the
Queen’s University
Arrest made in Princess Towers theft
journal
Vol. 144, Issue 25
F r i day , M a r c h 1 7 , 2 0 1 7
since
1873
Kevin O’Leary draws crowd to Grant Hall
Queen’s students request lease termination over safety concerns Victoria Gibson News Editor After allegedly unlocking a tenant’s apartment and stealing hundreds of dollars in property, Princess Towers superintendent Justin Wagar was arrested on March 5 for break and enter and possession of stolen property. A Kingston Police press release identified Wagar only as a 36-year -old local man, however Cam Mack, Kingston Police media relations officer confirmed to The Journal that the accused was Wagar. The press release also identified the apartment only as one in the 400 block of Princess St. that the arrest was connected to a theft on Feb. 27. However, the victim of the alleged theft contacted The Journal with further details. On Feb. 27, Rosa Lee, QMED ’19, said she and her boyfriend had returned to their apartments at Princess Towers. At around 5:30 p.m. Lee describes walking up to her friend’s apartment, number 302. Her boyfriend put the key in his door, but noticed it was unlocked. “Just as we were about to open the door, superintendent Justin Wagar came out,” she said. She said her response was to scream, at which point Wagar said that he was checking the apartment because of a water leak from the apartment above — which belongs to Lee. Upon entering, Lee said her boyfriend went over to his desk, seeing that a drawer was See Wagar on page 3
PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
Kevin O’Leary speaks to a crowd in Grant Hall on Thursday evening.
O’Leary’s address continued despite attempted protest Maureen O’Reilly Assistant News Editor “Here’s my plan. I’m going to win this leadership race and then I’m going to shine the light of transparency and accountability on Justin Trudeau for the next two years, and make his life a living hell,” Conservative Party leadership candidate Kevin O’Leary declared to a crowd of approximately 1,000 people in Grant Hall Thursday evening. His plan was met with enthusiastic applause. The Queen’s University Conservative Association (QUCA) hosted the event as a part of their ongoing Conservative Party
Leadership Series. “We believe that this is the largest political event at Queen’s in modern history,” Abby Chaudhry, ArtSci ’17, said as he introduced the event on behalf of QUCA. “Back when Justin Trudeau came here in 2013, he could barely get 300 people to fill Wallace Hall. Today we have 1,000.” According to a Journal article from the 2013 visit, Trudeau spoke to a full crowd in Wallace Hall. Thursday evening’s event began with a viewing of a short biographical video about O’Leary, who was born in Montreal to Lebanese and Irish immigrants. When O’Leary took to the podium, he told the crowd that his motivation for running was twofold. O’Leary said he became concerned at the vast amount of Canadian engineering students who expressed to him their plans
to start businesses in the United States, because they didn’t want to get paid in Canadian “dollarettes” and “get taxed at 58.3 per cent.” When the Trudeau government began to reveal financial troubles, O’Leary’s motivation flourished. “Trudeau’s government put out a document that forecasted the future of Canada. It was proposing deficits for 38 years in a row, leaving the country 1.5 trillion dollars in debt,” O’Leary said. “There’s not a chance in hell that I’m letting Trudeau do that to this country.” “Where is it written in the Canadian constitution that we should let [Canada] be managed by a toxic cocktail of mediocrity and incompetence, and sometimes stupidity?” O’Leary’s speech was briefly interrupted by an unidentified attendee attempting to protest, though it was unclear what
the individual was saying, as he had wrapped a sweater around his mouth. “If you’re going to protest, don’t put a mask over your face, I can’t hear what you’re saying,” O’Leary said as the protestor was escorted out of the building. Returning to his scheduled talk, O’Leary stated economic growth as the core problem that needs to be addressed before any other advancement can be made in Canada. He criticized Trudeau, who he said “gave away 4.2 billion dollars to foreign countries” in his first few months and “didn’t create one Canadian job.” O’Leary explained that the decline of the economy will manifest itself as a lack of jobs available to university graduates, and emphasized the importance of the age 18 to 35 demographic in See You on page 5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Sports
Unusual roadtrip doesn’t stop men’s hockey team page 11
Features
Opinions
Sports
Lifestyle
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CONSULTATION
Committee on Racism, Diversity and Inclusion presents recommendations During series of town hall meetings, the committee plans to address opinions of both Queen’s students and Kingston community
Friday, March 17, 2017 itself that has inherent limitations for us because we could say so much more if we had just a little more time.” Chan noted that, at the first meeting, she believed a severe snowstorm warning hindered the attendance to approximately 30 people while Thursday’s forum attracted a crowd of almost 60. Finally, she stated that she was hoping for a turnout of as many as 100 on Monday. As Chan puts it, the meetings were scheduled so that the community as well as the student body could have a chance to take part in the committee’s process.
It has been a long time “ coming and many are quite
understandably disappointed but we believe that admin recognizes the need for action and is going to take it.
”
— Yolande Chan, Co-chair of Queen’s Committee on Racism, Diversity and Inclusion
The Committee on Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion was formed at a Dec. 1 Senate meeting.
Blake Canning Assistant News Editor Before hearing the entire question, Yolande Chan gave a one-word answer to what the biggest obstacle will be for the newly formed Committee on Racism, Diversity and Inclusion: “Time.” The committee, which Chan chairs, presented their recommendations for the future of Queen’s practices over the past week during a series of three open forum meetings with the University community. Some of the recommendations presented included increased representation of equity-seeking and minority groups in both staff and faculty, as well as the establishment
of the Alfie Pierce Centre for Racial Equality & Social Justice. The proposed centre would be a dedicated space on campus to honour the history and experiences of students of colour. The committee was established by Principal Woolf in December of 2016 in response to a party that took place in the University District, which gained national attention for the controversial costumes that were worn. The committee has been tasked with reporting and implementing measures that will improve issues of racism, diversity and inclusion on campus. Drawing parallels to Chan’s earlier comments, the meeting was rushed to incorporate the question period after the
News in Brief
AMS services located along east wall of JDUC to close due to cold On Thursday, March 16 the AMS executive released a statement regarding the temporary closure of certain AMS services including the Peer Support Centre, Academic Grievance Centre and Housing Resource Centre. All listed services are located in the John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC), next to the Innovation and Wellness Centre construction project. Issues arose when the west wall of the former PEC was demolished as part of the construction project. The wall provided insulation to the JDUC, which was eliminated once the wall was torn down. The AMS notified the University of the heating issues on Jan. 11, to which they say they’re still waiting for a response to. Both space heaters and heating blankets were used in attempts to aid the volunteer workers but these proved unsuccessful, leaving the AMS no choice but to close the services. Temperatures dropped to 12.3 degrees in the offices — 18 degrees being the minimum temperature required for office workspaces, as per the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. “The AMS is working to find an alternative space for the Peer Support Centre. Its services are too valuable to be shut down, especially as we approach exam season. In the interim, we would direct
“We believe that [the administration] are committed to change. It has been a long time coming and many are quite understandably disappointed but we believe that admin recognizes the need for action and is going to take it,” she said. “We expect that in April, right out of the gate, having received our report we are going to hear an announcement and PHOTO BY VICTORIA GIBSON there will be change.” Despite being under a time constraint, presentations of various panel members Chan is confident that her committee will be as the meeting was only scheduled for able to represent the needs of both students one hour. and faculty alike. “I regret that there was not more time “This committee is fully committed for discussion,” Chan said after the second in every way to addressing the concerns meeting took place on March 16, before that students have raised, and we thank adding that she was happy with the turnout. them for their boldness and their courage. The recurring theme of a time crunch And we applaud those who have given us is reflected by the committee’s rush to the opportunity to make a lasting get their key recommendations to move change and help Queen’s be a more forward. “We know that the principal inclusive, welcoming, diverse community,” wishes to respond in a timely manner to she stated. the discussions that were started in the fall,” “There will be no major stone left Chan said in an interview. “We have been unturned. There may be a few pebbles, but meeting sometimes as many as 20 hours in the main ones will move forward.” any given week,” she said. “We understand the constraint and we respect that, but in
students seeking support to contact peersupport@ams.queensu.ca.” the AMS statement read. — Morgan Dodson
Keg party shut down by Kingston Police prior to St. Patrick’s Day
On Thursday March 16, Kingston Police pulled up to a student house on Earl Street around 1:45 p.m. and left with 17 seized beer kegs and taps. The Kingston Police Street Crime Unit executed a Provincial Offences Act Search Warrant at the residence and charges under the Liquor License Act are pending as stated in a press release from Thursday afternoon. According to a Facebook post in the keg party’s event page “2000 cups and all decorations are gone,” as well as all the money partygoers paid in advance — via the Tilt app — which was seized by police. The Facebook event was deleted soon after and the accused would not comment on the investigation. Kingston Police said that this was done as a measure to help prevent illegal drinking and behaviour and additional officers will be on duty throughout the weekend. — Morgan Dodson
Kingston Police seized kegs, cups, and decorations from a home on Earl St.
JOURNAL FILE PHOTOS
The Peer Support Centre is seeking an alternate location while the temperature is fixed.
News
Friday, March 17, 2017
queensjournal.ca
•3
FUNDING
Queen’s researchers to receive $4.5 million from Ontario government Minister of Research, Innovation and Science announces projects at Queen’s on Tuesday Victoria Gibson News Editor On March 14, Queen’s physicist Ryan Martin received $250,000 to establish a world class facility for his neutrino research — but in the speeches from administrators and dignitaries, his former PhD supervisor Arthur McDonald was referenced even more than he was. “I’m sure Dr. McDonald is very familiar with this kind of work,” Kingston and the Islands MPP Sophie Kiwala said while discussing Martin’s project. Principal Daniel Woolf also made extensive reference to McDonald’s work in his address. However, McDonald — the 2015 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics — deflected attention back onto his former student. “He’s a professor here and he was a student of mine, and I’m very proud of him,” McDonald said from his front-row seat. During an interview after his Nobel win in 2015, McDonald had also spoken to The Journal about Martin, whom he praised and said “kept him young”. Despite the focus on the events of 2015, Tuesday saw multiple project funding announcements. Approximately $4.5 million in funding for Queen’s — out of a $77 million investment
across the province — was declared by Ontario Minister of Research, Innovation and Science, Reza Moridi at a Richardson Hall gathering.
I have already “apologized to
[the visiting politicians] in private that the weather I ordered for St. Patrick’s Day arrived a few days early.
”
— Daniel Woolf, Queen’s Principal
“I have already apologized to [the visiting politicians] in private that the weather I ordered for St. Patrick’s Day arrived a few days early,” Woolf quipped in his opening address. After the chuckling audience simmered down, the newly funded projects were discussed. Martin’s new facility will focus on developing p-type point contact detectors, which are used to more accurately measure interactions with particles like neutrinos and dark matter. Engineering professor Praveen Jain — the Canada Research Chair in Power Electronics — was
allotted $4 million to work on the development of small-scale, point-of-use solar power systems for residential use. Prior to the announcement, media were taken through the University’s Centre for Energy and Power Electronics Research in Walter Light Hall. Projects small enough to fit on the tip of a finger — like a power source developed by PhD student Marko Krstic — have been in development there for years. Projects developed in the basement-level centre are intended to establish the University’s presence as a power Projects in the Centre for Energy and Power Electronics Research. in energy and power electronics. Geophysicist Alexander Braun will be given $180,000 to buy a superconducting gravimeter, of which there are only 12 on the globe. The devices are utilized to monitor fluid migration processes, through oil, gas and water reservoirs, in order to help mitigate environmental hazards. Psychologist Jason Gallivan will also receive $150,000 for infrastructure in the field of Memory, Action and Perception Laboratory, which investigates how strokes and other neurological disorders can alter perceptual, cognitive and PHOTOS BY VICTORIA GIBSON motor-related mechanisms in the A tiny power transformer resting on human brain. a piece of paper.
Wagar brothers both arrested Continued from front
The Princess Towers apartment building.
PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
Queen’s PhD student Marko Krstic guides the lab tour on Tuesday.
slightly open. Lee said $300 to $100 in bills was missing along with a $3,000 watch. Lee called the apartment office to report the incident, at which point she said “a woman picked up and said she wasn’t aware of any water leakage.” After saying she would call the police, Lee said she was asked to wait 10 minutes for a call back, and that when the phone rang again, Wagar was on the other end of the line and denied taking anything. The the couple contacted Kingston Police. Constable Steve Koopman met with the couple, then with Wagar, who, according to Lee, described an Asian female in her 20s asking him to check on her apartment on the fourth floor. “402 is the only apartment right above 302,” Lee explained. She lives in 402, and her boyfriend in 302. As an Asian female in her 20s, she fit the description, but said she told police that the couple was together the night previous and never made a call about water leakage. On March 5, Lee found an ad on Kijiji advertising a watch identical
to Lee’s boyfriend’s, originally posted on March 2. Lee contacted police and arrangements were made with the seller to purchase the watch, but at the time they arranged to meet, police arrived instead and placed Wagar under arrest. When contacted by The Journal, Princess Towers owner Wayne Webster said he was “aware of most of the details” of the case. “We suspended the superintendent without pay until he is convicted at which time he may be terminated for cause,” Webster wrote. “His bail conditions prohibit him from being on Princess Towers property, or being within 100 meters of Ms. Lee or her companion.” The note also listed “several state-of-the-art security systems” and noted that their hiring policies are up-to date. “We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all our customers. Regrettably that is not Ms. Lee’s recent experience and for that we are very sorry.” Lee and her boyfriend say they just want to get out of the apartment. “[We] had contacted Princess Towers to end [our] lease early, given the circumstances.
[We] were denied multiple times,” Lee said. She claims that when she contacted Webster about the issue, noting that she spoke to The Journal as well as The Kingston Whig-Standard, she was met with reasons not to go to the media. “If you decide to involve the media be prepared to have your position challenged, and expect a lawsuit against you and your Guarantor, for any loss of business, goodwill, etc. suffered by us as a result of frivolous or unjustified actions,” read an email from Webster to Lee, which she provided to The Journal. Wagar’s arrest comes only weeks after his brother, Jason Wagar, was arrested as part of a Kingston Police investigation on increased residential and commercial break ins dating back to fall 2016. Jason was one of four men identified by detectives as responsible for a string of crimes. Jason was charged with five counts of possession of property obtained by crime, four counts of break and enter into a business, break and enter into a residence and theft.
News
Friday, March 17, 2017
queensjournal.ca
•3
FUNDING
Queen’s researchers to receive $4.5 million from Ontario government Minister of Research, Innovation and Science announces projects at Queen’s on Tuesday Victoria Gibson News Editor On March 14, Queen’s physicist Ryan Martin received $250,000 to establish a world class facility for his neutrino research — but in the speeches from administrators and dignitaries, his former PhD supervisor Arthur McDonald was referenced even more than he was. “I’m sure Dr. McDonald is very familiar with this kind of work,” Kingston and the Islands MPP Sophie Kiwala said while discussing Martin’s project. Principal Daniel Woolf also made extensive reference to McDonald’s work in his address. However, McDonald — the 2015 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics — deflected attention back onto his former student. “He’s a professor here and he was a student of mine, and I’m very proud of him,” McDonald said from his front-row seat. During an interview after his Nobel win in 2015, McDonald had also spoken to The Journal about Martin, whom he praised and said “kept him young”. Despite the focus on the events of 2015, Tuesday saw multiple project funding announcements. Approximately $4.5 million in funding for Queen’s — out of a $77 million investment
across the province — was declared by Ontario Minister of Research, Innovation and Science, Reza Moridi at a Richardson Hall gathering.
I have already “apologized to
[the visiting politicians] in private that the weather I ordered for St. Patrick’s Day arrived a few days early.
”
— Daniel Woolf, Queen’s Principal
“I have already apologized to [the visiting politicians] in private that the weather I ordered for St. Patrick’s Day arrived a few days early,” Woolf quipped in his opening address. After the chuckling audience simmered down, the newly funded projects were discussed. Martin’s new facility will focus on developing p-type point contact detectors, which are used to more accurately measure interactions with particles like neutrinos and dark matter. Engineering professor Praveen Jain — the Canada Research Chair in Power Electronics — was
allotted $4 million to work on the development of small-scale, point-of-use solar power systems for residential use. Prior to the announcement, media were taken through the University’s Centre for Energy and Power Electronics Research in Walter Light Hall. Projects small enough to fit on the tip of a finger — like a power source developed by PhD student Marko Krstic — have been in development there for years. Projects developed in the basement-level centre are intended to establish the University’s presence as a power Projects in the Centre for Energy and Power Electronics Research. in energy and power electronics. Geophysicist Alexander Braun will be given $180,000 to buy a superconducting gravimeter, of which there are only 12 on the globe. The devices are utilized to monitor fluid migration processes, through oil, gas and water reservoirs, in order to help mitigate environmental hazards. Psychologist Jason Gallivan will also receive $150,000 for infrastructure in the field of Memory, Action and Perception Laboratory, which investigates how strokes and other neurological disorders can alter perceptual, cognitive and PHOTOS BY VICTORIA GIBSON motor-related mechanisms in the A tiny power transformer resting on human brain. a piece of paper.
Wagar brothers both arrested Continued from front
The Princess Towers apartment building.
PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
Queen’s PhD student Marko Krstic guides the lab tour on Tuesday.
discovered a $3,000 watch was also gone. Lee called the apartment office to report the incident, at which point “a woman picked up and said she wasn’t aware of any water leakage.” After saying she would call the police, Lee was asked to wait 10 minutes for a call back. When the phone rang again, Lee said, Wagar was on the other end of the line and denied taking anything. After the incident, the couple left the apartment, concerned about security under the circumstances, and called Kingston Police. Constable Steve Koopman met with the couple, then with Wagar, who, according to Lee, described an Asian female in her 20s asking him to check on her apartment on the fourth floor. “402 is the only apartment right above 302,” Lee explained. She lives in 402, and her boyfriend in 302. As an Asian female in her 20s, she fit the description, but the couple was together the night previous and never made a call about water leakage, they told police. On March 5, Lee found an ad on
Kijiji advertising a watch identical to Lee’s boyfriend’s, originally posted on March 2. Lee contacted police and arrangements were made with the seller to purchase the watch, but at the time they arranged to meet, police arrived instead and placed Wagar under arrest. When contacted by The Journal, Princess Towers owner Wayne Webster said he was “aware of most of the details” of the case. “We suspended the superintendent without pay until he is convicted at which time he may be terminated for cause,” Webster wrote. “His bail conditions prohibit him from being on Princess Towers property, or being within 100 meters of Ms. Lee or her companion.” The note also listed “several state-of-the-art security systems” and noted that their hiring policies are up-to date. “We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all our customers. Regrettably that is not Ms. Lee’s recent experience and for that we are very sorry.” Lee and her boyfriend, however, just want to get out of the apartment. “[We] had contacted Princess Towers to end [our] lease
early, given the circumstances. [We] were denied multiple times,” she said. She claims that when she contacted Webster about the issue, noting that she spoke to The Journal as well as The Kingston Whig-Standard, she was met with reasons not to go to the media. “If you decide to involve the media be prepared to have your position challenged, and expect a lawsuit against you and your Guarantor, for any loss of business, goodwill, etc. suffered by us as a result of frivolous or unjustified actions,” read an email from Webster to Lee, which she provided to The Journal. Wagar’s arrest comes only weeks after his brother, Jason Wagar, was arrested as part of a Kingston Police investigation on increased residential and commercial break ins dating back to fall 2016. Jason was one of four men identified by detectives as responsible for a string of crimes. Jason was charged with five counts of possession of property obtained by crime, four counts of break and enter into a business, break and enter into a residence and theft.
News
4 •queensjournal.ca
Friday, March 17, 2017
SUPPLIED BY JUSTINE AMAN
Roundtable discussions on climate change, food security and education during the Youth Caucus.
STUDENT WORK
Connections made between Queen’s and Iqaluit Youth Caucus brings together students from North and South Nabeela Jivraj Contributor While Week 8 of this semester likely saw many students camped out in libraries, Justine Aman was having a unique learning opportunity outside the walls of campus. The third-year sociology student spent March 8 to 12 in Iqaluit, Nunavut at the Arctic Youth Ambassador Caucus. Alongside 24 peers from Canada provinces and 25 from Northern
communities, Aman engaged in activities and roundtables geared at discussing the challenges facing northern communities. Aman says her initial interest in the program came out of an academic project. In a population health class she was required to perform a needs assessment for a global health issue. Upon researching her chosen issue, HIV/ AIDS prevalence in Canada’s Indigenous populations, she found there was relatively little data on the topic.
“I wanted to know how to get a first-hand glance,” she says. After exploring various options on campus, she found the Youth Caucus, hosted through Global Vision — a Canadian charitable organization focused on global development. Choosing youth leaders to talk about food security, climate change, health and wellness, Aman felt the Caucus’ goals aligned with her personal mandate. During her week up north, delegates congregated daily at a local church to attend the conference, cook meals and socialize.
“
Going to post-secondary doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning your home. It means you will bring something back to create sustainable change for your community.
”
— Justine Aman, ArtSci ‘18
“Going in, I had an open mind because I don’t have an academic background in these issues, and I haven’t yet been involved with groups on campus,” said Aman. “My main goal was to listen, come back, and report.” In recounting her week, it was evident that the experience was a moving one. For Aman, the conference was about dialoguing on misconceptions around challenges that exist in northern communities and discussing practical solutions from a national perspective. At the roundtable sessions, delegates had the opportunity to hear from youth leaders from
northern communities about the sometimes problematic, though possibly well-intentioned, “solutions” offered by those outside of their communites. Returning to Queens, Aman already has plans to share her experience and spark dialogue. A current volunteer at the Sexual Health and Resource Centre (SHRC), she hopes to present at its annual general meeting. “A lot of people at the SHRC are involved with various groups on campus,” she said, speaking to the ripple effect she hopes her presentation will have within the Queen’s community. That said, Aman was very grateful for her experience. “My main takeaway is how important dialogue is, and the need for connections between the North and South,” she said. To have these lines open can be essential for a future generation of leaders, according to Aman. In speaking with high school students from northern communities, Aman felt that the conference also created important connections for those considering attending university in the provinces, away from family and friends. “Going to post-secondary doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning your home,” she said, reflecting on the conversations. It means you will bring something back to create sustainable change for your community.” Speaking to the connections she made, she said she not only made new friends from northern communities, but also some closer to home. “It was heartwarming to see how incredibly engaged my peers were.”
Iqualuit, Nunavut, where the Arctic Youth Ambassador Caucus was held.
VIA WIKICOMMONS
Friday, March 17, 2017
News
queensjournal.ca
O’Leary told the crowd of students and community members in Grant Hall that he plans to “claw back” all support from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
•5
PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
‘You should be incredibly pissed,’ O’Leary says this support. “My plan is to claw back the future of Canadian politics. all of that support from “Trudeau was able to motivate Justin, because he lied to a new political force that you and you don’t deserve is going to be incredibly powerful it anymore … if he can’t get for the next 20 years — it’s you … you a job you should be you now have the power,” O’Leary incredibly pissed.” told the crowd. O’Leary then criticized “Why are all these politicians Trudeau’s inability to coming here to see you? Because compete with American without you, they can’t win.” President Donald Trump’s While O’Leary acknowledged plans to lower corporate and that Trudeau was successful personal taxes, eliminate the in appealing to the 18 to 35 carbon tax, and deregulate demographic, he vowed to reverse and grow the economy. He Continued from front
attributed this to Trudeau’s lack of financial literacy. If elected, O’Leary said he will “reverse every single policy that damages the economy, and every tax that [Trudeau] has put on this country that has damaged its ability to compete” with the United States. “[Trudeau] doesn’t know how to save any money, he only knows how to tax you,” O’Leary said. O’Leary emphasized his main goals of reaching three per cent GDP growth T:10” and increasing jobs for Canadians, but also
spoke of his plans to combat and promised he would provide illegal immigration and soaring jobs and opportunities for people housing prices. to “grow their own futures.” However, O’Leary repeatedly In an interview with explained that all issues, including The Journal after the event, climate change and patrolling O’Leary promised to protect borders, require money to solve, the culture of inclusivity in so the economy must see growth Canada, which he sees as vital to before these concerns can be Canadian values. properly addressed. “We should be endorsing When asked what he would the same kind of inclusiveness do about issues among we always have, and we Indigenous populations, should be very tolerant of other O’Leary said a lot of problems people’s religions and cultures in Indigenous communities … I’m very proud of our country.” also relate to economic growth,
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Friday, March 17, 2017
Features
IN-DEPTH STORIES FROM AROUND CAMPUS AND IN THE COMMUNITY
WORLD POLITICS
A divide in nations divides campus
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel has Queen’s students and faculty split on how to approach the issue Erika Streisfield Arts Editor This time last year, students passing the corner of University and Union were stopped and searched. The simulated checkpoint was a part of Israeli Apartheid Week, organized by Queen’s Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR). The protest was a reminder of the division the IsraeliPalestinian conflict continues to create on university campuses across Canada, a division often brought to a head by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. BDS’ motive is to end international support of Israel’s oppression of Palestinians, and pressure the state to comply with international human rights laws using BDS practices. The BDS movement originated in 2005 when a number of human rights focused Palestinian nongovernmental organizations initiated a collaborative campaign calling on the international community to boycott, divest and sanction any involvement with Israel.
Divestment has only happened twice in the University’s history, once in reaction to South Africa’s racial apartheid and more recently in 2007 from South Sudan after Darfur. In the case of South African divestment, the Board of Trustees voted to remove South Africa from Queen’s endowment portfolio only after almost 20 years of debate on campus. Success of the BDS movement at Queen’s would mean a comparable scrubbing of Queen’s endowment portfolio and the severing of the University academic ties with institutions such as Tel Aviv University, which most recently joined with Queen’s Law on a three-year collaboration to exchange faculties, lectures and students. Principal Daniel Woolf – who visited Israel when Queen’s Law announced its new partnership with Tel Aviv University – spoke of the relationship as “a very exciting new collaboration that will open up all sorts of possibilities for our faculty, students and researchers.” For the SPHR, the commitment demanded by BDS would place Queen’s on “the right side
strengthening the pro-Israel movement on campus — motions to support BDS are on the wrong side of history. In an emailed statement, Quinn Bernholtz, ArtSci ’18, and Esther Oziel, ConEd ’18, co-presidents of IOC, said there is no place on campus for BDS nor does BDS promote peace. “Several leaders in the BDS movement openly state that their
— Representatives of Queen’s Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights
goal is not to bring the two sides together in a peaceful way, or a two-state solution, but rather the destruction of the state of Israel. This kind of rhetoric has no place on any campus,” IOC representatives said. “BDS aims to put all of the blame on the Israelis, essentially ending the conversation and inhibiting healthy dialogue.” Sharing a similar opinion as IOC, Vassili Schedrin, a professor of
— Representatives of Queen’s Israel on Campus
of history.” “As a proud Queen’s University student-led group, we would hope that Queen’s, as a Canadian leader, follow its own precedent by continuing to condemn the violation of international law — including grave and countless human rights violations, war crimes, and illegal military occupation on Palestinian land,” SPHR representatives said. For Queen’s Israel on Campus (IOC) — a student g ro u p devoted to
history, Adelman engages with the subject of Israeli-Palestinian relations in class on a daily basis. “I think the whole thing about Israel is that it should provide a dangerous space, it should provide Jews with an opportunity to stand up for what they believe in, and have the guts of their convictions,” Adelman said. “I was in Israel the other week and when I looking around at
Queen’s University student-led group, we would hope “ Asthata proud Queen’s, as a Canadian leader, follow its own precedent by continuing to condemn the violation of international law. ”
put all of the blame on the Israelis, essentially ending the “ BDS aims toconversation and inhibiting healthy dialogue. ”
The campaign continues to be in opposition to the Israeli government’s role in the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, a conflict so contentious, even its origins can’t be unilaterally stated. Oceans away from the conflict, university students and faculties in Canada continue to wade chest-deep into a debate over their institutions’ stance on the conflict, often in BDS’ context of whether those schools should continue to associate with Israel. In February 2016, McGill’s SSMU’s General Assembly passed a motion to give formalized support behind the BDS movement, which was later defeated in an online ratification process. In the same year, a faculty petition endorsing BDS surfaced at U of T — which was later halted by the administration. Anti-Israel sentiments are made apparent by student protests like that of last year’s Apartheid Week, while the administration has largely remained silent. When contacted for their stances on BDS, neither the AMS nor Queen’s administration provided comments before deadline. The SPHR is pushing for an academic boycott at Queen’s, citing, in an emailed statement to The Journal, previous occasions upon which the University has financially divested from countries in protest of their actions.
Born in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Schedrin studied at a local university, particularly taking interest in Jewish studies and history. As a professor in the field, he has taken courses in everything from Israeli to Palestinian politics, histories and Jewish culture. “As a former soviet, I am well aware of propaganda, and to me this is it,” Schedrin said.
Jewish studies at Queen’s, is vocal about his opposition to current BDS tactics.
For Schedrin, education and open dialogue is a step in resolving feelings towards BDS and understanding its complex nature, however, he said he would only engage in these conversations if groups changed their tactics. “On campus, the future of the world is educated — think about all the international students who come here as well. It’s about education, not about propaganda or the imposition of the opinions,” Schedrin said. Schedrin also said that if the administration or faculty were to formally support BDS, he would fight it. “It should not be given the place for actions on campus… If they take sides, I would take my side. I see it as a divisive practice.” For Queen’s history professor, Howard Adelman, the topic’s very divisiveness is a reason for it to be pursued on a university campus. As an Israeli dual citizen, Adelman has a lot of connections in Israel, from family to friends, colleagues and even a bank account and pension. Moreover, as a professor in Jewish
a booming economy, massive construction and a huge vibrant country, I was thinking what does BDS actually do to this kind of enterprise,” he said. “Raising the issue of BDS is the opportunity for dialogue. I don’t think any university actually has the means to make any substantive impact on Israel or Israeli policy.” Adelman lived in Israel during the second Intifada, one of two Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. “One of the things that everyone was asking was ‘why don’t Palestinians find non-violent means of protesting?’ and now that they have people are complaining about their non-violent means of protesting and trying to stifle that,” Adelman said. For Adelman, BDS opens the door for important and educational dialogue. “Before one makes a stand on BDS, in the abstract one ought to immerse themselves in the history and what the issues are — and then maybe read some books about Israel and Palestine.”
ILLUSTRATION BY VINCENT LIN
Friday, March 17, 2017
queensjournal.ca
EDITORIALS
•7
The Journal’s Perspective Ashley Rhamey
Student athletes are learners first Drop the shame of A dropping out
university classroom is first and foremost a place of learning for everyone — even varsity athletes. An article in The Atlantic titled “Why Sports and Elite Academics Don’t Mix” argued that the treatment of varsity athletes at elite American institutions doesn’t align with the schools’ academic missions, by valuing student athletes predominantly as commercial entities. Backed by exorbitant amounts of money, the world of college sports and the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) continues to glorify varsity athletes. The culture has gone so far in some places as to grant student athletes “paper” courses — classes made up to hand out high grades to athletes who need the marks to stay on the field. The Canadian culture around university sports has few parallels to the United States system. For example, Queen’s has a division between varsity clubs and varsity teams. Teams are often given preferential treatment, with more funding for equipment and space. But it’s not nearly as extreme as the American culture of elevating student athletes, even though it may be headed that way. The Canadian universities’ sports league — U Sports — might aspire to one day emulate
some aspects of the NCAA, particularly the amount of money, donors and commercialization it rakes in. This longing to mirror the American system is already apparent in U Sports’ recent rebranding. Previously Canadian Interuniversity Sport, the league underwent a complete overhaul of its marketing and publicity, even moving its offices to the GTA from Ottawa. We often see athletic involvement as a sort of special case of success outside the classroom, whether because of tradition or the social standing of sports and athletics. For example, one of Team JBP’s platform points in the recent AMS election was a push for recognizing the status of a varsity athlete on a transcript. While it’s good to recognize the hard work student athletes put in, there are many students who put in the same amount of work in other ways but don’t get official documented recognition for it. At the end of the day, playing on a sports team is still an extracurricular. There are many other extracurricular
activities, just as time consuming and difficult for students to balance alongside school. With so much money and publicity funnelled into college sports, it’s no surprise that these other extracurriculars don’t allow for leniency in the classroom. But when student athletes are in the classroom, they should be expected to be students first. Even as we value university sports and the dedicated students who make them possible, we have to be careful not to repeat the mistakes of the American system. However, with a huge physical and emotional strain put on varsity athletes, it’s up to universities to focus on educating and supporting first. Upping the number of support systems in place for these students is the first step, whether it’s more focused academic advisement or recognition of gaps in funding that can cause disproportionate rates in food insecurity. Whatever it is, the answer isn’t in allowing student athletes to take shortcuts in the classroom, especially if others who participate in activities outside the classroom are still taking the long way around.
Throwing someone into the deep end doesn’t count as giving them a ‘swimming lesson.’ Gradually getting comfortable in the water is necessary for a lot of people to succeed. Why is it then, when high school kids graduate to university, we consider it normal to throw them off the diving board? When some sink instead of swim, we often blame their work ethic. We’re taught from an early age that everyone learns differently, but when a significant amount of students struggle to succeed in a university setting, the accepted explanation is that ‘they just weren’t cut — Journal Editorial Board out for it.’ Queen’s has one of the lowest drop-out rates in Canada, a feat that is attributed to its relatively high acceptance average of over 80 per cent.
We’re taught from an “early age that everyone
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learns differently, but when a significant amount of students struggle to succeed in a university setting, the accepted explanation is that ‘they just weren’t cut out for it.’
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The drop-out rate in first year at Queen’s in 2013, the last year statistics were available for, was 5.6 per cent, which means that approximately one in 20 students didn’t make it to the second year of their degree. In their first year of university, undergraduate students often experience a drop in their grades. This is thought to be a symptom of moving from a high school to university learning environment. Grades tend to get higher in the upper years of a student’s undergraduate degree and a jarring first year can be simplified as a ‘learning experience’ on the academic journey. I have no doubt that some students truly do decide to leave their studies because they have decided that university isn’t for them. However, lumping every student who drops out together as people who’re ‘just not meant to be here’ deflects any guilt from the University itself for failing its students. The belief that the degree of
academic strength is the reason so many students drop out ignores the valid obstacles that many students face — students struggling with their mental health or students who depend on familial financial support. In 2013, Queen’s retention rate from first to second year for Aboriginal students was 10 percent lower than total students. This gap closed to almost one per cent difference the next year, perhaps in part due to the University’s growing recognition of the need to encourage and support Aboriginal students.
The belief that the “degree of academic
strength is the reason so many students drop out ignores the valid obstacles that many students face — students struggling with their mental health or students who depend on familial financial support.
”
We see dropouts as the students who try but fail — not as students who struggle with their mental health, study skills, financial obstacles and inadequate accommodations for disabilities in the classroom or other factors. Procrastination seminars, academic advisors, disability services, the Peer Academic Support System and countless other programs at Queen’s attempt to combat the drop-out rate with some comparative success, but the change in university culture needs to be much bigger. For example, the University of New Brunswick offers a course for first-years called “UNIV 1003, or Everything I Need to Know in First Year” — it was created to give students the resources and support they need to make it through first year.
The belief that the “degree of academic
strength is the reason so many students drop out ignores the valid obstacles that many students face.
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I once heard a comparison of the first year of undergraduate to a garden. Some plants are able to hold on and others are ‘weeded out’ of the soil. The comparison of students who drop out to weeds that don’t belong in the academic garden is everything that’s wrong with the way we look at students who drop out.
Ashley is The Journal’s Assistant Lifestyle Editor. She’s a fourthyear English student.
8 • queensjournal.ca
Friday, March 17, 2017
OPINIONS
Your Perspective
Pledge to giving Greek another go Fraternities and sororities should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis
Lena Gilmour argues that excluding sororities and fraternities from the Queen’s community practices exactly what the AMS’s ban tries to prevent in the first place.
Lena Gilmour, ArtSci '19 If you ask any student, they’re likely to tell you that sororities and fraternities don’t exist at Queen’s. Very few would say otherwise, unless directly involved. Greek life just isn’t a part of Queen’s life. For the past 80 years, sororities and fraternities operating in the Kingston area haven’t been able to associate with their school. Though the ban that once restricted AMS members from even being a part of Greek life, even outside their role as a Queen’s student has in recent years been lifted, the rules regarding Greek affiliation haven’t changed. Neither has the stigma. The ban of Greek life, and the subsequent disregard for its members is long-held. Queen’s is a place of tradition, but is this tradition going stale? In contacting the AMS directly to get some insight into the reasoning behind these attitudes I received an email from Carolyn Thompson, Vice President (University Affairs), directing me to AMS Policy Manual 3, section 27 which specifies the rules regarding sororities and fraternities on campus. The section states that sororities and fraternities were exclusive and “contrary to the spirit and letter of the AMS Operating Statement, specifically Section #1” which outlines the AMS’ commitment to being “non-racist, non-sexist, non-homophobic, and otherwise inclusive and non-discriminatory.” Along with being anti-discriminatory, it states that the Society desires the student body to be a single community and makes the claim that the values of Greek life “risk
PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
fraternity and the sorority have completed away from our ability and desire to work safe space training to create an inclusive hard towards these goals — it just places environment within Greek life. unnecessary hurdles in the way of real One of the concerns of the AMS regarding change being made. Since sororities and Greek life is the detachment members might fraternities aren’t allowed to be recognized have from campus life. I’ve personally seen as a club we can’t make use of Queen’s that the women of our organization are fully facilities for any Greek-related events integrated in university life. The image of — including fundraising — making it harder Greek members being concerned only with to accomplish philanthropic goals. Greek life simply isn’t true. Though we understand the potential that As for the AMS’ claims about exists for things to go wrong with Greek life, discrimination and exclusivity, we’re firm in the belief that we’re a worthy disappointment seemed to be the chief organization. Hazing, as well as consumption of illegal substances, or even excessive drinking, are all absolutely prohibited The ban of Greek Life, and the subsequent disregard within our sorority. We’re expected to act responsibly and with class, as role models to for its members is long-held. Queen’s is a place of those around us. tradition,but is this tradition going stale? As for the women who are members of sororities outside of Kingston, they’re It’s especially difficult since sororities and feeling expressed by the sorority president. shocked by the harsh rulings against fraternities are often discussed in official She made it clear that these allegations aren’t sororities, especially considering how old spaces without the presence of Greek life accurate, and I’ve seen for myself that she’s the rules are. members. Our future with the school is right. Our members come from all different Perhaps it would be more beneficial to decided without us having the chance to backgrounds, interests and lifestyles. both members of Greek life and the AMS to The AMS unfortunately doesn’t have the review organizations on a case-by-case basis, defend and advocate for ourselves and place correct facts and is giving Greek life a bad to get a better sense of what each group within the university setting. I sat down with some of my sorority name without fully understanding it first. stands for before doling out the ultimate My sisters and I feel that, instead of rejection. Painting any set of groups with members, including our president, to get a better sense of the history our Greek life has erasing Greek life, the AMS is merely one brush is never effective, and rarely is fair. with the AMS. I also spoke with members of making it go underground, which is actually The Greek associations that exist in our sorority from different chapters across hindering a great deal of help that could be Kingston have been here for some time going to the community. Canada, at schools that do allow affiliation. and they’ve proven themselves worthy, As young women who stand for female if not of the AMS’s approval, at least of My sorority’s president shared with me the many accomplishments of Kingston’s leadership, academic excellence, sisterhood, their consideration. Greek life over the years: the sorority and philanthropy, there’s a large amount of has been the top fundraiser for Walk for potential for some good to be done. We’re Lena Gilmour is second-year English Memories for the last two years, one of women who are looking to be the leading major. the city’s two fraternities has been a top minds of tomorrow. Refusing to recognize us doesn’t take fundraiser for Relay for Life, and both this bringing a significant reputational damage to the University, fragmenting the student community.” Their existence would also risk ruining ties with the city of Kingston. It’s hard to accept that my school has such a negative outlook on sororities, especially since I happen to be a member of one. I’ve been a sister of the only sorority in Kingston for over a year and have never understood why there are such strict rules against Greek life since I’ve seen first-hand the benefits sororities can provide and the lack of harm they pose.
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Talking heads ... around campus
PHOTOS BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
What are you doing for St. Patrick’s Day?
“Going to some club at night if we’re not already dead.”
EmilySaar&NatalieMangialardi, ConEd ’19
“Aberdeen and drinking with some friends. ” Lexi Campbell, ArtSci ’19
“I’m hoping to not fall off a roof somewhere.” Jasmit DeSaffel, ArtSci ’17
“I don’t go here but I’m here for it.”
Nicolas Drees, Western University '18
Friday, March 17, 2017
queensjournal.ca
•9
Arts Vogue struts again
The 20th annual fashion show gets cheeky Erika Streisfield Arts Editor In its 20th year, Vogue Charity Fashion Show showcased an overwhelming amount of talent, from chic designers to striking models, memorable musicians and dancers. The yearlong project was the perfect combination of entertaining and sexy. This year’s theme was a celebration of the creative mind — a look into the evolution of music through the 20th century and beyond. The fashion designs, dances and musical interludes were all inspired by iconic musicians like David Bowie and Kendrick Lamar to name a few, as well as the movements ignited or supported by them. The show kicked off with incredible tap choreography by Hannah Van Staveren, ArtSci ’18, followed by the first designer, Helen Nguyen ArtSci ’20, whose collection set the tone for the rest of the show with its mod and otherworldly energy. Cool and questionable pieces
took the stage as each of the seven student designers presented a jaw-dropping interpretation of their musical inspiration. Among the chic and high fashion garments that strutted the catwalk were Alyssa Neelin’s flashy Bowie-inspired looks that used a combination of floral prints and metallic and thunderbolt shapes to emulate the trend. Other show-stopping looks were Sissi He’s cool, 1950s-inspired formal wear, including a jacket that literally lit up the stage. And, my favourite, Parker O’Connor’s edgy and diva-inspired collection left the audience in a state of ga-ga. With the pop queen as his inspiration, O’Connor, ArtSci ’17, captured her risqué style in stunning pieces with big shoulder pieces, satin accents and weird booby contraptions — thankfully, no one showed up in a dress made of meat. Accompanying the presentation of students’ designs, were dance and musical acts that spread a serious case of ‘the feels’ among the audience. Mitch Thibault ArtSci ’17
COMMENTARY
Quinn Rockliff’s project to free the female form A Quinn Rockliff drawing.
Madeline Wright Staff Writer
SUPPLIED BY QUINN ROCKLIFF
was coping with the anxiety as a result of a sexual assault. “I started drawing in order to Toronto-based artist Quinn untangle the mess I found myself in Rockliff began drawing when she — I was trying to understand how
serenaded the crowd with an incredible rendition of Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ and Robyn/Calum Scott’s ‘Dancing on My Own.’ His powerful vocals combined with charismatic stage presence, had the audience falling in love — especially the woman sitting behind me, who excessively oohed, ahed and sang along for the entirety of his set. Other great musical acts included Cristina Staicu ArtSci ’19 and Alex Van Der Heyden’s ArtSci ’19, engaging Kendrick Lamar mashup that had me throwing a couple head nods in my seat, not to mention Sarah Vermaeten’s ArtSci ’18 rendition of ‘Ultra Light Beams’ that concluded the show with chilling vocals, arguably better than Kanye’s recorded track. Just when I thought no more talent could take the stage, booty-popping dancers appeared. Among these performances, the men’s dance stood out. A generous amount of shirtless men danced a promiscuous number to Queen’s ‘Fat Bottom Girl’ and other hits. Choreographed by
Christian Mellows ArtSci ’19, the men’s dance had the audience in frenzy — at one point, my glasses fogged up. It wouldn’t be Vogue without getting a little cheeky. In accordance with tradition, the show concluded with models and dancers strutting their sexiest lingerie. You would’ve thought you were sitting at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show, but better — far better. Women and
men of all shapes and sizes flaunted their curves, teasing the crowd with revealing underwear paired with sky-high heels and flashy jewellery. It was a sight for sore eyes. As the show came to an end, I walked away with a newfound appreciation for Queen’s —not only do we have an influx of creative and talented students, but very sexy ones, to say the least.
I saw my sexuality after it had been violated,” Rockliff said. Then, when an ex-boyfriend threatened to leak her private photos, Rockliff took to painting to empower and encourage women to freely love and accept their bodies without any shame. In a day and age where the female body is constantly scrutinized in the media, Rockliff’s art has created a space for women to be celebrated in every shape and size. Her work consists of loosely-drawn silhouettes of the female body — shared on social media platforms — meant to emphasize the acceptance of nudity and sexuality in a public way. Rather than portraying an altered, idealized imagery of the naked body, Rockliff’s paintings and drawings are meant to acknowledge the various aspects of a woman’s body that aren’t necessarily celebrated in the mainstream culture. “I took to painting nudes as a means to negotiate what it means to shamelessly love your naked body in a time where women are increasingly struggling with how to present themselves online,” Rockliff explained. The continuous flow of her work — Rockliff is constantly producing new drawings — allows
for little alteration to be made to the final product, creating a genuine representation of the female anatomy. The temporary aspect of her drawings gives a sense of ease to her works, welcoming the viewer to study the naked body in an appreciative way, rather than in a voyeuristic one. Looking at her work doesn’t feel invasive to the women who are being represented, but instead acknowledges, accepts and admires the unedited female form. By representing the body on a social platform, her work reinstates the female presence in a positive way. Platforms such as Instagram have created a complicated space when it comes to the female body. On one hand, the explore page is filled with images of desirable ‘Instagram models,’ scantily-clad in bikinis or lingerie, reflecting the idea that this is what women should look like. On the other hand, Instagram also has the continuously challenged policy that won’t allow consenting women to post photos of their bare breasts. This dichotomous relationship sends the message that women must maintain the image of being sexually desirable, but only to a
certain limit. “I want to use the very platform that caused so much of my anxiety to confront the effects it has. We need imagery of women of colour, trans women, indigenous women, LGBTQ women, body positive women, all women, in order to shift what we understand to be the female body,” Rockliff said. The importance of the work that Rockliff and other feminist artists like her are creating is how it alters the representation of the female body, which still often is controlled and dictated through the desires of the male gaze. Through her artistic vision, she has created a safe space for women and their bodies to be empowered, commended and approved in a way that doesn’t succumb to the pressures of our standards of beauty. To Rockliff, her work has inspired her to continue to change the way society views the female body and it has furthered her interest in feminist art and what it can do. “The chasm of feminist art and technology is something I am very interested in. With the use of emerging technologies such as virtual reality I believe my art will surpass the medium and reach new levels of influence.”
O’Connor and his little monsters.
PHOTOS BY TYLI ONEL
Arts
10 •queensjournal.ca
Friday, March 17, 2017
BANDS
Hello, Goodbye Honolulu The Journal sat down with the Toronto band to talk about being on the road Alex Palermo Assistant Arts Editor In a quiet corner of The Toucan, Goodbye Honolulu’s Fox Martindale, Jacob Switzer, Emmett Webb (all guitar, bass, vocals) and Max Bornstein (drums, vocals) crowded into a booth, destroyed some hot wings and talked tour life with The Journal. Their answer when I asked
Honolulu rocking out at The Toucan on Saturday night.
them to describe their sound in three words: “Loud, fun rock,” said Webb. “We’re not trying to bum anyone out.” While they met at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts in Toronto, Goodbye Honolulu didn’t form until after their graduation in 2013. Last fall, Goodbye Honolulu
made their Kingston debut at the house known as Margaritaville with an outdoor concert. “It was nuts. We played with our buddies, Fade Awaays and Bo Welland, and all these parties got shut down and a bunch a kids came and crashed the show,” Switzer said. “The police were nice.” Goodbye Honolulu are on tour for the second time. Their first experience was with Hinds, a Spanish girl band, touring the Eastern United States last year. “They Instagram DM’d us about opening for them on tour,” said Webb. “They were the nicest people, and we played five shows with them.” Their sound alternates between dreamy guitar riffs and loud, energetic, mosh-worthy rock songs. “We all listen to different stuff
UNION GALLERY
Emma White’s Big Man painting.
PHOTOS BY AUSTON CHHOR
but as a group, we tend to make music that sounds most like Cage the Elephant,” Switzer summed up their biggest inspiration. When asked about their childhood ambitions, the answers ranged from rockstar to video game designer. Switzer was quick to add that he no longer wishes to go to outer space: “It’s beautiful but like … where the weed at, you know?” Around 11 p.m. the crowd moved downstairs, the band disappeared and I made my way toward the stage to listen to Bo Welland’s upbeat set, Luna Li’s dreamy pop songs and finally the groovy, loud rock I was promised at the start of the evening. Dressed in mismatched overcoats, some without shoes, a pink satin bomber for Martindale
PHOTO BY GHAZAL BARADARI-GHIAMI
and with fender guitars hanging casually in their arms, Goodbye Honolulu was off. With the addition of a bedazzled white cowboy hat, the band burst into song and the crowd exploded into the most intense mosh-pit I’ve seen outside a Nirvana concert. In ten years, you’ll catch Goodbye Honolulu still making music together and running their Toronto record label, Fried Records. Their long terms plans include a tour in Europe. “We want to be able to see the world through music,” explained Webb. “I’m either going to be homeless or dead … or rich as fuck living it up,” was Martindale’s prediction. “I’ll definitely be dead or homeless,” Webb said, polishing off the last wing.
A garden of new perceptions sprouts in Stauffer Union gallery’s new exhibition Groundwork debuts Clayton Tomlinson Staff Writer
Nicole Emond’s untitled woodwork.
Alison Kruse’s self-portrait.
As I walked into Union Gallery’s new exhibit, entitled Groundwork, I was instantly transported into the wild as sounds of nature filled my ears. Accompanying the main exhibit is Jeremy Kerr’s, ArtSci ’18, two alternating recordings ‘Islands’ and ‘The Woods’ that fill the space with noises of birds and windswept, snowy climes. Groundwork features paintings and prints from fourth-year BFA candidates. The exhibition is meant to be an examination of the world by combining art with fields like psychology and environmental studies. Each painting and print was hung around the space and varied greatly in size and medium. The first piece you see as you enter is CBC, a digital print by Kaitlin Groat. The piece is a recreation of the famous logo used by the CBC, but, like many of the exhibit’s works,
it isn’t that simple. As I got closer, I saw that the logo is actually composed of the word ‘deception’ in the familiar red repetitive copy. This sort of ‘things aren’t what they seem’ imagery is employed in nearly all the artwork making up the exhibit. As I came into the main space, the large, bright canvases of Emma White illuminated the room. Both feature scenes of nature in Lemoine Point, a large conservation area in the west end of Kingston. One of White’s pieces, entitled Big Man, depicts a marshy field with grass, bulrushes and trees in the background. But, it has also been smudged and marked in such a way that the background is plainly visible only through and between splotches of bright pink paint. When I got up close, I could see the beautiful landscape White has effectively recreated, but the marks are so strident that they’re impossible to ignore. The whole of Groundwork attempts, like White,
to get the viewer of their work to realign their perceptions and see through the initial impression to the details it’s made up of. All this time, as I examined the beautiful, laudable works of art done by fellow Gaels, and as I considered the effect they would have on me as I went out back into nature, I couldn’t escape the sounds of nature coming from behind a black curtain hanging nearby. The sounds alternate every five minutes and are randomized so that they’re never the same. At first, it’s birds and then something that sounds like a tundra, or Kingston on a bad day. Behind the curtain isn’t Oz, but the comfiest chair this reviewer has ever had the pleasure to sit in and a small, dimmed lamp on a small table. All there is to do in the little room is sit and experience the sounds of nature from around the world.
Friday, March 17, 2017
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• 11
Sports WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Gaels upset falls short in the first round
Late UBC goal gives Thunderbirds 2-1 win over Queen’s The women’s hockey team lost 2-1 on Thursday night against number-one ranked UBC Thunderbirds.
Matt Scace Staff Writer It was a packed and rowdy Thursday night at the Strathcona Paper Centre in Napanee, as the eighth-seed Queen’s women’s hockey team looked to open their U Sports Championship campaign on a winning note against the firstseed UBC Thunderbirds. The Gaels were unable to complete the upset in a game that came down to the final moments, as UBC topped the hosts by a score of 2-1. Backed by an incredibly strong
goaltending performance by the always-steady Stephanie Pascal, the Gaels were able to hold off UBC in a one-sided first period. At the end of the first, the Gaels trailed 1-0 and were outshot 13-5 with the small deficit largely due to Pascal’s puck-stopping prowess. In the second, Queen’s ramped up the energy, spurring the home crowd into a frenzy. With tensions running high and heating up, the crowd fed off the physicality of the game. In turn, the Gaels internalized the excitement and with just over 10 minutes
remaining in the frame, Megan Farrell dished a pass from behind UBC’s net to Kaylie Dennis who was able to bang the puck in past the sprawling UBC goaltender. The score remained at 1-1 through the end of the period, though both teams had chances that would have drastically changed the outcome of the game. Stephanie Pascal maintained her exceptional play, making sprawling saves that often seemed to defy the laws of biomechanics. The third period saw numerous
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
Peter Angelopolous crashing the net.
MEN’S HOCKEY
An unexpected road trip to the U Sports Cavendish University Cup Nothing will stop the ‘Find a Way Gaels’ as they detour to Fredericton, N.B. following a flight cancellation and highway closure Brittany Almeida Staff Writer While most of the Queen’s community might be upset at the snow this late into March, the men’s hockey team is relishing the situation it has left them. With everything seemingly in order after coming second at the OUA Championships, the Gaels
didn’t anticipate having to prepare for an extended commute to New Brunswick. Due to heavy snowfall, the Gael’s flight to Fredericton, New Brunswick — where the U Sports national championship tournament is being held — was cancelled. To add to the disruption, the flight cancellation would be accompanied by a highway closure
on Tuesday night. Forced to hit the road, the Gaels drove into the night and stopped to rest in Quebec. They continued their road trip the next morning all the way to the east coast. However, the unforeseen journey was just another challenge to conquer for the seasoned team. Dubbed the “Find a Way Gaels” this season for their uncanny
PHOTO BY AMANDA NORRIS
power play chances for both sides, however the final blood was drawn at even strength with just two minutes and 13 seconds left in the period. In a sequence where UBC dominated the Gaels with strong puck cycling, a UBC player was able to tip-toe up to the front of Queen’s net and flick the puck into the top corner above Pascal’s glove. With the arena silenced, Queen’s pushed on and had a small handful of opportunities to tie the game that bore no fruit. After the final horn and traditional handshake line, Pascal was named Queen’s player of the game. Following the game, head coach Matt Holmberg remained in a positive headspace. “It was a great hockey game. I’m really proud of how the team battled, you know, there was such great energy both on the bench and in the stands … I’m so proud of the way they played and battled and I know that their chins are low because they’re dejected, but they can hold their heads high,” said Holmberg, who led the Gaels through every inevitable high and low in a
season of hockey. “I’m really proud of them.” Holmberg also had high praise for Pascal, who often played the role of the shining star throughout the season. “She’s had a great season overall and we knew for us to have a chance today that she’d have to have a strong game and she did that. She kept us in there and I think it was well deserved of the player of the game,” Holmberg said. The loss doesn’t mark the end of the season though, as the Gaels have the opportunity to play for fifth place in the consolation round. They’re set to play St. Francis Xavier on Friday night in the consolation semi-finals, with a chance to extend their season to Sunday. “We get a chance to play on Sunday and not too many teams get the chance to say that they get to play hockey on the very last possible day, so we’re looking to be successful tomorrow night and build on this and hopefully play on Sunday,” said Holmberg.
ability to always find a way to triumph in close games, the men’s hockey team wouldn’t let the extended travel affect their focus. “We would have ran here in September for a chance to play for the University Cup. So although very inconvenient, we will deal with it,” said head coach Brett Gibson, who coached Canada to a bronze medal at the 2017 Winter Universiade last month, while also coaching the U Sports All-Stars against the Canadian World Junior team this season.
own awards. Greenway and fellow forward Eric Ming were named to the “Road-Trip All-Star team” for their use of data on their phones and skill in Euchre. The number four Gaels have eagerly been anticipating their opening game against the fifth-ranked University of New Brunswick Fredericton Varsity Reds. As the hosting team of the tournament, the Varsity Reds will likely fill the Aitken University Centre with a large home crowd. “I believe our team’s strength to be our systems and commitment to stick to them. We aren’t the most talented team in the OUA but we are maybe the most strategic,” goaltender Kevin Bailie said. “We take preparation very seriously and that’s a credit to our coaching. We’ll have to rely on that if we want to continue our success here at UNB.” On home ice, York captured the OUA title against Queen’s last weekend with a 4-3 final score. As OUA silver medalists, the Queen’s Gaels are returning to the national stage for the first time since 1981. “Our team’s biggest obstacle would be experience. Every other
have ran “hereWeinwould September for
a chance to play for the University Cup
”
— Brett Gibson, head coach
Unfaltering focus is the name of the game for the tenacious Gaels. “Everyone is dealing with the travel well. Team morale is high and we are all very excited to play,” forward Darcy Greenaway said. Since the team couldn’t make the U Sports awards ceremony, the team decided to host their
See Leaving page 13
Sports
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Friday, March 17, 2017
FOOTBALL
Family tradition draws new recruits to Gaels Nick Dowd and Nelkas Kwemo have younger brothers commit to Queen’s
SUPPLIED BY QUEEN’S ATHLETICS
Nelkas Kwemo (left) and Nick Dowd (right) both have brothers coming to Queen’s next year.
Sebastian Bron Staff Writer When high-school graduates are picking their schools, they often look to their family’s alma mater. Whether it’s the family connection or familiarity, families are often drawn to the same schools. Queen’s football seems to have found the way to make the most of family connections. When incumbent Gaels head coach Pat Sheahan was asked whether the concept of family pops in his head when mentioning Gaels football, he said “100 percent.” “We don’t have fraternities here at Queen’s,” he said, “but the football team is very much a fraternity. It’s a family; [players] look out for one another.” “It’s something we preach for sure,” said defensive lineman Nick Dowd. “Every waking minute of football season, besides going to class, you’re with your brothers.” For Dowd and linebacker Nelkas Kwemo, this idea of family within the locker room
now carries a literal connotation. Within the past month, the upper-year players welcomed their respective brothers, Mitch Dowd and Sakhia Kwemo, to the football program as two of Sheahan’s pending 15-man recruiting class. Mitch, who played a hybrid of quarterback and receiver in high school, represents the third line of Dowd brothers to don the tricolour, an opportunity he’s eagerly anticipated for some time. “I’ve been watching my brothers play for the last eight or nine years and I’ve always loved [Queen’s],” said Dowd, a Kingston native, upon signing his student-athlete agreement. “I’m just super excited to be here.” A first for both siblings, Nick said having his brother on the team will certainly feel new, but something he nonetheless cherishes.
“He’s definitely got the inside scoop,” Dowd said jokingly, adding that, after playing with his brother Aaron, a recent Queen’s graduate, the trifecta of Dowds who’ve worn the tricolour has “created a dynasty.” “We’ve had history of brothers here in the past, and I know they always work out well. Playing football, especially with a biological brother, it’s just something where you can sit back and watch and be proud of their accomplishments.” Nelkas, a Gael captain and the first of his family to play for Queen’s, credits the pedigree of the program and the tradition it bears as to what initially drew him to the school throughout his recruitment in early 2014. “When people stress the difference between Queen’s from all other teams, they talk about tradition, the strong relationships built between alumni,” he said.
Questioning whether or not he would lobby Sakhia to come play for the Gaels was a nonstarter. “The family aspect comes hand-in-hand,” said Nelkas, who, like his brother, hailed from a prep school south of the border before coming to Queen’s. “[It’s about] legacies — when you have one person come through, the whole family wants to come through.” “My family [has] experienced Queen’s through me and it’s been an unbelievable experience the past two years … so when the time came for my brother, it was a no-brainer.” Dynamic athletes in their own regard, Mitch and Sakhia are two players Sheahan is grateful to usher into the program, adding: “The brothers thing is a bonus … they’re really good players.” Mitch comes to Queen’s after leading the La Salle Knights to a 9-2 record and winning the National Capital Bowl as a quarterback, but he excels as a receiver too — being named an OVFL All-Star for the Kingston Grenadiers this past summer. Sakhia was awarded defensive MVP at The Gunnery in Connecticut as a linebacker, while the team maintained a perfect record. Both will head to training camp listed as receivers. Being a rookie to anything, let alone football, can be tough, but Nelkas thinks the transition for all incoming freshman will be smooth. “You want to make them feel included, feel comfortable and let them know that we’ve all been in first year,” he said. “Once you wear that jersey, we all look out for each other.” As for Nick, he’s just excited to get on the field again — this time alongside a familiar face in a rarely shared place. “I’m really looking forward to the first day of practice … I’m telling you [Mitch and I] are going to be going head-to-head quite a bit.”
E-Sports on the rise at Queen’s Competitive video gaming alive on campus Matt Scace Staff Writer
In March of 2016, former NBA player Rick Fox made headlines with a surprising statement about a new up-and-coming sport. “In two years, it’ll be on par with the NHL,” Fox told news outlets. When he made this claim, Fox wasn’t referring to lacrosse. Rather, he was speaking about the world’s fastest growing sport, Electronic Sports — otherwise known as eSports or competitive video gaming. Over the past decade, eSports has popularized itself as a highly competitive community of individuals that connect over a multitude of cities, countries, and continents. In eSports, gamers from around the world congregate to compete in games such as League of Legends and Super Smash Bros. For some Queen’s students, these may be the games they grew up playing in their basement. Amidst the sudden growth of the sport, many top-tier schools such as Yale
A League of Legends tournament played in front of a live audience.
and Harvard have begun to field teams to participate in intercollegiate competition. Unsurprisingly, a large population at Queen’s has made the most of the growing eSports culture. Amber Zhang, Comm ’18 and co-founder of the Queen’s eSports Association (QEA), has been at the forefront of eSport’s rising popularity at Queen’s. “Queen’s eSports is not just a video game club,” she told The Journal. “It’s there to reinvent the lifestyle of video games and to take a more proactive, communal, and social stance on what is seen as, very traditionally, introverted.” This positive stance towards gaming is being reflected in numbers that QEA is currently seeing. The sum of all of QEA’s groups — which are divided up by video game interest — currently amounts to 1,576 Queen’s students. That’s approximately 6.5
percent of the entire Queen’s population. Since eSport’s sudden rise, students have flocked to massive competitions hosted by game developers. The most popular, the North American Collegiate Championship, is held annually and is, as indicated by Zhang, one of the most sought-after events of the year. Last year, the University of British Colombia reigned victorious at the event. “Typically, there are around 250 teams competing across America and Canada. Canada does have a very great thing going on … a lot of people think that the American universities have a monopoly, when that’s not the case”, Zhang said. While the commitment required to be involved with QEA can vary, many students choose to dedicate a large piece of their lives to eSports. Zhang noted that “the competitive teams are typically a team of five or six and
VIA WIKICOMMONS
they are on a much stricter regimen where they have to play against other universities for practice.” In a society that consumes sports such as hockey, baseball and basketball like food, members of the eSports community tend to draw heavy criticism for claiming that something that involves minimal physical strain could be considered a sport. But Zhang has her own thoughts on the way that eSports should be perceived. “[People] will typically have a harder time viewing eSports as a legitimate sport because they have a more physical approach to it,” Zhang said. She objects to this idea, saying, “there is a drastic emotional and teamwork aspect of eSports. It depends if you see eSports [in] a physical aspect or [in] a competitive and teamwork heavy aspect.”
Sports
Friday, March 17, 2017
The women’s basketball team celebrating at the OUA Final Four.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
queensjournal.ca
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
Missing out on the podium 53-43 loss in B.C ends Gaels’ historic season with fourth place finish Sarah O’Flaherty Assistant Sports Editor Last Sunday, the Gaels closed out their season in Victoria, B.C. against the Carleton Ravens, with a U Sports national bronze medal on the line. Looking for a chance at redemption, having lost to the Raven’s just weeks before in the OUA finals, the Gaels ended their historic 18-1 season on a bit of a sour note. The matchup ended 53-43 in the Raven’s favour, leaving the Gaels empty handed in fourth place. Robyn Pearson, the Gaels’ fifth year post, was named Player of the Game on Sunday. In her last game as a Gael, Pearson said she’s proud of her team regardless of their non-medal finish. “Overall we were a little disappointed with how we ended up at the tournament. This was a very confident and ready Queen’s squad that just didn’t quite get there,” Pearson said. ”Finishing fourth out of 47 teams, however, is indeed something to be proud of; it is very difficult to make it to nationals, let alone finish in the top four.” The game between the Ravens and Gaels was a tough and low-scoring contest between two equally matched teams. The Ravens started out the first quarter dominant, but the Gaels owned the second and third quarters, making it seem like they might walk away with the medal. However, the Ravens regained energy in the fourth to
overpower the Gaels and walked away with the bronze. “I think the bronze medal game could have gone either way, and this time it happened to go to Carleton, a very tough and well coached team,” Pearson said. “I think that moving forward we will use this experience as a learning tool, and figure out what next steps to take so that we can take home a medal next time.” Pearson, who is hanging up her jersey after five seasons as a Gael, is content with how her final season played out. “Honestly, as my final year as a Gael I couldn’t have asked for a better finish, except maybe a medal at Nationals,” Pearson said. “Going 18-1, playing a Championship tournament in front of 2,000 fans and heading out West for the Nationals couldn’t have been a better final year. “I’ll be heartbroken to finally leave Queen’s.” With the success of this season, Pearson believes that the future is bright for the Gaels. “As for next year, the team needs to look at the things that brought us success this year, as well as the things that we need to improve upon,” Pearson said. Pearson emphasized that “playoff experience cannot be understated.” “Learning from such a unique season as this will give the players experience and knowledge that many teams only dream of having.”
fill a gap in your program
Leaving a lasting impression on program Continued from page 11
team here has been multiple times over the past several years and this is our first,” Bailie said. Coach Gibson exudes a quiet confidence when it comes to the ‘Find a Way Gaels’. “We will have to be at our best this weekend. We have been counted out many times throughout the season, but this group responds,” Gibson said. The number-four Gaels proved strong in the regular season with a 24-13-0 record. Deeper into the season, goaltender Kevin Bailie performed outstanding with the highest save percentage (.969) and best goals against average (1.10) during the OUA playoffs. “It means so much to be here representing Queen’s. The Queen’s men’s hockey program has been around for over 135 years and this is only the second time we’ve been able to come to the National Championship,”
said Bailie. “I feel that when I look back at my career at Queen’s, this run will be the most meaningful.” The energy surrounding the U Sports University Cup surges throughout the squad. “It’s a special feeling. Since my first year at Queen’s, getting to Nationals has been a huge goal for us,” Greenaway said. “We’ve made it here and now we have a great opportunity to compete against the best teams in Canada.” With an impressive playoff performance, coach Gibson is assured that the team has developed a depth over the course of the season. “Whatever happens at this tournament, I am extremely proud of this group,” said Gibson. “They have broke many records that have been around for a long time.” “This is a special group of men that will leave a lasting impression on this program.”
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14 •queensjournal.ca
Friday, March 17, 2017
Doodling in the margins
Lifestyle
How colouring outside the lines makes the inside clearer Ashley Rhamey Assistant Lifestyle Editor Paying attention in class isn’t always my strong suit. In first year, even if I felt my lectures were interesting, I’d find myself doodling in the margins of my notebook. The more I fought it the harder it was to stop, so I gave in some time in third year.
What I discovered was, instead of distracting me completely, my doodling actually let me absorb more of what my professors were saying. Notes are great for remembering details, but mixing in a visual representation of what I was learning really helped me recall the main ideas of my English lectures. Even if they may not always make sense to anyone but me, my drawings transport me back to what I was hearing when I drew them. Even The Wall Street Journal has reported that doodling can improve your ability to retain information and when it comes to studying for exams, they’re my secret weapon. Letting my mind wander when I should be paying attention.
Diving deep into Modernist Literature.
As mid-terms, essays, and exams pile up in March visualizing the stress can be cathartic.
ART BY ASHLEY RHAMEY
Occasionally, professors make an appearance.
KINGSTON CORNER
Coffee in the Northside A review of Princess St.’s newest gem, Northside Espresso + Kitchen Ramna Safeer Editorials Editor Price range: $$$ Coffee cup score: High ceilings, lush plants and espresso with a kick — the new Melbourne-inspired café on Princess St. is a breath of fresh, caffeinated air. Northside Espresso + Kitchen, sitting on the corner of Princess and Clergy, is nothing if not classy. The white building with baby blue paneling is hard to miss, especially squeezed between a McDonald’s and a bulky red brick complex. With a small wooden sign out front and the thin storefront, stepping into Northside feels like stepping into a cleaner, lighter world.
Sunlight streams in from the front of the store, which is almost entirely windowed. The walls are white and embossed with twirling designs. There are white lantern balls scattered throughout the café in various sizes, hanging from the ceiling next to the plants. Their leaves drape from their pots and create an environment that makes you feel like you can take a deep breath for the first time all day. The décor mirrors the best of Ikea’s showrooms. Light wood tables and pastel chairs line the side of the café, with small porcelain tins holding raw sugar and table plants in the centre. It’s not a traditional coffee shop experience. Where we’re mostly used to running to grab a coffee and running out, Northside staff ask visitors to find a seat anywhere. They bring a menu right to you, which showcases a variety of
standard espresso drinks — cue the flat white and the chai latte — and a generous helping of some most people have never heard of — a piccolo latte, for example. When I first visited, I ordered the one I knew the least about: the Melbourne iced latte. Turns out it’s an iced latte with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The espresso was strong and the bitterness balanced with the ice cream’s sweetness perfectly. Clearly Melbournians have more fun. Northside isn’t a café in the student sense of the word. There’s no wifi (yet) and no visible outlets, probably to deter us from planting our laptops and hibernating for hours. It’s less of a café and more of a restaurant. Their all-day breakfast items are their speciality, and with choices like the “avo smash” — sashed avocado with feta, mint, lemon and chili on grilled
Northside Espresso + Kitchen in the afternoon. sourdough with an optional poached egg on top — it’s clear why. These days, the wait times are pretty high. Each time I’ve been in there, it’s been buzzing with people and a line at the front waiting to be seated.
PHOTO BY RAMNA SAFEER
It’s not the perfect place if you’re looking for a coffee on the go, but that’s part of the experience. The place is an embodiment of the words on their website: “coffee is not just a caffeine fix, but a way of life.”
LIFESTYLE
Friday, March 17, 2017
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• 15
HEALTH
Breaking down the hormones Myths and facts about soy’s safety Monica Mullin and Meghan Bhatia Staff Writers Soy is one of the cheapest and easiest proteins on the market, often used as a replacement for meat by vegetarians and vegans. But there are many claims dogging the heels of this food about it’s potential health effects. The debate over the health benefits and adverse effects of soy products isn’t new and has caused confusion in the general public over what’s true and what’s exaggerated. The majority of controversy comes from the fact that soy products contain isoflavones, which mimic human estrogen in the body. Depending on how you see it, this fact could attract you or scare you away from soy products, but let’s go through the truths and myths: Myth: Males who intake soy products will see negative effects with resistance exercise
There was one study that showed that supplementing with soy protein ‘blunted’ testosterone levels and that whey protein decreased cortisol (stress) response after a session of resistance training — or picking up heavy things and putting them back down. However, this study oversimplified the hormone pathway and underemphasized that estradiol levels, or the active form of estrogen, weren’t changed. This study doesn’t show soy will affect how heavy you can lift, there’s no evidence for that. Everything in moderation is good and excess supplemental protein of any type can be harmful. Undetermined: Soy products make males infertile
While a fear that circulated for some time, this simply has little scientific evidence behind it. The only trials showing a negative effect on fertility or male
circulating estrogen levels were done in rats and didn’t translate to human studies. Simply put, this means when they tested males by giving them soy diets, they found no difference in the circulating hormone levels than non-soy diets. Different studies show conflicting results, and scientists have been unable to come to a consensus on this question. Truth: Soy products can help to protect you against heart disease and better glycemic control in type 2 diabetics
This is a claim that is supported by the FDA who released a statement echoing that soy products are good for your heart. They lack the saturated fat contained in many animal proteins. Yet, another randomized and double blinded study showed further that in type 2 diabetics they found that blood sugar levels were better controlled and heart risk markers were reduced.
PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
While some questions remain unanswered about soy products, the evidence about their downfalls is contradicted by positives about their healthiness. Keep in mind that soya products are highly processed food and everything is good in moderation, but there’s no reason why you can’t toss some fried tofu on top of a salad to give it some extra protein.
SEXUALITY
Dating apps: ‘How do I send out the right signals?’ “Dear S&M, how do I actually meet a nice boy to date on dating apps like tinder or bumble? Everyone I match with seems to only have a one-time hookup on their mind, but I’m not that kind of girl! Am I giving off the wrong signal or something?” —You’ve got mail
Dear You’ve got mail,
Like real life, using apps such as Tinder or Bumble to meet possible romantic prospects can be intimidating. However, in our experience, it’s better to go in with confidence about who you are and what you want. First things first: everyone has something different that they’re looking for romantically. Don’t feel bad if you’re uninterested in casual sex or one-night stands and don’t feel pressured to partake. You’re probably not giving off the wrong signal, but here are some tips to make sure you’re getting your message across. First, be direct. If someone asks you to come over at 3 a.m., just politely say, “No thanks, that’s not really for me. If you would like to grab a coffee sometime I’d love to though!” There are exceptions to every rule, but early morning invitations tend to be about hookups, not
dates and it’s sometimes hard to break out of that pattern once you start. This way you get the message across while being polite and still open to meeting them. If they say no, it’s water off a duck’s back, you guys have different relationship goals and now you can move on. Secondly, if you make plans to hang out, suggest daytime activities that clearly show you aren’t interested in a rendezvous the first time you meet. Coffee, movies, lunch, art galleries and walks by the water are our personal favourite daytime date activities. Thirdly, when you match with a boy, flex that personality and show non-physical interest in him. Instead of complimenting his appearance, talk to him about his favourite music or restaurant and casually mention how fun it would be to do an activity together. For example, if he loves rock music, say, “Next time I go to Brian’s you should join and help me pick out some good choices.” Bam! A daytime date that shows interest in non-physical characteristics. Finally, be willing to put yourself out there. Some of our most respectful dating app experiences have come from guys who’ve told us “sorry, but I’m not looking for anything serious” when we suggest
a non-sex meet up. There are guys who are interested in getting to know you, but you also have to be willing to have a conversation with them. While it may seem like everyone on dating apps is just looking for some one-time fun, you’d be surprised to know just how many are looking for the same things as you. Sometimes it can be draining, but remember, these apps were created to be fun. Dating isn’t supposed to be so serious, or it would be called “doing your taxes”. Some of our best and funniest stories have come from dating apps. Just relax, be yourself and be confident in what you want — you’ll do great! Have fun, ask interesting questions, and get to know some cute guys. Remember to always be safe: meet up in public and tell your pals who you’re meeting up with and when you’re going. It’s unfortunate that we even have to say that but you’ve got to watch out for yourself out there! Go forth and swipe away! We’ll be cheering for you from here, baby! — S&M
S&M WEEKLY SUDOKU
LIFESTYLE
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Friday, March 17, 2017
PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
POSTSCRIPT
Top 10 things I learned from first year Oh, it feels so good to be done first year
Josh Granovsky Staff Writer As my first year at Queen’s comes to a close, I can honestly say that my experiences living alone have made me feel ever-so-slightly more adult. While I still don’t drive on the highway, nor do I know how to do my taxes, I can fill up a laundry card like nobody’s business. Here are some other things I’ve learned:
Laundry isn’t your friend. The process of laundry is a vicious activity invented by your worst enemies. Machines will purposefully hide socks from you, leave your clothes damp and maybe even explode because you washed all your sheets and comforter in one load. To combat this monster, make sure your laundry card is always filled, your machines are never more than three quarters full and every sock is accounted for at all times. Permanently keep your phone on silent.
I get it. You need to know what’s happening online at every
moment of every day. But there is nothing worse than getting a loud notification, a phone call or accidentally activating Siri in the middle of class. Or when you’ve asked Siri to call you “Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramírez, son of Diego Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez and Gladys.” Especially when Siri recites that full name in the middle of your ENGL100 lecture and your phone is in the bottom of your bag. Leave yourself more time than you think you need to do assignments.
A major misstep I made was assuming more free time meant more time to do work which meant more time to not be stressed. Wrong. The only thing that more time creates is more time to waste. An easy solution to this I learned is to lie to yourself. Plan your schedule to give yourself the maximum amount of time that you can to do an assignment. This way, when you waste a trillion hours doing Buzzfeed quizzes about what your favourite type of bread says about your sex life, you’ll still have ample time to finish your work. Sleep is a myth.
You may have thought that university students are able to consistently sleep a
normal amount of hours at night. This is a lie. Think of the least possible amount of sleep that you could get that would still allow you to be a functioning human being. Now subtract two hours from that. That will be your average amount of nightly sleep. Always meet with your TAs and professors.
A new school means new expectations for your work. The only way to solidly establish what each class wants from you is to meet with your TAs and professors. I can solidly say that since I started doing this in November, my marks have increased — not necessarily because my work was better, but because I knew what each class was looking for more so than before. Tim Hortons is basically free.
Tim Hortons isn’t free. But have you ever tried to buy $8.75 worth of Tim Hortons to fulfill a meal equivalency? Here’s a spoiler: you will need to buy a bagel, two large drinks, three donuts,
some potato wedges, and a strange fruity muffin to take complete advantage of that $8.75. Good luck. Getting involved is the best way to meet like-minded people.
Clubs are literally groups of people with the same interests. How could you not take advantage of that? If you have interests, or play sports, or have a talent, look for ways that you can share it with other people. Chances are that there’s a group of people just waiting to discuss that one thing you have in common. Venture out into Kingston once in a while.
Queen’s has such a beautiful campus it’s easy to forget it’s in the middle of a beautiful city. Kingston is secretly a bumbling little metropolis filled with great coffee shops, stores and restaurants. Life on campus can get claustrophobic pretty fast so I learned to treat myself every now and then, and take the journey into the magical half-elderly, half-student town I’ve come to call home.
The Amey’s Taxi and QTap apps are lifesavers. It’s so satisfying to know that a ride can be waiting for you at any time and any place from a few taps on a glass screen. It’s equally satisfying to tap a couple more times and see your schedule laid out, a list of emergency phone numbers and what food services are open. These two apps do a lot to make your life a little less complicated. Let them help you. Netflix won’t judge you. This is more of just a general philosophy. If you ever feel hardcore judged by a friend or are upset about a mark or are embarrassed by something weird that you did, watch some Netflix to get over it. I promise that Netflix will love you as you are, even if you accidentally email your professor from your grade 5 email account — which, for reference, is tennisstar31@hotmail.com.