The Queen's Journal, Volume 143, Issue 9

the journal

Queen’s University

Vol. 143, Issue 9

F r i day , O c t o b e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

since

1873

Election 2015: Queen’s hosts MP candidates

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ARWIN CHAN

Kingston and the Islands MP candidates debate on campus

CULTURE

Debunking the mafia myth Organized crime expert teams up with Queen’s professor to create new course

J ordana G oldman Contributor

movies and television series is not the real one.”

The pair met at a conference in 1990. Since then, they’ve been discussing the possibilities of combining their expertise to analyze the semiotics — signs, symbols and significance of those symbols — of organized crime

groups such as the mafia.

The course, called LLCU 214: Mafia Culture and the Power of Symbols, Rituals and Myth, seeks to deconstruct myths propagated by the film, television and media industries, which Nicaso says glamorize the mafia as an

World-renowned expert in organized crime Antonio Nicaso has paired up with the head of Queen’s Languages, Literature and Cultures department, Donato Santeramo, to bring a new course on mafia culture to Queen’s.

Nicaso was born in Calabria, Italy, where the fear of the Italian mafia was prevalent in day-to-day life. He said the perception of the mafia in Canada and the United States doesn’t reflect the reality of the ruthless crime organizations. “[In North America] they really don’t have a clue what the mafia is all about. They think that the mafia is the mafia that is portrayed in The Godfather, in Goodfellas” Nicaso said. “[We want] to help people Donato Santeramo (left) and Antonio Nicaso (right) understand that the mafia of have collaborated on an innovative new course.

See Mafia on page 5

PHOTO BY EMILIE RABEAU

M ikayla W ronko Assistant News Editor All five federal MP candidates for Kingston and the Islands — Conservative Andy Brooke, Green Nathan Townend, Liberal Mark Gerretsen, Libertarian Luke McAllister and NDP Daniel Beals — took to the podium in Grant Hall to debate student-centric issues Thursday night.

The event, jointly hosted by the AMS, Political Studies DSC and the SGPS, was moderated by Queen’s political studies professor Kyle Hanniman. The debate will be the last in Kingston before the federal election takes place on Oct. 19.

At the debate, the candidates were presented two questions each in the categories of the economy, the environment, institutional reform and student issues.

At the end of the debate, the candidates took a question period, where they answered questions from the audience.

Major moments of the debate included Brooke’s disagreements with Gerretsen regarding the

Liberal platform policies of carbon taxing and foreign relations and Beals’ criticism of Gerretsen following statements he made about women.

Gerretsen had said that female councillors had “better opinions” than men at City Council meetings, which Beals criticized as a generalization. Gerretsen apologized shortly afterwards.

Student Issues Brooke said the Green Party’s promise of free tuition “sounds wonderful”, but isn’t feasible. He then said he stands by his party’s stance on youth employment, saying the Conservatives have invested millions of dollars into youth job strategy.

Gerretsen said the Liberals have promised to create more accessible grants and freeze student loans until the graduate is making more than $25,000 a year. He says he supports the Liberals’ promise to make young hires more attractive to employers through insurances premiums and establishing policy.

See Candidates on page 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

EDITORIALS

EDITORIALS

OPINIONS

SPORTS

POSTSCRIPT

Harper’s rhetoric contributes to growing Islamophobia

Satire on “Tattooed Millenials” misguided

Talking Heads: How ’bout them Blue Jays?

Cheerleaders no longer on the sidelines

One student of colour’s experience on a white campus

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page 7

page 8

page 13

page 20

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News

Friday, October 16, 2015

OBITUARY

Principal emeritus Ronald Watts dies at age 86 Remembering the rich life of Queen’s 15th Principal V ictoria G ibson Assistant News Editor

Dr. Watts served during a difficult principal, Watts had a long history decade, with restricted student at Queen’s. Arriving in 1955, he growth and reductions in public served as a philosophy lecturer for Principal Ronald Lampman funding. According to History of six years.

In 1961, Watts moved to Watts, the 15th Principal and Queen’s: An Overview, Principal Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s, passed Watts called his term at Queen’s one the Department of Political and of “constraint, consolidation, and Economic Science while working away on Oct. 9 at the age of 86. as a residence don in McNeill During his time as principal constructive change.”

Despite facing difficulties, House. He then became Dean of from 1974 to 1984, Watts oversaw the building of multiple residences Dr. Watts directed a campaign Arts and Science in 1969 before and faculty buildings, including the to cut costs, including reducing he was rose to the position nine-story medical sciences project, energy consumption, rather than of principal. sacrificing the quality of Queen’s Education marked Watts’ life.

Botterell Hall.

He was born in Japan in 1929, Watts is survived by his teaching and research.

In his second term, he created where his parents were Canadian wife, Donna, and his many nieces, nephews, grandnieces plans for the Queen’s National Anglican missionaries, but came to Scholars program, which sought to Canada to continue his studies. and grandnephews.

A memorial will be held on Oct. 30 in Wallace Hall.

Watts attended secondary school At 45 years old, Watts was the attract “exceptional” young faculty In his personal life, Watts had a noted for his time as an advisor to youngest serving principal in nearly members to the university. Watts at Trinity College School in Port 100 years — since the time of also made plans for the original Hope. Following his graduation, fierce fascination towards aviation Ontario Premier David Peterson Principal Emeritus George Monro School of Policy Studies, which he enrolled at Trinity College at and sailing, according to a Kingston on the subject of the Meech the University of Toronto, where Whig-Standard memorial.

Grant, who served from 1877 was founded in 1988.

Lake Accord.

He competed in the Canadian to 1902.

Prior to assuming the role of he acquired a Bachelor of Arts Watts published several Olympic Trials in 1964, in the books during his lifetime, which (Honours) in the Class of 1952.

A gifted student, Watts won a Dragon class, and was honoured spanned topics of multicultural prestigious Rhodes Scholarship as a Chief Class Officer in societies, public administration and went on to study at Oxford Kingston during the 1967 and comparisons of the federal to further his education in Montreal Olympics. systems of the Commonwealth After his term as Principal, Watts and elsewhere. political studies.

He spent 10 years studying in became the director of Queen’s He was awarded five honourary England, acquiring a Bachelor of Institute of Intergovernmental degrees for his work. He became Arts in 1954, a Masters in 1959 and Relations. He also became a senior an Officer of the Order of Canada his PhD in 1962. Watts married adviser to the federal government in 1979, a Companion of the his lifelong partner, Donna Paisley, on constitutional affairs.

Order in 2000 and was honoured During the same time period, as a Fellow in the Royal Society of in 1954.

As a student, Watts focused on he served as a consultant to other Canada in 1997. the comparative study of federal governments across the world, political systems. He eventually including Kenya, Nigeria, Papua In memory of Dr. Watts, a memorial became one of the country’s New Guinea, South Africa, Pakistan, service will be held on Oct. 30, at 11 leading experts on federalism the Solomon Islands, Yugoslavia, a.m. in Wallace Hall.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY QUEEN’S ARCHIVES and a leader in the study of India and the United Kingdom.

Dr. Watts saw Queen’s through a In Canadian politics, Watts was British Dominions. difficult and changing time.

AMS ASSEMBLY

AMS Assembly Recap — Oct. 8 All commissioner year plans pass through Assembly unanimously M ikayla W ronko Assistant News Editor

hired heads for their respective Orientation Weeks. ASUS has hired Becky Wieschkowski as Head Gael, while EngSoc has selected Pippa Gouinlock for Orientation Chair.

The Commerce Society (ComSoc) and the Nursing Science Society reported that they’re still in the midst of hiring.

The second AMS Assembly of the 2015 fall semester ran without any major conflict or debate.

The assembly took place at McLaughlin Room at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8. Sean Madden, AMS to move forward with student fee the executive director of the Ontario eligibility policy Undergraduate Student Association (OUSA), visited the assembly as a guest speaker.

Madden conducted a presentation regarding After a discussion with the Assembly, the assembly voted to allow AMS to move OUSA’s function and priorities for the year. forward with the development of a policy for Student Fee Eligibility. Kyle Beaudry, Passing of goal plans AMS vice-president (operations), outlined Motions 4 through 8 — Goal three topics for discussion in his report: plans — Passed. the feasibility of a student fee referendum, Goal plans for the following commissions charity and conference fees. passed unanimously: • Charity • Conference Fees • Academic Affairs • Student Fee Referendum The Assembly agreed that funding a The Assembly debated whether student • Commission of Internal Affairs The Assembly discussed whether a • Municipal Affairs referendum for mandatory student fees is charity was a well-founded idea, but some fees should go towards funding conferences.

• Campus Activities Commission preferable over an annual general meeting members brought up concerns about Members of the Assembly acknowledged • Commission of the Environment and (AGM) vote. The AMS runs an AGM whether it was the AMS’s money to donate. that it’s important to support smaller, Sustainability once a year, where all students are invited Alex Wood, vice president of EngSoc, unestablished conferences that depend on to discuss and vote on proposals. During said he believed that the AMS shouldn’t funding. But Ana Lopez, president of the Two Orientation Heads announced the discussion period, conversation focused allocate money without the knowledge Commerce Society, said conferences are only on the possibility of holding both an of students. The Assembly agreed that of value to those who attend, which she said charity should be encouraged as a raises questions about whether the AMS Engineering Society (EngSoc) and Arts AGM and referendum for student fees. would be justified to make non-attendees student initiative. and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) pay a fee. announced in their reports that they’ve

News

Friday, October 16, 2015

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Welsh billionaire visits campus Queen’s welcomes Sir Terry Matthews at Goodes Hall J onah B uckstein Contributor

“If you don’t go global at your first chance, you’re dead,” he said.

While no stranger to global markets, A rapt audience of over 120 faculty members Matthews said there’s a need to develop and and students gathered in Goodes Hall on retain homegrown talent in Canada, and not Thursday afternoon to welcome international lose them to places like Silicon Valley.

Sir Terry Matthews spoke to an audience of Queen’s students Matthews also offered advice to and faculty at Goodes Hall on Thursday. business magnate Sir Terry Matthews.

As Wales’ first billionaire, Matthews is prospective entrepreneurs in the audience.

“Don’t rush into starting a company. Get a best known for his work in the high-tech communications field, having founded job that grants exposure to clients, and then and funded over 120 companies. The develop a positive image in their eyes, an most notable among them are Mitel and image that garners you trust and long-term Newbridge Networks — the latter founded support,” he said.

At numerous points throughout his

by Queen’s graduates.

During the talk, his message was 50-minute lecture, he said reputation alone is the difference between a successful business clear — the time for tech is now.

“This city produces some of the brightest and a catastrophic failure.

Matthews also said there’s a need for minds, and amid the rapidly evolving economy, the possibilities are endless,” mentorship for young business professionals, as the presence and expertise of mentors he said.

“The key is developing an idea based on often facilitates success.

He wrapped up the talk by discussing clientele demand, and moving globally with the tremendous upheaval in world markets it quickly.”

Matthews has been honoured for his today and the opportunities that come work in the tech industry. In 2001, he with it.

“The world of today simply did not exist 10 was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his years ago, and with the revolutionary change services to the industry and to Wales.

As a strong proponent of small business in all sectors, there are infinite possibilities for entrepreneurship, he highlighted the those bold enough to seize them.” importance of quickly responding and adapting to changing market needs.

“The ability to make decisions swiftly is a crucial advantage over the tech giants, who have a much longer deliberation process. If you move fast, you can beat them,” he said.

Matthews added that entrepreneurs must think on a global scale. Companies that are successful on a small scale, but are reluctant to risk going global, are ultimately wiped out by the ones who do, he said.

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Friday, October 16, 2015

PHOTO BY ARWIN CHAN

Candidates discuss environment and economy Continued from page 1

Beals, meanwhile, described the NDP’s promises to remove all interest on student loans, provide a $200-million investment in grants and another $200-million into creating job opportunities for youth.

McAllister said he believes government should have minimal involvement in how students handle their finances and that “we need to pay for what we want.”

Townend, the Green Party candidate, said he stands by his party’s promise to provide free tuition and said Scandinavian countries provide strong international examples of ways to grant free education to students.

The Environment At the debate, Townend stated that the tax system has the potential to be a powerful tool to create incentives for businesses to be environmentally responsible. Townend also said he believes leadership needs to be held accountable, and rise to the challenge of transitioning to be more environmentally conscious.

Brookes, meanwhile, said he strongly believes in balancing the competing interests of businesses and the environment. Although he said we must remember we are “stewards of this planet”, we must be fiscally realistic.

Gerretsen stressed the Liberal’s pledge of carbon taxing, which he said will encourage industries to limit pollution. Gerretsen assured the audience that the Liberals have promised, if elected, to be present at the next International Conference on Climate Change.

Beals said the federal government must diversify the industries it relies on for energy. Beals added that he doesn’t trust the Conservative record on the environment, and blamed them for missing an opportunity for environmental leadership when they backed out of the Kyoto Protocol.

McAllister stated that the government must recognize the importance of property with environmental issues and must prioritize property ownership. McAllister said he believes issues with property are a judicial issue, not a federal one.

Institutional Reform Gerretsen said although he values the Senate, it’s not functioning and has a “partisanship problem” due to the nature of the appointment of Senators. Gerretsen says he and his party are committed to Senate reform and to an 18-month period for the government to assess the needs for an electoral system before implementation.

Beals said he and the NDP recognize that the Senate needs to be overturned, as it’s broken beyond possible repair and acts as a barrier to progressive legislation. Beals also said he’s in favour of a mixed member vote where each voter get two votes: one for their riding representation and one for the party.

McAllister, meanwhile, said the Senate should be composed of elected representatives. He added that proportional representation is part of the Libertarian Party’s platform.

To fix issues in the Senate, Townend Continued on the next page

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News

Friday, October 16, 2015

said it needs to be reformed to address Townend said, and focus attention on issues issues of partisanship and appointments. like poverty and providing economic support Townend also said his party supports mixed to people in need. member voting and their pledge to conduct Brooke stated that the reason the Liberal a parliamentary commission to assess the government is proposing running a deficit electoral system. is to differentiate themselves from the other Brooke says Senate reform is important, leftist parties. Like Townend, Brooke said he but said it would be hasty to abolish it doesn’t like classifying people by class and entirely. Brooke has also said he is in favour said it brings unnecessary focus onto the of electoral reform, but encourages people to middle class tax bracket. engage with the current system.

Gerretsen said he supports his party’s promise of deficit, saying it’s a necessary measure to stimulate the economy and The Economy diversify industries. Gerretsen said the McAllister stuck to party lines when he economy is strongest when the middle class said the government needs to hold minimal is strong, and stated that the deficit will allow intervention in our economy. He added that the immediate implementation of social we need to prioritize paying off debt and programs such as child care.

Beals said the government needs to be spending government funds on the public is fiscally responsible. Beals continued to say not the answer to the economic crisis.

Townend said a balanced budget means the federal government must be involved in living within our means, and that our current providing affordable housing, Pharmacare government isn’t a good example of that. and affordable child care.

We must end our fascination with class,

PHOTO BY ARWIN CHAN

Conservative candidate Andy Brooke (left), and Liberal candidate Mark Garretsen (right), were among the five candidates invited to debate in Grant Hall on Thursday evening.

Queen’s improves cell phone reception

queensjournal.ca

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Mafia course an overwhelming success Middlebury College in Oakland, California.

Nicaso — already a bestselling organization based on honour and author, award-winning journalist and an internationally acclaimed expert on family values.

“We complement each other, because we organized crime — also acts as a consultant analyze this problem from two different to governments and law-enforcement agencies around the world. perspectives,” Nicaso said.

He holds positions on various boards According to Nicaso, the course intends to help students understand that the versions and committees aimed at combatting crime of the mafia portrayed in popular media and violence, including co-director at U of aren’t true representations. Students are T’s Centre of Forensic Semiotics and a seat shown films based on criminal organizations on The Advisory Board of the Nathanson and asked to analyze the myths created by Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security at York University and such media.

“The idea is to make people aware The International Advisory Council of the that everyone, with our silence and our Italian Niccolo Machiavelli Institute of indifference, are helping the mafia and Strategic Studies in Rome, Italy.

The class has been a success, according criminal organizations to raise their status,” to the two professors, with roughly 250 he said.

The study of organized crime has been students enrolled in the course.

“We decided to see first of all if Nicaso’s life work. He decided at a young age to stand up to the criminals that ruled there was any interest and we were his country rather than joining them, he said. overwhelmed … we had to change rooms “When I was six, the mafia killed the father several times because the class just kept on growing,” Santeramo said. of my schoolmate,” he said.

Interest in the course has encouraged “That was the moment when I really decided that the idea to learn more about the Santeramo and Nicaso to work towards mafia and share the knowledge, to create a producing a publication together, he said.

Santeramo added that the pair hope sense of awareness about the mafia, was the to further explore why popular culture driving force over my life.”

Today, Nicaso has over 26 published continues to be fascinated with the mafia and works to his name, both in English and other international criminal organizations, Italian, on the subject of international criminal such as drug cartels in Mexico. organizations. He lives in Toronto, but has — With files from Jacob Rosen taught a number of summer postgraduate courses on the topic of organized crime at

Continued from page 1

News in brief investigate the option to connect to the system”.

— Tarini Pahwa Information Technology Services (ITS) has installed new antenna systems in buildings on campus Queen’s appoints at several locations in an effort to new deputy provost improve cell phone reception.

The new antenna systems, which were installed by Bell Dr. Teri Shearer has been Mobility in a joint project with ITS, appointed as the new deputy will provide increased coverage provost effective Jan. 1, 2016, in Goodes Hall, Stauffer Library, following the resignation of the Queen’s Centre and Victoria Laeeque Daneshmend from Hall. As of September, ITS had the position. also improved antenna systems in Shearer is an associate professor residence buildings in Brant House, at the Smith School of Business.

David C. Smith and Watts Hall.

She formerly served as the associate Reception on West Campus dean for the School of Business, and John Orr Tower will benefit and as chair of the school’s from a new antenna on John Orr Faculty Board.

Tower, according to a release in According to The Queen’s The Queen’s Gazette.

Gazette, the deputy provost works In The Gazette release, Hugh closely with the provost to support Flemington, project lead for ITS, the operational and academic stated that reliable service has priorities of the University. The been “hit and miss” because the deputy provost also plays a role in campus system couldn’t keep up overseeing academic appointments. with the number of mobile devices Shearer acted as chair of the on campus.

Academic Appeals Committee from With the new antenna system, 2008 to 2012 and has been active dropped calls and instances where on numerous other committees. users find themselves in areas She also represented the School with low signal are expected to of Business at Senate gatherings, be greatly reduced. ITS has set and served as chair of the Senate the initial priorities for the project Budget Review Committee and the on buildings that host or house Senate Committee on Academic large numbers of people and Procedures in the past. areas reported to have poor cell Dr. Shearer joined Queen’s in phone reception.

1996 after completing her PhD Customers who are subscribed at the University of Iowa. Her to Bell Mobility, Koodo, Virgin research focuses on “the social and Telus can use the new service. and behavioural consequences of The release stated that Queen’s accounting practices”, according to is “actively encouraging” Rogers The Gazette.

Wireless and Wind Mobile to Laeeque Daneshmend resigned provide their customers with the from his position as deputy provost service and that “both continue to on Aug. 14. He will return to

his position as a professor in the Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

president (university affairs), on In 1890, “The Arts Society” Thursday afternoon. was formed as a male-only society A statement from Letersky, on Queen’s campus. It wasn’t until Kyle Beaudry, vice president 1967 that the society merged with (operations) and AMS President the Levana Society, the all-female — Tarini Pahwa Kanivanan Chinniah, attributed society on campus, forming the Leask’s resignation to “personal Arts and Science Undergraduate reasons” and asked that his privacy Society, known today as ASUS. The original mission of ASUS Sustainability Week be respected.

Since he began in his role in was three-pronged: to fund trips at Queen’s May 2015, Leask, ArtSci ’17, has for male students to visit colleges spearheaded a project of provide a elsewhere in Canada, to fundraise Sustainability Week returns to pass/fail credit for Queen’s students for the Queen’s football team and Queen’s next week, as students and acted as a representative for the raise money for new reading spaces hope to address different elements AMS in the Ontario Undergraduate on campus.

Today, ASUS provides over of environmental sustainability, Student Alliance.

Leask also lead a revitalization 2,000 volunteer opportunities, including local food, transportation, project of the Academic Grievance and this year alone it received climate change, energy and waste.

The weeklong event will take Centre, which provides a space more than 600 applications from place around campus and Kingston for students to address questions students for hired positions. The or concerns about academic society, which has a $1.5 million from Oct. 19 to 23.

The program includes the issues, discipline or regulations. In operating budget, now deals with Arts and Science Undergraduate an interview with The Journal in matters of equity, social justice Society (ASUS) Environmental February, Leask said he applied and academic advocacy, delivers Justice & Sustainability Showcase, for the role of Academic Affairs services to student and provides Greenovations Lightbulb Commissioner due to his interest financial aid for student initiatives.

“We started as a team of a few Exchange and the Earth Centre in student advocacy.

A hiring process to fill Leask’s male students in 1890 and today we Clothing Swap.

It will also include a Wolfe role will begin within the next few are a team of over 2,000 students Island Farm tour, which allows days. Letersky will be assuming the generating programming for close participants visit a bakery, and an duties and responsibilities of the to 12,000 students,” Jamieson said.

In celebration of 125 years information session about wind role in the interim. of operation, ASUS handed out energy in Canada.

— Victoria Gibson free merchandise, free food and The week is catered to hosted a Throwback event at the students interested in careers in Underground. the renewable energy industry or Jamieson said the anniversary learning about sustainability issues.

ASUS celebrates was “incredibly humbling”, and a 125 years testament to ASUS’s success.

— Tarini Pahwa The idea behind the celebration ASUS celebrated with a number was to “reinforce that desire for us of events this week in preparation to be recognizable by the student Academic Affairs for its 125th anniversary this body,” he added.

Commissioner resigns coming November.

“To be remembered, we have to Brandon Jamieson, the president do something that connects with AMS Academic Affairs of ASUS, said the week’s events everyday students,” he said.

Commissioner Read Leask were a perfect way to celebrate — Jordana Goldman submitted his letter of resignation with the student body before the to Sarah Letersky, vice weather became too cold.

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The Journal’s Perspective

EDITORIALS ELECTION

Talking down doesn’t turn out voters The tattooed hooligan stereotype is dead. Now let’s put it to bed.

A recent article in The Kingston Whig-Standard entitled “A how-to guide to voting for Tattooed Millennials” made us collectively scratch our heads at its portrayal of voting as an event similar to getting a tattoo.

According to the article, if youth were to “make the leap from body art to electoral participation”, then “Canada might actually have a new government.”

At best, this “how-to guide” is a

CULTURE POLITICS

Barbaric practices mirrored Timing and wording is everything in identity politics.

To help enforce Canada’s Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act, the Conservatives have proposed an RCMP tip line for reporting incidences of “barbaric cultural practices.”

This Act establishes legal protection for non-consenting adults or child who might be exploited or forced into marriages, a mandatory minimum age of marriage, prevents polygamists from entering the country and reduces the defenses used in cases of spousal homicide or honour killings.

Despite the tip line’s Salem-ish echoes and inefficient case-by-case methodology, the Act itself isn’t at all a bad thing.

But the disturbing part of the proposed tip line has less to do with what it intends to prevent, and far more to do with the way in which it’s stated.

There’s a superiority complex deeply embedded in the labeling of other cultures as “barbaric” for the purpose of expelling them.

And politicizing the issue by identifying a distinct “us” versus “them” is ultimately counter-productive.

It also misleadingly suggests that Canadian “culture” isn’t equally guilty of failing to protect vulnerable members of the population from what could be considered “barbaric.”

When an Aboriginal woman goes missing or is murdered and no one does anything about it, can I call this tip line?

If a woman wearing a niqab is attacked, will the RCMP leap into action?

Do we have zero tolerance for people who attack members of the LGBTQ community?

The Conservatives might have the right nail this time, but they still can’t quite seem to hit it on the head.

failed satirical attempt to encourage young people to vote.

At worst, it’s a mocking and downright offensive depiction of a younger generation as too occupied being rebels to care about anything.

In either case, the metaphor essentially boils down to the same condescending and patronizing attitude that discourages young people from voting in the first place.

This article rehashes the deluded idea of the “millennial” generation as apathetic towards a political arena that cares less about them then they do about it.

Youth voter turnout has been declining. Consequently, the issues that most affect youth are less of a concern for campaigning politicians.

But talking down to the underrepresented — implying that their laziness or lack of interest is inhibiting them from participating in our democracy — only misrepresents them further.

Young people are motivated to vote by their job security, social services, tuition costs, security policies and cultural tolerance — not by the fact that, unlike getting a tattoo, its safe to shave your legs afterwards.

The assumption that someone’s fondness for body art impairs their ability to make conscientious political decisions is baffling. It also plays off a troubling association of tattoos with ignorance and traditionally underrepresented lower classes.

This author also seems to think that if only youth could find their way to a polling station, they would naturally vote against the

While many Canadians believe Islamophobia only happens elsewhere to other people, members of my family are shaving their beards and folding away their hijabs.

I was sitting in a lecture last year when the topic of Islamic empires arose. A girl sitting next to me scoffed.

“It’s backwards,” she leaned over to her friend and whispered. “The hijab just seems oppressive, you know? That entire religion does.”

Her friend nodded knowingly.

“I mean, I’m not a racist or anything! I just don’t believe you should force women to wear that stuff.”

It wasn’t a physical attack on me — she wasn’t even talking to me. But underneath it was the same sentiment of a deep-rooted misunderstanding that fuels much more overt and violent acts of — Journal Editorial Board racism and intolerance.

•7

THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL Volume 143 Issue 9 www.queensjournal.ca @queensjournal Publishing since 1873

Editorial Board Editors in Chief

Sebastian Leck Anisa Rawhani

Production Manager

Arwin Chan

News Editor

Jacob Rosen

Assistant News Editors

Victoria Gibson Tarini Pahwa Mikayla Wronko

Features Editor

Sean Sutherland

Editorials Editor

Jane Willsie

Opinions Editor

Kate Meagher

Arts Editor

Ramna Safeer

Assistant Arts Editor

Lauren Luchenski

Sports Editor

Adam Laskaris

Assistant Sports Editor

Joseph Cattana

Lifestyle Editor

Erika Streisfield

Assistant Lifestyle Editor Photo Editors

Kailun Zhang Kendra Pierroz Steph Nijhius

Video Editor

Anna Maria Li

Digital Manager

Kayla Thomson

Graphics Editor

Ashley Quan

Editorial Illustrator Web Developer

Kia Kortelainen Daniel Clarke

Copy Editors

Anastasiya Boika Vishmayaa Jeyamoorthy

Contributing Staff Staff Writers and Photographers Caela Fenton Mitchell Gleason Alicia Hai

ILLUSTRATION BY

current government.

Young people are learning and are bound to disagree strongly on political matters. We shouldn’t assume that a younger demographic is any less diverse or multi-faceted in its opinions and concerns than the rest of Canada.

Nor can older generations hold youth responsible for fixing the political decisions they now regret.

If we truly want youth to have an opinion and hold themselves accountable, we have to start acting like we trust them to make

KIA KORTELAINEN

the right decision.

But if the tattoos are the only motivation older generations think we can understand, then we have a lot of work to do.

In the meantime though, we’ll do our best to drag our lazy, inked selves away from our jobs, schoolwork, unpaid internships, apprenticeships, loan applications and exams to defy your expectations.

Contributors Spencer Belyea Blake Del Brocco Jonah Buckstein Joshua Finkelstein Jordana Goldman Cameron Newel Jon Wiseman

Business Staff Business Manager Sales Representative

— Journal Editorial Board

Islamaphobia is more than veil-deep North Carolina.

“Be safe,” she said. “Even if you disagree, try not to say so.”

In 2009, 46 per cent of Canadians outside Quebec were found to hold “unfavourable views” of Islam. This rose to 54 per cent in 2013.

But whereas numbers can often seem cold and calculating, very little is as sobering as knowing my mother was worried for my safety because of something that had happened a country away.

What scares me most is that people don’t seem scared by this.

When someone feels the need to change a seminal piece of self-identification for the sake of personal safety, we should be afraid of the culture that pushes them to that point.

Ramna is The Journal’s Arts Editor.

She’s a second-year English major.

Katelyn Martinko Michael Ozburn Geoff Roberts Renee Robertson

Outreach Manager Office Administrator

Ramna Safeer

In a country that prides itself on encouraging a tapestry of diverse cultures and racial identities, the Harper administration’s anti-Islamic agenda is highly hypocritical.

In a House of Commons debate, Harper called the niqab the product of an “anti-women” culture. His comment was a catalyst for a rising tide of anti-Islamic rhetoric leading up to the October election — in light of which members of my family and my close friends began changing.

A cousin shaved his beard for fear he would be attacked. A friend took off her hijab after a lifetime of wearing it proudly, pushed to edge by the constant staring.

A couple of weeks later, I was walking from my residence to the same class when I got a call from my mom. Her voice shaking, she told me three Muslim students had been shot in Chapel Hill,

Emilie Rabeau

Emma MacNaught Jasmit De Saffel

Want to contribute?

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

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

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

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

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Contents © 2015 by The Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of The Journal.

Circulation 4,000

8 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, October 16, 2015

OPINIONS

Your Perspective

Talking heads ... around campus

PHOTOS BY EMILIE RABEAU

How ’bout them Blue Jays?

FEDERAL ELECTION “It was poetic justice.”

Josh Bond, ArtSci ’18

Part 3: What Harper means for the youth vote How the Conservatives’ plan for the country would affect young voters

“I thought we played really well. I think that Toronto didn’t react very well when baseball was baseball.”

Blair Stevens, ArtSci ’16

“I didn’t get to watch, but I caught the highlights.

The seventh inning was nuts.”

Robyn Pearson, Comm ’16

“I was at the Jays game. It was crazy. I go to a lot of games and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Raza Malik, ArtSci ’18

The Conservative Party’s plans for the economy, environment and education are all of interest to young voters.

Blake Del Brocco, ArtSci ’18 There appears to be only one kind of student voting at Queen’s University: an “anything but Harper” voter.

With the election right around the corner, it seems as though a massive wave of young left-wing voices have risen up and engulfed all of the right-wing Harper supporters. Are Generation Ys redefining the political sphere in Canada? Is the Harper era finally coming to an end?

I personally have only encountered hostile, left-wing, progressive supporters at Queen’s. Why is it that right-wing, politically-minded students face an arsenal of attacks from the opposite side of the spectrum? It’s as if it’s a crime to associate yourself with the Conservative Party at Queen’s.

More and more, students are taking to social media and expressing their aggressive and forceful hate toward Harper. An anti-Harper movement has been snowballing for months now, gathering up young, progressive votes from all over the country.

But has anyone ever really stopped to take an objective view of Harper’s direct relevance to students here at Queen’s? Perhaps students are guilty of reading biased news outlets and succumbing to opinionated columns instead of assessing party platforms, reading news from all sides of the spectrum, extracting facts and making

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY REMY STEINEGGER

Now you’re all grown up, trying that outcome. complete, concrete judgments to raise a family of your own, your for themselves.

If elected, Harper’s If you want to understand what parents have retired. But wait, take Conservatives will seek to create Harper’s Conservative government another step back, what happens 1.3 million jobs by 2020 and to all that money reduce small business taxes. Both has to offer to To keep it short and that your parents these moves would be particularly you, you must owed and spent? beneficial for young people just look at what sweet, Harper’s Who’s going to entering the workforce. he’s done and government has pay it back? You recognize where Also of interest to single-handedly guessed it: you young voters should be the he’s going. tackled and upheld are. How though? Conservative’s plans for the To keep If you have just environment it short and — reducing Canada’s economy kick-started your sweet, Harper’s Canada’s emissions by 30 per cent as one of the life, how are you by 2030 — and for education, government has strongest during supposed to pay including equipping schools single-handedly an unstable world back everything with more computers. The tackled and economic crisis. your parents owe? Conservative government has even upheld Canada’s It isn’t fair taken a stance against taxing online economy as one of the strongest during an unstable that you should have to pay for streaming services and plans to world economic crisis. Even as a massive debt that your parents improve internet across rural and the world recuperates from such dumped on you simply because remote parts of Canada. a global financial hit, Canada they thought that spending on While other parties have has been able to grow and set a this and that been trying to The party in power precedent on an international stage. would be good convince the You may ask yourself, “How for you when in youth vote that will either set up does this have an immediate effect truth, you are Harper doesn’t this nation’s young left alone with on me?” care about them, people with a strong he’s been making Well, think of the economy and a massive debt economy, or riddle the Canadian government as your that will take plans to ensure parents and their spending habits. years to pay off. that young them with debt.

You grow up, get good grades The same goes Canadians inherit and eventually graduate with a for the government that the best country possible. prestigious degree from Queen’s. we choose to elect in this Are you going to re-elect a You’re ready to take on the world; upcoming election. proven, consistent government What many students don’t politics and invest for the future, or after all, the “world is your oyster.”

But wait, while you were away, understand is that today’s decisions redefine Canadian? grinding hard to get good grades will have an even greater impact Now is the time that student’s and looking to land a steady, on tomorrow’s realities. The party across Queen’s come together financially-sound job, your parents in power will either set up this and vote. were out and about borrowing and nation’s young people with a strong spending all their money in hopes economy, or riddle them with debt. Blake Del Brocco is a second-year of making things “better” for you. Your vote will help determine political studies major.

Friday, October 16, 2015

queensjournal.ca

•9

ARTS

PHOTO BY ARWIN CHAN

Kingston libraries are combining books and beers to encourage young people to read.

READING

Bringing together books and beers Kingston Frontenac Public Library puts book clubs in bars to encourage reading A nastasiya B oika Copy Editor

New Adult and Teen Librarian, Liz Coates, at KFPL’s Central branch.

PHOTO BY KENDRA PIERROZ

Books & Beers for Twentysomethings is Kingston Frontenac Public Library’s fun, new way of encouraging youths to engage with literature and the Kingston community.

Unlike a traditional book club, where all the members read and discuss one or two works in a big group, those who attend Books & Beers aren’t required to have read the same book or engage with all the attendees.

Liz Coates, the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) Teen and New Adult Librarian, has been running the event since it began in September 2014.

She referred to it in an email interview with The Journal as a “casual book club in a bar,” stating that it falls under the category of a “Book Club with a Difference.”

“Participants come with what they’re currently reading, enjoy a beverage or snack, and share reading recommendations with each other and make new friends,” Coates said. She describes the goals of the program as being “to reconnect twentysomethings with the library, build a relationship with students … and to keep Kingston reading for pleasure.”

She said the library had run a general Books & Beers program previously, but it didn’t appeal to the intended audience.“It didn’t tend to attract young professionals or students, so we rebranded as part of an initiative to reach young people.”

This month’s Books & Beers for Twentysomethings takes place on Oct. 19 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Tir Nan Og Irish Pub. Since starting in her position at the KFPL, Coates has initiated a number of innovative programs,

including the Summer Book-It List, another unconventional reading club.

Summer Book-It List, which ran from June 13 to Aug. 29, posted a theme every week on its webpage and encouraged its 300 participants to comment on it and engage in conversation about what they were reading.

Coates said she’s also involved in a number of new initiatives, working with a New Adult Advisory Board — made up of 18 to 30-year-old community members — to come up with fresh, new ideas.

Some of the upcoming events include Books & Beers for Twentysomethings: Literary Speed-Dating Edition, which will take place at the Tir Nan Og Pub on Nov. 9, and Adult LEGO Night at the KFPL’s Central Branch on Dec. 1.

MUSIC

The sounds of Kingston A playlist of local band’s albums

L auren L uchenski Assistant Arts Editor Kingston’s local talent it just as good off-stage as it is on.

The city’s music scene has always been hard to miss. It’s the hometown of The Tragically Hip and location for one of the summer’s most anticipated music festivals, the Wolfe Island Music Festival.

Almost every weekend, you can find local or Canadian bands playing at locations on campus and downtown.

But you don’t have to go to a concert to listen to some of

Kingston’s best artists. Bands have begun releasing their albums on music websites, which makes it easy to listen to enjoy their sounds from anywhere.

Here’s a list of some of Kingston’s hidden talents for you to listen to on repeat, whenever you please: The Tidman Sisters Born and raised in Kingston, this sister duo is making the city proud. Emily and Katie Tidman are current Queen’s students, but they’re also making time to build a music career.

They’ve been playing gigs at classic downtown Kingston locations, including The Ale House, Musiikki and The Brooklyn. Recently, Hamilton’s indie band the Arkells shared The Tidman Sister’s acoustic version of their song “Book Club” on their Facebook page.

Their folk-acoustic sounds also caught the attention of The Tragically Hip’s guitarist Paul Langolis.

They’re recording an album at the moment with his record label, Ching Music, which is set to be released early next year.

See A List, page 12

Student duo The Tidman Sisters.

SUPPLIED BY THE TIDMAN SISTERS

Arts

10 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, October 16, 2015

STUDENT ARTIST PROFILE

A fresh lens in the photography world Sophie Barkham feeds her creative frustration with photography, any chance she gets R amna S afeer Arts Editor Whether she’s taking fashion portraits of her friends or photos for Queen’s Players, photographer Sophie Barkham finds a creative outlet wherever she goes.

You may have seen hundreds of Barkham’s photographs on the Underground’s Facebook page, where she does photography shoots three or four times a week.

Or you may have seen her work on the MUSE Magazine’s website, where she works as head photographer and manages a team of photographers.

Barkham, ArtSci ’16, says she started photography in the darkroom at her arts high school in Grade 10.

“It was so stressful, working in that darkroom,” she said. “But I fell in love with it.”

She said she was creatively

frustrated when she came to Queen’s. Barkham’s classes are more artistic than most — she’s a drama student — but they still left her thirsty for other creative outlets.

That’s when she started shooting, she said.

“I started doing headshots for theatre productions and photographs for campus events.

I started shooting for the Underground last year,” she said.

While she takes various types of photographs on campus, Barkham says fashion shoots are her favourite.

“Fashion photography is where my heart’s at,” she said.

As a student who plans to pursue photography after graduation, Barkham said she hopes to be a refreshing female voice in a male-dominated field.

Most of the fashion photography we see depicts women through a “male gaze”, she said,

A photograph by Sophie Barkham during an Advanced Fashion Photography course at Ryerson University.

A photograph taken by Sophie Barkham for MUSE Magazine.

referring to a perspective through which women are objectified and degraded. It’s something she wants to change.

“There is a place for female photographers portraying women the way women should be portrayed,” she said.

Several aspects of photography attracted her to the field, she said.

“I love the technical aspects of it. The lighting, being able to really understand the art,” Barkham said.

“But I also think there’s such a demand! People say everybody’s a photographer now with the growth in technology. I actually think that makes the standard of professional photographers that much higher.”

Barkham added that she has advice for female photographers looking for creative outlets.

“Take every opportunity,” she said.

“They’ll come to you if you look for them.”

Student photographer Sophie Barkham.

PHOTOS BY SOPHIE BARKHAM

A photograph taken by Barkham for MUSE Magazine.

SUPPLIED BY ANDREW JOHNSON

Arts

Friday, October 16, 2015

Do you want to photograph sports games, concerts, breaking news? journal_photos@ams.queensu.ca

IMAGE VIA RAMA

$7

queensjournal.ca

• 11

Become one of the people who make Kingston work.

Are you interested in volunteering in your community?

Your city is looking for citizens to be on one of our local boards, commissions, or committees.

Each committee has a specific mandate that helps council in a unique way.

Join us at a volunteer fair to learn more about a variety of volunteer roles with the City of Kingston.

Appointment terms may vary and committees typically meet on a monthly basis.

Oct. 21 from 6 – 8 p.m. in Hall B at the INVISTA Centre 1350 Gardiners Rd.

Lend your voice to your city, and become part of the municipal decision-making process.

Oct. 28 from 6 – 8 p.m. in the family room, Rideaucrest 175 Rideau St.

No registration is required, and light refreshments will be served.

A full description of the mandate of each committee is available at www.CityofKingston.ca/committees. The deadline to apply is Oct. 30 at 4:30 p.m.

For more information visit www.CityofKingston.ca/committees or contact Diane Jackson at 613-546-4291, ext. 1375 or email djackson@cityofkingston.ca

New this year: The eligibility requirements have changed!

Permanent residents - someone who has been given permanent resident status by immigrating to Canada but is not a Canadian Citizen and has resided in Kingston for at least one year - are eligible to apply to serve on most committees.

www.CityofKingston.ca/committees

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Arts

12 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, October 16, 2015

A list of local talent Continued from page 9

Megan Hamilton Kingston’s Megan Hamilton has performed in venues across Canada.

The singer-songwriter took a break from her music career to raise her four-year-old daughter, but now that her daughter has gotten older, she’s had more time to perform and record.

Hamilton released her fifth album, Forty Warm Streams to Lead Your Wings, this past September.

Her songs are filled with strong vocals and dreamy acoustic guitar, and her lyrics explore her life in her fifties, marriage and motherhood.

electro-pop band, Brave QPOP! last weekend.

Shores,

at

The Wilderness Jonas Lewis-Anthony, Sacha Leah, Tõnu Karl Tombak and Henry Lawrence make up Kingston’s indie folk and rock band.

The Wilderness’ first EP, Sunday Afternoon, was released May 28, 2015.

The band’s Facebook page provides a straightforward explanation of The Wilderness’ beginnings: “We met at an open mic and decided we should play together.”

Kasador

SUPPLIED BY MEGAN HAMILTON

By Levin C. Handy (per http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cwpbh.04326) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Previously known as The Will Hunter Band, Kasador has played with the Arkells and July Talk.

Queen’s students Will Hunter, Boris Baker, Cam Wyatt, Don Pineapple and Megan Hamilton’s fifth album.

Nick Babcock make up this Kingston indie-rock band.

Their first album, Last Summer, was released in 2014. It was recorded at Bathouse recording studio, located on the shore of The Wilderness’ EP Sunday Afternoon.

Lake Ontario just west of Kingston.

SUPPLIED BY THE WILDERNESS Kasador opened for up-and-coming

You don’t have to sit in school to stand among greatness.

› Thomas Edison: The world’s most extraordinary failure never gave up.

Thank goodness.

open. online. everywhere. go.athabascau.ca/online-courses

Friday, October 16, 2015

queensjournal.ca

• 13

SPORTS

CHEERLEADING

Cheerleaders make noise across country Pep squad preparing for nationals

Last year the cheerleading team placed second at the Power Cheerleading Association Nationals, one of the top competitions in Canada.

J oseph C attana Assistant Sports Editor Seen by most only on the sidelines of Richardson Stadium, Queen’s varsity cheerleading team has quietly risen to become one of the nation’s top cheer squads.

The team is made up of recruits from diverse background. Some are former cheerleaders, while others are newbies.

One of the most important members of the team is team captain Liz Di Sebastiano. The former high school cheerleader already had her heart set on Queen’s. Once she learned there was a competitive cheerleading team, she knew she made the right choice.

Part of the team’s weekly schedule incorporates going to varsity sports home games. While cheerleading on the sidelines is a special experience, Di Sebastiano said the competitive side got her into cheerleading.

“I didn’t do football games growing up,” she said. “I just did competitions, so it is definitely something that I am better at.”

As a captain now, Di Sebastiano’s role is to help rookies feel welcome.

“There are a lot of the guys that we take that have never done cheerleading before, they just see it as fun to do,” she said. “I have to show them … what is expected from cheerleading, because we are such a competitive team.”

Fifth-year Callum Schjerning is one of the student-athletes who joined the team with no cheerleading background.

Coming from a football career, he hoped to play for the Gaels one day. That would all change during Frosh Week.

“I was just wandering through the Sidewalk Sale in my first year and they asked me to come over and do a stunt,” he said. “After that I went to the try out and have been on the team for five years since.”

Despite the physical stress cheerleading puts on the athletes’ bodies, Schjerning knew that his friends and many others looked down on the sport, often saying

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY QUEEN’S CHEERLEADING

“Normally you can see that the team’s head coach, he said he back to 1985. “they aren’t really athletes because From his time as a afraid that he they are just jumping around and there are gaps between the stands was for people to walk through, but wouldn’t live up to Sandy student-athlete under Han, yelling things.”

Pat Fong has adopted a few of That all changed once they saw on that day they were completely Han’s precedent.

“But after years and years of her coaching techniques. filled by a whole block of people. it for themselves.

Typically the team practices “After your friends see the stuff There was just an amazing energy.” putting effort into it I’m slowly This year, the team is molding it to my image. It feels off campus two times a week at you do and the stunts that you do the Kingston Elite Cheerleading and they become pretty impressed, determined to build off of their more at home now,” he said.

Han has been the most Club, which is run by the former and I think that the stigma goes successful 2014-15 campaign.

In their first competition of the influential member in the coach. Combine this with away pretty quickly.” program’s history. practice and weightlifting and the Before joining, During her 18-year cheerleading team has become one Schjerning himself reign as the head of the most physically demanding didn’t think the “I played football for seven years coach, Han brought sports on campus. sport would put a and I never got injured. I joined the “I think it is very important the team from the physical toll on his cheerleading team and I’ve managed shadows of club to understand the culture of body. But throughout to break my hand, my nose and tear activities to national Queen’s,” Pat Fong said. “People his five years, he p r o m i n e n c e , often ask us if we enjoy cheering a has been through my shoulder, so it’s a lot more physical eventually earning game, especially when it’s raining, a lot. than you would think.” varsity club status by cold or when we are losing.”

“I played football “It’s a pride [thing]. It’s for seven years and — Callum Schjerning on Queen’s Athletics. the physical aspect of cheerleading In 2008 the team an honour to go out there and I never got injured,” reached new height cheer for Queen’s. So as a coach, he said, “I joined the heights, winning the I’ve used those feelings I had as cheerleading team and an athlete to motivate the ones I’ve managed to break my hand, year, they finished second at the National Cheer Championships.

Prior to this win, Western I coach now.” my nose and tear my shoulder, Power Cheerleading Association so it’s a lot more physical than you Nationals — one of the nation’s had won every title dating top cheer events. They return to would think.”

Despite painful moments, the event this December, looking Schjerning knows that to build off last year’s strong finish.

In their second and final it’s worth it to put on a competition of the year, the good show.

“You grit your teeth and Gaels dominated in front of pretend that that’s a smile,” the hometown fans at the he said. “You just got to bear K-Rock Centre at the Canadian Cheer Evolution Big East Blast. through it.”

The Gaels finished first, One of the team’s greatest strengths is its large perfectly combining their stunting, alumni network, according to cheers and dancing.

For former Queen’s cheerleader Di Sebastiano. Despite having graduated from the cheering team, and current head coach Kevin Pat Fong, this success has been a long they find a way to contribute.

“Last year, we had 20 people time coming.

Pat Fong’s cheerleading journey leave, so every Homecoming we get tons of support not only from didn’t start at Queen’s, but rather the fans, but from our alumni as when he was an undergrad student well,” Di Sebastiano said. “They at Simon Fraser University.

After hearing about the pedigree come out to all of our competitions.

Anywhere from 30 to 100 show of the Gaels’ cheerleading program from an alumnus, Pat Fong decided up to our events.”

For Di Sebastiano, one of to pursue his PhD in French Studies her fondest memory was during at Queen’s. The major selling point was his predecessor, head coach Homecoming in 2013.

“That was the first time we Sandy Han. “A major reason why I came had Homecoming back, so we had an insane number of people to Queen’s was also to get the in the stands, the alumni were chance to be coached by back. It was a really nice feeling to her,” he said.

Queen’s travels to many cheerleading competitions, including this one at the When Pat Fong took over as University of Scranton. perform in front of them.”

Sports

14 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, October 16, 2015

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

A fresh start on the court Season opener Saturday at RMC C ameron N ewell Contributor After an early exit from last year’s post-season, men’s volleyball enters the 2015-16 season with a bitter taste in their mouths.

The Gaels won both games against the York Lions during the regular season, and looked to be in good shape for the playoffs at 12-8.

Despite their strong showing, however, the Lions, who finished the regular season on a five-game winning streak, were able to take them out in the OUA quarterfinals.

Overall, many of the Queen’s players weren’t happy with the way the season ended.

“Last season was pretty disappointing, we had a very strong team but fell short,” Markus Trence said. But, the outside says the team remains confident going into this season with the veteran presence in the starting lineup.

“This year we are all a year older with more experience,” he said. “Over my four years here at Queen’s, the team this year is the closest it’s ever been, which is awesome for chemistry and team dynamic.”

“We as a team believe we can win an OUA title year.”

Trence himself looks to improve on a strong season in which he finished 12th in the OUA in total kills with 190.

Along with Markus Trence, several veterans return, including Mike Tomlinson — last season’s

OUA First Team All-Star and Dale Iwanoczko Award Nominee from the OUA, which combines both academic and athletic excellence and OUA Libero of the Year winner Ivo Dramov.

One notable departure is Philippe Goyer, who was the Gaels second-leading hitter last season and a vital part of Queen’s attacking strategy.

The Gaels have tried to find a replacement for Goyer in outside hitter Marko Dakic, who previously played for the York Lions from 2011 all the way through last season. Dakic had a solid season last year, finishing tied for 21st in total kills in the OUA. Queen’s will travel to Dakic’s former home on Nov. 7 for a game against the Lions. It’s a match he’s looking forward to.

“It’ll be nice to play my former teammates in a gym that used to be a home to me,” he said. “In a sense, it’ll feel just like practice and will also be slightly nostalgic. Nonetheless, the York match carries a lot of personal importance for me. Winning it will be a great feeling.”

Despite just joining the team, Dakic echoed Trence’s sentiments about team chemistry.

“The guys are also a great and really tight group, and it caught me by surprise as to how quickly I became part of their family,” he said. “It’s been a welcoming and supportive environment, and it’s definitely making

Markus Trence (#2) looks to improve on last year’s 12-8 season.

my transition really enjoyable.”

The Gaels will have some tough opponents in the upcoming OUA season, including the McMaster Marauders, who are ranked first nationally.

Queen’s was able to get a preview of a few of their opponents in the Ryerson National Bank Invitational, where they faced York, Ryerson and

Western. The Gaels beat all three teams before dropping their final match to Western.

Queen’s has also faced off against OUA opponent Guelph in the preseason in their home invitational tournament and defeated the Gryphons three sets to one.

The Gaels open their

PHOTO BY MITCHELL GLEASON

OUA season on the road against RMC this Saturday before hosting the Ryerson Rams in their home opener on Oct. 30. RMC meanwhile finished last season in last place in the OUA. Queen’s has already faced and defeated the Rams at Ryerson’s home tournament in four sets.

FOOTBALL

One win away from postseason Gaels looking to punch playoff ticket S pencer B elyea Contributor

In last week’s match-up against Guelph, the Gaels tallied 139 yards on the ground.

PHOTO BY MITCHELL GLEASON

Coming off of an upset win against Guelph, Gaels head coach Pat Sheahan expects another solid game from his team this Saturday against York.

“A 14-10 win will not be a great stepping stone moving forward,” Sheahan said. “The idea is to go down there and play well, move the football efficiently, and at times show some dominance. That’s what’s expected. Anything less than that would be a disappointment.”

Queen’s (4-2) travels to Toronto to face the Lions (1-6) in the first meeting between the teams since the Gaels’ convincing 57-10 victory at Homecoming last year. Despite the lopsided records and results, and his own expectations, Sheahan isn’t taking York lightly.

“They’ve matched up well against us at times, and they have an outstanding recruiting class with some talented young kids.”

Third-year Gaels defensive

lineman Corey Flude anticipates that he and the rest of his unit will be forced to defend the run early and often against York. It will prove to be an interesting test for Queen’s, as the run defense was an area Coach Sheahan noted as needing improvement before the playoffs.

While the Gaels are focused on stopping the Lions, there’s a third factor which could impact this game — the weather. With high winds currently in the forecast for Saturday, Sheahan said it affects his game plan.

“There’s a whole wind game plan, if you will,” he said. “You have to manage the game in such a way that you can consume time, make good yardage, and not take unnecessary risks.”

Driving into the wind on offense presents challenges on deep passes and in the kicking game, but Sheahan said his team’s previous experience in similar conditions will help them mitigate any risks.

Despite the unpredictable See Chance Page 16

Sports

Friday, October 16, 2015

queensjournal.ca

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Last ride for senior Jessie de Boer reflects on past five years

JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Jessie de Boer has picked up six goals in eight starts this season.

J oshua F inkelstein Contributor With five years playing for the Gaels, forward Jessie de Boer is the most senior player on the women’s soccer team.

Now in her final year, de Boer sees the 2015-16 roster as similar to the team in her first year during the

2011-12 season. The Gaels won 11 games that year, finishing first with a .875 winning percentage. She describes that team as 11 players who were strong at their positions.

This year, she believes, there are 15 players who can step up and help the team win.

“This is one of the strongest teams we’ve ever had. We have

better skilled and developed players,” de Boer said.

As a veteran on the team, part of de Boer’s role is helping younger players gain an understanding of the team’s system and the league as a whole. “[I] show the younger players what our style is about, what the OUA is about. They might not

understand how important each game is,” she said. “I support them to play at their best, so that we are a united front.”

While the team had a slow start, there’s been a reversal of fortune as the team has gone undefeated in their last four games.

She said they’d consistently come out on the losing

• 15

end of close games earlier in the season.

“We gave up one goal here and there,” she said. “Now, we’ve come into our form, and found our own system.”

On a more technical front, the team has shifted from playing in a 4-4-2 formation (4 defenders, 4 midfield and 2 strikers), to a 4-3-3 formation, which de Boer says enables them to play a more free-flowing style. This has led to success in the current season, as it suits the capabilities of the players.

Personally, de Boer said she’s had a great amount of time to figure out how to be at her best, especially on the mental side of the game. She said she’s realized how to best contribute to the game.

“My second and third years were not as good because I had too much pressure,” she said. “I’ve found what works best for me.”

Queen’s currently sits at fifth place in the OUA East, with four games left in the regular season.

Undoubtedly, it’ll take a combination of strong play from both de Boer and the younger players to make a push for a higher spot in the standings.

She said when she was a first year herself, she was impacted greatly by senior players, particular her partner in the central midfield, Chantal McFetridge. As a fourth year on the 2011-2012 team, McFetridge was a major influence in the development of de Boer’s career.

“She was really encouraging.

I try to tap into that,” de Boer said.

With her final season wrapping up, de Boer takes the responsibilty of mentor that once belonged to McFerridge. She knows that it’ll take some teammates with little playoff expereince to make the difference.

“I believe in the younger players,” she said.

Sports in Brief Abraham’s triple leads to hockey victory

Larocca carries Gaels to pair of wins

Men’s hockey got off on the right foot this past weekend with an emphatic 7-1 road victory over the RMC Paladins.

Defenceman Spencer Abraham led the way for the Gaels, scoring three goals in his first career OUA hat trick. Abraham began the scoring early, potting the game’s first goal just 1:26 into the contest.

After forward Patrick McGillis doubled the Queen’s lead just two minutes later, RMC’s John Livingston cut the lead in half heading into the first intermission.

Abraham broke the game apart, however, with two more goals in the first 3:07 of the second period.

Darcy Greenaway, Andrew Wiebe and Eric Ming all added goals to solidify the final score.

Forward Taylor Clements registered a pair of assists for the Gaels.

Queen’s goaltender Kevin Bailie picked up the victory, making 25 saves. Meanwhile, Paladins goaltender Matthew Beirnes picked up 36 saves in the losing effort.

The Gaels begin their regular season at home this weekend with a pair of matches against the York Lions and Brock Badgers, respectively.

Women’s hockey squeaked out four points on the weekend to start the year, due in no small part to the efforts of forward Nadia Larocca.

In Friday’s match-up against Brock, Larocca potted the only two goals of the game, both with under two minutes remaining in the third period. After scoring the intial goal, Larocca added a empty net goal to finalize the score at 2-0.

In Saturday’s contest against York, Larocca broke a 1-1 second period tie with her third goal of the season. The score stood for the remainder of the game, as Queen’s held on for their second victory of the season.

Larocca was recognized as both the OUA and the CIS female athlete of the week for her efforts.

Megan Farrell was the only other Gael to score on the weekend, potting the initial goal against York.

Goaltender Caitlyn Lahonen started both games for the Gaels, with a 21-save shutout on Friday followed up with a 23-save effort on Saturday.

The Gaels travel to Toronto this weekend to play against the University of Toronto and Ryerson for their first road trip of the season.

— Adam Laskaris

— Adam Laskaris

Men’s hockey had a lot to celebrate with a seven-goal outburst against RMC.

JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Sports

16 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, October 16, 2015

Chance to clinch upcoming Continued from Page 14

and potentially game-changing situations that high winds can create, Sheahan knows his team is ready to adapt and focused on winning a playoff spot. “A win nails down a playoff spot, everyone knows it,�

Sheahan said.

Although the Gaels clinched a playoff spot with a victory, seeding is very much up in the air, as they could conceivably finish anywhere between second and fifth in the OUA depending on their results and what happens around

the conference.

While looking to enter the season finale on a high note, Sheahan knows things aren’t as easy as they seem on paper. “Mediocrity is everywhere,� he said. “It can creep into your performance.�

JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Gaels head coach Pat Sheahan has pulled the team to a 4-2 record this year.

Sports in Brief de Boer’s hat trick topples Paladins

Soccer steady through split results

Women’s rugby falls short of perfection

Women’s soccer put on their scoring boots last weekend, winning 6-0 against the RMC Paladins. Midfielder Rachel Radu was the first Gael to hit the score sheet, putting the team up 1-0 less than one minute into the game.

Radu added her second tally of the game at the brek of haltime, putting the home-side up 2-0.

The Gaels would continue to dominate in the second half, keeping control of the ball in the RMC half. Fifth-year Jessie de Boer would score three goals in the 61st, 84th and 89th minute. The hat trick would leave senior at six goals on the year.

First-year foward Jenny Woelever would add another goal in the second half, completing the route of the RMC squad.

The offence was electric in the second half, putting nine shots on net, winning five corners.

Queen’s goaltender Michaila Frawley would preserve the shutout. The Gaels defense would continue to be strong in the second half, not allowing a single shot on goal.

The Gaels travel to Oshawa this weekend to face-off against the UOIT Ridgebacks as well as a game in Peterborough against Trent.

Men’s soccer picked up a crucial four points over the past week to continue their strong campaign.

After registering a 2-0 victory over the RMC Paladins on Friday night, they continued their strong form against the Carleton Ravens, which resulted in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday at home.

Chris Wellsman scored the opening goal against RMC, while William Twardek added the second.

Oliver Coren scored the equalizing goal against the Ravens after the Gaels fell down 1-0 due to an early second half goal.

Taylor Reynolds was in net for both contests, picking up six saves on the weekend for Queen’s.

The Gaels sit just two points back of the third-place Ravens, but have played two fewer games.

With four games remaining in the season, the Gaels control their own fate with the possibility of overtaking the Ravens still within reach.

Queen’s is back in action this weekend with a road trip against UOIT and Trent.

The Gaels then finish of the regular season the following weekend, with a series of key fixtures against Nipissing and Laurentian.

Women’s rugby travelled to Guelph last weekend with hopes of completing a perfect season.

In a match-up that pinned two of the top teams in Canada against each other, the Gaels would unfortunately lose 48-7.

From the start of the game, defense was key. Both teams made sure they weren’t going to let the other score, but the dead lock would be broken mid-way through the first-half.

After the first 20 minutes, the Gaels were in a hole down 14-0.

To break the deadlock, third-year winger Emma Chown scored her only try of the day. With a Lauren McEwen conversion, the Gaels were only down 14-7.

Unfortunately this would be as close as the Gaels would get. The Gryphons offence would became too much to handle, scoring 34 unanswered points, winning 48-7.

With the loss, the Gaels would fall from first in the Russell Divison behind McMaster.

In the CIS rankings, the Gaels would be bumped down to 5th in the country.

The Gaels will host a playoff game against the York Lions this weekend, who they defeated earlier this season by a 43-7 score.

— Joseph Cattana

— Adam Laskaris

— Joseph Cattana

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Friday, October 16, 2015

queensjournal.ca

• 17

LIFESTYLE

PHOTO BY JUSTIN TANG

POLITICS

A guide to voting in the federal election J on W iseman Contributor

up at your local polling station Beals (New Democratic Party), with a government-issued ID and Andy Brooke (Conservative), two documents that can prove Mark Gerretsen (Liberal), Luke They say the first time’s you reside in Kingston. For many McAllister (Libertarian) and Townend (Green). students, this means a copy of Nathan always special.

Voting in your first federal a utility bill and their lease. For Incumbent Liberal MP Ted Hsu election can be nerve-racking, and students living in residence, that isn’t running for re-election.

Polls will be open for 12 hours many young voters in Canada means proof that you do, indeed, on Oct. 19. Take a couple minutes inevitably question whether their live in residence.

Other ID that can be used out of your day to vote. vote will make a difference. But “So what? I still don’t think my no matter what riding you live in, to prove your Kingston identity include: a library card, a cable bill, vote will make a difference. I really every vote counts.

If you’re 18 and a Canadian a bank statement, a prescription don’t care about politics.”

In an election as close as this one, citizen, you can exercise a right that bottle label, your student card many youth around the world are or an official Queen’s document with the possibility of a historic containing your Kingston address. finish, every vote in every riding striving to achieve.

We live in a liberal, democratic One of the two documents must truly matters.

Youth across the country have society where voting is often have your Kingston address.

You can also register to vote the power to create change in the viewed as an afterthought; where youth don’t vote in droves; where at your local polling station on country and get federal politicians Election Day. The line may be long, to focus on issues which affect such slacktivism trumps activism. a large portion of the population.

But on Oct. 19 that all changes. but it will be worth it in the end.

Sure, for many of us, it’s our If you haven’t done your All you have to do is vote.

It’s quite simple to vote in research on who’s running in what first time voting federally, and JOURNAL FILE PHOTO Kingston as a student, whether you riding, below is a rundown of the there may be many people in the Queen’s students who are proud to vote. same room as you during your first want to vote for your home riding Kingston candidates.

There are five candidates in time. But the first time’s always or the Kingston riding.

All you need to do is show Kingston and the Islands: Daniel special. Vote. is basically the poor man’s possibly more fashionable than massage — or maybe in this they are practical, or work out case, we’ll call it the “student in runners that are perhaps past their due date, it’s our calves that HEALTH price massage.”

Foam rolling has become a take the beating. To roll them, common recovery tool for athletes, start by sitting on the floor with from those in the recreational your legs outstretched. Place one to the elite levels; however, the leg on the roller and the other practice has benefits even for those leg overtop. Roll slowly from just Relieving tension in your muscles with foam rolling exercises who don’t hit the gym on a regular below the knee to just above the basis. Believe it or not (but I think ankle. Be careful to never roll over you’ll be inclined to believe it), your joints.

Quads even just sitting for hours on end in Stauffer can cause muscular knots and build tension in muscle groups For most of us, after a hard day, that you’re not even activating our quads are the place we feel it the most. To roll them out, get while seated.

Whether you’re experiencing into a plank position and place muscle soreness from the gym the roller below you, just above or from the books, foam rolling the knees. Apply pressure and is an easy, inexpensive and roll towards the hips. When you individual-oriented way to increase become accustomed to this, you blood flow to your muscles and can play around with bending your regain, or even increase, your knees to vary the pressure levels. range of mobility.

Upper back The best part is that the ARC has numerous foam rollers available for any student to sign out at the The upper back is another great equipment desk on the lowest floor, area to roll, especially if you’ve PHOTO BY VICTORIA GIBSON There are alternatives to relaxing your muscles that don’t break your bank account. so you don’t even have to buy one. been punishing your posture with If you’re a foam-rolling newbie, extended library slouching. To roll C aela F enton play — it’s relaxing just thinking therapists use when they work here are some tips and tricks your thoracic spine, lie back on your Staff Writer about it. out the kinks in your neck and to get your muscles loosened roller, with it positioned just below your shoulder blades. Support your Unfortunately, us university shoulder blades is called myofascial and relaxed. head with your hands and roll Who doesn’t love a good massage? students have a slim budget and, release, which is the manipulation towards your shoulders, stopping The candles, the sensual lighting let’s face it, can’t afford to hit up of soft tissue to relieve muscle Calves before any pressure is put on and the zen waterfall music a spa for a weekly massage session. tension. Foam rolling, which is that every single spa seems to The technique that massage a type of self-myofascial release, When we wear shoes that are your neck.

How to be your own masseuse

18 •queensjournal.ca

LIFESTYLE

Friday, October 16, 2015

FASHION

Men’s fashion: casual cool How to dress effortlessly cool and comfortable without looking like a mess

E rika S treisfield Lifestyle Editor

Queen’s student Joel Foss rocking skinny joggers, cool runners and a bomber jacket.

PHOTOS BY KAILUN ZHANG

Skinny joggers

Every man should own a pair When it comes to men’s fashion, of skinny joggers. Not only are comfort is key. Perhaps it’s because they agreeable for man parts, but men have to safely stow their man they’re fashion forward. You can parts, and sweatpants does the job. enjoy the sweatpants material and Sweatpants, hoodies, graphic baggy crotch, while harnessing a tees and hats are go-to outfits for sophisticated look.

Shop Adidas, Topman and most guys. While this look provides maximum comfort, it can often Abercrombie for a variety of slim be unattractive and sometimes and sexy joggers. appear discheveled.

V-necks I’m not proposing to swap sweats for chinos or a baggy sweatshirt for a Ralph Lauren polo, but rather to Whether you’re sporting chest hair opt for more appropriate clothing or a couple of strays, V-necks are a that encapsulates comfort and style. must-have. By showing a little skin, Thankfully, contemporary V-necks add a hint of maturity to fashion has got men covered, any outfit. You can pair these plain with skinny sweats, cool tees and tees with skinny joggers or jeans and cool kicks to complete the look. slick sneakers.

To follow are staple pieces every Hanes and American Apparel man should incorporate into his offer a variety of classic, clean tees wardrobe to achieve an effortless, for cheap. comfortable and stylish look.

Caps and toques Fresh kicks Baseball caps or fitted hats can add Swapping old raggedy shoes for the perfect amount of style to any some fresh kicks can instantly man’s look. Caps also have the transform a man’s look from added benefit of hiding greasy, bad zero to hero. Opt for runners, hair, so you can go about your day like Adidas or Nike, to maximize looking fresh to death. No one has to know. Opt for nice, clean cut comfort and style.

During colder months, a cool caps that aren’t old or beat-up.

For the winter months, toques pair of Blundstones will keep your are all the rage for their comfort feet fashionable and warm. and style.

Socks Bomber jacket Who said socks had to be boring?

Swap old white socks for some During chilly days a cool bomber funky patterned ones. You can jacket will keep you snug and chic. choose from a variety of socks Bombers are easy to throw on over at Topman and Urban Outfitters. any outfit and they complete a look.

Don’t be afraid to push the Opt for neutral-coloured jackets, boundary and get a little wild when like black, gray or an army green, it comes to footwear. Funky socks which can be matched with most add the perfect amount of style and articles of clothing.

Shop for bombers at Zara, class to your footwear game.

Topman and H&M.

LIFESTYLE

Friday, October 16, 2015

queensjournal.ca

• 19

HOOK-UP CULTURE

The Netflix & chill phenomenon How the long-standing phrase has changed hook-up culture

Netflix and chill is a term coined for casual dating.

A licia H ai Staff Writer

of security by misleading them. If a guy is inviting you over to his place to watch a movie and hangout, you can be lured into Back in 2012, when “Gangnam Style” was the idea he wants to make you his girlfriend. dominating the Top 40 charts and I was If he wanted something more serious, he beginning my first year at Queen’s, Netflix would be making a bigger effort.

So, if you’re being asked for some Netflix became a way for me to escape the dreariness of my day-to-day school life and avoid yet & chill, please be real with yourself and understand it may not mean what you think. another night out at Stages.

For me, there was nothing quainter than Just because someone wants to have sex, kicking back on a Friday night with my doesn’t mean they want a relationship out four-piece and curly fries from Lazy and of it.

People have been coming up with excuses marathon hours of Gossip Girl. And while this remains one of my indulgences to this to have sex for generations — whether it day, the phenomenon of “Netflix & chill” coming over “for a cup of coffee” or “to deeply changed that over the years that watch a movie” — making “Netflix & chill” no different from other excuses that came followed.

Flash forward three years later: Netflix before it.

The phrase calls out our generation’s has fully immersed itself into the dating world. There’s nothing better than having a transparent attitudes and attempts to get more-than-friendly companion to join you someone into the bedroom. These days, I on a binge of your favourite TV shows. But can’t peruse through my friends’ updates as the power of Netflix and streaming media on social media without seeing a generally evolved, so did the language in the phrase unfunny meme about the clichéd phrase.

“Netflix & chill” is inescapable in its “Netflix & chill”.

A seemingly innocent phrase, “Netflix newfound meanings of sexual connotation. & chill” — or to hook-up — has blurred It’s become engrained in our societal the line between the desire for hooking up norms and indicative of a larger hook-up culture that celebrates casual sex over and dating.

It can lure individuals into a false sense traditional dating.

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PHOTO BY KENDRA PIERROZ

LIFESTYLE

20 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, October 16, 2015

POSTSCRIPT

A brown face in a white place PHOTO BY ERIKA STREISFIELD

V ishmayaa J eyamoorthy Copy Editor Being a woman of colour in a primarily white school like Queen’s is incredibly daunting.

When I first received my offer of admission, I was ecstatic. Out of all the schools I applied to, Queen’s was secretly the only one I cared about. When the email popped into my inbox, I cried so much my mom thought I was actually crying because something terrible had happened.

I thought that Queen’s was going to be my second home: I was ready to fall in love with my school. Then I realized that wasn’t going to happen.

Frosh Week was everything I wanted it to be, but it was underscored by a nagging feeling of “I don’t belong here”.

I was one of three people of colour in my 15-person Frosh group.

When people asked me where I was from, they weren’t satisfied with my answer of Toronto. What they really wanted to know was my heritage, because when they looked at my brown skin, they thought I was different.

I was stubborn. I stuck with my answer because I refused to let people categorize me based on the colour of my skin. But it was obvious that I stood out.

One time, I caved and said I was from Sri Lanka. The girl I was talking to had never heard of Sri Lanka. In fact, she asked me if I had made a mistake because she was sure that Sri Lanka was a place from Lord of the Rings.

Everywhere I looked during Frosh Week, I saw a sea of white people. For me, this was scary as I was used to the diversity of Toronto. Naïvely, I thought all of Canada was like my hometown. I was experiencing culture shock in my own country, and it was the most bizarre feeling in the world.

When I spoke to my family about this, they asked me what I’d been expecting. There was a reason most of my minority friends didn’t come to Queen’s, and it wasn’t the distance that was stopping them.

I made lots of friends in first year, and I loved my floor mates, but it was so hard to shake off that feeling of being

“other”. I come from a different cultural, social and economic background than 90 per cent of the people I met in first year.

One time, someone approached me and mentioned that I was the first brown person they’d ever seen.

Micro-aggressions were everywhere. When I left campus, it was clear that Kingston wasn’t very diverse either.

I felt so alone in first year. I considered switching out of Queen’s to a school that was more welcoming and had more resources for people of colour. I felt alienated in the place that was supposed to be my new home.

Eventually, I couldn’t handle it anymore, so I left.

I went home for a weekend to recharge, and dragged myself back with reluctance the next Monday.

I made it through one day before I realized that I truly couldn’t stay at Queen’s unless it changed. I also realized that some of this change needed to come from me, so I did the only thing I thought would help: I contacted my residence counselor.

It was one of the most difficult things I did in my first year. But it wasn’t the fact that I needed help that scared me. It was that I might go to a counselor who was unequipped to handle the situation I was in.

I needed to talk to someone who understood what it’s like to live in an environment that tries to be inclusive but is still so ignorant. I needed someone who understood the implications of coming from the cultural background I come from. Basically, what I needed was to talk to someone who wasn’t white.

The unfortunate thing is that I never found that counselor.

The counselor I did find was great. They were kind and sympathetic, but they couldn’t empathize because they were white too.

I won’t fault them for that.

The advice I was given was good, but it became clear to me that the University wasn’t equipped to handle the needs of students of colour.

I was told that a good resource Queen’s Indian Students that’s the case, after a long search for me was Four Directions Association (QISA) — even though I couldn’t find them, and that Aboriginal Student Centre. In I wasn’t Indian — because they isn’t okay. fairness, I was told Four Directions were about as close as I could get The University would do well to was a welcoming place that would to my Sri Lankan roots, and they look into exactly how welcoming it always have a place for me if I were incredibly welcoming. actually is. It took only a few weeks needed to get away — but the They provided me what I was for me to decide that I wasn’t going fact that Four Directions, a safe looking for from the University: to stay. It took six months for me haven for Aboriginal students, was a truly safe space filled with to change my mind, and it wasn’t recommended to me, someone people who sincerely understood because of anything the school did who is very much not Aboriginal, my perspective. for me. is ridiculous.

Cultural groups on campus My reasons for staying at Four Directions shouldn’t be are used as safe spaces by a lot Queen’s are complicated and the best resource for students of of students. varied, but it came down to colour. It’s supposed to be a safe Raman Sawhney, ArtSci ’17, the fact that I wasn’t going to space for Aboriginal let the lack of diversity students. It shouldn’t be drive me away from a used for all students of “I don’t think ... [they] were properly good opportunity. colour, because it isn’t equipped to talk about what it feels like I’m still not happy fair of us to encroach on with the university. It’s to have someone call you a towelhead unacceptable their space. that there I was also told that the in class, because they would never have are students, especially been able to truly understand how Queen’s International first years, who feel Centre (QUIC) could like they don’t belong worthless that slur made me feel.” help me. The problem because of the colour with that, unfortunately, of their skin. A skit in is I’m not an international student and current QISA Dance Team Existere isn’t enough to make either.

Executive, finds that there’s a lack us feel welcome. It needs to be I also talked to the University of diversity on campus, and more obvious to incoming students that Chaplain. Like my residence so, compared to other Canadian there are resources for them that counselor, she was helpful, but universities. are tailored to them. it wasn’t enough. Unless one has “I found that the Queen’s Now that I’m in my second experienced racism first hand, it’s community overall lacked year, I know what I’m getting hard to empathize. ... cultural awareness and into. I have always been vocal I say this with the utmost acceptance amongst the overall about my struggles with the lack respect, but I don’t think either the student body,” she said. “But for of diversity on campus, but now I chaplain or my residence counselor me specifically, it was not a problem make a special effort to point it out, were properly equipped to talk because I was able to find my niche starting with this article. about what it feels like to have [with QISA].”

Since I couldn’t find space for someone call you a towelhead in Groups like QISA are crucial in me, I made my own, on campus class, because they would never creating a welcoming environment, and off. I live with someone who have been able to truly understand but a group of university students goes through the same thing that how worthless that slur made isn’t the best place to go for I do, and together we’ve turned me feel. counselling. Though QISA was a our house into a place that will be I want to make it clear that I big part of what got me through as welcoming as I wanted Queen’s don’t blame them specifically. They the year, it shouldn’t have been my to be. were incredibly kind and I will be best resource.

My relationship with Queen’s forever grateful for what they did Queen’s provides a lot of will always be complicated. I’m to help me. But they provided support to its students, but it seems still waiting to pass judgment on me with the best resources that like the University’s concept of whether or not Queen’s is the Queen’s had to offer, which, the average student doesn’t include school for me. for students of colour like me, students of colour.

I’ll cheer for the football team isn’t much.

Maybe the University at Homecoming, but when my I found solace in my does have a counselor friends ask me if I’m happy to be a extracurricular dedicated to helping Queen’s student, there will always activities. I students of colour. But if be a little pause before I answer. joined