JDUC residents launch complaints about laundry and elevators, Resident Society President says
Residence Life & Services claim no issues with laundry machines
Lauren Nicol Assistant News Editor
JDUC residents were met with a broken elevator on move-in day.
The University welcomed 4,700 students into 18 residences buildings across campus, including the new JDUC residence, on Aug. 30 and 31. While the JDUC’s residence opened its doors to students, the rest of the building remains closed after its grand opening was pushed from May to November.
JDUC residents have raised multiple complaints about laundry machines and elevators not working in the revitalized building, Allen Wu, chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Residence Society (ResSoc) said in an interview with The Journal.
“I don’t think that it is acceptable that these promised features are not in place yet,” Wu said.
Wu’s advocating for JDUC
residents and bringing their concerns to the University.
Residence Life & Services, the University office who manages the residence buildings, claim no issues with the laundry machine have been reported to the residence facilities team or to Coinamatic, the equipment supplier.
“Coinamatic reports that there have been more than 60 transactions on the laundry app since Aug. 27, and remote equipment monitoring has shown all machines are fully operational,” Residence Life & Services said in a statement to The Journal.
Residence Life & Services also claimed, prior to move-in, they warned residents about the non-functioning elevators.
“On Aug. 27, Residence Life
Unions across Queen’s University campus take steps to strike
Sofia Tosello Senior News Editor
Unionized workers are fed up.
Unions across campus, including United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2010 and Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) 901 unit 1 and 2, ask their members to sign petitions urging the University administration to provide employees with fair wages and manageable workloads.
The petition for USW Local 2010 members, including academic assistants and support staff, states layoffs—implemented to address the University’s $28.2 million operating budget deficit—along with cuts to core academic programs and prolonged periods of understaffing have led to low morale amongst steelworkers, impacting their ability to deliver quality service.
Kelly Orser, USW Local 2010
president, aims to have 60 per cent of steelworkers sign the petition, a goal the union is on course to meet. USW Local 2010 will release a second petition, aiming to secure signatures from 80 to 85 per cent of its members.
The union will then move forward with a strike mandate vote.
Around 95 to 98 per cent of steelworkers would need to sign the strike mandate vote for it to be deemed successful.
“This would mean 95 per cent of steelworkers said yes to striking if the University doesn’t meet the union’s proposals,” Orser said in interview with The Journal.
The solidarity amongst unions as they urge 5,000 employees across the University to step towards a strike, is unprecedented.
“This is history unfolding. So, there’s a part of it that’s kind of exciting to see everyone pulling together. And you know, nobody knows where it’s going go, but
& Services advised all students moving into JDUC that the elevator was not operational. In this communication, we let students know we would be in touch when more information about the elevator is available. We continue to work closely with the university facilities team and the general contractor to confirm a timeline, and we hope to be able to communicate further details to residents next week,” Residence Life & Services said.
Additional volunteers were on site to help JDUC residents move into their rooms, they added. Residence Life & Services encourages students to submit a Maintenance Request Order Form if they encounter any issues with their buildings.
While some students experienced difficulties while moving into their dorms, positivity and excitement still permeated the Queen’s campus on Aug. 30 and 31, Ann Tierney, vice-provost & dean of student affairs said in a statement to The Journal.
“There’s an atmosphere of
it is absolutely unprecedented,” Orser said.
While Orser expressed excitement about looming changes, she remains concerned about issues steelworkers face.
During her 12 years as President of
excitement and positivity for residence move-in, and that doesn’t happen by chance,” Tierney said.
For Leah Wales, executive director (housing & ancillary services), move-in went smoothly.
“We are pleased with how well the move-in process went this year. Housing and Ancillary Services once again worked cooperatively with the city, local police, and traffic specialists on the plan to promote traffic flow, mitigate the risk of disruptions to the community, and maintain public transit and emergency vehicle routes throughout the weekend,” Wales said.
Residence dons, upper year students that foster community and ensure the safety of students in residence, orientation leaders, varsity athletes, and members of the Queen’s community also helped students move into their new homes on campus.
USW Local 2010, she’s witnessed the highest level of anxiety among steelworkers.
Staff who help the University deliver key academic programs to students continue to receive unlawfully restricted wage raises of one per cent, Orser explained. Since Bill 124, which capped salary increases for broader public sector workers at one per cent, was declared unconstitutional and repealed in February this year, the University has had the ability to adjust to steelworkers’ wages.
They haven’t budged, Orser confirmed. Meanwhile, the University’s Managerial & Professional Group were given raises of 4.25 or 4.75 per cent, she added.
See Strike on page 2
NEWS — PAGE 4
AMS summer in review, Team OAR
FEATURES — PAGE 6
The silence surrounding Queen’s Orientation Week
SPORTS— PAGE 10
Can U SPORTS compete with the NCAA for top talent?
POSTSCRIPT — PAGE 16
How giving up my pursuit as an artist ended up being the best creative decision I’ve made
Union Gallery celebrates 55 years of Queen’s Fine Art Education with alumni exhibition
‘Home Again’ brings students and alumni together for milestone celebration
Meghrig Milkon
Senior Arts & Culture Editor
As Queen’s University welcomes incoming students and prepares to welcome many alumni from different departments and faculties, one such special occasion is happening inside of Union Gallery.
This year, Queen’s University proudly celebrates 55 years of Fine Art education—a milestone rich with history and achievement. In honour of this significant anniversary, Union Gallery is excited to present Home Again, an exhibition featuring the visual artwork of alumni from the Bachelor of Fine Art and Bachelor of Art Education programs from Sept. 3 to 14.
“This exhibition not only highlights the exceptional work of our Fine Art alumni but also reflects our aspirations for the future of arts education at the University,” said Union Gallery in a release. The exhibition will be open to the public during regular gallery hours.
The Home Again exhibition includes 86 pieces from more than 75 alumni and was supported by the Queen’s University Alumni Association’s (QUAA) special project grant. The grant was used to offset shipping costs, so alumni artists from around the world could participate in the show.
See Union Gallery on page 7
Queen’s welcomed students to residence Aug. 30 and 31.
PHOTO BY NELSON CHEN
NEWS
‘This is history:’ Unions take steps to strike
Unions petition for fair wages and reasonable workloads ahead of collective agreement bargaining
Continued from front page.
Due to the University’s inaction, some staff members aren’t earning livable wages, Christina Salavantis, program associate in the department of sociology, explained in an interview with The Journal. They can’t pay for their rent, gas, or groceries, the former union executive claimed.
As well as low wages, staff are experiencing increased workloads leading to extreme exhaustion and burnout.
“They care about their team and want the University to succeed, yet they’re exhausted. When they leave their job at 4:30 p.m., they go home and do three more hours of work at home, usually with approved overtime. That’s impacting your family. That’s impacting your self care, your personal life,” Salavantis said.
Laid off staff’s work is made redundant, yet Miranda* claims she’s shouldered the tasks of two recently dismissed employees.
The steelworker signed her unions petition. She’s worried when USW’s collective agreement with Queen’s expires on Dec. 31 and the union heads to the bargaining table, the University’s senior
administrators won’t meet steelworkers demands.
“I want a salary that measures up to inflation. It’s not like we’re asking for anything wild. My rent has gone up by five per cent the last couple of years,” Miranda said in an interview with The Journal.
Also heading for and currently seated at the bargaining table is unit 1 and 2 of PSAC 901. Unit 2, representing postdoctoral scholars, has been at the bargaining table for nearly a year, while unit 1, including teaching assistants and fellows, collective agreement expired in April and they’re waiting for the University to provide them with bargaining dates.
For Jake Morrow, PSAC 901 president, the University is demonstrating a lack of urgency when it comes to securing bargaining dates for unions across campus. The University is saying they can’t bargain until October, Morrow claimed in an interview with The Journal.
Like USW Local 2010, Morrow is circulating a petition amongst PSAC 901 members, urging the University to provide increased funding for graduate students so they can cover their tuition, housing, healthcare, and basic living expenses. Morrow intimately understands the financial struggles PSAC 901 members face, making under $20,000 a year himself.
“This petition gets at the heart of what a union is.
A union is agroup of workers who come together to use what is their collective strength to influence their employers to provide better working
conditions, to better their community, to better their lives,” Morrow said. Issues can’t be resolved just by the union’s “incredible bargaining teams,” Morrow explained. They will be adequality
addressed if 5,000 unionized employees join together and demonstrate to the University their commitment to change.
*Name changed due to safety concerns
Professor Emeritus Allan Manson, renowned for 39-year career, passes away at 75
Former mentee of Manson speaks to his accomplishments
Jonathan Reilly Assistant News Editor
Whether making arguments to the Supreme Court, helping found the Queen’s Prison Law Clinic, or cultivating the next generation of lawyers, Professor Emeritus Allan Manson was constantly striving to make change.
Professor Manson, a criminal law professor who worked at Queen’s for 39 years, recently passed away on Aug. 19 at the age of 75 in his home after a five-year battle with lung cancer.
During his tenure at Queen’s, he made prison law and sentencing key components of the law school curriculum. Manson also led the Correctional Law Project—now known as the Queen’s Prison Law Clinic—from 1979 to 1981 and was involved in litigating several significant cases in this area.
In an interview with The Journal, Lisa Kerr, an associate professor of criminal law and former mentee of Manson, spoke about his accomplishments.
Kerr explained Manson wasn’t only an educator, but had plenty experience in the real legal world, giving arguments to powerful judicial bodies opposing solitary confinement laws and advocating for prisoners right to vote.
“He testified before legislative committees about what the new legislation that would abolish and replace solitary confinement should look like. His voice was really important in that process and really helped to improve the final legislation that was passed. He was also an intervener in the case before the Supreme Court of Canada that established the right that prisoners have to vote,” Kerr said.
Story contiuned online at queensjournal.ca/news
CORRECTIONS
Corus Entertainment cuts local on-air broadcasting in Kingston
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that CFRC 101.9-FM was Kingston’s last remaining radio station. Although on July 18, Corus eliminated on-air positions at Fresh Radio 104.3 (CKLC-FM) and BIG 96.3 (CKWS-FM), both stations still hold CRTC licenses and continue to broadcast. MBC, Rogers Radio, and CBC Radio 1 will still offer on-air broadcasting via their Kingston radio stations.
Incorrect information appeared in the August 30 issue of The Queen’s Journal The Journal regrets the errors.
SGPS opts for co-working space in revitalized JDUC
A previous version of this article stated there was a shift from dedicated SGPS office space to bookable rooms in the revitalized JDUC and this change leaves the SGPS without a space to conduct interviews, hold meetings, or store confidential documents such as financial reports. This information was incorrect, in fact, the SGPS has retained a reception area, secure storage space, and a dedicated boardroom and co-working space for their Executives and staff within the new JDUC, as well as bookable meeting and study spaces for their members.
Incorrect information appeared in the August 30 issue of The Queen’s Journal The Journal regrets the errors.
Several firearms found eight-minute walk from Biosciences Complex
Student who lives near incident expresses concern over safety in University District
The Kingston Police seized multiple firearms, including an AK-47, minutes away from Queen’s campus on Aug. 28.
Around 8:15 p.m., Kingston Police conducted a welfare check at a house near Wellington and Gore St. Prior to the welfare check, the police was contacted by the resident’s family as there were concerns for the individual’s mental and physical wellbeing.
Upon entering the residence, the police found several firearms, including a loaded AK-47, scattered around the house. Police also seized five loaded AK-47 magazines, ammunition storage, and a feeding device for a repeating firearm. AK-47s, prohibited in Canada, are capable of automatic fire, meaning the gun continuously fires bullets until the trigger is released.
The individual wasn’t home when police first found the firearms but returned while they were still on scene. The individual, a 53-year-old male, was arrested once their wellbeing was established and police confirmed they were not in need of assistance.
Police charged the individual with seven counts of possessing a firearm while prohibited, among other weapon charges.
Andy Ganea, HealthSci ’26, lives minutes away from where the seizure took place. On top of his schoolwork and extra curriculars, Ganea now worries about his safety at home in the University District.
“I felt comfortable in the student district before the raid, but now I feel more cautious,” Ganea said in an interview with The Journal.
Following the incident, Ganea is hesitant to walk alone in the dark.
Students living inside the University District are encouraged to utilize resources like Queen’s Walkhome. Walkhome is an AMS service that provides students a peer to walk them to their destination, and operates from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday to Wednesday and 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., Thursday to Saturday.
Emerging entrepreneurs secure $50,000 during DDQIC summer pitch competition
Team of four Queen’s students win $20,000 for their innovation
Sofia Tosello Senior News Editor
From gamifying physiotherapy to optimizing labs across Canada, the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC) summer pitch competition showcased emerging entrepreneurial brilliance on Aug. 14.
For 12 years, DDQIC has produced changemakers by encouraging and supporting their entrepreneurial ventures through the pitch competition, as well as incubators, workshops, programs, and courses.
Held in the Mitchell Hall atrium, seven teams presented their projects to a panel of three judges, including the Chief Executive Officer at Kingston Economic Development Donna Gillespie, Co-Founder and President of Juniper Creates, Nikita Kopotun, Sci ’16, and, Co-founder and former Chief Operating Officer of Iris Technologies Inc., Conor Ross, Sci ’16.
After giving a five minute pitch, judges posed questions to the team, allowing the emerging entrepreneurs to identify areas of concerns and improve their innovations. Winning teams received a piece of the $50,000 prize fund, donated by the Dunin and Deshpande families, Smith Engineering, and the Faculty of Arts and Science.
Judges selected winners based on the team’s commitment to their project, the positive social effect the innovation will have on its intended target, and the amount of progress the group had made over the summer, Gregory Bavington, executive director of DDQIC, explained in an interview with The Journal.
Monarch Informatics team, comprised of four Queen’s students, won $20,000. Theo Lemay, Sci ’25, Azeem Khan, Comp ’24, Marcus Wright-Smith, Comm ’24, and Jasmine Wu, ArtSci ’25 are optimizing clinical laboratories across Canada, helping them collect more data, focus on quality control, and improve efficiency.
“[Monarch Informatics] is providing important metrics and dashboards to management [in clinical laboratories]. They’re providing real time monitoring of what’s going on in the labs like the contamination rate of samples and how long it takes to get a sample through the lab,” Bavington said, Another team, Local Reach,
secured $10,000 to help restaurants and bars monetize their untapped, recurring TV commercial breaks. Vulnscanner AI, providing an affordable, user-friendly website security platform to businesses, and EcoSafeSense, delivering real-time air quality data to customers, both received $5,000.
Other participating teams include Solace Mobility who “gamified physiotherapy,” Bavington explained. The Solace Mobility team, comprised of Sarah Lacy, Comm ’26, Maxwell Clark, Sci ’24, and two University of Toronto students, Annelies Henckel and Molly Long, created motion tracking technology to monitor users’ physiotherapy exercises. If users successfully complete their exercises, the technology provides them with words of encouragement and metrics to sustain their progress.
While Solace Mobility entered the competition with the possibility of securing funding, money is just one part of the experience, Bavington explained. Prior to the pitch competition, teams spent their summer in the Queen’s Innovation Centre Summer Initiative (QICSI) building
their business venture.
Summer initiative participants shift their mindset and career ambitions in a more innovative and entrepreneurial direction, going on to start or continue ventures and work at start-up companies, Bavington said.
A former student and current program coach at DDQIC, Enoch Muwanguzi, recipient of the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship, was at the pitch competition as a guest speaker. He presented his innovation, Ugabrush, a shoe brush used by school children in Uganda.
“[Muwanguzi] is a great example of what we love to see,” Bavington said. “He had this idea [to address] a very localized problem. […] Ugandan school children have to wear leather shoes to school. The streets are dusty and muddy, and the kids are constantly shining their shoes,” Bavington said.
An embodiment of innovation, Muwanguzi told audiences shoe brushes are typically made from horsehair, but Uganda doesn’t have horses. So, he used
cow-tail hair instead.
Muwanguzi is in the process of expanding his business, hiring workers and buying new machinery. An audience member was so impressed with his pitch, they wrote him at $5,000 cheque right then and there, Bavington recounted.
Students can also bring their innovative ideas to DDQIC’s doorstep in Mitchell Hall.
“Just come and see us. Everybody is welcome through the front door and welcome to avail themselves to the resources that we have,” Bavington said. Bavington encourages students who want to follow in the footsteps of DDQIC alumni to take the Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Creativity program plan, and join clubs like Enactus Queen’s, creating innovative and self-sustaining projects that advance the economic, social, and environmental health of communities around the world.
AMS summer in review
Team OAR outlines priorities heading into the fall semester
Lauren Nicol & Jonathan Reilly Assistant News Editors
With the new school year starting, AMS President Owen Rocchi, Vice-President (Operations)
Ayan Chowdhury, and VicePresident (University Affairs) Ruth Osunde spoke to The Journal about their summer initiatives and plans for the fall semester.
Team OAR inherited the JDUC revitalization project from previous AMS executives which was originally set to open in May but has been pushed back to November of this year. While Team OAR didn’t provide any specific move in plans, they explained the services tend to be more difficult to move in whereas commissioners can set up easily.
This summer, the executive team learned to collaborate with one another, having each run for their respective positions individually rather than the usual three-person slate format.
An initiative the team took on these past four months was reviewing the previously controversial recognition policy which was instated during their predecessors, Team KMV’s, term after the policy received backlash.
Team OAR also touched on an online platform called EmpowerMe, a service provided to students since the fall of 2019. This platform allows students to attend up to eight virtual sessions with trained mental health practitioners to help with any mental health issues they might be facing.
Moving forward, the executive team wants to increase community engagement and improve transparency within the AMS.
Transparency
Transparency is a priority for Team OAR. They plan to stream each monthly AMS Assembly on YouTube, the highest legislative decision-making body of the AMS with representatives from all societies, and use social media platforms to disseminate accurate information about the student organization’s endeavors, Rocchi explained.
“[Streaming each AMS Assembly] will make it a lot easier for students to check in on what their student government is doing and to really bolster communication,” Rocchi said.
Although several assembly meetings have been livestreamed in the past, Rocchi hopes this partnership with the AMS Media Centre (AMC) will guarantee every assembly is streamed and easily accessible to students..
“We want to make sure
that we’re providing correct information, so students are well and properly informed. Sometimes, it takes a little bit of time to craft the statement, put things together, cross check our sources, and make sure everything is correct, but the goal is to never ever lie to our students,” Osunde said.
For Osunde, transparency has always been a priority.
“We always aim to be transparent, and I think that’s something that we’ve tried to embody since we started our terms. It’s something that last year’s team wasalsoverydiligentintransitioning us in as well. I think the AMS strives for that transparency piece,” Osunde said.
Working as a Team
While Team OAR was elected individually, they’ve utilized the summer months to learn how to work as a team.
Rocchi highlighted despite coming into their positions separately, their passion for students and the work the AMS does has allowed them to connect as a team.
Over the summer, the executive team and other AMS employees have “built that synergy to be able to work together,” Rocchi said.
To create this camaraderie across all levels of the AMS, Team OAR is increasing the number of AMS socials, allowing employees to get to know each other on a
personal level while still maintaining respectful working place relationships.
Community Engagement
This summer, Team OAR increased their engagement with the Queen’s community through LinkedIn, a platform that was previously underutilized. They’ll continue to reach students using social media channels this fall.
“We’re a lot more active on LinkedIn now, which is a platform that we’ve had, but we’re looking to broaden our engagement,” Chowdhury said.
According to Chowdhury, LinkedIn, alongside e-mail marketing, are two examples of outreach methods the AMS used for recruitment during hiring periods.
“[These methods] showed great engagement and results with a lot of students becoming aware of what the AMS does,” he added.
Moving forward, Rocchi wants to spread the word about the AMS Food Bank, an AMS run service that collects non-perishable food to distribute to the community.
“It’s a huge initiative that I’m really passionate about because it gives students something tangible to see and show them that the AMS is out there working for them as a lot of our work is done behind closed doors,” said Rocchi.
First weekend of orientation shows open liquor fines down 73 per cent compared to last year
Jonathan Reilly Assistant News Editor
Despite reports of individuals climbing construction equipment and trespassers at Gord Downie Pier, this year’s first weekend of orientation saw a decrease in fines handed out.
Last weekend, the Kingston police handout out 119 tickets, two for public intoxication, three court summons , six for underage drinking, 78 for open liquor containers, and 30 for other miscellaneous charges.
In comparison, last year there were four charges for public intoxication, 24 for underage drinking, and 295 for open liquor.
In a statement to The Journal, Kingston Police outlined a couple of incidents that took place throughout the weekend.
“Over the weekend, there were reports of people trespassing at the Gord Downie Pier after it was closed. As well, there was content posted on social media showing people climbing on construction equipment inside a fenced off construction site,” the statement said.
Kingston Police emphasized their main priority is keeping the peace and upholding the law.
“Our focus is on public safety and ensuring that if gatherings occur, they are peaceful, lawful and safe.”
During Queen’s high-volume weekends such as orientation week, Homecoming, and St. Patrick’s Day, the University District Safety Initiative (UDSI) is put into effect to help deal with the increased volume of people. Some of the UDSI changes include an increase in police presence and stricter enforcement of local bylaws and nuisance parties.
To help students deal with the increase in officer presence, the Social Issues Commission (SIC) offers the Know Your Rights Campaign. The Commissioner of Social Issues (Internal), Jana Amer, HealthSci ’26, spoke with The Journal about the program, highlighting what it aims to do and its benefits.
Story contiuned online at queensjournal.ca/news
AMS Executive team talks transperency and commmunity engagement.
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
International student enrollment sinks amid federal visa cap
The University has maximized international student offers based on provincial limits
Elizabeth Provost & Lauren Nicol Journal Staff
For the 2024-25 academic year, Queen’s accepted students from 85 countries, totaling 400 international undergraduate students entering the halls.
This marks a sharp decrease from 2023-24, when 1,829 international students from 119 countries attended the University. In part, this is a result of the federally imposed cap on student visas put into effect earlier this year.
“The cap on international student enrolment and the process for distributing enrollment in Ontario has created challenges in attracting talented young individuals to post-secondary institutions, including Queen’s, and this limits the University’s capacity to expand revenue through international student enrolment, thereby restricting a source of potential revenue growth,” said the University in a statement to The Journal.
The University explained they’ve maximized the number of offers made to international students based on the distribution of spaces from the provincial government and will be continuing to make offers of admission for a January start.
Queen’s, providing the metric for the 2024-25 academic year, highlighted this number doesn’t include students who are coming to the University this year on exchange or international graduate and professional students.
In a statement sent to The Journal, Queen’s international student Yu-Han (Edward) Chiu, Sci ’27, shared that when choosing between numerous offers extended from Canadian universities for his undergraduate studies, he chose Queen’s direct-entry Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering program due to the University’s collaborative and friendly environment, and the specialized AutoDrive group.
Chiu admitted he hesitated to choose a Canadian university for his post secondary education as he wasn’t sure about its international reputation.
“It’s not very well known in my country,” he said.
Steve Orsini, president and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities, shared in a statement to The Journal the changes to the nation’s immigration policy set in Ottawa has “Led to a significant decline in Canada’s reputation for higher education.” So much so, that the nationwide enrollment did not even meet the federally imposed cap on student visas. These changes, Orsini stated, will “exacerbate the financial challenges already faced by universities.”
A statement from the University ensured they will continue to make efforts to attract international students—by conducting outreach from Canada and by sending recruiters overseas to speak to prospective students, families, and guidance councillors.
Arts and Science students learn Gaelic chants and get muddy during first weekend of orientation
ASUS demonstrates to first-year students how to enjoy themselves sans alcohol
Lauren Nicol Assistant News Editor
Over 1,900 first-year students in the Faculty of Arts and Science participated in orientation events this past weekend.
The Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) welcomed new students and integrated them into the Queen’s community during the first weekend of orientation, spanning Sept. 1 to 2.
On Sept. 1, first-year students participated in the Welcome Forum event at Richardson Stadium where they listened to the Queen’s chant, “Cha Gheill,” for the first time. They also learned about campus clubs at the Queen’s in the Park event and snacked on popcorn and cotton candy during Carnival at Tindall Field.
The following day, first-year students, sporting the iconic Queen’s tam—a flat hat symbolizing their faculty—participated in the traditional Tamming Ceremony before getting muddy in the Mud Run at Robinson’s Farm.
For Jackie Evans, ArtSci ’28, the Mud Run was a fun way to get out of her comfort zone. Orientation events curbed Evans homesickness and eased anxiety about the upcoming school year.
“As a first-year student in the FAS, my orientation experience has been a fantastic way to transition into university life and feel part of [the] Queen’s lively and inclusive community,” Evans said in a statement to The Journal. “It’s been exciting
to meet new people, receive guidance from my Gaels, and get involved in campus activities.”
Over 300 Gaels and Orientation Coordinators (OC’s), upper year students that lead and organize orientation events, are supporting first-years like Jackie and facilitating a positive environment for all students, Cole Olidis, ASUS president, said in an interview with The Journal.
Orientation can be loud and overwhelming, Olidis said. This year, he’s ensured introverted students can participate in orientation, hosting low intensity events.
“If you don’t want to go run through the mud, which isn’t for everyone, we had our Daffodil Day also taking place at the same time,” Olidis said.
Daffodil Day takes place at
Robinson’s Farm and features live music, crafts, and board games. While Queen’s has a reputation of being a party school, orientation events like Daffodil Day show students you can have a good time without alcohol Olidis added. Gaels and OC’s signed a contract with Orientation Round Table (ORT), who help faculties deliver their orientations, agreeing to stay sober during orientation period.
First-year Arts and Science students can look forward to events like the ORT Mystery Concert in Miller Hall’s parking lot on Sept. 6, and Coverall Painting on Sept. 7 in Lower City Park.
Orientation took place Sept. 1 to 2.
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
FEATURES
The silence surrounding Queen’s Orientation Week
Media restrictions for Orientation Leaders highly contested
Sarah Adams Features Editor
Orientation week ushers in a new school year for first-year students eager to begin their post-secondary journeys. As these fresh beginnings unfold, a more intricate narrative emerges—one where upper-year orientation leaders play a vital role in guiding newcomers through their first steps on campus.
Claire Millar, ArtSci ’26, became a Gael for Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) orientation last year. Based on her experience, Millar highlighted concern and consequences students may face in the absence of confidentiality restrictions. She provides insight into a debate between the importance in maintaining student confidentiality and the need for transparency during the orientation experience.
According to Millar, the AMS—who is responsible for facilitating Faculty Society Orientation—holds strict rules in relation to confidentiality measures orientation leaders must agree to in their contracts.
The Orientation Roundtable (ORT) 2023 Leader Contract, obtained from Millar, states all individuals who agree to be an orientation leader of any faculty “agree not to divulge any information to any other person, entity or organization except with express written permission from a supervisor to do so, or as may be required by law.”
A PDF presentation shared by Jane* with The Journal outlines the media protocol enforced for Gaels, which states they “should not speak to any media personnel! All media personnel will be delt with and addressed by the Head Gael only.” The PDF provides subsequent steps for Gaels to follow when interacting with the media.
Rule one reads, “If a reporter approaches you and asks you a question, regardless of if it seems simple and innocent, or if it is being posed by a friend, politely say that you are not in a position to answer at this time and to contact a Chair or the Head Gael.”
Such guidelines reflect a broader approach taken by the University about confidentiality.
“The policy on confidentiality with orientation leaders and students who are participating is to follow an ‘up, not out system,’” said Maddie Ronan, AMS orientation roundtable coordinator, in a statement to The Journal
“This means that with situations brought to orientation leaders by incoming students, which concern the student’s safety, it is the role of the orientation leader to inform [the] ORT
Coordinator to ensure that all individuals involved receive the help, attention, and resources applicable to their situation and needs,” Ronan said.
The media silence imposed
on orientation leaders creates an inherent tension between maintaining student confidentiality and ensuring transparency about the orientation experience. While confidentiality provides students with a safe space to express their concerns, it also raises questions about the transparency of the orientation process and the University’s accountability.
Millar feels these rules are “set for the better.”
“My role and purpose as an orientation leader involved being someone that incoming students could confide in and feel safe around—providing advice and guidance during a vulnerable and scary time of the lives of incoming first years,” Millar said.
The impact of this role does not go unnoticed by first-year students.
“During my time in orientation, I had an amazing experience. […] It was an upbeat, social, and an exciting process that connects students with people in their own year as well as participating upper years,” Ella Majer, ArtSci ’26, said in a statement to The Journal
Queen’s is infamous for the unique orientation experience it provides for students, from learning the “Cha Gheill” to each student being presented with their own faculty tam. Yet, students like Megan Harris, ArtSci ’25, feel frustrated and confused as to why these rules and restrictions are in place. They believe that concern surronding media restrictions is mis-directed towards protecting the public perception of the University’s reputation.
“Part of the reason I came to Queen’s was for the orientation— it isn’t transparent if someone is having a poor experience,”
Harris said in an interview with The Journal
For Alex McDonald, ArtSci ’26, their experience with orientation week and orientation overall has been “really positive” and a “great opportunity to foster new connections,” they said in a statement to The Journal
“I believe that restricting communication of orientation leaders with media will create an environment where students feel silenced or unable to express their genuine experiences, whether positive or negative,” McDonald said.
McDonald highlighted the duality of unrestricted media access for orientation leaders, emphasizing that it’s important for both those who have concerns or negative experiences to have
a platform to share their stories, and for leaders with positive experiences to do the same.
“As a student, I believe it’s crucial for all activities at the University should be conducted transparently, which includes allowing students to speak freely with media groups,” McDonald said. “Ultimately, I think preventing students who are orientation leaders from speaking about orientation and orientation week is a misguided policy that should be revised,” they said.
Gaels, or other orientation leaders, not being able to speak to media about their orientation experience is suspicious, McDonald added.
“I just don’t know why they would not be able to talk,” said Brooke Johnston, ArtSci ’28, in an interview with The Journal
“The stigma surrounding media is present nowadays—even if an individual does not have anything to hide, they still fear of the press, and is not necessarily a good occurrence,” Johnston said.
The strict media policy, though intended to protect student privacy, may inadvertently shield the University from public scrutiny and prevent a balanced view of the orientation experience from emerging.
“[The confidentiality restrictions for orientation leaders] shows more than enough about the school’s values at trying to mitigate bad public relations,” said Andrew Bennett, Comm ’26, in a statement to The Journal
“When leaders are approached by media, the expectation since 2021 is that they let the AMS ORT
Coordinator and the Vice-President, University Affairs know and refer the media outlet to either one of the people who hold those roles,” Ronan said. “The reason for this is to relay consistent information to the media from the people who are the most knowledgeable.”
While the confidentiality policies are designed with good intentions, they have led to emotional challenges for both students and orientation leaders, revealing a more complex reality beneath the surface.
“To me it feels wrong— restricting aspects of speech for certain students is odd of a liberal institution,” said David Emery, ArtSci ’26, in an interview with The Journal.
In an age where a single misstep can lead to widespread backlash on social media, the University’s policies reflect a cautious approach to protecting both students and the institution from potential reputational harm.
“I could see this policy justifiably in place as a safeguard against how hostile media and online culture has become—that is, cancel culture,” Emery said.
Emery believes social media creates an opportunity for a one-off statement to do irreputable damage.
As a now third-year student, Emery explained how first year comes with high expectations, and when first-year students are disappointed, they might criticize Queen’s, regardless of the actual circumstances.
Similarly, Millar acknowledges
BY
the dangers social media plays in the importance of confidentially during orientation.
“Had there not been the rule that us Gaels could not speak to the media about our orientation leader experience as it was happening, there may have been cases where first-year students had their vulnerabilities exposed to the media,” Millar said.
These media-related challenges are not just procedural—they also have tangible emotional consequences, affecting how individuals experience and respond to orientation-related pressures.
“Had media censorship policies not been in place, it would take away from the fact that orientation leaders are supposed to be individuals that first years can feel safe with and confide in,” Millar said.
“The current media policy benefits students by ensuring that the details and information published by the media are consistent with all other Fall Orientation messaging, in effort to create a positive experience for the students,” Ronan said.
As the curtain falls on this year’s orientation, a delicate balance between confidentiality and transparency shapes how the orientation narrative is perceived—where debates about these policies persist throughout the hallowed halls of Queen’s University.
*Name changed due to safety concerns.
Fall Orientation runs from Aug. 31 to Sept.8.
PHOTO
NELSON CHEN
It’s tIme to reevaluate
the true value of a unIversIty degree
There’s nothing like a new school year to make us question the prospect and value of pursuing higher education.
More than ever, individuals across Canada are evaluating the worth of a university degree. With student loan debts reaching up to $30,000 and tough job markets no longer guaranteeing employment, students are driven to question whether the pursuit of post-secondary educations is worthwhile.
These days, whether higher education is worth the investment of time and money has little to do with individual values and more to do with societal expectations. Social and cultural discourse have associated more worth with certain degrees over others, based on their employability and the likelihood of leading to high-paying jobs.
While this is a realistic and ideal mindset to have, we shouldn’t let these two factors cloud our judgement.
As a collective, we’ve isolated the
degree from the experience of learning and being a university student.
It’s easy to lose sight of what institutions have to offer when all hiring officers see is a reputation and a stamp on a fancy piece of paper.
For many of those approaching the end of their high school careers, postsecondary education has become the default next step—earning a bachelor’s degree is more common than it was before. While this reads as a positive statistic, it loses its appeal if students fail to see or reap the benefits of their degree.
University isn’t just about the degree. Being a student offers a wealth of opportunities and access to a plethora of networks and resources. Of course, it’s up to the individual to unlock those and use them to their advantage.
Engaging in academics challenges our critical thinking and connects us with diverse perspectives. While these benefits make getting a degree valuable, they’re in no way exclusive to educational institutions. People can develop critical thinking and collaborative skills that benefit the health of society through the trades, the arts, and countless other pathways.
The type or presence of a university degree shouldn’t determine the value of your contribution to society. Your contribution is meaningful as long as you put in effort and passion.
It’s time we got over opting for university because everyone else is going—there’s no “right” place to be. Going through with a degree while being unsure of your future isn’t bad, either, as you may discover interests and goals along the way.
We must uncover the value of a university education independent of societal pressure. If it’s not the right fit, then you can invest your dollars and energy elsewhere. Ultimately, it’s important to make a decision that feels true to yourself.
—Journal Editorial
Board
the West’s sIlence Is complIcIt In the talIban’s oppressIon of Women
New ‘morality’ laws imposed by the Taliban are anything but moral.
Earlier this week, I woke up to news about the Taliban’s recent enactment of new laws on “vice and virtue” in Afghanistan, signaling serious regressions in women’s rights, essentially threatening to erase their existence and diminish their identities as women.
Yet, the Western world remains silent—not an enforced silence, but a chosen one.
The Taliban’s new laws build upon their existing rules and tight grip on the lives of Afghans. Issued by the Ministry for the “Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice,” established in 2021, these laws expand on existing discriminatory policies, such
as mandatory dress codes that require women to veil their entire bodies and faces in public to avoid all-around temptation.
Women are now required to have a male guardian (mahram) when going out in public. They’re forbidden from singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public or even from their homes, as being heard could result in punishments as severe as detention for up to three days. The Ministry has already been enforcing similar morality laws, detaining thousands of people for violating these ‘morality’ rules .
“In an effort to stabilize the conflict, over 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members served in Afghanistan as part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force from 2001 to 2014, marking the largest Canadian military deployment since the Second World War,” the Government of Canada said in 2021.
Despite these efforts, attempts at stabilization failed as the Taliban seized power.
As it stands, the Taliban’s new law violates all 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The new measures they continue to implement highlight the Taliban’s deep-seated hatred towards women and the silence of the international media
those in Grades seven to twelve aren’t permitted to use them during class time.
While eliminating the presence of these devices seems like a logical response to curbing issues stemming from cellphone usage, the reality of phones in our society is hardly this black-and-white.
only further undermines the rights of these women and girls, adding to their suffering and fueling the hatred against them.
The irony is not lost on me—nor should it be on anyone else. Labelling these new rules as “promoting virtue” and “preventing vice” would put every philosopher in history to shame. A woman’s voice may never be considered a vice, while their brutal methods of punishment are deemed virtuous—all in the name of morality.
The morality currently we stand behind instills fear in every woman’s voice as she leaves her home, and the fear for their life at the cost of their freedom, which seems to diminish before our eyes with every passing hour.
The women and girls of Afghanistan don’t deserve severe punishment for having a voice and existing as human beings. This situation is dystopian and made worse each day by the deafening and willing silence from so-called activists who claim to champion these causes.
Our silence isn’t just passive—it’s a complicit force, amplifying the silence Afghan women are forced to endure.
Meghrig is a third-year Philosophy student and The Journal’s Senior Arts & Culture Editor.
(TDSB), among many school boards, have blocked social media sites like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok from their networks. Students logged onto school wi-fi couldn’t access their beloved sites, but it wasn’t long before they discovered a way back on by using their own data plans.
Starting this fall, students in Ontario classrooms must get creative if they want to use their cellphones.
Another school year has begun, and Ontario’s school cellphone ban has taken effect. To crack down on cellphone-driven distraction, those in kindergarten to Grade six can’t use phones at all during the day, and
The Ministry of Education must consider the many other factors that fuel students’ phone usage. Otherwise, hastily removing them without confronting the residual problems won’t fix anything.
This isn’t Ontario’s first attempt at combatting phones in the classroom. The Toronto District School Board
It’s easy to put the onus on students to give up their phones, and on teachers to enforce the ban. However, these conditions could not be further from the real world.
Continued online at queensjournal.ca/ editorials.
PHOTO BY MEGHRIG MILKON
ILLUSTRATION BY ELLA THOMAS
OPINIONS
Affordable housing in Kingston is possible
Let's bridge the gap with university-led development and public support, paving the way for solutions that help everyone
Nicolas Brasset Duque Contributor
This story first appeared online on Aug. 30.
This year, Kingston smashed its new housing targets by a whopping 250 per cent with 1,465 new housing projects starting in the city. But as the demand for housing becomes fiercer and more competitive, Queen’s isn’t doing enough to support their students in finding a place to call home.
Queen’s will continue to be unable to guarantee housing for incoming undergraduate students. As it says on the official website: “If you receive an offer of admission after April 15, 2024, that does not contain a residence guarantee, and you apply for residence and pay the deposit by the deadline of June 3, 2024, at 4 pm ET, then you will be placed in a lottery for access to residence. You will be notified by June 6 whether you have a residence space.”
Despite this, Queen’s continues to enroll more first year students into our school despite the serious lack of housing options available on and off campus.
Kingston’s housing situation is deeply linked to Canada’s rental housing crisis, with more affordable housing increasingly vanishing. According to a CBC News analysis of over 1,000 neighborhoods across Canada's largest cities, less than one per cent of rentals are both vacant and affordable for the majority of Canadian renters.
In Kingston, new housing projects such as Foundry or Unity Point, sell two-bedroom apartments for students at $1450 per person, excluding electricity but including other utilities like water, heat, and Wi-Fi. For many students like myself who afford rent through part-time work and scholarships, this isn’t an option. As wages stagnate and inflation increases, the pressure to pay unaffordable rates of rent will mean longer hours at work and less hours of productive study time. This forces students to compete with each other, including international students, exchange students
and even Kingston locals for a spot nearby campus.
This leads to what is an incredibly stressful time for many students, with many students falling prey to exploitative landlords who take advantage of their desperation. Without fully understanding their rights as tenants, some landlords have student students sign leases that include illegal clauses, such as prohibiting pets, guests, or playing music.
This is a part of a larger issue where many landlords treat their properties as a simple source of stable income, an asset in which they don’t need to care or maintain, an asset that guarantees you a higher rate of return every year without any form of strong regulation. As rent increases throughout the student filled areas, it forces students to seek options elsewhere for longer commutes or ditch the idea of coming to Queen’s entirely.
A simple search on Reddit will show you how concerning this issue is for incoming full-time undergraduates. One user on Reddit states “Yep. If I don't get in this week, I'm not going to Queen's. I didn't think it'd be an issue for ConEd with my marks, but it's looking like my marks might not be high enough.”
Queen's is shooting itself in the foot by failing to do more to address the current rental housing crisis students are facing. While the University is committed to its “Campus Master Plan,” which acknowledges that the current housing situation “has caused stress on nearby communities and wear and tear on much of the historic housing stock,” it has not effectively advocated to the City of Kingston for more affordable and quality housing, not just for students at Queen’s but for Kingston locals as well.
As we know housing is not just a student issue, it’s a citywide issue. Students who otherwise would be coming to Kingston to study, live, work, and spend their money here are being scared away due to the disastrous housing situation. Financially, this means lost tuition, lost revenue, loss of potential employees, and a loss of potential alumni donors for the future of Queen’s University.
It’s time for Queen’s to recognize that by advocating and investing resources into the most challenging issue today, Queen’s can be a leader, an example of how academic institutions can play an influential role in addressing the affordability crisis.
One idea the University should pursue with the City's help is the concept of nonmarket housing. Non-market is different from social or public housing—non-market housing is protected from the forces of the real estate market and thus can offer affordable rent or rent below the average rate in Kingston.
In countries like the United States or some European countries such as Austria, universities have stepped up to support their students with either funding they have raised themselves, or
with money provided by their governments. Student housing at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has prices far below area market rates. This saves students a lot of money, as the average rent rates for a one bedroom in Boston is $3,446 a month which is much higher than Kingston's average rate for a one-bedroom apartment being at $1,853 a month.
In Finland, student housing is subsidized by the state and every student is given a monthly housing allowance with regular meetings and lobbying efforts by universities and student unions with the housing ministe to ensure that affordable and quality student housing remains a priority.
Other university towns, like Guelph and London, home to the University of Guelph and the University of Western Ontario, have also grappled with housing shortages. In Guelph, 1,300 incoming first year students were left without a guaranteed place to live. Western recently proposed a new residence hall for upper-year students—a step in the right direction, albeit overdue.
Queen’s has long been an anchor for the Kingston community, providing jobs, stimulating the local economy, and delivering critical services. When it comes to the housing crisis, it's no different—Kingston and the local community here have historically provided Queen’s and its students the amazing opportunity to work and live alongside them.
Queen's and the City of Kingston must work together to address this issue affecting all of us. Let us tackle this issue together for the benefit of not only students but all people who reside in Kingston.
Affordability is not just a Queens issue, it’s a Kingston issue too.
Nicolasisafifth-yearComputingstudent.
Kingston's housing crisis is intricately connected to the broader rental housing crisis in Canada
PHOTO BY ALLIE MOUSTAKIS
Future first-year students face off for off-campus housing amid interest rate cuts
‘We’re unlikely to see major changes in rent prices or housing availability’
Students looking for housing this academic year shouldn’t expect significant shifts in rent prices just yet.
While most first-year Queen’s students are housed on-campus in residence, they face the challenge of transitioning to off-campus housing after their first year with the added struggle of everchanging economic conditions.
This year, Queen’s welcomed close to 4,700 students to residence on move-in day.
Unlike post-secondary institutions in the U.S. and parts of Europe, where students often live in purpose-built student accommodations (PBSA), Canadian schools like Queen’s typically house most students off-campus after their first year. This creates a higher demand for off-campus rentals, especially as second-year students
transition out of residence and into the Kingston housing market.
Evenasthecostoflivingincreases, students often have little choice but to accept higher rent, as the competitive nature of the housing market in Kingston leaves them with limited affordable options.
The recent interest rate cut by the Bank of Canada (BoC) have sparked discussions on how the change may affect the student housing market, especially in university towns like Kingston, which have a high demand for off-campus rentals.
On Sept. 4, the BoC reduced the policy interest rate by 25 basis points from 4.5 per cent to 4.25 per cent. This is the third cut happening this year.
According to the BoC, the interest rate has been at 5 per cent since June 12 of last year until June 5 this year. An interest rate is the amount the bank charges for lending money to customers,
and it is a percentage of the amount borrowed.
The BoC interest rate cut is a monetary policy that lowers the interest rates charged on loans and mortgages, aiming to stimulate economic growth by making borrowing cheaper.
“A 25 basis point cut means a 0.25 per cent drop in the Bank of Canada’s rate,” said Michael Trendota, an adjunct professor in the Smith School of Business and the School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) at Queen’s, in an interview with The Journal.
Interest rate cuts lower borrowing costs, meaning property owners who hold mortgages may see reduced payments. Although borrowing costs decrease, making it cheaper for developers to finance new construction projects, this isn’t an immediate effect, Trendota said, noting the immediate impact on student housing is more limited.
“Student rental rates are
primarily driven by supply and demand, not interest rates,” Trendota added.
According to Trendota, Queen’s enrolment numbers largely dictate the demand for off-campus housing, and this is unlikely to change because of interest rates.
“If Queen’s increases its enrolment by a few hundred students, that will have a more immediate effect on demand for housing than a drop in [the BoC’s] interest rates. Until then, supply remains largely fixed, and students will continue to compete for the same number of rental units available near campus,” said Trendota.
“In the short term, we’re unlikely to see major changes in rent prices or housing availability, as the development cycle for new buildings typically takes several years.”
Trendota explained the broader implications for Kingston’s housing market are
complex. While lower interest rates might make financing new developments easier, Kingston’s tight rental market may not experience significant relief unless more housing is built.
“A lower interest rate may push some developers who were on the fence into building, but this is contingent on labour availability, zoning issues, and the economic feasibility of these projects,” he said.
For Queen’s students navigating the housing market, Trendota’s advice is simple. Ignore the interest rate cuts in the short term and focus on rental availability. Start your housing search as early as possible to secure a place that meets your needs.
While the impact of the BoC’s monetary policy may take time to influence the housing market, staying proactive and informed will help students navigate these uncertain conditions.
Carbon removal company UNDO partners with local Kingston mine
UNDO, a UK-based startup is partnering with Canadian Wollastonite, a Kingston-based mining company, to capture carbon from the atmosphere and help crops.
On Aug. 20, The Journal visited the mining site and interviewed representatives from both UNDO and Canadian Wollastonite.
According to their website, UNDO offers a permanent solution for carbon removal and removes carbon through a technology called enhanced rock weathering (ERW).
The process of rain falling through the atmosphere combines with carbon dioxide to produce carbonic acid. When this carbonic acid lands on silicate rocks, it mineralizes, and carbon is stored as a solid carbonate form. This process is called rock weathering, and it happens naturally every year.
ERW accelerates natural rock weathering by spreading crushed rock on agricultural land, increasing the rocks’ contact with carbon dioxide. Increasing the rocks’ contact with carbon dioxide allows carbon to be captured faster
The partnership will benefit local farmers by enriching soil
than its natural rate.
Crushed wollastonite is applied to farm fields to decrease fertilizer use.
UNDO’s main monetization strategy involves selling carbon credits. UNDO’s partners include Microsoft, McLaren Racing, and British Airways.
Canadian Wollastonite is the only wollastonite mine in Canada, according to their website
The Journal discussed the necessity of decarbonizations in an interview with Jim Mann, founder and CEO of UNDO.
“We need both reduced emissions and increased removals,” he said.
Mann explained the public should not dismiss other methods to combat climate change because humanity will need every solution.
Canadian Wollastonite has 17 million tonnes of wollastonite, and has set a goal to remove one million tonnes of carbon dioxide, according to a 2023 press release.
The press release from UNDO also said wollastonite absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere 10 times faster than comparable silicate minerals. Bob Vasily, president of Canadian Wollastonite, told The Journal.
Canadian Wollastonite has planted over 15,000 trees, built wetlands, and uses solar power in an effort to be environmentally conscious.
“Silicate rocks, such as basalt and wollastonite, are rich in minerals. As they weather, they release nutrients such as magnesium, calcium and
potassium, improving soil health and reducing the need for fertilizers,” UNDO stated in their blog.
As of now, Canadian Wollastonite
Queen’s professor advises first-year students to focus on rental availability.
PHOTO BY NELSON CHEN
SPORTS
Sports in Brief: Women’s Rugby and Soccer undefeated
Recapping the the Gaels best moments from this week
Aidan Michaelov Senior Sports Editor
It was a busy week for the Gaels as four separate teams competed in six games. Here are the biggest moments from this week’s competition in case you missed it.
Women’s Soccer
The Women’s Soccer team had a busy weekend, winning their first two games of the season on the road. The Gael’s kicked off their season on Aug. 30 against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, emerging with a dominant 4-0 win. The following day on Aug. 31, they faced off against the Toronto Metropolitan University Bold who they also shutout 3-0.
Mattson Strickler, ConEd ’25, was the first Gael to score this season, also winning Queen’s Varsity Athlete of the Week honours with her two-goal performance.
The Women’s Soccer team will take next to the pitch in Ottawa as they gear up to play the Carleton Ravens on Sept 6.
Men’s Soccer
The Men’s Soccer team hasn’t seen the same level of success as the Women’s Varsity team thus far throughout the season, falling to the Ridgebacks 1-2 and then getting shut out by the Bold 0-4.
There’s little cause for concern as it was expected the Gaels would experience some growing pains under new Head Coach Kasy Kiarash.
Looking to bounce back from their rocky start, the Men’s Soccer team will also be travelling to Ottawa on Sept. 6. to play against the undefeated Carleton Ravens.
Women’s Rugby
The Women’s rugby team got off to a hot start, defending their OUA title run with an imposing 48-6 triumph over the Brock Badgers at the home and season opener on Aug. 31 at Nixon Field.
Robyn Baker, ArtSci’27, opened the season scoring for the Gaels just over 15 minutes into the game, opening the floodgates for the rest of the team.
Among the plethora of try-scorers for the Gaels was
Olympic silver medalist Chloe Daniels, Comm ’25.
The Gaels look to continue their hot streak in Waterloo against the Warriors on Sept. 8.
Men’s Football
After dropping their season opener against the Windsor Lancers, the Gaels bounced back in their home opener, beating the McMaster Marauders 27-22.
The win was primarily thanks to the OUA’s selected offensive player of the week, Jared Chisari, MA ’25, who scored three touchdowns in the first half and proved to everyone why he was awarded Queen’s Outstanding Performance of the Year award last season.
While Chisari handled the offense for the Gaels, the Gaels played with ferocity and determination defensively. They forced the Marauders to punt on their first three possessions, helping the Gaels gain momentum, which would eventually carry them to the win.
The Gaels will return to Richardson Stadium on Sept. 7 or a 3:00 p.m. kickoff against the York University Lions.
All about the historic Lou Jeffries Memorial Game
Gaels face off against longtime rivals in Gananoque for annual fundraiser
Aidan Michaelov Senior Sports Editor
On Sept. 7, the men’s hockey teams from Queen’s and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) will travel to Gananoque, ON, to take part in an annual exhibition game in honour of Lou Jeffries, a key figure in the development of youth hockey programs in Gananoque, as well as a strong supporter of the Gaels hockey program.
Throughout his 50 years of
service to the Gananoque Minor Hockey Association (GMHA), Jeffries was able to bring Gananoque their own Junior B hockey team, of which he served as the Coach, General Manager, President, and League Executive for the GMHA and the Gananoque Islanders.
The memorial game and its scholarship were created in 2006 by the current Gaels’ Head Coach and Gananoque native, Brett Gibson. The scholarship, funded by money made from the game, was
AIDAN’S ANGLE
How can U SPORTS compete with the NCAA for top talent?
Canada’s success in the 2024 Summer Olympics emphasizes the need to invest in homegrown talent
Aidan Michaelov Senior Sports Editor
During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Canada sent 337 athletes to Paris to compete for international glory on the world’s most historic stage. Canada finished 12th in the competition, earning nine gold, seven silver, and 11 bronze medals. Among silver medalists were Gaels rugby stars Chloe Daniels, Comm ’25, and Taylor Perry ArtSci ’24, who also helped Queen’s win gold in the 2024 OUA Championships.
Beyond rugby, many other Gaels were sent to compete in the games—including Claire Meadows, PheKin ’07, head coach of the Women’s Basketball team, who was an assistant coach for the German Women’s Basketball team, road cyclist Derek Gee, ArtSci ’25, and artistic swimmer Scarlett Finn, ArtSci ’27.
While the youthful talent selected to represent Canada at the Olympic Games undoubtedly illuminated the bright future of Canadian athletics, one question lingers in my mind: Where will these athletes study and train?
Rugby programs nationwide are a somewhat of an anomaly, so I have no doubt our nation’s top talent will remain in Canada to
pursue their athletic and academic goals at schools like Queen’s or the University of British Columbia.
But for the athletes in other sports, such as track, I worry.
Men’s 10,000 metre and 5,000 metre 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, Grant Fisher, born in Calgary, AB. moved to the U.S. to pursue his athletic dreams in a more developed and supportive environment. After studying and competing at Stanford University, setting numerous American records, he eventually chose to represent Team USA at the past few Olympics and world championships.
While Fisher’s choice of a more sustainable, and likely, path to the top of his sport cannot be criticized, it does raise concerns about what Canada can do to make itself a better home for developing athletes.
The United States has found a way to commodify almost everything related to college sports. For years, it has made brands out of its student-athletes and recently found ways to help its athletes capitalize on their early successes with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, which were legalized in 2021.
Continued online at queensjournal.ca/sports
introduced when the Men’s Hockey team wasn’t receiving money from Queen’s Athletics and Recreation (ARC).
The award is given to a player who excels in both academics and athletics. Last year, Queen’s own Cole Shepherd, Comm ’27, won the scholarship for his outstanding performance on the ice and his character away from the rink. Historically, the Gaels are 43-3 against the Paladins, having won 18 straight matchups against their rivals. Their last loss came in 2019.
The Lou Jeffries Memorial Game is usually quite competitive competition, but it is still an exhibition game, nonetheless.
It offers both coaches an opportunity to get a good look at their roster, figure out their lines, defensive matchups, and powerplay and penalty kill plans, and finalize who will be between the pipes when the regular season rolls around.
The matchup between the Gaels and Paladins is part of a historic
137-year rivalry, which is also celebrated through the Carr-Harris Cup.
During last year’s Carr-Harris Cup matchup, the Gaels dominated the Paladins, winning 6-0 in a physical game, embodying the true spirit of hockey’s oldest rivalry.
If you’re interested in supporting the memorial game and the scholarship, head to Lou Jeffries Gananoque Recreation Centre on Sept. 7.
The Women’s Soccer team is undefeated through two games.
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
The Gaels are 43-3 against the Paladins JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
The landscape of collegiate sport is evolviving
Men’s Soccer rough start all a part of the plan
Herbert Wang
Assistant Sports Editor
The head coaching position for the Men’s Soccer team was left vacant until June after former Head Coach Christian Hoefler’s contract ended on April 30.
Under Coach Hoefler, the Gaels have struggled with playoff success, despite a strong regular-season record. Although they have only missed the playoffs once in the past eight seasons, the team has not won a postseason game since 2016.
Since the search for a new head coach began, the roster has seen some major changes, with Pablo Hempelmann-Perez, the OUA goals and points leader this past season transferring to the National Collegiate Athletics Association to play for the Hofstra University Pride.
Change is nothing to new Head Coach Kasy Kiarash, who was an assistant coach of two other OUA teams, TMU Bold and Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, before being hired this summer. He’s also spent time in the Canadian Premier League with HFX Wanderers FC, and Orlando City SC of the Major League Soccer (MLS).
“I’ve lived in a few different places, including Belgium and the U.S. and so you just learn to adapt and kind of roll with the punches,” Kiarash said in an interview with The Journal
Part of the process is taking pieces from previous teams and modeling a winning product on the field. For Kiarash, having joined the team late in the summer, he’s missed out on key moments for growth such as recruiting, but he’s been thankful for the work put in by those before him.
“I’ve been really impressed the recruiting class was done for me before I came, I’ve got a handful of incoming freshmen that I never met, including a whole team that, you know, that I’ve never coached or recruited. But the guys are great. The incoming players are great,”
The hiring of Kasy Kiarash kicks off a new era in Men’s Soccer Kiarash said.
This will be Kiarash’s first time manning the head of a program, but coming from other successful teams within the conference, he’s ready to implement a culture that brings the most from each player and fosters their development.
“Getting the time to get to know the players, get to know what motivates them, get to know what pushes the button on this one, and what motivates this one, and or me, that’s all we’re trying to do is build a family that that really knows each other, and that cares about each other,” he said.
“It’s important for the good
moments, but especially in the bad when the team isn’t winning, and tensions run high,” Kiarash added.
“When adversity hits, like in the playoffs, like it will. In my experience in the past, when I’ve created a family-like culture and a brotherhood, they’re ready to battle for each other, and especially in the moments of adversity.
[…] That’s the goal of this year is to just build that foundation which will, just, for me, impact winning in time and sustainable winning and a sustainable culture.”
For the team, adversity has already hit, dropping the first
two games to Kiarash’s former teams. However, with his culture of rolling with the punches, he only views the losses as a good thing.
“Getting these answers and getting tested early is, I think, amazing. We get to see all the areas we can improve in, and also see the measuring stick, see how far we are, see how close we are in some moments,” he added.
The team is already looking ahead to its next games, including its home opener. It’s a team that’s dedicated to playing a confident brand of football, confident with their approach each and
every day.
“You can expect from us is to be focused on the little things, on winning first and second balls, on outworking the other team, on staying together as a team in the moments of adversity, and playing our brand and our style of football.”
The Men’s Soccer team’s brand for football will be on display away against the Carleton Ravens on Sept. 6 at 8:15 p.m. You can also watch their home opener on Sept. 8 at 1:00 p.m at Richardson Stadium.
The Gaels are 0-2 to start the season.
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
Horoscopes: Saying hello to new friendships, and Goodbye to old ones
Don’t be scared, September isn’t that scary.
The Psychic Scholar Staff Writer
As we enter September, campus feels busier than ever. Around every corner there seems to be a joyful reunion or a dreaded stand-off. Every day, friendships are being made and broken. Honestly, it’s hard to keep up.
From forming new connections, to shedding yourself of old ones, here’s what September has in store for the zodiac signs.
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Maybe it’s time to tone down the Resting B—tch Face, Aries. If you open yourself up to new friendships, you might find that the girl sitting next to you in class isn’t so bad after all. This month, dust off your conversation starters, and be ready to make thrilling new connections.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Taurus, a new bombshell is about to enter the villa. Keep your eyes peeled, as an exciting new friendship is just around the corner. Rumour has it, this connection will stand the test of time, and last longer than any Love Island couple.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
The last couple of years have been pretty straightforward for you, Gemini, but the stars are saying September might be a little rocky. Friendships come in all different shapes and sizes, so who’s to say you can only stick with one type? It’s time to set sail and embrace new connections!
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Those people who cut with you in the Tumble Tuesday line aren’t your real friends, Cancer. I know you’re too nice to say anything, but it’s time to stand up for yourself. Cherish your closest friends this month, cause they’ll love you no matter how far back in line you are.
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)
You’re the type of person who makes sure their friends look absolutely perfect before going out, Leo. However, your housemates are the type to let you run around with smudged mascara. Time for a revamp! This month, look out for friends who match your energy.
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)
Grudges are so last year, Virgo. We know it’s in your nature to keep your guard up, but times are changing, just like the seasons. Shake off any harboured feelings and belt some Katy Perry. Once you’re “Wide Awake,” you’ll realize it was never a big deal, anyway.
up in your life, Libra. I bet it feels great! But don’t get too comfortable just yet. Your household is finally syncing up their mental calendars, so get ready for some chaos. Don’t worry, though—you’ll still be friends after all the dust settles.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)
As leaves and friendships fall around you, don’t fret, Scorpio. You’re in the clear, for now. Give the trusted people in your life some appreciation this month and take a backseat ride. For once, it’s not all about you!
on campus, but you ended up coming off as anti-social instead. You’re old enough now to use your grown-up voice—and to finally tell the waiter if you hated the food. This fall, be bold enough to forge some friendships!
Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)
Be wary of your housemates, Capricorn. Even though it may seem fine and dandy, a storm is brewing, and it’s heading your way. In such close quarters, it’s important to establish your own boundaries, respect the spaces of others, and for goodness’ sake, rinse out your dishes.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)
You believe your personality and sense of humour will elevate you to your higher purpose, Aquarius. In reality, your friends are starting to catch on to the same three one-liners you always use. If you’re commited to the ‘I’m so different’ mindset, it might be time to take a step back and let your friends shine.
Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20)
It’s time to take a long, hard look in the mirror, Pisces. Even though it seems like everyone is out to get you, you’re the only common denominator. Lighten up! Being a bad friend is not a good look on you.
Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22) Things are finally looking
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)
Last year, you wanted to be perceived as mysterious
ARTS & CULTURE
Union Gallery celebrates 55 years of Queen’s Fine Art Program with alumni exhibition
‘Home
Again’
celebrates students and alumni
Continued from the front page.
This exhibition comes at a challenging time for Queen’s University, following last year’s decision to suspend admission to the Bachelor of Fine Art Program.
Home Again underscores the significance and importance of the Fine Art program during this period of transition.
“It’s not just about us staying in touch, but it’s also about welcoming the graduates coming out of the Fine Art program into our fold and saying, ‘Hey, there’s a whole community of us beyond Ontario Hall that are here for you and support you,”
Angela Walsh Noble, BFA ’02, Ed ’03 said in an interview with Queen’s.
Alongside Home Again, Union Gallery’s main space will feature the bachelor apartment, a showcase of returning students’ work in the Project Room.
This exhibition creates a striking contrast and juxtaposition between the works of recent alumni and present students, evoking both a sense of nostalgia and a feeling of being “at home,” thereby completing a full circle of artistic evolution.
Katharine Harvey, ArtSci ’86, a conceptual painter and multi-media artist, spoke to the importance of art in our digital age.
“Through our imagination and intuition, we create thoughtprovokingworksneverseenbefore.,” Harvey said. “Artists are cultural workers, playing a vital role in reflecting and influencing our society. Handmade art with its unique human touch will become even more valuable in our digital age.”
Harvey believes and speaks of the importance of exhibitions such as Home Again as they provide opportunities for emerging artists to show and display their works proudly and allow them to have those experiences.
The exhibition will culminate with a special closed reception on Sept. 14 at Union Gallery, offering a final opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Queen’s Fine Art alumni.
‘Hate Has No Home Here’ travels from Kingston to House of Commons
Queen’s graduate promotes unity through art
Meghrig Milkon
Senior Arts & Culture Editor
Hill Werth, Ed ’24 an artist, activist, and educator set out to unite our differences through conversation, dialogue, and art.
A year ago, recent graduate, Hill Werth, launched their Hate Has No Home Here campaign. Since its inception in early September 2023, the campaign has spread across Canada, making its way from Kingston all the way to the House of Commons. The colourful piece is now prominently displayed on several window fronts on Princess St. promoting safe spaces for all members of the Kingston community.
While browsing stores, Werth noticed Pride flags, Black Lives Matter stickers, and Every Child Matters signs displayed side by side. This sight sparked an idea to create an artwork that unites these symbols, bridging different values, traditions, and identities—even when they aren’t always the same.
“This piece includes people who have historically been discriminated against and I wanted to create an image that included all people who have felt like they didn’t fit into this western society,” Werth
said in an interview with The Journal. “It was a step beyond putting a rainbow sticker or rainbow heart in the window.”
As Werth’s art started popping up around Kingston demand grew from people
is a “peaceful way to combat hate against all marginalized groups who have faced, and continue to face, discrimination.” It’s an invitation for people to step out of their bubbles, have meaningful but uncomfortable
differences—cultural, religious, or otherwise—are embraced rather than used to divide.
“I wish people would see that, we separate ourselves and I wish people would see that this poster is all-encompassing to breaking down those
wanting to showcase it in their organizations, schools, and businesses. Werth believes the spread of their art speaks to the importance of starting conversations, and without those conversations, the piece wouldn’t have evolved to where it is today.
With each poster delivered, Werth includes a note explaining that the artwork
conversations, and build bridges between diverse communities.
Although the artwork speaks volumes on its own, Werth often finds that some viewers miss its deeper message. They clarify the intention behind their art isn’t to create divisions or categorize people but to unite them. Their hope is to foster a loving and inclusive environment where
barriers of the difference that we have,” Werth said. Despite some negative comments and reactions to the campaign and their art, Werth champions the attitude of “fighting for the rights of everyone,” even if they have nothing in common together referencing that the good comments outweigh the bad ones.
A significant moment
of recognition came when Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston and the Islands, brought attention to Werth’s work in the House of Commons on Trans Day of Visibility on March 31.
“I want to recognize an incredible local artist and activist from the Kingston Area. […] The posters are proudly and prominently displayed at businesses and organizations on numerous windows and storefronts throughout the city reminding us that love, acceptance, and respect, are fundamental to a healthy society,” Gerretsen said in the House of Commons.
The campaign’s influence reached new heights when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the Hate Has No Home Here poster in a picture shared on Instagram with Gerretsen and the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera. For Werth, seeing that photo left them at a loss for words.
Through all the ups and downs of the campaign, Werth’s mission remains crystal clear. Their art continues to be a powerful tool for change, unwavering in its goal to unite people despite their differences and make Kingston a safer and more inviting place for everyone.
‘Home Again’ will be on display from Sept. 3 to 14.
PHOTO BY MEGHRIG MILKON
‘Hate Has No Home Here’ made it to the House of Commons on Mar. 31. SUPPLIED
Shallow words and quick comebacks reveal gaps in celebrity accountability
Earle’s quick switch from apology to glam raises questions about the depth of her remorse
Meghrig Milkon
Senior Arts & Culture Editor
Alix Earle’s shallow apology and rapid return to her lavish lifestyle highlight a troubling trend of superficial accountability among celebrities.
Social media influencer, Alix Earle rose to fame from her “Get Ready With Me’” (GRWM) videos as a college student at the University of Miami. She recently faced backlash when screenshots from her old ask.fm account surfaced, showing her using a racial slur in 2013. Despite the circulation of these screenshots online, Earle’s delayed and perfunctory
apology caried little weight.
In her apology video posted on Instagram and later on TikTok, Earle expressed that she is “so, so sorry” for using the slur and for “letting her audience down.” She insisted this isn’t how she speaks now or what she stands for. Yet, within hours of posting her apology video, she was back to posting her typical GRWM content, seemingly unscathed by the controversy. She even acknowledged how strange it was to be posting regular content during this time.
Earle’s rapid return to her usual content is nothing new, in fact, it’s a pattern we see all too often: celebrities issue a quick apology, face minimal backlash, and continue their lives as if nothing happened.
Two years ago country singer Morgan Wallen was caught on camera using a racial slur. Initially, it seemed his career was over—his record label suspended his contract, fellow artists criticized
him, several radio stations dropped his music, and he was unwelcome at award shows. Yet, within days, Wallen was back at the top of the charts— experiencing a 1,220 per cent increase in digital album sales and a 327 per cent increase in song sales—his fans eager to forgive and forget.
Similarly, in 2014, Madonna posted a photo of her son on social media with a caption including the N-word. After immediate backlash, she removed the post, claiming the word was used “endearingly” a defense that is both baffling and offensive. She’s not alone. Celebrities like Paris Hilton, Gigi Hadid, Camila Cabello, Hannah Brown, and Hulk Hogan have all been caught using racial slurs. Despite the uproar that follows, meaningful consequences are rare.
This cycle of minimal accountability is fueled by the tendency to dismiss these incidents, claiming they were too
Trapped by The scroll, how social media warps self-worTh and feeds insecuriTies
Social media thrives on your insecurities—it’s time to take them back
Elizabeth Provost Copy Editor
When I used to open my phone, I was trapped in a reality where other people’s lives bore significance to mine.
Social media, by its very nature, thrives on the visual and the aspirational. It offers us a way to present ourselves to the world, but it also distorts our sense of self-worth. Our curated feeds and favourite influencers perpetuate ideas and ideals of what we should like, should have, and should be. We start to measure our own lives against these images, forgetting that they’re just that—images, not truths.
I deleted Instagram nine months ago. What was once a platform for connection had become a mirror reflecting my own insecurities. I realized that in this crafted world, simply existing didn’t make me visible. The way I perceived myself was dictated by a robotic reward mechanism comprised of likes, clicks, follows, views, shares, reposts, and comments.
What I learned is your insecurities never leave you, even when you throw your phone at the wall after a doomscroll or delete the apps altogether.
Since the emergence of blogging in the early 2000s,
personal lives have existed in the public domain. The author of Trick Mirror, Jia Tolentino, has spent her writing years reflecting on what has unfolded since. Through a similar inner reflection and media detox to mine, she realized the internet has many problems, some of which have even been documented clinically.
These problems, which directly affect the user, are not accidental, but rather result from the monetization of the online arena. The companies at play have infiltrated our lives. Unknowingly they’ve become part of our everyday—from our first interaction in the morning to the first time we get exposed to a new hobby, to our first heartbreak, first home, and first job, the internet has provided a how-to for just about any situation, forcing us to continue to drink from its bottomless well.
Selfhood has become a commodity, with the “For You” page providing us with receipts for our consumption. Our data and preferences are traced and sold to advertisers, all while we continuously seek each other’s attention by performing a version of ourselves that we think will be most appealing.
When I took my insecurities from Instagram and moved them to TikTok, I began to compare myself to strangers instead of people I knew in real life. The “For You” page haunted me.
If I lingered a second too long on a “weight-loss” workout routine, I would start to think about the last time I’d gone to the gym. Even if it had been
young to fully understand the gravity of their words. However, being young, influenced, or peer-pressured does not excuse the use of such harmful language.
The impact of these words, given their historical context of oppression and racism, cannot be diminished by these defences, and apologies or excuses shouldn’t overshadow the need for genuine understanding and accountability for the harm caused.
The N-word, a racist and offensive slur, has been used throughout history to demean, humiliate, and degrade Black people. For most Black people, the word invokes immense trauma, pain and grief, carrying the weight of centuries of oppression, violence, and dehumanization.
By continually accepting these superficial apologies, we send a message that such hamful behaviour is forgivable with a few empty words. The public
places an unspoken trust in celebrities and influencers to understand the significance of their words and the impact they have on their massive platforms. Yet time and again, this trust is broken.
The real challenge lies in moving beyond this cycle of disappointment. True accountability requires more than a few sentences on social media, it demands deep reckoning with the harm caused and tangible steps to make amends. Until we, as fans and consumers, stop accepting these shallow apologies, celebrities will continue to escape meaningful consequences.
The focus should shift from mere expressions of regret to meaningful actions that reflect a genuine change in perspective and commitment to change. Only then can we expect to see more thoughtful and responsible discourse, both from public figures and as a society.
yesterday, it suddenly didn’t feel like enough.
If I watched a “Day in the Life,” of the latest hotshot influencer, I would be immersed in their lifestyle, wondering what I could have done differently to end up at an 8 a.m. reformer Pilates class with my Alo Yoga workout set and my orange Goyard Saint Louis bag with seemingly no workday ahead except for a few video calls with my agent.
Ideals of female beauty only achievable through painful remedies don’t correlate with the emergence of social media. From ancient practices of skin bleaching and hairline plucking to wasp waists and neck rings, women have always and continue to endure tremendous pain for the pleasure of beauty.
Through the perpetual rolodex of posts and videos we continue to be reminded of the latest beauty standard. In this arena the self-image never settles and must be continually improved. It’s never-ending. It’s the newest makeup launch, the new trendy jean cut, the pilates body, the Russian manicure, the latest designer bag, and the lip flip. But this perpetual contest can only be won when one holds incredible privilege—monetary, situational, and racial. And even then, insecurity nestles beneath the artificial and the plastic. It’s masked rather than dealt with.
Continued online queensjourmal. ca/arts&culture
How a library card became my ultimate university escape
Escape the walls of Stauffer and find solace in the public library
Eva Sheahan Assistant Arts & Culture Editor
The wisest decision I made in first year was getting a Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) Library Card.
Obtaining a library card is free and simple. I walked to the KFPL Central Branch library at 130 Johnson St. with a piece of ID and left with a passport to many different realms without having to leave Kingston. Since I made this decision, I can read whatever I want, when I want, and best of all, without spending a dime.
A library card unlocks a world of knowledge, stories, and adventures, offering an escape from the stresses of university life and a chance to be immersed in a new perspective. Whether you need a break from the rigours of academic life, a quiet study space, or simply a good book to get lost in, the library is there for you.
Having a library card has provided me with a break from the monotony of campus. Walking down the street to the library on the corner offered a change of scenery when I was in my first year and stuck between the same three residence buildings. Throughout exam season when Stauffer and Douglas Library are packed with students, drinking coffee
and tearing their hair out, I often found solace in the public library’s quiet study spots.
Most university programs require a lot of reading. This incessant reading of lengthy texts can be tedious, but getting a library card helped me break out of the reading rut I had entered and allowed me to reconnect with reading simply for the joy and power of a great story.
Walking into a library is always exciting—you get to pick from an unlimited number of books and read whatever your heart desires. As you read more and immerse yourself in the lives of those in different worlds, you’re passed the mundaneness of everyday life and start exploring the world without leaving the comfort of your dorm room.
One of the great features of the KFPL library is how it makes the process of getting a book smoother than ever, allowing you to reserve the book of your desire and have it delivered to your nearest branch. This is perfect for staying on budget and being more responsible with your spending, without the need to buy new books.
A library card not only helps you stick to a student-friendly budget, but it also connects you with the many people who have read and experienced
the same book. As you immerse yourself in its events and emotions, there’s comfort in knowing that others before you might have felt the same way.
Throughout my university experience, books have been there for me in various ways, helping to fill certain voids created through my transition into higher education. For example, while away at school, reading adult fairy tales, such as Pan’s Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun, when I’m sick helps me feel comforted the way my mother used to be able to do for me when I was sick. Reading contemporary literary fiction about other university students’ experiences like Connell from Normal People by Sally Rooney helped me see my occasional loneliness represented, which is paradoxical because then I feel less alone.
The power of reading is immense—it can comfort you in times of loneliness, make you laugh or even cry, inspire you when you’re feeling lost, and transport you to worlds far beyond the confines of your dorm or university room.
Continued online queensjourmal. ca/arts&culture
Academic setbacks pave the way to success
Every stumble and fall is a step closer to finding your footing.
Meghrig Milkon Senior Arts & Culture Editor
One thing about university is that it’s never a straight path, and it never will be.
When I first came to university, I expected things to be just as they were in high school—easy and straightforward—but I couldn’t have been more wrong. University proved to be challenging and frustrating at times, but I’ve quickly learned it’s okay for things to be difficult because that’s how we grow.
During my first year, I overworked myself to the point of nearly failing my English 100 course. This was a huge shock, especially coming straight out of high school where I had high grades. The academic setback was something I wasn’t prepared to handle.
Honestly, I don’t think anyone coming to university is ever truly ready to face setbacks. Yet, no success comes without them. These setbacks can come in many forms—low grades, failed exams, or unmet expectations— and they can arise for various reasons, such as stress, schedule overload (with school, work, and extracurricular activities),
inefficient time-management personal and family life, or other issues that often go unnoticed by the casual observer.
Academic setbacks are a common side effect of being a student, and it’s rare for anyone to go through university without experiencing at least one. Don’t be ashamed or afraid of them, they’re not the end of the world but often the key to many oppurtunities.
Every single person walking on this campus comes from a different walk of life and has different ways of managing academic setbacks and the stress that comes along with it, but what I’ve found effective, and I hope, you as a reader will too, is to first be kind to yourself.
When I first received a failing grade on my essay, I was hard on myself, questioning how I had let things get to that point. I didn’t acknowledge I was doing my best given the circumstances of my life at the time.
Practicing self-compassion can be a saving grace, but it can be difficult when you’re holding yourself to a higher standard. Imagine your friend going through the same situation—you would tell them things will eventually be okay and help them
from liz, wiTh love: when your ex Tries To backpedal inTo your life
A
move past it. Remember, you’re your own best friend, so treat yourself like one.
While being kind to yourself is important, it’s also crucial to surround yourself with people who can understand and sympathize with the situation and will offer to help you get back on your feet, showing you the kindness you’re often unable to give yourself. The community and friends you choose to have around you will be the ones there for you when you inevitably stumble through life and fall now and then, so choose wisely.
Academic setbacks often teach us to be resilient and adapt to changing circumstances, but it’s crucial to know these setbacks don’t make you a failure—they’re stepping stones towards growth.
If there’s one thing, I want to leave you with, it’s that your university journey will have its ups and downs. Some years will be highlights and the best times of your life, while others may bring multiple setbacks.
Continued online queensjourmal.ca/ arts&culture
guide to staying friendly with your ex without getting tangled in
old flames
Elizabeth Provost Copy Editor
Dear Liz,
I was seeing a guy for a few months last semester. We were exclusive and talked about staying together through the summer. Right before I left, he ended things pretty abruptly. He said he wasn’t in the headspace for a relationship and was nervous about long distance. Mid-summer, he started texting me out of the blue, referencing our rekindling in the fall. Now that I’m back, I don’t know what to do! I feel like it’s hard to see him and not have any strings attached, but I also don’t want to write him out of my life entirely. I know he’s still not looking for anything serious, and we’re not on thesame page about that. How do I maintain a friendly relationship while also cutting ties, romantically?
Signed,
Not a Friend, Not a Lover
Dear Not a Friend, Not a Lover,
Ah, the classic “summer romance that wasn’t”—like packing up for a beach day, only to find out it’s raining. It’s a sticky situation, and I can see you’ve found yourself caught between “he could be the one” and “he’s definitely not it.” Let’s unpack your unfinished business and mixed signals together.
Let’s start with how he acted just as summer was kicking off. Convenient timing, right? One minute, you’re exclusive, planning your summer road trip, and the next, he’s suddenly “not in the headspace” for a relationship. My bet is he was probably more interested in the “local attractions” back home than in maintaining a long-distance thing with you. But then mid-summer, when the hometown prospects started looking less appealing (or when he realized that maybe you were the real deal), he slides back into your messages with all the subtlety of a late-night “U up?” text.
What I will say next might not tickle your fancy but here’s the truth: if he did it once, he’ll do it again. You’ve said it yourself, you two are
not on the same page and I’m worried if you pursue that “friendly relationship,” you’ll unknowingly wait for the day he’ll change for you which is uncertain to come.
So, here’s my advice on how to manage this tightrope walk between staying friendly and not getting sucked back into the romantic vortex.
Start by setting clear boundaries. If you don’t want to risk heartache again, you need to be clear about what’s okay and what’s not. Maybe it’s only hanging out in group settings, or perhaps it’s avoiding late-night walks by the water where nostalgia suddenly feels like “he’s the one.”
Secondly, always be honest with yourself. You’ve already acknowledged you’re not on the same page, which is more than half the battle. Keep that awareness front and centre. If you catch yourself daydreaming about “what if,” remind yourself of “what was” and how it ended. No one’s asking you to erase him from your life but don’t let a desire for friendship cloud your judgment about what’s really best for you.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to take space. Sometimes, maintaining a “friendship” post-breakup is like trying to eat pizza without the cheese—it just doesn’t work, and it’s kind of sad. It’s okay to tell him you need some space. If he’s genuinely interested in a platonic relationship, he’ll respect that. If he doesn’t, then maybe it’s less about the friendship and more about convenience for him.
In the end, remember you’re the one in control. If he’s meant to be in your life, he’ll find a way to fit within the boundaries you set. And if not, well, there are plenty of other fish in this university sea—some of whom are probably way more into the idea of being on the same page as you.
With Love, Liz
Liz shares advice with a romantic. GRAPHIC BY ARDEN MASON - OURIQUE
Making art, not content
How giving up my pursuit as an artist ended up being the best creative decision I’ve made
Darius Caloia Contributor
This past year, I found myself struggling with a dilemma many young artists face: the struggle between creating art for social and financial recognition versus the pure joy of creating for its own sake.
On one hand, I’m an artist, and creating music and crafting sets is a way of expressing myself. It’s something I do out of love, and it’s a passion I can’t imagine living without. On the other hand, if I wanted to turn my passion into a career, I knew I needed to monetize my craft, build a following, and gain social recognition.
“The bottom line is you need people to appreciate your craft and, ultimately, be willing to pay for it.
In the 21st century, monetizing can mean anything from turning your paintings into digital non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to partnering with brands for sponsorship deals, or, in
my case, selling tickets to live shows. The bottom line is you need people to appreciate your craft and, ultimately, be willing to pay for it.
Going into my third year of Chemical Engineering, I was confronted with a difficult decision. I could either pursue a less demanding job, giving myself time to focus on my art, or I could seek something with less freedom that would advance my engineering career. While this decision was mostly speculative, it loomed over me, creating an internal sense of pressure.
Up until that point, I had only played a few of my own edits, never fully committing to playing what I truly wanted. Instead, I stuck to safe choices—tried and true, and terrible, 2000s pop songs. My mindset was that if I could have the majority of university crowds dancing to mainstream music, then there wasn’t a reason to put the effort into curating a more underground set.
After finishing the first half of third year, I decided I was no longer going to pursue a career as a DJ and allow it to remain a passion. After investing so much into my engineering work, it would be foolish to not at least try working in the industry and I wouldn’t want DJing to interfere with my career.
After making this choice, my perspective on making and playing music completely changed.
It pushed me to find my sound.
Once I stopped caring about what mainstream crowds thought, I stopped catering to them and finally gave myself permission to play just for myself. This is something that many artists talk about struggling with, and it was something I had been trying to do since I started mixing. Even when I first started out, the goal was always to find the balance between mainstream and underground, but I hadn’t been able to create this until I gave up on finding it. The pressure of success was removed, and I was able to make art for the pleasure of creation, and still sound good.
“Once I stopped caring about what mainstream crowds thought, I stopped catering to them and finally gave myself permission to play just for myself.
As I transitioned to playing sets that were personal and unique to my sound, I faced considerable pushback— not just from drunk people yelling for Katy Perry, but from higher management and owners of the local nightclubs. Some of these establishments couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t play Top 40 hits, which is what the majority of crowds wanted. This was similar to
the reaction from a lot of my peers, who still didn’t understand why I wasn’t playing what they wanted.
There’s a reason underground clubs tend to stay underground, in terms of maximizing profits. If a club wanted to make the most money possible, they probably should play mainstream music.
That being said, some clubs leaned the opposite direction, and embraced the shift from popular music into new styles, giving me the opportunity to test out my sound. Trinity Social pushed me to launch an artistcentred night, which led to the birth of “Then There Was House”—a house music-centred night, where I bring in new artists and sounds, throwing a proper club event where the focus is on music and production.
This marked the beginning of my actual journey as an artist.
Creating for myself was no easy feat. As a DJ, I’ve learned unless your music has a certain uniqueness or style, most crowds forget your name as soon as they leave the club. If you manage to stand out amidst the noise, crowds will seek out your sound. It won’t be a coincidence when the same faces start showing up—that’s when I knew I was beginning to gain a real following.
Eight months later, all three house events I’ve launched have sold out in less than 10 minutes, attracting over 300 people each time. Ironically, only after I decided to not cater
to the masses did I find people who appreciate my work.
“Ironically, only after I decided to not cater to the masses did I find people who appreciate my work.
I’ve made it pretty clear if you’re looking for a playlist of Top 40 hits, my sets aren’t for you. If that’s what you expect, you might not enjoy the music I play and that’s perfectly fine. I’ve learned that as an artist, if I cater solely to the popular crowds, my craft loses its significance. What I’m doing only gains true importance when it challenges or stands out against others. Ultimately, building a successful career in any industry takes time. There’s no reason why it would be any faster to make it as a creative. People often say it takes 10 years to become an overnight success, and I’m very conscious that the launch of “Then There Was House” was simply the first step of a long journey, but I’m thankful that it was in the right direction and that the community around me has been receptive enough to appreciate this shift.
Want to write a postscript? Email Journal_postscript@ams.queensu.ca for more details.
Darius launched the Trinity Social event ‘Then There Was House.’
