ISSUE 17 2009/01/22 VOLUME 63 Take that, music snobs! Why society loves top 10 lists Arts & Culture page 9 The hibernation cycle of the majestic Winnipegger Cold weather means we toss all (green) caution to the wind and keep our cash in our pockets News page 4 02 NEws The UniTer January 22, 2009 www.UniTer.ca Love reading Do we need God? For those of you crazy Cover Image about bands? a reverend and a enough to try it... “Travelling” winter cycling tips Good! we’ve got student battle it out by you covered Dana Leggett A & C pages 8, 10, 12 CommeNts page 7 sports ANd fitNess page 18 UNITER STAFF News ManaGinG eDitor Stacy Cardigan Smith » [email protected] BUSiness ManaGer James D. Patterson » [email protected] PrODUcTiOn ManaGer Friendly (and generous) Manitoba Melody Morrissette » [email protected] The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, town, said Jennifer Verch, spokes- is a tendency for people to give less Copy anD styLe eDitor compared to the an organization consisting of busi- person for the BIZ. when governments are perceived to Ashley Holmes » [email protected] nesses operating in the downtown, According to Fraser Institute’s be providing more social services. rest of canada, we Photo eDitor currently has collection boxes dis- most recent numbers from 2006, Warkentin said that although Mark Reimer » [email protected] give the most tributed throughout the area so that Manitobans gave 1.14 per cent the province provides services for people can donate their change. of their income to charities, far people, “government funding var- newS assiGnMenT eDitor Rather than having this money above the second place contender, ies from program to program.” Toban Dyck » [email protected] Joe KorNelSeN go to panhandlers, it is distributed Ontario at 0.92 per cent. The impending recession raises newS PrODUcTiOn eDitor BeaT reporTer to various social agencies in the Quebec residents finished last, concerns that donations will fall. Ksenia Prints » [email protected] city. with 0.33 per cent of their income Warkentin was not too worried. The BIZ generally gives to chari- donated to charity. So far, she said Siloam Mission had arts anD culture eDitor Aaron Epp » [email protected] Manitobans can, once again, pride ties whose goals are “to improve But Manitoba citizens’ generos- seen a decline in donations from themselves on being the most gen- safety and confront social issues,” ity may reflect badly on the prov- their corporate sponsors but not Comments eDitor Devin Morrow [email protected] erous province in the country. both concerns that resonate down- ince. According to Cyrenne, there from individual donors. » Manitobans have come on top SPOrts & FiTness eDitor in every report on Canadian char- Jo Villaverde » [email protected] ity done by the Fraser Institute, a hOw are we Listings cO-OrDinator right-wing think tank, since 1996. reaLLy DOinG? Curran Faris » [email protected] Linda Warkentin, communi- “there seems to cations co-ordinator at Siloam BeaT rePOrTer Mission, is not surprised by the be this natural Manitoba: Dan Huyghebaert » [email protected] statistics. idea that you can BeaT rePOrTer “We are very happy with the -4.2% Joe Kornelsen » [email protected] hearts we have seen,” she said depend on your change in amount of donors Operating out of Winnipeg’s between 1996 and 2006 BeaT rePOrTer neighbours in a rural Sandy Klowak » [email protected] Exchange District, Siloam Mission area...manitoba, with provides meals, clothing and emer- +43.8% BeaT rePOrTer gency shelters for people in need. its agricultural past, is change in funds donated Andrew McMonagle » [email protected] Since 2007, the mission has seen between 1996 and 2006 an increase from 27,000 to 40,000 inclined to giving.” donors. –Philippe Cyrenne, university $1,734 CoNTrIBUTORS: Philippe Cyrenne, an econom- of Winnipeg economics professor average donation ics professor at the University of carlen Malinowski, Brooke Dmytriw, Winnipeg, said Manitoba’s propen- Brendan Olynik, andrew Tod, sity to give might be related to its International: J. williamez, alex Garcia, history. Jack Duckworth, amalia Slobogian, “There seems to be this natural 0.76% John herbert cunningham, idea that you can depend on your average percentage of andre crate, ian Bawa, income donated by canadians Kate-Lyn Danyluk, Kelly nickie, neighbours in a rural area,” he said. courtney Schwegel, Jonathan Dyck, “Manitoba, with its agricultural Matt Prepost, Timothy Penner, adam past, is inclined to giving.” 1.66% Johnston, Scott christiansen, Cyrenne also pointed to the sta- average percentage Sagan Morrow, ryan Janz, bility of Manitoba’s population. of income donated by cory Falvo, rob huynh, Because people tend to settle down americans Megan Turnbull, James culleton, in Winnipeg for longer than in antoinette Dyksman, clayton winter, Source: Fraser institute other cities, there is a better under- cindy Titus, chris Friesen. standing of the issues charity can address. RYAN JANZ The Uniter is the official student newspaper of the University of winnipeg and is published by Mouseland Press inc. Mouseland Press inc. is a membership based organization in which students and community members are invited to participate. For more information on how to become a member go to www. uniter.ca, or call the office at 786-9790. The Uniter is a member of the canadian University Press and campus Plus Media Services. BY JOE KORNELSEN SUBMiSSiOn OF ARTicLeS, LeTTERS, GRAPhicS AND Q: WHAT DO YOU GIVE AS CHARITY? PhOTOS ARE WELcOMe. articles must be submitted in text (.rtf) or Microsoft word (.doc) format to editor@ DO YOU THINK THAT CHARITY IS USEFUL OR IMPORTANT? uniter.ca, or the relevant section editor. Deadline for submissions is 6:00 p.m. Thursday, one week before publication. Deadline for advertisements is noon Friday, six days prior to publication. The Uniter reserves the right to refuse to print submitted Amy Letham Richard Ledda material. The Uniter will not print submissions that Ksenia Broda-Milian are homophobic, misogynistic, racist, or libellous. we 1st year science major 5th year education student 1st year science student also reserve the right to edit for length and/or style. I volunteer; I was involved in a I give clothes, like winter gear My family gives old coats and philanthropy committee in high that’s not being used. I think money. Charity gives us an COnTaCT uS » school. Having come from a it’s important because there opportunity to provide directly General Inquiries: 204.786.9790 place where my needs are met are people that need help: to people. advertising: 204.786.9790 I think it’s important for me to people like refugees who Editors: 204.786.9497 help people who need it. don’t have the clothes for the Fax: 204.783.7080 weather. E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.uniter.ca LOCaTIOn » Amy Ogidan Doug Boulton Mona Beardy room OrM14 Self-employed Unemployed university of Winnipeg 515 Portage avenue I give used stuff like clothes Charity is charity. In some I give clothing and food. A lot of and books. I don’t give ways it is good. Sometimes kids use the food banks. It’s very Winnipeg, Manitoba r3B 2E9 money cause I don’t have people use it for a tax credit. useful; in some cases families much right now. I think char- It’s good as long as it goes to really do need that stuff. ity is useful but I try to give to the right people. people that I know personally Mouseland Press Board of directors: who can use the stuff. David eisBrenner (chair), Mary agnes welch, rob nay, nick Tanchuk, Brian Gagnon, Devin King, Meg McGimpsey, Ben Zorn, Kelly ross (UwSa), Scott nosaty For inquiries e-mail: [email protected] Ne w s As s i g N m e N t ed i t o r : to b an dy c k NEws e-m A i l : Ne w s @u N i t e r .c A 03 Ph o N e : 786-9497 www.UniTer.ca January 22, 2009 The UniTer FA x : 783-7080 Province to regulate payday loans local making process, Weihs fears the News Briefs Lenders appeal compiled by carlen Malinowski government’s process may not be as maximum rate decision accessible. WinnipeG offers puppy She worries this shift will set a To neW presiDenT SaNdy KloWaK precedent for undercutting further winnipeg has the ticket to the BeaT reporTer PUB decisions. new member of the Obama family Stan Keyes, president of the — a Labradoodle puppy, one of two hypoallergenic breeds the United States Canadian Payday Loan Association, president-elect has reportedly promised The provincial government maneu- mark representing 20 lenders including his daughter. Money Mart, is glad the govern- eleven of these pups were taken in by vered its way out of a legal tug-of- re i war with payday money lenders mer ment is stepping in. the winnipeg humane Society in December recently by giving itself the official “We have been asking for strong and executive director Bill McDonald has consumer protection in balance written to Prime Minister Stephen harper, authority on capping loan interest proposing one be offered to Obama as a rates. ers out of business. In early January with a strong competitive industry,” gift from the people of canada. The payday loan industry of- the firm was granted permission to The TrUe costs he said. The canadian Press reported McDonald fers small, short-term cash advances argue its case to the Manitoba Court different payday lenders have different “When it comes to the rates, the said arrangements would willingly be with high interest rates. They can be of Appeal. It was also granted a stay interest rates.