The Queen's Journal, Volume 145, Issue 26

Inside: Student reflects on abortion experience. University experience goes beyond the classroom.

Firlotte attends combine. Queen’s sets sail on St. Patrick’s Day. Reuben and the Dark talk songwriting.

the journal Vol. 145, Issue 26

Queen’s University

F r i d ay , M a r c h 2 3 , 2 0 1 8

Barriers abound for students accessing mental health care

since

1873

The Journal spoke to eight students about their experience seeking mental health care page 8

ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY RHAMEY

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News

2 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 23, 2018

Former Queen’s professor accuses Centre for International and Defence Policy of censorship

PHOTO BY NICOLE LANGFIELD

Robert Sutherland Hall, where the Centre for International and Defence Policy is situated.

Professor Bruce Gilley came under fire for publishing a journal article entitled “The Case for Colonialism” Sarina Grewal Assistant News Editor After controversy arose around a journal article published in September of 2017, a former Queen’s professor is claiming the University has enabled censorship against his work.

Professor Bruce Gilley is a former Queen’s professor who currently works at Portland State University. For the past 10 years, Gilley has retained a fellowship with the Centre for International and Defence Policy (CIDP) at Queen’s University. However, this fellowship wasn’t renewed in January, which Gilley asserts is an ideologically-motivated decision by Queen’s political studies Professor and CIDP Director Stéfanie von Hlatky.

Gilley believes von Hlatky chose not to renew his fellowship because she didn’t agree with his work. Specifically, he believes it’s related to his journal article “The Case for Colonialism,” which was published in Third World Quarterly’s September 2017 issue.

The article caused significant controversy because it argued Western colonialism “has had a bad name” and stated that it’s time to “question this orthodoxy.”

According to the paper’s abstract, “Western colonialism was, as a general rule, both objectively beneficial and subjectively legitimate in most of the places where it was found … [it] can be recovered by weak and fragile states today in three ways: by reclaiming colonial modes of

News in Brief

governance; by recolonising some areas; and by creating new Western colonies from scratch.”

Following its publication, the article received severe backlash. Fifteen members of The Quarterly’s editorial board resigned out of protest. As a result of criticism and threats of violence made against Gilley and the journal’s editor-in-chief Shahid Qadir, the article was withdrawn from the publication.

In contrast, eight other members of The Quarterly’s editorial board vocalized support for Gilley, alongside 72 other scholars who didn’t condone the uproar against the article. In a letter published in a December of 2017 issue of The London Times, the group of academics called the withdrawal of the article a “dangerous precedent for academic freedom.”

“We see this as part of a rising tide of intolerance on university campuses and within the academic profession, with certain scholars and students seeking to close down perspectives with which they disagree rather than debating them openly,” the letter read.

As a result of his non-renewal for a CIDP fellowship in January, this sentiment is one that Gilley has now alleged Queen’s is guilty of. His profile and all of his content has been removed from the CIDP website as a result.

Gilley told The Journal he wasn’t informed about his non-renewal and removal from the website.

Federal, provincial governments contributing nearly $78 million for public transit

On Mar. 16, provincial and federal funding to expand Kingston’s public transit systems was announced by MPP Sophie Kiwala, MP Mark Gerrretsen and other municipal representatives, including Kingston Mayor

Once he was made aware, he emailed von Hlatky to request an explanation.

In her email response to Gilley, provided to The Journal by the Portland State professor, von Hlatky wrote, “For a small operation like the CIDP to work well, I have to rely on open and transparent communication with my fellows. It’s what one might refer to as implicit trust.”

Von Hlatky told Gilley the decision to not re-appoint him stemmed from her view that he was not “forthcoming” about the controversy surrounding his journal article. According to her email, she found out via social media and from colleagues.

“I no longer felt I could promote your work through the CIDP because I found this implicit trust to have been broken — having not been informed of what was going on, which had real and serious implications for the CIDP,” she continued in her email to him.

In an email to The Journal, von

Hlatky explained “[t]he Centre for renewal process required him International and Defence Policy to file an annual report on his recently elected not to renew academic activities and the CIDP the Fellowship appointment of would also confirm his scholarly Professor Gilley. Our decision activities align with the interests was made after consideration of of the centre. These requirements the administrative relationship have not posed an issue in the the Centre had with Dr. Gilley.” decade since he first began “It was not intended to signal an his fellowship. endorsement or condemnation of “It would have been easy for his recent paper or his academic Dr. [von Hlatky] to simply say, ‘I views. We respect his right to feel your research interests don’t academic freedom,” she continued. align with the centre anymore.’

“Renewals are not automatic nor I mean that’s typically the way guaranteed. The university was these censorship acts work, but under no obligation to renew the she was honest enough to say, fellowship, and proper process ‘Actually, I don’t like what you’re was observed. As he is no longer writing, it disagrees with my a CIDP Fellow, his profile and personal views,’” said Gilley. related materials were removed But Gilley also believes his from the Centre’s website.” situation with the CIDP speaks to a He doesn’t think the decision larger problem at Queen’s. He said was made with any proper universities aren’t meant to take basis or under any specific on or represent a certain breach of procedures or rules. ideological position. It’s something Gilley — who said the essence he views as undermining of being a scholar is to engage the purpose and essence of in controversial debate and a postsecondary institution discussion — believes like Queen’s. von Hlatky’s decision is “Is the University a centre of contradictory to the role of debate and freedom and exchange an academic. of ideas or is the University itself “I wonder how we can possibly falling victim to the same sort of understand the role of the scholar totalitarianism?” Gilley questioned. as engaging in a breach of trust “A lot of this whole debate when they engage in controversial is about that bigger issue,” he issues,” he explained. “This seems continued. “Is the University to me this is the essence of the supposed to represent an scholar’s role, so what she’s saying institutionalization of a certain is that when the scholar does viewpoint, or is the University what the scholar is supposed supposed to represent a variety to do, they’re breaching the of viewpoints where students can trust of their institution.” learn, challenge, and be exposed According to the Portland State to the best worked-up arguments University professor, the annual from a variety of viewpoints?”

Brian Paterson.

An investment of about $78 million was announced at the Kingston Transit garage on Mar. 16. While the provincial government is pitching in an additional $35 million, the federal government is contributing just over $43 million over the next decade for transit infrastructure.

The investment will be used to build up public transit infrastructure and expand Kingston’s public transit reach over the coming years.

According to The KingstonWhig Standard, Paterson said at the announcement, “there is no question that we have become a leader in public transit and this money is going to allow us to

operation “likeForthea small CIDP to work, I have to rely on open and transparent communication with my fellows. It’s what one might refer to as implicit trust.

”

— Stéfanie von Hlatky, CIDP Director

continue to be leader … We have great plans.”

MPP Kiwala added, “I think the funding has to be evidence-based, it has to go where there is a need and Kingston has been such a great leader, they have set the bar very high.”

— Iain Sherriff-Scott

News

Friday, March 23, 2018

queensjournal.ca • 3

POLICE RESPONSE

St. Patrick’s Day sees unprecedented crowd size, collapsed roof Police estimate 5,000 people gathered last weekend on Aberdeen St.

Iain Sherriff-Scott Assistant News Editor

“Last Homecoming, public PHOTO BY IAIN SHERRIFF-SCOTT over-consumption of alcohol cast a The collapsed roof on St. Patrick’s Day. shadow over the weekend’s celebrations,” This past St. Patrick’s Day, students the statement read. “While the vast sounds and I look to my right and all I see is “the entire school year.” flooded the intersection of Aberdeen majority of students remained safe and the roof just collapsing,” she continued.

“No one gave a second thought to leaving and William to celebrate the Irish respectful, some intoxicated students Later, City of Kingston bylaw it out, especially because nothing happened holiday. In a statement, Kingston Police overburdened hospitals and attempted enforcement officers taped off the scene to [the boat] during Homecoming,” she said over 5,000 people attended the to harm first-responders.” as a safety measure. In addition, one of the said. “Around 1 p.m. [on Saturday] we saw Mar. 17 celebrations.

With record-breaking turnout on St. building’s back walls was propped up. it floating down Aberdeen from our living According to the statement, this Patrick’s Day, some party-goers were Another notable incident Saturday room window,” she continued. year’s crowds were “far larger” than injured on Saturday. occurred after a small boat was removed “After that we didn’t hear about it or see those experienced “on any previous St. According to Kingston Police, around from a property on Aberdeen St. The it for a couple of days, even though we Patrick’s holiday.” mid-day roughly 40 people climbed onto boat was dragged away by students and followed up on some Facebook posts about In addition, officers issued 118 tickets the roof of a detached garage behind passed around by the crowd. it,” Barnett wrote. for liquor and traffic offences and made houses on William St. As more students While it was hoisted by the crowd, local On Monday, a student posted a photo to seven arrests for public intoxication as piled on, the roof collapsed. food vendor Scott Hallman captured a Facebook of the boat in the back of a they “worked to keep students off Kingston Police said emergency services video of a man riding inside the boat. pick-up truck turning onto University Ave. Aberdeen and the surrounding streets.” were called to search the garage’s interior Over the weekend, multiple people “Heard someone wanted their boat back,” the Although there were multiple and aid students injured in the collapse. posted on Facebook to say the boat post read. injuries throughout the day, Kingston Despite minor injuries, nobody was belonged to their landlord and requested Although Barnett said she’s unsure Police say none were a result of an seriously hurt. One women scraped her leg its return. One individual posted saying of where the boat went and how it was officer-student interaction. after it was stuck under the collapsed roof. the boat was, “last seen sailing south transported, she said “sometime at the The day before the festivities, Kingston The roof collapse was caught on video by on Aberdeen St. around noon on St. start of this week it was brought back to Police released a statement in partnership Queen’s student Sakhia Kwemo, who told Patrick’s Day. Our landlord wouldn’t mind the backyard.” with the AMS. Here, they announced Global News, “The whole scene was kinda having it back sometime soon.”

Kingston Police were photographed they were “joining together to call on crazy so I took my phone out and started Queen’s student Mikki Barnett told The Saturday attempting to keep students out students to act safely and responsibly” snapping the whole party scene going crazy.T:10” ” Journal the boat belonged to her landlord of the boat after it had been dropped into during the celebrations.

“The next thing is … I hear some cracking and it had been sitting in her backyard the crowd.

T:7.5”

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Friday, March 23, 2018

Queen’s doctorate degree holder denied entry to College of Psychologists of Ontario

Developmental psychology program failed to meet accreditation requirements Maureen O’Reilly News Editor In a Sept. 20 ruling, the Ontario Health Professions Appeal and Review Board denied an appeal from an unsuccessful applicant to the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO). Despite graduating with a doctoral degree from Queen’s, the applicant was denied registration to become a

psychologist in the province.

According to the board’s decision, the applicant dubbed “L.M.” obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in psychology from Queen’s in 2000. He went on to receive his masters degree in psychology from Queen’s in 2003, and completed his doctorate (PhD) in developmental psychology at Queen’s in 2010.

The Queen’s psychology department

In 2015, L.M. applied for a certificate of registration permitting supervised practice as a psychologist to the CPO. On top of including supplementary information and assessments, his application indicated his various degrees and 17 years of research experience in his field.

Upon reviewing the application, the College noted the applicant didn’t appear to be a part of a Canadian Psychology Association (CPA) accredited clinical

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psychology doctoral program at Queen’s. A representative at the University confirmed with the College that L.M’s degree in developmental psychology wasn’t accredited through the CPA and didn’t include a formal internship.

As a result, L.M.’s application was referred to the College’s Registration Committee to determine whether the panel believed his program was equivalent to a CPA accredited program. In April 2016, the Committee ruled the applicant wasn’t eligible for registration as his program wasn’t deemed equivalent to a CPA accredited doctoral program.

L.M. subsequently appealed the result to the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board. The Board wrote in their ruling, “[t] here is no dispute that the Applicant’s doctoral program was not within the CPA accreditation stream. Accordingly, the Board must consider whether it is equivalent to standards of the CPA under section 12 (1)1ii of the Regulation.”

The Board went on to explain the criteria required for the College to consider a program “equivalent” to a CPA accredited program. Among other things, the program must require candidates demonstrate competency in five core content areas: biological bases of behaviour; cognitive affective bases of behaviour; social bases of behaviour; psychology of the individual; and historical and scientific foundations of psychology. Both the Board and the College found the Queen’s developmental psychology program didn’t meet this requirement.

Furthermore, the Board’s ruling said the CPA accredited programs have practicum training of “at least 600 hours, of which at least 300 hours are devoted to direct, face to face patient/ client contact, and at least 150 hours consist of supervision.” CPA accreditation also requires a predoctoral internship of at least 1500 hours. This must be “approved by the program and completed after the practicum training and before the doctoral degree is conferred.”

The Board said the Queen’s developmental psychology program didn’t require practicum training or a pre-doctoral internship.

“While the Applicant has

PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN

substantial supervised experience over the years, and while he is prepared to augment his doctorate with additional supervision, the regulatory provision requires equivalency of a doctoral program,” the Board wrote. “As the Applicant has not been able to link supervised practice experience and pre-doctoral internship activity to his doctoral program, it is not possible to include such elements as part of his doctoral program in an equivalency assessment.”

The Board further wrote that if the Applicant had been able to demonstrate their extensive experience under the supervision of registered psychologists had somehow been recognized within his doctoral degree program as equivalent to a practicum and internship, then the Applicant might have satisfactorily shown that he qualified under the current regulatory standards.

“It is regrettable that an individual who holds verifiable qualifications in psychology — including a doctoral degree, extensive experiential qualification in supervised settings, and significant contributions to the domestic and international communities in psychology — cannot qualify under the Regulation to become registered as a psychologist with the College,” the Board concluded.

The Health Professions Appeal and Review Board and the College of Psychologists of Ontario both told The Journal they’re unable to comment further on the individual details of the case. However, Registrar and Executive Director Rick Morris noted the College makes their requirements public on their website.

Wendy Craig, Head of Psychology at Queen’s, told The Journal via email that the CPA accredits the University’s clinical psychology program alone.

“The Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Science, Developmental, and, Social-Personality Programs are not designed to prepare individuals to become a registered clinical psychologist nor are these programs accredited,” Craig wrote.

“If students are interested in becoming a practicing registered psychologist, they need to apply to the Clinical Program at Queen’s. That program will provide research and clinical skills, as well as practice required to become registered as a clinical psychologist.”

Friday, March 23, 2018

News

queensjournal.ca • 5

ROUND-UP

Peer Support Centre Cares Week Booths and night events hope to inspire self-care

Jasnit Pabla Assistant News Editor From Mar. 5 to 9, the Queen’s Peer Support Centre (PSC) took to campus to remind students about an integral component of academic success: self-care.

“PSC Cares Week is all about self-love and self-care and we just promote that through booths in the ARC and nightly events,” PSC Outreach Coordinator Carolina Navas, ArtSci ’19, told The Journal. “It’s just getting people to talk about what self-care is and how to implement that through stressful times — like exams and midterms. “ The week incorporated PSC booths at the ARC as well as two night events that allowed students to meet others while taking part in relaxing activities.

“PSC Cares Week is just getting the word out there about what self-care is.

It’s journaling and doing yoga, but also doing your laundry or catching up on readings,” Navas added. “We even had people say ‘Stages’ because if that’s your self-care then that’s okay.”

Outreach Coordinator Mia Berloni, ArtSci ’19, added the purpose of the week wasn’t to promote the PSC itself. Rather, it was focused on their mandate to contribute to the continuous development of a supportive, accepting and inclusive campus community.

On Monday, a booth in the ARC invited students to write what they loved about themselves on a large whiteboard. The following day, the PSC sold t-shirts and hats with messages such as, “You’re not alone’”and “Perfectly imperfect”.

On Tuesday night, they hosted a Paint Night at the Tea Room for all students to take part in. During the day on Wednesday

and Thursday, the PSC incorporated more interactive message boards with “Draw your self-care” and “How do you self-care” campaigns.

At night on Thursday, The Brew hosted an event called ‘Snakes and Lattes’ that allowed students to enjoy baked goods and tea with board games.

The week’s events closed on Friday, with the PSC employing its craftiest idea: the ‘Jars of Joy’ campaign. Participating students filled small mason jars with small items, candies and heartfelt messages to themselves or their friends as a reminder to make time for self-care.

“I think we gave the students permission to take care of themselves,” PSC Head Manager Megan Kingvisser told The Journal.

“When midterms were on their way, it’s hard to justify self-care and this week gave students the opportunity to hang out with their friends, meet new people and gave them the permission and validation to take care of themselves even if you have a million things to think about and do.”

For Kingvisser, the role of the PSC remains integral to the student experience outside of just PSC Cares Week.

I think we gave the students “ permission to take care of themselves. ” — PSC Head Manager, Megan Kingvisser

“I think that students are recognizing the importance of reaching out and asking for help and the PSC is a nice first step for a lot of students because you are talking to a peer,” she reflected. “The PSC grows in

reflection of the student body’s need for it and this year the PSC has doubled in size.”

Kingvisser emphasized accessing resources on campus is a positive step towards enabling self-care.

“Students need and rely on the service,

and the entire time I feel just lucky enough to be able to be a part of that growth. The PSC is here for students, and that’s not going to change. I think that students are starting to see that and recognize that it’s okay to ask for help and talk about it,” she said.

6 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 23, 2017

EDITORIALS Students shouldn’t have to choose between education and experience

The Journal’s Perspective

Over time, the perception of what university is and what it’s meant for has changed.

University isn’t exclusively about studying anymore. In the few years students spend as undergraduates, academics have always been a huge part of their lives. However, having experiences outside of academics is necessary for a balanced, healthy life for a lot of people.

In an article in University Affairs, Associate Professor Jonathan Finn at Wilfrid Laurier University argues universities are increasingly prioritizing their students’ personal satisfaction and positive experiences over their education. Instead of pushing students towards experiencing enriching extracurricular activities, he argues we need to re-establish education as the primary purpose of university.

S i m p ly h av i n g an undergraduate degree is no longer enough to guarantee a job after graduation. While a formal education is what students are here for, the student experience

holds a lot of sway in determining what students want to do with their lives.

The idea that making experiences a focal point of university will lead to a “less well educated and capable citizenry,” as Finn puts it, simply isn’t true. Clubs and extracurricular activities have a lot to offer in terms of professional development that classrooms just can’t compete with.

In order to be a competitive applicant in a modern job market after graduation, students often have to draw on experiences outside of schoolwork. Part-time jobs, clubs, sports teams and charity work isn’t necessarily a pre-requisite for resumes, but participating in them definitely helps set someone apart with their job application.

Extracurricular activities on campus allow students to ex p e r i m e n t with their

THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL Volume 145 Issue 26 www.queensjournal.ca @queensjournal Publishing since 1873

passions with a freedom that a costly, lengthy degree program alone can’t offer. For many, campus causes and clubs are a means to explore and develop skills and i n t e re s t s outside of the classroom. For more general degrees that don’t offer a clear career track, the time spent on extracurricular activities can give invaluable direction to someone still unsure of what they want to do when they graduate.

An increased focus on the university experience doesn’t mean a decrease in the quality of education provided.

More of a focus on creating a positive university experience will only help students, not harm them.

The primary purpose of going to university is always going to be receiving an education — that won’t change.

But along the way, participation in clubs, causes, jobs and other on-campus opportunities have become an important part of the years spent working towards that education.

Instead of seeing “the rise of the experience industry” as a threat to universities as we know them, we need to embrace it as a necessary part of a well-rounded modern education.

— Journal Editorial Board

ILLUSTRATION BY STEPHANIE JIANG

Brigid Goulem

PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN

Other women’s successes aren’t your failures

I firmly believe female friendships are one of the greatest gifts the world can offer. Despite their value, there’s a culture of resentment amongst women that can make it harder to form and develop relationships, be it friendly or professional.

Why is this resentment such an automatic reaction to the successes of other women?

Last week the New Yorker published a satire piece titled “I’m sorry your friend is succeeding which means that you’re a total failure.”

“Your friend is engaged, damn it! This has everything to do with your worthlessness. For, as the prophecy foretold, your lives are irreversibly intertwined, and when one thrives the other can only be viewed as ‘not thriving,’” writes author Rekha Shankar.

The piece got to the heart of the issue: it can be really hard to celebrate the accomplishments or life milestones of women who aren’t you.

While everyone is insecure in some ways, women are socialized to feel there’s only one seat at the table. We are often told our beauty — so closely equated with our value — can be ranked and there’s only one woman who can come out on top.

Editorial Board

Joseph Cattana Meg Glover

Editor in Chief Managing Editor

Maureen O’Reilly

News Editor Assistant News Editors

Sarina Grewal Iain Sherriff-Scott Jasnit Pabla

Features Editors

Alex Palermo

Editorials Editor

Ashley Rhamey

Opinions Editor

Caleigh Castiglione

Brigid Goulem

Nick Pearce

Arts Editor Assistant Arts Editor

Clayton Tomlinson Sebastian Bron

Sports Editor

Matt Scace

Assistant Sports Editor

Shivani Gonzalez

Lifestyle Editor Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Josh granovsky

Julia Balakrishnan

Photo Editor Assistant Photo Editor

Nicole Langfield

Video Editor

Max Silverberg

Assistant Video Editor

Amelia Rankine

Editorial Illustrator

Stephanie Jiang Rebecca Frost

Graphics Editor Copy Editors

Meredith Wilson-Smith Ejaz Thawer

Contributing Staff

Contributors

Grace MacLeod Patrick Labadie Maggie Gowland Sydney Erin Kowal

Staff Writers and Photographers

Michelle Boon Raechel Huizinga Amanda Norris Hannah Stafl Lauren Trossman

Business Staff

Business Manager

Abby Choudhry

Head Sales Representative LeeAnn Sverko

This way of thinking seeps into other aspects of our lives: the smartest girl in the class, the girl who the boys like and Glamour’s ‘woman of the year.’ Truly, the ways in which women are pitted against one another are endless.

This way of thinking isn’t healthy. Not only does it impact the relationships that women have with other women, but it also impacts the relationships we have with ourselves. Even though a meaningful life isn’t measured in comparison to others, women are encouraged to do just that.

The perceived competition that women experience in nearly every aspect of life creates barriers between us. Instead of encouragement, success often inspires hostility.

These feelings are normal and it’s unrealistic to expect them to instantly vanish. But recognizing them for what they are — a senseless comparison — is what will allow us to put them aside.

Women don’t deserve to be resented for their successes and recognizing why this resentment exists is the first step towards moving past it.

Brigid is one of The Journal’s Features Editors. She’s a third-year political studies major.

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Want to contribute?

For information visit: www.queensjournal.ca/contribute or email the Editor in Chief at journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions.

The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston.

Editorial opinions expressed in The Journal are the sole responsibility of The Queen’s Journal Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers.

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Contents © 2018 by The Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of The Journal.

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Friday, March 23, 2018

queensjournal.ca

•7

Opinions Your Perspective

Freedom of expression on university campuses is not a political issue Rather, it’s about prioritizing student welfare

Grace MacLeod debating with another student on campus.

GRACE MACLEOD, ARTSCI ‘20

In light of recent events both on our campus and others across Canada, many feel as though political censorship is running rampant and stands in the way of academic freedom and discussion.

In response to contentious speakers, students and faculty across Canada have urged their academic institutions to prohibit these people from lecturing on their campuses. For example, Jordan Peterson’s recent presence at Queen’s was met with protest, as was right-wing political commentator Faith Goldy’s visit to Wilfrid Laurier University.

These events have sparked debate on whether or not all views should be given a platform for the sake of academic freedom. On top of this, people have wondered whether the rejection of these speakers has indicated an increase in left-leaning politicization on university campuses.

In my opinion, oppressive and prejudicial views shouldn’t be given a platform on campus just because of “academic freedom.”

But to understand these debates, we need to take a step back from the events that transpired at the Peterson protest. Albeit an important topic, this discussion is relevant on a larger scale.

The choice to deny a platform for certain views isn’t strictly a political issue. It’s not political censorship. Rather, it’s deliberate prioritization. Denying

oppressive views a place to speak in academic institutions is a conscious choice made by the specific institution to prioritize the progression of society and the wellbeing of students.

In reality, not all opinions are deserving of equal respect and promotion on university campuses. This is especially true when they create hostile environments for numerous students, faculty and other members of the community.

We can’t forget that students and faculty across Canada hold varying political beliefs, all of which are promoted through clubs, organizations and academic pursuits. No matter the political affiliation, all beliefs should be welcomed on campus.

“

In reality, not all opinions are deserving of equal respect and promotion on campuses.

”

Beliefs only become unworthy of promotion on university campuses when they become oppressive to students and faculty.

There’s no need for oppressive views to be given a platform.

Freedom of expression dictates it’s legal for individuals to express any opinions they may have but within reasonable limits. It

doesn’t outline the necessity of universities to provide a platform for these opinions. When universities choose to provide a platform for oppressive beliefs, they make countless marginalized students, faculty and community members feel silenced as well as unsupported in their struggles.

“

We need to move past the theoretical discussions about freedom of expression.

”

We need to move past the theoretical discussions about freedom of expression. In a perfect world, all opinions would be presented in a neutral way and their objectivity would have no negative implications in an academic setting.

Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in.

Systemic oppression is real, power structures exist and both are perpetuated when prejudice is given a platform at a respected institution. It’s easy for faculty members and students to proclaim, “Academic freedom!” when they’re not the ones facing the consequences of their actions.

Not everyone holds academic freedom as a primary concern. Far too many groups must fight for equality and inclusion before they can even think to fight for academic

freedom. Granting academia the same level of importance as matters of fundamental human wellbeing comes from a place of privilege.

All of this isn’t to say people must always be completely comfortable with all academic topics. Academic beliefs and opinions shouldn’t go unchallenged; critique and debate are essential parts of academia.

We can’t forget that university is a place where we go to be challenged by other points of view. It’s healthy to debate with someone who disagrees with us.

Nevertheless, academic debates must be contextualized.

Challenging academic ideas is important, but these topics become personal when they begin to negatively impact and involve the wellbeing and livelihoods of people on campus.

Academic beliefs and “opinions shouldn’t go

unchallenged; critique and debate are essential parts of academia.

”

It’s important to promote empathy in situations like these. Academia and empathy aren’t mutually exclusive; academic institutions can foster empathy and inclusion without hindering their capacity for academic discourse.

Choosing not to host prejudiced speakers at academic institutions

Talking heads ... how is your week 10?

“It’s okay, just week 10, a grind.”

“Pretty well, besides missing a few classes.”

“Just stressed about exams.”

Alfred Chen Eng ’18

Braedon Hewitt Eng ’21

Raaghavi Pushpanathan ArtSci ’18

PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN

isn’t jeopardizing anyone’s education, nor is it discrediting the value of freedom of expression. It certainly isn’t leaving contentious views unexamined, unchallenged or silenced. Academic institutions aren’t the be-all and end-all of meaningful discussion in society.

Choosing not to host “prejudiced speakers at

academic institutions isn’t jeopardizing anyone’s education, nor is it discrediting the value of freedom of expression.

”

A lot of the meaningful debates we have on university campuses also influence others around the world. With the rise of social media, sites like Twitter, Facebook and Reddit have grown to become forums where debate can occur as well.

It’s time for discussions surrounding inclusivity on campus to step away from a political framework and towards one that focuses on empathy, responsibility and progress.

Choosing to prioritize students and their welfare isn’t a statement of party alliance, it’s a statement of compassion.

Claire is a second-year politics major.

PHOTOS BY NICOLE LANGFIELD

“Not bad, I mean it’ll be better than exams.”

Josh Sequillion Compsci’20

8 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 23, 2018

Features

Students report extremely long wait times when accessing mental health appointments at Student Wellness Services.

Queen’s Student Wellness Services misses the mark for student accessibility Alex Palermo Features Editor This article talks about mental health and may be triggering for some readers.

Home to Student Wellness Services, the La Salle building sits at the very bottom of Queen’s campus, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of student life.

La Salle is home to Health, Counselling and Accessibility Services for Queen’s Students, which acts as short-term health care for students on campus. The counselling service provided by Student Wellness Services (SWS) describes one of their services as “brief therapy” and iterates they aren’t properly equipped to deal with long-term issues due to the “complexity and history” these cases might present.

The reality, however, is that students struggling with their mental health aren’t a fringe group.

According to a study from Cornell psychologist Janis Whitlock, 7.5 per cent of students who begin university with no mental health issues will develop some symptoms over the course of their academic career. Furthermore, a 2013-2016 study done on 25,164 Canadian university students revealed a 50 per cent increase in anxiety, a 47 per cent increase in depression and a striking 47 per cent increase in suicide attempts.

According to the 2017 National College Health Assessment, with data from 41 Canadian post-secondary institutions, 13 per cent of students had “seriously considered suicide.”

In a 2012 Maclean’s article that addressed the suicides of four male Queen’s students between 2010 and 2011, Principal Daniel Woolf said, “[w]e are not a treatment facility … That said, we do have a caring and nurturing role over the young people that come to us.”

According to their website, the counselling program at SWS has a particular focus on resolving a student’s “personal difficulties, dealing with crises and distressing situations.” Referrals are frequently made for students seeking long-term mental health care to professionals in the community.

While demand for all services provided by SWS continues to grow, the demand for counselling and other mental health-related appointments has risen to a greater extent than the services provided.

According to Jennifer Dodds, executive director of Student Wellness Services, last year the team provided nearly 18,000 mental health appointments. The number is expected to exceed that this year.

This is a significant increase from the 2014-2015 school year where less than 10,000 such appointments were provided.

In spite of the rapid growth of the program and demand for mental health resources, according to an external review of SWS in 2015, “the demand for individual counselling resources may always exceed capacity.”

“SWS has continued to grow in size and in programs,” Dodds said to The Journal via email. “We have also increased the number of counselling and psychiatry appointments available and also the options for group programming and group support.”

In terms of wait times, Dodds said non-crisis first appointments with a physician or counsellor are scheduled within around two weeks.

According to The American Mental Wellness Association, crisis denotes a time

When Anita* felt her depression was cycling out of control, she tried to make an appointment to see a psychiatrist at SWS. She had been seeing a counsellor at La Salle for two months, but when she called to make the change, Anita was told she could only be referred to a psychiatrist if she first saw a family doctor at the clinic.

“I felt like there was no where I could go and be heard when I said, ‘I need help,” Anita said of her phone call with SWS. “I was told that I’d have to wait two weeks before even seeing a family doctor.”

When Anita researched her predicament on the SWS homepage, she saw that they described their own psychiatric services as limited. As a result, students could expect to wait weeks before they can see a doctor about their mental health.

According to Dodds, psychiatric appointments require a referral from a family physician and are scheduled for four to six weeks down the line. This wait

of intense difficulty, struggle or danger.

SWS considers a ‘crisis’ situation to be one where a person is an active danger to themselves or to others.

According to Dodds, there are other mental health resources on campus that are under-utilized.

“Students may not be aware of the availability of groups and workshops,” she said. “[Students] can also attend drop-in groups in between appointments or while waiting for a first appointment.” *** While the number of appointments available to students has increased, attitudes among the student body reflect

period, she adds, is much smaller than for psychiatrists in the Kingston community.

“Either you are classified as an emergency case that needs to go to the hospital or you’re non-urgent and you can expect to wait weeks for help.” Anita said. “You can be having a crisis but unless you’re suicidal, no one will give you the time of day.”

According to Anita, the missing piece of SWS is a place where students can just walk in the door, drop their bag, say they need help and then receive it. “If they made a space like that for students and the doors were overflowing, then what does that mean? Make the place bigger.”

Anita reiterated that the system is

a broken system wherein a serious disconnect between administration and student needs exists.

To learn more about what the student body had to say, members of The Journal posted on social media to learn how students access mental health care on campus. Eight students were chosen to share their stories and were given anonymity to protect their identities.

not equipped to handle even the acute cases that need immediate attention, “The reality is that you can’t schedule a mental breakdown. Bad days just happen.” *** When Sarah felt her mental health take a steep decline, she called SWS right away.

She was able to book an emergency appointment with a PhD student for the following day. “It was either that or an occupational therapist, no licensed

According to the 2017 National College Health Assessment, “with data from 41 Canadian post-secondary institutions, 13 per cent of students had ‘seriously considered suicide.’ ”

I could go and be heard when I “I felt like there was nosaid,where ‘I need help.’ ”

counsellors were available for about a week for emergency appointments,” Sarah said via Facebook messenger with The Journal.

She later decided to continue her appointments with the PhD student at SWS for counselling on a weekly basis because she was told a psychologist at the clinic would only be able to see her once every one or two months.

“Being with a PhD student has its ups and downs,” Sarah said, “I know [they’re] still new in the field and doesn’t have much experience. So, while there’s uncertainty about some aspects, I’m certainly happy with what I receive.”

Three students, including Sarah, said there’s actually a walk-in psychologist available at SWS, “[b]ut it’s almost like a secret because [you aren’t] given any information on it from Health Services.” “[My experience] has been really good, but I think it will really benefit Queen’s to have the program grow when it’s moved to the new building,” Sarah added. *** While some students struggle to get the help they need from SWS, others have heard such discouraging stories about the service that they haven’t even tried to book an appointment.

When Callie* felt her anxiety and stress get out of control around exam time, she initially considered contacting SWS. While she often experiences significant distress during exams — and feels anxious most of the time — she has yet to call.

“It seems like resources are underfunded and understaffed, [and they are] attempting to respond to both regular and emergency appointments with the same staff,” Callie said in an interview with The Journal. “So many people with mental illnesses require stability, especially in their treatment or management, it seems absurd to me that the school can’t provide guaranteed appointments to students.”

Callie explained her main reason for not making an appointment was because she felt the stress of having it cancelled would make her spiral out of control. “Even though I have struggled in the past with managing stress I haven’t been able to talk to somebody because, from what I’ve heard, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.” *** After a three-year battle with Major Depressive Disorder, Jack* decided to seek counselling on campus through Student Wellness Services.

According to Jack, the counsellor he met with was late and spent minimal time going over his intake form before asking

Friday, March 23, 2018

queensjournal.ca

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ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY RHAMEY

about a prior diagnosis from his physician.

“The next thing he said, direct quote, was ‘Hmmm. I don’t really know where to go from here,’” Jack said via Facebook messenger with The Journal. “Then we spent the next 30 minutes [with] him asking me what I should do to help myself and writing it down.”

Jack said the session ended 20 minutes early. When he attempted to make an appointment with a different counsellor, he was told the wait time would be a month and a half. *** When Shea* was undergoing a difficult time last year battling depression and anxiety, he turned to Queen’s counselling services for help. He ended up only seeing a counsellor once through Queen’s because he was so disheartened from his experience.

“When you’re opening up for the first time it’s discouraging to feel like you’re a burden on their busy schedule. I never received any follow up e-mails or anything.

It was as if I didn’t matter to the counsellor even after opening up to her,” Shea said to The Journal via Facebook messenger.

“So many feel like it’s a sign of weakness, failure or abnormality, when in reality, there are so many people that struggle with something at one time or another and it’s completely normal.”

“Mental health shouldn’t only be considered when you’re down … taking care of your mind is always important and I think everyone could benefit from seeing a psychologist to learn more about themselves and how their brain works so that they don’t ever have to experience serious depression or anxiety.” *** In her experience, Alexa* didn’t have any issues with mental health until this year. After a traumatic experience over the Christmas holidays and a serious panic attack when she returned to school, she decided she needed professional help.

“I immediately called La Salle the second they opened the next morning,” Alexa

said in an interview with The Journal. She was able to book an appointment for two and half weeks later “I was like ‘Okay, I understand they’re super busy, I’ll just rely on my friends and family a lot until I can see someone.’”

After struggling for two weeks, the day before her appointment Alexa received a call that told her it was cancelled and rebooked for three weeks later. “I was devastated and super angry, but thankfully [when] I woke up early the next day to call, they had a cancellation, and I got to see a counsellor.”

But when Alexa made it to her appointment and finally opened up to the counsellor, she was disappointed with how her situation was handled.

Ellie* is a current patient at SWS that has had counselling and continues to see a physician on a regular basis to prescribe and adjust her medication as needed.

However, she believes the wait times for appointments are unacceptably long.

“There are definitely not enough people on staff, and it often times feels as though I’m not getting the individualized care I need.”

“They say that there are same-day appointments for students in crisis (aka actively suicidal), and I’ve been one of those students, but there are many other issues that are severe and require timely intervention that La Salle is not equipped to handle.” Ellie said, “There’s not enough staff and students aren’t in ‘enough’ crisis.”

At the end of the day, there’s a clear

So many feel like it’s a sign of weakness, failure or “ abnormality, when in reality, there are so many people that struggle with something at one time or another and it’s completely normal.

“My issue is very unique and I felt very alone because none of my friends could really relate or empathize,” Alexa said. “I even felt this counsellor was at a loss for words and didn’t know what to say to me.”

The counsellor told Alexa they didn’t have “much training for dealing with trauma.”

After two sessions, the counsellor thought Alexa was doing better and suggested she re-book for a month later. “He didn’t see that just because I was having a good day, [it] didn’t mean I was doing better.”

“Today I’m doing a lot better but honestly that’s no thanks to Queen’s. I love going [to Queen’s] but to be completely honest, I think the mental health support here is shameful.”

“Especially since they encourage us to seek out help if we need it, but they don’t provide it. They need to understand that just because somebody isn’t a danger to themselves or others doesn’t mean they don’t seriously need help.” ***

”

demand for increased access to mental health professionals on campus. Students that aren’t suicidal, but who are suffering greatly, are often left behind in the midst of it all.

“Mental illness is not a contest and students should not have to meet a certain degree of suffering to merit the help they need.” Ellie said.

“I don’t think they should be commended for meeting the bare minimum of requirements in terms of mental health care,” she continued. “There’s an ongoing mental health crisis among university students and Queen’s really needs to step it up if they want to be able to meet that need and priorities student’s health over their grades and high-class reputation.” *** After losing her father, Violet* began to experience a loss of optimal functioning, increased anxiety and depressed feelings that left her thinking she was simply going through the motions of

According to the 2017 National College Health Assessment with data from 41 Canadian post-secondary institutions, 13 per cent of students had “seriously considered suicide.”

university life.

After waiting several weeks to see a counsellor, Violet said their advice to simply exercise, and “just stop repressing her feelings,” made her realize that the counsellor wasn’t qualified enough to deal with her situation.

“They said that I wasn’t missing school, I was handing in assignments … It wasn’t impacting my academics, so obviously it wasn’t impacting me enough,” Violet said, in an interview with The Journal.

Despite the fact that she couldn’t sleep for days at a time and her life outside of school was being severely neglected, the counsellor and physician Violet saw told her she was okay. “They thought they knew me better than I knew myself. They told me I was fine when I knew I wasn’t.” *** “It is challenging to say where I see the SWS in 10 years. If you were to go back 10 years and look at Student Wellness Services at the time (which would have been called Health, Counselling and Disability Services).They would not have envisioned what we have today,” Rector Cam Yung said in an interview with The Journal.

According to Yung, the SWS is looking to move to a new location in the Innovation and Wellness Centre (IWC) in the fall of 2018. The move could present the SWS with opportunities for more space, improved technology and as a result, a more accessible and effective service.

“To say that increasing the capacity of health and counselling resources will be the only solution would not be correct. Though I believe that this is an important aspect, there is much more that we can consider,” Yung said.

Yung also believes the student body should continue to advocate for a better experience when accessing services at SWS. “I believe that every Queen’s student should have the opportunity to access counselling, disability, and health services when the need arises,” he said. “Ultimately the goal should also be that each student who uses services in SWS leaves with a positive experience.”

GRAPHIC BY ALEX PALERMO

Arts

INTERVIEW

Reuben and the Dark finds the bright side Singer-songwriter talks poetry and performance

N ick P earce Arts Editor Despite Reuben and the Dark taking stage at the Grad Club this Saturday and many times prior, their frontman never planned on being a performer.

“I’m realizing what my own role is as a performer,” singer Reuben Bullock said. Prior to his success, he simply “wanted to play songs before [he] ended up on stage, entertaining people.”

Bullock started as a solo singer-songwriter, delivering intimate performances of his dark, introspective lyrics from stools on stages around his hometown of Calgary.

He described these initial, amateur performances as being similar to “reading a diary [and] strumming an acoustic guitar.”

It was more of an outgrowth of the poetry he wrote in his free time when he was a budding competitive skateboarder than the full, stirring choruses Reuben and the Dark would later become known for.

Similarly, Bullock hadn’t even picked up a guitar until his early 20s. Instead, poetry came first — he discovered a knack for it in a Grade 10 English class when his work got a glowing

review from his teacher. Despite his lack of technical knowledge, he found he could still deliver strong emotions through his writing.

“I learned I could get away without having a technical understanding of something if I could just write something that felt strong and powerful,” he said “That lit a fire inside my mind.”

This poetic background remains central to Bullock’s songwriting, with Reuben and the Dark’s upcoming album, Arms of a Dream, drawing inspiration from a poem he wrote years ago.

As an album, it explores art and music as extensions of dreams, along with “learning from mistakes and growing.”

Bullock said he tries to channel these abstract, subconscious feelings into his songwriting.

The result is brooding lyricism that still manages to avoid being overly bleak or emotionally taxing.

“You have a place you go to tap in and create,” Bullock said. “Mine tends to be from pain and from fear, from a sense of hopelessness and despair … What happens though is they end up taking form in things that feel like they’re beautiful and [where] there is hope.”

He explained the music becomes therapeutic because

EVENT COVERAGE

it engages feelings of being lost and challenges emotions. Instead of being dour reflections, the music grows into big, anthemic choruses that rise above their circumstances.

A similar thing happened when Bullock added a full band to his live show and made their collective first release with 2012’s Man Made Lakes. The music became more uplifting as it adopted a fuller sound with a multi-instrumentalist backing band.

“I felt like [being solo] took away from the songs. I kind of just wanted to hide behind a band and make a bunch of noise just to make it a show, to make it a spectacle, take the edge off.”

Plays ‘Botticelli’ and ‘Sodom’ go back to the past Double billing subverts expectations of history S ydney E rin K owal Contributor Taking the stage at the Isabel Bader Centre from Mar. 22 to 25, Botticelli in the Fire and Sunday in Sodom is a double bill that brings the past straight into the modern age.

For playgoers expecting a traditional performance about a historical figure, Botticelli in the Fire immediately smashes expectations.

The audience enters the space to find actor and director Ben Sterlin on stage, silently grooving to 80s pop music. While the lights rise, the flamboyantly sinful Botticelli speaks directly to the audience, demanding they “turn off their f—king cell phones.”

Though slow at times, Botticelli in the Fire is a newly modernized story of the father of the Renaissance as he battled homophobia and ignorance in a

world that wants him dead.

The set is gorgeously built to replicate Sandro Botticelli’s studio, displaying some of his most famous paintings. The beauty of the classic Renaissance art in the room is quickly contrasted as Botticelli is seen placing his head under the dress of his model, beautifully played by Keady Morgan.

Awkward staging leaves audience members craning in their seats, occasionally disrupting the action. However, these moments’ saving graces are the comedic chops of actor Evan Lepp and the emotional depth of Kevin Shaw, who portrays Botticelli’s lover, Leonardo Da Vinci.

While sexy and often a little silly, the play set in Renaissance Italy brings the past into the future, as Renaissances often do.

The modernization is jarring at times, depicting Botticelli

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY ALEXANDER SOUETRE

Bullock began his creative career with poetry.

taking a break from painting the Venus de Milo to show Da Vinci a text message as seen on his pink iPhone. The modernization contrasts and clashes the old with the new, as actor Tyler Doyle is seen playing a 15th century monk, who also briefly appears wearing nothing but metallic silver hotpants.

These moments help the play maintain the audience’s attention while still filling it with real emotion — a standout scene saw Sterlin accidentally crack one of his beautiful set’s walls in a fit of Botticellian passion.

After a brief intermission and a complete makeover of the stage, audiences were brought even further back in time for the second half of the production.

If Botticelli in the Fire is an amusing first half, Sunday in Sodom is a beautiful second.

A masterpiece of staging puts actress Marlisa Hows centre stage

As a result, the live show took on a more musical quality, where it previously could seem like Bullock placed the weight of the show entirely on his own personality.

The formation of the group coincided with Bullock’s development as a performer. He learned to build a more meaningful relationship with his audience that went beyond the pure emotional rawness of his earlier shows.

“Before I had a strange punk rock approach to performing. I think because it was so personal I would just like bleed on the stage for people.”

Bullock said he would put himself through “torment” just to create an experience. He would leave a performance exhausted and sweating, almost crying only to disappear backstage and avoid conversation.

Now he understands his exchange with the

as Edith, the biblical wife of Lot, in a city destined to burn.

Hows shines in the role as she demonstrates her incredible acting abilities and a more than impressive talent of depicting emotion using only her facial expressions.

Giving new context to a story told a thousand times, Sunday in Sodom is a treasure to behold.

Maintaining the modern themes of the first half of the night, the scriptural character of Lot remains glued to his TV screen and Isaac, the son of Abraham, is

audience differently.

“I’m writing all these songs to share them with people, to connect with people. I think what works is we’re opening ourselves up and playing our hearts out,” he said. “What ends up happening is this kind of beautiful energy just walking out of there. A sense of pulling some kind of joy from sad songs through live performance.”

This connection with fans extends beyond their concerts — Bullock said fans will often send him stories about the role his music played in their lives.

He added someone will lose a loved one and play his song at the funeral while another will write to tell him they played that same song walking down the aisle.

“One will take it as a love song, and one will take it as a funeral song. That’s the best case where [the music is] being used for those real emotional purposes.” seen on his cell phone and waiting at a bus station. The contemporary twist to this biblical storytelling provides a fresh twist on otherwise dry source material.

This update is at its clearest when Hows gives a voice to a woman that never had one before. The previously silent character of Edith brings the audience through her village, eliciting laughs and breaking hearts without ever moving a muscle.

This sequence is a moving conclusion to the show’s theme of the reimagined past.

The plays took a modern edge to history.

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY BEN STERLIN

Arts

Friday, March 23, 2018

queensjournal.ca

The show combined multiple artforms.

EVENT COVERAGE

Afrofuturism raises money for Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy Queen’s African Caribbean Students’ Association presents Project Afro-Odyssey Raechel Huizinga Staff Writer On Saturday night, the Queen’s African Caribbean Students’ Association (ACSA) 2018 Culture Show turned to the future to raise

money for the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (OAHAS).

Project Afro-Odyssey included a wide spectrum of artistic expression this weekend, with acts by local artists that included spoken word poetry, song, dance and fashion exhibitions.

The performances asked the audience to reimagine the past, present and future through the lens of Afrofuturism, which is an intersection of science fiction and African cultures.

While the term might bring to mind an escapist image of advanced technology and space galaxies, it’s always been rooted in the present.

Show coordinator Asantewa

Nkuah, ArtSci ‘19, told The Journal “the main thing about Afrofuturism has always been hope, and being optimistic about the circumstances you find yourself in.”

Co-coordinator Rachael Quarcoo, ArtSci ‘20, who suggested the theme to Nkuah last April, said the two of them wanted to “do something that would be impactful at Queen’s,” and recognized that Afrofuturism has “a huge rise at the moment, especially with the release of Black Panther.”

The co-coordinators worked to build off of these developments and make them accessible for people who were new to the unique style.

THEATRE REVIEW

‘Down There: Prism’ heals through performance Many of the performances were emotionally vulnerable.

Students explore social and personal issues across mediums C arly A ltberg Contributor This past weekend, Down There: Prism presented a hopeful collection of experiences to a sold-out run in the Rotunda Theatre.

Directed by Taylor Vardy, ArtSci ’18, and Ruth Oketch, ArtSci ’18, the cast captured the personal effects of anxiety, sexual abuse, racism, sexuality and gender through music, spoken

word, dance and film.

With each piece touching on an array of highly sensitive subject matter, the team did a commendable job of supporting each other as well as the audience members. Many candid moments of love and support were felt in the space, creating an intimate and emotionally vulnerable experience.

At the end of each piece, other members of the cast would appear on stage to hug the performers and led them away hand-in-hand. These moments acted as catharsis for the actors and the audience, easing the transition to the following pieces.

Notably, a representative from the Peer Support Centre was also present for those who may

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY LAURA O’GRADY

have felt any triggers, or needed someone to speak with.

Appropriately titled, “Prism,” the show’s content reflected the diversity of the cast and the range of their experiences.

Designed by Sonja Niedermaier, ArtSci ‘20, the lighting carried the theme further by projecting a rainbow of colours on the back wall of the stage while audience members took their seats, setting up the crowd for the show.

Starting off the show with original music played by S a ra h -A n n e Thompson, ArtSci and Music ’18, the mood was set to introduce a show that emphasized open and honest dialogue about everyday life.

The appeal of the annual Down

Explored through a journey across space and time, the show’s theme on Saturday was consistent from the neon, sci-fi lighting to the futuristic music and fashion.

The acts were divided into realms across the universe, from the “Constellation of Love,” which featured dramatic spoken word poetry, to “The Place of Rhythm and Song,” which showcased an impressive performance by the Queen’s Salsa group.

Other acts included ‘The Heart of the Drums,’ an energetic performance from Kingston’s Drum Circle and “The Cosmic Flow,” a hip hop number from Queen’s FLOW dance club.

In the realm of “The Domain of Truth and Justice,” Toronto-born poet Noah Jemmott provided the audience with an act that was anything but dull. He instantly won over the crowd with his charismatic stage presence and dynamic, often chilling poetry, which covered topics like race, family and Jemmott’s love of juice.

The highlight of the night was one fashion show that put a spotlight on the Afrofuturistic theme in a bright, ingenious display of outfits gathered from thrift stores across Kingston.

Several models walked to an urgent beat, creating a collage of

There performance is the candid moments of our peers work to help us cope with whatever we’re experiencing in our own lives.

There’s something for everyone to relate to.

Particularly, Tyler Doyle, Comp Sci ’18, delivered a spoken word piece on overthinking things that was extremely impactful.

He spoke about the feeling of putting on a persona of “the funny guy” while truly wanting to be more than that. He explained he’s constantly thinking and analyzing the difference between people laughing “with” versus “at” him — a relatable feeling for anyone who’s had difficulty broaching a social situation.

Aiishwarya Haran, ArtSci ’18, then spoke about the feeling of being only conditionally beautiful and explored what it feels like to live within a society whose beauty ideals don’t include her skin tones.

Haran shared the feeling she experiences when someone tells her “you’re pretty for a brown girl.” Her piece was informative to the impact of words and made audience members reflect on how they can change their own mindsets.

Each segment covered a different topic — masculinity and femininity, mental health

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PHOTO SUPPLIED BY ACSA

warm, earthy colours that blended with sharp, cool tones. The fashion never settled, jumping from one look to the next without a moment to spare.

Coordinators of the fashion show Catherine Haba and Kemi King laid the groundwork for the highlight of the night.

From flowers woven into facial hair to giant, techno headpieces, shimmering dresses and sunglasses, the creativity of the outfits brought the past and future together in an unforgettable interpretation of Afrofuturism.

The show culminated with a contagious, upbeat performance by the ACSA dance team that carried the night’s theme of hope and optimism. The routine and the dancers’ outfits combined traditional and contemporary African and Caribbean fashion, capping the performance with an energetic example of Afrofuturism in dance.

Project Afro-Odyssey’s creative interpretations of Afrofuturism and wide range of performances made for a truly successful event on Saturday, spotlighting the diversity present at Queen’s — all the while raising money for the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy. and invisible disabilities, body image, race and racism, sexual orientation and sexuality, gender, religion and spirituality and political beliefs.

The variety of pieces led to an impactful performance from all those involved. Many audience members engaged in conversation afterwards with both the actors and each other regarding the topics covered in the performance. This acted as a great way to start conversation and address the stigma around these topics on campus.

As well, all proceeds of $3,024.65 from ticket sales were donated to the Dawn House and Interval House homeless shelters and the Sexual Assault Centre Kingston.

The inclusion of these community-based efforts built to the last moment of the show — an original song titled “Satellites” sung by the entire cast. It was an uplifting and uncompromisingly hopeful piece that allowed for a fitting conclusion to the night’s experiences and truly provided a medium for healing through the arts.

12 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 23, 2018

Sports

PHOTO BY AMANDA NORRIS

The Gaels finished first in the OUA for the first time since 1990.

Matt Scace Assistant Sports Editor Spending their St. Patrick’s Day in London, ON at the U Sports Championships, the women’s hockey team seemed to be without the luck of the Irish this weekend in their bid for a national medal. Despite losing both of their games at the national championships, the Gaels capped off a dreamlike 2017-18 season.

Coming off a 3-0 loss to the Western Mustangs in the OUA McCaw Cup finals on Mar. 10, the Gaels entered the tournament as the eighth and final seed — a position familiar for a majority of players on the team. At last year’s U Sports Championships hosted by Queen’s, the eighth-seeded Gaels came close to upsetting the top-ranked UBC Thunderbirds, losing 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

Going into this year’s quarterfinal game against the Manitoba Bisons, the Gaels headed to London with a similar sense of belief in themselves.

“We were excited to play them,” head coach Matt Holmberg told The Journal after the tournament. “Looking at the video, we knew it’d be tough but

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Queen’s close out historic season at U Sports Championships

Gaels lose both games at national championship in London we knew we could be successful if we played our game.”

“It was a magical season.”

— Head coach Matt Holmberg With a total of 14 players in their fourth or fifth year at Queen’s, the Bisons showed their experience in their convincing 4-0 victory over the Gaels. Despite the scoreline looking lopsided, the Gaels remained confident in their performance after the loss.

“It was a closer game than first blush,” Holmberg said about the game against Manitoba.

Looking at the stats, Holmberg’s

Devon Greenough in the consolation semi-finals versus St.FX.

statement rings true. On the night, Queen’s was only outshot 27-19.

Unfortunately for Queen’s, they committed three penalties compared to Manitoba’s zero.

This came back to haunt the Gaels, as the Bisons capitalized on two of those powerplays in the second period to put the game away.

Much to their pleasure, the Gaels left the game with the chance to redeem themselves against St. Francis Xavier in the consolation semi-finals. Continuing their comparison to last year’s U Sports Championships, this game against their rivals from out east was a rematch of 2017’s consolation round.

After regulation ended in a

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY BRANDON VANDECAVEYE

3-3 tie, the two teams went to overtime with the opportunity to play on the last day of the women’s hockey season. But after an unlucky bounce in front of the Gaels’ net snuck past goaltender Stephanie Pascal, Queen’s season came to an end.

“For the [incoming] rookies, I have no doubt that their team will show them what it’s like to be a championship team.”

— Gaels forward Jess Wakefield “We could’ve used a bounce and they got it before we did, and that was that,” Holmberg said. “Overall, I was very proud of how the team played on the ice and presented themselves off the ice.”

With the consolation round loss marking the end of a grueling six-month season, Holmberg and the Gaels have begun to reflect on a season that saw Queen’s finish atop the OUA’s regular season standings for the first time since 1990.

In an interview with The Journal, team captain and fifth-year Jess Wakefield discussed the team’s unprecedented progress this season. In her final season at Queen’s, Wakefield scored seven goals and 11 assists.

She was also recently named an OUA First-Team All-Star.

“One of the first things I said to the team after the final game

was, ‘Thank you for giving me the best last year of hockey I could ask for and for finishing off my university hockey career on such an amazing team,’” Wakefield said.

“Seeing what kind of effect a unified team can have on performance ... I’m confident returning players will do a good job of quickly instilling that philosophy.”

— Head coach Matt Holmberg Leaving the Gaels this season is a class of seven athletes. Clare McKellar, Michele Knecht, Emily Gervais, Micaela Smith, Claire Warren, and Amber Sealey will be joining Wakefield, ending their time with the Gaels. Despite the significant losses, the team’s captain believes the team’s future success won’t be stunted.

“They have a great leadership squad … they’re so strong already,” Wakefield said. “For the rookies, I have no doubt that their team will show them what it’s like to be a championship team.”

In a similar vein, Holmberg remains confident that his team can climb to the same heights next season.

“Seeing what kind of effect a unified team can have on performance and I’m confident the returning players will do a good job of quickly instilling that philosophy on the incoming players,” Holmberg said.

Despite looking forward to next year, Holmberg remains reminiscent of the past season’s success as graduation looms for the players that have spent four or five years under his tutelage.

“I’m most proud of the team as a whole and how united they were,” Holmberg said. “I’m very grateful we got the team where it was.”

“It was a magical season.”

Sports

Friday, March 23, 2018

queensjournal.ca

• 13

Queen’s defensive back Jacob Firlotte prepares for CFL National Combine Standout performance at Ontario combine sees Gaels player invited to national showcase Maggie Gowland Contributor After a standout performance at the CFL’s Ontario Regional Combine on Mar. 9, Queen’s defensive back Jacob Firlotte has earned himself another opportunity to impress scouts.

The regional combine — of which there are three in Canada — gives select CFL hopefuls from U Sports schools an opportunity to earn an invitation to the league’s national combine. Firlotte was one of six athletes — out of a total 41 — at the Ontario Regional Combine to be invited to the national combine, which is set to be held on Mar. 24 and 25 in Winnipeg.

Divided into physical and field testing, the notable measured categories at both regional and national combines are the bench press, 40-yard dash, broad jump, vertical jump, three-cone and short shuttle drills.

Although Firlotte didn’t rank in the top five in any of the six major testing categories at the regional combine, he said he wasn’t surprised to receive his invitation to the national combine.

Overall, he was happy with his results from the day.

“I’m a lot bigger than the other guys in my position, and I was able to keep up with them,” Firlotte told The Journal this week. “But with the on-field stuff I really succeeded … That’s what counts because that’s the most applicable stuff towards an actual game.”

Of note in his performance, the fourth-year Gael finished in the top 10 of the vertical jump with a leap of 32.5” and seventh in the broad jump jumping 9’9.75”.

While not on showcase at the regional combine, Firlotte explained that defensive backs need to show their ability to read and react to wide receivers, on top of keeping them covered.

An athlete’s intangible skills on the field — reading a play, man-to-man

coverage, etc. — often bear more importance in their overall play than strength and agility. “[W]ith the on-field stuff, I really succeeded,” Firlotte, who played in all eight of the Gaels’ games this season, said. “[I] locked down the receiver which is good and that’s what counts because that’s the most applicable stuff towards an actual game.”

One area that works in Firlotte’s favour is his size. His 6’2, 216 lbs frame was the largest of all participating defensive backs at the regional combine.

The next closest at his position was Nicholas Parisotto from Guelph, who checked-in 15 pounds under and a four inches shorter than Firlotte.

At the national combine this coming weekend, he hopes

Sebastian Bron Sports Editor

PHOTO BY RICH ZAZULAK

INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS IMPACTED

BY SEXUAL VIOLENCE GET HELP, GIVE HELP queensu.ca/sexualviolencesupport Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Coordinator, Barb Lotan bjl7@queensu.ca

to impress scouts enough to boost his draft stock.

“I mean, everything of course,” he responded when asked what specifically he wishes to improve at the national combine. “What’s going to be different is interviews with [CFL] coaches, which wasn’t at the [regional combine] … I’ve got to prepare myself for that.”

Firlotte won’t be the only Gael trying to impress scouts this upcoming weekend. He’s joined

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

SUPPLIED BY JACOB FIRLOTTE

by Queen’s linebacker Nelkas Kwemo, who’s listed at going 11th overall in the latest CFL mock draft.

Even though the national combine will attract more scouts and attention, Firlotte doesn’t find the experience stressful.

Rather, he’s excited.

“You expect there to be coaches there watching you. There are less people there than at a game, and it’s something you’ve prepared for, so [I’m] pretty calm,” he said.

Gaels close season empty-handed 31-year coach Brenda Willis sends program off in high spirits

The Gaels lost both of their games this weekend.

Firlotte at the Ontario Regional Combine.

The men’s volleyball team’s remarkable mid-season turnaround to reach the U Sports National Championship finally came to an end this past weekend in Hamilton.

The Gaels closed their season with a quarterfinal 3-1 loss to the nationally-ranked second Alberta Golden Bears and a 3-0 consolation semi-final defeat to the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds.

Despite coming away from the tournament empty-handed, Queen’s head coach Brenda Willis said her players “added credibility to the program in the way [they] competed.”

Friday’s match versus Alberta saw the Gaels fall behind 2-0 before they found their footing in the third set.

“I think, initially, there was a bit of nerves and we didn’t play great in the first two sets,” Willis, who is now retired after a 31-year career at Queen’s, said. “And then it was, like, ‘O.K., we have nothing to lose, so let’s just settle down and play disciplined.’”

The Gaels took the third set

25-19 and looked to have the upper hand on their opponent in the fourth when, up 23-21, they were two points away from forcing a fifth and final set.

Unfortunately for Queen’s, the Golden Bears rallied back.

They scored four consecutive points to win the set 25-23 and match 3-1.

“We were in a position to win it,” Willis said of the fourth set.

“We just made a few unforced errors that you can’t take back [and] were a bit uncharacteristic of our team.”

The coach added “people were surprised at how competitive” her team was against Alberta, particularly when considering the ranking discrepancy between both teams.

“Based on the volleyball ranking system — the equation that’s used to [calculate] top 10 teams — Alberta was [second best] and we were in the mid-20s, so everyone expected it to be a blowout,” she said.

Much of the same followed in the Gaels’ 3-0 consolation semi-finals loss to UNB. Although prepared to play their opponents, Willis said the loss was because of her team’s shortcomings.

“We lost two really close sets and that just kind of took the wind out of the sails,” she said. “I guess that’s kind of been a nemesis for us … unforced errors at critical times, sometimes going for too much or being too tentative.”

A lack of hardware this season for the Gaels doesn’t takeaway from their successes and deserved

recognition. Before winning five consecutive matches to close their regular season, Queen’s record was 4-5 and the team was on the fringe of the playoff picture.

Willis said her team set their own destiny — “and when you can do that … it’s inspiring.”

“That’s what we talked about, what we needed to do,” Willis recalled what she told her players before they went on their five-game winning streak to end the season. “It came down to a changed outlook. It was about helping each other be right and pushing each other to be better.

And that set a tone for the latter part of our regular season.”

The Gaels’ now-vacant head coaching position is appealing for reasons that extend beyond the court.

“These jobs are hard to come by and there’s only less than 30 in the whole country,” Willis said. She added other Canadian athletic departments aren’t as supportive of high-performance sport as Queen’s. “You can’t come with too many negatives on a checklist for a coach here.”

With 12 of its 17 players currently in their first or second year at Queen’s, the team’s roster also presents a promising source of youth.

Now she’s retired, Willis hopes to leave the program she’s shaped and managed for three decades in steady hands.

“I wanted to leave the roster is solid shape so my successor, whoever that might be, can pick up the reigns and move it forward.”

“And I’m really pleased that’s what we’ve done.”

14 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 23, 2018

Lifestyle Judges choosing their favourite cakes.

Josh Granovsky Assistant Lifestyle Editor Since Netflix burst onto the scene in 2013, it’s been hailed as one of the most versatile entertainment companies in TV production. You can watch Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt if you feel like laughing, or Black Mirror if you feel like crying from fear, or Orange is the New Black if you feel like doing both. However, in terms of food-related TV shows, Netflix has been no competition for the Food Network.

Six months into adding the Food Network to my cable package, I’ve become a card-carrying member of the channel’s fandom. My DVR is stuffed with over 40 episodes of Chopped and I can recognize the network’s biggest stars by voice.

What makes the Food Network’s programming so enticing is how their competition

TV

shows — including Chopped, Iron Chef and Beat Bobby Flay — pay such close attention to detail. Each dish is prepared with staggering precision and beauty. Each note of the show’s score is seamlessly timed to the dramatic highs and lows of the competition. Every judge plucks the most impressive words from their culinary dictionary to form their critique.

Netflix’s latest baking competition show, Nailed It, contains none of these typical ingredients. And yet, I’ve grown to love it just as much — if not more — than I do Chopped.

The format of Nailed It doesn’t stray far from the baking shows

QNSA and VCFS collaborate for Indigenous Awareness Week

As part of Indigenous Awareness Week, Queen’s Native Students Association (QNSA) and Vogue Charity Fashion Show (VCFS) invited students on Mar. 15 to hear international Indigenous models Siera Bearchell and Ellyn Jade discuss advocacy as Indigenous women in the public eye.

As a non-Indigenous person

add in the cake mix for her cake and winds up making a straight-up omelette.

I see a lot of myself in the bakers on Nailed It. Growing up, I was lucky to have parents who took the reins on cooking major meals and desserts, allowing me to master the art of grilled cheese and a respectable sunny-side-up egg. Now that I live on my own here at Queen’s, I’m forced to rely more on my culinary skills. I can occasionally whip up something to impress my friends but more often than not, I wipe out.

I wouldn’t say I’m incompetent at baking — give me a Betty Crocker cake mix and I’ll follow the recipe on the back to perfection — but if you asked me to make a stunning, three-tier wedding cake, it would likely end up looking like a misshapen cloud.

The bakers on Nailed It often sink to similar fails. Still, they

her analysis of prevalent issues in the country resonated with me as a Canadian.

Throughout the event, both Bearchell and Jade focused their discussion on their experiences as Indigenous women in the modelling industry.

Bearchell, Canadian beauty queen and current law student at the University of Saskatchewan, began competing in pageants as a way to support her family following a house fire. She soon discovered the negative side-effects of pageantry in body shaming. She shared a story of when she was told to get liposuction while simultaneously receiving hundreds of comments on social media calling her fat.

Bearchell recounted to audience members how these comments motivated her to lose weight for the Miss Supranational pageant — an international beauty pageant — in 2015 in which she placed first runner-up.

Although this was technically a loss, Bearchell said she was glad she didn’t win because she ultimately had the goal of winning only as a true version of herself. Finding confidence and strength in her body, Bearchell went on to be the first Miss

Canada Universe of Métis descent in 2016.

Motivated by her personal experience, Bearchell began using her platform on social media to spread body positivity for women across the world.

The former Miss Universe Canada left the audience of Thursday’s event with a message: “The most important person to look up to, to love … to be better for, is yourself.”

After this inspiring sendoff, Indigenous actress, model and Two Spirited dancer Ellyn Jade similarly spoke about her experience in the industry.

She recounted going to her first ever fashion show at age six, where she knew immediately it was her calling to be involved in the industry. As an Indigenous woman however, Jade faced severe bouts of racial discrimination, including losing a 10-page editorial job because of her Indigeneity.

This became one of the reasons the actress and model now uses her platform to advocate for Indigenous issues, including missing and murdered Indigenous persons and the high rates of Indigenous children in foster care.

At the event, co-chair of QNSA

Darian Doblej said the main mandate of the group is to reach every student, Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Bearchell and Jade were certainly effective speakers to achieve this goal, as they addressed intersectional as well as Indigenous issues.

Ultimately, Indigenous awareness and empowerment were at the heart of the event.

When asked who her Indigenous role models were growing up, Bearchell mentioned her great-great-great grandfather as a source of Métis pride.

Similarly, Jade spoke about her great-great-great grandmother and other elders who were integral to her upbringing. In everything she does, Jade said, she first asks herself if her grandmother would be proud. In this sense, Indigeneity informs Jade’s advocacy.

As successful, proud, Indigenous women who work in the public eye, both Bearchell and Jade are much needed role models for the new generation of Indigenous youth.

Thursday’s event successfully opened attendees’ eyes to the different experiences and barriers Indigenous women face in the modelling industry and in greater Canadian society.

Netflix's new dessert competition is a celebration of average cooks

Siera Bearchell and Ellyn Jade talk advocacy in modelling

Michelle Boon Staff Writer

that have come before it: three amateur bakers try to recreate the creations of a professional chef to win a $10,000 prize.

What makes it stand out from the pack is that most of these bakers are painfully and gloriously average — and boy do they make mistakes.

Sure, chefs on Food Network shows aren’t immune to an occasional slip-up. Sometimes a contestant sprinkles in an extra speck of salt or fails to realize the full potential of the preserved duck eggs — yes, that’s a real ingredient used on Chopped.

But the errors on Nailed It are much more basic and relatable.

Contestants regularly stack three layers of cake without putting any icing in between them. They fill pans to the top with batter because they don’t realize it expands in the oven.

In the final episode, one contestant even forgets to

never get down on themselves and instead find comfort in having a laugh at their own greatest attempts. One result of a challenge to recreate a Donald Trump cake had me and the other contestants gasping for air.

The bakers aren’t the only ones who don’t take themselves seriously either. The judges and host/comedian Nicole Byers regularly improvise jokes in their critiques. The show’s music and editing aren't held themselves to an overly strict standard either.

Once, they carved a full minute out of the show to depict a cake falling as the climax of Titanic.

Nailed It ultimately comes nowhere near stealing the Food Network’s crown. Instead, the show makes its own crown, where one of the jewels is missing and the engraving on the inside has a typo.

I see the value in wanting to wear the Food Network’s crown and pretending to be restauranteur royalty for an hour. But I urge you to carve out an afternoon, put on Nailed It’s sloppy crown for six quick episodes and remember how fun failing can be.

'Nailed It' is the baking show students have been waiting for

AROUND CAMPUS

QNSA executive and speakers.

SCREENSHOT FROM NETFLIX

PHOTOS SUPPLIED QNSA

attending Thursday’s event, I was surprised to discover I was still able to identify with the main themes of the night.

Guest speaker Siera Bearchell is a proud Métis descendant, an identity I’m personally unable to connect to. However, her experience with body insecurity was all too familiar. Similarly, while speaker Ellyn Jade voiced her personal ties to Indigenous issues, that I and likely others in the audience couldn’t relate to,

Lifestyle

Friday, March 23, 2018

queensjournal.ca

• 15

accomplish the same task of finding the best stocks to invest in. While there’s the chance of doubling or even tripling your money, there’s also the chance that the company you choose to invest with goes under and you lose all your savings. The key to managing this risk is diversifying your investments between stocks in different sectors and industries.

Mutual funds

PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN

Wondering how to invest.

BUSINESS

A guide to investing for students The pros and cons of different types of investments

Patrick Labadie Contributor Between balancing classes, assignments, relationships and taking care of yourself, the last stress you need university is worrying about your finances.

While it may seem intimidating, the best time to educate yourself on how to save your money is now.

Every dollar invested now will go further and further as the interest piles up over the years, so getting started early can be highly beneficial. Throughout your teenage years, saving for retirement

may have amounted to opening a bank account and putting some money into your savings.

While it’s easy to access, the interest it earns is miniscule. Luckily, there are many other ways to invest that can help prepare you for the long term, like stock market funds and bonds.

Getting started with investing is often the toughest part. Despite all the talk about Bitcoin and blockchain, there are less complicated ways to invest in your future. Here are some easy tips to help you get started.

Savings accounts Through tax plans and investment certificates, the government has several programs that help Canadians save money. Opening a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) with your bank lets you withdraw money that you earn from your investments without having to pay any tax on this income. If you haven’t already done so, opening a TFSA is a great first step for kicking off your investment career.

Bonds

To start, you may choose to invest in bonds, stocks, mutual funds or even real estate.

You can think about bonds as loaning out money to a company or governments, who repay the amount you loaned plus interest. Bonds are generally a safer investment with lower risk, but don’t have any chance of earning more than the interest already agreed upon.

Given the time university students have until they retire, it’s not always the wisest investment. It’s better suited for when you need cash on a date in the near future, like when you're approaching retirement age.

Even so, if you’re solely looking to start out in investing, bonds can be a safe, simple way to go.

Stocks

Stocks are a riskier investment but carry a lot of potential to maximize your earnings.

Picking individual stocks that you think will beat the market is a time-consuming process. You’re working against millions of other investors who are all trying to

Investing in mutual funds is a great way to prevent the individual stock risk.

Mutual funds allow you to invest a small portion of your money across a range of firms. These portfolios are picked by a mutual fund manager, who spreads the risk by including a wide variety of companies from different industries. These fund managers earn their salary by taking a percentage of your earnings, so it’s a costly way to spread your risk with a chance of human error.

Despite this, mutual funds are a great option if you’re looking to invest in a certain industry or market, all while tailoring the risk to levels you feel comfortable with.

Index funds

Another way to spread this risk without the chance of human error is investing in index funds. Index and mutual funds both try to lower the risk of losing your money on individual stocks by spreading your money throughout different companies.

Instead of a person picking your stocks,, index funds involve an automatic wide selection of the biggest firms. Doing this is like betting on the stock market itself. Unless all companies perform poorly at once, there’s a much smaller chance of experiencing poor returns.

Index funds are almost completely automated, which lowers the chance of lower returns and also reduces the fees involved, as your investments don’t go towards a fund manager’s salary.

To start investing in these assets, it’s easy to meet with an advisor from your bank, a financial planning firm in person or create an online account. There are a variety of different products that best suit your risk and liquidity needs, all with different fees and restrictions. As a student just starting out, it’s best to consult a financial advisor to help you navigate the investing world and research where you’re putting your money.

Investing as a student may seem like the last of your worries, but every little bit helps.

When the interest adds up, you’ll be happy to have started so early.

Lifestyle

16 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 23, 2018

POSTSCRIPT

Having an abortion doesn't need to be a horrific experience How KGH Women's Clinic made my procedure easier

ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY RHAMEY

Someone waiting at the Women's Clinic.

This story talks about abortion. It may be triggering for some readers.

I’m a girl from a Catholic family who went to church every Sunday.

I attended Catholic school my whole young adult life.

Consequently, I — like many other Queen’s students — grew up surrounded by people who believe abortion is murder.

I disagreed, but never had to face that discrepancy until I was 19 years old. I was standing next to the guy I had been sleeping with — who I had yet to even call my boyfriend — staring at a positive home pregnancy test.

Despite my upbringing, and despite the gravity of the situation I was facing, I never questioned what my next steps were. Though I never thought this could happen to me, I had always known what I’d do if my worst-case scenario came true.

So, as soon as I had calmed down and wiped away my tears, I was on the phone with the Kingston General Hospital (KGH) Women’s Clinic.

I was terrified. I had grown up hearing horror stories of botched abortions, and of successful ones that haunt you everyday regardless. Moreover, I had no idea what an abortion entailed or how to get one. Accessing abortion services certainly wasn’t integrated into the curriculum at my Catholic schools.

What I did know came from two pieces in The Journal featuring women who had received abortions from the KGH Women’s Clinic — and neither of them had anything good to say.

The feature piece pointed out how one woman had to wait

five and a half weeks to have her procedure after contacting the clinic. She noted that being pregnant was the “absolute worst thing” that ever happened to her in her life.

In an editorial, one student wrote that the Women’s Clinic was “absolutely terrifying” and no one at the clinic offered her any advice on what to expect when she arrived for her procedure. She too lamented the long wait times for appointments.

This was the only student-oriented material I had to consult before beginning my own abortion process. Today, I write this to change the information available to The Journal’s readers and offer a very different opinion: in what was the darkest time of my life, the KGH Women’s Clinic was an absolute blessing.

People are always talking about societal barriers to getting an abortion. There are many, including the fact that clinics are few and far between, making access difficult, especially for women living in remote areas. However, one barrier people seem to dwell on is the negative social stigma that discourages conversations about abortion.

What I don’t think people realize is that a severe lack of positive stories being told about abortion contributes heavily to that negative stigma.

Let me be clear — there’s nothing positive about being unexpectedly pregnant at 19.

There’s nothing liberating about running water in the sink and bathtub so your housemates don’t hear you vomiting every morning. There’s

nothing easy about avoiding your friends, family, schoolwork and hobbies for fear of anyone discovering your secret. Being pregnant was incredibly isolating and difficult for me, but I’ll forever be thankful for the support I received at the KGH Women’s Clinic.

My first interaction with the clinic was that phone call I made directly after taking an at-home test. I stared at those two pink lines as the woman on the line explained to me the next steps: I’d need to get a urine test at a walk-in clinic to confirm my results, then they’d set me up for an ultrasound.

I learned that oftentimes, the reason you have to wait many weeks for an appointment is because you need to be seven weeks along to receive a surgical abortion at the KGH. As such, they book your ultrasound for around the seven-week mark to confirm you’re ready for the procedure.

This process has very little to do with administrative backup and everything to do with proper medical practice.

However, since I had my surgery, medical abortions have now become available at the KGH meaning women can have abortions earlier than the seven-week mark through the prescription of abortion pills.

I was nervous when I heard I had to wait about five more weeks to get an ultrasound before I could even confirm my appointment, but I certainly understood that my mistake wasn’t the kind that could be resolved with a snap of my fingers.

I was simply grateful to know I was being taken care of eventually, to know that I was one of the lucky

women who lived within walking distance of an abortion clinic.

Like I said, the weeks that followed that at-home pregnancy test were some of the darkest of my life. I internalized the negative stigma so prevalent in society and in my Catholic community. I struggled mentally and spiritually, but also physically as I experienced early pregnancy symptoms of morning sickness, cramping, fatigue, dizziness, soreness and more.

After completing my ultrasound, I was called later that same day to book my abortion for only five days later. As much as I wanted the procedure to be over so I could put this incident behind me, I dreaded the surgery.

When I arrived at the Women’s Clinic on the morning of my procedure, I was surprised to see it wasn’t as terrifying as I expected.

I mean, no clinic in a hospital is exactly warm and welcoming, but it wasn’t bad. I then sat down with a social worker who explained to me the procedure step-by-step.

She explained to me why abortions in the past had often been dangerous and how medicine had advanced to ensure they weren’t anymore. She told me my family doctor wouldn’t be notified about this and the procedure was free under OHIP. She explained possible side effects and how to treat them. She asked me how I was feeling, how these past few weeks had been for me and actually listened. She offered her advice and kindness and even managed to make me laugh.

When she asked me about birth control, I explained I had been avoiding hormonal contraceptives as they gave me mood swings and sometimes made me depressed. She set me up with a

prescription for a pill that had a lower and unique dose of hormones made just for women like me.

I was then given a cocktail of drugs for the procedure — each time a nurse or doctor administered them, I was told exactly what each drug was and what it would do to me. While I was waiting for them to take effect, the nurses let the father climb into my tiny hospital bed to hold me.

The procedure itself was quick and blurry. The father was allowed to come in with me and hold my hand the entire time.

Immediately following, all I experienced was a few minutes of cramping and cold sweats, which the nurses treated.

And then it was over. I would bleed for about a week afterwards — a completely painless and normal side effect I was warned about. While since then I’ve occasionally shed tears about the child I gave up, never once have I regretted the decision — that’s a personal conclusion, though.

What I’d say to any woman seeking an abortion at the KGH Women’s Clinic is they take the scariest day of your life and make it a little bit easier and safer — and that’s about all you can ask for. Having a clinic next to campus where you can have an abortion for free under the health coverage offered in this province makes Queen’s students overwhelmingly fortunate.

I refuse to focus on the dark parts of my abortion because there’s already so much darkness surrounding this issue.

If we really want to break the stigma, we need to hear positive stories too.