UWinnipeg Babies & Parents Page 8 Rings, Best of the Kings Year Rundown & Epic Page 12 Things Page 11 VolumeUniter 58, Issue 15 january 8, 2004 THE Uniter T HE O FFICIAL W EEKLY S TUDENT N EWSPAPER OF THE U NIVERSITY OF W INNIPEG Indepth Wesmen Classic Coverage - page 18 page 2 january 8, 2004 the uniter uniter the news Volume 58, Issue 15 January 8, 2004 S T A F F Jonathan Tan Editor In Chief [email protected] Michelle Kuly Managing Editor [email protected] A. P. (Ben) Benton News Editor [email protected] Cheryl Gudz Features Editor [email protected] Jeff Robson A&E Editor [email protected] Leighton Klassen Sports Editor [email protected] Stu Reid Production Manager [email protected] Julie Horbal Listings Editor [email protected] Chandra Mayor Copy Editor From left to right: Carole Wylie Basarab (Vice- Chair of The University of Winnipeg Board of Ted Turner Regents & Chair of the Presidential Search & Advertising Manager Nominating Committee), Richard Graydon [email protected] (Chair of The University of Winnipeg Board of Axworthy to be Regents), Lloyd Axworthy, Denise Ommanney, Sherman Kreiner (Deputy Chair of The Scott deGroot University of Winnipeg Board of Regents), H. Beat Reporter Sanford Riley (Chancellor of The University of Winnipeg & Chair of The University of King of Castle Winnipeg Foundation Board) Kent Davies Diversions Coordinator experience and acumen, commitment to the Although Chris Minaker, President of BY A. P. (BEN) BENTON local and global community, and vision will be the University of Winnipeg Student's The University of Winnipeg Board of joining the remarkable administrative team Association, says that they are excited about M.D.Cohen Regents announced on December 15th that Dr. assembled at the University," states Richard the appointment, some concerns have been Diversions Coordinator Lloyd Axwothy had been appointed the U of Graydon, Board of Regents Chair. raised. W's President to succeed Dr. Constance Rooke Axworthy will begin his 5-year term as An article that will explore Axworthy's Joe Myles as its sixth president. president in July and brings his experience as appointment and the underlying concerns that Distribution Manager "Upon completion of a full and exhaus- an associate professor, director of the Institute the UWSA and the Canadian Federation of tive search, the Board of Regents of The of Urban Studies, and as a Member of the Students have will appear in the next issue of University of Winnipeg is pleased that an indi- Manitoba Legislative assembly and then in the Uniter. Jacquelyn Hebert vidual of Dr. Axworthy's integrity, leadership Federal parliament. Ainslie Smith Guest Photo Editors THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS James Paskaruk, Sheri Lamb,Jeanne IT’S YOUR TURN TO WRITE The Uniter’s Fronda,Paula Medeiros, Vivian Belik, Jenny Western, Kenneth LeValk, Sara If you think people who contribute to the Uniter are only first Loftson, Alana Pona, Jay Mymryk, interested in journalism or journalists themselves, Dan Huyghebaert, Jon Symons, you’re mistaken. Most of our writers are just average (yet General Staff Danene Goulet, JJS Mcleod, Brett Hopper, Avi Braemer, Laura White talented) students who have an interest in writing and see- ing their work in print. Try writing for one of the upcoming Meeting of Cover Photo by: Ainslie Smith themes in the Features section, or pitch me an idea for a The Uniter is the official student newspaper of the University of Winnipeg and is published by the University of Winnipeg story yourself. Themes are open to interpretation. 2004 will be Students' Association. 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Uniter Office, Contact Us February 12: Urban Life and the Environment General Inquiries: 204.786.9790 Advertising: 204.786.9779 Deadline: February 3 ORM14 Bulman Editors: 204.786.9497 Fax: 204.783.7080 Please send all ideas and submissions via e-mail. Student Centre. Email: [email protected] Submissions should be between 800-1400 words in The Uniter Microsoft Word format. Room ORM14 New contributors University of Winnipeg E-mail the Features Editor at: [email protected] 515 Portage Avenue welcome. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9 january 8, 2004 page 3 the uniter news Abandoned CIBC buildings like this one on Grosvenor Avenue and Stafford Street, one of eight recent closures, are appearing all over the city. McLeod said they were not familiar with the study. “Don’t close our bank,” demanded one angry citizen, but after several such embittered requests, McLeod admitted that the decision to close the branch had already been made and that they were merely present to learn how the new super-centre can best serve the public. “We will not reverse our decision,” he said. Martin believes that CIBC are in breach of the terms of the Bank Act, the primary leg- islation governing all banks in Canada. “As far as I’m concerned, this meeting does not con- stitute a public consultation as set forth in the Photob by A.P. Benton Photob by A.P. Bank Act,” he said. Again CIBC representa- tives claimed ignorance of this information. The Bank Act states that banks are obli- gated to provide a minimum notice period of four months before closing a retail branch. New Super-Bank Not CIBC did so, but the legislation also states that community consultation may be required beforehand in certain circumstances. These concessions are so that consumers and com- munities have time to react and find other serv- Satisfactory ice options. “This is a community that, over the last Keewatin and Logan branch, and presumably arguments raised against locating the super- few years, has lost a school, a library, and a A.P. (BEN) the others, were still profitable, the reason for bank at Ellice and Empress. Recent closures grocery store,” said Martin. Given that the replacing them with a new super-centre was will now require that customers from as far Weston-Brooklands branch is, and has been, BENTON that it is strategically situated next to Wal- away as White Ridge and Lindenwoods drive the only financial institution in the community News Editor Mart. McLeod then opened the floor to discus- to the super-centre to do their banking. for 98 years, he feels that the community sion from members of the public. Report in hand, Fred Morris told should have been consulted before the final ank branch closures Judy Mckelvey, Resource Coordinator McLeod that a transportation improvement decision to close was made. “You have a duty have become an of the Keewatin-Inkster Neighbourhood and development review conduced by Stantec to provide adequate reasonable service to Balmost common Resource Council for Seniors, was one of the Consulting Inc. in January 2002, identifies the Canadians,” he said, feeling that Ottawa occurrence among the big five banks over the first coalition members to Empress and Ellice inter- should revoke the bank’s charter. last few years. The Financial Consumer speak. She argues that section as one of the And Martin isn’t the only politician who Agency of Canada (FCAC), a bank watchdog in an area where 19.5% worst in the area for intends to take the banks to task. MLA for created in 2001, has recorded over 500 branch of the population is over congestion and collision Winnipeg North Centre, Judy Wasylycia-Leis closures among Canadian chartered banks age 55, and 86% of risk. At current traffic believes the issue is getting out of hand. since February 2002, 66 of which were CIBC families have a house- levels the report calls “The CIBC, which will be closing the branches. hold income under $ 50 for $ 3.3 million in last bank in Winnipeg’s north end, did not con- Bank customers are getting frustrated, 000 per year, CIBC’s short-term improvement sult with the community. It did not have the often having accounts relocated to a different closures have further costs and $ 10.8 million nerve, the gall, the will, the belief to actually branch only to discover months later that this isolated them. in future development. pick up the phone, talk to local businesses, branch is closing too. When CIBC announced “This is primarily Although McLeod said local agencies and resident associations to find in November 2003 that it was closing another a pedestrian communi- extensive research had out what the impact would be. It will simply four branches (Polo Park, Tuxedo Park, 1797 ty,” she said adding that been done in choosing a pick up and leave town, leaving the communi- Logan Ave. and 1020 Notre Dame) and con- CIBC’s decision forces new location, he was ty high and dry,” said Wasylycia-Leis in the solidating its staff and services in a new $ 7.5 a dependency on auto- unfamiliar with the House of Commons when CIBC announced it million super-centre at Ellice Avenue and mobiles, creates subur- study, but indicated that was closing the 888 Main branch last fall.