6 March 2013

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER

UMSU Election coverage pages 3-4

n e ws

co mm e n t

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

a rts & c u lt u r e

s p o rts

Bully problem

Pontifex

Go electric

Pluto Shot

Be bold

U of M town hall meeting brings workplace issues to light

page 5

What's next for the Vatican and who will be next pope? page 10

Consumer benefits behind electric vehicles in Manitoba page 11

U of M play premieres this month at Black Hole page 16

Vo l 9 9 ½ · N o 2 4 · M a r c h 6 , 2 0 1 3 · w w w.t h e m a n i to b a n .co m

Our writers predict the future of the NHL season page 20

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Index

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 24 March 6, 2013

News

| pa g e s 3 – 6

5

Women fly free

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Anti-bullying bill creates contention

Science & Tech

11

Editorial

| pa g e 7

cover image

“Rhombicuboctahedron” by Marc Lagace

Please contact designteam@themanitoban.com if you are interested in submitting a cover image.

UMSU

| pgs 11–12

The case for electric vehicles

Arts & Culture 13

Wearable art

14

Locals to look out for

| pgs 13–16

| pa g e 8

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Diversions

| pa g e 1 7

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Comment

| pa g e s 9 – 1 0

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Sports

10

Idle No More symposium

| pa g e s 1 8 – 2 0

18

Sometimes, life's a ditch

19

The 2013 Manitoban hockey pool

Toban Talkback

Q:

Stephanie Prose

John Schaefer

Janet Yee

Xinge Ji

“There isn't much variety of food on campus so I would like to see more food options made available to students.”

“I would like to see more study spaces created. It seems like most of the study spaces on campus are always so crowded and sometimes there isn't anywhere else to go.”

“Issues surrounding international students [are] most important to me. I sometimes have a hard time understanding lectures, so maybe more English programs on campus.”

Which student issue is most important for you in this year’s UMSU election?

Jill Patterson, staff

f acul t y o f archi te c ture

“I would have to say the price of things on campus. The price of food on campus is really expensive, and all the little extra fees that are added, like the debit machine fee, and stuff like that..”

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

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News

2 0 1 3 U M SU G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n s I n t e r v i e w s

By Quinn Richert, staff

F r e s h s l at e

To access a longer version of this article scan code to the left.

1. If you are elected, how will you approach the next stages of the U-Pass adoption?

Christian Pierce, VP external:

What we want to do is work with Winnipeg Transit to implement a good U-Pass that works for all students and is a fair assessment for the students. Subsidizing the University of Winnipeg is not in our mandate. We are pro U-Pass, but we want to make sure we have the appropriate opt-outs.

be coming up. We definitely want to get in on these conversations and start addressing the issues. We want to be able to tell them, “these are the things that students want,” while the contract negotiation process is underway.

Al Turnbull, president:

One of the things we want to do in this process is make sure that there is full disclosure.

I think that when people did the referendum they weren’t aware that they were also subsidizing the U of W, and that it actually ended up raising the price of the U-Pass.

2. What appears to you to be the biggest concerns of students? How will you address them if elected?

Susie Ally, VP advocacy:

Food is a huge issue for all students on campus – especially resident students and international students. We want to have more affordable food, better food, and more variety. Aramark conversations have started already. It is clear that their contract will soon

Turnbull:

I want to point out that we also want to work in a very diplomatic fashion. We want to work assertively, but in conjunction with Aramark, towards a compromise that will please all students.

3. Please outline the core values of your slate – or, what underlying principles will guide your decision-making if elected?

Amanda McMullin, VP internal:

Fresh understands what the mandate of the union is supposed to be. Our focus is on the internal things that students can touch, see, and feel on campus. That includes things like parking, food, and student spirit. For us, we want to make sure that we are focusing on things that are internal, and not outstepping the mandate of the union.

Pierce:

I want to draw attention to the full disclosure policy. When we bring stuff up to the administration or others that we may be negotiating with, we want to make sure it

Ronnie Cruz, VP student services:

executive [ . . . ] will have the opportunity to begin talks to get new food services or improve the existing food services. We’re aiming for more options, such as more vegan, halal, kosher, and gluten-free, as well as less expensive food, better quality, and longer service hours.

We’re going to continue to work on the negotiations, trying to find the best opt-out options for those who drive. Basically, we want to try to find more funding to lower it to more than $170 per student. And, hopefully, we can implement it sooner than September, 2014.

3. Please outline the core values of your slate – or, what underlying principles will guide your decision-making if elected?

Bilan Arte, president:

Arte:

One thing we’re also really passionate about is improving transit services in general. I think it would be cool to have forums and more interactive discussions with students and Winnipeg Transit on campus on how we can improve transit services to all of our campuses.

2. What appears to you to be the biggest concerns of students? How will you address them if elected?

Rachel Fields, VP external:

We keep hearing about food and parking at both campuses. On the issue of parking on the Fort Garry campus, we’re going to have to address the fact that, during Bomber games, students aren’t allowed to drive onto campus [ . . . ] We want to continue to fight for our right to access this campus.

On the food issue, the Aramark contract is coming up in 2014 and the [Your Voice]

4. Do you expect that your slate will draw voters disproportionately from one locus along the political spectrum? Please explain why or why not.

Thao Lam, VP student services:

We’ve decided to remain politically neutral and we want to be as inclusive as possible. We feel that many political issues are external. UMSU should not alienate any of its members. Conversely, it should aim to include all of them.

5. What can your slate do to improve and expand study spaces at the U of M?

readers of the Manitoban?

Turnbull:

First, I want to make it clear that at this moment, I am speaking on behalf of myself and not anyone else on the slate: next year will be a one-year term if we do win. There will be no worries about re-election for me.

That is something I’m excited about because it is going to be my only priority and I think, because of that, I will be motivated to do the best job I can.

7. Maverick, trailblazer, innovator, challenger, visionary, explorer, or rebel?

Turnbull: We talked about this and, on behalf of all of us, we’re none of those. We’re Fresh.

We’re here for the students. And that’s what we want to be next year.

Lam:

One of our platform points is providing more outlets for students. They are hugely lacking right now. Our campus is not quite up to date.

We also want to make existing study spaces cleaner and more comfortable and we want to increase Wi-Fi coverage across campus.

6. Is there anything else I have not asked about that you would like to tell the

Yo u r v o i c e s l at e

To access a longer version of this article scan code to the left.

1. If you are elected, how will you approach the next stages of the U-Pass adoption?

is on behalf of the students, and not simply what the five executives want to do. That is what I view as a key value for us.

I think we emphasize that when we talk about “Your Voice,” we’re talking about student issues and things that students care about. We understand that our student body has a diverse number of interests and needs.

We’ve tried to reflect that in our platform.

Neil Loewen, VP internal:

Moving forward, what Bilan is talking about is going to be manifested through, for example, the Hub advisory committee or the business advisory committee, where students sit on these committees that directly impact how these businesses are run. I think the overriding characteristic of our slate is that we want student voices to be heard and it needs to be completely transparent so that students are consulted in every step of the process.

4. Do you expect that your slate will draw voters disproportionately from one locus along the

political spectrum? Please explain why or why not.

Jennifer Black, VP advocacy:

I think a lot of our ideas are really progressive and I think that we can appeal to anyone on campus. Our platform is about 50 points long and is really diverse. If you aren’t too interested in equity campaigns, you might be more interested in, say, Ronnie’s events ideas or Neil’s services plans. And, of course, we want students to help us build our ideas.

5. What can your slate do to improve and expand study spaces at the U of M? Arte:

We realize that we are a commuter campus and, a lot of the time, that is because space is really rare. Ultimately, expanding those spaces is something student unions should be advocating for. I don’t think they should be funding it because, at the end of the day, it is university space and we pay a lot of money into the university for capital infrastructure costs, so I think that it is something that needs to be prioritized better in the university’s budget.

Black:

The university is undergoing a space audit currently, so I think now is a really good time to step in and make sure they’re not just planning where they’re going to put their offices but recognize that students need a space on campus, too.

6. Is there anything else I have not asked about that you would like to tell the readers of the Manitoban?

Arte:

Visit our website, voteforyourvoice.umsu.ca.

There are bios for each of us and you can find out more about our personal goals under our own portfolios. Above, we’ve talked a little bit about our platform but there are about 50 different points, so there is something there for all students to identify with. Also, we want students to know we are always at our table, so if you want to ask us questions, we will be there until the end.

7. Maverick, trailblazer, innovator, challenger, visionary, explorer, or rebel?

Arte:

We encourage students to define us!

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News

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 24 March 6, 2013

UMSU candidates answer questions at election forum Reps from Fresh, Your Voice, Students Living With Disabilities in attendance Carlyn Schellenberg and Spencer Fernando, staff

S

tudents asked many questions during the 2013 UMSU Election forum, which took place at the Fireside Lounge in University Centre on Mar. 1.

Members of the Fresh slate, the Your Voice slate, and Students Living With Disabilities Representative candidates Steven Stairs and Rocco Scarcella were present.

Concerning the Hub, Your Voice VP internal candidate Neil Loewen stated that the bar is not doing well this year and that he wants to make it better, specifically by solving parking issues first. Amanda McMullin, the Fresh slate candidate for VP internal said that the Hub should prioritize student groups and stressed that students should be of greatest importance on game days.

Another question asked was concerned with whether UMSU should focus on the campus or on national and international campaigns.

Fresh presidential candidate Al Turnbull stated that UMSU should not outstep the mandate of the union

and should focus on building the campus from the ground up for U of M students.

Your Voice presidential candidate Bilan Arte said that national and international campaigns are relevant because they involve issues that affect students at the U of M; therefore, UMSU should get involved with them.

bers of the Your Voice team makes U of M students pay for part of the cost of a U-Pass for the University of Winnipeg. Pierce argued that this was unfair and that the fees paid by U of M students should stay at the U of M to help students here, and not go to other universities.

Arte responded to say that her slate also supports the U-Pass and would look at appropriate opt-outs.

The two candidates for VP student services stated what they would do for students.

Your Voice candidate Ronnie Cruz said she would work to make events like the Long Night Against Procrastination permanent events on When the issue of the U-Pass was campus, while Fresh candidate Thao brought up, Fresh stated that they Lam said that she would work to stop support the U-Pass in addition to the expansion of paid evening and opt-outs for residence students and weekend parking. others who have to commute from Rocco Scarcella and Steven Stairs, long distances. the Students Living With Disabilities Christian Pierce, VP exter- Reps, each expressed what they nal candidate from the Fresh slate, would do for students living with mentioned that the current U-Pass disabilities. proposal advanced by some memStairs said that he would focus on

making the university more accessible with universal design concepts for courses, while Scarcella replied that he wanted to bring students together to see what everyone had to say.

Stairs also mentioned that things most students take for granted, such as being able to read textbooks and using the washroom, are challenges for students living with disabilities.

There were some areas of agreement between the slates, as both Your Voice and Fresh expressed support for gender-neutral washrooms.

In response to a question about the International College of Manitoba (ICM), both slates communicated similar views on ICM, with concerns centering on many ICM students feeling that they were misled to believe they were U of M students and members of UMSU, when in reality they are not.

Voting will take place on March 6, 7, and 8 across all campuses. photo by beibei lu

Winnipeg Transit is about to get whole lot smarter New transit cards to be introduced Katy MacKinnon, volunteer staff

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new automatic fare collection request one at the beginning of the ride, sit product over the phone or online, distance-based fares.” bus pass continues to be discussed. The system (AFCS) will soon replace where it will be valid for 75 minutes. and so the need to make your way Montreal, Regina, and Toronto U-Pass, which was passed in a referthe current system of paper bus passes There will be a special slot in the to these retail outlets on an ongoing already have a reloadable card system endum at the U of M in 2012, would and tickets. The AFCS will be imple- new boxes for accepting tickets. This basis is no longer there,” said transit in place and TransLink, Vancouver’s allow unlimited access to transit during mented in two phases, the first begin- slot, however, will disappear in the director Dave Wardrop to Global TV transit system, will also be making the the school term. ning this month. second phase of transit improvements. Winnipeg. change to reloadable cards in 2013.

Dr. van Vliet believes the U-Pass In the first phase, transit riders Riders will still be able to pay with The cost to Winnipeg Transit for the Additional changes to Winnipeg’s is necessary to increase ridership and will notice new fareboxes, which, Canadian or U.S. cash in phase two. new technology is over $17 million. transit system include improving the mentioned further issues for Winnipeg according to Winnipeg Transit, will In phase two, occurring in late 2013, Dr. David van Vliet, associate pro- rapid transit corridor and bendy busses Transit to focus on in the coming “deliver a more user-friendly transit riders will be able to use smart cards. fessor of city planning at the University hitting the road. years. experience.”

When tapped against the fareboxes, of Manitoba, thinks the new smart Dave Wardrop told MetroNews that “Transit should expand the service The new fareboxes will have the special sensors will deduct the appro- cards are a positive development for the bendy busses, which will have an by deciding on next route alignments ability to count coins automatically. priate fare from the smart cards. the city. increased seating capacity, may be on to have long-term route dedication and Riders will see the exact amount deposThe smart cards will be sold at “The cards make transit riding the streets by September. The City of a funding strategy. The process for the ited on a screen above the farebox.

Shoppers Drug Mart and 7-11. Riders simple [ . . . ] speed up boarding [and] Winnipeg purchased the 20 busses in SW route and resulting recent decision Transfers will also be issued and will also be able to top up their cards can run a variety of fare structures 2012 from the City of Ottawa, spend- on alignment was terrible.” validated by the fareboxes, instead of at home. and policies – for example, discount ing $1.1 million. by the bus drivers. Riders must still “You can in fact purchase your tran- for travel off-peak and time-based or The standardized post-secondary

JOB POSTING Position: Business Manager Company: The Manitoban

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Qualifications: The ideal candidate has business experience through work or school that includes basic accounting knowledge. They have ideally worked in an office setting and have experience in a decision making role.

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How to apply: Email your resume and cover letter to hiring@themanitoban.com before March 20, 2013.

Visit themanitoban.com for more details

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

News

5

Bullying of staff main issue at U of M town hall meeting Caretakers’ emotional breakdowns and pressures a persistent concern Alycia Rodrigues, staff

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riday, Mar. 1 was the University of Manitoba’s 10th town hall meeting under president and vicechancellor David Barnard. Faculty and students gathered to discuss and ask questions regarding current issues occurring at the university.

During the meeting, Barnard stressed the need for the U of M to be competitive in order to attract students and keep professors. In

order to address this, the university has created an Academic Structure Initiative, with a focus on professional and leadership skills.

A staff survey found that 86 per cent of employees reported job satisfaction with the U of M, which is one of Manitoba’s top 25 employers.

During the meeting, Barnard mentioned that revenues have been lower for the university than previous years. Additionally, government funding has been lower than it has ever been before.

Barnard also discussed the contract with Xerox, which has created a reduction program aimed at using less paper.

Under this agreement, each department will be evaluated on how much paper they use and will be given a target goal, which is lower each subsequent year.

Additional costs will proceed after the limit has been exceeded.

Criticism arose due to the banning of personal printers and the profit that Xerox has been accumulating.

Barnard stated that

there are many other universities who have adopted this policy in order to move towards a paperless society.

Barnard explained that professors are still allowed to use personal printers, but only if they purchase them out of their own pockets and provide the supplies. These restrictions resulted due to pressure from government funding and grants.

Frank Wright, a painter at the U of M Bannatyne campus, raised issues concerning caretakers, which was a recurring issue throughout the meeting. Pink shirts were worn by supporters of the caretakers. The employees’ concerns, who feel like they are being bullied by the university, began when Aramark took over and cut some of the caretaking staff. According to Wright, since the company took over, there have been employees who have experienced emotional breakdowns.

“I met with one [employee] yesterday who completely broke down emotionally, mentally, physically. They have been under extreme working conditions since Aramark took over,” said Wright. “We have repeatedly tried everything in our power to find somebody who is willing to make a difference here at the university for the caretakers. It hasn’t happened yet.”

It was mentioned that the U of M needs to address this and will be com-

mitted to fixing the issue. One individual defended Aramark by saying they are a great company that the university has worked with for over 30 years.

The last two issues of the meeting dealt with change management. It was felt that Desire2Learn (D2L), a new online learning system, was poorly and hastily released, with inadequate training.

Criticism raised by students went as far as to say that the university has become a corporate institution.

Mike Lagenloc, the Information Systems and Technology representative responsible for D2L, admitted that the learning system’s launch created a lot of issues and faced many challenges, due to the Canadian company’s economic issues, for one.

Attracting high ability and outstanding students for research and masters studies was also raised.

Barnard said that the university is working towards a focus on highquality and cyclical review efforts, and strategic internal funding through

new programs.

According to Barnard, the U of M will also work to improve the university website, the Rhodes initiative, and the way information about various programs is obtained. He also stated that there will be a new segment on professional skills inside and outside of academia. photo by beibei lu

Women fly free Event to introduce women to the aviation industry Alycia Rodrigues, staff

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he St. Andrews airport is hosting an event by the International Ninety-Nines on Mar. 9, where women fly free, in both airplanes and helicopters, to celebrate the International Women of Aviation Week. The event aims to bring awareness of the aviation industry to females, who currently comprise only six per cent of the industry. It is expected to yield over 500 women and introduce them to potential career opportunities.

Many of the women who have never flown before will be educated and inspired through theory of flight demonstrations, information on the history of the aviation industry, and career information booths from the University of Manitoba and other colleges and training centres.

Raymonde de Laroche was the first woman in the world to obtain her private pilot license on Mar. 8,

1910. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated a year later on the same date, which lead to the establishment of the International Women of Aviation Week 100 years later, also on the same date.

Chrissy Perry, a chief f lying instructor for Allied Wings at Southport Portage la Prairie, touched upon the fact that the industry is multifaceted.

“There are many exciting and rewarding careers for women to choose; from operational to maintenance, civilian to military, as a career or just for fun,” said Perry. “This event will allow the participants an opportunity to ‘peek in the cockpit’ and take their first steps towards new horizons [ . . . ] setting their dreams free!”

Potential career opportunities include, but are not limited to: nursing, counselling, teaching, design, meteorology, geographers, outer

space explorers, airport managers and engineers, and pilots. At the event, women from the industry will have the opportunity to connect with the beginner fliers. Canadian astronaut Pam Melroy will be in attendance at the event to share her experiences.

“The Overview Effect” is a common experience while in space. It is a feeling of total unity with the earth, of ecstasy, and a cognitive shift with a meditative experience that creates a new kind of self-awareness.

Aaron Doherty, assistant chief flight instructor at Harv’s Air Service in Steinbach, told the Manitoban that this event is an important networking opportunity for females who are interested in the aviation industry. She said that the connections she made with people in the industry encouraged her passion and were vital in the early stages of her career.

“Flying is very much a community

of individuals who have an interest every moment of challenge worth it,” and passion in all things that are able said Doherty. to get airborne,” said Doherty.

Sarah Freeborn, a student at the The lack of female representation in University of Manitoba, will soon the aviation industry is still an unan- be flying in a small plane for the first swered question, but Doherty said time at the event. The geography that hopefully these types of events student has spent a lot of time in the will help address the issue, and will Yukon and recognizes the importance help women down a path they may that small planes and the aviation have been longing for all along. industry has to the world. Freeborn Doherty said that in order to fol- said that she is excited to attend the low the dream of flying, an individual event and learn more about planes. first needs to be passionate and dedi- She is specifically excited to learn cated. Challenges are inevitable in about the processes involved, how both the academics and training, and people become pilots, and the role of differ for each person, but a person women in aviation. needs to be dedicated to surmount “Airplanes and aviation have played them. Next, she said it is imperative a big role in uniting Canada by proto set goals and priorities. Finally, in viding access to remote parts of the order to reach these goals and pri- country as well as connecting places orities, Doherty said you need to be that are separated by a great deal of self-disciplined. distance – places where we might “In the end, the view that one has not otherwise be able to travel,” said as they soar through the air makes Freeborn.

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News

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 24 March 6, 2013

Anti-bullying bill creates contention Legislation infringes on rights, says faith-based schools Rachel Wood, staff

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recent provincial bill, entitled does not require mandatory GSAs to “The Public Schools Amendment be formed in every Manitoba school.

Act,” has several private and faith- It does, however, require any student based schools arguing that a clause group formed to work against issues touching on gay-straight alliances such as homophobia, sexism, and (GSA) infringes on their religious racism to be supported by school rights. administration.

A crowd of 1,000 gathered at Bill 18 also enforces a policy that Steinbach Christian High School on makes it obligatory for any adult who Feb. 24 to discuss and pray about the witnesses bullying in the school to impending Bill 18, an anti-bullying report it to the principal, who then legislation. has the discretion to determine approScott Wiebe, principal of priate action.

Steinbach Christian High School, The legislation does not yet address which receives half of their fund- the possibility of a principal not adeing from taxpayers, argued that they quately addressing homophobic bulshould have the liberty to determine lying due to religious convictions. which student groups are permissible Allan said that she has received in accordance with the school’s reli- thousands of emails regarding this gious doctrine. bill. Many have vehemently sup“Our receiving of funds from the ported it, while others have voiced government should not impact our their concerns towards the act. freedom of religion. We don’t trade “We are having a very good diaour charter rights for funding,” he logue right now with all school divisaid to the CBC. sions and communities about this A LGBTT* student at Steinbach legislation. So at the end of the day, Regional Secondary School, which we are hopeful that all schools will be is not a faith-based school, has supportive of the legislation.” that students reach their potential attempted to form a GSA with perThe bill is largely predicted to and participate in society.”

Despite Steinbach Christian mission from the administration. come into effect, as Allan said she is Evan Wiens has been prohibited, confident that the legislation will be High School’s contention over the bill, Hanover School Division has however, from advertising the student moving forward. group through posters.

“Bill 18 introduces new measures ensured Allan that they will abide by “I find that the the legislation’s guidelines, including allowadministration is a bit “When 64 per cent of LGBT Canadian more intolerant in a ing for the creation of GSAs. sense because they need students feel unsafe when to worry about commu“We support all our nity values,” explained students – we want a attending school [ . . . ] that, to me, is safe learning environWiens to the CBC. a sure sign that it’s time to protect ment for them. We will During the interwork with our students view, Wiens expeour school’s students.” – Jay Rahn – if there are students r ienced mu ltiple instances of bullying who want to form a from other students GSA, we will support passing by. to protect students from cyberbul- them and we will accommodate The Manitoban spoke with lying and to ensure that all students them,” said Hanover school board Minister of Education Nancy Allan, feel safe and respected in the school, chairman Randy Hildebrand. who said that the bill was formed in and I think that is very important to Maylanne Maybee, principal of response to the 2012 suicide of B.C. students and to young people and, the Centre for Christian Studies, a teenager Amanda Todd. quite frankly, I think it’s important theological institute that welcomes Allan explained that the legislation to our economy that we make sure individuals of all sexual orientations,

illustration by bradly wohlgemuth

explained that many Christians believe that homosexuality is morally wrong. She also attributed many faith-based schools’ contention over Bill 18 to possible phobia, which she defined as “the fear of what is not known, or understood, or familiar.”

“The claim is that [the obligation to support GSAs] goes against their religion. Since they call themselves Christian and so do we, there are obviously big differences in how we understand our religion,” said Maybee.

“It’s hard to imagine how an adolescent struggling with sexual identity or orientation would feel loved or protected from being ostracized and isolated in a school that says that supporting GSAs are against their faith.

I think a person’s right to that kind of protection trumps religious rights,” she continued.

Jay Rahn, coordinator of the U of M Rainbow Pride Mosaic, argued

that the amendment is critical for Manitoba students who may need someone to listen to and support them.

“Coming out is hard. Keeping it inside is hard [ . . . ] Government concurrence in this endeavor is so very important and I like knowing that bullying will be that much more challenged when our province’s students are being bullied and oppressed,” he said.

Rahn personally identified with this legislation, as he attended a faith-based school while coming out.

Describing it as the biggest struggle he faced, Rahn claimed that he experienced discrimination in his school, which taught that homosexuality was a sin.

“Bill 18 is an issue of human rights, not religious rights. Anyone still has the freedom to hold their own personal religious beliefs [ . . . ] But when 64 per cent of LGBT Canadian students feel unsafe when attending school [ . . . ] that, to me, is a sure sign that it’s time to protect our school’s students.”

A website has been created, entitled “protect our schools,” that allows concerned citizens to send an email to voice their apprehension over the bill.

“The Manitoba government should look for democratic and inclusive ways to combat bullying. Forcing public and faith based independent schools to act against their beliefs and their community values is not the way to combat bullying,” says the website.

Despite the controversy, Rahn remains optimistic about Bill 18.

“As long as we’re using the term “faith-based” [ . . . ] I have faith that the LBGT and allied communities will effectively work together to promote awareness and action against bullying and discrimination, until our schools are a safe and positive place to learn and grow. Together. Isn’t life all about having faith anyways?”

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.

IMMIGRATE TO CANADA PERMANENTLY. The Canadian Experience Class program offers foreign graduates with Canadian work experience the opportunity to apply and stay in Canada permanently. Visit immigration.gc.ca/cec for more details and see if you’re eligible.

ÉTUDIANTS ÉTRANGERS.

IMMIGREZ EN PERMANENCE AU CANADA. Le programme de la catégorie de l’expérience canadienne offre aux diplômés étrangers ayant une expérience de travail au Canada la possibilité de faire une demande en vue d’habiter en permanence au Canada. Visitez le site immigration.gc.ca/cec pour en savoir plus et pour voir si vous êtes admissible.

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We all hope to enrich our lifestyle through tradition and get the most convenient modern technology to ease our life. What can we actually get nowadays? Let’s take a glance at the Festival du Voyageur 2013 here in Winnipeg, and take a taste of tradition! all photos by beibei lu

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

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Comment

Student unions should redirect their efforts The true concern is the inflation of textbook prices Richard Jung, volunteer staff

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tudent unions across Canada A comparison of statistics reveals operating grant increase of five per and our student union, UMSU, that while tuition fees have been at cent in the 2011–2012 fiscal year and participate in a series of “Days a relative constant (due to tuition in the subsequent two years, as well of Action” every year to promote freezes), textbook prices have been as a commitment to tie future tuition tuition freezes and reductions in skyrocketing. From 2010/2011 to increases to the rate of inflation, substudent loans, amongst other things. 2011/2012, the average undergrad sequently confirmed by the province In Manitoba, opposing tuition fee tuition fee in Manitoba changed to be one per cent for 2011-12.” increases has been a primary issue from $3,593 to $3,645, a difference of Funding from the Council on for every slate that has decided to run 1.4 per cent compared to the national Post-Secondary Education (COPSE) for UMSU. While understanding average of a 4.3 per cent change. In provides roughly 59 per cent of the the rationale behind making post- this same year, Manitoba’s infla- University of Manitoba’s budget; this secondary education affordable for tion rate—based on a change in the is followed by tuition fees, providing students from different social classes, Consumer Price Index (CPI)—has 23 per cent of the budget. So the fact UMSU seems to be overlooking a fluctuated from 3.0 to 1.6 per cent. that real tuition fees have decreased major issue at hand. Every student, Based on this stat, our tuition fees in 2010/2011-2011/2012 (based on Stats regardless of qualifying for schol- have actually decreased from 2010- Canada data) is a concern to address. arships or bursaries, is often forced 2011.

While making university affordable (if not, the potential penalty is their In fact, based on the 2012 Annual for students, it will come at a cost grades) to purchase textbooks for Report of the U of M, “The 2011-2012 of other income sources, mainly by their classes. provincial budget provided for an increasing the burden on other tax-

City Councillors’ ward budgets

Fair to the taxpayers?

Steve Snyder, volunteer staff

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he City of Winnipeg 2013 bud- the fact that he exists. His spending get has been approved and with it on advertising surpassed the $7,500 comes an additional $40,000 to each mark, which is about one-tenth of City Councillor for their ward budget. his total allowance. At that ratio, we Well, it seems that Councillor Mayes can expect another $4,000 in advertisis receiving some flak for spending ing being put out by Nordman. Not $28,000 of his increase on Save Our included in that number is the printSeine, a non-profit group, with many ing of calendars and business cards, people calling it a bid for re-election. coming in at $2,050.

Before you pass judgment on Now, all of this is bad, but in my Councillor Mayes, perhaps we opinion the worst spender is Justin should take a look at these other Swandel. Councillor Swandel manward councillors’ spending for 2012. aged to spend almost as much as Please note: all these numbers do not Nordman in advertising ($6,663), include December, 2012; those num- almost as much as Wyatt in business bers have not yet been made available lunches and event tickets ($3,721), and to the public. managed to pay for his home phone, First off is Councillor Russ Wyatt. internet, and television ($1,175) with In 2012, Mr. Wyatt decided his ward his ward allowance. I don’t know was best served with flowers and food. how you justify television as a ward A total of $5,256 was spent on florists expense, but when you have an answer and $5,437 spent on dinner tickets, to that, please let me know. These luncheons, and golf tournaments. three expenses alone cost the taxpayer Included in this amount is a total of $11,559, and it doesn’t even include $4,190 to one particular florist, Myra December, 2012.

Rose Florists.

Now, I shouldn’t rag on Swandel Secondly, Councillor Devi Sharma, too much because he was against the who in 2012 spent over $1,000 for her increase, along with Mayes, but all new iPad and protective case, and over three of the other councillors I men$15,000 on her ward office. Perhaps tioned above were for it. This reality, with the addition of the $40,000 she coupled with the fact that they cut can get a bigger office. funds to several not-for-profit groups, What is even more maddening is is somewhat disheartening. that in 2011 Sharma was quoted as So, keep advertising your exissaying “this has been done with exist- tence, filling your face, or leasing a ing dollars. No new taxpayer money second office. went to fund this.”

Councillor Mayes is doing what Can this still be said, councillor? he feels is right, and what the council Councillor Grant Nordman was governance committee believes he is one of the most active councillors, or allowed to do. It really doesn’t matter it would appear so by how much he which councillor you look at; all of advertises. What he advertises, I’m them use their ward allowance as a not too sure; perhaps he advertises tool to get re-elected.

payers in the economy (as COPSE is a provincial program, thus funded by our tax dollars).

Although UMSU and the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) promote tuition freezes, they fail to acknowledge the problem of textbook price increases. In the United States, from 1978 until 2012, textbook prices have increased 812 per cent vs. the 250 per cent increase in the CPI. These figures could be similar in Canada; it is quite possible that textbook prices increased more in Canada due to pricing differences (even though our currency is at par).

In the core textbooks for undergrad students (i.e., calculus, economics, etc.), publishers have been releasing new editions or having electronic

testing banks packaged with their textbooks to force students to purchase these updated texts.

Information that is available in these first-year textbooks have been known for centuries, and often do not require “new” or “updated” textbooks for something as simple as F = ma. While student unions propose to make university more affordable for students, they are not focusing on the textbook hikes that are threatening our wallets and that seem to be increasing at an unprecedented pace. I, for one, would certainly want student groups to raise awareness to the broader student populous of these astonishing increases in textbook prices and to focus on controlling these rates.

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Comment

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 24 March 6, 2013

Predicting the papacy What might be next for the Vatican Steven Yaschuk

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he surprise resignation of Pope this conclave is much more progres- dinal-priesthood. This shortens the Benedict XVI as head of the sive than the last (in 2005 with the list down to eight likely candidates.

Catholic Church on Feb. 11 of this death of Pope John Paul II), it is We must also look at priorities of year has left many people curious as unlikely we will see a non-European papability, such as age and physical/ to who the next pope will be, and the or non-Caucasian pope for this elec- mental ability. As Pope Benedict process of how they are elected. Here tion. The Catholic Church hasn’t XVI resigned because he wasn’t able is my prediction, along with some changed many policies within its to handle the role of leader anymore, details on the process itself. borders and has faced many contro- another resignation is not something For starters, popes are elected versies. The assumption that the next cardinals want to see, as the pope title by a conclave, which is a meeting of pope will come from within Europe is often passed on by death. In recent the College of Cardinals – the years, with advancements in body of all cardinals within medical science, and the fact The assumption that the the church. There isn’t much that heads of large bodies and for “nominations,” but specuorganizations have superb next pope will come from lation on who will be elected health care, life expectancy Bishop of Rome is made based among leaders is up, though within Europe is a safe one. on papability, or the credentials quality and ability not so much. of a cardinal in relation to being In 1970 under Pope Paul VI, the elected pope. church even enacted a rule that There are currently 25 papable is a safe one. This narrows the can- no cardinal over the age of 80 could cardinals from all levels of cardinal didates down to 11 – they are mostly vote for the pope. seniority, all positions within the from Italy, where the Vatican state This leads the college to look for a church and from around the world. is located. young candidate that can handle the Although, this list can easily be narThere is also seniority and expe- strains of the job, and will be withrowed down based on previous vot- rience to consider. There are three ered by it, dying with it before they ing of papal conclaves. In the past levels of cardinalship: deacon, priest, can lose their grips on life. Assuming two centuries, all elected popes have and bishop. In the last two centuries, anyone over the age of 70 will be seen come from within Europe. Unless elected popes have held, at least, car- as too old, this narrows us down to

photo by Jean-Pol Grandmont

six candidates.

Finally, we look at political leaning, which, within any organization, is very fine-tuned, detailed, and hard to analyze from a generalized perspective. Of the 117 cardinals that can vote, the majority of them are over the age of 70 and are right leaning. We can expect the next pope to be the same. This leaves two can-

didates: Angelo Bagnasco of Italy and Antonio Cañizares Llovera of Spain. The last point of order, and papability indicator, is ethnicity and appropriateness.

As the church is rooted in Italian culture, history, and language, I predict that Angelo Bagnasco, being young, conservative, and Italian, will be the next pope.

Idle No More symposium Come see what it’s all about Ryan Duplassie

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he Native Studies Graduate agriculture, urban sprawl, or sustain- C-45, Canada’s environmental pro- Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal should care about the impending Students’ Association will be able models, about clean engineering, tection policies, and Treaties, then Canadians. From 11 a.m., Ryan impacts of Bill C-45. From 3 p.m., hosting an all-day Idle No More renewable energies, the availability of this conversation needs to happen.

Duplassie, Anishinaabe PhD can- Métis PhD candidate Paul Murphy symposium, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, medicine and nutritious food, about Five members of the Native didate, and Charles Wagamese— will bust some myths we have found Mar. 8. It will be held in the UC 2nd planning for the future – then we Studies Graduate Students’ Anishinaabe educator and former rampant on online comment sections floor Multi-Purpose Room. need to have that conversation. The Association and three Anishinaabe executive director of Treaty 3—will regarding Aboriginal taxation, housThere will be hourly featured pre- solutions to these challenges are guest presenters invite you into their provide information about Treaties ing, and education. If you’ve found sentations with open Q & A. The found in the way we relate. and how the Indian Act yourself forming opinions on such, event is free and all are welcome; Treaties between nations are serves as a draconian set but weren’t sure you had the facts, come for an hour or two or stay for about relationships, whether in of legislation that not only we invite you to this session.

This symposium serves to the day, as you please, and refresh- Europe, Africa, or here in Canada. abrogates Treaties, but has At 4 p.m., Charles Wagamese ments will be provided.

The Treaties are protected in the set First Nations peoples up and M.A. student Alon Weinberg— provide a space for public This symposium serves to provide Constitution, the highest law of to fail as a matter of policy. long-time solidarity activist and conversation about the a space for public conversation about the land. Yet clearly, Aboriginal Residential schools are but Green Party member—provide the purpose, meaning, and impor- people harbour grievances about one heinous example of how some bridge-building strategies so purpose, meaning, and tance of the Idle No More movement. the failed relationship, which is the Indian Act has attempted, that non-Aboriginal Canadians can importance of the Idle How has Idle No More moved you? evident in the disrespect for ethithrough policy, to fracture meaningfully engage with Aboriginal What has its movement meant to cal Treaty implementation, and Aboriginal relationships peoples to move this country forward No More movement. you? We each have perspectives and want the freedom to prosper. If with families and sustainable positively, ethically, and respectfully. have formed opinions about its surge you’ve found yourself wondering economies. Following these The solutions to our constitutional, over the past few months. Many of what Treaties mean, please come talks—from 12 p.m.—is a economic, and ecological challenges us have shared our views in our class- out. understanding of Idle No More so relationship-building ceremony, a lie in these relationships. This is not rooms, around dinner tables, and in Online comment sections have that these conversations can take round dance. Come out and join us an “Indian problem.” This is our colonline comment sections attached exposed a great deal of misinforma- place on our campus. As Friday, Mar. outside Migizii Agamik. lective problem, and decolonization to our daily headlines. Many of tion and miseducation about the place 8 is International Women’s Day, it is At 1 p.m., Shavon Sinclair— and healing are imperative within us have mixed messages and have of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples in the appropriate that this symposium is Anishinaabe from Hollow Water all circles. It is easy to be complacent maybe even wondered what it is all grander scheme. It appears that there inaugurated by Anishinaabe women First Nation, Treaty 5—will speak in these times, to put up walls and really about. Idle No More is many is a considerable lack of clarity as to in prayer and song. to us about traditional Anishinaabe shut out uncomfortable discourse. things, and they all come down to the import of our Treaty relationships From 10 a.m., Helen Agger, governance systems, and how the But we all must be Idle No More. relationships – relationships with our as solemn agreements to share the Anishinaabe PhD candidate, and Indian Act has impacted the status of Please join us. fellows, with our environment, and lands, waters, and decision-making Judy Da Silva, longtime Anishinaabe women in the Anishinaabe nation and Ryan Duplassie is a PhD candidate with our ecologies. powers when it comes to resource grassroots activist from Grassy in Canada. From 2 p.m., Métis PhD in the department of native studies at If you’re concerned about climate development in Canada. If you’ve Narrows First Nation, Treaty 3, candidate Emily Grafton will relate the University of Manitoba. change and ecological integrity, or found yourself wondering about the will introduce Idle No More and to us the reason that all Canadians clean water shortages, renewable connection between omnibus Bill the meaning of decolonization for —Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal—

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

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Science & technology

Bird flu research to resume New guidelines published by U.S. regulators Tom Ingram, staff

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wo new sets of guidelines dealing with potentially dangerous biological research have just been published in the U.S. These guidelines follow the publication of a controversial experiment on avian influenza (H5N1) in ferrets that resulted in a temporary moratorium on H5N1 research last year.

In 2011, two experiments—one led

by Ron Fouchier in the Netherlands and the other by Yoshihiro Kawaoka in the United States—demonstrated that, with a few mutations, bird flu could be made to spread between ferrets, which are good models for influenza in humans.

Birds can transmit H5N1 to humans, but the disease does not easily spread between mammals. The research could help health experts predict a pandemic before it hap-

pens, but it was considered by some implications of this research. tional oversight for so-called “dual- respect to dual-use research. Fouchier to be irresponsible and dangerous. A The new guidelines are the result of use” research. found the policy’s list of agents and science advisory board in the U.S. those discussions. The U.S.’s National The NIH policy introduces two toxins odd. argued that it should not be published Institute of Health (NIH), which new layers of review for studies “If I were to do harm, I would except in redacted form, to prevent funds most of this research, released like the ones done by Fouchier and use bugs that are not on this list,” bioterrorism.

Kawaoka. Studies that will Fouchier told Nature. He argued in Flu scientists around the cause H5N1 to be transmis- favour of a general code of conduct world agreed last January sible in mammals via respi- rather than a list of specific rules.

“Laws and regulations will to a voluntary moratorium ratory droplets will have to “Laws and regulations will slow slow down people with good on further research of this demonstrate a clear public down people with good intentions, kind until the security health benefit and show but will do nothing against people intentions, but will do nothing concerns could be sorted how researchers can mini- with bad intentions,” remarked against people with bad out. Eventually the advimize the risk of accidents Fouchier. sory board allowed the full or malicious misuse of the These policies only apply to U.S.intentions.” – Ron Fouchier publication of the studies, virus. based and U.S.-funded research. which appeared in journals The OSTP policy deals The World Health Organization is in mid-2012. The moratowith oversight of research meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, to rium ended in January of this year, its final framework for approval of involving certain pathogens and tox- hold an international consultation when a letter appeared in Science funding for certain types of experi- ins off a list of 15 – including bird flu, on dual-use research. The voluntary and Nature announcing that it had ments. The Office of Science and ebola, and anthrax. It outlines the moratorium will continue in counserved its purpose of giving regula- Technology Policy (OSTP) also responsibilities of scientists, insti- tries that have not yet implemented tors a chance to discuss the security published its draft policy on institu- tutions, and the government with similar policies.

The case for electric vehicles Electric vehicles—public policy and consumer benefits—part 3 of 3 Rodger Lepinsky, Volunteer Staff

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o an individual consumer, one of An electric vehicle, by contrast, the biggest benefits of owning an will cost much less for energy. The electric vehicle (EV) is the very low Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association operating cost. The gasoline expense (MEVA) states that driving electric adds up over the life of an internal vehicles is like driving for 15 cents a combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, litre. At this rate, to cover the same whereas electricity is relatively cheap, 16,000 km in an EV it would only especially in Manitoba. cost about $360, which works out to According to the province’s 2.2 cents per kilometre.

Electric Vehicle Roadmap, the averThere have been reports of even age Manitoba ICE vehicle requires lower operating costs. In 2010, UBC about 15 litres of fuel per 100 kilo- students converted a Volkswagen metres (km). Driving on average Beetle and drove approximately 6,400 16,000 km over the course of a year, km from Vancouver to Halifax, chargas Manitobans do, requires 2,400 ing at RV parks along the way. Their litres of fuel. At only $1 per litre, the estimate of the electricity expense annual fuel cost would amount to was only $64, which is about 1 cent $2,400, which works out to 15 cents per kilometre. per kilometre.

The savings in energy expenses can

sumers have is that electric vehicles dance of “clean” electricity, so much won’t drive 500 or 600 kms on a single that Hydro exports surplus energy charge, as ICE vehicles do. However, to the U.S.A. About 98 per cent of how many times a year do you drive the electricity comes from renewthis distance in a single day? Studies able energy sources such as wind and have shown that on a daily basis, 80 hydro. The Roadmap states, “We per cent of commuters drive 80 km could easily convert one of our greator less, and 50 per cent drive 40 km est energy weaknesses (imported fossil or less. fuels) to one of our greatest strengths Winnipeg is a relatively small (hydroelectricity).” city, unlike a metropolis such as Los By switching to electric vehicles, Angeles, or other big American cit- less money would leave the province, ies. Using the Perimeter Highway as and there could be an economic multia boundary, Winnipeg is only about plier effect. The local economy would 30 km from east to west and north to get a boost, as if the government south at its longest distances. Using engaged in public spending. However, data loggers, Dr. Eric Bibeau from there would be one important differthe U of M’s engineering faculty con- ence: the “spending” would not need ducted a detailed study on Winnipeg to be recouped by higher taxes at a commuters, and concluded that the later date. The benefits would come size of the batteries could actually via greater efficiencies arising from then be used for the down payment be reduced in size by around 40 per the technological shift. on a house, investments, or season cent. As a daily commuting vehicle in In conclusion, the case for electric tickets to the Jets.

Winnipeg, an electric vehicle makes vehicles can be summarized as folThe Mitsubishi Miev and Nissan a lot of sense! lows. From an environmental standLeaf currently sell in the range of For those concerned with driv- point, EVs are many times cleaner $32,000 to $40,000. While this may ing long distances, a new company, than traditional ICE vehicles. From cost more than some vehicles, eventu- Sun Country Highway, has begun a consumer standpoint, EVs cost ally the total cost of ownership over installing charging stations all across much less to operate, require a notathe life of the vehicle may be cheaper Canada, with the idea of making bly lesser degree of maintenance than than other ICE vehicles. The graph cross-country trips by electric vehicles ICE vehicles, and pay for themselves featured lists the initial purchase price, possible and practical. in the long run. From a public policy plus the cumulative energy expense standpoint, EVs would reduce fossil of driving different vehicles over dis- Public policy fuel imports and, by using locally gentances. Sidebar: this graph is deliberThe Manitoba Electric Vehicle erated electricity, create a local ecoately simplified and does not include Roadmap has estimated that nomic multiplier effect. Go electric! any other variables, such as interest Manitoba spends between two and Rodger Lepinsky is a U of M alumnus rates, inflation, maintenance costs, three billion dollars importing fos- and a member of the Manitoba Electric insurance, depreciation, rebates, etc. sil fuels each year. At the same time, Vehicle Association: manitobaev.ca A big concern that many con- Manitoba Hydro generates an abun-

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Science & Technology

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 24 March 6, 2013

A day in the life Counting cells, playing the waiting game Elizabeth Drewnik, volunteer Staff

Last time we explored cell splitting and the errors involved in the process. Today, we will look at how cell splitting can be applied to attaining experimental data.

Experiments involving drug treatments utilize the technique of cell splitting to better understand how a cell (and, ideally, an organism) responds to certain doses, concentrations, and combinations of drugs.

administered, and the cells are centrifuged and resuspended, just as with the initial steps for cell splitting. The difference is that once the cells are resuspended, a small sample is mixed with a specific dye that tests for viability of the cells, and the mixture is placed onto a cell counting slide. The slide is inserted into a cell counting machine, and after waiting for less than a minute the results are in! he past couple weeks have been The cell counting machine prodevoted to growing up various vides the total and live counts of cells and splitting them to generate cells, as well as the per cent viabilenough cells to work with for the ity, which can be used to determine desired experiment: treating the the volume of cells needed to fill cells with drugs. But how many of all the relevant wells of however the cells will need to be used for many of the 96-well plates are being the experiment? How do we know utilized. that we’ve even grown enough cells?

Once the correct concentrations Before we get down and dirty with of cells are determined, the amount the physical portion of the experi- of cells needed for the experiment is ment, we first need to crunch some calculated, and the cells are added numbers. to the wells of the plate, or “plated.”

Generally, these experiments The cells are then left to grow until are performed in 96-well plates, they reach the appropriate confluwhere 100 microliters (µl) of solu- ence to work with. tion are added to each well. We need The largest issue involving this to conduct a simple calculation to procedure is having to play the determine the concentration of cells waiting game. Every different cell we are adding to the wells before line grows at a different pace. Just plating the cells. To do this, we use as plants bud at different rates (e.g., a cell counter. weeds will grow rather quickly When the cells merge together whereas roses take much longer to and are thus confluent, trypsin is mature), different cell types vary in

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their rates of growth. As such, it is important to be aware of these specific characteristics with the cell types you are working with.

There are times when a cell type does not grow as expected. For example, one might think that a week would be plenty of time to grow enough cells to fill five 96-well plates for a certain experiment. As

it turns out, on the day that the cells are counted (the day that you expect to plate the cells), there are sometimes not nearly enough cells to run the experiment. What else can be done other than wait for the cells to grow? Nothing, really. Just wait. The cells will be ready – but not today.

Problems may also arise if the

samples of cells are lost, either through misconducted aspiration or through something as simple as knocking the sample tubes over with your elbow. Once the cells are gone, they’re gone. The situation is nothing like in undergraduate labs, where when something is spilled or lost, you can borrow an extra sample from a partner across the room, or perhaps ask the TA for additional samples that are stored for such an occasion. Not so, in the life of a researcher.

The experiment must be started from the beginning. Cells must be thawed from the –80 C environment at which they are stored, and split until there are enough cells to conduct the desired experiments.

That cell splitting process may take several weeks, depending on how quickly your specific cells grow, and how many cells you require for your experiment.

Accidents such as these are very costly. Knowing this provides an appreciation for how much preparative energy is put into undergraduate labs, where accidents happen all of the time.

We will continue with the remainder of drug additions in the coming week, after our plated cells are confluent. illustration by caroline norman

Strike six: you’re out!

New copyright initiative takes effect in U.S. Tom Ingram, staff

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ast week a new program aimed at reducing illegal downloads of copyrighted materials took effect in the U.S. Conceived in 2011, the Copyright Alert System (CAS) is a partnership between several media industry organizations and the major American Internet service providers. The intention is to make illegal downloading more difficult and

inform users who may be unaware plete copy, not just a part, and send a that their activities are illegal. notice to the Internet service providThis is how the system is supposed ers (ISP) of the user sharing the file. to work: representatives of copyright From there, the ISP will take one owners join public peer-to-peer net- of several actions, depending on the works (specifically, public BitTorrent number of notices a user has received. trackers like The Pirate Bay) and look The first few will simply trigger an for copyrighted material that is being email from the ISP, while further shared illegally. If they find it, they notices will lead to more intrusive verify that the shared file is a com- measures such as throttling download speeds or requiring the user to watch an educational video.

The Center for Copyright Information, the organization in charge of the CAS, emphasizes that the copyright owners are only working with Internet Protocol (IP) addresses – unless they obtain a subpoena, they never see information that would allow them to tie the address to a specific person. There is also an independent review process for wrongful copyright alerts – though the user has only 14 days to file for a review and the process costs US $35, which is refunded only in the event of a successful claim.

Many ISPs already have similar programs, with more or less consistent enforcement. What’s new about

the CAS is that it is a large-scale, coordinated, and publicized effort. At this point there are still many details that have not been announced. Each provider will handle copyright alerts in its own way. So far, Verizon is the only ISP that has announced it will temporarily slow down connections to near dial-up speeds for users with six alerts. Cablevision will temporarily suspend accounts, and AT&T will block certain websites until the user completes an online copyright education course. No provider so far has considered completely cutting off service to offending users.

All these measures are temporary and, seemingly, rather toothless – more irritating than coercive. The system is meant to educate users who may be unaware that what they’re doing is illegal (if such people actually exist), and gently encourage them to seek out legal means of getting a hold of their media.

In fact, although the CAS has been described as a six-strike system, after the sixth alert no further action will be taken against a user’s account.

“We hope that by the time people get to alerts number five or six, they will stop,” said Jill Lesser, executive director of the Center for Copyright Information.

“Once they’ve been mitigated, they’ve received several alerts, we’re just not gonna send them any more alerts because they’re not the kind of customer that we’re going to reach with this program.”

Of course, legal action against offending users is not out of the question. Once the alerts stop, the records remain, and it’s not clear how they could be used in court. Also, the ISPs will have to let the copyright holders know which IP addresses receive more than one alert, which would make litigation easier.

At this point, a lot still depends on how the system is implemented and how the rules are enforced. In the meantime, virtual private networks and proxy services are seeing increased subscriptions. The CAS seems like a refreshing alternative to gigantic lawsuits against individual users, but it remains to be seen how, if at all, it will work in practice.

13

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

Arts & Culture

A Casio-playing man-beast with mutton chops B.A. Johnston returns to Winnipeg to play the Windsor Jenna Diubaldo, staff

2013 or early 2014.

B.A. Johnston: This song was actually One of the most interesting and inspired by a bouncer in a bar I was hilarious aspects of Johnston’s music is playing in Montreal. I asked him if the album artwork that accompanies the Montreal Canadiens were playing it. His newest album Hi Dudes!— that night and his exact response released in 2012—features a screen- was, “If they were it would be a total shot of the creature from the movie douchestorm in here.” And then the Weird Science on the front cover. His song just wrote itself, basically.

“You basically get the CD prior to that, entitled Thank You For Being a Friend, includes album M: You spend a lot of time on the minivan madness artwork that is an artists’ rendition road by yourself in a van. How do you – a lot of singing to of Johnston alongside John Candy, manage to not feel lonely and bored? the Hamburglar, and what looks like yourself, trying to a gremlin from the movie Gremlins BAJ: Well, you don’t. You basically have conversations posed in the style of the Golden Girls. get the minivan madness – a lot of Recently, Johnston was able to singing to yourself, trying to have with teenagers at take a few minutes out of his relent- conversations with teenagers at less touring schedule to answer a McDonald’s, and yelling at the CBC. McDonald’s, and few questions for the Manitoban, so The loneliness can at times be surreal yelling at the CBC.” read on to learn more about douches, and horrifying, but you get more hugging, and how to stay entertained drink tickets this way. when you basically live in a van.

Johnston spends most of his time M: You recently put out a 7” with the driving around Canada in a Toyota The Manitoban: “Eye of the Magnificent 7s from Winnipeg. How Previa since he is pretty much con- Douchestorm” off your newest album was that experience? stantly on tour, and releases music just Hi Dudes! might just be your best work as frequently, with eight albums and yet. Were there any particular douches BAJ: It was great. It really exposed a DVD out over the past decade and that inspired this song? my weakness as a technical musician, another one planned for release in late though. They kept trying to tell me icon—or perhaps simply a man who has drank far too many beers—then you ought to get yourself on down to the Windsor Hotel on Mar. 9 to check out this sweaty Hamiltonian perform in all his stinking glory.

B

.A. Johnston is to indie music what Zach Galifianakis is to film – not to mention that they bear somewhat of a resemblance.

If you’ve ever seen this muttonchop-sporting, Casio-keyboardplaying, beast of a man, half-naked on stage singing songs about video games and neck tattoos, then you are aware of the magic that is B.A. Johnston. If you haven’t yet experienced this ridiculous trucker-cap-wearing ginger work a crowd with the confidence of a pop

what key things were in.

M: What’s your favourite place to eat when you stop in Winnipeg?

BAJ: Falafel Place is good, as is the Nook and the Black Sheep. I miss the Shanghai, mostly for the awesome sign and getting to eat in a restaurant where the waiters wore tuxedos.

M: You’re known for moving to impromptu locations during your shows such as bathrooms and on top of vending machines. What’s your favourite memory of this?

BAJ: Once in Saskatoon I did the encore in the bathroom and two dudes started to fight. I made everyone in the bathroom yell “hug it out” until they stopped and hugged. It was pretty life-affirming.

B.A. Johnston will be performing at the Windsor Hotel (likely in the bathroom) on Mar. 9 alongside the Lonely Vulcans and the Bad Nerves.

Wearable art Unravelled exhibit comes to the School of Art Gallery at the U of M Joelle Kidd

O

n Mar. 8, the University of Smith had met while working at the The group was born out of an inciManitoba School of Art Costume Museum of Canada and dent in 2007, when a young girl from Gallery will open an exhibit featur- artists whose work she had been Wasagamack was found to be preging a group of six Manitoba-based interested in. nant by her grandfather. The work artists whose work explores the “I spent time doing studio visits Burrows does as a probation officer relationship between fashion and and research on various Manitoba and addictions counsellor, as well as art. Unravelled: Artists and Designers artists and designers before selecting,” her home life in northern Manitoba, Deconstructing Garments is curated says Smith. greatly influences her art.

by Jennifer Smith and features the One of the contributors, Teresa The exhibit also includes work by work of Teresa Burrows, Lisa Lisa Dyck, a designer who Dyck, Lita Fontaine, Helga works as a tailor and creUnravelled explores the Jakobson, Roy Liang, and ates custom garments for Melanie Wesley. clients. Her contributions to interaction between fashion The exhibit explores the Unravelled make use of her interaction between fashtechnical skills while allowand art, and the ability of ion and art, and the ability ing her to stretch her creativone to inspire the other. of one to inspire the other. ity. Dyck’s pieces include Unravelled contains work by “Hands,” a gown adorned with both visual artists and fashion a trail of dip-dyed gloves, and designers.

Burrows, is a graduate of the “Hope Over Fear,” which uses quilting “Through research I have been University of Manitoba school of techniques. doing on the use of craft in contem- art, and has now established a career Melanie Wesley is a mixed-media porary art, I started coming across a making art. Her contribution to the artist who creates wearable art and lot of work that I was very interested exhibit, “Hide-Secrets of the Skin visual pieces. In her pieces “I see in, that showed a crossover between Room,” is inspired by a fairytale about you…”, “Soldier on,” and “Liberation,” fashion and art,” says Smith. “I a girl who chooses to wear skins and she experiments with a freedom of became interested in artists that were disguise herself as an animal rather process that allowed her to create creating garment-based sculpture. It than suffer sexual abuse from her without following traditional dressmade me think about how fashion father and brothers. making rules. Her pieces use handdesigners could also be considered Burrows was also inspired by the stitching and mixing of fibers and sculptors.”

Grandmothers Circle, a group of materials to create a free-spirited The group of artists and design- women who advocate for the safety deconstruction of classic clothing ers chosen for Unravelled are people of children in northern communities. forms.

who is currently studying art at the University of Manitoba, has contributed wedding dresses that explore the concept and rituals of marriage through their construction and materials.

The exhibit ran earlier this year in Altona at Gallery in the Park, and Smith is excited to reopen the show at the U of M. “The space we will be using is beautiful,” says Smith. “It is exciting to know that a large portion of the audience will be students.”

Smith says that as the exhibit has progressed, Unravelled has become not only about exploring the roles of and relationship between designphoto by melanie wesley ers and artists, but also about telling stories.

“The new question I asked myself Designer Roy Liang uses his pattern-making and silk-screening became, ‘Are garments a way of sharskills to create unique artistic pieces. ing our ideas?’” says Smith. “I would In his piece “Terry Fox,” Liang seeks say, yes.”

Unravelled will be housed in the U to infuse practical fashion pieces with memories, making everyday items of M School of Art Gallery at 180 Dafoe thought-provoking, such as his jog- from Mar. 8 until Apr. 19. An opening ging suit printed with a life-size reception will take place on Mar. 8 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. image of Terry Fox. Lita Fontaine mixes contemporary More information on the show can elements with traditional designs to be found at www.unravelledshow.com evoke the motifs of Dakota celebra- and on the Manitoba Craft Council tory ceremonies. Helga Jakobson, website.

14

Arts & Culture

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 24 March 6, 2013

Taylor and Young of Urban Street Funk David Skene, volunteer staff

W

hen the sun starts to shine of city life. “We’re not so different, you and the snow begins to melt, Yes, while you are listenand I,� echo off interlocking They have designed their Winnipeggers get the itch to put their ing for the tweet of the robin, brick and craggy facades of presentation and their parkas and Sorels in the closet and I’m waiting for the moment I the Exchange, do you really go outside unencumbered by their hear Taylor and Young play get it. sound to speak the language winter regalia. some Urban Street Funk, What? That hasn’t hapFor me, winter is officially over a band and a genre that is pened to you? Well, give of our dirty little city when I’m walking around the unapologetically only for it time. Karen Taylor and Exchange District and I hear that Winnipeg.

Scott Young are out there on low groove rising and falling someSure, anybody can enjoy Urban with long hair and sunglasses, playing the street right now, making life in where off in the distance. There is an Street Funk, but to really get it you guitar like a preacher giving a sermon Winnipeg more like a music video. ebb and flow of the wah pedal inter- have to stumble upon that grey-haired about brimstone and damnation. You They have designed their presentation twining with a crunchy beat, and a gentleman with the kickin ‘stache, have to be there when she ends her and their sound to speak the language soulful voice singing songs about fire ripping into his portable drum kit. solo and repeats the last refrain of of our dirty little city. and heartbreak, rising above the din You have to hear the petite woman their song “Fire.� Not until the words, They play in public places but

they’re not buskers—they jam outside because that’s where the music sounds best. They rock the covered alleyway beside the Artspace building like it was the Fillmore, back when rock and roll was deserving of such palaces.

I’ve said it before and I’m going to keep saying it: Urban Street Funk is the reason you should throw away your iPod, take the phone out of your ear, and listen to the sound of the street. When that low groove off in the distance makes its siren call, you don’t want to miss it.

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

Arts & Culture

15

The marriage of music and art The Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival Jenna Diubaldo, staff

T

he Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival is the perfect marriage of music and art, two creative mediums that go together like peanut butter and jam.

Heidi Ouellette and Luke Nickel began planning the festival in 2008 with the intention of creating an event that provided a venue for new and emerging artists to display their work and push the boundaries of art to the limit.

“Luke and I started the festival because we wanted to see and hear more music and art in the city that was truly new, exciting, risk-taking, and high quality,” states Ouellette, one of the event’s co-directors. “We wanted to create the opportunity for artists to push the boundaries of their own work, and to collaborate.”

Cluster takes place over the course of eight days at the Urban Shaman Gallery, featuring 30+ artists and

musicians from Winnipeg and installation,” states Ouellette. “Luke trio, This Hisses. around the globe. and I have admired his work for years, Given that this is the fourth year “We generally focus on a theme and to see this amazing structure of the festival, it certainly has grown which really helps guide who we work come to life and completely trans- over the years, specifically in size: it with,” says Ouellette regarding the form the performance space is going doubled in budget and audience by its second year and tripled in number of process for choosing performers. to be amazing.” performers.

“We always have our eyes open for The structure that Ouellette is “After doing it for a number of years, potential festival artists; things fall referring to is an art installation from we have become more organized and in our lap, friends recommend inter- artist Martin Böttger, also known esting acts [or] works they see. We as TSAWORKS, that will literally things run smoother,” says Ouellette. try to have a good balance of visiting utilize the entire gallery in order to “Beyond those reasonably measurable changes, it has also evolved quite a bit. and local artists, emerging and more convert the festival space itself into a We constantly re-evaluate and experiestablished people.” geometric work of art. ment with the structure of the festival “Winnipeg has such a speThe festival will come to close with cial, thriving arts community and a concert called Reasons, a group [and] how we present the works.”

“The last thing we want is for the Cluster is an event that helps bring performance from almost all of the festival to feel prethis diverse group dictable, stagnant, of people together "Winnipeg has such a special, thriving or uninspired. to create, to experience something Every year is a arts community and Cluster is an event blank slate, and a new, and to get new adventure.” inspired.” that helps bring this diverse group of The Cluster New Some of the people together to create, to experience Music & Integrated featured performers this year include Arts Festival spans something new, and to get inspired." from Mar. 9 – 16 at Lori Freedman, a the Urban Shaman Montreal-based Gallery. Student clarinetist, and Ensemble Paramirabo, a woodwind/ artists scheduled to attend, includ- passes are $25 each and can be purchased string/piano quintet. Also scheduled ing improvisation, collaboration, a by emailing info@lusterfestival.com or to perform are Winnipeg-based musi- Sound Brush—an instrument cre- by visiting McNally Robinson Bookstore. cians Slattern, and Mise En Scene. ated by David Storen that includes Check out www.clusterfestival.com for “The exhibit I’m looking most for- balloons and vacuums—and finally more information. ward to is definitely TSAWORKS’ a performance from local surf noir

Nice guys and online dating Jodie Layne, staff

S

o, dating can suck sometimes/ If you’re lucky, your relation- imagine they didn’t have to deal with you, dudes – being nice and expecting most of the time. ship will organically grow with an the repercussions of what they said to something in return doesn’t make you This is the common refrain from acquaintance or you’ll have a Meg you in any way, shape, or form. Yep, nice. It makes you a jerk, actually. single friends. Back in the days Ryan rom-com-caliber meeting. If Internet dating involves a lot of filterThere are also the special cases of when I was single, navigating my you’re of the 20 per cent of people less and tactless racism, misogyny, racism and fetishization of people way around emotions, etiquette, and whose hands don’t magically brush fat-shaming, fetishization, and other of colour – the latest blog to expose completely unrealistic expectations, with a babe over the last bunch of kale forms of terribleness. and shame these creeps is the blog it wasn’t really a party either. There’s at Organic Planet, or have a friend Well, thank tits that there are “Creepy White Guys.” It features the vulnerability that comes with whose romantic potential you never some pretty rad Internet renegades interactions between its Asian author having to build trust who are not only and guys from OkCupid who incorand honesty with responding to these rectly guess her race, try and woo her Internet dating involves a lot another person, the douchebags, but call- with stereotypes, and try to prove balance of trying to ing them out publicly the superiority of their culture. It’s of filterless and tactless racism, make them see that on their bullshit. The offensive, disgusting, and reeks of you are actually great most popular site the privilege to say whatever you want misogyny, fat-shaming, fetishization, but not perfect (so being, “The Nice whenever you want to women, which and other forms of terribleness. they don’t get a case Guys of OkCupid,” is why I fully support these sites that of those impractical which openly exposes name and shame the perpetrators. expectations), and the the hypocrisy of the Most of the things in these mesexcitement of actual dates, holding saw before, or even friends who actu- “Nice Guy.” You know him, we all sages are the messages pretty much hands, and having your parts touch ally like you enough to introduce you know a guy like this: bemoans being every single woman will receive in her their parts in ways that feel good. to the catches they know – you’re in put in the “friend-zone” by women, online dating inbox at a fairly reguBut, there is also the chance that for an even harder time. claims he’s such a good guy but that lar frequency. Yet, these only make the dreaded moment will arise when Online dating can really suck. You he’s single because “girls like jerks.” up a fraction of the still-frustrating you realize that you have found your- know all the creepy things people Basically, he thinks he is owed sex or interactions that women have with self on a date or interested in a “nice say to you at the bar, when they are a relationship just for being “nice.” men in real life. guy.” actually face-to-face with you? Now, Well, the Internet has news for The keyboard and sole interaction

with a 2D profile embolden the abandonment of acceptable interpersonal communications. It allows for objectification and the lack of immediate consequences. If a guy in person said half the things that a guy on Plenty of Fish said to me during my stint in online dating, he would be verbally chewed out.

Most guys wouldn’t have the courage to spout their misogynist, sexist, racist, sizeist bullshit in person for fear of being held accountable. By calling them out publicly, we help to redefine what is acceptable and create accountability on the Internet. I’m all for protecting privacy and having the ability to pursue your desires legitimately and respectfully without fear of ridicule. However, these are not cases of disparate desires – this is straight-up sexism and it’s nice to see the Internet won’t let it slide.

You can confidentially submit a question or topic to jodie.m.w.layne@gmail. com.

16

Arts & Culture

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 24 March 6, 2013

The Pluto Shot Black Hole Theatre premieres play written and produced at the U of M Jodie Layne, staff

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hat do science and theatre have in common? On the surface not a whole lot, but when The Pluto Shot begins its run at the Black Hole Theatre next week, audiences will see the two collide.

Set in Berkeley in the early 1960s, The Pluto Shot follows two scientists who have been hired to work on creating a new bomb.

Tides change when they make a big discovery and begin to work on something else – which results in making them glow as if they are radioactive.

This is recognized as a sign by a budding group of cultists who seek to f ind their source of illumination.

“It’s a complex piece on paper, but when you put it on stage, it’s incredibly funny and intricate,” says Kevin Ramberran, a performer at the Black Hole Theatre Company.

He should know – he’s one of the leads of the play.

“I think that the show manages to strike a fantastic balance between sexual hilarity, snappy wit,

“It’s easy to look at the 1960s and Project instructors Bill Kerr and “The things the audience reacts think that as human beings we’ve Chris Johnson. Ramberran says to, laughs at, and finds intriguing changed so much. Something I the process has brought life to the are going to be things that Robert, think The Pluto Shot brings out is upcoming production.

Chris, and the cast pick up on. that although society has changed “We’re trying to put more focus Audience members will find thema lot, humans have always been a on the development of new work in selves part of the creative process, little crazy.” the Black Hole Theatre Company. whether they like it or not.”

The play runs from Aside from the new March 12 until 16 and work, audiences should The world premiere of a play again from March 19 come down to appreciate until 23. It is the world what talent is on offer for is a unique opportunity for an premiere of The Pluto every show. Ramberran audience to see something truly Shot, which was written thinks the Black Hole

by Dr. Robert Smith, an Theatre Company is distinct and reform the way the instructor in the faculty underrated and urges play is delivered in the future. of arts at the University would-be audience memof Manitoba. bers to get in the seats.

The script is a product “There are many reaof a theatre department project aptly We still love doing established sons to support the Black Hole: the and heartfelt emotion. I’m excited titled, the New Play Development plays, and will continue to produce young talent, the fantastic producto see which characters the audi- Project. The project aims to provide those as well, but we feel there is a tions, the local artistry and such. ence achieves catharsis with and students with a comprehensive look great deal to be learned from work- The main reason though, is the how that affects their experience of at how plays are created and give ing on an entirely new work,” says artistic inspiration that having an the show,” says Ramberran. students a chance to try their hands Ramberran. audience provides. The audience While the show is primarily at the many roles in bringing a play The world premiere of a play is a is going to have a great experiabout politics in science and takes to life. unique opportunity for an audience ence and that experience will only place in the 1960s, Ramberran The Pluto Shot is the product of to see something truly distinct and become more exciting as our audiargues that it ’s still highly collaboration between Smith and reform the way the play is delivered ence grows.” relatable. fellow New Play Development in the future.

Local and low-budget films New film festival will cater to filmmakers needing their “first break” Jodie Layne, staff

E

merging filmmakers and film who shared similar feelings. from industry experts, distributors, students alike will have a new The goal was to create an event and other filmmakers. 1st Break festival to show off their work come that would allow filmmakers to get wants the event to help students learn this May. Cleo Leslie, Nigel Webber, their work seen and out there with- that they can become professional and Scott Angus are the trio behind out having to wait for a big budget or filmmakers and provide the tools to 1st Break Film Festival. years of experience. make the transition.

“Another festival had the name “I think when you first graduThere are panels planned on First Steps, which we wanted, mostly ate from school, there is a lot to everything including how to get a so I could interview filmfilm funded, doing the makers on steps,” says film festival circuit, and “Sure, it’s easier to stay at home, Leslie jokingly. the relationship between The festival will be actors and filmmakers. but it’s so much more rewarding a celebration of the art Leslie says she doesn’t of low-budget, amateur want to name-drop yet, to go out and create something.” films. but will be releasing the Inspired by their visit names of people on the to the Gimli Film Festival this past be learned from having your work panel shortly in a video. summer, Webber and Leslie decided watched and seeing how people “You send emails to people and they wanted to participate in a simi- respond to it. When you’re so close expect people to turn you down, but lar event, but knew that their films to a product, you can’t necessarily see the response has been so positive,” weren’t quite at a level to be included if the ideas are being translated or if says Leslie. “You know, you have yet. Despite co-producing a film for there are any gaps,” says Leslie. an idea and you think it’s great but Winnipeg on Demand, shooting the There are many filmmakers who you really have to put yourself on the Rainbow Trout and Big Fun music graduate from school and are not sure line to put it out there and get people festivals, and filming some of the how to make a career out of their excited.” most buzz-worthy bands in Winnipeg, degree; the film festival won’t just Leslie says that this type of supthey knew that they weren’t yet ready exhibit low-budget work, but it will port is typical of the film community and that they had filmmaking peers also provide instruction and insight in Winnipeg and one of the best parts

of planning the festival is getting to work with people she admires.

“Even if you’re not completely immersed in the film community, you start shooting stuff and people get interested. They don’t have to be nice and give you the time of day, but they do.”

Leslie and Webber want the festival to reflect the inclusive nature

of the industry and Leslie says that the festival is going to be like a “big hug.”

1st Break is going to give their audience the chance to see emerging filmmakers before they make it big.

“Think of how awesome it would [have been] to see David Lynch’s shorts he was producing as a 20-yearold. It would have been some pretty crazy, messed up stuff and these people are right at that age. They’re the next batch of filmmakers to come out of the city and this really gives you a chance to see what’s happening before it happens,” says Leslie.

While trying to carve out a film career for themselves and trying to plan a film festival definitely keep the trio more than busy, Leslie says it’s worth it to see the community being formed and the buzz around the event building.

“Sure, it’s easier to stay at home, but it’s so much more rewarding to go out and create something.”

For more information, check out www.1stbreakwinnipeg.com.

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

17

Diversions

emilie st. hilaire

silvana moran

curtonbummings.tumblr.com

PHOTO —of the—

WEEK

Ditchball 2013

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

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

18

Sports

Sometimes, life's a ditch Architecture students continue to celebrate Ditchball tradition Marc Lagace, staff

“It’s a bit like playing hockey or soccer in a ditch, I guess.

It’s an activity, a faculty activity, but you could call it a game or a sport.

It’s whatever you want to make of it.” – Verne Reimer, Ditchball pioneer

F

or the 35th year in a row, students from the faculty of architecture congregated around an icy ditch carved right through a huge mountain of snow located just south of the Russell Building.

This annual tradition is entirely unique to the University of Manitoba, and is called Ditchball.

Verne Reimer, a member of the graduating class of ’79, was one of the 16 architecture students behind the creation of Ditchball. He explained that the genesis of the sport occurred during a trip up to Hecla Island in 1976, when a combination of boredom, an icy ditch, and too much free time led to an impromptu game of ditch shinny/soccer with a group of architecture students kicking a big clump of dirt around to pass some time.

Later, Reimer and a group of likeminded people decided to elaborate on that spur-of-the-moment activ-

ity as a theme for an annual winter festival that would serve as a faculty social event.

“As part of the winter festival, we needed a signature event,” Reimer explained. “So we sort of went back

in time a bit and said ‘well, how about that ditch? Why don’t we make that something?’”

And so, a small group of guys got together to brainstorm a small set of rules that would come to define

Ditchball.

The goal of the game is for a team of five to get the oversized ball, formerly called the rhombicuboctahedron on account of its 24 sides, through to the other end of the ditch, where one member of their team waits on a bridge over the ditch to grab the rhombicuboctahedron. That’s good for one point.

The team with the most points after two 10-minute halves moves on in the tournament.

There are only a few rules: all players must wear a helmet (most are clad in full hockey gear), participants will not strike one another, and any action deemed too violent by the referees may result in ejection from the game or the tournament itself.

As one of the organizers of the 2013 tournament, Aaron Pollock explained that the tradition has become so ingrained in the fabric of the faculty and the school, that

the folks from the physical plant who clear the snow from campus know just where to dump it, and help to clear out the ditch.

“I think it’s really important (to preserve the tradition),” Pollock stated, adding, “This faculty itself is very unique, and that culture is a big part of it.”

Reimer, who was on campus to officially open the tournament, is proud to see that the tradition and culture he had a hand in creating is still going strong.

“It’s fantastic. For anything to go this long is pretty neat.”

“I hope it continues as long as the faculty continues and the University continues,” said Reimer, “I think it’s got proven lasting power so far, and so long as people find it interesting they’ll continue doing it.”

Photo by Marc Lagace

Happy International Women’s Day

Greg Selinger

Jennifer Howard

Ron Lemieux

MLA for St. Boniface MLA for Fort Rouge MLA for Dawson Trail Premier of Manitoba 204-946-0272 204-878-4644 204-237-9247 JenniferHoward.ca Ron-Lemieux.ca GregSelinger.ca

Christine Melnick

MLA for Riel 204-253-5162 ChristineMelnick.ca

Erna Braun

MLA for Rossmere 204-667-7244 ErnaBraun.ca

Theresa Oswald

Jim Maloway

MLA for Elmwood

Kerri Deanne Irvin-Ross Crothers

204-415-1122

JimMaloway.ca

MLA for Fort Richmond MLA for St. James 204-415-0883 204-475-9433 KerriIrvinRoss.ca DeanneCrothers.ca

Greg Dewar

Erin Selby

MLA for Seine River MLA for Selkirk 204-482-7066 204-255-7840 TheresaOswald.ca GregDewar.ca

MLA for Southdale 204-253-3918 ErinSelby.ca

Kevin Chief

MLA for Point Douglas 204-421-9126 KevinChief.ca

Dave Sharon Gaudreau Blady

MLA for St. Norbert MLA for Kirkfield Park 204-261-1794 204-832-2318 DaveGaudreau.ca SharonBlady.ca

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 24 March 6, 2013

Sports

19

Triumph after tragedy Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s incredible return to the KHL Adam Peleshaty, staff

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eptember The team chose not to play in veterans such as forwards Alexei where Lokomotiv won 5-2, a vic- history to go undefeated in overtime the KHL for the 2011-12 season, but Kalyuzhny and Mikelis Redlihs, tory celebrated by KHL fans all and shootouts in a season (10-0). The 7, 2011 was the saddest instead joined Russia’s top minor as well as forward Niklas Hagman over Russia. They made their emo- team played Severstal Cherepovets in league, the Major Hockey League who played 770 games in the NHL. tional debut at home against Atlant the first round of the playoffs and the day in hockey history.

(VHL), mid-season with a make- On defence, Vitaly Vishnevski, who Moscow on Sept. 16. The home teams exchanged 2-1 wins in the first On that shift roster. played seven seasons with Salei for team lost 2-1, and despite the new two games. In game three, Severstal This season, Lokomotiv made its the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, pre-game tradition of three bell tolls scored with 33 seconds left to win day, the plane carrying the return to the KHL, but the effort returned for a second stint with to remember the victims, the game 3-2 and in game four, the longest in members of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of to field a winning team, yet alone a Yaroslavl. The team also signed returned a sense of normalcy lost KHL history, Sanford made a recordRussia’s Kontinental Hockey League competitive one, would require one of Swedish national team defence- by the disaster. After the loss, the breaking 80 saves but Severstal won crashed on takeoff from Tunoshna the greatest rebuilding projects in the man Staffan Kronwall and former team went on a six-game winning 3-2 in triple OT. Lokomotiv came Airport near the city of Yaroslavl. No history of professional sports.

Winnipeg Jet Mark Flood. In goal, streak and forward Daniil Apalkov, back with a 3-2 win in game five, but one from Lokomotiv onboard surFirst, they needed a head coach, Lokomotiv signed former KHL All- who played on the VHL team last was eliminated from the playoffs in and they found one in Tom Rowe, Star Vitaly Kolesnik, as well as former season, was named KHL Rookie game six. vived the accident.

Among the deceased were NHL a former assistant coach with the AHL All-Star Curtis Sanford. Eight of the Month for September. With Lokomotiv Yaroslavl was not the veterans Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, Carolina Hurricanes. Then, an players from Lokomotiv’s VHL team Varlamov’s 1.74 GAA (goals against first sports team to be involved in an Karlis Skrastins, Josef Vasicek, and entire roster of players was needed. also made the jump to the KHL. A average) and Anisimov eventually air disaster, and other teams who Karel Rachunek, as well as its new The KHL helped out by holding a short time later, they were aided by scoring 29 points in 36 games, the were affected eventually returned head coach, Brad McCrimmon. Two draft made up of unprotected players the NHL lockout with three players team won 22 of its first 27 games. to their previous levels of success. players from Russia’s 2011 World from other KHL clubs. The league joining the team: Colorado goalie However, as the NHL lockout However, this team is one of the rare Junior gold medal winning team, also waived Lokomotiv’s limit of Semyon Varlamov, Florida defence- ended, the team’s play tapered off. ones to become so good so quickly.

Daniil Sobchenko and Yuri Urychev, import players and even offered an man Dmitri Kulikov, and Columbus Lokomotiv went 12-13 afterwards, but People may remember Lokomotiv both 20, also died. automatic playoff spot, which the forward Artem Anisimov. it was good enough for fourth place for tragedy, but they should also be In an instant, an entire hockey team declined.

The team began the season with in the Western Conference and they remembered for victory. team was gone.

The team proceeded to sign KHL a road trip starting in Novosibirsk, made history as the first team in KHL

Bombers content to suck again GM Joe Mack and Co. have done little to improve team in off-season Derek Gagnon, staff

W

hile the Bombers are all set to move into the new Investors Group Field on the University of Manitoba campus this summer, the Bombers’ front office has yet to make any significant off-season moves that might help put more butts in those extra seats.

General Manager Joe Mack and company have sat on their hands thus far, as other teams beat them to the punch on numerous opportunities that could have helped to improve a team that finished last season with a record of 6-12 and did not make the playoffs. When a team misses the playoffs, especially in a league like the CFL where six out of the eight teams make it to the post-season, it is safe to say that changes need to be made to ensure it does not happen again in the proceeding season.

Rebuilding is especially important with the team moving into a brand spanking new stadium; a revamped,

competetive team would give fans paying higher ticket prices an incentive to come out to the stadium.

Nobody really wants to see a crappy football team taking the field week after week, but the front office seems to think that that’s a perfectly fine strategy.

This off-season has seen the Bombers lose two defensive starters, as defensive end Jason Vega

departed for the NFL and Marcellus Bowman headed for greener pastures in Hamilton just days after Joe Mack said that they would work out a deal with the linebacker.

What did the Bombers do to replace these players? They added a backup offensive lineman and Canadian safety Cauchy Muamba, the brother of current Bomber linebacker Henoc Muamba. Safety

is a position where the Bombers already had a star Canadian player in Ian Logan, so the acquisition was questionable.

Meanwhile, a number of viable free agents got scooped up by other teams for positions that the Bombers could have benefitted from a significant upgrade in. Meanwhile, almost every team made splashes in the off-season to improve their squads, as division rivals the Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and the defending Grey Cup Champion Toronto Argonauts took steps to improve their clubs. The Bombers have either remained at the status quo, or have actually gotten worse, depending on your point of view.

The position of quarterback was a glaring weakness for the Bombers last year, and for a position as important as QB, it seemed only logical that the Bombers would try to improve there. The big target this off-season

for a team looking for a QB was B.C. Lions backup Mike Reilly. The Bombers were reportedly interested, but not enough to outbid Edmonton, who obtained the QB via trade. Thus the Bombers remain with an injury-prone Buck Pierce, uninspiring Joey Elliott and Alex Brink, and the untested Justin Goltz. None of those names put much hope in the hearts of Bomber fans that this season will be any better.

Sure, the new Investors Group Field will be nice, with its bigger seats, cupholders, and state-of-theart video screens. But all of that stuff will only satisfy Bomber fans for so long before, once again, they demand that the team actually try to win their first Grey Cup since 1990.

illustration by F_Quadrata

The 2013 Manitoban Hockey Pool 1.

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Obie Return of the Kings Bombers HoneyNutChelios cptwish Puckeaters fishinabarrel Beautiful Bettman 1960 yankees

347.00 341.50 336.50 334.50 332.50 326.50 323.50 323.00 321.00

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Team Discovery Channel Don't cry, I was Olli Jokinen Winnipeg Unchained Teemu's Salami The Whale Tale Beans The Hershey Dee's heydiddlediddlerayriceupthemiddle Wardo's Winners

319.00 315.50 315.50 315.00 312.50 310.50 309.00 308.00 308.00

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SAS allstars The Jack N' Hoff Team Captain Morgan's Booty Newfs Team Blue Ivy Easy A C-schell

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Sports

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 24 March 6, 2013

Hockey prophets

To access more predictions scan code to the right.

Five bold predictions for the second half of the NHL season Marc Lagace, Derek Gagnon, Ryan Harby, staff

Chicago’s on fire It’s hard to determine exactly when the Chicago Blackhawks will suffer their first regulation loss; through 22 games, they’ve only lost three games in extra time, so far amassing 41 points. As of press time, they will host the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche to play in backto-back games, and their incredible streak could very well come to an end this week. Nevertheless, I predict that, with 26 games remaining, the Chicago Blackhawks will lose no more than 10 games in regulation this season.

That is to say, the Chicago Blackhawks will pick up points in at least 39 games this season, if not more. They would also have to be any sane person’s Stanley Cup pick at this point, as they’ve yet to show any crack in the armour and should run away with the #1 seed in the west.

– Marc Lagace

– Derek Gagnon

Cup comes home I figure someone has to do it, so I’ll go ahead and make a whopper of a prediction. THE word, the big one, The return of Redmond the queen mother of predictions. I Zach Redmond was enjoying a am saying that a Canadian team will solid rookie year for the Winnipeg win the Stanley Cup. Why? Because Jets, earning four points in eight 20 years is quite long enough. Four games as a defender and slowly Canadian teams currently sit in a cementing a spot on the Jets roster playoff position (Montréal, Ottawa, when the unthinkable happened. In Toronto, and Vancouver), while a gruesome example of how quickly Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Calgary things can go wrong, Redmond had are not far out of the hunt. The odds his femoral artery and popliteal vein have not been this high since the few cut by the skate blade of a teammate years in the early nineties when the while working out near the end of Quebec Nordiques were around and a Jets practice. Quick thinking and there were eight Canadian teams. action saved his life, but his season is The two teams most likely to over as he works on his recovery. accomplish the feat are the Canadiens My prediction here is that and the Canucks, as they are at or near Redmond makes his recovery and the top of their respective positions, plays for the Jets next year. The extent and have the depth on their rosters of the injury is what makes this bold required to make a lengthy playoff in my mind, as it very well could run. Vancouver has the Sedin twins mean his career is over. However, my and a two-headed monster in net, as faith in modern medicine and his Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider hockey abilities make me believe that vie for playing time. Montreal has a he will return to the ice, play, and win healthy Andrei Markov, P.K. Subban, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and backstopper Carey Price trying for the 2013-2014 NHL season. The to end Montreal’s longest streak Masterton Memorial Trophy is given without a Cup. annually to the player who best exem– Derek Gagnon plifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

An original six cup final Specifically, I think Chicago and Boston are going to steamroll their way into the Cup Final, but in order to better my odds I’ll say this will be the year of the original six team.

As of print time, all six of the original six NHL teams are well situated for a playoff spot (only New York sits one point out but has games in hand).

The reason I make this pick, though, isn’t because I’m hot for NHL history, it’s because in a shortened season players who know their roles, and teams who have an established identity will hold a distinct advantage when all the chips are down.

Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and New York all have the same coaching staffs they’ve had for consecutive years and with a season as compact as this you can expect the message to be simple and consistent. Teams like Minnesota or Toronto might struggle with stability down the stretch, but familiarity with the system and the personnel will keep teams like the Bruins and the Blackhawks one step ahead of most right until June.

– Ryan Harby L.A. will make the playoffs, get bounced in round one First, let me address a pet peeve of mine: the Stanley Cup hangover. The idea follows that teams who recently took part in a Cup Final will inevi-

tably struggle the next year simply the playoffs and get bounced as an because the NHL schedule is too eight-seed in the first round. long and grinding for players to adeA lot of people forget that before quately rest and reset their batteries the Kings turned into the worldfor another full season. beaters of the 2011-12 playoffs, they Those in sports media invoke the finished the regular season eighth notion of the hangover with irritating in the Western Conference, almost regularity and the fact of the mat- dead last in team goals-per-game. ter is: it doesn’t exist. Yes, the NHL The competition will be tough to get schedule (regular season and playoffs) into the West playoff picture this year is brutal for the players but what we and L.A. may waste most of their are actually seeing when Carolina energy getting their franchise onto fails to make the playoffs the year the ledger in the first place. Look after they win the cup is evidence for the Kings to let their foot off the that the number of teams realisti- gas and exhale once the post-season cally battling for the Stanley Cup begins, only to have the first seed in is much larger now than it ever was the west punch them in the stomach in the 80s or in the pre-expansion and carry the momentum. dynasty-heavy era of hockey.

– Ryan Harby Having said all that, I think the L.A. Kings will struggle to make Photos by Curtis Bouvier

Bison Briefs 2012-13 season award winners Marc lagace, staff

W

ith their seasons over, several Bison athletes picked up yearend awards and honours.

Stephan Walton was named as 2012-13 Canada West Men’s Basketball Second Team All-Star.

In his second year with the Bisons, Walton, 26, led the team as a cocaptain and with his play on the court, scoring 17.3 points per game and competing in all 22 regular

season games. the right side position. Pischke’s four years at the U of M, as she ers earned All-Star honours. Blair In his final year with the Bison teammate, middle hitter Kenny was named a 2012-13 Canada West Macaulay and Dane Crowley were men’s volleyball team, Dane Rooney, was also named to the Women’s Hockey First Team All- both named 2012-13 Canada West Pischke earned a pair of impressive 2012-13 CIS Men’s Volleyball All- Star. Fifth-year forward Nellie Men’s Hockey First Team Allseason honours. He was selected as Rookie Team.

Minshull was named a Second Stars, while their teammates Jeremy the 2012-13 CIS Dale Iwanoczko On the ice, players from both Team All-Star. Minshull finished Schappert and Tyler Dittmer were Student-Athlete Award winner for the men’s and women’s hockey her Bison career as the second selected as Second Team All-Stars. his excellence in volleyball, aca- teams received year-end honours. leading scorer in Bison team his- Dittmer wrapped up his CIS career demics, and community service.

For the women’s team, defence- tory with 97 points (44 goals, 53 with his best year as a Bison, finishHe was also selected as the 2012-13 man Caitlin MacDonald earned assists). ing sixth in conference scoring with CIS First Team All-Canadian at her third conference selection in On the men’s team, four play- 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists).