The Queen's Journal, Volume 145, Issue 24

the journal Vol. 145, Issue 24

Queen’s University

F r i d ay M a r c h 9 , 2 0 1 8

since

1873

PETERSON LECTURE MET WITH PROTEST page 2

PHOTO BY IAIN SHERRIFF-SCOTT

What’s Inside?

NEWS

FEATURE

EDITORIALS

Nobel Laureate comes to campus

A look inside Kingston’s own religious cult

Lack of student Women’s basketball player Learning female empowerment engagement falls on AMS, is a star on and off from childhood not students the court

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SPORTS

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POSTSCRIPT

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News

2 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 9, 2018

Jordan Peterson comes to campus The Journal recaps Peterson’s lecture and the protests outside Grant Hall

LECTURE RECAP

PROTEST RECAP PHOTO BY IAIN SHERRIFF-SCOTT

Protesters gathered outside Grant Hall on Monday.

Sarina Grewal Assistant News Editor This story first appeared online on Mar. 6.

With protesters present both inside and outside of Grant Hall, Jordan Peterson was quick to address the disruptions to Monday’s lecture.

“Mark my words, that’s the sound of barbarians pounding at the gates,” Peterson told the audience.

Titled “The Rising Tide of Compelled Speech in Canada,” this Liberty Lecture series event has been the subject of substantial backlash on campus. Prior to Monday, students and community members scheduled an anti-Peterson protest to denounce the contentious University of Toronto Professor for his views. A number of Queen’s professors also released an open letter addressed to Principal Daniel Woolf, which criticized his support of the event in the name of free speech.

At the Mar. 5 event, anti-Peterson protesters amassed in large groups outside Grant Hall and could be heard chanting throughout the duration of the event.

Starting a short while after Peterson and Queen’s law professor Bruce Pardy began speaking, Grant Hall was filled with the noise of protesters pounding on windows. The banging was hard enough to break a stained glass window, with the sound of breaking glass resounding inside the hall.

In the event’s early stages, former Queen’s student Jonathan Shepherd stood in the upper seats of Grant Hall and yelled at Peterson, calling Peterson’s rhetoric “a f---ing lie.” Shepherd also asserted “[t]here’s no such thing as compelled speech,” which incited boos from the gathered listeners.

Two students then walked onto the stage in front of Peterson and Pardy, holding up a large banner with the words, “Freedom to smash bigotry,” written on it. The duo began yelling at the crowd but were quickly told to leave by an event organizer, whereupon they jumped off the stage and walked out. As they left, the two sprayed an unknown substance into the air, causing confusion amongst some audience members.

Despite the actions of the protesters, which Peterson referred to as “complete misbehaviour,” he and Pardy continued with the lecture.

Professor Pardy began by thanking the University and Principal Woolf specifically.

He said he wanted to “acknowledge the role that both [Queen’s] and Principal Woolf have played in enhancing the reputation of this University in his commitment to academic freedom and academic debate.” This was in reference to Woolf’s Feb. 20 blog post, where the principal expressed the importance of

allowing oppositional dialogue on campus.

Pardy then asked Peterson about his perspective on the opposition to his rhetoric, to which Peterson replied, “[individuals often] develop an ideological view of the world,” while failing to critically think about their worldview.

Peterson has been noted for his criticism of Bill C-16, which in 2016 amended the Canadian Human Rights Act to include gender identity and expression as protected grounds. The psychology professor has refused to use non-binary gender pronouns as the amendment dictates, citing freedom of expression and the dangers of compelled speech.

“Freedom of speech is important for people who don’t have anything else.

Supporting freedom of speech is not supporting the status quo,” Peterson stated.

Peterson went on to express that the narrative around Bill C-16 and compelled speech isn’t about transgender rights alone.

“This [discussion] is not about transgender rights, what these people are doing outside.

It’s about something more dangerous than that,” Peterson told the audience.

“You do not write compelled speech into legislation,” he later said.

As protesters outside banged on the windows of Grant Hall, Peterson directly addressed their actions. He told those who gathered, “[t]hese people are not your friends.”

Peterson described the event as a contrast to the protesters’ actions outside and called the lecture an example of “genuine dialogue.”

“We’ve got three things: we’ve got negotiation, we’ve got slavery, and we’ve got tyranny, and those are your choices. This is negotiation — that’s public discourse,” the University of Toronto professor commented to the gathered attendees.

He further criticized the congregated protesters. “There’s a difference between informed opposition and childish grandstanding, and I think people know the difference between that,” he explained.

At the end of the event, Peterson apologized for not being able to stay and engage with listeners, but thanked the crowd for attending the lecture and “for being patient.”

Professor Pardy wrapped up the lecture by saying Peterson “may be the most important intellectual voice in this country today.”

“We’d like to salute you for your patience and your dedication in the face of the noise from outside,” Pardy then said to the audience. “You have participated in what I would consider to be an important step in the life of this University, and for that, we thank you.”

Iain Sherriff-Scott Assistant News Editor This story first appeared online on Mar. 6.

On Mar. 5, a protest erupted outside of Grant Hall at 4:00 p.m. in opposition to a lecture delivered by controversial University of Toronto Professor Jordan Peterson and Queen’s Professor Bruce Pardy.

Of the roughly 150 people who attended the protest, most exercised peaceful demonstration. However, several individuals engaged in or incited the destruction of property. Several Kingston police officers arrived at the scene of the protest.

Roughly 20 minutes into the lecture, protesters outside hit the stained glass windows and doors outside of Grant Hall.

They also chanted “why are you hiding?” and “let us in.”

One protester broke a stained glass window after they repeatedly hit it with their hand — Queen’s Campus Security confirmed the individual wasn’t a Queen’s student. Following the incident, blood could be seen on the shattered window.

There is a lot of “ commitment out here for trans rights. ”

— Jonathan Shepherd, former Queen’s student

Former Queen’s student Jonathan Shepherd attended the protest and told The Journal he was “really impressed by the turnout.”

“There is a lot of commitment out here for trans rights and for shutting down the conspiratorial hate speech of Jordan Peterson — I’m really happy to see that happening,” Shepherd said. “The protest has been successful in letting people know that even if we didn’t stop him from talking, we’ve let it be known that we are opposed to him speaking.”

“

We’re here to protest Jordan Peterson being given a platform at Queen’s University.

”

— Unidentified protester

An organizer of the protest told The Journal, “we’re here to protest Jordan Peterson being given a platform at Queen’s University. Jordan Peterson, aside from not knowing what he’s talking about vis-a-vis the law, Peterson tends to incite hatred

wherever he goes.”

“It’s not a discussion about the toppings you like on pizza,” they continued. “It’s a discussion of which people should be considered human, which people to respect, and that’s not a debate that should happen anywhere.”

One protester was dressed as a lobster in reference to Peterson’s latest book. In 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, Peterson writes that people should “embrace their inner lobster.” The protestor told The Journal, “[Peterson] says he’s a free speech warrior, but everything he says has been said before and frankly, in a shorter amount of time. I can’t watch one of his videos, it’s an hour long and he says maybe two things, it’s ridiculous.”

It’s a discussion of which “people should be considered

human, which people to respect and that’s not a debate that should happen anywhere.

”

— Unidentified protester

Another individual attending the protest told The Journal, “it seems like we have a lot of very angry people here, because someone is expressing an idea different than their own. Here at a university, I thought that was the point to expose people to new ideas, who wouldn’t otherwise come in contact with them.”

Towards the end of the lecture, protesters blocked the front and back entrances of Grant Hall. While several individuals barricaded the back entrance with garbage containers, one protester yelled “lock ‘em in and burn it down.” The comment was met with applause.

Because the exits were blocked by protesters, event-goers had to exit the lecture through Kingston Hall. Protestors met the Liberty Lecture attendees in the hallway and yelled “shame” as people exited.

Jordan Peterson tweeted about the protest following the event: “Constant protest at Queen’s U during my discussion with Prof Bruce Pardy. Dozens of people banging on the stained glass windows like barbarians at the gate.”

“The protesters banged in droves on the glass for the entire 90 minutes. The besieged crowd stayed absolutely civil and calm and asked very solid questions,” he tweeted.

Peterson also described being “accosted by a small in your face group of angry screaming individuals” who followed him and others to the parking lot after the event had finished.

News

Friday, March 9, 2018

queensjournal.ca • 3

PROTEST

FUNDRAISING

who broke Grant Hall window wasn’t a Queen’s student, has been arrested

Century-old stained glass window smashed yesterday by an anti-Jordan Peterson protester

University, Kingston Student starts online Police responds to fundraiser to repair shattered Peterson protests Grant Hall window Kingston Police confirms individual Sarina Grewal Assistant News Editor This story first appeared online on Mar. 7.

While Jordan Peterson and Bruce Pardy engaged in “The Rising Tide of Compelled Speech in Canada” lecture inside Grant Hall on Monday, around 150 protesters outside the building rallied against the talk with signs, shouts and distractions. The next day, Kingston Police released a statement confirming the arrest of one protester.

Prior to Monday, students and community members scheduled the anti-Peterson protest to denounce the contentious University of Toronto Professor for his views. Peterson has garnered controversy for criticizing Bill C-16 and refusing to use non-binary gender pronouns on the grounds of free speech.

According to the University, the lecture itself saw around 820 people in attendance.

Shortly after the lecture began, those inside the building heard a number of protesters pounding

but Kingston Police said they shortly detained her at University Avenue and Stuart Street. The statement details that uniformed officers arrived to assist at the scene, as the accused reportedly resisted arrest and became violent with officers, attempting to kick an officer and kick out a cruiser window after being handcuffed.

According to their statement, the accused was further uncooperative at police headquarters; she bit an officer and was carried to her cell as she continued to resist officers. Officers searched her backpack and discovered a concealed weapon: a metal wire with handles called a ‘garrote.’

According to police, the unidentified woman has been charged with “mischief, assault police, possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, and carrying a concealed weapon.” She’s in custody waiting to attend a hearing for bail.

The University has also addressed the events of Monday evening. In a statement emailed to The Journal, Vice-Principal, Finance and Administration, Donna M.

The broken window in Grant Hall.

Iain Sherriff-Scott Assistant News Editor

came to his attention. “It makes me sad to see public places damaged, especially ones as significant to our heritage and community such as Grant Hall,” Becker wrote.

Less than 24 hours after it was smashed at an anti-Jordan Peterson protest, one Queen’s student started an online fundraiser to repair a century-old It makes me sad stained glass window at Grant Hall. to see public places Queen’s Engineering student damaged, especially Kodie Becker started the ones as significant fundraiser on the morning of to our heritage and Mar. 6. The fundraiser was set up on the crowd funding website community such as GoFundMe, seeking $500 for Grant Hall. the repairs.

The event’s description reads — Kodie Becker, “it doesn’t matter” if the University Queen’s student can pay for the window itself or not. “This is about showing that Within the description, Becker we still care about our heritage, further spoke to the importance our campus, and our community. If of the building and its history. every undergraduate student were “We start and end our journeys to donate less than the cost of a at this university in that building, beer at QP, then we’d have more and I know it means a lot to than $20,000.” the community, both past and Becker further intends to present. It’s establishment too is present however much is raised one of community, it was entirely to the University on behalf of the funded by students more than students “no matter their views, a century ago,” it reads. “I feel as opinions, and past actions.” if we have this duty to continue In an interview with The Journal, this community engagement in Becker said he was reading about keeping it well kept for people to the Peterson debate on Monday enjoy in the future.” night when the broken window When asked about why the

“

”

Protesters outside Grant Hall.

on the windows of Grant Hall, which continued until the end of Peterson and Pardy’s talk. Midway into the event, attendees heard one of the windows break — a result of particularly aggressive banging by one protester.

According to a Kingston Police public statement released on March 6, this protester was a 38-year-old woman. She was identified as not being a Queen’s student, nor a member of the University at large. At around 5:15 p.m., the woman stood on the outside ledge of the Grant Hall window and banged on it until it broke. She suffered a minor cut to her hand as a result.

The woman then left the protest,

PHOTO BY IAIN SHERRIFF-SCOTT

Janiec, wrote, “Queen’s remains committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive campus community that respects the values of free speech and the open, thoughtful debate of ideas.”

“The University also recognizes and respects people’s rights to peaceful, non-violent protest, and for the most part that is what was experienced at the lecture

by Dr. Jordan Peterson,” Janiec continued. She described the crowd as “significant “posed no risk to safety as but manageable.” they were empty and were She also addressed the actions immediately moved |aside of several protesters who placed by security.” containers in front of a set of According to the email sent Grant Hall exit doors. Janiec to The Journal, the school had asserted the containers developed a security plan with

PHOTO BY IAIN SHERRIFF-SCOTT

target of $500 was chosen for the campaign, Becker told The Journal “the set target is just there because the platform needed one, otherwise I was kind of just hoping for any amount to put forth to the damages as a show of good will.”

While unsure of how to deliver the funds to the University, Becker explained he’s currently looking into the process.

I’m just happy to see “people are willing to get

engaged in fixing Grant Hall, no matter how many people contribute, and no matter how much of a dent we put in the bill.

”

— Kodie Becker, Queen’s student

“I’m just happy to see people are willing to get engaged in fixing Grant Hall, no matter how many people contribute, and no matter how much of a dent we put in the bill,” he wrote.

At the time of publication, the fundraiser has raised $589, with no expressed date of closing.

Campus Security and Emergency support the event and respond Services, as well as Kingston to incidents.”

Police. Events were closely Janiec commented that the monitored to ensure the safety event was “well-managed” by of all present.

Janiec Queen’s staff and referred to stated the s e c u r i t y the event’s audience inside as plan was intended to “both “respectful and engaged.”

News

4 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 9, 2018

News in Brief Liberal government announces return of prison farms to Kingston

Nobel Prize Laureate speaks to full house at Isabel Bader Centre Prof. Barish talks gravitational waves, black holes and Einstein Prof. Barry Barish lectures at the Isabel Bader Centre.

Jasnit Pabla Assistant News Editor On Monday, both levels of the Isabel Bader Centre’s auditorium were filled in anticipation for a lecture by Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Barish.

The lecture was hosted by the Canadian Particle Astrophysics Research Centre (CPARC) and the Queen’s Department of Physics as the first installment of an annual lecture series called the George & Maureen Ewan Public Lecture Series. The series was made possible by a $100,000 donation from George and Maureen Ewan.

As a professor emeritus of physics at the California Institute of Technology, Barry Barish became a Nobel Prize winner in Physics in 2017 for his contributions to the observance of gravitational waves. Specifically, Barish received his Laureate for his involvement in the a dva n c e m e n t of the Laser Interferometer

Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and understanding the relationship between space and time as predicted by Einstein more than 100 years prior.

Barish began the lecture by drawing attention to a sequence of graphs depicting the first recorded gravitational waves. “I have a single task tonight, and that is to get you to understand the figure on the right.”

Early on, he told the audience he was aware that “not everyone has a physics PhD” and structured the lecture so “anyone can understand the relationship between gravitational waves, black holes and Albert Einstein.”

Over the course of an hour, the lecture incorporated the history of the study of physics, specifically in regards to gravity and Einstein’s predictions of a space-time phenomenon that creates disturbances in space now known as gravitational waves.

He also lectured on the LIGO,

PHOTO BY GREG BLACK

which is a massive physics experiment stationed in the United States. With two stations — one in Hanford, Washington and the other in Livingston, Louisiana — the LIGO collects data on gravitational waves when they pass through the planet. The purpose of the experiment is to combine the data to prove the disturbances recorded at each station are, in fact, a single gravitational wave.

Despite the complexity of science behind his work, the conclusion he drew at the end was simple. Barish explained the disturbances felt by the LIGO stations occurred when space and time were altered. These interferences are caused by the collision of two black holes which produce a ripple-effect in space when they merge.

At the end of the lecture, Barish revisited the same graph he presented at the beginning.

Recorded on Feb. 6 2016, the image bore a stark resemblance

Announced as part of the Federal Budget on Feb. 27, the Liberal government has committed $4.3 million towards the revival of prison farms in Kingston.

The aim is to have the farms reinstated by 2019 at the latest within the Joyceville and Collins Bay institutions.

This follows the 2010 decision by the Conservative government to close numerous prison farms in Ontario and other provinces.

In Kingston, that decision was met with significant protest from community members like the Kingston chapter of the Restore our Prison Farms lobby group.

Prison farms are correctional facilities wherein inmates engage in various kinds of manual labour oriented around farm to Einstein’s prediction that, when mapped alongside the data, they would overlap.

Following the lecture, Prof.

Barish spoke to The Journal about his field and experiences through researching the phenomenon of gravitational waves.

When asked how his field has evolved, he said “it’s completely changed, because there was no field.”

“The idea that there has been such phenomena has been there for a long time,” he added. “But the actual creation of the field has just begun with the first observations we made just a couple years ago.

It’s evolving and different people have different visions about how

work. Typically, this includes maintenance, agriculture, logging, quarrying, mining or participation in dairy programs and cattle feeding.

The farms will be run by a division of Correctional Services Canada named CORCAN. They focus primarily on providing inmates with job skills.

For Collins Bay Penitentiary, the first priority will concern building a new barn to replace older infrastructure that has existed on the property for 50 years now.

Funds will be made available to CORCAN closer to the summer.

With the intention to begin operations by the winter, the Kingston farms will retain 33 cows.

Eventually, they will expand to other animals including chickens, pigs, and a possible bee colony.

— Sarina Grewal

it will evolve in the future.”

For Barish and his team, the overwhelming challenge they experienced during their research was technical. “It wasn’t like we had a new idea, but more getting a sensitive enough instrument was a huge challenge,” he said.

Barish hopes the lecture inspired individuals to engage more in science and new discoveries that are significant to the discipline.

“Einstein thought that gravitational waves would never be detected,” he said. “Not because they didn’t exist, but because he couldn’t foresee modern lasers and optics. He had the idea, and now we have the technology.”

Q&A with provincial NDP nominee Ian Arthur Arthur talks policy positions, student outreach

Iain Sherriff-Scott Assistant News Editor This week, Ian Arthur, the NDP nominee for Kingston & the Islands, sat down with The Journal to talk policy and the upcoming 2018 provincial election. Arthur is the head chef at the popular downtown restaurant Chez Piggy.

Tell me about your background.

I was born in Newfoundland, but I grew up around here. My family owned an organic market garden about 45 minutes outside of Kingston. We actually sold veggies to Chez Piggy when I was a kid. My connections to that restaurant go way back. My mom served there when she was taking geology at Queen’s. I went to Trent University, I have an undergrad in international development and political studies.

In terms of cooking, I always cooked to pay for school. I went to school on OSAP and what I could earn.

Why did you decide to enter politics?

It’s always been an interest and a passion of mine, from high school and onwards. I dreamed I would get to do this one day, although I wasn’t sure how I was going to get from A to B. But I have been really lucky and I have gotten to build incredible relationships with farmers in the food community in Kingston and I think that’s a really important issue to bring to the forefront. You can find issues no matter what career you choose. It’s up to individuals to get involved.

In terms of why I chose to run, I was tired of reading headlines about the Liberals. The Auditor General’s report on the $37 million that have been wasted.

[The Ontario Liberals] are overpaying for hydro so much to leverage debt for our generation.

We’re going to still be paying off this generations’ power plants after their effective lifespan.

We’ll have to build new ones while we’re still paying for the old ones, just so we can save a little bit on hydro bills.

As a large part of your potential constituency, how will

you get your message out to students?

We want to run a fun and youthful campaign. There are so many lessons to be learned when you look south of the border at how Bernie Sanders ran his campaign. Almost more importantly for Canada is what Jeremy Corbyn was able to do in the U.K. [The Labour Party] had an incredibly youthful and energized campaign and you saw massive increases in how many millennials were out and voting.

What do you see as the most pressing issue for students?

I think you have to look at the cost of education and the cost of debt. I certainly support lowering tuition. I worry about free tuition placing inordinate value on academic streams of education versus college streams.

I’m a huge proponent of basic income. I’m part of the Kingston basic income group. I would rather see that kind of approach.

We are forgiving hundreds of millions of dollars in student

debt every single year. We are in some ways spending that money anyways. Basic income, at its core, is the right to self-determination beyond circumstance. That, to me, is an incredibly powerful idea.

What kind of policies will you advocate for if elected?

You have to work with what you know. When I get elected, I would like to work on urban-rural connections. I have so much respect for farmers as a career. It’s one of the hardest jobs you can choose to do. I know food. I’d like to see the implementation of a sugar tax or a tax on high caloric foods. We have a treatment-based healthcare system and I think we need to look at more preventative healthcare systems.

What is your position on the Ontario Liberals’ cannabis legalization and distribution framework?

I don’t think the Liberals talked to enough people before they designed how they are going

to do this. I think they chose a program and decided to roll it out and it has upset a lot of people.

When you look at how many locations are going to be selling it across Ontario, I am skeptical of the program’s effectiveness in eliminating the black market. It is poorly thought out, and it was not worked out with Ontarians who are already engaged in it as a business.

Any final thoughts?

The problems that we are about to inherit are enormous.

We are the first generation in modern Canadian history and (where) our parents are going to leave us with less than they were left. There are incredible changes, like automation, like the effects of climate change. You have to get involved and be a part of the conversation. I know we can build an incredibly bright future, but we need an entire generation to come together to do that.

News

Friday, March 9, 2018

queensjournal.ca • 5

Jasnit Pabla Assistant News Editor Six months after its formal creation, the University Council on Anti-Racism and Equity held its inaugural meeting in Robert Sutherland Hall on Monday night.

The University Council on Anti-Racism and Equity (UCARE) was established in September of 2017 as part of a recommendation from the Principal’s Implementation Committee on Racism, Diversity and Inclusion (PICRDI) Report released in April 2017.

Members of the council were inaugurated on Dec. 6 2017.

Its formal mandate states UCARE meeting in progress. that “UCARE is responsible for coordinating, reviewing, and reporting on the process of sustained university-wide initiatives to address racism and to promote diversity and inclusion at Queen’s.”

To begin the meeting, interim Co-Chairs Mona Rahman (Office of the Vice-Principal Research) and Stephanie Simpson (Executive Director of the Human Rights & Equity Offices) updated the council on both the PICRDI and Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report (TRC).

They then talked about racialized students on campus the new Equity, Diversity and became a significant concern for Inclusion Impact Award which council members to debate. will be presented annually.

The space — which is The application process at the currently being planned for a University for incoming students three-story house located on Albert was also updated in tune with Street — was to be named the TRC recommendations to Alfie Pierce Student Centre for include an option for Indigenous Racial Equity and Social Justice. students to self-identify.

Deputy Provost Teri Shearer Of the topics discussed, the told the council that the building creation of a new space for would be structured to be almost

PHOTO BY JASNIT PABLA

University Council on Anti-Racism and Equity begins formal meetings

Council meeting sees debate surrounding creation of space for racialized students on campus entirely accessible — except for the third floor — but the dates of construction and opening couldn’t be reported yet.

For many, the name associated with the centre presented an issue. An onlooker of the council meeting highlighted that the legacy of Alfie Pierce wouldn’t be entirely understood by students if it was utilized for the space. “It’s one of the more painful chapters of

Queen’s history,” they said. “I don’t understand how the story of Alfie Pierce fits in with the principles of this centre.”

Pierce, who served as the mascot for Gaels football during the 1900s, was mistreated by the University during his time on campus. While completing work such as coal restocking, general maintenance and acting as a night watchman, Pierce lived

in the boiler room of the Jock Hartey Arena on campus with Boo Hoo the bear. His legacy still taints the University’s relations with the Black community.

Associate Dean of the Smith School of Business and Provost’s Delegate for UCARE Yolande Chan said Pierce was chosen because of the recurring significance of his legacy at Queen’s. She added also that a council brought under PICRDI had specifically requested the name be chosen.

As discussion continued, members concluded the name of the centre would have to be investigated further before being presented to the council once more.

Furthermore, the space itself — which would lack third-floor accessibility — became a topic of concern. Shearer provided that with no concrete deadlines in place, time could be expended to consult with students and groups to find what would work best for the space.

For co-chair of the Levana Gender Advocacy Center (LGAC) Nadia Mahdi, ArtSci ’19, time could no longer be wasted.

Mahdi recounted being evicted from the LGAC’s former club space on campus, the Grey House.

Without a space on campus, Mahdi stressed the immediate need for the space.

“Student groups who are doing the work on campus have been evicted from their spaces by administration and by student government. They’re feeling burnt out,” she told the council. “We need this space now, right now. Please don’t take that away from us.”

6 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 9, 2018

Features

A religious cult makes Kingston its home The Yellow Deli is across the street from 655 Princess

Iain Sherriff-Scott Assistant News Editor In the shadow of a new multi-story student housing development on Princess St., a seemingly-innocuous local restaurant sprung up in the summer of 2016.

On its surface, the Yellow Deli is a great spot to grab a Reuben and a cup of tea after a busy day on campus.

The eccentric décor and cabin-in-the-woods feeling might sound pretty ideal. That’s until you realize it’s run by a religious cult.

The deli is operated by the Twelve Tribes, a controversial religious community that grew out of the American South in the early 1970s. Since then, the group hasn’t only accumulated thousands of devout followers, but has opened Yellow Delis across North America and Europe.

According to Pacific Standard writer Julia Scheeres, the group’s founder Gene Spriggs “decided he was destined to restore the ancient Twelve Tribes of Israel and produce an army of 144,000 male virgins, who would prepare the way for Christ’s second coming,” giving the group its namesake.

Just a short drive outside of Kingston, the first Twelve Tribes settlement in Ontario can be found on Abbey Dawn Rd. The owners, Joy and Isaac Dawson, moved to Kingston from their former Twelve Tribes settlement in the Selkirk mountains of British Columbia.

For the Twelve Tribes, these delis provide financial stability to rural settlements that often accompany each location. The deli operators have achieved economic success by adjusting their traditional lifestyle to meet the demands of patrons looking for a hearty, organic meal.

But for years, accusations of severe cult behaviour, sexual misconduct, child abuse and death threats have proliferated and continue to dog the communities to this day.

“

For the Twelve Tribes, these delis provide financial stability to rural settlements that often accompany each location.

”

In 2015, a former leader in the 23-year-old Winnipeg Twelve Tribes settlement blew the whistle on the group’s dangerous control over its members.

He told CBC, “I didn’t realize the level of mind control I was under until I left.”

“What people don’t understand is that this group does not properly educate their children and that’s a big deal. That’s a huge deal. That’s the main reason that I left,” he said.

Amidst skepticism from the Kingston community last year, the couple defended their beliefs in an article published by The Whig-Standard. They said allegations of child abuse were unsubstantiated and their lives are “completely open.”

“If I was a parent in Kingston … I’d be more concerned about what goes on in that street out there than what goes on in [The Yellow Deli],” Isaac told The Whig.

However, concerns have been raised on social media about the Dawsons choice of location for the Deli. At 647 Princess St., the restaurant is across the street from a

large student housing complex, with another currently under construction across the road.

When asked if students might be at risk, Queen’s Interfaith Chaplain Kate Johnson told The Journal though many students are sure of themselves, “there are students [at Queen’s] who are hungry for some sense of family,” she said. “That can make it difficult for people to sort out what it is they`re looking at.”

ILLUSTRATIONS BY TWELVE TRIBES

Though it remains uncertain whether the Dawsons or others have engaged in recruiting, a student anonymously told The Journal he believes he was the target of the group’s outreach in downtown Kingston this January.

“I’m a student at St. Lawrence and was visiting the ice rink with another student, we are both first-years,” he wrote. “We were skating, and someone put two Yellow Deli business cards in my shoes, which were

have existed as a community for a long time and have “Theyfigured out what works and doesn’t work to spread their particular message. ”

Part of Johnson’s work as Interfaith Chaplain involves countering what her office calls “aggressive religious recruiting.”

Johnson said as far as she knows, the Twelve Tribes haven’t been to Queen’s campus in an effort to recruit.

“Their — we’ll call it outreach, is a very tried-and-true kind of formula,” she remarked. “They have existed as a community for a long time and have figured out what works and doesn’t work to spread their particular message, or to invite people who are a good fit for their community, from their perspective,” she said.

If students are unsure whether the religious group they have gotten into is healthy for them, Johnson said her office is always open. “We hope [students will] come here to have that conversation, to objectively help them sort out, is this a healthy group you are a part of,” she said.

“We ask people questions like, what kind of financial commitment a r e they asking of you? Are they discouraging you in your studies?”

Johnson said.

— Interfaith Chaplain Kate Johnson

sitting on the bleachers next to my bag.”

The student expressed concern that a member of the Twelve Tribes community “saw me and my friend arrive at the rink, saw that we were students and decided to place their business cards in my shoe,” he wrote. “I have been given pamphlets before, I have been asked about my interest in a certain religious group before, however no one has ever done something in such an uncanny way,” the student wrote.

“I think that this speaks to how they try to reel in new members and who they target.”

“The fact that they make the distinction between vulnerable young adults and anyone else is the real problem. People who are far from home have less of a safety net and that is premeditated,” he continued.

Across the street from the Yellow Deli is an organization called NightLight.

The group is a cross-denomination Christian organization which seeks to provide a social outlet for homeless people in Kingston.

In an interview with Adam

Executive Bloemendal, Director at NightLight Kingston, he said he has visited the new neighbors out of curiosity.

When asked if students may be at risk of recruitment, Bloemendal said “[The Twelve Tribes] are not going for the people who have their head on their shoulders. They’re going for the people who might be pissed off at their parents.”

According to Scheeres, since the cult’s inception, they’ve focused on young people who may or may not have money to give. Since the 1970s, the group has operated on a model where “members worked for room and board but no paycheck.”

Bloemendal expressed why he thought members of his organization haven’t been targeted for recruitment. “They are not going for people in poverty, because people in poverty don’t have anything to offer necessarily.

They don’t have any money to bring to the table and that’s what they look for,” he said.

On the other hand, in reference to the student housing development next door, Bloemendal said “there is definitely a fear for students if they don’t know what is going on across the street.”

Upon entering the deli, a wide selection of Twelve Tribes literature can be found on display. Much of it is focused on biblical teachings and condemnations of modern life. One pamphlet titled “The Plight of Man” clearly targets a student audience. It offers a host of relatable scenarios, including photos of stressed-out young people working on laptops.

“There must be something beyond forcing ourselves through school to work jobs we hate to make enough money to pay for daycare to raise our children while we’re out working, only to end up retired and medicated,” the pamphlet read.

They are not going for “ people in poverty, because

people in poverty don’t have anything to offer necessarily. They don’t have any money to bring to the table and that’s what they look for.

”

— Executive Director of NightLight Kingston, Adam Bloemendal

The literature continuously trivialized modern education. It claimed “schools today have banned any mention of ‘accountability,’ undermining man’s instinctive knowledge of the truth. What was once called a bad conscience is now called mental illness.”

The same theme runs throughout each pamphlet: modern life is sinful and excessive, with the Twelve Tribes offering a way out.

The sentiment is best captured in an a dve r t i s e m e n t fo r the Dawsons farm here in Kingston.

“Volunteer and you’ll have a chance to work with us and see the amazing life behind the farm,” the advertisement read. It continued, “come for a day or to stay … ”

Friday, March 9 2018

queensjournal.ca

EDITORIALS Patient abuse needs to be in focus at medical schools Currently, Canadian medical schools are taking a step in the right direction by trying to incorporate how doctors should interact with their patients into the curriculum. Despite this, there needs to be more of a focus on teaching medical students to recognise inappropriate behaviour in their colleagues and encourage them to speak up.

In light of recent high-profile and widespread cases of sexual abuse by doctors, a recent article in The Globe and Mail explores the ways in which Canadian medical schools are working to educate their students on the nature of patient abuse.

Even after high profile cases like Larry Nassar, medical schools perpetuate the idea that doctors who abuse their patients are outliers who shouldn’t be considered in the classroom. By not stressing the need to report suspected abuse or downplaying its existence within the field, educators are making a serious misstep with real consequences for current and future patients.

The problem with simply telling students what they shouldn’t be doing with patients isn’t going to have an effect on if they will

abuse them. Doctors who abuse their patients, like Larry Nassar, aren’t misinformed. They know they’re doing something wrong.

To find abusive practitioners, more attention needs to be paid to patients who respond negatively to their doctors. When a patient mentions something’s wrong with the way they’ve been treated, they have a right to be taken seriously.

We need our m e d i c a l schools to teach

The Journal’s Perspective students to trust their patients, just as their patients trust them.

If medical schools change their tactics, doctors already practising medicine will also need to be given updated training. Just as medicine continues to evolve after doctors leave school, so too will resources and research on sexual abuse.

Currently, there’s no screening process that can fully weed out potential predators from medical schools. No matter how much training they receive on what’s

— Journal Editorial Board

As President Jennifer Li told those who attended this year’s AMS Annual General Meeting, “it’s no secret that engagement with the AMS hit an all-time low this year.”

Now it’s time we start asking why.

This year, the AMS was forced to appoint an Executive after the only team on the ballot dissolved days before the election.

Having no teams campaigning for AMS-Executive was an unprecedented situation in the history of the society.

At the same, meeting that appointed a new AMS-Executive, the Campus Activities Commission indefinitely dissolved four of their committees. Namely, Queen’s Live Music Committee,

THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL Volume 145 Issue 24 www.queensjournal.ca @queensjournal Publishing since 1873

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

Victoria Archer Maz Chapman

Maggie Gowland Cindy Lam Stephanie Liu Kyra Smith Staff Writers and Photographers Abbey Dudas Raechel Huizinga

Business Staff

Business Manager

Abby Choudhry

Head Sales Representative LeeAnn Sverko

ILLUSTRATION BY STEPHANIE JIANG

M aureen O’Reilly

PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN

appropriate, there will still be abusers who slip through the cracks.

The way to make a real impact is to do what isn’t being done right now. Medical schools need to teach their students how to make the transition from passive bystanders to interveners in cases of suspected abuse.

Currently, the process of filing a complaint against a doctor to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario can take up to 10 months to complete.

In addition to this, any information gathered during an investigation by the college can’t be used in any subsequent court cases.

Accessible, fair and clear procedures to report abusers in the medical field is something desperately needed. Right now, patient safety isn’t the focal point of the college’s complaints process, and that needs to change.

Medical professionals wield a unique power over others, and if they abuse it, they need to be held accountable. That responsibility within the profession starts with the culture of medical schools. If students are taught not only that abuse is wrong, but also that they can recognize and report it, the stage for real change will be set.

•7

It’s up to the AMS to increase student engagement Queen’s Media and Journalism Conference, Queen’s Model Court and Queen’s Model United Nations were all closed due to a lack of engagement.

Moreover, faculty society elections across the board saw very low voter turnouts in their winter election periods and six high-level AMS positions were vacated over the course of this year. The vacancies forced the AMS to review and revise their corporate structure.

So yes, it’s clear student engagement with the AMS is low — but why? What’s stopping students from getting involved now more than ever before?

Simply put, the many financial and social barriers to getting

involved in the AMS have become insurmountable for many students.

Preparing to campaign for AMS Executive is a stressful process that can also take a financial toll if students have to take time away from work or school to do it. It’s no wonder why most students don’t see the rewards of the job as outweighing the pressure of what it takes to get there.

As for the conferences cancelled due to low student engagement, the barrier there is likely financial. While AMS-run conferences are rewarding experiences, they often come with hefty delegate fees that many students simply can’t afford.

Vacancies in high-level AMS

positions can be attributed to a number of causes. But in a statement released by the AMS this December, the Executive acknowledged that for some, “it’s difficult to balance the pressures of school and personal matters with full-time employment.”

It’s up to the AMS to provide more tools, guidance and resources to those interested in campaigning for executive positions so they’re prepared to do so. The AMS should subsidize delegate fees or create and advertise more grants for those who can’t afford to attend conferences.

They need to foster a positive work environment within the society that allows students to strike a balance between their extracurricular involvement and their academics without burning themselves out in the process.

It’s time the AMS questioned why students are turning their backs on the society and produce tangible solutions to invite them back in, free of barriers.

Maureen is The Journal’s News Editor. She’s a fourth-year English 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.

190 University Ave., Kingston, ON, K7L 3P4 Editorial Office: 613-533-2800 Business Office: 613-533-6711 Fax: 613-533-6728 Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Please address complaints and grievances to the Editor in Chief.

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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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8 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 9, 2018

OPINIONS

Your Perspective

Bill 148 and OHIP+ are only a start The new policies regarding financial accessibility are only good for students campus experience Bill 148 and OHIP+ benefit students rather than the majority of the Canadian population. owners to keep grocery stores become excluded from the labour and restaurants open in lower- market as prices climb.

Companies can’t handle a income neighbourhoods. Since people won’t be able to keep up one-size-fits-all solution to curb with the rise in prices, there will the effects of the rising cost Given the financial instability faced be more urban areas where it of living. “The cost structures by workers under the age of 25, will be difficult to buy affordable are different,” explained Scott.

[The] “food industry has the implementation of policies fresh food. razor-thin profit margins and like Bill 148 and OHIP+ are long can’t afford to raise wages overdue. However, if we broaden for greeters or baggers, like, our scope, it’s clear to see that ... [T]here needs to say a window-cleaning little action is made to address the be consideration of c o m p a ny who h ave financial inaccessibility most of the the diverse economic higher flexibility in setting population faces. backgrounds of specific the price of their service.”

In accordance to Bill 148, communities ...

It shouldn’t be forgotten that Ontario’s minimum wage has income inequality has increased increased to $14 an hour. Since in Canada over the last 20 years. the bill’s proposal, there’s been Since students are a profitable The divergence in wages has speculation from both the public and experts about how this target market, business owners been reflected by the Gini will affect unemployment rates are unlikely to withdraw from coefficient. The coefficient and market prices of everyday university districts. To keep has risen by a worrying 0.2 stores open in places that don’t points out of a maximum goods and services.

For us at Students Against have a booming post-secondary score of 1 in the past three decades.

To truly bring a fair wage to all, Poverty (SAP), food insecurity population, the burden would has been a big focus. The purpose be put on the shoulders of the there needs to be consideration of the diverse economic backgrounds of the increased minimum wage already disadvantaged.

To understand what other of specific communities and is to ensure that each Ontarian can meet their basic needs with students think of the matter, industries. For example, to bring respect to inflation, but such we reached out to the Queen’s income equality to food service Conservative workers, wage controls might issues require more nuanced University thought. While it’s a liveable Association (QUCA) for their be more effective if those at the wage, it’s caused a ripple effect view. Member Aidan Scott, a top of the pyramid had their across the economy. According second-year undergraduate wages compressed, with the to Statistics Canada, food prices, student and entrepreneur; revenue redistributed to those at on a year-over-year basis, said, “The issue with using a the bottom.

Another effective piece have risen 2.3 per cent since minimum wage to reduce poverty is that it’s not a well-targeted of legislation passed by the January 2018.

Ontario government is OHIP+.

This rise is evident in restaurant anti-poverty measure.”

To him, the raised minimum Rolled into effect on Jan. 1, prices. As operating costs increase in the food industry, there will wage negatively affects the most Ontario residents 24 years and be less incentive from business disadvantaged people who younger can now receive some

VICTORIA WALKER; ARTSCI ‘19, MAX CHAPMAN; ARTSCI ‘20, CINDY LAM; COMPSCI ‘20, STEPHANIE LIU; ARTSCI ‘19

“

”

prescription medications for free.

The obvious intention of the policy is to provide stability to the health of a population that arguably faces the most financial instability. With our money already going towards school, rent and food, this legislation is an important step forward in helping Ontario’s younger population.

In a country that prides itself on providing universal health care, it now seems ironic that there used to exist a huge economic barrier to receive necessary medical prescriptions and treatments. OHIP+, then, is a deliverance of old promises.

Previously, the ODB was known for its inaccessibility despite the medicine it provided being essential. Of these included mental health treatment, drugs such as antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs. Lifting the financial burden of healthcare that exists on top of tuition fees encourages attention to students’ wellbeing and opens the doors for disabled persons.

Even though OHIP+ looks great on the surface, it doesn’t help all Canadians. People aged 25-65, who make up the largest portion of the working population, aren’t reaping the benefits of what their tax dollars pay for. This population is the most susceptible to work-related injuries.

To learn more about how this rings true, we spoke to one

Talking heads ... what does International Women’s Day mean to you?

PHOTO BY NICOLE LANGFIELD

student about how their mother must pay $60 for a simple dose of antibiotics, an exorbitant price for someone who gets paid a minimum wage. For some people in this situation, they’re vulnerable to the sinkholes that health policy-makers implement.

Whether it’s waiting times in emergency rooms or a sort of subsidized prescription medication, the average Canadian will still see little change in the healthcare system.

The responses to these policies have been divisive. Where high-profile corporations jump to defend potential lost profits, trade unions and policy analysts describe them as a step in the right direction. At SAP, we have sided with the latter. To effect real change, we can’t stop here.

Both policies continue to fail to bring change to where it’s most needed. While it’s great that it helps us as students now, what will these policies do for us once we graduate? If things don’t continue to develop, the lowest-wage adult workers will still be left struggling all the same.

Victoria is a third-year biology student and SAP’s Education Lead, Max is a second-year political science student and SAP’s Public Relations Lead, Cindy is a secondyear computer science student and SAP’s Chair and Stephanie is a third-year economics student and SAP’s Marketing Lead.

PHOTOS BY NICOLE LANGFIELD

“It highlights the importance of females.”

“Women have to support each other, they all want to achieve something.”

“It reminds people that there are things women are not credited for.”

“Nice to have a day with the incentive

shamana sathiyasothy ArtSci ’18

Anushka Nair ArtSci ’20

Raaghavi Pushpanathan ArtSci ’18

Katherine Zhang ArtSci ’20

to appreciate women.”

Friday, March 9, 2018

PLAY REVIEW

Immersed in Hearts Come Cheap Play delivers nuanced reflection on sex work B rigid G oulem Features Editor Immersive theatre is a very strange concept if you’ve never tried it before.

Initially, the prospect of the cast interacting with me and the crowd around me was terrifying.

I know absolutely nothing about theatre and the thought of being a part of a production made me catatonic. I am — to say the least — not a performer.

However, I was delightfully surprised to find myself enjoying Hearts Come Cheap, running at The Mansion from March 8 to 10. While initially overwhelming and somewhat confusing, the story built itself up and ended in a satisfying way that left me wanting more.

The story took place in a small border-town bar run by a pimp named Power, who was

powerfully portrayed by Jacob Dey. The production focused on the financial and romantic struggles of Power’s sex workers and bar patrons, dealing with issues such as financing post-secondary education and the challenges of dating while being a sex worker.

The show took place in the attic of The Mansion, which created some barriers that were seemingly difficult for the production and cast to overcome.

The attic is shaped in a way that places a lot of the audience outside of much of the scene.

There were many times when I felt as though the action was happening in other parts of the space, and oftentimes I forgot that immersive theatre allowed me to move around with the show. For newbies to immersive theatre, this was a huge barrier.

The immersive aspect of the show also created many instances when there would be many simultaneous conversations happening throughout the scene. I became very attached to many of the stories and at times felt like I had to choose between different storylines as there were so many happening at once.

OPINION

queensjournal.ca

Arts

Despite this, the important parts of the show were brought to life by some incredible acting.

The various characters I encountered in the play highlighted the complex struggles that come with being involved in sex work and the power poverty can hold over someone’s life. Most importantly, it explored the possibility The play featured divergent storylines. of love in a world that can be hard for outsiders to spectators of the vulnerability imagine and true solidarity of young sex workers. Initially, it between the sex workers, and was mentioned that many of the the bar-goers. characters aren’t even old enough The cast and writing team also to drink, but throughout the did an incredible job reminding play the issues and the context made the age of the characters even more alarming.

A performance by Julia Carrie as Madame Marie really stuck out to me, as Carrie brought the character to life in a way that was both eccentric and believable.

Madame Marie’s tense and confrontational relationship with Power truly stuck out to me as the eccentric older woman defends the younger, more vulnerable

A case for realistic female characters Inspiring fictional role-models to think about on International Women’s Day

R aechel H uizinga Staff Writer On International Women’s Day, it’s time for us to reevalute what we call a strong female literary character.

Even in recent years, the image of a strong female character connotes an unemotional robot who’s skilled at shooting arrows or some other physical activity and despite having no personality, is irresistible to the opposite sex.

Instead, we should celebrate women in literature with complete, complex personalities who embrace themselves and rise above their circumstances.

Hermione Granger of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, for example, is commonly viewed as a feminist character because of her intelligence. But what makes her a strong female character is her commitment to the community and people around her, channeled through a nuanced character.

Yes, she’s a witch who goes to school at a magical castle, but she also has depth and personality.

Hermione isn’t ashamed to express her emotions and although she

sometimes succumbs to them, she also channels them into social justice initiatives, like her passion for the rights of house elves and resistance to class stereotypes.

Although her efforts don’t result in dramatic change, Hermione’s still able to change the perspectives of those around her, proving a female character doesn’t have to replace her emotions with logic to be strong and successful.

Similarly, Lisbeth Salander of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series also establishes that emotions aren’t the opposite of bravery and intelligence.

At first glance, Salander seems to perpetuate the cold, emotionless, seemingly strong female character trope, but as the novels progress, the reader discovers Salander is the victim of rape and a traumatic childhood in the system.

Although her past trauma causes Salander to be quiet and distant, she does not allow it to make her timid and motionless.

Salander stands up to her rapist and proves her skills as a brilliant hacker and researcher.

In addition to solving a murder

•9

cold case, Salander learns to trust and connect to the people around her.

Female characters who solve problems and take control of their circumstances are important because they provide a model of what real courage and strength looks like.

That still doesn’t mean a female character can’t have to be extraordinarily intelligent to be strong.

Probably the best female protagonist in recent young adult literature is Starr Carter from Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give.

High school student Starr lives in a poor black community, but goes to private school in a wealthy, white neighbourhood.

After she’s witness to the senseless murder of her friend by a police officer, Starr must navigate issues of race and class and learn to understand violence and hatred.

Even though the novel doesn’t have a particularly happy ending, Starr remains a role model as someone who stands up for what she believes in and chooses to be courageous despite the absence of a visible resolution.

By the end of the novel, Starr not only challenges racism at her school, she also stands up to systemic racism by rushing into the thick of a dangerous protest, establishing herself as a 16-year-old hero young women around the world can look up to.

In a world where media and film have immense influence in the portrayal of women to women, books c a n provide authentic

PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN

characters against the man.

Another n o t e wo r t hy performance was by Gracey Hammel as Cat. Hammel had a gift of blending into the background and allowing others to tell their parts of the story, until bringing the character of Cat to life when it was her time to shine.

These fully-realized characters allowed for an immersive experience that went beyond typical unconventional staging.

Hip-deep in papers and midterms and fighting for time wherever I can get it, Hearts Come Cheap was definitely worth taking a break for. female representations that act as positive role models and inspire both courage and compassion.

The more these realistic, strong female characters are encouraged in literature, however, the more the world will realize it’s not extraordinary for a woman to be intelligent, brave, funny or fierce.

It’s normal, and always has been.

ILLUSTRATION BY STEPHANIE JIANG

Arts

10 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 9,2018

REVIEW

Karel Funk visits campus Winnipeg artist discusses career and residency C layton T omlinson Assistant Arts Editor Karel Funk brings over a decade of experience to Ontario Hall as this year’s Koerner Artist-in-Residence.

Funk’s paintings have garnered an international audience for their contemplative profiles of life in the city. His most recent portraits also offer a unique twist on the traditional format — often obscuring the face of the subject to emulate the surrounding urban social interactions.

Coming to Kingston, Funk spoke with The Journal to discuss his work and the advice he wants to bring to the Queen’s BFA program over his time in the city, running until March 17.

The Koerner Artist-in-Residence program

allows outside artists to stay on campus, mentor students and share their art with the Kingston community.

As this year’s selected artist, Funk hopes to give fine arts students the opportunity to ask questions about the industry while also allowing them a unique insight into the realities of life as an artist.

EVENT COVERAGE

“I’m self-employed, so there’s all that stress of determining your output and how your product gets out there,” Funk said.

Wisely using one’s time is a big key to success in the arts and Funk’s time at Queen’s shows this dedication.

“I’ll be in the studio every day working on this painting that I

Queen’s Reads brings Katherena Vermette to campus The celebrated author of The Break discussed her writing process and themes S arina G rewal Assistant News Editor This article contains spoilers about certain plot points in The Break.

Given the popularity of her novel both nationally and across campus, it’s no surprise Katherena Vermette’s much-anticipated arrival to campus saw a full house at her talk in the Agnes Etherington Art Centre on Wednesday night.

Titled ‘In Conversation with Katherena Vermette’, the March 7 event was centered on Vermette’s novel The Break, which was this year’s Queen’s Reads book selection.

The Break has garnered significant acclaim; the novel’s honest discussion of issues like racism, Indigenous life and sexual violence has resulted in multiple awards, including the Amazon.ca First Novel Award and the Burt Award for First Nations.

Since Queen’s Reads brought the book to campus, it’s been a well-received choice for the reintroduction of the program.

Organized in conjunction with Kingston WritersFest, the

SUPPLIED BY REBECCA ANWEILER

Funk`s portraits obscure the subject’s face.

talk featured Vermette and Dr. Terri-Lynn Brennan, an Indigenous activist and sociologist who acted as moderator for the event. Vermette began with a short reading of one of the novel’s introductory paragraphs, before they delved into an in-depth discussion of the book’s conception and various themes.

“It took me forever [to write the book] … originally the book started off as a collection of short stories … but I knew it wasn’t quite finished because there were all these interconnected stories,” Vermette said.

“When I decided to make it into a novel, I took about two years of really hard work and editing.”

Vermette described the lengthy and taxing process of rounding out her novel’s characters, most of whom are women whose narratives all circle around a single event: a character named Emily is sexually assaulted by the character Phoenix.

This act serves as the impetus for a complicated, emotionally raw look at the lives of the characters, all of whom are directly or indirectly related to Emily, including

their reactions to the assault and their own personal traumas.

Phoenix in particular was a character Vermette said she struggled with. After writing the scene about the assault, Vermette joked that “we didn’t talk for awhile. The advantage of writing

brought, but then I am doing an artist talk,” he said, adding there was also an artist presentation and reception held at the Agnes on Wednesday, March 1.

Funk’s current project is a portrait of the back of a hood, inspired by the closeness and anonymity shared between passengers riding on a crowded subway.

He became interested by this sense of relationship with utter strangers, honing in on it while

a multiple-point-of-view story is you can ignore people for a really long time.” “[Phoenix] is the kind of character who I went through every possible [emotion] for her through the course of this book … her voice has been with me for 10 years,” Vermette detailed.

“I didn’t necessarily know [when I began writing the book] that she is the one who commits such a horrendous act.”

The character serves as a reminder of the cyclical impact of trauma. “I think that there were multiple reasons in her history that add reason to the violence, not that anything ever excuses violence,” Vermette vocalized.

Vermette discussed her writing process at length.

living in New York City. For Funk, painting portraits from behind or from an angle, which obscures much of the person’s face, reflects the snapshot moment of human connection found in cities.

Funk moved to New York in 2001, after completing a BFA in the University of Manitoba.

He graduated from Columbia two years later, where he began working with 303 Gallery. The gallery helps facilitate the business side of Funk’s artwork, hosting his solo shows and helping him sell his work.

Since moving to New York, Funk’s work has joined museum collections across North America and was the subject of an artist retrospective at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 2016.

Funk will be bringing this career’s worth of experience to Ontario Hall for his residency this March, visiting third- and fourth- year students’ studios and offering tips to the aspiring artists.

He’s also going to be working to advise students on the careers and methods available to them as artists as they pursue their work after Queen’s.

“Not everybody’s going to have the same trajectory and not everyone’s going to do the studio practice that I have. It varies.”

On the whole, Funk’s next few weeks will be dedicated to allowing students to pick his brain about whatever part of the art world they want, whether it’s creativity or the business side of things.

“I’d like to talk about their artwork and their paintings – technically, conceptually if there’s anything they want to talk about,” he said.

“That’s the really fun part too… the journey to figure out your own voice and make it resonate.”

“It’s the idea that ‘hurt people hurt people,’” she added.

The author also touched on her use of multiple perspectives in the story. “The idea was this one thing doesn’t affect two people – it affects everyone,” she explained.

The book has also been praised for its portrayal of Indigenous peoples. Vermette was careful to include multiple perspectives and personalities, and wanted to avoid the use of a singular, often tokenized Indigenous presence sometimes found in literature.

“It was important that it was my story. I am a Métis person …

I wanted this story to reflect the people around me,” Vermette said.

PHOTO BY SARINA GREWAL

Friday, March 9, 2018

queensjournal.ca

• 11

Sports

SUPPLIED BY MARLEE SAUDER

Marlee Sauder won bronze at the OUA Championships this season.

Nordic skiing surprises in 2018 season Marlee Sauder wins bronze, men’s finishes fourth in OUA Matt Scace Assistant Sports Editor This season, nothing was given to the Nordic skiing team — every bit of their success was earned.

At this year’s OUA Championships, which were held from Feb. 23-25 in Thunder Bay, Queen’s saw fourth-year Marlee Sauder come home with bronze in the women’s 10 km mass free start.

On the men’s side, the team finished one position shy of the

podium in fourth place.

Unlike most teams at Queen’s, the Nordic skiing team faces a unique set of challenges.

On top of training in poor outdoor conditions, the varsity club is coached and managed by students. While other Canadian schools have advanced their Nordic skiing programs in recent years, Queen’s has remained stagnant. They’re the only student-run Nordic skiing team in the OUA. As a program that has yet to gain a part-time coach, both men’s and women’s teams are co-coached by Sauder and fellow fourth year Marie-Clare Henry.

Together, the two create training plans, conduct tryouts and orchestrate team practices that largely take place outside of Kingston.

“This year we definitely put in more training time,” Henry said.

“We were able to do more this year and I think that reflected in our results … Training works.”

To make up for the lack of skiing opportunities in Kingston, the team has dedicated itself to strict fitness regimens. Going into the OUA Championships, the team had skied just five times — a stark contrast to teams like Lakehead and Nipissing.

Henry said the northern Ontario schools train on skis four to five times a week.

“We do a lot of running,” Henry added. “Our team has a really good level of fitness because that’s something we’ve been able to work on.”

All of that running paid off at this year’s OUA Championships in Thunder Bay. In Sunday’s final race, Sauder was sitting in the 12th position overall after Saturday’s 5 km race, hoping to crack the top-10 in order to be named an OUA All-Star.

After perfectly executing a game plan she created the night before, Sauder found herself in uncharted territory in the 10 km mass start.

“I got halfway through the race … and my dad yelled at me, ‘You’re in fourth place,’” Sauder recalled, describing her shock as she started to make a move on the third-place skier. “I caught her and I just kept going. It was crazy.”

With the second-place skier two minutes ahead of her, Sauder held on to her spot tightly until she crossed the finish line.

“I wanted to be collapsed on the ground at the end — I wanted to push myself,” Sauder said of how she hoped to finish the race. “I got to the end, fell to the ground and looked up to the sky and said, ‘Holy shit.’”

By securing the bronze medal, Sauder became the first female at Queen’s to reach the podium in an individual Nordic skiing event since 2004.

“That was the best moment of my undergrad.”

Also making waves around the OUA was the men’s team, who finished fourth overall.

Third-year and incoming captain for next season Julian Alexander-Cook was a part of this effort.

He told The Journal competing with some of Ontario’s best was something the team was looking forward to all season.

“We were always shooting for that podium,” Cook said, adding that with the team seeing all their athletes returning but one, very little should change going into next season. “We have similar expectations going into next year.”

As the incoming captain, Cook said he’s been taking notes from this year’s team in order to continue its success and make Queen’s a contender in the OUA. Cook predicts maintaining the team’s morale will be important.

“That’s what makes it worth it — when you can’t ski all the time, it’s really just about having that team atmosphere.”

Second annual wheelchair basketball tournament Event sees over 50 people attend, surpasses fundraising target

F4I co-chairs Allie Howie (left) and Mehima Kang (right).

Maggie Gowland Contributor This past Sunday saw the second rendition of Ball 4 a Cause take place at the ARC, a wheelchair basketball tournament organized by ASUS club Friends For Inclusion (F4I).

Open to Queen’s students and members of the Kingston community, this year’s tournament had 50 participants

SUPPLIED BY F4I

across the nine teams registered.

According to F4I co-chairs Allie Howie, ArtSci ’18, and Mehima Kang, ArtSci ’20, the club previously hosted a “Dodgeball 4 a Cause” tournament in years past before they switched over to wheelchair basketball in 2017.

This year, Ball 4 a Cause raised money for Community Living Kingston and District (CLKD).

CLKD is a local organization that works to ensure community members with intellectual disabilities have equal opportunity.

After a day of playing basketball, Kang said F4I surpassed the committee’s goal of raising $300. By year’s end, the club hopes to donate at least $600 to CLKD. In an interview with The Journal, both co-chairs were thrilled with the success of the event.

“While this sport was new to most people, we were impressed by how quickly they learned the technique [of wheelchair basketball],” Howie said. “This event allowed students to really sit in the shoes of those living with these issues on the

day-to-day, and allowed us to gain insight and a deeper respect for the diversity in our community.”

On top of stand-alone events like Ball 4 a Cause, the F4I committee has also paired over 30 Queen’s students this year with individuals in the Kingston community who have intellectual disabilities. Along with raising funds for CLKD, the club tries to demonstrate the importance of an accessible and inclusive environment on campus.

As part of ASUS’ outreach committee, F41 will be hosting Dinner in the Dark in association with Queen’s volunteer service organization QLimitless on Mar. 18. The dinner will be held in darkness in hopes of

raising awareness for people with vision impairment. Tickets for the event can be purchased on the ASUS website.

Howe and Kang both said they hope to see F4I grow through the events they’ve hosted this year.

“We are one of the smallest ASUS outreach committees … You always hear about Lost Paws or Heart and Stroke or Cancer Triad, so for us this year we wanted to increase our presence on campus, in addition to supporting CLKD more,” Kang said. “[But] all that’s secondary to our main goal of fostering a more inclusive atmosphere and environment on campus.”

Sports

12 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 9, 2018

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Andrea Priamo honored with Jay Bellinger Award Women’s basketball post commended for work within and outside the sport Sebastian Bron Sports Editor In her five years as part of the women’s basketball program, Andrea Priamo has made her presence felt on-and-off the floor.

On Feb. 27, she was recognized for her efforts as the recipient of the OUA’s Joy Bellinger Award.

The award acknowledges the student-athlete who bridges their play on the court with their work off of it.

If Priamo’s past five seasons with the Gaels are any indication, she fits that bill seamlessly.

The post player has started in 91 of her 99 career games at Queen’s, was named a 2016-17 second team All-Star and featured in the OUA East’s A l l - Ro o k i e Te a m in 2013-14. Beyond her work on the court, Priamo has played

a significant role in varsity athletics’ efforts within the Kingston community.

Participating in or organizing a variety of initiatives — Ride to Conquer Cancer, Shoot for the Cure and Cuts for Cancer, amongst others — Priamo has excelled outside of her basketball career.

“It was definitely a huge honour,” Priamo told The Journal about receiving the Bellinger Award. “I think it’s a testament to the types of people that Queen’s breeds as athletes.”

As the co-chair to the Varsity Leadership Council (VLC), Priamo has seen fellow athletes be just as or more involved than herself within the community.

The VLC is a student-athlete organization that hopes to foster a positive image of Queen’s Athletics by building relationships with the University, Kingston community and Queen’s alumni.

The council includes varsity club and team representatives who work in unison to raise awareness for pertinent local issues, such as mental health and cancer research.

“There’s different kinds of streams for VLC,” Priamo explained. “We have the community involvement piece — where we’ll do work in the community like visit schools — and the athlete

Andrea Priamo averaged 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds this season.

involvement piece, which is encouraging athletes to support each other at games.”

Since her second year, Priamo has organized both Shoot for the Cure and Cuts for Cancer. Shoot for the Cure has raised nearly $20,000 in four years, and encourages Queen’s athletes to fundraise for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Cuts for Cancer has athletes cut over eight inches of their hair during halftime of a men’s basketball game and has produced 27 ponytails in four years to make wigs for cancer patients.

When asked about her involvement within these cancer awareness initiatives, Priamo said the disease is “one close to the heart.” “[M]y dad was diagnosed with cancer late in high school,” Priamo said of her now-cancer-free father. Since

then, Priamo, her father and brother, have participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer to raise awareness for the disease.

The three of them have raised over $16,000 in just the last two summers for the Princess Margaret Cancer Center.

“Cancer affects everybody.

Literally everybody,” Priamo said.

“And I think any little way that I can help raise money or even donate my hair — anything I can do or encourage others to do — will help.”

What’s perhaps most remarkable about Priamo’s philanthropic endeavours is how she’s been able to time-manage.

Albeit tough to juggle the rigors of a varsity-athletic schedule — coupled with academics and community work — she said, “you just find the time to do the things

SUPPLIED BY SHAWN MACDONALD

you love doing.”

“It’s definitely been tough to balance, but you can balance anything if you really enjoy doing it,” Priamo continued.

“Whether it’s practice, a film session, weight lifting, community involvement … you find the time.”

In reflecting on her time with the women’s basketball program, Priamo —who’s exhausted her five years of eligibility — said she’s emotional about leaving the team. On top of this, she’s grateful for what proved to be a rewarding experience.

“I’ve had a lot of time these last few weeks to reflect after my last season finished and I’ve been feeling very grateful for the experience,” she said.

“It’s sad, it’s bittersweet, but I had such a great experience that not a lot of people can say that they did.”

Women’s hockey confident going into McCaw Cup

Gaels looking to win first OUA championship since 2012-13 season Matt Scace Assistant Sports Editor

The Gaels play for OUA gold on Saturday.

SUPPLIED BY IAN MACALPINE

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

It’s no secret that when the women’s hockey team hosts the McCaw Cup this Saturday against the Western Mustangs, it’ll be uncharted territory for most of the players.

While Queen’s boasted the best regular season record in the OUA this season (14-3-3), the team doesn’t have a massive amount of experience in the playoffs. Before this year, the last time the Gaels made it to the second round of the OUA playoffs was the 2013-14 season.

Just five players from that team will be playing this weekend.

Head coach Matt Holmberg, however, is far from worried about his team’s youth.

“Nerves are a good thing because that’s your body preparing yourself for battle, so that’s fine,” Holmberg said on Wednesday afternoon. A win on Saturday would be Holmberg’s third OUA title since being named head coach in 2009.

Since they completed the series sweep against Nipissing on Friday night, the Gaels have made good use of their eight-day break. After two days of rest, Queen’s returned to training on Monday morning.

With the most important game of the season fast approaching, more focus has been placed on the players’ mental fortitude rather than their physical shape.

“We’ve just got [to] make sure we’re focusing our nerves and that energy in the right place,” Holmberg said. “I heard a good quote the other day, ‘Have your butterflies fly in formation.’”

With five playoff games under their belt this year, Holmberg noted the past two weeks have served as an important learning experience for his team. He said the series against Wa t e r l o o — which went to a final and deciding game — was the team’s turning point.

“It really served to remind us that playoffs are going to be tough, and I think the mindset of the team going into that third game against Waterloo was perfect,” Holmberg said. “That has carried through the Nipissing series and should exist today.”

Meeting the Gaels at the Kingston Memorial Centre on Saturday will be Western. With their last loss 10 games ago against UOIT on Jan. 20, the Mustangs are one of the hottest teams in Canada. The last time the two teams met, the Mustangs

topped the Gaels at home 3-0.

“They’re coming together at the right time. They’ve got a goalie who’s playing well and a lot of vets playing well,” Holmberg said.

Despite a stiff challenge, the Gaels have their own talent to boast. On Thursday, numerous Queen’s players brought home some hardware at the OUA’s annual year-end awards.

Third-year forward Katrina Manoukarakis was named OUA Forward of the Year and Player of the Year, while goaltender Stephanie Pascal was awarded OUA Goalie of the Year.

Meanwhile, Holmberg was named OUA Coach of the Year after leading the Gaels to top spot in the OUA regular season for the first time since 1989-90.

While the awards are a display of a team’s success, fourth-year forward Addi Halladay said the team’s focus is swirling around Saturday’s game. With an OUA Championship on the line, there’s no shortage of motivation going into Saturday.

“Every time we step on the ice at the Memorial Centre, we have to look up at the two banners,” Halladay said.

“A n d we wa n t a third one.”

Lifestyle

CAMPUS SERVICES

Mug days at The Tea Room The collaboration with Queen's Earth Centre Mugs and travel mugs.

Kyra Smith Contributor For the second year in a row, The Tea Room collaborated with Queen’s Earth Centre to bring back beloved Mug Days for its customers.

Sponsored by the Earth Centre, the event ran on March 1, 2 and 5 and promoted the use of reusable mugs by offering those who brought them to The Tea Room a free tea or coffee.

It’s an ideal partnership; The Tea Room is a business dedicated to environmental responsibility and the Earth Centre is an AMS club that promotes green consumerism. With such compatible goals, it makes sense

for the two groups to support one another in the Mug Days initiative.

Encouraged by the success of last year’s inaugural event, the Earth Centre chose to sponsor Mug Days for a second year, according to Earth Centre exec member Liza Hersh. Not only this, but they also teamed up with The Tea Room to offer prizes for eco-conscious customers who posted a picture of their travel mug on social media. Participants had the chance to win gift cards, Tea Room swag or an eco-friendly cleaning and wellness kit.

A free drink in a cute mug and the opportunity to win sweet environmentally-conscious prizes — what’s not

to like?

The goal of the annual Mug Days is to educate customers about alternatives to disposable packaging and promote the use of reusable products. The two groups work to show students how easy it can be to reduce consumption and lead a cleaner, greener lifestyle.

The goal of the “ annual Mug Days is

to educate customers about alternatives to disposable packaging and promote the use of reusable products.

”

Two people flirting.

SEX IN THE LIMESTONE CITY

Exploring sexual desires with your partner How open communication can improve your sex life Sexual chemistry is an extremely important aspect of any relationship, but oftentimes maintaining this chemistry is easier said than done. A huge aspect of having and maintaining good sexual chemistry is the ability to be open with a partner about what we want as well as listening to our partners’ desires.

Not only does this lead to better communication in the bedroom, but it also opens the door for more adventurous, healthier and generally better

sexual relationships. When we feel comfortable enough to share our sexual desires with our partners, it’s a good indicator of a healthy relationship with open communication in all aspects.

Through sharing these desires, our partner has the ability to learn more about us on a deeper level.

In addition, we may be surprised to learn our desires match up with our partners’, which would only serve to increase sexual chemistry within a relationship.

I recently took an online survey with my partner on mojoupgrade.com to discover aspects of our sexual relationship that we might be missing out on.

In the online survey, we each took turns filling out questions with the answers “yes” or “no” based on things we would and wouldn’t want to try or change in our sex life. The survey is split up into different categories including: the basics, playing with toys, B.D.S.M, anal play, group and public fun, and other fetishes.

It seems to be working, too.

In an interview with The Journal, Tea Room Head Manager Mary Hales noted, “We always see a boost in travel mug usage after the promo and we are expecting that later this week.”

The Tea Room may already be carbon neutral and consumer-waste-free, but that doesn’t mean the Queen’s community can’t help them take it further. By replacing disposable products with reusable ones — or at the very least biodegradable — we can all work towards reducing not only our ecological footprint.

Small acts of environmental stewardship — as simple as

PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN

The questions are answered separately by each partner and, once each partner has finished, the results displayed only include the questions that both partners had answered yes to.

The most interesting take-away from this activity was that I actually learned my partner and I shared many of the same desires. This is information we may have missed out on had we not decided to be open-minded about taking the quiz.

Openness in the bedroom and maintenance of a fun and healthy sex life is something I believe to be an important contributor to a happy relationship. Just like any aspect of a relationship, if we’re not willing to share our thoughts or hear what our partner has to say, it may be indicative of an underlying problem between us.

ILLUSTRATION BY SARINA GREWAL

using a travel mug — can have huge impacts, especially when they inspire new environmentally-conscious habits and larger action. That’s how we see change. The influx of travel mug users even after Mug Days is over is a prime example of this.

And if you missed Mug Days, worry not. The Tea Room hopes to continue working with Queen’s Earth Centre to bring the event back in the future. Until then, know that although Mug Days may be over, the perks aren't.

The Tea Room offers a year-round 15 per cent discount on any drink if you bring a travel mug. So next time you need a caffeine fix but want to save money and resources, grab your reusable mug and head to the Tea Room.

Furthermore, it’s true that the longer you spend with someone, the greater the chances that you’ll want to continue exploring newer things in the bedroom in order to keep things fun and exciting.

But it’s very difficult to do this if you don’t establish a strong sexual bond with the other person.

It’s my thought — and I practice this constantly with my partner just as he does with me — that when we’re with someone we truly trust, we should be able to share anything with them.

What many people are looking for, including myself when I was single, is a relationship in which they’re fully comfortable with their partner in all aspects. With previous partners, it was always much harder for me to share what I wanted from them, which I believe was both a fundamental flaw in the relationship as well as a contributing factor in why the sex was always missing something.

So no matter what kind of relationship you choose to be in, whether that’s now or in the future, be sure to find someone you feel comfortable enough with to share everything — even your sexual desires. Not only will this improve your bond with this partner, but it will also help you to get that good loving you deserve.

—Barrie Cradshaw

Lifestyle

14 •queensjournal.ca

Bachelor Winter Games logo.

SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE

POP CULTURE

Bachelor Winter Games misses the mark

The problematic rhetoric in the show about international love

Shivani Gonzalez Lifestyle Editor Things aren’t looking too great in Bachelor world right now. As if things weren’t bad enough, Arie Luyendyk outed himself as being the worst Bachelor in history by proposing to one girl, breaking up with her on TV and proposing to a different girl shortly after on this week’s finale of The Bachelor. Unfortunately for this series, this comes right on the heels of an even more problematic Bachelor spin-off, Bachelor Winter Games.

The premise of the Winter

Games is to bring together the favourite contestants from all the international versions of The Bachelor/Bachelorette as well as from the American franchise.

Contestants were from Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Sweden, Finland, England, Japan and China.

The new spin-off was advertised as being a show that had contestants from around the world coming to find love and demonstrate unity across the globe.

In a time of political turmoil in the US with a massive division between countries, the initial

Friday, March 9, 2018

premise of the show was actually a commendable idea to promote inclusivity.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, the result turned out much differently. Not to fault ABC, but the contestants seemed to create more division amongst one another because of their language or cultural differences.

The first and most glaring example of this was an incident with Yuki Kimura from a The Bachelor Japan. Kimura was the only contestant who didn’t speak at least an intermediate level of English, and they actually had a translator on set so she could

understand what was going on. Whenever she was shown on camera, however, it would be her making hand gestures to communicate as the other contestants laughed mockingly.

Sure, Kimura was sometimes laughing with them but it definitely wasn’t a good look for the contestants or ABC. It was also obvious that Kimura didn’t have a real shot at finding love on this show, because even though Winter Games advertised itself on the premise that love could transcend language and culture, she seemingly wasn’t being taken seriously as a result of such differences.

In a house where everyone else speaks English, it was unlikely that a relationship with Kimura would occur and instead the focus turned to her language difficulties and the barriers it created between herself and the other contestants.

Another example of this

“othering” of people from different cultures occurred between contestants Clare Crawley from the US and Christian Rauch from Germany.

The two were coupled up at the beginning before falling into a series of arguments. All of these disputes started with Crawley starting her point by saying “I don’t know if this is a communication problem,” or “I don’t know how you do it in Germany.”

This sort of separation really takes away from the point of the show and, in fact, does the exact opposite of what it advertises. In a show that’s supposed to show love can exist between anyone in any country and in a time where the US — the country hosting Bachelor Winter Games — repeatedly points the finger against other countries, it doesn’t help to have a TV show that focuses on and mocks the differences between people in other countries.

Of all the couples that have stayed together since the show aired (a surprising amount considering this is The Bachelor franchise) they all lived in the same or similar countries. Ashley Iaconneti and Kevin Wendt “won” the Bachelor Winter Games and were deemed “the first international couple of The Bachelor world”. But they aren't from places around the world.

Iaconneti is American and Wendt is Canadian, so language and culture remain highly similar.

The Bachelor franchise has screwed up more times than is possible to count at this point, but promoting a show about inclusive love and then having it actually show love isn’t possible is an unprecedented failure.

Bottom line: ABC, if you want to produce a show about love around the world, make sure people aren’t being marginalized because of their language differences or blaming cultural differences for their relationship problems.

Want to get involved? Join the QJ Lifestyle Contribs 2017-18’ Facebook group

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serge 43 Showdown directive 44 Lily variety

Lifestyle

Friday, March 9, 2018

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOSH GRANOVSKY

Photos from The Bachelor, Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Jersey Shore.

PSYCH COLUMN

The psychology behind watching reality TV Why are some invested while others tune out Abbey Dudas Staff Writer With the 22nd season of The Bachelor coming to an end, I got to thinking about the stark contrast of opinions people hold about shows of this genre. Why do some people have such a strong desire to watch reality TV shows while others absolutely hate them?

What makes people hold such

opposite perspectives? Research suggests there may be several reasons why some people are obsessed.

Reality TV tends to follow people who are just like us as they navigate some sort of competition (think Survivor, Big Brother or American Ninja Warrior) or who are thrust into unique social situations (Jersey Shore or The Bachelor). Unlike regular broadcasting, it gives us a

queensjournal.ca

way to look into the lives of people we can relate to as they’re tasked with an abnormal task that challenges their strength and character.

A research team led by research psychologist Zhanna Bagdasarov investigated the role of voyeurism that plays into a person’s TV watching preferences. Voyeurism is defined broadly as a disorder that causes a person to gain pleasure from watching

unsuspecting individuals. The investigative paper presents findings that prove people who score higher on a voyeurism scale are more likely to prefer watching reality TV. Since these are often people that aren’t too different from us, it makes it intriguing to watch what they do on these shows.

Reality television gives us a way to look into the lives of “normal people”, allowing for access into their daily activities — access we’re not typically privy to.

Others have posited that the desire to watch reality TV stems from fantasies about easily acquiring fame. On competition shows like Big Brother and The Bachelor, it’s not uncommon for contestants to gain celebrity status after the

show airs. Many participants go on to start blogs, have their own podcasts or simply enjoy life in the limelight — seeing the desire for fame and fortune easily acquired by reality TV stars understandably explains the draws for a large portion of the genre’s audience.

Lemi Baruh, a Turkish psychologist, published a paper in 2009 stating that voyeurism and social comparison tendency were positively correlated with the preference to watching reality TV. However, like most studies, more work always needs to be done, so Baruh dug deeper and recruited over 500 U.S. participants, asking them a series of questions about their personalities.

Baruh’s list included questions about voyeurism and the tendency of viewers to compare themselves to others. The respondents were then asked to rate the frequency of which they watched each television program, both reality and fictional, out of a list of 28 options.

What Baruh found was after controlling for demographics, voyeuristic tendencies alone are strongly correlated with the consumption of reality TV and that social comparison tendencies are no longer related. It’s clear that, just as media continues to change, the reasons why we consume media are changing too.

With the divided research and the obvious more work that needs to be done, it’s clear that human beings are complicated and there are many reasons why we do the things we do. So, whether you like watching reality TV to laugh at the contestants or because you like to fantasize about being famous, just make sure you’re able to separate what you’re watching from everyday life.

That Last Survey Invitation from NSSE: What’s in it for You? We all receive emails and online invitations about something or other almost every day.

We need your input to make Queen’s even better for you and for future students.

If you’re a 1st or 4th year undergraduate student in Arts and Science, Commerce, Nursing or Engineering and Applied Science, you recently received an email invitation to complete the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). Queen’s administers this survey annually to measure many aspects of your student experience inside and outside the classroom.

NSSE results provide us with critical information for academic program reviews at Queen’s. These data can be compared with the results at hundreds of other universities in Canada and the US, and they form the basis for several metrics that we monitor – and try to improve on – in our Strategic Framework.

We need your help. That last survey invitation from NSSE invites you to tell us about your interactions with faculty, staff and other students; about how much your courses challenged you to think; about how you prepare for class and how you pull the material together after class; and about how well the Queen’s environment meets your academic and non-academic needs. Important issues – for you, for future students and for Queen’s.

I hope you’ll consider responding to the invitation and participating in NSSE. Thanks!

Benoit-Antoine Bacon Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)

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Lifestyle

16 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, March 9, 2018

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOSH GRANOVSKY

Shivani, her mom and Emma Willard School.

POSTSCRIPT

Finding inspiration outside of normal confines What an all-girls school taught me about my perspective on female empowerment Shivani Gonzalez Lifestyle Editor Despite living in a world where men dominate politics, engineering and other powerful societal roles, my own personal world growing up taught me to not think for a second that there was anything a woman couldn’t do.

When someone looks at a summary of my life up until where I am now, they would likely credit my high school education for my younger self’s belief that women could be or do anything.

My high school, the Emma Willard School, was named after the woman who founded it in 1814, and is famed for being the first all-girls school in the United States. Emma Willard was light- years ahead of her time — not only did she found the school herself, she also went in front of New York State Legislature to argue why women’s education should have equal governmental funding as men's education.

Then named The Troy Female Seminary, my school’s legacy is prestigious enough to show me the immense privilege I had of being a student there.

At a time when women were considered no more than housewives, Willard turned her feeling that all women deserved an education into action and opened the now-established institution.

The Emma Willard School provides women with amazing opportunities, learning to use their voices and be empowered in a still male-dominated world. Many of my friends who went there

have spoken frequently since we graduated almost four years ago about everything the school gave them and how they wouldn’t be the strong women they are today without that experience.

For years, I didn’t feel the same way and I felt guilty about it. Why wasn’t I affected by this life-changing opportunity to learn in a place where women’s voices are valued above all else and where they didn’t tell you there was anything you couldn’t do because you’re a woman?

To explain the answer to this, I need to go back in time a little bit.

Growing up, the majority of my role models were women. I didn’t have a traditional family upbringing. In terms of family, a lot of times it was just my mom and I together. My mom’s the strongest person I know and she’s the one who instilled in me the thought that I could literally do anything I set my mind to.

I only learned that women are paid less to the dollar than men, that people think women can’t do certain jobs because of their emotions or that women are still judged first and foremost by their looks when I was much older. My late discovery was entirely due to the fact my mom didn’t ever even imply those standards were valid or worthy of recognition.

My mom was a very strong person when I was growing up, surrounding herself with equally empowered, strong, successful women. A typical Sunday morning for me when I was younger was sitting in my best friend’s kitchen with our moms making us

pancakes — that was my family.

Basically, my childhood didn’t have many men in it and instead, it had a high majority of women that were the exact role models any young girl would be lucky to have.

Additionally, either consciously or unconsciously, my mom filled my world with books, music and TV shows that were female-dominated. My childhood best friend — who’s really more like a sister — and I were probably the only eight year-olds at the Dixie Chicks concert and also probably the only seven year-olds that would dance around the living room to the Rent soundtrack. The Gilmore Girls DVD box set was my birthday present at age 11 and my bookshelves were always filled with Jane Austen novels.

Natalie Mains, Mimi Marquez, Rory and Lorelai Gilmore as well as Jane Austen all have one major thing in common. They’re all complex, strong women who exemplify in different ways how to use their voices for what they think is important.

All of this is to say that I was really lucky to have this amazing childhood where I was surrounded, both in real life and in pop culture with strong, independent, bad-ass but still flawed women.

Whether I realized it or not, my whole childhood, I was picking up very important traits from all these women who shaped me into the person I am today. My mom always jokes that I’m stubborn and have my mind set on things and I always have to remind her that it’s from her.

Bringing this back to my high school, by the time I was 13 starting high school, I’d already had about nine years of memories surrounded by these strong women. I already felt as if my gender wasn’t something that could hold me back — which is something I now realize is a tremendous privilege.

Coming into the Emma Willard School, I had great classes and teachers, but that was kind of all it was for me. For others, they got a much greater sense of empowerment from the experience than just the education part of it.

They were able to find female role models, learn about empowered women and learn how to use their voice. It’s so amazing that the Emma Willard School is able to have such an impact on girls and has for 204 years now. But I always felt guilty that I didn’t have that same experience.

It took me a few years into my undergraduate degree to understand why this was the case. As I tried to think it through, I simply felt guilty that I hadn’t been able to get the same out of this experience as the people around me seemed to.

I was worried this incredible all-girls school education had been a waste on me and that I wasn’t respecting the legacy of my school or the hard work Emma Willard and others like her had endured to make it a reality.

It took me a while, but I realized it was okay that I didn’t have an as amazing high school experience as my friends did,

because I’d just happened to get that same mentorship and inspiration elsewhere.

In a place like university, where we’re simultaneously adults but still learning and maturing, it can be hard to figure out who we should trust and look up to. At this time in our lives when everything is education-focused, it seems like we should be looking up to professors or people in higher positions. If that’s the person you gravitate to then that’s great, but it’s important to realize you can find female inspiration and mentorship anywhere.

Working at The Journal, I have peers who inspire me more every day than most of my professors have. It’s my friends that have taught me the true meaning of perseverance and trust.

People are in our lives for an array of different reasons. It’s okay if only certain people are the ones that shape us into who we are or encourage us in ways that people in traditional roles of mentorship just can’t. I can’t imagine how different my life would be or how different a person I’d be if I didn’t have the female-centric upbringing that I did.

Finding out who the ones you trust and look up to are important, and it’s alright if they're not the people that would traditionally fit into that role. Every part of who we are is a product of things we’ve learned along the way, and for me, I was lucky enough to have picked it up from my strong female upbringing.