Weeeee! Happy Page 14 Manitoba Campers Page 13 Page 16 Controvercial Cinema VolumeUniterUniter 57, Issue 21 S U MMER E D ITION may 29, 2003 THE T HE O FFICIAL W EEKLY S TUDENT N EWSPAPER OF THE U NIVERSITY OF W INNIPEG Big Ol’ Headline goes Here! BY GINNY COLLINS “Right now there is a lot of dryness in has received more precipitation than the “There is always a human risk during a Manitoba,” said Bob Enns of Manitoba north and these dry areas are becoming high forest fire. One Manitoba home has already Campers should be cautious when start- Conservation. “Green acts as a fire retar- risk. burnt down this year because of one,” said ing fires this spring as campgrounds and dant but we’re not seeing a lot of that right According to Manitoba Conservation, Enns, Manitoba Conservation’s Fire parks open. So far this year there have been now.” about 90 per cent of forest fires are caused Program Manager. 38 forest fires in Manitoba, some burning as This season, the fires have hit hardest in by human activity. These include campfires, Where forest fires are concerned, the much as 5000 acres of woodland and reach- brush areas. These grass fires tend to burn crop burnings and sparks made by passing loss of human life is the greatest risk, but ing speeds of 20-30 metres a minute, says very quickly and cover the largest amount trains. A few fires are caused each year by forests themselves need fires as a natural Manitoba Conservation. of space. The southern part of the province lightening but most are caused unnaturally. way of staying healthy and green. Tuition Fees Frozen at 1999 Levels But Burning Issues Still Bother Student Leaders said that while she is pleased to see the The UWSA is pleased with the extended the criticisms. T AMARA tuition freeze, the government needs to take interest-free period given to student loans. “I’ve never heard a university say it’s KING further measures to ensure quality education. But they say there is a case to be made for enough. Of course universities are going to Features Editor “I think the Canadian Federation of extending the deadline – which has now been want more. Everyone wants more,” Students is happy the provincial government increased to one year after graduation – even McGifford said in a telephone interview in has decided to freeze tuition fees for another further. the week following the announcement. This fall’s tuition fees are year. But the CFS believes the tuition fees “It’s good but more can always be The recent budget sees a tax credit of up frozen for the fourth year need to be lower,” Hamilton said. done… I believe it was Diane McGifford to $1,000 for businesses who take on student in a row following the One of the biggest surprises in the budg- who said the freeze can’t last forever,” interns. UWSA President Chris Minaker said, recent provincial budget announcement. The et is the extension of student loan paybacks. Hamilton said. however, that the provincial government is Doer announcement is a small cause for cel- Students now have an extra six months -now Education Minister Diane McGifford tackling the wrong issues. ebration for some, but many student leaders one year in total- to start paying back their said she thinks the budget - particularly the “This is important too. Partnerships are say more needs to be done. student loans without interest charges. This is freeze, an extended interest free loan period important, but until they [government] Following the announcement, UWSA to help alleviate the burden of graduates and the tax credit for co-op education- is addresses the proper issues of funding and Vice-President Advocate Cathy Hamilton searching for their first career employment. good news for university students, in spite of Continued on Page 2 Jazz or Something Like It Festival - page 10 page 2 MAy 29, 2003 the uniter uniter the news Volume 57, Issue 21 May 29, 2003 STAFF Cortney Pachet News Editor CFS Backs Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Court of appeals, the province’s highest court. The Canadian Federation of Students has BY SCOTT DE GROOT Tamara King Pitfield maintained that his decision was justi- applauded the BC Court of Appeal on its deci- Features Editor Adding to the list of Canadian courts to fied under the Canadian Constitution. However, sion. CFS has taken a strong position maintain- Jonathan Tan make similar decisions, on Thursday, May 1st, the court of appeals overturned the ruling, put- ing that homosexuals should enjoy equality in Focus Editor the BC court of appeals ruled in favour of same ting an end to the matter on May 1st. society, including the right to marry. The feder- sex marriage. Similar decisions on same-sex marriage ation has initiated a lobbying and letter writing Michelle Kuly The ruling stated that current laws prohibit- have been made by Superior courts in Ontario campaign to the federal government and sup- View and Culture Editor ing same sex marriage are illegal under the and Quebec, both of which ruled that existing ported Svend Robinson’s private members bill charter of rights and freedoms. The court federal marriage restrictions are unconstitution- to change existing marriage laws. Andrew Buck defined marriage as a loving union between al. The federal government has decided to “Same-sex couples are entitled to the same Sports Editor two partners of whose sex is irrelevant. It also appeal those rulings while it conducts its own rights, privileges, and protections entitled to rejected the assumption that the ability to pro- investigation into the matter. their heterosexual counterparts,” said Summer Ginny Collins duce children is a defining attribute of mar- According to federal common law, mar- McFayden, the BC CFS chairperson. Beat Reporter riage. The ruling gives Ottawa a deadline of riage is defined as ‘the union of one man and “Hopefully this ruling will send a message to July 12, 2004 to enact new legislation on the one woman’, but the federal standing commit- other provincial governments and the federal Andriy Michalchyshyn matter. The federal government has yet to tee on justice and human rights is reviewing government that it’s not a radical thing to do to Photo Editor decide whether it will appeal the decision. this definition. The committee is holding a allow people who want to get married to marry. This latest legal challenge began after BC series of public meetings across the country to There shouldn’t have to be such a targeted cam- Eszti Nagy Supreme Court Justice Ian Pitfield ruled that listen to Canadian’s views. paign. Its unfair that lesbian and gays have to Distribution Manager the legal definition of marriage should be The committee recently stopped in spend so much time just to have the same exclusive to heterosexuals in 2001. The ruling Steinbach to gauge public attitudes, but like the rights.” Stu Reid was challenged later that year when eight committee members themselves, Manitobans CFS plans to continue its campaign until Production Manager homosexual couples took the matter to the BC were split nearly 50/50 on the issue. the federal government takes action. Ted Turner Advertising Manager Matt Hiebert the Uniter Coordinator Headline Headline Yo THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS ruling was challenged later that year when conducts its own investigation into the mat- BY JAMIE MCCULLOCH Allison Besel eight homosexual couples took the matter to ter. Hoving union between two partners of the BC Court of appeals, the province’s high- According to federal common law, mar- Miss Pasjmina Constantinas whose sex is irrelevant. It also rejected the est court. Pitfield maintained that his deci- riage is defined as ‘the union of one man and Scott de Groot assumption that the ability to produce chil- sion was justified under the Canadian one woman’, but the federal standing com- dren is a defining attribute of marriage. The Constitution. However, the court of appeals mittee on justice and human rights is review- Phil Heidenreich ruling gives Ottawa a deadline of July 12, overturned the ruling, putting an end to the ing this definition. The committee is holding Julie Horbal 2004 to enact new legislation on the matter. matter on May 1st. a series of public meetings across the coun- The federal government has yet to decide Similar decisions on same-sex marriage try to listen to Canadian’s views. Dan Huyghebaert whether it will appeal the decision. have been made by Superior courts in The committee recently stopped in Michelle Jones This latest legal challenge began after Ontario and Quebec, both of which ruled that Steinbach to gauge public attitudes, but like BC Supreme Court Justice Ian Pitfield ruled existing federal marriage restrictions are the committee members themselves, Sheri Lamb that the legal definition of marriage should unconstitutional. The federal government Manitobans were split nearly 50/50 on the Jamie McCulloch be exclusive to heterosexuals in 2001. The has decided to appeal those rulings while it issue. Ollie North Chantille Papko Graça Resendes Conference Explores Transgender Issues, Jeff Robson Jenny Western Features Renowned Psychologist The Uniter is the official student newspaper of Throughout her career, Ettner has con- may be sending out TG signals, they will not BY SCOTT DE GROOT the University of Winnipeg and is published by ducted extensive research into the many necessary grow up to become transgen- the University of Winnipeg Students' AND MICHELLE JONES facets of the TG experience. Her studies dered. Association. The Uniter is editorially include investigating the nature of TG rela- On Saturday, the17th, the conference autonomous and the opinions expressed within An extremely important event explor- tionships and the connection between trans- was opened to the general public.To an audi- do not necessarily reflect those of the UWSA.