The Queen's Journal, Volume 145, Issue 18

Page 1

the journal Vol. 145, Issue 18

Queen’s University

F r i d ay J a n u a r y 1 9 , 2 0 1 8

since

1873

Bus-It program fee renewal presents expanded routes and improved service times PHOTO BY SARINA GREWAL

AMS Vice-President candidate Craig Draeger (left) stands beside presidential candidate Emily VanderHeyden at AMS Assembly on Thursday.

AMS Vice-President (Operations) candidate addresses past controversies Vice-President (Operations) candidate Craig Draeger, ArtSci ’18. After the team had formed, The Journal received a link to the video from Draeger’s past, in which he’s depicted wearing brownface makeup and a sombrero, imitating Mexican stereotypes. The video appeared on a website titled “Demand Better than Racism!” created in 2013. As of 3 p.m. on Thursday, the video has been removed from the webpage. Draeger is no stranger to student politics — in 2013, he was running for the same position he’s running for today. In fact, the “Demand Better than Racism!” website was created in an effort to dissuade students from voting for his team, called Team PDA.

Craig Draeger speaks to brownface video MAUREEN O’REILLY News Editor In 2013, a handful of Queen’s students revealed a video online in which a then AMS Vice-Presidential candidate performed a racist depiction of Mexican culture. Five years later, the video is still online and the same candidate is running again for the same position. On Jan. 16, AMS Chief Electoral Officer Matt Ierino announced the single team that will be running for the executive this year. Team ECN consists of Presidential candidate Emily VanderHeyden, ArtSci ’18, Vice-President (University Affairs) candidate Natasha Kornak, ArtSci ’19, and

2013: Team PDA

In early January 2013, three teams were running for AMS executive: Team BGP, Team

TNL and Team PDA. At the same time, Katie Conway, ArtSci ’13 MA ’15, was working as the AMS Social Issues Commissioner. She recalled the 2013 election that race as being “the most toxic election [she] ever saw at Queen’s.” “There was a lot of animosity between PDA and one of the other teams,” Conway told The Journal on Wednesday. “And there were problematic things that came out of the PDA campaign.” According to Draeger, the 2013 election did contain some “strong personalities,” but the animosity that stemmed on campus then was more so a reflection of student culture on campus at the time. “I really feel like the AMS is downstream of the culture on campus,” Draeger said, explaining he feels the AMS is more affected by the culture of the student body than the

What’s Inside?

See Draeger on page 4

Proposed fee increase would allow for NorthSouth bus stops, late-night service in University District MAUREEN O’REILLY News Editor As referendum voting approaches, the AMS is requesting a fee increase for the Kingston Transit Bus-It program. If passed, this would allow for expanded routes and improved service times based on student need. Beginning in 1974, this program is a partnership between the AMS and Kingston Transit that allows Queen’s students universal access to the city’s buses for a discounted price. Every three years, the fee is reviewed by the two organizations and changes are brought to the students for a referendum vote. In 2015, a $20.75 fee increase was approved at referendum. This year, the AMS will be requesting a $23.75 increase to accommodate significant changes in the bus routes available to students. According to AMS Director of Communications Craig Draeger, the AMS conducted an intensive online survey throughout August and September to hear

See Bus-It on page 4

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JUSTICE KING

NEWS

FEATURE

EDITORIALS

SPORTS

Queen’s alumnus to blast off in March

Exchange isn’t what it’s

Marijuana legalization can’t sidestep

Road to recovery for gaels What I learned from being centre Mike Shoveller jumped at Queen’s

made out to be

LIFESTYLE

past convictions

page 3 queensjournal.ca

page 5 @queensjournal

page 8 @queensjournal

page 12 @queensjournal

page 16 @thequeensjournal


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.