The Bottomline

Voluntary Action: A Needed Reaction

2010-03-02T18:18:00.000-08:00

5 Days for the Homeless is almost here. The campaign that raised $13,000 for Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY) is returning to the U of M for the second time with the same mission: to educate, energize, and fundraise for the cause of homelessness. In March of 2009, four students braved the cold weather and slept outside for 5 nights. It was a difficult but profound experience for each of them, and proved an old adage to be true: nothing that is truly worth knowing can be taught. That being said, few, including the participants themselves, believe that living outside of University Centre for 5 days can in any way parallel the daily experience of Winnipeg’s estimated 10,000 homeless men and women. That’s why this campaign is merely one tiny part of a much broader effort that’s required to combat homelessness and the underlying scourge of poverty.

In many ways, the problem is one of identity. While a disease like cancer may strike indiscriminately without respect to class, gender, or ethnicity, poverty and homelessness tend to be cyclical in that they stay within certain demographic regions. Those who are born poor tend to stay poor, just as those born into middle and upper-income families tend not to become poor. This creates somewhat of a disconnect, an ‘us’ and ‘them’ mentality wherein those who live prosperously cannot and do not identify with those who live in poverty. As such, those with a vested interest in improving the situation are least able to, and those with the greatest means are less motivated to do so.

The role of this campaign is to help bridge that gap, and in so doing, the vision becomes a little clearer. This campaign recognizes the value of people: both those whom this event is intended to serve, and those who bring their passion and enthusiasm to alter the current state of affairs. For many charity campaigns, the primary measure of success is the amount of monetary donations collected. Though fundraising is of great importance, 5 Days for the Homeless is not focussed simply on raising money. The strength of this campaign rests on its ability to motivate and inspire people – to create an awareness that sparks active community involvement, not only in the short-term, but on a continuing basis. The hope is that the noble actions of a few students can help instil a charitable ethic, or present an opportunity to nurture one that already exists.

The problem we are facing is one of inaction, and therefore what’s required is a well coordinated and concerted effort. JFK said it best: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” 5 Days for the Homeless is one of many great ways in which you can get involved and become a part of the solution. I believe that solution to be nothing more, and nothing less, than the energy and dedication that’s drawn from human compassion.

Want to volunteer?

Contact us at: 5days.2010@gmail.com

Are We Over-Medicated?

2010-03-02T18:17:00.000-08:00

These days I can’t help but notice an epidemic quietly taking hold of the people of this country, and of this world. There have been a few high profile incidents covered by the media but have soon been forgotten. I want to throw off the silk scarf that is clouding our vision, and expose a dark issue that needs more attention.

Are we as a society over-medicated?

When did it become ok to try to fix, hide, or blanket our raw emotions? It is hard to believe that over the last 100 years human beings have developed the thousands of new diseases and problems that are now being treated and diagnosed. Perhaps we haven’t changed, but our perspective has. For example, these days if someone avoids large crowds, is quiet and chooses not to partake in mass socializing, it is thought to be a social disorder causing serious developmental problems and needing medical treatment straight away.

50 years ago it was called being shy.

Perhaps there is a certain comfort in being “diagnosed”. Rather than dealing with certain qualities that make one unique or different, they can now be rest assured that they have a real problem and it can be fixed. The growing obsession of being fixed is slowly eroding the ability to accept oneself as is. I agree that there are illnesses and problems that need treatment, but I don’t agree that the treatment should always be in the form of pills.

Medication seem to be the new band aid fix in order to avoid solving the root cause of issues. Things like depression, anxiety and mood disorders are often treated with medication so strong, that the side effects are often worse than the initial illness. But of course treating those issues with therapy and counseling take patience and time: both of which we have so very little of these days.

Today society is preoccupied with efficiency, speed and agility. We need things done yesterday, and are always late for something. But this obsession with efficiency has spilled over into our health care system, causing quick fixes for problems that need time, and serious attention. The growing addiction to prescription drugs is becoming more apparent and dangerous as seen by the high profile deaths of Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, and most recently Brittany Murphy, suffering cardiac arrest at the young age of 32.

The world might never slow down, as it has become infatuated with achieving, producing, inventing, developing, and perfecting. But the problems we have created are also growing at twice the speed. And unless we slow down, and analyze the effectiveness of how we treat those problems, we only become more vulnerable.

Event Planning 101

2010-03-02T18:16:00.000-08:00

No matter what path in life you choose to follow you are probably going to be in charge of the organization and execution of something. It may be your wedding, a friend's birthday, a loved one's funeral, anything. It is a basic human skill that most people have. This is good for personal social lives, but terrible for the world of professional event planning.

The fact of the matter is, thinking "I did my wedding" or "My parties were always the best in high school," does not translate into success on a grander scale. This belief also causes those "casual-event-planners" to look down on those of us who have done larger ones. To lay it out there: As the numbers increase you don't just have to buy more chips and dip.

I have been involved in planning large fundraising efforts, conferences, banquets, and a number of other events and I wish that I could have documented all the steps necessary. Turns out, though, that it is impossible to record every little thing needed, since there is always something which can be done or improved. The constant need for innovation alone is enough to drive you crazy!

I'm not going to attempt to make a list/timeline of everything needed (probably impossible as things aren't linear), but I will go over a few very important points to consider during every event planning process...

Determine the Purpose

Everything happens for a reason. Events are no exception: None of them happen without a reason. It could be as simple of hosting a dinner for friends whom you haven't seen in a while, but there is still a purpose there. Even if you don't consciously think about the purpose, be assured that there always is one.

Addressing the larger scale purpose is vital. Are you raising awareness for a product? Addressing shareholders? Is it a fund raising effort? Without purpose (and a correct one at that) you will not be able to accomplish the goal(s) of your event, wasting lots of time and potentially lots of money.

A sub-heading of this would be managing expectations. You need to have a budget as well as ensure you are only making promises you can deliver.

Identify the Stakeholders

Like it or not every single event is a business venture, no matter what the size or timeline. Because of this the needs of all interested parties must be taken into consideration. This extends far beyond the attendees.

There could be corporate partners who have paid to be involved with the event and you better make sure that their goals are accomplished as well (this would also fall under setting realistic expectations). There is also the venue, any presenters at the event, etc.

Once they are identified take them into consideration for all decisions. I know it's been said that "You can't be everything to everyone," but as an event planner you must be.

Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate

I can't stress this enough. From the venue, to the marketing costs, to speakers, to centerpieces everything can be negotiated. Do this even if you have a huge budget! If you have lots of cash to work with and you still negotiate it just means you can do more, which is always good. This leads into...

Doing the Extra Things

This is the most vague and hardest part to master. Most every event wants to stick out in people's minds. In order to do that you have to focus on the extras that will make your event "pop". The main things should be done, regardless (having food at a gala dinner), but no one's going to take notice of all that. It's expected. It's everything after the job description which counts.

Notice that I don't say "the little things" like others may/do. They can be small, for sure, but those things often are left unnoticed. Doing a great number of little things is "bringing the event to par". For example people won't notice or comment if their cutlery is perfectly aligned, but they will if it is not. This is an extra you have to take care of, but it's not the "pop" you need.

The extra that I'm talking about is something far more unique. If you're planning a guest lecture for cardiologists, hook up the presenter to a heart rate monitor, project the data, and see when they are nervous during their talk. Give everyone coming to a smaller networking event a key when they come in, and the lock in which it works is their seat. You get the drift.

Don't Sweat Too Hard Night Of

A short-coming of a good number of event planners is that they (myself included) care too much about what other people think. Their value as a human hinges on how the event goes over. Any deviation from the plan is an immense failure. Something I tell all planners that I have managed is that no one knows something didn't go by the plan unless you let them know. Think on your feet, roll with the punches, and even if things aren't 100% be sure to stay as calm as possible. Or at least appear that way.

http://kaparsons.blogspot.com/

umWHAT can I do to change the world?

2010-03-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

25,000 children die every day from the effects of poverty.
This is equal to the earthquake in Haiti occurring every 4 days; the 2006 Asian tsunami happening every 1.5 weeks, or reliving the death toll of 9/11 every 9 days. We concentrate on these individual tragedies because of their uncommon nature and profound impacts felt around the world, but what about the things we don’t hear about in the news? What about the massive death tolls that accumulate every day, but aren’t covered by any media outlets?
The truth is that child poverty is so rampant that it has ceased to be considered newsworthy. Something as simple as a case of diarrhea may cause infection that leads to death in many impoverished countries around the world. Due to unsanitary water sources, or a total lack of access to water, illnesses that we don’t give a second thought to in North America are ending lives at alarming rates in other parts of the globe.
Even before Haiti was hit with this horribly fatal natural disaster, it was a country already in ruins and stricken by tremendous national poverty. It is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, a mere 800 kilometres away from the Florida coast. “Misery is the entirety of the condition of the people,” says Herault Beauvais, a community leader featured in the documentary, The Road to Fondwa. They lack clean water, nourishment, access to education, and funds to finance their businesses and farms. The main roads in the capital Port-au-Prince are flooded and lined with businesses that rarely make a sale. Mud and waste up to the knees cover the ground. Vendors show up in an attempt to make a living, but “as long as there are no roads, there is no business.”
According to Haitians, because so many countries are trying to help them, they are stuck in a place with no particular direction. Different people are giving them various instructions on how to fix their problems, but these solutions don’t necessarily work for the Haitian people. There is a word in Creole that many Haitians in the countryside use; "konbit". A konbit is the gathering of a group of peasants who put their heads together to find solutions to their problems and then put their hands together to achieve it. This is how the Haitian people work to move forward and alleviate their poverty, in konbit.
This highlights a crucial concept in understanding how development and aid in impoverished countries should be focused. To instil change that is both tangible and sustainable, it must fit with the culture and the mentality of the people who live it. Manouche Douze, a student at the University of Fondwa, says that she appreciates the assistance of foreigners in Haiti, but asks that “rather than giving us a little something every time, show us how to do it ourselves.”
Another example of the Haitians' incredible desire to learn comes from a boy in his early teens. He walks for three hours to school and three hours back to his neighbouring community every day. “I leave my house at 4 a.m., because I should be in school. In school, I can learn something so that I can be of service tomorrow.”
It is this belief in education and growth that affirms the possibility for change. The people of Haiti, and other impoverished countries, don’t choose to live in their present conditions; they desperately seek growth and prosperity. Not only do they want to see change, but they want to be the change. According to Herault, “We hope that one day, we will truly live well.”
-Sarah Bockstael
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The University of Manitoba World Humanitarian Action Team (umWHAT) is a new student group dedicated to bringing about positive social change through education and action initiatives carried out locally. As an affiliate of Free The Children, our goal is to raise enough money to have a school built in a marginalized community overseas through Free The Children's Adopt-a-Village program, and also to support members in travelling overseas to help build the school. In addition, we aim to educate not only our members, but also the community at large, about the social issues that exist and ways to get involved - how we can "be the change" now, and into the future!
For more information, please don't hesitate to contact Matt Hlynsky at matt.hlynsky@gmail.com

UnChartered Territory: My Journey from Chartered Accountant to Entrepreneur

2009-11-24T12:52:00.001-08:00

A Candid Interview with Stefano Picone, A Recent University Graduate
Who Found His Way, the Hard Way

What is your name, place of work, and job title?

My name is Stefano Picone, I live in Toronto, and I am the founder of myCAsite.com

Starting at the beginning, where did you do your schooling and what did you major in? Why?

I was born and raised in Calgary. When I graduated from high school, my parents said that I could go to any university other than the University of Calgary (let’s just say I needed some growing up to do). So I decided to go to the University of Toronto because it was the only other major city in Canada where I had family and was familiar with. I began university in September of 2000, which was the height of the Internet boom. There seemed to be so many online business opportunities, so I enrolled in Commerce figuring it would prepare me for action. Of course, the Internet quickly fizzled and I was forced to pursue something a little more pragmatic. So, I went the CA route.

After graduation, were you nervous to work in the "real world?"

I had a very difficult time transitioning from school to work. Although school involves a lot of time and effort, students have a lot of freedom in terms of when they want to study, how they want to take notes, whether to go to class, etc. And I really enjoyed this. When I began full time work, I felt there was too much structure, especially in terms of how things had to be done. Maintaining structure is very important within the CA profession.

Where did you first work and did you switch firms at any point? Why?

I started at Ernst & Young and then went to RSM Richter. The reason I switched to a mid-sized firm was because Big 4 firms are known for having very rigid audit methodologies, and again, I was trying to get away from structure.

What gave you the idea to launch your own website?

I made a lot of mistakes going through the CA process. I was terrible at recruiting, struggled with certain courses, and had a lot of unnecessary difficulties. At the time, I wished I had something like myCAsite.com to help me, so that is why I decided to build the site.

Was there a need in the market for such as website? How will it benefit students?

Virtually every student who has visited the site has said they loved it. Many of them say that the articles and message board are an invaluable resource for recruiting, homework, the UFE, transitioning to work, etc. One thing that students were really amazed with was the interview we did with Al Rosen (http://www.mycasite.com/for_web/pages/articles/interviews/al_rosen.php). Mr. Rosen is a top forensic accountant in Canada, and he deals a lot with the IFRS, which most university accounting students don't know about. In this way, the site tries to educate students on matters outside the classroom as well.

I have also had many profs and members of CA firms say that they were impressed by the site. In September, there were over 2,600 visits and over 1,100 visitors. This shows that there are a lot of people using the site. The goal is to reach 10,000 visits per month.

What were the hardships you faced in starting your own company? Did you have any help?

Starting a business is incredibly difficult because there is no template or guide to follow. I am often overwhelmed by a lack of direction, which is remarkable considering that, as I mentioned, I do not like having structure imposed on me. You also have to sacrifice a lot to start a business. A lot of the people I went to university with who are CAs have comfortable jobs and nice paycheques. They went on vacation this summer and I didn't. They are buying houses and getting married and, financially, I can't afford to do that. But I feel I would be giving up more personally by not pursuing this idea.

Fortunately, I have a lot of support from my parents and my family. They understand that I am an entrepreneurial person and they don't put pressure on me to follow everyone else and get a regular job.

What advice do you have to recent graduates who might be interested in starting their own company?

In order to become an entrepreneur, you have to be willing to embrace failure. If students stop using myCAsite.com tomorrow, and I have the shut down the site, most people will interpret that to mean that I have failed. But I know that I did the right thing by starting the site. So I'm okay with the possibility of the site not succeeding.

Where do you see the company in the future? Do you wish to expand?

Right now, I am completely focused on the short-term. As important as it is consider the future, there are so many possible outcomes. Eventually the goal is to commercialize the site, but at this point, my efforts are dedicated to marketing the site and providing as much value as possible to students.

We thank Stefano for sharing his experience, for more information check out: myCAsite.com

To Inject or Not to Inject The H1N1 Vaccine: Will You Get It?

2009-11-24T12:51:00.000-08:00

By definition I am a sickly person. Not to be confused with “sick” (although it’s arguable I’m sure) but rather sickly. A person who suffers from small inconveniences, like strange indeterminable allergies, asthma that only pops up around exam time, and a serious inability to stay warm for very long. Needless to say I don’t go in the computer lab very often.

As a sickly person I have become accustomed to researching vitamins, teas, protein shakes, whey powder, basically all things Pro-Health. Through my experience the natural way to good health has proved much more effective than the prescription way. I find the lists of “possible side effects” and reactions to medication more scary than the problem it’s trying to fix in the first place.

It would seem that through this way of thinking I would be against vaccinations altogether, but I am not. The benefits have been historically proven. Vaccinations have saved countries of people from things such as polio, smallpox, tuberculosis and the mumps. And I have traveled to India enough times to know how important it is to get your shots.

Although, historically, vaccinations have saved many lives, they have been the source of much controversy. Critics argue that the long term effects are still unknown, and others say vaccinations can make you more sick and are unnatural causing the body to react negatively. A vaccination is, essentially, placing the dead cells of a certain agent into the body to encourage the production of antibodies. The body basically builds immunity to the agent by being introduced to the weakened version of it. I find this method risky because the body must build immunity. It must fight a biological war to become stronger, but who is to say we will all win? A vaccine is to be taken when in top physical condition. If you take it while your immune system is compromised, your body may not have the strength to fight it.

In the case of the H1N1 vaccine there are many arguments for and against it, and I would like to present them for debate. H1N1 can affect a wide range of people. The World Health Organization lists children aged 6 months to 5 years, people under 55 with severe chronic or other medical risks, people of aboriginal or metis descent, health care workers and pregnant women as the most at-risk groups. However during the summer outbreak of H1N1 people outside those groups were put in the hospital and some even died. Illustrating that although there are high risk groups, we are all still at risk.

H1N1 is a serious concern because of its volatility; Winnipeg Regional Health Authority states that some people who get H1N1 may experience very mild symptoms and may not even be aware they have it, while others have died within a matter of 24 hours of contracting the virus. When giving advise even experts clash; some experts state that if you begin experiencing flu like symptoms, it is best to stay at home to prevent spreading it. Others say that if you begin feeling symptoms like shortness of breath and high fever, go to the hospital right away and receive the anti-viral Tamiflu. The confusion surrounding H1N1 may explain the increased wait times at local hospital emergencies, up to 6 or 7 hours currently.

Argument #1: H1N1 is no different than the regular flu and the media has caused mass paranoia and fear, therefore I will not get the vaccine.
To be honest, I grappled with this idea myself. As a critical watcher of T.V, I am aware of such things as media bias and hype. Because of this I choose to get my facts from the credible sources, like WHO, WRHA, and Health Canada. The facts from these sources make the truth bitterly clear: H1N1 is not like the regular flu. Young, healthy people are being hospitalized in a matter of hours as H1N1 can begin lung deterioration quickly with little or no warning. The majority of people who get H1N1 will not be hospitalized and have mild symptoms but determining whether you will be part of that majority or not, is nothing more than a guessing game.

Argument #2: The H1N1 vaccine was developed so quickly under such severe time constraints that it can not be safe due to a lack of long term testing, therefore I will not get the vaccine.
Flu vaccines have a long Canadian history, with new vaccines created yearly to match the changes in the influenza virus. For example, in 1976 there was a swine influenza outbreak in which a vaccine was made and distributed. The 2009 outbreak is slightly different mutation and requires a different vaccine however the facts prove that scientists have been testing and studying a similar vaccine for 30 years. Vaccines must change in order to stay effective and relevant. According to healthcanada.com, Health Canada and the Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq approved AREPANRIX, the vaccine against the pandemic H1N1 flu virus on October 21, 2009. Although the vaccine was created in a matter of months from the time H1N1 began spreading, it is not only is it approved by Health Canada, but is approved by the World Health Organization, and has already been distributed worldwide. I would argue that the possible side effects of the vaccine are less worrisome than possible death from the virus.

Argument #3: If I get H1N1, I can just receive the anti-viral Tamiflu which prevents the symptoms from worsening, so the vaccine is not necessary.
This argument I found very convincing. If there is an approved anti-viral on the market, why should the citizens of Canada wait in line for 3 hours and inject themselves with an unfamiliar vaccine in order to prevent the flu with mild symptoms (for the majority) anyway? After doing a bit of digging, and visiting pharmacies around Winnipeg, the answer became very clear: Tamiflu is running out.
After discussing with pharmacists around the city, I soon learned that each province in Canada was only given a certain amount of emergency Tamiflu, and that the amount left in the city, let alone the country, was running out fast. Before even finishing my sentence “Do you carry Tami-” I’d receive a short and simple “No, sorry. Check the pharmacy down the street.” A few times I’d get a dismal “Good luck!” As I walked out. Hospitals are also being very choosy as to who receives the anti-viral, as they are very short supply as well.
With the anti-viral virtually non existent in our city, all signs now point to receiving the vaccine as a precautionary measure.

In Canada, we are lucky enough to have the freedom of choice surrounding our health and well being. We may choose which precautionary measures to take, and which to avoid. As illustrated by this article, choice can also become a burdensome right, one which takes good facts, and good luck. Will you get the H1N1 vaccine? The choice is yours.

I am in Favour of the Tuition Increase, and Here’s Why

2009-11-24T12:50:00.000-08:00

anyone has taken a reasonable look around the campus, they will notice that our fair university is near a state of disrepair which can be directly attributed to the lack of funding incurred by a tuition freeze. As a simple example, the Armes Building doesn’t seem to have been changed since the early 50’s, when people sat at perfect right angles, had completely flat features necessitating geometrically flat chairs, and voiced no need for cushions. While some classes in Tier Building have gotten a make over, the others still remind me of a sanatorium, which while an untrue analogy, still explains the faint scent of urine when the humidity rises. Furthermore, any health related facility which can gain the nickname of “Gritty Grotto” brings to mind images of a grimy, poorly maintained excuse for a fitness gym. Also, I believe I see asbestos on the wall, which probably violates some sort of health code.
All this being said, there seems to be a solution which frightens people from suggesting it; funding. These are fixable problems, yet the university has had its hands tied by the lack of funding from tuitions. While my examples might be exaggerations, and meant to appeal to your emotions, MacLean’s Magazine and many other university surveys and polls have consistently rank us near the bottom of the food chain. (Even independent US sources have ranked us 17th out of 20). While I might not work for Stats Canada, I did do well in Stats1000 and 2000, which nearly makes me an expert, and in those courses we discussed a concept called correlation. It seems like those universities with high tuitions and thus high funding, tended to rank higher based on quality of faculty, programs, financing, and student-to-teacher ratio.
Question, has anyone here take a science course lately? As I recall I had a teleprompter/video professor teach me biology and run my chemistry lab. Personally, I lay awake in a cold sweat fearing the day that technology takes over and begins using me as a battery, and this, quite honestly, is the first step. Did anyone else see the new Terminator? I didn’t, but I assume that this is how the war began, and from what I hear, most of us don’t make it. I feel that I should be taught by, say, a human being, who I can interact with, and, dare I say it, ask them a question and have them respond. How, you may ask, can we as students stop the machines from taking over the planet? Pay more in tuition to hire more human teachers. By paying a slight bit more in tuition, we can hire more profs, which will reduce class sizes, allow more interaction to help facilitate better learning, and effectively raise the quality of education provided by this fine university.
Another note I would like to state to any nay-sayer of rising tuition is that just by staying in Manitoba 5 years after your graduation, you are able to make back HALF of your university tuition, therefore still making us the cheapest option available for higher education. So please, could you stop complaining about tuition? Yes, it might cost a bit more now, but Manitoba is ripe with jobs, resistant to the recession, and competitive in salary, which will pay off the slight increase in no time...plus the government will pay you half back. Work in Manitoba for five years, get experience on your resume, and get a huge tax check back, all for a slightly higher price in tuition; I’d say that’s a deal! And we Manitoban’s love our deals.

Economic and Social Reasons Why Tuition Should Go Down

2009-11-24T12:48:00.000-08:00

Before entering the faculty, I was an extreme leftist who hated “The Man” and whose goal in life was to end social conservatism and global apathy on topics that hit close to home to me through economic reasoning. Once entering the Asper School of Business, however, I found myself understanding the mindset of fellow colleagues who would indeed be “The Man”. I may have grown more conservative whilst my time here, but I still have a little bit of residual leftist blood in me, so I’m going to take a stab at this controversial topic from my point of view: that tuition prices should go down.
Let’s start looking at this from an economic point of view. A university is an institution. An institution in the private sector would have a bottom line of reducing costs while increasing revenue. Why don’t universities do the same? Granted, universities are to be ever expanding, but during this expansion, they are definitely incurring costs. These costs are the loss of human capital. Think about it: if all students are to foot the bill of their education, there will be students who will not able to meet the financial demands of the university. If these students do not enrol, there will be a definite loss of diversity, idea generation, and productivity. Such skills are not rooted in those who can afford to go to school. Having money is not a skill, and neither should it be rewarded by the gift of higher education. The reduction of tuition would increase the supply of students entering the university, and in turn diversifying the student body, adding comprehensive quality to the graduates from the school.
Let’s develop this economic point of view further: the purpose of education through government funding is to prepare citizens to produce future economic gain for the state. Universities enrich students with knowledge that will allow them to benefit the workforce. Social norms have become such, that higher education is necessary to yield the best future opportunities. These gains include a higher standard of living and comfort that the monetary gain can afford. Education is necessary to yield the best opportunity for future generations; to allow this to be an attainable goal, we must not place more obstacles in the path of those pursuing knowledge. The reduction of tuition would indeed rid of the financial obstacle of those who pursue such knowledge, and can in turn produce future economic gain for the state with the acquired knowledge.
Universities train students to be productive. We are put through a series of obstacles, such as tests, projects, presentations, essays, theses, assignments, etc., in order to adhere to the demands we will face in the workplace with quality. With the financial impediment of tuition, students must pass through this additional obstacle and still present quality school work. The reduction of tuition will enable students who work to finance their education to put less time towards working, using that time towards completing the obstacles put forth through schoolwork, and therefore training themselves to be more productive individuals.
The financial impediment students face can also be financed more by the government. The government also controls factors which may limit citizens from producing economic gains. The government controls limitations through regulations: i.e universal healthcare to avoid paying the heavy burden of medical costs. As the government expects to provide students to one day produce economic gain for the state, they must take action to reduce the necessity of individual financing and increase the government funding for tuition. After all, if the government is instituting universities as a form of public education, there should be limited hindrances for the public to get such education. The government subsidies that reduce tuition will enable students to not face the financial hardship of financing school, and therefore meet the expectations the government has of students to produce economic gains for the state.
I wanted to outline just a few of many points that support the argument that tuition should not be as high as it is. The tuition is increasing at a rate double than the inflation rate, and such costs must be controlled if we want a future of a diverse, quality workforce.

Why Mad Men is The Best Show on TV

2009-11-24T12:46:00.000-08:00

I admit it; I’m addicted to TV. I find it’s still the best way to track what’s going on in mainstream society and it’s a great way to pass the time while I’m on the treadmill. I especially like TV programs that take a fresh look at things and feature strong writing and character development. To my mind Mad Men is at the top of this list. The show’s writing is always crisp, the characters have depth and draw the viewer into their lives and the show has a unique look and feel. From the perspective of a marketing student, Mad Men is a treasure trove of information. It takes an interesting look at how marketers tried to position and pitch their products in an era when advertising was shifting from a print based medium to an electronic one. Think of the parallels you can draw with the shift we are witnessing today as companies move away from the existing electronic models to ones focused on m-commerce and permission based marketing. The fact the producers of the show effectively use these tools to engage their viewers and inform them also makes it a great program. From interactive games on the website to Twitter, the creators of Mad Men make sure you are never out of touch with the show and its characters. After carefully looking at the show, I’ve developed my Top 10 reasons why it’s the best one on television.
10. Nostalgia, or retro if you’re under 50 – Everyone loves to remember the days, or picture a time, when smoking and drinking in the office was an acceptable behaviour. Can any of the people on this show get through a scene without a drink or a cigarette?
9. Fashion – Skinny ties for men and hats for women. What more could you ask for?
8. Clients - Sterling Cooper works on some of the best known products and brands in marketing history. I admit taking on Nixon piece was a bust but it did provide an interesting look at how the President of the US was viewed by voters. President Obama clearly built on these lessons during his successful 2008 campaign.
7. Consumer Behaviour – For those of us that teach the course, it’s nice to see textbook lessons put to use.
6. Pete Campbell – Each of us knows, and hates, someone exactly like him and it’s great to see him get taken down a notch.
5. Horatio Alger Story – Where else but on a TV show could someone like Peggy Olson go from being a newly hired secretary to a copywriter on major accounts overnight?
4. The website – Go to www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/madmenyourself and create your OWN Mad Men alter ego!
3. Christina Hendricks - A great representative of the definition of beauty and style in the early 60’s
2. Pushing Boundaries – What other TV show has covered everything from infidelity (with twins no less) to selling marital aids positioned as exercise equipment?
1. Don Draper – The coolest man on television. Who doesn’t love a guy who has stolen the identity of a dead man, has been with more women than James Bond (another icon from the 60’s), can leave the office for hours, sometimes days, at a time without anyone batting an eye and who epitomizes the male definition of style from the 60’s. There’s also that 60’s hair. He looks much better as Don Draper than he did as a suspect on CSI Miami or as Tina Fey’s boyfriend on 30 Rock. By the way 30 Rock is my choice as the second best show on television.

Social Networking Sites: Don’t Use Them and Have a Real Conversation

2009-11-24T12:45:00.000-08:00

Alright boys and girls, marketing majors and bean counters, we are back after the infamous parking debacle and here to discuss another major part of your university experience: Social networking sites.

Social networking sites are the equivalent of tiny dogs that people put sweaters on. One person said it was cute, the dog is completely embarrassed, other people are embarrassed for the dog, it’s just a destructive cycle. Dogs don’t need sweaters they have coats of fur. And we don’t need these sites; we have cell phones, meeting places and good old fashioned conversations.

What have these sites accomplished? This first thing they have done is changed the way the opposite sex communicates with each other. Awkward face to face meetings are becoming more common simply because this generation has not learned the proper communication skills to interact. Social networking sites have abolished the need and ability for people to acquire proper social skills. A person can take 2 hours to think of a witty response, while unbeknownst to the readers they really have no wit at all. Conversely, you can’t fake very much in a real conversation; you either learn to be charming, polite and witty, or you become the smile and nod type. Both work, and both are acceptable by me because they are truthful! Not full of lies and deceit like the topic at hand.

Some may say romance and dating have become easier with social networking sites. My hero Van Wilder once said “Gwen, first dates are interviews” and I couldn’t agree more. But what has it become now? You log on to read a profile and BOOM first date over. You now know their favorite movies, you know their likes and dislikes and their funny quirks like how they love dressing dogs in little sweaters…I really can’t get over how ridiculous they are.

These sites can also be detrimental to future employment. In business school most of us strive to get a job after graduation. But how are we supposed to get a job when the person hiring can simply go online and see a giant picture of you beer bonging and giving “the man” the middle finger? There are less than two degrees of separation in this city, and even if your profile is private and blocked, there is a chance the person hiring knows one of your friends and can ask to see your profile that way. Scary stuff.

Then there is the family. Why is your mom your friend? Why do you want her seeing the picture of you making out with that thing that looks like some kind of inflatable donkey? That is not good, and if she thinks it is funny, you may have bigger family issues on your plate.

Finally, this brings us to tweets and status updates. Twitter lets crazed fans stalk their favorite celebrities’ every move, tying up 911 because Perez Hilton got beat up. Then there are personal tweets by regular people. Why do I need to know you are relaxing by the pool? Are you seriously that bored you had to tweet about it? Or how about my favorite “it’s going to be a great night tonight! Whoo!” Why the “Whoo”? Simply put, guys you are going to try to hit on every girl you see. And girls, you’re going to tell every guy in the club you have a boyfriend. And then you are going to get a street vendor hot dog. Well yes that is awesome. Especially the hot dog. But guess what, instead of tweeting about it I’m there already. Three steps ahead of you.

Oh by the way, Marissa I didn’t forget to call I just lost my phone. Wait! Hold the presses, I’ve figured out one thing these sites are great for. Getting the 250 phone numbers back into my new phone! I’m going to call you all soon to have a real conversation. I promise… Look! A dog wearing a sweater, come here Fido.

I am Robot: Autotune

2009-08-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

So what’s the big hoopla anyway? Recently, artists like T-Pain and Lil Wayne have come under fire by critics and most notably Jay-Z for their avid use of Auto-tune. Auto-tune, a fun little gadget unbeknownst to consumers for quite some time, is a pitch-perfecting machine which has been used by music producers for years. We first heard it on Cher’s song ‘Believe’ in 1998, where it was used in a very deliberate manner to distort her voice for a portion of the song. Less deliberate and more sneaky uses of Auto-tune have been prevalent in the music industry since its release to the market in 1997. Country music stars like Tim McGraw, pop stars like Britney Spears, and hip hop artists like Kanye West have all admitted to using Auto-tune.

I’m usually not such a gadget geek, but I’ve become interested in this particular one because of all the debate it has sparked. Many people think using Auto-tune is cheating the system and undermining the careers of legitimately talented singers. “I Hate Auto-tune” groups have popped up around Facebook and musicians are loudly voicing their opinions towards the machine. Jay Z recently released the first song off his upcoming album called “D.O.A – Death of Auto-tune” in which he publicly critiques rappers for trying to sing while using the device. He calls out to rappers asking them to go back to their roots instead of caving to the industry trend.

What I think is fishy about this whole thing is that this ‘Anti-Auto-tune’ album of Jay-Z’s was PRODUCED BY KANYE WEST. Kanye West has gone on record to say he “loves Auto-Tune” and heavily used it in his 2008 album 808s and HeartBreak. Why would Jay-Z ask an Auto tune-loving artist to produce his Anti-Auto tune album? Hmmm something doesn’t seem right.

Who thinks that this whole Anti-Auto Tune movement is a publicity gimmick for Jay-Z to sell more records?! I Do!

First of all, what is so wrong with artists using Auto-Tune? As humans we strive towards perfection in all areas of our lives, including our careers. Michael Phelps practices every day to try and break more world records, we study our butts off for exams to (in theory) try and get as close to 100% as we can, we slave in a gym for 20 minutes 3 times a week for years on end to trim our waistlines, tone our abs and sculpt our bodies to reach a “perfect” figure. We try and try and try and finally when one man cracks the code and figures out how to reach perfection in the music industry, we label it “cheating” and become staunchly against the idea. Why do I feel like we are always trying to preserve an old innocence that has been long since forgotten? If consumers are against Auto-tune then why are they not against metronomes? Metronomes are devices which set a perfect beat so musicians can play along and perfect their timing. Is that cheating? The inventor of Auto Tune, Andy Hildebrand, was once asked if he thought Auto-Tune was evil. He responded by saying, “My wife wears make up. Is that evil?”

I also don’t think it is wrong for artists like Lil Wayne and Kanye West to experiment with Auto Tune because they have already established themselves as talented artists. They have won countless awards for their rapping, and writing skills and Kanye for his producing. In a world where Actors become Politicians, and Parents become Reality Television Divas, does a rapper becoming a singer really seem that far off? I personally found Madonna becoming a children’s author much more disturbing…

I must admit, the fact that we as a generation enjoy listening to robotic noises is a bit disturbing. It might just be my incessant paranoia here, but do you think that this is a pre cursor for the future?? I’m picturing those futuristic movies where everyone is wearing plastic and metal clothing, and food is sent to us in vitamin-enriched liquid form through a tube and we don’t drive cars but float on hovercrafts and instead of songs we like listening to junkyard noises and synthesized robot voices???? The fifth element anyone?!?! …Good movie. But that’s beside the point!

And last but not least. If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it. Of course that probably means you won’t be able to listen to any popular song for the rest of time, but at least you’ll be making a statement that you are against all synthesized music, (no matter how much you liked Alvin and the chipmunks as kid). As for the rest of us, we will continue to go along happily listening to the future.

Be True to Your School

2009-08-04T22:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome.

Right now, you are part of something. You have been a part of things in the past, but this is much different. Over the next 3, 4, 5, or perhaps 6 years (Iím not here to judge) you will be taking the majority of your classes, doing the majority of your studying, meeting the majority of your new friends in the: The Management/Transport Building.

Wait a minute. I signed up to go to the Asper School of Business. Isnít it the Asper Building that Iím in? No. The official name of the bricks and mortar which you are in is, in fact, The Management/Transport Building. This surrounds the Drake Centre, which is the home of the Asper School of Business. Confused? Let me explain

We at the Asper School know virtually nothing about our schoolís past, present or future. Considering I spend more time here than I do at home I think this is a shocking reality. Let us add up the hours. Bare minimum you are here 9-15 hours per week for class, depending on course load and attendance habits. You also may choose to study at the school or come to speak with a professor at one point or another. I would venture that the average student is in the School around 20 hours per week. That is almost a full day!

So, letís recap: You are spending one full day per week, for the majority of the year, for 4 years in this building. It might be a good idea to know what it is called. What do you think would happen if you didnít know your address after living there for 4 years? Your parents would be putting padding on the sharp corners around the house and not letting you play with the small Legos.

This is why you need to take 5 minutes out of your busy day and learn a little something about where you are. I have a brief history of the school that was compiled by Sheila Molloy, the Executive Director of the Associates, and she has kindly allowed me to use her hard work. All factual information in this article has been collected and provided by Ms. Molloy and I thank her.

THE BEGINNING....

The University of Manitobaís Centre for Professional Management Education (predecessor of the Asper School of Business) was founded in 1937. Todayís building, however, was not constructed for some time after that. This is the story of how it came to be:

In 1981 Roland Grandpre became the Dean of the Faculty. He had three major priorities; revise the undergraduate program, build the support of the business community and raise funds to build a new building specifically for the Faculty of Management. Recognizing the significant capital needed to construct a building, he focused on his second goal: Building the support of the Winnipeg business community.

In 1982 Dean Grandpre began the Associates of the Asper School of Business (www.associatesmb.ca). The business community quickly came on board and today the Associates has well over 200 members (visit the website for the impressive member list). The number one goal of the Associates was and is to improve the quality of business education at the University of Manitoba. Our school would not be where it is today without them and all students should be thankful.

Dean Grandpre was not the only person who felt a need for a new building. Students who wanted to actively pressure the University to construct a new building soon approached him. The Dean suggested that rather than protest, the students should do something positive. This was the birth of the ìRace for Spaceî which was a 10k run designed to raise funds, and more importantly publicity, for the new building. The Race was held annually from 1982-84 and the participants ranged from politicians, to faculty members, to students, to a large amount of Winnipeg business-people. Over its three-year life, the campaign raised around $50,000, but more importantly a large amount of publicity and support.

In 1985 ground broke on the Freedman Crescent site, chosen from three options. The site was chosen by architect Etienne Gaboury for its view of the Red River, proximity to both the University Library and the center of campus.

The buildinG....

The building, as designed by Gaboury, is roughly 130,000 square feet and had a price tag of $14.5 million. This was funded, in addition to the private donations received, by the Federal Government. The problem was the Feds didnít give money to the construction of business schools, but rather to institutes that contribute to National improvement. Thus, half of the building was dedicated to the Transport Institute. You can still see the signage denoting areas of the building to this cause. This 50/50 partnership between the Feds and the University is reflected in the buildingís title (The Management/Transport Building).

This is when the naming becomes interesting. During the Capital Campaign for the construction of the Building an Associate by the name of Jack McKeag called a fellow graduate by the name of Bill Pollock. Mr Pollock was the co-founder of what would eventually become Drake International, one of the worldís largest human resource management firms. Mr Pollock made a generous donation of $2 million to the Campaign, the largest made at that time, but he did not want anything named after him. He instead chose for the space within the building that did not house the Transport Institute to be named after his company: The Drake Centre. This dedication was made in 1987.

Israel Asper...

I want to first go on a brief tangent about Israel Asper. This was an amazing man. I think that in order to graduate from our School a requirement should be to have read ìIzzyî by Peter C. Newman. It is an absolutely extraordinary account of the compelling life of Dr. Asper and anyone interested in business would be well served to read it.

Izzyís first donation to the School was in 1997. Through the Asper Foundation $1 million was given towards the creation of the Asper Centre for Entrepreneurship. Three years later in 2000 he made an additional gift of $10 million, and the I. H. Asper School of Business was created (later re-branded the Asper School of Business).

The donation of $10 million went a long way to improve the quality of the school. Its commitment to continuous improvement and to its goal of producing some of Manitoba, Canada and the Worldís most outstanding leaders changed the school forever.

So now you know where you are. The building is just one part of the history of our school. The full history would, and is going to, fill a book. Make sure to take the time to learn some of this history. I guarantee you will feel more pride in your school and in yourself for it.

The Jets are Dead, Get over it

2009-08-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

Spring time means a lot to hockey fans, playoffs are in full swing and the intensity of the sport seems to grow with each passing series. For the hockey fans of Winnipeg, not only was the spirit of the game embodied by the fabulous Calder Cup run by the Manitoba Moose, but also by the swirling rumors of a Winnipeg Jets return to the ìheart of the continentî, based on the financial difficulty facing the Phoenix Coyotes.

Much of the hype towards the improbable return of the team was stirred by comments from the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who according to court documents was quoted as saying that, ìif the [Phoenix Coyotes] did return to Canada, it would be to Winnipeg.î This was enough to bring the Jets fanatics out of the woodwork in desperate belief that Winnipeg will once again be home to a NHL franchise.

The fact of the matter is this dream is not going to happen, and for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the NHLís agenda does not support expansion or relocation to Canada at this time. Bettman has made it clear that the NHL is satisfied at 30 teams, and if a team were to relocate, there are a number of cities that rank above Winnipeg on the short list, such as Kansas, Portland, Houston or possibly Las Vegas.

Has that much changed since the Jets left Winnipeg in í96? The Jets were losing money, the arena was half empty and financially the NHL was tanking. Fast forward to today, one of the biggest arguments for the Jets returning to Winnipeg has to do with the myth that the salary cap solves all problems. Think about this, in 1996, Keith Tkachuk was the third highest paid player in the NHL behind Gretzky and Messier at $6 million per year. Last year, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin were the second and third highest paid players in the league, both raking in $9 million each. Just because there is a salary cap, doesnít necessarily mean that we can afford it.

Furthermore, where does everyone expect that funding to come from? We built the MTS Centre to hold almost 400 less seats than the Winnipeg Arena held, and if it were stacked up against other NHL arenas, it holds over 1200 less people than the next smallest capacity (New York Islanders, Nassau Veterans Coliseum). The NHL does not enjoy the same profit sharing scheme that the economic juggernaut NFL does where the teams are almost completely kept on an even financial field due to the amount of revenue sharing from both national television contracts and ticket revenue. This means that where smaller market teams in the NFL are able to keep sustainable, those same smaller market teams in the NHL have no choice but to run in the red. Large amounts of money are lost in attempts to keep NHL teams alive. Almost half the teams in the league lose money every year, which means that to have a team in Winnipeg we would need to have somebody, or a group of corporations willing to spend money and possibly lose money, on this dream. Does Winnipeg have anyone willing to spend this kind of money? No. Does Winnipeg have corporations eager to spend this kind of money on the Jets? No, if the corporations did, they would have forked out this capital to keep them here in '96.

Finally, little would actually change from last time, obviously the initial excitement of a new team would fill the building for most of the inaugural season, but letís face it, we are Winnipeg, we donít move unless there is a sale. I wonít make the argument about not being able to completely fill the MTS Centre for the Moose playoffs until the finals because that is a completely separate argument, but I will point to our pride and joy of a franchise the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In the 2008 season we had one playoff game at home in November, we failed miserably at filling that stadium. Each of the last two Grey Cups that have come to Winnipeg has relied on last minute sales to come even remotely close to selling out. Currently those making income in our city are from a younger era that doesnít fully remember the Jets being here and never developed the attachment to them as Winnipegís team. The desire to bring back the Jets isnít being generated through them, but through the generation of baby boomers who are retiring and who are probably not willing to spend their pensions on overpriced tickets to make up for our lack of corporate sponsorship and undersized arena.

I used to be a season ticket holder for the Jets in the most amazing seats at centre ice. I would love to be reliving those moments in the old Winnipeg Arena and wish that the Jets had never left in the first place, however those who think that somehow the NHL is going to up-and-give us a team that will magically be financially sustainable, need to step back and realize that the Winnipeg Jets are not coming back, not now, not ever.

Help Wanted: Next Generations Professors

2009-08-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

I remember when I was an undergraduate student in Commerce. Those long early mornings from

North Kildonan over the Disraeli and down Pembina to get to my 830 classes. The first few

terms were ëschool as usualí with courses like Managerial Accounting, Corporation

Finance, Introduction to Marketing and Organizational Behavior. I went to class, wrote my

exams, got my grades and then went on and did it all again the next term.

Sometime in my last year something changed. I can still remember the class ñ it was the

second class in Administrative Policy. The teacher, a professor named Dr. Ross Henderson

who retired back in the 90ís, taught using the Socratic method, that is by asking

questions rather than telling us the answers. It was a totally different way of learning

ñ not by someone lecturing, us memorizing and then giving it all back on the final, but

by us actually thinking along with the professor in live-time.

That class also got me thinking ñ maybe being a prof might be a career option. It was

reasonably uncharted water as no one from my family had ever pursued an academic career.

But the more I thought about it, the more attractive it became: getting paid to read,

think, come up with ideas, lead classes ñ why not?

Just over a quarter century later, here I am, back at the University of Manitoba, leading

my own classes, asking the next generation of students questions that will hopefully help

prepare them to become the kind of businesspeople needed for competing effectively in

this new century. Suffice to say, itís been a great career that I might never have

thought of had I not taken that class with Dr. Henderson.

Why am I mentioning this? Because it is my hunch that there is probably at least one or

two people reading this column who have never thought of becoming professors. To them my

message is simple: Why not at least consider the possibility. Why do I say that? Because,

as I mentioned earlier, itís an extremely interesting way to make a living. Why else do I

say that? Because, the market for business educators is one that is going to have all

kinds of long term opportunities. And finally because we are going to need the very best

and brightest of minds to come up with the most innovative and creative of ways to make

our way forward in this very interesting world in which we find ourselves.

So as you go through the year ahead consider the long-term possibility of moving from the

back of the room to the front. It may be a move worth exploring.

The Park is Worse than its Bite

2009-08-04T22:36:00.000-07:00

Students who have had the pleasure of dealing with the university parking system understand that there is one word and one word alone to describe the feeling that this system causes, and that word is aneurism. Okay, hold onÖmaybe using a word that describes an exploding artery is a little harsh, but this writer sees no other way to describe the sheer pain students go through when it comes to parking.

Now for those of you who never have parked at the university, and for those first year students, please allow me to take you down the dramafilled trail that was, and is the university parking system. U of M students begin by logging on to the universityís online parking system located on the JUMP website, sometime between mid May and June. Once youíve logged on you must remember your username and password even though you have spent the last 2 months partying and having fun in the sun. If you are one of the lucky people that remembers these facts you are well ahead of at least 20% of the people trying to pay for their parking.

After you have logged on to our wonderful, error free and easy to use websiteÖor more commonly referred to as the 4th circle of hell, you must enter in your information and be thrown into a lottery for one of our very attractive parking lots, including the illustrious U lot and the ominous Q lot. U lot offers its users the promise of exercise as you hike fifteen minutes through ice, prevailing winds, minus 30 degree temperatures and to a lesser extent, vicious wild animals in order to get to class. Managing to catch the shutle however, allows the user to enjoy the awful smells and an asinine scheduling route, That is, unless you take all of your classes in Frank Kennedy.

In addition to the migraine that is U Lot, Q Lot provides its users with a life altering experience equivalent to shrinking 5 inches in height, gaining thirty pounds, losing your dimple and all of your hair. On the plus side the established location of Q lot tends to cater to the large 0.232 percent of the university population that is actually enrolled in St. Paulís College.

Now back in my day (which was a Wednesday I believe) there used to be this nice little lot named L. This lot was the fairy tale of parking with only about 150 spots could be given away and you always hearing of a friend of a friend of yours who actually managed to park there. This lot offered easy and warm access to the tunnel system through Robson Hall and quick access to the faculties of Arts, Science, and Business. Sadly though, this lot has gone the way of the Dodo in favour of pay by day parking. This wouldnít be so bad if it didnít cost you over $1000 a year to park there 5 days a week. Now why has this lot disappeared you may ask? Well it is simple, the University has (over one summer) miraculously changed from a commuter campus to a non commuter campus, where the majority of the students donít drive, live on campus, and/or take the bus. I mean thatís the only logical explanation since the University would never want to take away anything that actually helps students. What better way to show the students you care than by taking away the best lot on campus so more students can pay 8 dollars a day to park on top of their wonderful $40.00 parking ticket they just got yesterday because they were late to hand a paper in and left their car in N lot for all of 3.34 minutes.

Speaking of parking tickets, do you know what really grinds my gears? PARKING TICKETS. Seriously, do they have an army of semi retired parking officers, who are not afraid to journey out into the cold of winter to write down licence plates, and hide behind poles to catch the obviously rich university student whose1994 Lebaron is parked two inches outside the snow-covered painted lines? The parking officers may very well be the most dis-liked people on campus with the exception of the guy that cuts in front of you at Tim Horton at 8:30 in the morning after your thirty minute walk from U Lot. The minimum of 5 parking tickets a year (which you refuse to pay by the way) will have you begging and bartering after mid terms and finals just to get rid of these tickets so you can see your marks. And that my friend is the pains and pleasures of the University of Manitoba parking system.

Editorial by Ryan Didoshak