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UMFA sets Monday, March 10 as potential strike date
Salary, faculty complement and child care are ‘big issues,’ says UMFA president
Milan Lukes, staff
The University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) has set a potential strike date for Monday, March 10, according to a press release.
The union representing more than 1,300 professors, instructors and librarians has set a bargaining deadline for Thursday, March 6 at 11:59 p.m., with negotiations scheduled for March 3 and 4.
“What we feel is that this is sort of a last push,” said UMFA president Erik Thomson in an interview with the Manitoban on March 1.
Thomson stated that before the strike authorization vote was held from Feb. 5 to 7, which saw 66 per cent of members vote in favour of a strike, the administration’s bargaining team said “there’s absolutely no more money on the table.”
“Funnily enough, once we held a strike vote, they found more money,” he said. “And they found that there actually was a considerable amount more, which is great. They responded to the seriousness that our members feel about this.”
Since the collective agreement between the university and UMFA expired on March 31, 2024, the parties officially entered the bargaining period in January 2024 with active negotiations since October 2024.
On Feb. 19, the university presented a revised fouryear proposal which included adjustments to the maximum salary, such as a $12,000 adjustment to the maximum salary for professor ranks, $3,000 for associate professor and senior instructor ranks and $1,500 for assistant professor, lecturer, Instructor II, Instructor I and librarian ranks.
The revised proposal also included non-monetary offers, such as new language addressing compassionate care leave and new definitions and approaches to in-person and non-in-person course instruction.
as presented in January.
Thomson stated that some “big issues” still remain unresolved — such as salary, faculty complement and child care.
Thomson previously stated that he would like to see the university own up to their stated goal of bringing salaries up to the 25th percentile amongst Canada’s 15 most research-intensive universities.
“By the end of our offer we’ll be at the 25th percentile now, but of course, things are going to keep going up in that time,” he said. Thomson stated he would like to see members at
ing the faculty complement — the number of faculty positions that the university has budgeted for.
“We’d like to see a bit more hiring of professors,” he said. “We think that’s an important one, because we are a research university so having people that do research in their job is important and two, professors tend to do more of the mentoring of graduate students.”
Childcare is also an issue which Thomson said has not been addressed in the latest offer.
“We hope the next week is all-in, intensive bargaining, because we’d really like to get this done”
— Erik Thomson, UMFA president
the 25th percentile for salary at the start of the contract — not near the end.
Despite the new offerings, the general salary increase proposal of 11.25 per cent over four years remains the same
“They have made progress,” he said, “but we would like to get a little bit ahead.”
Thomson stated that another priority is increas-
Thomson said UMFA is seeking childcare with an advanced registration possibility for Mini U programs and daycare spaces at the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses.
“We think that’s particularly important, not only because of the long time that this has been in the collective agreement, but this is a collective agreement that both sides came in with a desire to improve equity at the university,” he said. “We know that
maternity and dealing with young kids often adversely affects women professors […] we’d like them to get some help.”
Thomson said that the bargaining deadline provides for a three-day warning that is needed for strike action under the Labour Relations Act.
“We hope the next week is all-in, intensive bargaining, because we’d really like to get this done,” said Thomson. “I’m not saying it’s a little that [the administration] has to do, but that this is a situation where this week is totally adequate to work out the differences between us and I hope they’re ready to do that.”
“Nobody likes going on a strike,” he added. “I hope the administration recognizes that our membership is serious about some of these goals.”
Since being certified by the Manitoba Labour Board as the bargaining agent for full-time academic staff in November of 1974, UMFA has gone on strike four times — in 1995, 2001, 2016 and 2021.
UMFA members rallied in front of the Administration Building on Jan. 23.
University food bank concert supports students
Inaugural concert night raises funds and food donations
Taycie Adeoti, staff
he U of M’s food bank
Theld their first fundraiser concert, “Rocking with a Cause,” at the John J. Conklin Theatre on campus on Feb. 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The fundraiser featured live music from student performers and community artists, free food, a $500 tuition draw prize and gift baskets valued at $200 each. Tickets were $10 and all profits from the event went toward supporting the U of M food bank.
Anastasiia Bielokolos, an awards officer at financial aid and awards and a supervisor of the U of M food bank, commented on the unprecedented demand for the food bank.
“We have over 600 students a month visiting our services,” said Bielokolos. “This is a really amazing chance for the community to come together, spread awareness and raise more money for our food bank on campus.”
Donations for the fundraiser were accepted by card, cash and non-perishable food items.
Bielokolos considers the food bank’s Instagram page, as well as its ability to showcase student involvement, a major role in connecting the food bank with the university’s community and encouraging others to donate.
The idea for a concert fundraiser was inspired by a colleague and friend of Bielokolos, and was supported by long-term partners of the university, including other sponsors who were fond of the initiative.
Event sponsors included, Aramark, Arts Student Body
Council, Desautels faculty of music, the faculty of arts, Long & McQuade, financial aid and awards, University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU), UMSU Centre for Accessibility Resources and Empowerment and the Undergraduate Psychology Students’ Association.
Bielokolos expressed gratitude toward all supporters, stating that “we wouldn’t be able to have this event without our wonderful sponsors.”
The U of M’s food bank is located on both the Fort Garry campus in room 518 UMSU University Centre and at the Bannatyne Campus through online orders.
Full-time and part-time students are eligible to access the food bank services once every four weeks at no cost.
Donations of canned goods, grains, cereal, oatmeal, jams, coffee, tea, deodorant, body wash, soaps, pads and tampons are some of the items being requested by the food bank.
These goods can be donated in person from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Fort Garry campus and from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., to the UMSU Answers Booth on the main floor of the Brodie Centre at the Bannatyne Campus.
Financial donations to the food bank are accepted online, with the option of contributing once or monthly.
For any further questions, contact the U of M food bank at foodbank@umanitoba.ca. For more information, visit umanitoba.ca/financial-aidand-awards/u-m-food-bank.
photos / Zulkifl Rafah / staff
Feds invest $23M to boost youth employment
Funding to help youth overcome job barriers through training and work placements
Ngozi Okose, staff
In a move to support youth employment, the Government of Canada has announced over $23 million in funding for the Youth and Employment Skills Strategy (YESS) program. This investment will support more than 35 new projects aimed at helping 1,600 youths to break through employment barriers and secure work opportunities, according to a press release.
The announcement was made at Huddle NorWest youth hub in Winnipeg on Feb. 27 by the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, the Honourable Terry Duguid, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, and Kevin Lamoureux, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North.
Martha Peet, an Inuit Elder who has worked with NorWest, led an opening prayer.
Peet said, “the Huddle here in Winnipeg is very important, and I see so many youths come here after school and during the summer, they do crafts, they mix with each other. It gives them the chance to do something together.
“A lot of them are classmates, a lot of them have known each other their whole
lives,” she added. “So, its really important, the Huddle. It remains a big part of NorWest. And it gives the youth a chance.”
The Huddle offers various supports to youth aged 12 to 29, including counselling, workshops, employment support and primary health care.
“Canada is strongest when everyone gets a fair shot at success,” stated Minister Ien.
“Opportunity isn’t a privilege, it’s a right and as a government, we have a responsibility to ensure that every young person has the support they need to thrive.”
“This additional investment will play a huge role in helping youth overcome barriers, gain skills, build the confidence to step into the workforce and shape their own future.”
There are currently four organizations in Winnipeg with YESS projects underway — including NorWest Co-op Community Health. The remaining organizations with the youth-support program include the Elmwood Community Resource Centre, the Momentum Centre Inc. and Pluri-elles (Manitoba) Inc., according to a press release from the federal government.
Additional YESS projects in Winnipeg are set to launch later this year.
These organizations will provide opportunities for 315 youth facing barriers in the city, such as providing them with the skills and experiences they need in order to be successful in the job market. Through the YESS program initiative and funding, young people will overcome barriers to employment through a range of training activities, entailing mentoring, coaching, training, wraparound services and paid work placements in diverse industries.
Duguid highlighted the broader impact of the initiative. “This investment in the Youth Employment and Skills
Strategy is a real boost for youth in Winnipeg,” he stated.
“It’s not just about creating jobs, it’s about giving young people the skills and confidence they need to thrive.
“I’m proud to see these local organizations step up and help shape a stronger future for our community,” he said
According to the Government of Canada, in 2024, youth aged 15 to 24 had an unemployment rate of 13.2 per cent compared to 5.4 per cent for adults aged 25 to 54.
Underrepresented groups face additional challenges, with unemployment rates reaching 16.2 per cent for
racialized youth, 21.5 per cent for Black youth, 17.7 per cent for Indigenous youth and in 2023, 15.8 per cent for youth with disabilities, per the federal government. This additional funding contributes to the government’s $370 million commitment announced in July 2024 for over 200 projects, bringing the total YESS investment to over $393 million for 2024-28. The initiative aligns with the federal government’s goal of creating 90,000 youth job placements and employment support opportunities for the 2025-26 fiscal year, according to a press release.
UMSU election forums
Candidates running in the 2025 UMSU general election had the opportunity to share their visions and aspirations during forums in UMSU University Centre from Feb. 25-27. Voting will take place from March 6-7.
President candidates forum
Vice-president candidates
photo / Zulkifl Rafah / staff
photo / Milan Lukes / staff
photo / Zulkifl Rafah / staff
forum
Community representative candidates forum
Johannson given demerits for pre-campaigning
UMSU presidential candidate cites miscommunication with the CRO
Milan Lukes, staff
U
niversity of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) presidential candidate Robert Johannson has breached pre-campaign election rules, according to a ruling by the chief returning officer (CRO) Jodie Smith.
On Feb. 12, the Johannson campaign made a post to a community bulletin board on Discord requesting nomination signatures — just hours before the nomination period closed. The post was ruled to have breached pre-campaigning election rules, defined as using resources outside of the campaign period (Feb. 24 to March 5) to solicit votes for a candidate.
Students seeking candidacy for a UMSU executive position are required to obtain identifying information of at least 100 nominators who are students of the union.
According to election rules, as part of pre-campaigning, it is prohibited to openly express a specific intention to run or register as a candidate or side through a public forum. It is also prohibited to communicate to groups of more than five members of the union about a candidate’s candidacy from the beginning of the nomination period — both clauses that Johannson was ruled to have breached.
Johannson received a 10-demerit penalty as a result of the violation. The UMSU Election Manual dictates that the CRO will assign demerits to a candidate that has vio -
lated election rules, with a candidate being disqualified from the race if they obtain 50 demerits.
Johannson was previously given a warning for the same offence on Feb. 8 after making a Reddit post, according to a warning email sent by Smith.
The post made to the U of M subreddit read, in part, “I hate asking for this, but 100 signatures is hard to get while remaining within the bizarre and arcane rules UMSU imposes.”
Smith told Johannson in the warning email that the message is not allowed and that “the solicitating for signatures needs to be specifically targeted […] you cannot generally post publicly.”
She added, “I would caution you about commenting negatively about UMSU and the process in general. You are running to work for, and lead, this organization for the next year. Part of being a candidate, is demonstrating the leadership qualities required for this executive position.”
In a statement to the Manitoban on March 1, Johannson said the warning from the CRO led him to believe that posting to a Discord server would be acceptable, “since it’s not exactly a public space.”
“The first thing I’d like to stress is just how vague and difficult to interpret the actual rules around UMSU elections are as a candidate,” he added. “I had assumed that the rule against pre-campaigning only applied to actual campaign-
ing for a campaign before the authorized time, rather than simply seeking nominations.”
In both the Reddit and Discord post, his campaign mentioned that he could not share
further details as that would be against the pre-campaigning rules.
“As of now I recently submitted an appeal on the basis of a miscommunication of the
rules by the CRO,” he stated. Johannson is the first of the 34 candidates running in the 2025 UMSU general election to receive demerits for violating election rules.
Shabir receives demerits for negative campaigning
UMSU candidate describes demerits from presidential forum as ‘harsh’
Milan Lukes, staff
University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) presidential candidate Fatima Shabir has been penalized for engaging in negative campaigning, according to the chief returning officer (CRO) Jodie Smith.
The incident occurred during the UMSU presidential forum on Feb. 25 in UMSU University Centre.
Shabir mentioned on three different occasions that the UMSU executives in the past few years were “incompetent,” per the CRO ruling. The ruling states that in one of those instances, the executive during the past year was singled out.
“Our executive for the past year has been so incompetent,” said Shabir during the forum. “These people are not
going to do anything for you.
I hope you guys understand that.”
Shabir later stated, “we are closer to bankruptcy then ever, and remember, if anything like this happens and the incompetence continues and your finances are going toward the things they shouldn’t be, the only person that is going to be getting bad things from it is you.”
The CRO ruling further states that Shabir was “frequently laughing” when one of the candidates who had been on the executive in the past year was speaking. Shabir is running against Robert Johannson and Prabhnoor Singh who previously served as UMSU vice-president external affairs.
In a statement to the Manitoban after the ruling, Shabir
said, “I apologize if my passion for change was taken as an insult to any specific candidate(s). I did not mean to be critical of my opponents or any other candidate, but instead of an organization which has continued to disappoint the students who pay for its services.
“I think it is important that students-at-large and candidates for UMSU executive positions alike are able to both compliment and criticize the union which is meant to represent us,” she said. “In the forum, I talked about what I have heard other students think are issues with UMSU, trying to elevate student concerns while promoting my solutions to them. I think that criticism is part of a healthy democracy, especially within an election.”
The 2025 UMSU general election nomination package states that negative campaigning is not permitted and will be subject to penalty, including disqualification.
The nomination package defines negative campaigning as materials, comments and/ or advertisements that focus on attacking specific candidates, as opposed to highlighting the merits of one’s own candidacy.
“An example of negative campaigning might include any implication about ‘other’ candidates or campaigns, even if they are not named specifically,” according to the nomination package.
The CRO ruling indicates that candidates running for other positions came to the her after the event “to express their discomfort with this
behaviour.” It also states that candidates expressed “their feelings of fear going into their own forums that something like that could happen to them too.”
Shabir was penalized with 40 demerits — 10 for each instance of negative campaigning during the presidential forum.
“I believe the penalty imposed by the CRO is harsh,” said Shabir. “I have no plans other than to continue in the race in good faith and to abide by the election rules while sharing my platform to students.”
The UMSU Election Manual states that the CRO will assign demerits for violations of the election rules. A candidate will be disqualified if they accumulate 50 demerits.
photo / Milan Lukes / staff
The chief returning officer will assign demerits to candidates who violate election rules, according to the UMSU Elections Manual.
UMSU motion to support UMFA referred to committee
Motion to be voted on by board of directors on March 20, possibly earlier
Milan Lukes, staff
A motion put forward at the Feb. 27 University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) board of directors meeting calling for the union to publicly support the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) has been sent to the governance committee for review.
Motion 0645, which was moved by student-at-large Victoria Romero, called for UMSU to “publicly express solidarity with UMFA and public support of their collective bargaining demands.”
It also asked for UMSU to “officially call on the University of Manitoba administration to accept the UMFA demands of this round of collective bargaining and express official UMSU support for UMFA to the UM administration.”
The motion comes amid continued bargaining efforts between the U of M and UMFA, who have been in active negotiations since October 2024 over a new collective agreement.
After being seconded by Arts Student Body Council UMSU director Gurpahul Kaur, interim board chairperson Yashas Samtani announced that the motion would be referred to governance committee for a twoweek referral period.
“Because the contents of this motion pushes UMSU to take a position, because that is under the purview of governance committee, it would be referred to governance,” said UMSU president Divya Sharma.
Per UMSU’s governance and operations manual, a motion moved by a studentat-large that is seconded will be referred to a relevant
sub-committee at the discretion of the board chair for consideration.
After the referral period, the motion would be reintroduced at the next scheduled board meeting for substantive voting for it to be debated, discussed and voted on, according to Samtani.
Motion not to be voted on until March 20, earlier vote possible
Following the passing of a separate motion directly afterwards, which pushed the next board meeting back one week due to a scheduling conflict, the motion would not be reintroduced to the board until March 20.
Samtani noted that the board chair can expedite the referral period — or waive it entirely — but said that he could not make that call.
“Me not occupying the office of the chair in a permanent capacity, just being here in the interim for the duration of this meeting, [I] do not currently have that discretion or jurisdiction,” he said.
Romero stated she originally submitted the motion as an emergency motion last meeting to the acting chair Christopher Yendt, which was denied and pushed to the current meeting.
The UMSU governance and operations manual dictates that emergency motions may be considered by the board
of directors if the chair rules that the motion is time-sensitive and could not have been brought forward earlier.
“What I’ll do here is just declare a recess of this meeting for 10 minutes while I look over the receipts and the emails and determine whether this motion can be regarded to be initially submitted as an emergency motion,” said Samtani.
“What we decided to do is have this motion resubmitted in an emergency capacity, subsequent to which the acting chair, [Christopher], will implement their discretion to have a special meeting scheduled for next week ideally, on an expedited time frame,” he stated after the recess.
Samtani said that the motion is still referred to governance committee which is expected to operate on the expedited timeframe.
UMFA strike could come as early as March 10
The following day, a press release was sent out by UMFA indicating that the faculty association has set a bargaining deadline of Thursday, March 6 at 11:59 p.m., with a potential to strike starting as early as Monday, March 10. Negotiations between the U of M and UMFA resume on March 3 and 4, according to the press release.
Interim board chairperson Yashas Samtani (centre) seen during the recess at the Feb. 27 board meeting. Samtani called the recess to determine whether Motion 0645 was initially submitted as an emergency motion.
photo / Milan Lukes / staff
Arts Student Group Expo
The Arts Student Body Council and the faculty of arts hosted the first Arts Student Group Expo on Feb. 27 in St. John’s College. The event showcased the creativity of student groups and provided a chance for interested students to learn more about each student group.
photos / Zulkifl Rafah / staff
Research & Technology
The science behind nuclear medicine
Injecting patients with radioactive substances for diagnosis and treatment
Rhea Bhalla, staff
Nuclear medicine involves injecting patients with radioactive substances to create detailed images of their bodies. These images help doctors diagnose various medical conditions.
Sandor Demeter, former member of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission with two decades in clinical nuclear medicine experience, opined that “Nuclear medicine is a fascinating medical specialty.”
Most medical imaging techniques capture structural images of the body by sending energy through the patient in various forms — X-rays for CT scans and radiographs, sound waves for ultrasounds and magnetic fields for MRIs.
Nuclear medicine is different.
“We actually inject small amounts of radiopharmaceuticals, which are handled by the body in a physiologic manner,” Demeter said. “Depending on what we tag to the radiopharmaceutical, we can look at any organ and its function.”
He explained that heart disease and oncology, the study of cancer, are the two largest areas looked at in nuclear medicine. Where other imaging techniques examine the anatomy of body structures, nuclear medicine focuses on physiology, or how those structures function.
After a component of nuclear medicine known as polytron emission tomography (PET) was developed, Demeter was instrumental in building Manitoba’s PET scan program. Since then, PET scans have become a standard of care for lung cancer patients.
“A PET scan would change management in lung cancer patients 40 per cent of the time,” Demeter said. “That’s phenomenal.
“It was much more sensitive in showing where the tumor was, how big it was, had it spread, had it come back, did it respond to therapy — all those things.”
Today, there are two PET scanner machines in Manitoba. Between 15 and 30 patients receive scans every day.
energy than normal body tissues, they use up more of the radioactive sugars. This difference in energy usage is displayed on the medical image, helping doctors identify the location and activity of tumors.
“It’s pretty simple,” said Demeter, “but it’s a game
Beyond medical imaging, nuclear medicine has applications in therapy.
“We can inject a small amount of radioactivity that targets the tissues you want to treat,” Demeter said. “It’s very targeted.”
“We actually inject small amounts of radiopharmaceuticals, which are handled by the body in a physiologic manner”
— Sandor Demeter, former member of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
A PET scan begins by injecting patients with a small, safe amount of radioactive sugar. Because tumors tend to consume more
changer for cancer treatment and helping people figure out what the best path forward is for their treatment.”
Treatment for thyroid problems, for example, involves having patients drink radioactive iodine, as the thyroid picks up 200 times more iodine than neighbouring cells.
New therapies targeting rare neuroendocrine tumors and their receptors are also under development. Prostate cancer is the
subject of promising new research.
A molecular “key” targeting prostate cancer receptor cells can be injected into a patient’s bloodstream. This molecular key will move through the body, searching for and binding to the receptors. Attaching a therapeutic radioactive agent to the key will kill the cancer cells.
This therapy is part of a new branch of nuclear medicine called theranostics.
The term “theranostics” is an amalgamation of the words “therapy” and “diagnostics,” and it describes a process that does both. It uses radioisotopes to first scan a patient’s tumor for diagnosis and then provides targeted treatment for that tumor.
“[These therapies] will be a
game changer, because prostate cancer is so common,” Demeter said. “That’s pretty exciting stuff.”
Nuclear medicine is a small specialty, with only seven certified nuclear medicine physicians practicing in the province of Manitoba.
Increasingly, physicians complete residencies both in nuclear medicine and radiology — a branch of medicine which diagnoses and treats disease using imaging technology. Training in nuclear medicine as well as radiology allows physicians to draw more information from a patient’s medical scans, helping them learn about a patient’s health.
“That’s the evolution of the specialty,” Demeter said.
How genetics shape neurodevelopmental disorders
U of M professor explores the genetic roots of brain disorders
Divyata Gosai, staff
Robert Beattie is an assistant professor of biochemistry and medical genetics in the U of M’s Rady faculty of health science.
Beattie began his undergraduate studies in microbiology at U of M and later joined the science co-op program. One of his first experiences was at the national microbiology laboratory, where he worked on Ebola vaccine development, enhancing his understanding of molecular biology and the significance of virus research.
Beattie studied developmental neurobiology during a co-op term at the Max Planck Institute in Germany.
“It [was] fundamental research and [the] initial experience that set me on this journey to where I am today,” he said.
When Beattie returned to Manitoba, he completed an honours project with Steve Wired, who remains an inspiration and a mentor. Wired taught him key molecular biology skills and the use of advanced technologies in developmental biology.
Beattie then pursued graduate studies in Europe, returning to the lab where he once completed his co-op program.
molecular biology is essential for studying these disorders, he explained. After completing his PhD, he continued his academic journey by pursuing a postdoctoral position in Vienna, Austria, which is a common path in the field of bio -
enzyme FAN1 in conditions like Rett syndrome and Huntington’s disease.
“My past research has been studying neural stem cells and their lin-
brain.”
Beattie continues this research in his current lab, focusing on the genetic factors that con -
“This was split between both the University of Sheffield and the University of Basel in Switzerland. There, I studied neurodevelopment neuro stem cells, and I got to understand why this was a field I wanted to continue with,” he said.
Beattie was drawn to the research due to its potential to benefit many individuals. Defects in neural stem cells can result in conditions such as microcephaly, macrocephaly, autism and psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia.
A solid understanding of
medical sciences.
Beattie credited Simon Hippenmeyer, a professor in the field, for inspiring and mentoring him in the development of advanced technologies used in his lab. Their collaboration resulted in groundbreaking research that brought Beattie back to the U of M, where he established his own lab in the department of biochemistry and medical genetics.
“As
eage in the brain,” he said.
“During my postdoc, we identified some of these regulators that regulate the switch from neurogenic to gliogenic, meaning the production of
those cells over time,” he said. “The mutant cells could be labelled green, the wild-type cells could be labelled red, and then we can watch and see how those cells develop over time in different environments.
“This approach is unique to my lab in Canada.”
Beattie explained that his research also examines what occurs inside a cell when a gene is disrupted. MADM is one of the few technologies that enable the study of health and disease at the single-cell level, making it a powerful tool for research.
In his lab, researchers use this approach to investigate various diseases such as autism, Rett syndrome and schizophrenia, to understand changes occurring at the cellular level.
graphic / Fumnaya Ifeadi / staff
“As we learn more about different diseases or disorders, we begin to realize that there is a lot of cellular heterogeneity,” he explained.
His current research focuses on how large copy number variants contribute to disorders such as microcephaly, autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Additionally, his team investigates neurodevelopmental processes, including the role of the DNA repair
an undergrad student, you have so many opportunities and directions that you can go in, and
it’s
really important to take full advantage of those opportunities at that stage”
— Robert Beattie, assistant professor in the U of M’s Rady faculty of health sciences
neurons to the production of glial. This switch is critical [for] producing the right number of neurons and glial in the
tribute to various neurodevelopmental disorders. His team uses an advanced technique called Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers (MADM) to generate genetic mosaics in mice. This approach traces the lineage of stem and progenitor cells in the brain.
“We can create a mouse [with] a mutant cell for any gene we’re interested in studying, and a wild-type cell for the same gene, and track
“When a tissue is affected by a certain disease, not all cells will respond the same. Some cells might not function correctly while other cells continue to function as normal,” he said. “Using these single-cell technologies, we can now study disease at single-cell resolution, and that’s the future of identifying the cause of cellular heterogeneity in disease. But also if we wish to develop future patient-specific therapeutics.”
Beattie encouraged students to explore research opportunities, as they offer valuable experience and guidance.
“As an undergrad student, you have so many opportunities and directions that you can go in, and it’s really important to take full advantage of those opportunities at that stage,” he said.
Why live music still matters
Concerts offer more than just music and you’re missing out if you don’t attend
Nischal Karki, staff
Good music is just a click away. With headphones or earbuds, you get the best sound from your favourite artist, perfectly tuned to your ears. The sound is clear, crisp and feels like the artist is performing just for you. It’s easy, convenient and incredibly satisfying.
But there’s one thing missing from that perfectly curated experience — the energy of being part of something bigger.
According to Steven Caldwell Brown and Don Knox in their study, “Why go to pop concerts? The motivations behind live music attendance,” concert attendance is often motivated by the desire to physically see one’s favourite artists “in the flesh,” with some individuals driven by the chance to meet the band or “shake hands.”
This sentiment resonates with my own experiences. Whenever I attend a concert, I often pause halfway through, look around, and think, “this is it. This is what happiness feels like.”
Surrounded by people who share the same passion for the music, I feel a warm sense of community — a feeling that captures the emotional fulfillment many concertgoers seek when attending live performances.
Another study also notes that with the rise of technology, people no longer need to attend live concerts to enjoy high-quality recordings of their favourite songs, suggesting that the motivation to attend live music events is driven more by social factors than the music itself. However, even with the convenience of quality recordings, live concerts offer something irreplaceable.
Attending a concert means stepping out of your comfort zone, engaging with strangers and experiencing the collective energy that streaming music simply cannot replicate. Plus, jumping, dancing and moving to the music provides not only an emotional release but also a great workout. The live experience brings people together in ways that recordings just can’t match.
And then, in that moment, it all comes together. This moment won’t last forever. And that thought makes the night feel even more intense — more precious, more real. When the song hits at full volume, and the music fills every corner of the venue, it’s like the whole crowd becomes
one. That’s when it really hits me, “we are all here, living a dream, and it’s something that can never be replicated.”
Not in your living room, not on a streaming app and definitely not on the bus with your earbuds in. While there are obviously a lot of people who want to go to see their favourite artist, some factors such as ticket prices might be overwhelming, making
it harder to experience the magic of a concert. But when you do get that chance, it’s unlike anything else.
totally blow you away. You find yourself thinking, “I had no idea who they were, but now I can’t wait to hear more.”
And then, in that moment, it all comes together. This moment won’t last forever. And that thought makes the night feel even more intense — more precious, more real
I love it when sometimes, the opening act ends up being far better than you’d expect. You walk in thinking they’re just a warm-up, but then they
These unknown bands have a unique way of captivating the audience, often with raw energy and talent that might just steal the show. In a few years, they may become the next big band touring here and there.
For instance, Demi Lovato
opening for the Jonas Brothers in 2008 for their Burnin’ Up Tour, or The Beatles opening for Roy Orbison in a 1963 tour of the U.K. after The Beatles had just released their first album Please Please Me. These examples highlight how attending live concerts can lead to unexpected discoveries, introducing audiences to emerging artists who may become the next big thing in the entertainment industry.
photos / Nischal Karki / staff
Living with your parents in your twenties
The fun house is not so fun
Quinn Mayhew, staff
Living with your parents in your twenties is like being in a carnival fun house without the fun. It feels like you’re constantly trapped or living in a phase of your life that you seem to have outgrown.
For me, living with my parents in my twenties is honestly exhausting. Constantly being monitored while abiding by house rules is so draining. Even though I’m a fullyfledged adult, it still feels like I’m 14.
Honestly, if I had enough money to move out I would have long ago. For me, money has always been holding me back from venturing out into the world on my own. Even though I work two jobs and go to school full-time, I never seem to have enough money to move out, nevermind the fact that I can hardly afford gas to put into my car.
For a lot of students, the reality is that you don’t have enough money to move away for school to go to a university you want to go to out of province, because you can’t afford
it, like me. I am now having the problem of not being able to afford the high cost of living, without including rent and utilities.
Living in Winnipeg is on the lower end of the spectrum for the cost of living in Canada, which is still ultimately unmanageable and very costly. The cost of living in Canada, when specifically talking about being a student in Winnipeg, while trying to move out without roommates, is not feasible in the slightest.
in Winnipeg all my life, and I can tell you that you are not finding a good apartment for anything less than $1,000.
This doesn’t even include groceries, utilities, tuition, books and recreational activities. There is simply no feasible way for a student who works a minimum wage job and without parental help
for a magnitude of reasons. Whether it’s family obligations, medical issues, transportation problems, there is a list of reasons why students who want to move out can’t.
If I had enough money to move out I would have long ago [...] Even though I work two jobs and go to school full time, I never seem to have enough money to move out
Being able to afford rent is key to moving out. On top of that, maintaining a healthy diet and keeping up with internet bills to do schoolwork as well as covering recreational activities can be incredibly difficult. Juggling these things while you’re going to school full-time is almost mission impossible.
Overall, for Canadian students, rent comes between $500 and $4,000. I have lived
Beyond a title
Where modern leaders fail
Thandeka Katsika, staff
In our society, leadership is often synonymous with a position or title.
Whenever I think of modern leaders, I immediately associate them with the office in which they were elected rather than any positive impact they may have had on the community.
I acknowledge that on the surface this seems fair. You cannot really be a leader if there is no post that requires a leader, right? Not really.
The way I see it, we did not come up with the concept of having someone in charge to simply have someone in charge. I believe the concept of leadership comes from a desire to effect positive change in our communities. To inspire and encourage progression in society and ultimately improve the lives of the people, and the environment.
Despite this being the primary goal of leadership, so often we neglect the concept of positive change and only focus on the title.
When I think of great leaders, Martin Luther King Jr. is
the first person who comes to mind. A Baptist minister and civil rights activist who delivered one of the greatest speeches in history, “I Have a Dream,” and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the rights of African Americans.
Even now, years after his death Martin Luther King Jr.’s work continues to inspire people all over the world to take up the fight for equality. Most people know these things about him already. What people may not know is that he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization whose aim was to provide new leaders for the rapidly growing civil rights movement. I do not think anyone remembers this great man as the president of a leadership conference. We do not look back at his life and fixate on the titles he was given. Instead, he is remembered for what he did. The powerful and positive impact he had on his community and the rest of the world.
The courage and passion
to be expected to move out, (without eight million roommates) to be able to afford the cost of living.
The reality is that being a student is hard, add the cost of living on top of the student experience, and things get infinitely more stressful and time-consuming when you need two jobs to afford the bare necessities.
Although the cost of living for students is astronomically high, the reality is most students cannot move out
Moving out or trying to move out is a tiring experience and family might not make it any easier. While some people might have a great at-home life, that’s not the reality for many students trying to move away from their home or specifically their parent(s).
Moving away might be a solution to a bigger problem in my experience, since family members can become overbearing, invasive and toxic sometimes. Although this might have been going on throughout your life, you might just realize you’ve outgrown dealing with this behaviour and are no longer a child who has to put up with this behaviour, but must, due to financial strain.
More and more often people are cutting off their toxic par-
ent after leaving home. This is often referred to as “estrangement.” In the BBC article titled “Family estrangement: Why adults are cutting off their parents,” Maddy Savage, explains that, “the term is broadly used for situations in which someone cuts off all communication with one or more relatives, a situation that continues for the long-term, even if those they’ve sought to split from try to re-establish a connection.”
There are a multitude of reasons why someone wants to leave home, or maybe can’t, either financial strain or a hard home life or perhaps you’ve outgrown this stage of your life. Everyone has their reasons for wanting to leave. I think any reasons for wanting to leave home or not leave home are valid reasons. I think you know when you’re ready to leave, but there’s a financial strain to moving out that makes it difficult for students to thrive in a system that’s set up for us to fail.
displayed in the life of Dr. King are evidence to me that he was not simply after upliftment from those around him. Instead, he aimed to uplift his community.
The same can be said of other greats in the history of leadership, such as Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. These men sacrificed their comfort, safety and even freedom to lead those around them and fight for what they believed in. It is clear to me that their actions were not motivated by receiving recognition or a fancy title, but instead they were working to exact change.
I feel that this selfless attitude has enabled many of the greatest leaders in history, and unfortunately, is becoming increasingly rare in today’s society. There seems to be more emphasis put on having a title than there is on using that title to help others. I find that some of the biggest scandals and controversies of our generation have surrounded men and women who hold the most important titles in their coun-
tries. I believe this is the consequence of power-hungry leaders. People who are concerned with having a position think the job is done once they have been given that title. They have accomplished their goal, because their intention was not to assist those around them, it was to win a title.
I am not saying desiring a title is wrong. But a position does not make a good leader,
good character does. Great leaders are not defined by a successful campaign, a coveted title or the strength of their position, but by how they can inspire and influence change for the people they lead. True leaders devote themselves to the improvement of the lives of others and not their own.
graphic / Teegan Gillich / staff
To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column, and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. In Straights, like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any row or column. But rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. Each compartment must form a “straight.” A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how “straights” are formed.
