the journal Vol. 145, Issue 16
Queen’s University
T h u r s d ay N o v e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 7
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Principal Woolf no longer seeking third term SEE PAGE 3 PHOTO BY IAIN SHERRIFF-SCOTT
Principal Daniel Woolf speaking at a Queen’s Remembers ceremony in October.
Queen’s PhD student ASUS Orientation to receives award for partner with Canadian cancer research Cancer Society Caitlin Miron one of seven to receive annual Mitacs PhD Award for Outstanding Innovation
Faculty ends 13-year relationship with Shinerama
M aureen O’R eilly News Editor
S arina G rewal Assistant News Editor
Canada. The organization administers seven research and leadership awards annually. Over the past four years, Miron has investigated aspects of DNA with the Department of Chemistry at Queen’s for her PhD work. Her research interests led her to a Mitacs Globalink Research Internship at the European Institute of Chemistry and Biology (IECB) in Bordeaux, France. The Mitacs Globalink internship partners Canadian and international institutions with researchers to facilitate a 12-week research program for students. The internship allowed Miron to research potential ways to combat the spread of cancer cells in collaboration
When Caitlin Miron arrived in France for an internship in 2015 with a collection of biochemical compounds in hand, she wasn’t sure where her work would lead. Two years later, she’s one of seven PhD students to be recognized by Mitacs for her outstanding cancer research. On Nov. 21, Miron was granted the Mitacs PhD Award for Outstanding Innovation at a ceremony in Ottawa. Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit organization that works with 60 universities, thousands of companies as well as both provincial and federal government to support industrial and social innovation in
See PhD on page 4
After partnering with Canada’s largest post-secondary fundraiser for 13 years, ASUS has ended its relationship with the cystic fibrosis charity Shinerama. Not only has the program been a hallmark of ASUS’ Orientation Week, but 2017 also marks the 50th year since the larger Queen’s community has supported Shinerama. According to Olivia Montgomery, Associate of National Events for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, the University raised almost $1.4 million in charitable donations for the organization over this period. Montgomery told The Journal via email
What’s Inside?
that this money has gone towards vital research and has shaped the lives of many in the Kingston community. “CF Canada is excited and hopeful to work with the various faculties to continue the Shinerama tradition on and off campus,” she wrote. According to a Facebook post made to the ASUS page on Nov. 23, ASUS will be starting a new partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). In an email to The Journal, 2017 Head Gael Sam Maclennan said the decision to make a change in charity wasn’t easy. The restructuring of the faculty’s 2018 orientation in coherence with the See ASUS on page 4
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NEWS
FEATURE
ARTS
SPORTS
Iain Sander 58th Queen’s
Male sexual assault often unreported at Queen’s
Queen’s Players takes a trip back to high school
Webster hoists the 105 Grey Cup
Breakdown of 2018 Grammy Nominations
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student to be named
LIFESTYLE
Rhodes Scholar page 2 queensjournal.ca
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Thursday, November 30, 2017
STUDENT AWARDS
Queen’s grad named Rhodes Scholar Iain Sander 58th Queen’s student in history to receive the title
Jasnit Pabla Assistant News Editor
When asked if there was anything he was anxious about in terms of the move to England, Sander said the social environment would be a major change for him. “I don’t really know what to expect,” he said. “Especially coming from a small town in Alberta and Queen’s having been a tight-knit community.” Despite this, Sander said he’s excited to have an engaging academic experience similar to what he had at Queen’s.
On Nov. 18, Iain Sander learned he became the second Queen’s student in as many years to be named a Rhodes Scholar. Granted by Oxford University, 95 applicants from around the world receive the prestigious title every year. Recipients are given the opportunity to pursue any full-time postgraduate degree offered by the University of Oxford for two to three years, with tuition, residence and travel expenses completely paid for. The Chair of the Sander graduated from Queen’s Committee called me this fall with a degree in Chemical and said ‘I think you Engineering before becoming should sit down’ and I the 58th Queen’s graduate to be was thinking it wasn’t awarded the honor. He follows Claire Gummo, a Political Studies going to be good. and Gender Studies student who received the award last year. —Iain Sander, For the 2018 edition of the Sci ‘17 Rhodes Scholar, interviews were held on Nov. 17, with Sander “Everybody has different made aware of his position the interests at the Rhodes Program,” following evening. “The Chair he added. “That extra perspective of the Committee called me will be interesting to experience. and said ‘I think you should And instead of weekend trips to sit down’ and I was thinking it Montreal, I can easily travel to wasn’t going to be good,” Sander, places like Paris instead.” Sci ’17, told The Journal in a This isn’t the first time phone interview. Sander has received a significant Sander, who’s currently scholarship. Upon entering his studying medicine at the undergraduate career, Sander University of Alberta, recalled was named a Loran Scholar. “losing his composure” despite Founded by Dr. Robert Cluett “usually being a calm person.” in 1988, the Loran Scholars
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Foundation is a Canadian national grant organization that gives out awards based on leadership potential demonstrated by academic achievement and extracurricular activity. With that scholarship valued at over $100,000, it covered Sander’s tuition and spending costs over four years of his undergraduate study. Without it, Sander said he wouldn’t have been able to attend Queen’s. Looking back at his chemical engineering degree, Sander called it a rigorous program. “Being at the top in high school and then coming to Queen’s Engineering I felt like a small fish in the ocean,” he said. Despite the difficult adjustment, Sander said it was ultimately PHOTO SUPPLIED BY IAIN SANDER “harder to leave than to come.” Rhodes Scholar Iain Sander. “The friendships I made at Queen’s have been very strong degree at Oxford in bio- helping people on an individual and are definitely going to be medical studies, specifically level as a physician,” he said, life-long,” he said. “[Queen’s] will orthopedic bio-mechanics and adding he would return to his always have a special place in musculoskeletal science. medical degree following the my heart.” postgraduate degree and work While at Queen’s, Sander to integrate the two degrees into worked with the Residence Being at the top in high a career focused on individuals Society, coached the local Special school and then coming with disabilities. Olympics swim team and worked “I’m just really grateful to to Queen’s Engineering I Queen’s with first-year engineer students and [the] engineering felt like a small fish in faculty for helping me grow and as a Project Manager who the ocean. oversaw their design teams. develop as an individual,” Sander After completing his first year said. “I want to thank my research of medicine in Alberta, Sander —Iain Sander, supervisors Dr. Bruce and Juliana will begin his studies at Oxford Sci ‘17 Ramsay, and [Associate University in the fall of 2018. He intends Registrar Officer] Teresa Alm.” to complete his graduate “Ideally I would see my role
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Queen’s alum recognized by United Nations
Fiona Sampson’s women’s rights project is the first Canadian NGO to receive the honour
E2 CEO Fiona Sampson.
Meredith Wilson-Smith Copy Editor On Nov. 28, The Equality Effect CEO and Queen’s alum Fiona Sampson celebrated her organization’s historic United Nations (UN) recognition at a Toronto reception. The Equality Effect (E2) is a non-profit charity that uses international human rights law to achieve justice for women and girls around the world. E2’s primary focus is the 160 Girls project — a long-term legal
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY FIONA SAMPSON
effort based on the testimonies of 160 girls in Kenya who’d been sexually assaulted. The litigation resulted in a 2013 Kenya High Court ruling that protects Kenyan girls from sexual assault and facilitated changes in the police force to advocate for consent and education. The UN first recognized the 160 Girls project in June 2017 for its best practices advancing women’s rights and empowerment. It was the first Canadian NGO and women’s rights organization to
receive this honour. In 2016, Sampson, ArtSci ’85/Law ’93, received the Queen’s University Alumni Association (QUAA) Alumni Humanitarian Award for her work with E2. In an interview with The Journal, Sampson spoke about the impact her time at Queen’s has had on her work. While on campus, Sampson said she found it invigorating to “challenge the dominant norms” relating to Indigenous culture and the environment. She credited her Queen’s professors with providing opportunities to explore her budding interest in social justice. Sampson described her involvement at Queen’s — first as an undergraduate and then as a law student — as “following that fire, knowing that … the law could be used to address the inequities [she’d] first been exposed to on a pretty over-privileged campus in southern Ontario.” Despite this, Sampson’s campus altruism didn’t always have a clear purpose. “I remember walking around in third and fourth year thinking, ‘I have no idea what my future is’ […] I had this energy
that consumed me, but I didn’t know how it was going to play out,” she said. Although she gives Queen’s a lot of credit, Sampson’s childhood gave her an early introduction to struggles that later influenced her interest in social justice.
remember walking “Iaround in third and
fourth year thinking, ‘I have no idea what my future is’ […] I had this energy that consumed me, but I didn’t know how it was going to play out.
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—Fiona Sampson
When pregnant with her, Sampson’s mother took thalidomide — a morning sickness drug that causes limb malformation. Sampson’s experience as a thalidomide victim made her “very alert” to injustice and impunity. This experience, coupled with her narrow focus at Queen’s led Sampson to the foundation of E2.
E2’s ‘litigation in a box’ model cemented the organization’s UN recognition. The transferability of their equality research and strategic action plans caused the law community to describe the organization’s success as a “landmark” for women’s rights advocacy. According to Sampson, the UN recognition has facilitated the organization’s hopes for expansion, as it provided a “huge boost” in terms of recognition and credibility. Sampson’s undergraduate interest in Indigenous issues remains today, as E2 explores the possibility of connecting with Indigenous communities in Canada. “Seeing those girls get justice is really the pinnacle of satisfaction for me,” Sampson said. “That is energy that I will continue to feed into the work for the beneficiaries.” “For the girls on the ground to be celebrated as change-makers on an international stage is a tribute. To see the transformation […] from being an outcast to being celebrated like that — that is the hugely satisfying kind of moment we look to achieve.”
News
Thursday, November 30, 2017
queensjournal.ca • 3
Nov. 28 Senate meeting recap
Principal Woolf announces withdrawal from campaign for reappointment as Principal Maureen O’Reilly News Editor Following Principal Daniel Woolf’s announcement to withdraw from his campaign to be reappointed for a third term as Principal, the Nov. 28 Senate meeting saw updates from several working groups and task forces. Undergraduate Orientation Review Working Group consultation
Deputy Provost (Academic Operations and Inclusion) Teri Shearer provided Senate with an update on the consultations being done by the Undergraduate Orientation Review Working Group (UORWG). Created in August of this year, UORWG aims to discover ways of making undergraduate Orientation Week more welcoming and inclusive for
all members of the Queen’s community. The group has spent the past three months conducting public and private consultations with stakeholders to produce comprehensive recommendations to the University by March 2018. Shearer asked members of Senate to offer their own suggestions on how to improve Orientation Week activities. Senator Laeeque Daneshmend asked for all recommendations put forth by the Prinicipal’s Implementation Committee on Racism, Diversity and Inclusion (PICRDI) related to Orientation Week be implemented. Senator Jacqueline Davies agreed with Daneshmend and said she was “gutted” to hear that PICRDI Orientation Week recommendations weren’t automatically being adopted. “This is exhausting to even imagine that after six-plus reports over the years and countless
testimonies about racism, harassment, and town-gown issues that we have to [report] again to have an effect,” Davies said. Shearer thanked senators for their suggestions related to PICRDI but didn’t offer further response to them. Provost’s report
Provost Benoit-Antoine Bacon began his report by announcing the upcoming retirement of University Advisor on Equity and Human Rights Irène Bujara. For the past 25 years, Bujara has worked in the University’s Equity Office and has always been committed to ensuring that “each and every member of the Queen’s community feels a sense of inclusion and belonging,” Bacon said. Bujara received a standing ovation from Senate thanking her for her successful career and Bacon said he’s committed to ensuring the continuation of her work in the Equity Office. Bacon also provided a report on the Innovation and Wellness Centre construction. According to him, the building is scheduled to be fully enclosed by the end of December, when internal construction will begin. Bacon submitted the 2017-18 Fall Enrollment Report to Senate, which showed significant increases in nearly all areas of application and enrollment. According to enrollment numbers, there are now 2,946 undergraduate and graduate international students at Queen’s. With this number 18 per cent higher than 2016-17, the international student population now accounts for 11.3 per cent of total enrollment. PICRDI update
Stats from the 2017-18 Enrollment Report.
Principal Woolf no longer seeking third term Principal Daniel Woolf told the Joint Board/Senate Committee on Tuesday of his plans to withdraw from consideration for a third term as Principal of Queen’s University. “After considerable further reflection over the past several weeks, I have concluded that after having served for 10 years it would be best for Queen’s, and for me, to step down from the principalship at the conclusion of my current term,” Woolf told The Gazette. “Having requested consideration for the reappointment during the summer, I have been led to this conclusion both by a sense that the renewal process will be good for the University and by my own wish to return to full-
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Shearer also provided an update on the consultations and ongoing work of PICRDI. One area of focus she identified was “communicating updates to the broader community,” as she
recently learned many students and staff felt unaware of the work being done by the committee. The written report provided a number of updates, including the creation of the University Council on Anti-Racism and Equity, the establishment of a Diversity and Inclusivity Coordinator within Student Affairs and ongoing planning for the creation of an Alfie Pearce Centre for Racial Equity and Social Justice. The Alfie Pearce Centre was a recommendation included in PICRDI’s final report to provide a safe designated space for minority students and groups on campus. Another update included in the report was the ongoing development of equitable practices related to staff and faculty recruitment. When asked by Senator Daneshmend, Shearer noted they hope to have clear practices in place by the end of 2019. However, Daneshmend recalled a similar promise was made to execute these practices by the end of 2015, indicating a “growing concern with a slow pace of movement” in the implementation of equity recommendations. Daneshmend also asked about the status of the PICRDI recommendation to hire a new Assistant Vice-Provost (Equity and Inclusion). According to Bacon, the
News in Brief time research and teaching as a professor in the Department of History for a few years prior to to retirement, following a period of administrative leave.” Woolf’s decision to withdraw brings to a conclusion the work of the Joint Board/Senate Committee to review the Principalship, led by Chancellor Jim Leech. Chancellor Leech told The Gazette, “there is no doubt Principal Woolf has built strong relationships and made strategic decisions that will benefit Queen’s for many years to come. His legacy will be a lasting one. As for next steps, the University will now
begin the process of choosing a new principal and details of the recruitment process will be announced as they become available in the new year.” —Iain Sherriff-Scott
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Stats from the 2017-18 Enrollment Report.
tentative deadline for creating and filling this position is still for the 2018-19 academic year, but they will be careful to take their time with it. “We want to make sure we can make the appointment we need, not the appointment we’re rushed to make,” Bacon said.
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We want to make sure we can make the appointment we need note the appointment we’re rushed to make.
—Provost Benoit-Antoine Bacon
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According to Shearer, efforts to revise workplace harassment policies are also in the works, but are proving “quite remarkably complex despite the fact that [they] know where [they] want to go with it.” Shearer also announced she’s scheduled to meet with the University Rector, the AMS Commissioner of Social Issues and representatives from equity-seeking campus groups to discuss the creation of the proposed Alfie Pearce Centre for Racial Equity and Social Justice. Shearer said they hope to have a concrete plan for development by April.
According to the Kingston Police, “police have completed a thorough search of the garage and nothing suspicious was located.” The second threat was received on Saturday, Nov. 25, again by email. Police arrived at the hospital Second bomb threat at at 10:20 a.m. Again, a search KGH sparks further police of the parking garage yielded investigation nothing suspicious. Currently it remains unclear Since Nov. 23, the Kingston whether or not the threats General Hospital (KGH) has are connected. received two separate bomb threats targeting the hospital’s —Iain Sherriff-Scott shared parking garage with the University under Nixon field on Stuart Street. The first threat was received by KGH via email on Nov. 23, prompting a police investigation of the parking garage. The threat resulted in the garage being shut down for over a day.
News
4 •queensjournal.ca Iain Sherriff-Scott Assistant News Editor Released on Nov. 21, a report by Canada’s Auditor General Michael Ferguson has revealed serious fiscal and performative issues at Kingston’s Royal Military College. Ferguson’s report claims it’s twice as costly to train and educate potential military personnel at Royal Military College (RMC) as at a civilian university. In addition, the report said there’s no noticeable difference between officers trained at the military college and elsewhere after they enter the service. “The higher costs were partly attributed to the higher standards that the Royal Military College of Canada set for its graduates,” the report read. “However, National Defence could not demonstrate that these standards resulted in more effective military officers. Furthermore, the Royal Military College of Canada’s governance structure failed to integrate military and academic objectives.” Ferguson also said RMC’s operating costs were approximately $91.9 million in the 2014-15 fiscal year. The costs equate to $55,000 per full-time student, making RMC “the highest per-student cost in the country.” “In our opinion, the number of degree programs offered and the low student-to-faculty ratio are major factors that contributed to this high cost,” the report claimed. According to the report’s
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Royal Military College cited by Auditor General for inefficiency
Kingston’s Royal Military College has come under fire for its operation costs and performance compared to civilian universities
then, Vance has been responsible for implementing the dozens of recommendations outlined in the major report. According to CBC, Vance told reporters in March, “I am delighted to report there is no one single cause for concern.” He added, “But I think it’s fair to say periodically an institution as important as RMC needs a really close look to make sure we are really delivering to the future of the armed forces.” Between May and August of 2016, three cadets were suspected of taking their own lives. Two of those cadets were found dead on RMC campus only two weeks apart.
it’s fair to “sayI think periodically an
institution as important as RMC needs a really close look to make sure we are really delivering to the future of the armed forces.
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—Jonathan Vance
PHOTO BY JOSEPH CATTANA
Kingston’s Royal Military College.
recommendations, “National Defence should explore ways to reduce the Royal Military College of Canada’s operating cost per student and consider reducing the number of programs offered.”
The Auditor General’s report isn’t the only challenge RMC has faced this year. In March, a major 227-page report was released examining several suspected suicides and allegations
of sexual misconduct at the college. The report prompted Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance to bring the college under his control. Since
“Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached to those that seek or want to seek assistance as many are concerned about being perceived as being weak or having a problem if they do solicit help,” the sexual misconduct report said. According to the report, “the negative stressors centered on inconsistent leadership within the Training and Cadet Wings.”
PhD student calls ASUS ends 13-year her cancer research partnership with Shinerama “promising”
“A large part of the CARE CARE committee member and mandate is community outreach, Shinerama campaign advisor, introduction of a new Fall and this is something that I am said she was “disheartened” to Reading Week presents an particularly passionate about. CCS hear about the decision. opportunity for positive has many programs that focus on “Shinerama is something that change. As a result, Maclennan local outreach,” Conrads added. has really shaped my Queen’s proposed the possibility of a Doug Kane, Senior Manager of experience, and it has been new charity partnership. the Kingston Chapter of CCS, told incredible to see the Queen’s First, he discussed this The Journal via email that CCS campaign continue to thrive year potentiality with both previous Kingston is “excited to partner after year since getting involved,” ASUS Chairs and other with ASUS.” Greco said. stakeholders. Following this, he “Cancer is a devastating disease “While I am really happy to also mentioned it to Community, that one in two Canadians will be see funds going to another very Awareness, Respect, and diagnosed with in their lifetime worthy cause, it is bittersweet Engagement (CARE) Orientation and over 80,000 will die this to see the end of such a great Chair applicants — though at this year alone,” he stated. “Through partnership,” she added. point, the decision wasn’t final. the exceptional fundraising and Maclennan acknowledged After hiring his orientation awareness activities led by ASUS that the decision isn’t supported chairs, “the new team sat down in Kingston, the Canadian Cancer by everyone and further stated and discussed partnering with a Society will be able to continue to ASUS would be “very happy new charity,” Maclennan wrote. fund the best and most promising to support any students that “We assessed the feasibility of this cancer research in Canada.” are interested and willing to change to ensure the quality of the continue a Shinerama fundraising programming we offer to first year campaign at Queen’s.” He students is in no way reduced by While I am really said interested individuals this decision.” are encouraged to contact him. happy to see funds “We decided that a partnership “We so grateful to have been going to another very a partare with a new charity, particularly the of the amazing progress worthy cause, it is Canadian Cancer Society, would that Shinerama has made in bittersweet to see the improving the lives of people be an incredible new opportunity for us to incorporate fundraising living with Cystic Fibrosis, and end of such a into our Orientation Week and we look forward to watching great partnership. give back to the Kingston them continue to make strides in community,” Maclennan continued. —Sarah Greco, improving care for people with 2017 CARE Chair Gretha Past CARE committee member CF,” he wrote. Conrads discussed ASUS Conrads echoed this sentiment. orientation’s new charitable path Though Maclennan emphasized “We do not believe this is the with The Journal via email. An the response to this decision has end of a relationship between important factor in the decision been largely positive, there are Queen’s and Shinerama, but rather to choose CCS was due to their some in the community who an opportunity for Shinerama “local and national opportunities,” expressed their discontent. to exist in a different capacity she wrote. Sarah Greco, a former 2015 on campus.” Continued from front
use [the superglue] to stabilize that folded structure, and if the with Jean-Louise Mergny, a structure’s there, [the superglue] research director at IECB. blocks the axis of cell machinery Miron explained her research in to that section, so you wouldn’t get an interview with The Journal on a production of that protein. And Tuesday. then that protein wouldn’t be able “Normally DNA is in that double to help with metastasis or different helix we see a lot in the media, aspects of cancer,” Miron said. but it can become temporarily According to Miron, her single-stranded,” Miron said. internship at IECB was invaluable. “When it does, we can think of it She said it allowed her to like a necklace. The chain is the consult with a team of experts to single strand of DNA and then you learn different research techniques. have beads that move freely down Before her award ceremony that chain — and they can [move in Ottawa on Nov. 21, Miron had freely] until they come to a knot.” the chance to speak to MPs on “Now normally the cell has Parliament Hill about her work. ways to unravel that knot, but As for next steps, Miron’s in this case somebody else has anticipating the publication of her gotten there first, and they’ve research in January 2018. used superglue to make [the “I’ve got a bunch of publications knot] a permanent structure,” she that will be rolling out at some continued. “In that analogy, the point next year,” Miron said. “[The beads that are moving along the research] looks fairly promising, chain are the cell machinery that and it would be nice to see reads and processes pieces of your something going into clinical DNA to make proteins [and] the trials, but we’re really not there knot is an unusual fold of DNA.” yet — that’s far away.” Through Miron’s research, she When Miron began her PhD at and her colleagues discovered Queen’s, cancer research wasn’t what she calls “a metaphorical her main project — but she’s glad superglue.” This “superglue” she became involved in this work. often presents itself right in “It’s really exciting [… ] to make front of sections of DNA called a discovery and then be like, ‘I oncogenes — genes that have the am in charge of this project, and potential to cause cancer. this is what I’m going to do next,’” “The hope is that we could she said. Continued from front
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Thursday, November 20, 2017
queensjournal.ca
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Features Left behind: The experiences of male sexual assault victims & survivors at Queen’s IN-DEPTH STORIES FROM AROUND CAMPUS AND IN THE COMMUNITY
Pervasive stigma and lack of sufficient resources present barriers to recovery
According to professionals, male sexaul assault is extremely underreported.
Sarina Grewal Assistant News Editor This article talks about sexual assault and may be triggering for some readers. On a chilly fall night in 2015, Mason* and his housemates hosted a party that started out like any other. After a few drinks, he started flirting with a girl he knew from his classes. When Mason suddenly began to feel sick, he left the party and went to his upstairs bedroom. A little later on in the night, Mason woke up to find the girl from earlier had entered his room. At first, she simply made conversation with him, but things quickly escalated. After the girl began to kiss him, Mason said she started to remove articles of his clothing despite his protests. “At first I tried to push her away, but I felt like it wasn’t like a normal thing for me to say no and she seemed annoyed I wasn’t as into it as she was,” he said. “I remember at one point she glared at me and said ‘What’s the matter with you?’” Mason’s classmate then proceeded to engage in oral and penetrative sex. When it ended, Mason remembered his unresponsive reaction angered her. She stormed out of the room soon after. “I got up probably hours later and took a shower and I remember I threw out the underwear I was wearing when she came in. I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror that whole night.” The next morning — and for weeks afterwards — Mason isolated himself. He stopped going to parties and didn’t attend any of the classes he shared with the girl. “I felt abnormal. It was like I wasn’t a proper guy because I hadn’t wanted to sleep with her,” he said. Although it’s not typically talked about, Mason’s story is only one instance of sexual violence committed against males at Queen’s. According to a 2013 report published by the Canadian Department of Justice, research conducted on male sexual abuse and assault is substantially insufficient when compared
to female assault. The report also revealed that as of 2010, males account for one tenth — or 12 per cent — of total victims of abuse according to police-reported data. Currently, there’s no agreed upon estimate for the commonality of sexual violence against males. Kingston Police Staff Sergeant Sean Bambrick said sexual assaults are severely underreported for a number of reasons. Some fears — being disbelieved, the complications of knowing the offender and the daunting criminal justice process — are shared amongst men and women. But in the same way female victims and survivors face their own gendered struggles, other factors come into play for male-identified victims and survivors. Barb Lotan, Queen’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator, said pervading perceptions around masculinity are a prominent barrier for men. “They feel a certain reluctance to disclose because there are some perceptions around masculinity that influence how they’re feeling about it and how they’ll be received,” Lotan said. Sexual Violence and Bystander Awareness Student Coordinator Lea Keren addressed other damaging rape mythology surrounding male victims and survivors. “Our culture sees men as being sexually insatiable, which makes it difficult for men to say they didn’t consent to a sexual act or acts,” Keren said. Brea Hutchinson, the Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Centre Kingston said there’s a common idea that “you can’t sexually assault a male.” It’s something she finds incredibly problematic. “One of those rape myths is that everyone reacts to sexual violence violently ... there’s flight, there’s fight, and there’s freeze, and so many of us just freeze up,” Hutchinson said. “And a lot of that freezing can come from harm reduction.” Stephen*, another male survivor of sexual assault at Queen’s, can attest to the ‘freeze’ reaction Hutchinson talked about. Stephen began to see men in early 2016. After downloading Grindr, he began chatting with an older man and eventually agreed
to a date at a bar with him and his partner. They ended up at the couple’s home where the three continued to drink before they entered the bedroom. “This was when I started getting a little overwhelmed ... and then the one puts on a condom but the other’s isn’t there ... and I’m like: “Stop, what are you doing?” Stephen recalled. Despite indicating he didn’t want to participate, the two men had sex with Stephen. “I wanted to run away, but it was weird because I was just completely frozen, I just felt paralyzed,” Stephen said. “I wanted to run, yell, get out of there, but instead I was completely frozen. I couldn’t leave.” Like Mason, Stephen went through periods of isolation. In the following weeks, he attempted to block out the night of his sexual assault from his mind. At this time, his mental health also suffered a sharp decline. He stopped seeing his friends, his depression worsened and he eventually ended up on suicide watch. “Basically every night I would call a friend, broken down, saying ‘I’m done,’” Stephen said. When it comes to supporting victims and survivors of rape, it seems males are often unintentionally left behind. Earlier this year, Queen’s student Landon Wilcock wrote an op-ed in The Journal about his experience with sexual assault. In an interview last week, Wilcock told The Journal he researched resources for victims and survivors after his assault. However, much of what he found was predictably geared towards females. “I really struggled to relate or find resources ... what dissuaded me from seeking out these resources was thinking, ‘As a male, if I go into some kind of centre, it just wouldn’t make sense for me, because these resources are set up for female-identified people,” Wilcock said. “I also felt like if I went to some kind of group discussion I might even make that an uncomfortable space for the female-identifying people,” he continued. “Maybe then I’d actually be damaging a space for other survivors, which I didn’t think was fair.”
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
When it came to accessing professional support services, going to the authorities or to the hospital, Wilcock remained uncomfortable. He said this was a barrier to his post-traumatic growth. “After the event I really didn’t know what to do. I never considered myself someone clueless about sexual health resources, but after the event I genuinely considered going to the hospital, and I didn’t for a couple reasons: one, I thought if I go to the hospital they won’t believe me. As well as, ‘what would they even do there?’” Wilcock explained. “Everything I’d ever been taught or heard under the sexual health umbrella of resources was for [women],” he said. Wilcock didn’t pursue legal action against his assailant for similar reasons, citing fear of disbelief. An awareness of the unfounded rates for female-reported sexual assaults further deterred him. According to The Globe and Mail’s “Unfounded” investigation published in February of 2017, one in five sexual assault cases in Canada are dismissed as baseless. In the time since his party, Mason said he’s faced similar obstacles. “A lot of [my friends] were confused about how their six foot male friend could have been assaulted. I got asked ‘How could that happen to you?’ more than once.” Mason said the expectation that men always want sex leads to disbelief and skepticism when they disclose an assault. Stigma and confusion around non-violent reactions to sexual assault further discourages men from coming forward. “I think people tend to picture rape as this struggle between the victim and perpetrator, with yelling and fighting. But rape can be quiet too. It can be a silent struggle,” Mason explained. “I didn’t want to be an anomaly so I tried to tell myself it wasn’t sexual assault for so long. But it became hard to pretend like it hadn’t happened. I couldn’t find a way to box up my rape and shelve it.”
*Names have been changed to protect the anonymity of individuals who shared their stories.
6 •queensjournal.ca
Thursday, November 30, 2017
EDITORIALS
THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL
The Journal’s Perspective
Volume 145 Issue 16
Local news deserves to survive
www.queensjournal.ca @queensjournal Publishing since 1873
Editorial Board
Joseph Cattana Meg Glover
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It’s time to educate youth about mental health
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ILLUSTRATION BY STEPHANIE JIANG
PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
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With the rise of digital media, print-first newspapers have very quickly become unprofitable. However, it’s important to remember a small local paper’s primary function isn’t to make money; it’s to put a microscope on a specific community and hold local officials accountable. On Monday, Torstar Corp. and Postmedia Network Inc. announced nearly 300 jobs will be lost in the closures of over 30 local newspapers across the country. As a result, the federal government has been put under pressure to find a way to save the newspaper industry. Even though some are calling for aid from Ottawa in the wake of the closures, government funding can’t be a long-term solution. The Canada Periodical Fund allocates $75 million a year, some of which is invested in supporting local media across the country. The Canada Periodical Fund wouldn’t be needed to provide a one-time bailout. Keeping the industry afloat would mean long-term monetary support; something unsustainable for the
Josh granovsky
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Abbey Dudas
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Canada Periodical Fund to do alone. There’s something to be said for having newspapers make the transition to fully digital platforms. Putting news in print is an expense many news organizations can no longer afford. As people continue to rely more on online news sources, print readership has experienced a steady decline. There can’t be any reluctance amongst newspapers to move towards a digital focus if they’re to survive in the digital age. That being said, a lot of revenue for smaller newspapers comes from print subscriptions and print ads. Print media has its advantages for those in remote communities or the
Introducing early and legitimate education on mental health to young Canadians is vital. Not only would putting resources into education on mental health help to de-stigmatize it, but this shift could also prepare students who may end up dealing with it themselves. I wasn’t exposed to topics on mental health when I was in elementary and high school. It was only after suffering through two years of depression that I worked up the courage to seek help from a medical professional. Before I began to see a therapist, I thought I was weak for feeling so down and confused all of the time. As a result, I exhausted myself trying to beat it on my own. Learning about my mental illness through therapy helped me to understand what was really going on inside
elderly. For some people in Canada, reading a physical newspaper is the only way they get news. Until every person in Canada relies solely on online news, there will continue to be a need for tangible, printed newspapers. Even if print media were to disappear, the problem of how to best keep small news organizations afloat will still need to be dealt with. Big national newspapers like The National Post, The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail are going to survive and adapt because they have the corporate backing and resources to do it. In comparison, small local news organizations are anything but safe right now. It’s one thing to argue print media is obsolete, but quite another to allow smaller community papers to be snuffed out completely. — Journal Editorial Board
of my head. One of the most common misconceptions about mental illness is that you can just ‘snap out of it’ if you really want to. Another is that those suffering from mental illness are weak because they can’t overcome it. Unless they’re properly educated, many will continue to believe these misconceptions to be true. In order to combat the negative stigma, education on mental health needs to become more of a priority in our school curriculums. Right now, grade seven students in Ontario have health classes that allow them to learn about sexually transmitted diseases and sexuality. While these classes are important, students also need to learn about what mental illness is and how to properly help those suffering from it during this crucial time.
Mental illness needs to be treated as any other illness or injury; it needs to be recognized and addressed. For those suffering in silence, I encourage you to reach out to your family and friends as well as seek help from a medical professional. You aren’t defined by your illness, you aren’t weak and you don’t have to try to beat it by yourself. The stigma attached to mental illness is one of the biggest barriers people face in seeking help. Promoting mental health education for young people will help de-stigmatize mental illness and make it easier for people suffering to seek and receive proper help from those around them. Max is The Journal’s Video Editor. He’s a fourth-year Film major.
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Want to contribute? For information visit: www.queensjournal.ca/contribute or email the Editor in Chief at journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions. The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston. Editorial opinions expressed in The Journal are the sole responsibility of The Queen’s Journal Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers. 190 University Ave., Kingston, ON, K7L 3P4 Editorial Office: 613-533-2800 Business Office: 613-533-6711 Fax: 613-533-6728 Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Please address complaints and grievances to the Editor in Chief. The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Performance Group of Companies in Smiths Falls, Ontario. Contents © 2017 by The Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of The Journal. Circulation 2,000
Thursday, November 30, 2017
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•7
The burdens still exist in Canadian healthcare How a few small changes can make the difference
ERIKA SIEGERT, ArtSci ’18
When discussing healthcare, many Canadians give themselves a pat on the back for having a “free” system compared to those neighbours of ours down south. Spending a couple of hours in a waiting room seems hardly a burden when the care is free. As fortunate as we Canadians are to not have to pay thousands of dollars to visit a doctor, I still often find myself complaining about some aspects of our healthcare system. Erika Siegert outside Queen’s Student Wellness Services buildings. Don’t get me wrong, I’m aware of how As we wait, we often turn to other sources lucky we are to live in a country where we to discuss symptoms calmly and effectively to find answers. Looking up our symptoms have the ability to dial three numbers and with patients. I’m told I need to “find the good on websites like Web MD is something we’re have a well-equipped paramedic arrive at our door. In my eyes, however, there doctors and stick with them,” but shouldn’t told to stay away from because it can lead are many improvements that could the education process produce capable to misdiagnoses and the onset of panic. But when we’re waiting weeks and conscientious doctors across the be made. At some point, I think we have to stop board? Health is important to everyone to see a doctor and symptoms are praising ourselves for having a system that, and in stressful times of sickness or pain, worsening, what else are we expected at face value, seems better than that of the we don’t want to be brushed off, sent to do? Speaking of technology, electronic medical US. Instead of focusing on what we do away or lectured with medical jargon we records are starting to be implemented well, Canadians should instead start don’t understand. in Canada. Still, there has yet to be a to think about how we can improve nation-wide system put in place in upon our shortcomings. One positive which all records are accessible to step forward we can make is to eliminate There’s nothing people miscommunications between healthcare care about more than their healthcare providers. This is partially because both doctors and patients have providers to allow for more efficient and health or the well-being of a expressed concerns around potential effective healthcare. loved one. security and liability issues in the case After four years of solely studying theory of a breach releasing records for the and human anatomy, doctors often lack entire population. the personable skills needed to interact Doctors need to tell us what’s going with patients face-to-face. We all know how hard it is to get into medical school, on calmly and clearly — not confuse and however, things need to change in order frustrate us even more. We don’t want to be I understand wait times will never be to bring competent doctors into brushed off, sent away or completely eliminated, but improvements the working world. lectured with medical jargon do need to be made to reduce the time we don’t understand spent in between appointments. I’ve called Canadians should instead my doctor’s secretary before to schedule a visit and they tell me the only available time start to think about how I think we can look at the benefits of is three weeks away. we can improve our By the time I finally get a visit, there’s still electronic medical records in a different shortcomings. no definitive answer for me; just my name way. In this day and age, everyone shares on a four-month-long waiting list to see a an obscene amount of details about their specialist. With the rise of technology, you’d private lives on the internet via social media. These doctors shouldn’t just possess think more effective systems would be in Even banks — enormous corporations the knowledge and practical skills to place to allow for more doctor’s appointments that hold most of our money — have our personal information. So why do we feel treat us, they should also have the ability and less lags in communication.
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Opinions PHOTO BY NICOLE LANGFIELD
we can’t trust a secure drive with our medical records? Perhaps an accident occurs to someone when they’re travelling outside the province, or even just a city away. Having immediate access to medical history would be convenient. By providing critical information needed for proper treatment, it could potentially save the lives of many. There’s nothing people care about more than their health or the well-being of a loved one. The last thing anyone wants is to fall ill or become injured and then also not have access to necessary medical information. In a case of emergency, the convenience and amount of time we’d save in accessing our records via a nation-wide filing system would well outweigh the costs of an unlikely security breach. Though healthcare will most definitely never be perfect, minor adjustments to our current system could allow things to run a lot smoother. We must try to eliminate the wasted time and frustrations created by poor communication and in turn, develop ways to access healthcare more efficiently. We must always remember the privilege we have of living in Canada where healthcare is free and available. But even though we should be grateful, we should still work towards making improvements. Erika is a fourth year biology student.
Talking heads ... what are you most excited for about going home?
PHOTOS BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
“Sunday night football with my dad.”
“Seeing my dog.”
“Visiting my sister or going to Mexico.”
“The weather being warmer.”
Zoe Bougiouklis ArtSci ’19
Jenny Yu Concurrent ed ’18
Chin Lin Chen LifeSci ’20
Cameron Graham Commerce ’19
8 • queensjournal.ca
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Arts BANDS
Arkells rise to first headlining-stadium tour Indie rock band returns to Kingston Nick Pearce Arts Editor Arkells frontman Max Kerman wants you to do three things at their show: sing, dance and take care of each other. At the K-Rock centre last Friday, the Arkells made sure their stadium-filling act delivered on those promises. Four albums and countless shows later, the group has evolved from its humble beginnings playing Clark Hall in 2009. Breaking into spontaneous covers of “Great Balls of Fire” and “A Hard Day’s Night” throughout the Friday show, the Arkells use their concerts to chart their evolution and pass credit onto their inspirations. This became self-evident during the band’s
encore, when Kerman called opener Matt Mays back on stage repeated for the night’s Tragically Hip tribute, a cover of “My Music at Work.” Telling those in attendance that the recording of the Arkells’ second album took place at the Tragically Hip’s Kingston studio, Kerman dedicated the song to Gord Downie’s passing and promised to “keep singing these songs.” Solid opener Matt Mays leaned heavily on classic rock influences with extended, head-banging jam sessions between himself and his band to cap off their songs before the Arkells took the stage. As for the Hip cover, the show was built around these local tributes and fan service. Whether it was inviting a couple attendees up to play guitar and piano on
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying brings work home
QMT’s offers Broadway production on campus AJ Lockhard Staff Writer Running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 9 at the Rotunda Theatre, Queen’s Musical Theatre presents their own take on the Tony-award winning musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The production follows the story of J. Pierrepont Finch, played by Cristina Gonçalves, on his journey from being a lowly window washer to the chairman of the board at a large corporation. Complete with vague motivational posters, fake plants and generic office supplies scattered throughout, the set of the upcoming Queen’s Musical Theatre (QMT) performance looks like it’s straight out of The Office. There’s also a water cooler and coffee maker set up on either side of the stage which the audience is
encouraged to come up and use during the show. Prior to the performance, the MC explained this interactive encouragement is the use of a theory called two-way theatre. Here, attempts are made to break down the barrier between performers and the audience. At certain points, Finch refers to a book that instructs him how to succeed in business. Bringing in the narration from off stage and invites viewers into the production even more, the method of two-way theatre is used again as an audience member is given the book and a mic and asked to read at the appropriate times. The production had strong performances throughout — the music and choreography were flawlessly performed and the cast’s comfort with each other was palpable. The comedic timing was wonderful with Chris Johnson as
“Private School Girls” or Kerman’s constant engagement with the audience, fans didn’t want the show to end. As the Arkells gains popularity, this sort of contact with fans helps alleviate the “I liked their earlier stuff” hipster comments that are bound to pop up once they start to draw a bigger crowd. It’s a difficult balance between growing musically and keeping longtime fans on board. For their first stadium tour supporting 2016’s Morning Report, the band added a touring horn section — another throwback, this time to the band’s Motown influences. Likewise, their earlier recordings get occasional updates. The song “Whistleblower” off 2012’s Michigan Left has transitioned from a more traditional indie rock song to a slower, partly-acoustic indictment of the Trump presidency, brought to light with an additional
Arkells’ frontman Max Kerman.
PHOTOS BY AMELIA RANKINE
verse the band added following his election. Their return to politics is a noted exception from many other contemporary artists, who have made a pointed attempt to be apolitical as they try to draw a larger audience. With constant references to Kingston or driving on the 401, the Arkells are one of few rock bands that are still culturally relevant — at least in Canada. The impassioned delivery of pop hooks on the band’s newer songs, and their own frequent admission that a lot of today’s rock
music has gotten stale compared to its counterparts in other genres, helps carry their live show. At the end of the day, it’s fun, danceable music that can draw in students and Kingston locals without feeling over-marketed or pre-packaged. Part of that’s due to the band’s chemistry, part of that’s urgent delivery that still maintains a sense of humour as the band stage dives and works the crowd. Not bad for a band just finding their footing as a stadium act.
the Bud Frump and Alisha Grech as performances — and art in Smitty — nephew of the big boss general — can be created for the at the corporation and an office sake of entertainment. However, I think that on a secretary, respectively getting big campus where sexual assault is laughs throughout. Having a live band in the far from uncommon and when theatre was another unique touch new allegations of misconduct that really made the show. It by powerful men are coming out added to the feel of a large-scale everyday, it’s important to think musical production and brought of what kind of stories we’re the atmosphere of the show telling and who they serve. to life. While watching the show, I couldn’t help but wonder what went into QMT’s decision of choosing How to Succeed in Business, as it’s final production this semester. Although all technical aspects of the show — including singing, costumes and sets — were well executed and highly entertaining, I couldn’t shake the question of “why this show?” With song titles like “Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm” and “A Secretary is Not a Toy,” the show has distinctly patriarchal undertones and promotes all the tropes of a boys club business model without any of the critique similar shows like Death of a Salesman provide. If the intent was satirical then the tone didn’t transfer. I believe that theatre The play addresses office culture.
QMT’s production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was strong across all its technical aspects, with lively performances, fun choreography and a wonderful live band that drew in the audience members. Still, the stellar performances couldn’t distract me from wondering “why this show and why now?”
PHOTO BY AUSTON CHHOR
Arts
Thursday, November 30, 2017
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•9
PROFILE
Mackenzie Gregson brings tradition into the new millenium Student artist discusses her work C layton T omlinson Assistant Arts Editor Despite only being in her second year at Queen’s, Mackenzie Gregson already has her artwork on display at the Union Gallery, Titled ‘Bacon and Eggs,’ Gregson’s artwork is part of a new student exhibition Surface available for viewing from Nov. 17 to Jan. 12. The young artist sees her work as indicative of a path that blends tradition and realism with her personal style. The piece features a meal set up on a blue, woodgrain breakfast table surrounded by glued-on still lifes taken from an old magazine. The food on the table — a bright blue coffee cup, a grapefruit and the titular bacon and eggs — is
Gregson in her Ontario Hall studio.
an update to traditional strains of realism in the way it clashes with the quiet background. Like Gregson’s art, the food is traditional yet clearly modern. Gregson’s artistic flair goes back to her days doodling as a kid, long before she set her sights on realism. “I’ve always sketched and stuff like that but I was never big into painting until university,” she said. At her dad’s prompting, Gregson decided to pursue this passion at university. She was accepted to all the schools she applied to, but Gregson decided Queen’s Fine Arts program best fit her interests in
REVIEW
traditional realistic art. “I feel like Queen’s is a more traditional school experience and … it teaches a more traditional style than other schools,” she said. Before coming to Queen’s, Gregson drew inspiration from pop art, rejecting traditional forms for the brighter colour schemes and imagery of pop culture. She always wanted to use realism in her works, but they never came out looking like she wanted them to. “Before university I always just did whatever looked fun,” she said. Gregson later developed her realist style out of the necessity of the university application
Theatre Count’s The Red Pen Series gives platform to budding playwrights Two short plays explore writing and authorship S ara M c M urray Contributor This past weekend, the Theatre Count group opened its production The Red Pen Series, written by Sarah Currie and Zach Closs and directed by Sam Lee. The show, which played in Theological Hall, consisted of two half-hour original one act plays connected by the
Zach Closs and Sarah Currie.
common theme of authorship and writing. Given upcoming exams, the stress of term papers and newly frigid temperatures, you’d think it would be pretty difficult to convince a group of stressed-out university students to choose theatre over Netflix to fill their free time. Nevertheless, The Red Pen Series
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY THEATRE COUNT
succeeded in coaxing a surprising number of students to gather in a crowded campus classroom last Sunday night. This was only the first of many impressive feats the production was able to deliver. In Zach Closs’ piece titled Edith and the Scarecrows told the endearing story of an unlikely meeting between a writer trapped in a destructive relationship and a young teen struggling to come to terms with his homosexuality. The accompanying oneact, entitled Your Jokes Aren’t Funny Anymore by Sarah Currie, dealt with another troubled writer attempting to express the frustrations of his own life through playwriting. The only problem is, the writer’s characters aren’t too keen on playing out the scenes of his emotional backwash. As members of the local theatre community, the writers were on hand during the entire production process, with Sarah
PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
process — she needed samples. “Last year most of my work was realistic,” she said. Despite this and her professors’ encouragements, Gregson felt her pieces failed to capture the images inside her head. “It’s hard to describe what you do … but they weren’t right.” These early works have now become building blocks for Gregson, bringing her closer to her personal vision of realism and developing her artistic technique. “Personally, it makes me feel better about my own art if I’m getting somewhere with it,” she said. That’s why the more realistic her works become, the more she likes them. “My goal coming to school was I wanted to learn and develop a skillset,” Gregson said. Mostly, this development comes from showcasing her work to others and understanding how to represent objects as best she can. Another work of Gregson’s currently in the making takes inspiration from a painting from 1568 by artist Joachim Beuckelaer titled ‘Fish Market.’ Gregson came across the piece in the Metropolitan Museum of
Art in New York on a class trip and was immediately fascinated by the depiction of a man working over a table covered in butchered fish. The fish in the painting were staged like a still life despite the clear motion of the man’s hand as he chopped up the fish. The table in Beuckelaer’s painting was made to depict woodgrain and acted as a centrepiece of the work, continued in the themes of Gregson’s ‘Bacon and Eggs.’ Gregson’s work blends personal style with traditional elements that have been around for centuries. As a result, her art goes beyond mere realism and becomes a reflection of Gregson whether it’s intended to or not. Tradition and realism are used to build Gregson’s new artistic identity, distinct from her own influences. Though early in her career, Gregson’s early admittance into the Union Gallery and the other works from her studio make clear she’s got no plans to stop progressing as an artist.
Currie even doubling as stage manager. To actors who can often be stuck guessing the intentions of a playwright who died a century ago, this accessibility can be extremely valuable. “As an actor it’s nice, because if you do have any questions […] for your own personal interpretation later on, you have someone who literally does know what that is because they wrote it. It does a great job of helping give you more insight into the text itself,” Bryce Fletch said of his experience acting in the show. It also meant the creative team had rare access to the original artistic vision behind the script. In this case, that concerned what it means to be a writer, what responsibilities come with the territory and how writing can be used as a means to cope with life beyond the page. The Red Pen Series navigated heavy depictions of depression and suicide through the portrayal
of two principle characters’ struggles. The actors were able to handle these difficult subjects with refreshing sensitivity and tact. Their complete commitment to the quirky dialogue created a light, comedic tone at times, but they were nevertheless able to pull back occasionally to make room for more serious moments. As an audience member, I was struck by the intense vulnerability and honesty of the acting in these moments. In this respect, the show punched well above its weight. The calibre of the acting put forth by the five-person cast, including Santana Hamilton, Bryce Fletch, Julia Guest, Jessica Katzman and Lisa Davenport was superb. Overall, The Red Pen Series was a heartwarming testament to the love for theatre that is very much alive in the Queen’s university community, even on a cold, blustery Sunday night.
Check out more of Gregson’s art on Instagram @kenzpainting
Arts
10 •queensjournal.ca
Thursday, November 30, 2017
PHOTOS BY COLIN GOAD
REVIEW
Tipsy Review: Queen’s Players takes a trip back to high school Queen’s Players offers another successful run of musical comedy N ick P earce Arts Editor Somehow, I always knew returning to high school would involve being a little too inebriated. Luckily, Queen’s Players was there last Saturday night at The Mansion to make sure it went smoother than my first kick at the can with high school. While knocking back Schooners like they were trying to forget the trials of high school, an enthusiastic, slightly blurry audience helped say goodbye to the theatre troupe for another semester. Known to all who have ever attended a show, the audience performer interplay is the baseline of Players. It’s symbiotic: the audience buys the performers’ drinks, ribs them when they miss a line and eggs on the singers whenever they hear a song they know. Meanwhile, the actors and band supply the belly laughs and entertainment that make the whole thing work. The actors’ performances were a collection of skits inspired by everything from The Emperor’s New Groove, Superbad, Harry Potter and Riverdale. The send-up of the latter was an angsty Jughead parody by returning cast member Liam Collins that became the show’s easy standout. It was Collins’ final outing with Players and the show closed with
a heartfelt goodbye. The sincerity was surprising after a couple hours of poking fun at Jughead’s angsty Riverdale persona. Meanwhile, Players showcased their total willingness to be irreverent about nearly everything. The humour here comes off as a bunch of friends hunched together in the cafeteria, making celebrity impressions that go too far until suddenly, the characters from Emperor’s New Groove are going down on each other. It ruined my childhood, but then again, so did high school. At this point, I had just enough Schooners to be telling my friends I loved them, so this loss of innocence was more funny than scarring. However, Players works best as a marathon to ride out right till the end. You really have to be in it for the long haul. You only really “get” the show when the cast starts looking more than a little inebriated, and you realize you’re right there with them. Sure, the line delivery is far from flawless after a few hours of audience members passing the cast free beer. But the show remains truly endearing due to its casual, party atmosphere that gives the performers space to directly engage with the audience. It’s like if frosh week’s Existere production did shots of Jäger but insisted on keeping all the sex jokes. Players knows who its
audience is, and that audience is mostly not okay to drive. Nonetheless, the production’s band managed to keep a solid grip on the range of genres and singers covered over the course of the night’s show. Its live music goes
a long way to elevate the various musical numbers and gives the performance a musical heft that would otherwise be absent. As they played through to the show’s conclusion and old cast members started to rush the stage
as per tradition, I was making plans to get a burrito. Players is as much about participation as it is about the show — and if my hangover meant anything, it’s that the show and its audience are as strong as they’ve ever been.
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Thursday, November 30, 2017
queensjournal.ca
• 11
Sports
Webster hoists the 105 Grey Cup Former Gael recalls journey from injury to winning 27-24 with the Toronto Argonauts Matt Webster making a tackle at the 105 Grey Cup.
Sebastian Bron Sports Editor When Matt Webster hoisted the Grey Cup at TD Place on Sunday night, his lifelong dream came full circle. By Tuesday afternoon, as he celebrated with his Toronto Argonaut teammates in Nathan Phillips Square, his being overcome with emotion had yet to lapse. Just hours after the Argonauts rally had come to a close, Webster sounded elated in a phone interview with The Journal. During the call, he couldn’t help but think back to four years ago — back to a moment which put not only his Grey Cup win in jeopardy, but his football career as well. ***
for four years.” “I wasn’t upset because my pro prospects [were] jeopardized … I was upset because it was the last year to go to war and battle with my teammates.” That rainy fall afternoon in Ottawa seemed like it would never escape him. His senior season would be lost — a missed opportunity to impress CFL scouts and a final chance to play for Queen’s. But things, as they often do, change in the most remarkable and unlikeliest of ways. Since graduating from Queen’s in 2014, Webster’s played four seasons in the CFL — and, as of Sunday night, is a Grey Cup champion.
Webster remembered being in tears. Trainers huddled around him, ripping through the fabric of his jersey with a pair of scissors. Teammates stood by his side, concerned. It was 2013 and the Queen’s football team were away in Ottawa playing their fourth game of the season. Webster, the Gaels’ starting defensive back, had just picked off a pass. “I had to come off the field,” he recalled. The crowd noise echoing from the University of Ottawa’s football stadium was phased out; the score of the game, which Queen’s led, became an afterthought. Webster was consumed by what raced through his mind. “I knew something bad had happened,” he remembered thinking. “I didn’t know the extent of the damage that was done — but I knew it was enough.” As a senior who had his sights set on declaring for the CFL draft that coming spring, Webster had broken his collarbone. His recovery period was set at four-to-eight weeks. His season was over — and his draft stock, which he was already cautiously optimistic about, took a considerable hit. But what gave him the most pain was being without his team and the “guys I grew up with
In January of 2014, at the turn of the New Year, Webster received an email. It was from his defensive coordinator, Pat Tracey, a storied coach who’d just finished his 14th season with the Gaels. Webster was three and a half months removed from injury, training again and tentatively considering the idea of declaring for the CFL draft. Despite having doubts, he said something gave him the confidence “to push [himself] over the edge.” “It was Pat Tracey,” he said. “It was an email he sent me — and all it said was, ‘Get ready for the CFL.’” Players and coaches alike held Tracey in high regard — “he was like a father figure on the team,” Webster said. The decorated coach, who left Queen’s to become the special teams coordinator of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2014, knew what it took “from a player’s standpoint” to take the next step. “And the fact that he’d seen that in me and kind of put his stamp of approval on it,” Webster said, alluding to Tracey’s belief in his talent to go pro, “gave me the extra bit of confidence that I needed.” There were a group of players who trained together, Webster added, who acted as a support system as he prepared for the coming CFL Regional Combine. Queen’s graduates Scott Macdonell, Alex Carroll, Derek Wiggan and Andrew Lue — all
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of whom currently play in the CFL — trained with Webster throughout the draft process. They lifted each other up in pursuit of a common goal, setting a standard and creating a kind of confidence for themselves along the way. What Webster long coveted for, both as a person and athlete, was coming to fruition before his eyes. “It starts from a dream, something that you set forth, to a vision … Over a while, that vision starts to crystalize.” ***
Webster was sitting alongside his teammates on May 13, 2014. It was the night of the CFL Draft and three Gaels had already been selected, but Webster waited patiently — he was comfortable. “You’re calling teams, you’re doing pre-draft interviews, emailing back-and-forth with different [organizations] … you kind of get a sense of the landscape,” Webster said of his understanding of the draft period. “I never allowed myself to get too far ahead; I was taking that journey one step at a time.” He couldn’t help but admit when the Saskatchewan Roughriders selected him in the fifth round that “it was pretty cool seeing my name flash across the
screen and then getting that call.” Webster was living in a moment he’d once thought of as just a far-fetched dream — but there was a hill left to climb. After his first training camp with the Roughriders, in early June of 2014, he was cut. “At that point I was, like, ‘O.K., you know what, I’m coming back to Queen’s for a fifth year,’” he said, adding that returning to school was something he’d previously given thought to even prior to the draft. “We had a good group of returning guys [at Queen’s] and I was really excited for that.” A career in professional sports, particularly for fringe draft picks, is often a tumultuous experience. That became clear to Webster when the Roughriders called him back and offered him a roster spot. The decision to return, he said, was tough but one he reflects upon with little regret. “[I]t had been a dream of mine to get to the professional level and I had to make that decision to leave Queen’s in the rear-view.” Asked if he was skeptical about playing for a team who had recently cut him, Webster kept it frank. “I took a gamble on myself.” “This was the opportunity that [I’d] been working toward for a long time and, if I’m sacrificing my fifth year at Queen’s, I’m
Matt Webster hoisting the Grey Cup at TD Place in Ottawa.
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY MATT WEBSTER
going to go give this everything I have,” he added. ***
Queen’s wasn’t just home for Webster — and it wasn’t just a place where he developed as a football player. It’s where he grew as a person. He remembered back to his freshman year and first day of training camp. Pat Sheahan, the Gaels’ 18-year head coach, brought all his new incoming recruits and parents together for a meeting. “When you’re a freshman and coming to Queen’s, coach Sheahan always says to [your parents], ‘Give me your son at 18 as a boy and when he leaves he’ll be a man.’” “And I think that standard gets set [at Queen’s], especially in the football program,” he added. “It created that culture to push yourself and do whatever it took.” Webster — who’s played 54 total games in the CFL, including a career-high 18 in his first Grey Cup winning season with the Toronto Argonauts — has certainly pushed himself since last suiting up for the Gaels. And that’s what he hopes he’s remembered for — as someone who did whatever it took. “After I retire, I’ll think, ‘What do I want people to see from my football career?’ And that’s it.”
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY MATT WEBSTER
Sports
12 •queensjournal.ca
Thursday, November 30, 2017
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
McKellar ready for what the future holds Women’s hockey forward meddles in the athletics and financial field
McKellar has broadened her horizons in sports business.
Bryn Evans Staff Writer For women’s hockey forward Clare McKellar, life after graduation isn’t as scary as it is for some students. As a fifth-year economics student, McKellar has already seen her time at Queen’s extend beyond the ice. This past summer, she worked in the finance department for Hockey Canada. “[It] was an unbelievably welcoming organization to work for,” McKellar said of her time at Hockey Canada. “Everyone within the organization does their work with not only efficiency and dedication, but a passion for hockey in Canada.” Having played hockey since she was six, working in this position combined McKellar’s love for hockey with her growing passion for a career in finance. As a student financial assistant within Hockey Canada, McKellar
said she had a wide range of responsibilities. She observed and helped prepare the organization for the 2018 Winter Olympics, as well as selling tickets for the World Junior Championships — held in Vancouver and Victoria — set for 2019. “I was fortunate to be able to work within different departments within Hockey Canada to get a feel of a wide variety of tasks,” she said, adding that diversifying her understanding of the financial field, in any capacity, is beneficial. This wasn’t her first attempt to mix her passions of athletics and business. McKellar got her foot in the door in the summer of 2015 when she was a financial assistant for the Queen’s Athletics Department. She said working for Queen’s was imperative to her understanding how to approach athletics with a financial eye. “I was able to get hands-on
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
experience in an incredibly wide variety of tasks such as cash reconciliation, accounts receivable, accounts payable and [human resources],” she said. Along with finance experience, McKellar feels her at-large experience at Queen’s has
prepared her for life after school. “Working and being part of a successful team — time management, overcoming adversity, healthy life balance … [They] are all transferrable skills I have improved at while being a Queen’s student,” McKellar said, alluding to her time with the women’s hockey program as a student-athlete. But until she graduates in May, McKellar is enjoying what she loves most — playing hockey with the Gaels for her fifth and final season. “The best part of my overall Queen’s experience would be getting to play varsity hockey,”
she said. Despite the balancing act between hockey and school being a challenge, she wouldn’t change anything about her time with the school and program. “I will never be able to fully give back as much as my sport has given me, and I feel very lucky to be playing hockey at Queen’s.” McKellar is looking to start her career as soon as possible after graduating this coming spring — and she wouldn’t mind returning to Hockey Canada. “I would love to get back in with Hockey Canada if it were possible … being able to extend my love for hockey into a career would be very lucky,” she said.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Queen’s gaining momentum at halfway point Gaels sit at 8-1 as the winter break approaches Matt Scace Assistant Sports Editor To the average fan, the women’s basketball team is in a very good place. Sitting at an 8-1 record and fighting with Carleton for the OUA’s top spot, the Gaels have continued their winning ways since finishing fourth at the 2016 U Sports championships last season. Yet, despite filling up the win column in their first nine games, head coach Dave Wilson is still trying to work out the kinks in a team that’s still trying to
hit its stride. “We’re still finding ourselves, to be honest. This is the longest I’ve ever gone where we’re still trying to sort things out with our team in my coaching career,” Wilson said in his 37th season as head coach of the Gaels. On Wednesday morning, the Gaels won their third straight game against the York Lions 71-60 in front of 1,800 local Kingston students. The small winning streak has come in response to a disappointing loss to Laurier Golden Hawks nearly two weeks ago. The start of their game against
Abby Dixon drives to the hoop.
York saw the Gaels fall into a deficit early — a trend that’s troubled the team for much of the season. Despite this, the Gaels ability to dig themselves out of holes has provided Wilson with some comfort in his team’s mental strength. “The positive with [falling behind early] is that we don’t panic, which is a very important thing that the players understand,” he said. “They’re frustrated and angry with things they’re not doing well but they’re not ever considering that they can’t turn it around.” This year, Wilson said he’s still searching for the right defensive system. Up until this point, he said the team has struggled with his constant switch in outlook. “We need to be focused on
what it is exactly we’re doing right now because we just changed from what we were doing to something else and trying to get everyone to focus on that new skill,” Wilson said. On top of this, the Gaels are still adjusting to having some new faces on the team. This list includes dual sport athlete Sophie De Goede. De Goede, who was recently named OUA rugby’s Rookie of the Year, recently returned from the rugby U Sports Championships and has gradually become more comfortable with Wilson’s style of basketball. On Wednesday, she scored 11 points, third best on the team against York. “We’re still integrating her into the system … it’s going well though,” Wilson said. Even though the puzzle that’s
PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
the women’s basketball season is far from completion, Wilson said the team morale is as strong as it has ever been. “They’ve always recognized what they’re capable of doing as opposed to what they may be doing…the chemistry of the team has been very solid and they’re very supportive of each other,” Wilson said. The Gaels’ first half of the season will officially come to a close on Saturday when they take on the Guelph Gryphons. Looking to finish this portion of the season on a strong note, Wilson hopes his team will continue to learn from every game they play. “One of our goals, very significantly, is we have to learn by winning, not learn by losing,” Wilson said. “They would much prefer to win.”
Sports
Thursday, November 30, 2017
queensjournal.ca
• 13
MEN’S HOCKEY
Will Brown gets unexpected shot at varsity hockey With injuries marring the men’s hockey team, the Gaels rookie is getting a shot at university hockey Matt Scace Assistant Sports Editor As his plane touched down in Saint John, New Brunswick in mid-August, Will Brown’s head was spinning. Visiting his third city in as many weeks, Brown thought the East Coast was going to be his home for the year. Although he didn’t know it then, in just a week’s time he would be walking through Queen’s campus — with a debut for the men’s hockey team on the way. Over the course of his 16-year hockey career, the Ottawa native played for the Junior B Metcalf Jets and the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s. This past summer, Brown was picked up on waivers by the Windsor Spitfires, who later traded him to the Saint John Seadogs on the fifth day of training camp. But after about two weeks on the East Coast, Brown realized his priorities had shifted. “I decided that I wanted to try to go to school and get an education rather than focusing solely on hockey,” he said.
After calling his parents and notifying the team of his decision, Brown packed up his bags and got on the next flight to Ottawa so he could collect his belongings. Within the day, he was officially enrolled as a student at Queen’s. “I was in Saint John, Ottawa, and Kingston all within 24 hours,” Brown said. Arriving on campus in the midst of the first week of classes, Brown spent his first days in Kingston trying to get his bearings. After settling into residence, Brown met with men’s hockey head coach Brett Gibson to see if there was a place for him in the lineup. Gibson explained the team wasn’t holding a tryout due to the number of returning players and rookies that had committed to Queen’s earlier in the year. Overall, Brown’s chances of playing were slim. “We had a few brief conversations about my background, but that was sort of the gist of it,” Brown said. “They didn’t need another guy.”
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY WILL BROWN
Will Brown with the 67’s.
But things didn’t stay that way for the Gaels. After their first 12 games, Queen’s lost four of their eight defensemen to injury. With their blue line in need of assistance, Gibson called Brown asking if he would be available to play. Last Tuesday, Brown showed up for his first practice with the Gaels. In an interview with The Journal, Gibson said Brown was the only reasonable option given the battered state of his team. With many of the injuries expected to be long-term problems for the Gaels, Gibson looked for a solution. “This has been a really interesting first half with the injuries we’ve had,” Gibson said. “I needed to find someone because we don’t have anyone on our roster that can move from forward to defense.” Brown made his Gaels debut over the weekend against Western and Windsor. With a combined 22 minutes of ice-time over the two games, Brown’s efforts gave his teammates a chance to rest on the bench. “He’s handled himself well,” Gibson noted of Brown’s first two games at
Queen’s. “We’re putting him in situations where he can succeed and not fail but he’s done pretty well … I’m feeling very comfortable with him right now.” “I wouldn’t say I played a big role but I definitely helped out on the back end and made sure the guys were rested up enough to go and make a difference,” Brown said. While the Gaels injury woes aren’t anticipated to come to an end soon, Brown’s future on the team remains uncertain when their players return to the lineup. As of right now, Gibson said they’re taking it by “a week-to-week basis.” “If he keeps improving, who knows what can happen,” the coach added. Meanwhile, Brown is keeping a positive attitude and approaching every day as an opportunity. “I love the game,” he said. “I love playing and I love being around the guys.” “I got lucky and I’m just trying to make the most of it.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Jaz Baines leads the OUA with 6.7 assists per game.
Sebastian Bron Sports Editor Men’s basketball were all smiles on Wednesday afternoon. In their third game in five days, the Gaels picked up a comfortable 82-61 win over the York Lions and improved to a 6-3 record. It’s good for fifth in the OUA East. Head coach Steph Barrie said he was pleased with his team’s result after the game, noting — after a narrow loss to Western a pair of days before — his players did well in taking their tight schedule in stride and bouncing back. “We had some good dialogue after the [75-71] Western loss [and] realized we were capable of more,” Barrie said. He added the team’s Monday meeting following their weekend doubleheader helped the team to figure out what they could do better. “And some of that was shown today [against York] … on the boards, how we play defense and how we execute,” he said.
PHOTO BY JULIA BALAKRISHNAN
When asked if he and his players are looking forward to their mid-season break, Barrie said he’s solely fixated on the team’s quick turnaround game on Friday, where they play visitor to Guelph. “The break is the furthest thing from my mind right now,” he told The Journal. “The only thing that exists for us right now is that game on Friday.” This has been a theme the Gaels have adopted to open their campaign. Taking everything with a game-by-game approach certainly hasn’t hurt the team. From a statistical standpoint, Queen’s has fared as well as any team in the province this season. Not only are they second in both assists per game and overall field goal percentage, but they are also third in points per game — clocking in at 19.7, 48.1 and 86.4 in each of those respective categories. Moreover, they’ve held their ground on the defensive end of the floor as well. They place first in the OUA in rebounds
Gaels with promising start to season Men’s basketball head into the break as one of OUA’s hottest offenses
per game — 32.9 — and average 6.7 blocks per contest. “You take it one day at a time … the only thing you’re looking at is the next game,” Barrie said on how his team has found early spurts of success through their first nine games. He added a necessary factor to their play on the court — both in the present and looking ahead — is having his players “do what [they] do every day in practice and [apply] that in a game.” Despite their efficient and impressive season box score numbers, a concern for the Gaels has been the rate at which they turnover the ball. Barrie said his offense has a “high potency” and, in turn, ultimately suffers more lost possessions. He said “it’s still something we need
to get a lot better at.” “I think in moments we’re good [and] I think at times our execution is tremendous,” Barrie said of his team’s overall performance. “But the slippage in some of the possessions where we don’t [execute] … that’s what we’re battling to try and fix.” After Friday’s game against Guelph, the team will have more than a month until their next OUA game. Until then, they’ll work behind the scenes to hone in on their untapped potential. “To be an elite team, [we’re] going to have to execute at a higher percentage than what we’re doing right now,” Barrie admitted. “[But] we got to take the good, try and weed out the bad — and then I think we’ll be in a good spot.”
14 • queensjournal.ca
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Lifestyle PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOSH GRANOVSKY
From left to right: Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z and Lorde.
Josh Granovsky Assistant Lifestyle Editor On Jan. 28, 2018, the golden gramophone will spend a night as the most valuable award in the music industry and not as a rejected Monopoly piece. The Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 2018 Grammy Awards on Tuesday morning, allowing eager music fanatics to anticipate and prepare for the upcoming award show. Here’s a breakdown of the notable nominations: JAY-Z leads the pack with eight nominations this year, while Bruno Mars comes in second place with six. SZA is the most nominated woman this year with five nominations,. The nominations announced on Tuesday proved significant this year, breaking the mold of past Grammy nominations because of their race, gender and genre. Now, you’re in the hands of a guy who got bored one night and conveniently read all of the award’s conditions. So, out of the goodness of my heart, I’m here to break down who got lucky, who got screwed and who to keep an eye out for. Yes, this year is (mostly) Taylor Swift-free.
CULTURAL COMMENTARY
What’s up with the 2018 Grammy nominations? Breaking down this year’s diverse, male-dominated and Swift-less awards Given Swift’s omnipresence in our lives, her scarce appearance in this year’s Grammy nominations proves quite surprising. The Grammys’ eligibility period for this year’s awards ceremony was from Oct. 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2017. Any music released before the start date is ineligible and any music released after the end date will only be considered for next year’s awards in 2019. Taylor Swift’s Reputation, already the top-selling album of 2017, was released on Nov. 10 of this year, meaning it’s not eligible to be nominated for this year. Other artists whose work falls into this category include Sam Smith and P!nk. Swift’s first two singles, “Look What You Made Me Do” and “...Ready for It”, were both released during the eligibility period. However, both critically
The psychology behind first impressions
The four ways in which we first judge Abbey Dudas Staff Writer Think back to a time when you first met someone you now know well. Was your first impression accurate? Even though our first impressions can prove incorrect a lot of the time, we still can’t help ourselves from making them, nor can we avoid being judged in the same way by others. So, what is it we look at when judging someone for the first time? And how can we make a good first impression ourselves? When looking at the available scientific research behind first impressions, psychologist
Leslie Zebrowitz said when we compare people’s snap judgments to personality tests, we find the accuracy of their first impression is often better than chance. Additionally outlined in Zebrowitz’s study is evidence children and babies make first impressions in almost the same way that adults do, judging specific facial features. In her specific research, Leslie Zebrowtiz has identified four main facial features and cues most of us use to make first impressions. The first cue is the presence of “babyfaceness.” Humans have an innate attraction to babies. We’re likely to find them appealing and tend to overgeneralize this special
underwhelming songs were shut out in favour of hits like Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE” or Bruno Mars’ “24k Magic.” Taylor did manage to sneak into some categories as a songwriter, raking up two nods for her Little Big Town song “Better Man” and her Fifty Shades anthem “I Don’t Want to Live Forever.” Drake’s album More Life, which shattered numerous streaming records upon its release this past March, is similarly absent from the nominations, albeit for a different reason than Swift. Unlike Taylor, Drake chose not to submit his album for consideration this year because of his past criticism of the lack of diversity in the nomination process, meaning the Recording Academy couldn’t nominate it if they tried. Frank Ocean also chose not to submit his two 2016 albums, Blonde and Endless, in what he described as his “Colin Kaepernick moment” — a reference to the Grammy’s mixed history of recognizing African-American artists. So what’s good about the 2018 nominations? Something very positive about attraction to adults. Those who have bigger eyes, larger foreheads, short chins and rounded heads are more likely to be treated kindly and with the assumption they need special care. The second cue identified by Zebrowitz is “familiarity.” We tend to judge people based on who they look like. If you meet someone and they look like your grumpy grandma, you’ll probably assume they’re grumpy too. The next cue that registers for people when making first impressions is the “fitness” levels of a person. According to Zebrowitz’s research, specifically healthy people are thought to be more attractive and intelligent; we’re more likely to want to
the 2018 Grammys is this year’s recognition for African-American artists. Half of the nominations for the four major awards were bestowed upon African-American artists. Non-white performers make up a whopping 80 per cent of those nominations as well. In fact, this is the first year ever a white man hasn`t been nominated for album of the year. This recognition comes right on the heels of last year’s notable lack of diversity. In 2017, only 35 per cent of the four major award nominations were given to non-white artists and only one of those four winners wasn’t white (or named Adele). Adele’s 2017 sweep was also controversial since Beyoncé’s critical-smash Lemonade walked home with without any major awards. What’s not so good about the 2018 nominations? 2017 has not been a great year for women in music. The first six months of the year didn’t have a single woman holding the top spot of the American songs or albums charts. It doesn’t help that albums released this year from popular singers like Katy Perry, Halsey and Lady Gaga were all
be friends with healthy people. Further, we determine this level of “fitness” based on facial symmetry and proportionality. Finally, Zebrowitz’s research outlines the “emotional resemblance” of a person affects someone’s first impression of them. Her research states most people are quite good at reading facial expressions, but others have natural facial features that seem to resemble certain expressions. For example, if someone has lower eyebrows, it’s often assumed they`re an inherently angry person. Understanding Zebrowitz’s research concerning the nature of making a first impression, you might be doubting the success of your own first impression. Since
critically divisive in discussions of quality comparable to their typical standards. On top of this, a number of strong female artists nominated last year — like Beyoncé, Adele, Rihanna, Sia and Ariana Grande — didn`t release any new music within this year’s eligibility period. As a result, Lorde is the sole female nominee for Album of the Year, while Julia Michaels is the only Song of the Year nominee — unless you count Alessia Cara’s feature on Logic’s “1-800-273-8255.” So what is the category to watch this year? All eyes will be on Album of the Year, which includes nominees Kendrick Lamar, JAY-Z, Childish Gambino, Bruno Mars and Lorde’s albums. Many expect Kendrick to finally snatch his long overdue win after two unsuccessful nominations in this category. However, according to Grammy history, multiple rap albums typically don’t fare well when nominated together. Two or more rap albums receiving nominations in the same year has only occurred three times, and only once has it resulted in one of those albums winning. It’s very possible Kendrick and JAY-Z’s albums will split the vote and result in a win for Lorde. Whatever happens during this year’s Grammy Awards, it’s sure to be remembered for its diversity, appreciation of new artists and hopefully, the avoidance of any potential conflict between Kanye West and Taylor Swift because no one wants a VMAs repeat to talk about for another seven years.
the four major cues outlined deal heavily with physical features, it’s seemingly unable to be manipulated. However, there are certainly ways to use this knowledge to your advantage. If you’re going to interview for a job or network at a party, being aware of your own facial expressions can go a long way. At the end of the day, we can’t stop exactly what people are going to think of us and pre-conceived bias can always play a role in determining the success of our encounters. Still, being aware of how first impressions are interpreted by different people can only help us when meeting new people.
Lifestyle
Thursday, November 30, 2017
queensjournal.ca
• 15
HOLIDAYS
Navigating the holidays this season Holiday traditions to reminisce on your childhood and embrace adulthood Shivani Gonzalez Lifestyle Editor
marks for at least a couple hours.
I think it’s safe to say we’re at a weird time in our lives. We joke about not understanding how to navigate adulthood and eating KD for days on end. But actually, as university students, we carry a significant amount of responsibility in our daily lives.
Have a holiday drink by the fire
This dynamic doesn’t go away when the time for the holidays come around. The Journal rounded up all of the things to do this holiday season to make you feel like a kid again or embrace the benefits of being an adult.
For many of us, one of the undeniable bonuses of being an adult is alcohol. Why not cheers to the holidays by trying out one of the seemingly infinite amount of holiday drink recipes floating around online. My personal recommendation is so simple it only requires two ingredients — hot chocolate and Kahlua. This festive combination is perfect for sitting by the fire for some well-deserved family time.
This fun tradition will literally never get old — no matter how old we get. Whether you want to throw those Pillsbury cutouts in the oven and call it a day or go all out with sprinkles and frosting, this is the perfect holiday activity for a cozy afternoon. You can make it a family tradition or do it with your friends, bringing it full circle to your childhood. All these steps are guaranteed to bring you back to simpler times and make you forget your impending exam
Remember the excitement of an unexpected snow day? Waking up, getting the news, going back to sleep for a couple hours and then making the most of your school-free day? Just because you’re in university and Queen’s literally never announces snow days, doesn’t mean the tradition needs to change, especially when you’re at home. Take a day off after an overnight snowfall outside and make the most of the weather — grab your sleds, make snow angels and get
Bake holiday cookies
out your coziest winter attire to enjoy a winter day reminiscent of your favourite childhood memories. Holiday card photo shoot
Remember those tedious family photoshoots t a k e n every year to get the perfect picture for the family holiday card? Those times were the worst but you can turn around those memories by bringing back your childhood tradition in your new, reluctantly-found adulthood. Planning a holiday themed
photoshoot with your friends, family or housemates is a great way to channel back to the old days and make a long-lasting memory. Cook dinner for your family
Given the fact that you’re somewhat of an adult now with new abilities since your days living at home, why not offer to cook or help cook the big family holiday meal this year? The process of buying the groceries, planning the meals and
actually doing the cooking will feel like a massive accomplishment. Getting swept up with the excitement of cooking is also a great stress relief after weeks of frantic exam prep. Plus, you’ll probably be able to get out of doing the dishes. In the minds of many, the winter holidays are the best time of the year. The endless joy, festive traditions and inevitable but hilarious family drama are incentive enough to embrace the holiday. But going home also allows us the chance to figure out how to navigate the world of quasi adulthood in the comfort of our parents’ home.
Have a snow day
BROADWAY
So you like musicals, now what? A guide for newbies and novices Eva Stein Contributor
Recent productions like Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen have really put musicals back on the map for our generation. They’ve infiltrated mainstream media and have rejoined the socially-acceptable playlist. A good musical simply features a good story, like any successful play or novel, except with the added passion of being performed live, and of course, being accompanied by catchy musical numbers. With the introduction of so many original musicals — like Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen — featuring spectacular soundtracks and incredibly intriguing plotlines, what’s not to love? Some people have been introduced to theatre with these two recent smash hits. But whether you’ve never explored it or you’re interested in delving
deeper, I’ve compiled a guide to help you navigate the world of musicals. While both shows are on everyone’s minds, it’s not to say there aren’t other musicals that can echo a similar politically charged, emotional vibe. In The Heights is a rap musical — just like Hamilton. Yup, this show is actually the first hit of Hamilton producer Lin-Manuel Miranda. It focuses on a Latin-American community living in Washington Heights in New York City. If you’re in the mood for an upbeat, dance-worthy jam-sesh, this show hits the jackpot. Spring Awakening is about a group of hormonal, German teenagers exploring sexuality under the oppression of a cruel school system. Yes, please. The Original Broadway Cast recording features two former Glee stars, Lea Michelle and Jonathan Groff. If you’re just starting out with
Broadway posters in Times Square.
musicals, it’s best to start with some the classics. Wicked is a prequel to the beloved film classic, Wizard of Oz, that’s about doing what’s right, true friendship and loving who you are. For the Book of Mormon, the writers of South Park take you on a trip with some Mormon missionaries. A cultural commentary that also features great music and songs, this performance will have you hooked. With Rent, the music won’t just have you dancing in your seat, you’ll be on the table. You won’t be able to measure your love for this show. Feel like curling up and watching some triple-threats hard at work? Annoyed you don’t live in NYC and have a never-ending bank account for tickets? Ready to experience the joys of
musical theatre without any effort? Here are some filmed versions of musicals you might enjoy. Obviously heading to Broadway or even Toronto for plays isn’t the easiest feat for some of us, but there are movies that can take you there. Some actual movies that have been made include Grease (starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John), Hairspray (with the one and only Zac Efron), Mamma Mia (I mean, it’s Meryl Streep so you know it’s good) and The Sound of Music (a family favourite with the gorgeous Julia Andrews). There’s also an abundance of stage performances on film. Recently, there have been two live broadcasts of classic musicals you definitely need to see: Grease Live! and Hairspray Live!
SUPPLIED BY FLICKR
While the classics are great, it’s always good to know what’s coming up on Broadway. First, the Mean Girls Musical is going to be a thing. Yes – you read correctly. Tina Fey has turned her cinematic classic into a musical! It’s currently in D.C. but will be heading to Broadway in March. Do you want to (see a show where they) build a snowman? Then take a trip to the Big Apple to see Frozen. This Disney epic has been adapted for the stage and after all, February does seem like an appropriate time to open a show about snow and ice. Whether you have a deep curated love for Broadway or you’re a newbie looking to explore the scene, there are many options on how to be more involved in musical theatre.
Lifestyle
16 •queensjournal.ca
Thursday, November 30, 2017
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOSH GRANOVSKY
POSTSCRIPT
What Lena Dunham’s comments mean to sexual assault survivors and victims Ways in which we need to open up the conversation
Samantha Figenshaw Staff Writer This article talks about sexual assault and may be triggering for some readers. The #MeToo campaign and recent exposure of Hollywood’s elite as sexual predators has saturated everyone’s news feed with the saddening and frustrating realities of sexual violence. While this has certainly led to more awareness and increased conversation of the subject matter, not all of the conversation generated has actually been productive. It’s important that we, as citizens and members of an institution with a sexual assault problem, actively engage with this issue even after these stories disappear from our feeds. We need to facilitate conversation in a way that challenges the institutions which have let the problem pervade for so long. While doing this, we need to also support survivors and victims by creating a more inclusive and responsive community. We’re seemingly becoming more aware, as a society, that sexual violence is more common than we would like to acknowledge. Even though that seems to be the case, rape enablers continue to support the structures that make it difficult for survivors to come forward. One of the most poignant examples of this undue support can be seen in the statement released by Lena Dunham and her Girls co-runner Jenni Konner on Nov. 17. The statement was in reference to accusations that Girls producer Murray Miller had
committed sexual assault. Within their joint testimony, the co-stars denied the accuser who had come forward and instead chose to support Miller. They released and later retracted a statement as follows: “While our first instinct is to listen to every woman’s story, our insider knowledge of Murray’s situation makes us confident that sadly this accusation is one of the 3 per cent of assault cases that are misreported every year. It’s a true shame to add to that number, as outside of Hollywood women still struggle to be believed. We stand by Murray and this is all we’ll be saying about this issue.”
We’re seemingly “ becoming more aware,
as a society, that sexual violence is more common than we would like to acknowledge.
”
Now, this isn’t the first time Dunham’s problematic interpretation of feminism has come under fire, but I found this particular report to be striking for many reasons. When I’ve spoken to survivors and victims in my life, I’ve found one of the greatest obstacles they experience is struggling to be believed. This lack of faith by even close friends and family can add weight to an already heavy burden to carry. Those who deny sexual assault claims from survivors and victims are actively preventing rapists from being brought to justice by making survivors and victims feel insecure and uncomfortable about coming forward.
As an award-winning actress and producer, Dunham could’ve used her space, privilege and resources to reflect on the unique issues Aurora Perrineau faced as a biracial woman reporting a sexual assault to the police in 2012. She could’ve even used it to learn how these institutions of power make it more difficult for people of colour to come forward or about how the number of other existing forms of oppression survivors and victims face magnify the challenges of reporting. False reporting in rape is no higher than any other type of crime but it’s uniquely amplified in almost every accusation of sexual violence. Rather than using this energy and emotional space to contribute to a culture that excuses violence, it would be much more productive as a society to use this as a space to learn about the unique challenges different types of survivors and victims have faced in accessing resources and understand how to support them. Specifically, Dunham should have intimate knowledge of these challenges as she herself has accused someone of sexual assault in the past.
reporting in rape “False is no higher than any
other type of crime but it’s uniquely amplified in almost every accusation of sexual violence.
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This also could’ve been an opportunity for Dunham to reflect on how to improve on past experiences of making jokes about sexual harassment and assault.
In 2014, Dunham included a joke about sexual predators in a chapter of her memoir Not that Kind of Girl, describing kissing her sister and other non-consensual acts. Within the chapter, Dunham likened her actions to “anything a sexual predator might do to woo a small suburban girl I was trying.” Although this context doesn’t make her defense of Murray less surprising, it definitely makes it more disgusting. Separate of if the incident occurred the way it was outlined in the book — as Dunham denies assaulting her sister — it nonetheless contributes to a culture in which sexual violence becomes a punchline. One of the most frustrating things about Dunham and Kenner’s joint statement was it wasn’t an anomaly. Survivors and victims have been denied and dismissed ever since they began coming forward. The statement echoed others I’ve heard many times in the past four years: one of my least favorite but most commonly reiterated being “Blackout drunk means that God told you to forget about it” as an excuse for those accused of sexual violence. Considering the significant potential for these offhand statements to negatively impact survivors and victims alike, there needs to be more emphasis on the power of our words. Even within Queen’s politics department, I find some discussions around sexual violence lack proper mediation and warning, leaving some people walking away feeling more powerless than ever. Content warnings have also become stigmatized and some classes
dive right into the matter with no warning. This has been adapted by those who see giving people proper warning as a sacrifice on the altar of free speech. But the truth remains that discussions around this kind of subject matter can have emotive and long-lasting consequences. Someone’s right to fully access their education shouldn’t be challenged by improperly mediated discussions that challenge their experiences.
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Considering the significant potential for these offhand statements to negatively impact survivors and victims alike, there needs to be more emphasis on the power of our words.
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My advice on making the conversation more limited is inherently restricted as a cisgender, heterosexual, white, abled woman. I haven’t shared experiences with systems of oppression in the way many other women have, but I know one of the greatest things I’ve learned within the conversation on sexual assault is the importance of listening thoughtfully and reserving judgement. This also means being open to learning things which may make you uncomfortable about privileges that you hold. I think we all know we need to do better. Survivors and victims deserve better and we need to listen to them to create a better campus and a better world in the presence of so many voices unwilling to listen.