban.

The format of Folk Fest Thursdays may seem to parallel New Music Wednesdays upon first glance, a weekly concert series put on at Ozzy’s in partnership with Manitoba Music; both concert series are set on promoting the local music scene and up and coming artists.

New Music Wednesdays, however, features three different bands on the concert night, while every Folk Fest Thursday will be led by Winnipeg-based singer-songwriter Scott Nolan and a revolving back-

ing band.

“I look forward to inviting guests to sit in and front the group, and with any luck it will catch on,” said Nolan.

Nolan has seven full-length albums under his belt, and toured across Canada since the beginning of his solo career. Nolan spoke positively about the how the concert series can help give back and support an upcoming generation of folk artists.

“My songwriting career began in earnest, after hours at the Blue Note Café, and it depended greatly on the generosity of many Winnipeg musicians, young and old,” said Nolan.

“At Folk Fest Thursdays, we’ll see that tradition continue.”

Nolan’s latest available work, entitled North/South, was released in September of 2013. The album features live recordings of Nolan accompanied by Joanna Miller on drums and vocals.

At the first Folk Fest Thursday on Jan. 22, new music was performed from two unreleased albums from the singer-songwriter. One album was recorded in Alabama and the other features the writing of late Canadian poet Patrick O’Connell. The opening Thursday night also featured artists Ashley Au on bass guitar and Aisha Belle on violin and harmony vocals for a night reminiscent of summer in Birds Hill Park without the mosquitoes.

Folk Fest Thursdays starts at 8 p.m. and runs every second and fourth week of the month at the Good Will Social Club, located at 625 Portage Avenue.

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Arts & Culture

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

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

illustration by Jeremiah Valle

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

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Entering the gates of Hell-ebuyck IceCaps goaltender proving invaluable in Jets pipeline Andy Che, volunteer staff

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he 2014-15 season is proving to be an impressive campaign for Winnipeg Jets goaltenders. Starter Ondrej Pavelec’s form has reached commendable heights through the first half, posting the best numbers in his career.

playoffs, Pavelec and Hutchinson will duel it out to be Paul Maurice’s number-one man; however, observing the Winnipeg depth chart, Jets prospect Connor Hellebuyck will likely offer both goaltenders even more competition in the near future.

While Hellebuyck may not be a household name in Winnipeg, the 21-year-old cut his ties from NCAA hockey this season and turned pro with the St. John’s IceCaps. After just his maiden month of AHL experience, the inaugural winner of the Mike Richter Award recognizing the NCAA’s most outstanding goaltender, he had ousted NHL veteran Peter Budaj from the starter’s position in St. John’s.

His outstanding performance in November 2014, highlighted with graphic by Caroline Norman two shutouts in a five-day span, earned AHL player of the week Michael Hutchinson has been giv- honours on Nov. 24.

Heading into the New Year, the ing Pavelec a run for the starter’s job and is arguably the better of the two Michigan native’s strong presence in goaltenders, ranking in the league’s the IceCap net, along with Budaj’s top three for both goals against and inability to collect his first win of the season despite collecting 13 AHL save percentage.

As the Jets inch closer to the appearances, has the pendulum fully

Bison Briefs Volleyball and women’s hockey David Grad, staff

Women’s volleyball

Fighting to return to the postseason, the Bisons overcame a tough 3-1 loss against Saskatchewan Friday night to earn a weekend split, winning Saturday night in three straight sets (25-19, 25-17, 25-22).

Saturday’s win gave the Bisons critical points as they battle to hold onto the final playoff spot in the conference. The Bisons improved to 10-10 on the season and sit two points ahead of MacEwan University and four points ahead of Winnipeg for the last playoff spot.

Manitoba and MacEwan will face off in the last series of the regular season on Feb. 7 and 8, a matchup that has the possibility of turning into a sudden death playoff elimination series.

Against Saskatchewan, Rachel Cockrell picked up 39 kills and 10 digs, Brittany Habing collected 60 assists, 11 kills, and 13 digs, Jordana Milne had 14 kills, Caleigh Dobie had 21 digs, and Kalena Schulz added 16 digs.

Manitoba is back in action against Winnipeg in the annual Duckworth Challenge on Thursday night in the Investors Group Athletic Centre.

Game time is 6 p.m.

Their home matchup against Winnipeg will be their last home stand of the regular season and carries serious playoff implications.

Men’s volleyball

The men’s volleyball team, nicknamed the ’Zoons, split their weekend series against Saskatchewan.

The ’Zoons picked up a 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 33-31, 25-16) win Friday night, standing tall in a lengthy third set shootout that deflated the Huskies.

The ’Zoons weren’t able to carry the momentum into Saturday night, losing 3-1 (25-23, 25-29, 14-25, 22-25).

The men’s team currently sits sixth in the conference, holding firm on the second last playoff spot. Manitoba is in a tough four-way battle for the final two playoff spots with Thompson Rivers, UBC, and Calgary.

Leading the way for the Bisons this weekend were Devren Dear and Kevin Falconer, who both threw down 25 kills. Kenny Rooney had 27 kills, with 17 being slammed on Friday night. Adam DeJonckheere picked up 17 kills, Luke Herr had 90 assists, and Alex Strachan added to the defence with 23 digs.

The Bisons are back in action for the Duckworth Challenge on Thursday night against the University of Winnipeg at 8 p.m. Every game counts for the ’Zoons, who look to hold onto their playoff spot.

Women’s hockey

The women’s hockey team improved their win streak to six with a weekend sweep of the Saskatchewan Huskies. The wins keep Manitoba in second place and within reach of first place.

The Bisons picked up a convincing 5-2 win Friday night, and battled the Huskies in a 4-3 match Saturday that needed an extra minute of play.

Alana Serhan was impressive over the weekend, netting a hat trick on Friday night and picking up a goal and assist on Saturday night. Serhan now sits eighth in the conference in points and is tied for third in goals with 13.

Sitting second in Canada West for points and goals is teammate Alanna Sharman, who had two assists Friday night and buried the overtime winner on Saturday night.

Also scoring for the Bisons were Lauryn Keen, Kayleigh Wiens, Cassandra Taylor, and captain Maggie Litchfield-Medd.

The Bisons will host Mount Royal this weekend at Max Bell. The series will be a battle of second place teams, as the Bisons sit second overall and Mount Royal sits in second last overall. Game times are 6:30 and 1 p.m., on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

swinging Hellebuyck’s way for the rest of the AHL campaign.

Despite the IceCaps’ Eastern Conference-worst 135 goals against and losing record midway through the season, Hellebuyck has undoubtedly emerged as one of the best goaltenders in the AHL, compiling a winning 17-11-2 record with three shutouts, and a 2.39 goals against average and 0.927 save percentage.

Not too shabby for an AHL rookie.

Hellebuyck’s maturity and transition into pro hockey appear flawless, considering the 130th overall selection in 2012 took part in the Jets’ training camp last season and the rookie camp in the last two years.

In front of the likes of St. John’s head coach Keith McCambridge and Jets goaltending coach Wade Flaherty, Hellebuyck impressed with his upright butterfly style, taking advantage of his six-foot-four frame to comfortably absorb high pucks into his body. His weakness with the puck is the only area where the former attendee of the University of Massachusetts Lowell needs improvement.

While it may be ludicrous to say that Hellebuyck’s stardom in the NHL is for certain, his performance so far this season in St. John’s illustrates his rich potential for dominance.

In early January, Hellebuyck was bestowed yet another honour, his inclusion to the Eastern Conference roster for the 2015 AHL All-Star festivities, a potential foreshadowing of what’s to come as he inches closer to the NHL. While the Jets continue to favour Pavelec as their starting option, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is surely aware of Hutchinson’s ability to fill a larger role and of the justifications for Hellebuyck’s NHL call-up.

After all, Eddie Pasquale’s draftday trade to Washington opened the floodgates for Hutchinson’s full-time stint in the NHL, and Hellebuyck’s promotion into the IceCaps’ lineup.

Helle may have not frozen over the MTS Centre just yet, but his already exceptional spell in St. John’s may soon enough earn him a muchdeserved landing in Winnipeg.

VOL. 101 NO. 49 January 28, 2015

Energizer Bisons

Sports

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Playing with fire

Men’s basketball swept by streaking Huskies Mike Still, staff

Manitoba outlasts Saskatchewan David Grad, staff

later waved off due to a high stick.

DePape tied the game up with five seconds left in the second period. The game-winning goal came early in double-overtime, as Taylor Dickin buried a wrist shot for an unassisted goal.

Manitoba carried the momentum of Dickin’s game-winner into Saturday night, dominating the Huskies. The herd only needed 22 shots on goal. They chased away Jordan Cooke after netting four goals in the first period.

Playing in what may be their last home game of their university careers, seniors Jory Coates, Taylor Dickin, Darren Bestland, and Aaron Lewadniuk were recPhoto by Jeff Miller for Bison Sports ognized with a special ceremony before the start of the game. n their last home stand of the Dickin picked up two assists on 2014-15 regular season, the the night. He now leads his team University of Manitoba Bisons with 15 assists on the season, and swept the Saskatchewan Huskies. sits 12th overall in the conference Manitoba o u t l a s t e d in points.

Saskatchewan Friday night, netting Lewadniuk opened scoring the game-winner in a 2-1 double two minutes into the first period, overtime win. The Bisons showed assisted by Chad Robinson and no signs of wearing down Saturday Shaquille Merasty. It only took a night, putting together an energetic minute for Manitoba to find the 6-2 win over the Huskies on senior back of the net again, as Brett night.

Dudar put away the second of Despite the low scoring affair on the night with assists from Justin Friday night, the Bisons were not Augert and Jory Coates. lacking in offence as they peppered Coates was back on the score the Huskies with 44 shots. Huskies board 10 minutes later, collecting goalie Ryan Holfeld kept his team the third goal of the game. in the game with an impressive perAlso scoring for the Bisons were formance, standing on his head at Jesse Paradis and Joel Schreyer with times to keep Manitoba from light- power play markers, and DePape.

The goal was DePape’s teaming up the scoreboard.

At the opposite end of the ice, leading 13th of the season, which Byron Spriggs put together his own ties him with Mount Royal’s Cody strong showing with 30 saves. Some Cartier for second in the Canada of the best saves of the night came West.

The weekend sweep gave the in the second period as each tender stood tall.

Bisons crucial points as they battle Saskatchewan opened the scor- UBC for post-season home ice.

The Bisons, who sit fifth in the ing Friday night in the first period with a goal from Craig McCallum. conference, have clinched a playoff McCallum sits eighth in Canada spot but are determined to bring West scoring, one point behind their first-round matchup to Max Bison Jordan DePape. The Huskies Bell. They are in action against looked to jump out to a two-goal Mount Royal University next lead in the first period, but it was weekend.

I

Photo by Jeff Miller for Bison Sports

T

he University of Manitoba Bison men’s basketball team ran into one of the hottest teams in the Canada West this past weekend, falling in two tightly contested matchups against the Saskatchewan Huskies. The visitors came to town on a four-game winning streak, and still haven’t lost since returning from winter break.

Getting to the free throw line was key on the weekend – especially in the second half, where Saskatchewan doubled Manitoba’s attempts from the charity stripe both nights.

Friday night’s 92-87 Huskies victory featured a relatively equal stat line. The difference came down to rebounding and free throw percentage. The Huskies grabbed 45 boards, compared to Manitoba’s 34, and were 12-of-16 at the line in the second half. The Bisons were a lowly 6-of-13, despite recording less fouls (27-21) than their opponents.

AJ Basi was tremendous in the loss. Thrust into the starting five, due to a nagging Andre Arruda ankle injury, he recorded a gamehigh 33 points, going 14-of-22 from the field. Basi felt that the team had a few advantages penetrating into the paint, which helped open up his scoring chances.

“We were just playing an open, motion offence. We didn’t call any plans today,” Basi said. It was just moving, pitching, and sharing the

ball.”

While Basi’s presence in the starting lineup was felt, it also resonated in a negative way for the reserve players. Manitoba got just 11 points from their bench, compared to 35 for Saskatchewan, which was big in a close second half where each team scored 46 points. If the home team was healthy, the game’s story may have been different.

a fourth quarter barrage from Saskatchewan, who doubled the Bisons in points, 32-16, winning the otherwise close game, 87-81.

Free throw shooting was huge for the Huskies. Saskatchewan was 70.6 per cent at the line in the game, on 34 attempts, while Manitoba shot 66.7 per cent, but only had 15 attempts. That made the difference in the fourth quarter, where Saskatchewan essentially won the game on free throws.

Matthew Forbes and Ben Baker Getting to the free led the way for the Huskies, with throw line was key 22 and 19 points, respectively. Not coincidentally, those two playon the weekend ers also had the most free throw – especially in the attempts in the game. Forbes went 6-for-8, while Baker went 11-of-13. second half, where Baker’s shooting percentage from the charity stripe was big, as Saskatchewan he only went 4-of-11 from the field. doubled Manitoba’s Justus Alleyn played admirably in the Bison loss. He went 6-of-8 attempts from from beyond the arc, including a the charity stripe number of late three-pointers to keep the game close. Alleyn finboth nights ished with a game-leading 28 points.

The Bisons’ next action will be in Basi echoed what the stat line the Duckworth Challenge against read post-game, in terms of getting cross-town rivals, Winnipeg to the glass.

Wesmen on Jan. 30, and 31. Friday’s “The main key was rebounding,” game takes place at 8 p.m. at the Basi said. “We were minus 10 at the David F. Anderson Gymnasium, half. The shooting numbers were while Saturday’s matchup will take even – three-pointers, field goals, place at Investors Group Athletic free throws; it was just rebounding.” Centre at 7 p.m. Saturday’s game Saturday’s rematch featured is also senior night for Manitoba.

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VOL. 101 NO. 49 January 28, 2015

A band of brothers Men’s volleyball team has long-term connection Mike Still, staff

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f you were to look at the University of Manitoba men’s volleyball team roster, one thing would likely stand out – the local connection.

“I think that’s something that makes U of M a really unique kind of environment to play volleyball especially,” co-captain and left side hitter Adam DeJonckheere said. “I think we have one player from outside of Manitoba. On a 13-man roster, you won’t find that anywhere else.”

DeJonckheere, along with fellow co-captains Kenny Rooney (middle hitter) and Kevin Falconer (left side hitter), is included in that local number. DeJonckheere and Falconer played their high school volleyball at St. Paul’s, while Rooney played for Collège Jeanne-Sauvè.

Along with high school volleyball, the trio, just like the majority of their teammates, played club volleyball, as well as on provincial programs. One of the major connections the team has is from 204 Volleyball – a local club established in 2010, which has qualified for nationals seven times in four years.

“All three of us played at 204 this season, where the Bisons are Volleyball Club, and Kenny and I currently ranked in the top 10 in the played on the same team two years CIS, and have a strong chance to host in a row,” Falconer said. a home playoff series.

“The chemistry that our team had The ’Zoons, as they are also called, in our 18U season was huge, and it have plenty of energy when they take brought us all the way to a national the court each week. Win or lose, final. A lot of those guys that were they always give the crowd an enteron that team, are on the team we’re taining, impressive performance, and playing on right now, so it kind of while they are well-rounded, the three co-captains have led the way. carries forward.”

In total, seven of the 13 players on DeJonckheere, Falconer, and Rooney the roster have played for 204 at some are all in the top 20 in the conference point in their career, which greatly in at least one category this season. aids in team chemistry. It also helps DeJonckheere is ninth in total that no player has used up more than kills, with 247; Falconer is 18th in three years of eligibility, and all are solo blocks, with eight; and Rooney is first in that same category, with 20, around the same age.

“Usually you would have the vet- but despite their individual stats, the erans hold everyone else accountable, team will always come first.

“On this team, we truly do care and know how things go, but in this case, I think it helps that we know about each other,” Rooney said. each other so well,” Rooney said.

“Sure there’s little fights here and “We’re not afraid to hold each there, like we’re a bunch of brothers other accountable, even though we’re really, but we want to win not only for the same age and have relatively the ourselves, but for each other.” same experience.”

The connection the team maintains has been evident on the court

photos by Jeff Miller for Bison Sports