Features
DIaLOGue
arts
sPOrts
POstsCrIPt
New boutique lab opens on campus.
Quebec student strike in focus.
Taking a look at downtown favourite Modern Primitive.
Gaels wide receiver drafted by Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Trials and tribulations of long-distance relationships.
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T u e s d ay , M ay 2 9 , 2 0 1 2 — I s s u e 1
the journal Queen’s university — since 1873
ReseARch
Students accuse public agency of misconduct Queen’s researchers allege agency published report they authored with unauthorized changes B y H olly tousignant News Editor An Ontario government agency was accused of academic misconduct last month after two Queen’s graduate students claimed a report they authored appeared on the agency’s website containing changes they hadn’t agreed to. Jennifer Massey and Sean Field filed a complaint with the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO), the body that commissioned Queen’s to produce a report on the effectiveness of supplemental instruction, an academic support model that uses peer-assisted study meetings to improve learning. The University hired former Queen’s PhD candidate Jennifer Massey as lead investigator on a $44,633 contract. Fellow geography PhD student Sean Field and former MA candidate Jeff Burrow were brought on to assist Massey. HEQCO, an agency of the Ontario government, conducts and commissions research on issues relating to post-secondary education in the province. On April 27, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA), a group that represents faculty and academic librarians across the province, released a statement on their website condemning HEQCO’s actions. While not illegal, HEQCO’s actions were unethical, the statement reads. Queen’s Senators Jordan Morelli, Terry Bridges and Mark Jones submitted three separate motions to Senate regarding the conflict. The motions called for Senate to endorse OCUFA’s statements about the incident, among other things. The Agenda Committee rejected the proposals to include the motions on the Senate agenda for May 22. According to the Queen’s Senate Faculty Caucus blog, the committee rejected the motions because they believed OCUFA’s statements were “not factually correct.” Massey and Field’s letters to HEQCO president Harvey Weingarten, which are available to view on the Canadian Federation of Students’ (CFS) website, outline their concerns with the published report. CFS aims to provide a voice to students and represent their interests to federal and See OCUFa on page 4
Photo by GINA eLDeR
The University should have done more to protect their researchers, PhD student Sean Field alleges.
homecoming
Possible fall 2013 reunion in the works University leaders will discuss remodelling alumni reunions, Woolf says B y Vincent M atak Assistant News Editor Conversations about Homecoming’s future are in the works after University Council voted to recommend Principal Daniel Woolf reinstate the event next year. The motion called for Woolf to restore Homecoming for fall 2013, rather than in 2014 as initially planned. The motion passed at University Council on May 5 with approximately 130 council members in favour, three against and seven abstentions. With the return of the annual reunion in sight, students and Kingstonians have voiced differing views on how the University should handle the event. On May 2, the University announced Woolf’s intention to create a dialogue between student leaders, city representatives and other members of the Queen’s community about remodeling alumni reunions. “We’ve actually been working on this for some time,” Woolf told
the Journal earlier this month. “Consultation has taken place at a preliminary level with [students] and we’ve touched base with the city.” He added that Homecoming could be rebranded if it’s to return in 2013. Woolf declined
to comment on the details of the remodeling. “Ultimately this is not a University decision,” he said. “The decision rests with me as it did four years ago when the original decision was made and I would prefer some discretion on
the subject.” Rector Nick Francis said discussions on developing a plan for a safe and fun fall reunion began in March at President’s Caucus, which is comprised of the president of each faculty society. See Final on page 5
AcAdemics
Faculty Board proposes accelerated medical school Program would be first of its kind in North America B y R osie H ales Assistant News Editor If a proposed new program passes at Senate, select students could proceed to medical school at Queen’s after only two years of undergraduate education. The proposal for the accelerated program was approved by Arts and Science Faculty Board on May 4.
The program is the brainchild of Dr. Richard Reznick, dean of Health Sciences and director of the Queen’s School of Medicine. “One of our strategic priorities in the School of Medicine is to explore innovative models of medical education,” Reznick told the Journal via email. The proposal must pass through Senate before it can become official.
The next Senate meeting will be held on Sept. 25. Under the proposal, 10 gifted high school students will be selected to take part in the Accelerated Pathway to Medical School at Queen’s each year. The program, which is slated to begin in 2013, will enable them to complete the degree requirements for a Doctor of See New on page 5
2 •queensjournal.ca
news
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Residence
Senate approves first-year residence in JDUC Grad student spaces will be relocated to Confederation Place Hotel to make room for 98 undergraduate students B y R acHel H eRscoVici Assistant News Editor As a result of increased undergraduate enrollment, 98 first-year students will move into the JDUC in September after plans to turn the building’s graduate spaces into undergraduate rooms were approved. In April Senate recognized the two per cent increase in applications to Queen’s for September 2012. This information called for an increase in enrollment resulting in the recommendation to add 146 new undergraduate residence spaces. The residence spaces in the John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC) are comprised mainly of single rooms. Bruce Griffiths, director of Queen’s housing and hospitality services, said the decision was necessary to combat growing numbers of students. “There was the desire to have increased enrollment but we guarantee all first-year students residence,” Griffiths said, adding that until the motion passed, the University was unsure if increased enrollment would be possible.
could probably “alsoundergrads profit from living at the JduC and being so close to these numerous facilities. ” — Clare Wenngren, MA ’11
The remainder of the 146 new spaces will be in Waldron Tower, where 48 additional spaces have been created following an expansion project that began in March. The spaces that were in the JDUC for graduate students are being moved to the Confederation Place Hotel. The hotel approached the University with the idea of housing students. “The hotel reached out to us some months ago. They were looking for a different business model,” Griffiths said. The Confederation Place Hotel previously offered overnight accommodations to grad students for several months at a time. This arrangement was especially useful to students who needed to be in Kingston for
The JDUC will begin housing undergraduate students this fall as a response to increased enrolment.
a shorter time period than most leases allow, like four or five months, Griffiths said. Claire Wenngren, MA ’11 lived in the JDUC from Sept. 2009 to April 2011. “As far as convenience goes, the JDUC can’t be beat, especially for people like me who want to use the athletic facilities without schlepping a lot of clothing and gear through the city,” she told the Journal via email. “Undergrads could probably also profit from living at the JDUC and being so close to these numerous facilities.” Wenngren said there were also disadvantages to living in the JDUC, including little ventilation in the rooms and the proximity to campus pubs. “Where I lived, it was generally quiet, but I know people who lived above the Queen’s Pub [and] complained about the smell.”
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Campus CaTCH -up computing students in bc reject mandatory gym class
supporting documentation. Ben Boudreau, a second-year student at Concordia, brought about this change after complaining about having to use his birth name. With help from Concordia’s 2110 Centre for Gender Advocacy, Boudreau staged a campaign which led to the University creating a working group to come up with the compromise.
Computing students at the British Columbia Institute of Technology have started to rebel against mandatory gym classes they are required to attend. The students are required to participate in one weekly 8:30 a.m. gym class in order to obtain their degree. — Rosie Hales The mandatory gym classes have existed for several years, but students are only now beginning to voice their concerns with them. study shows blended models A petition has been signed by dozens of are effective in universities — With files from Holly Tousignant students and shows a wide opposition to these classes. A curriculum committee will decide on whether to keep the classes. A study by former Princeton University Computing students are the only students president William G. Bowen suggests on campus required to attend the 50-minute, blended learning may be more effective than uninstructed gym classes. According to an traditional in-lecture learning. article in Maclean’s, many feel they are being Blended learning is a combination of unfairly picked on due to stereotypes that online and in-lecture learning. surround computing students. Bowen’s study was conducted within six Associate Dean of Computer Systems different public universities in the U.S. and Technology, Brian Pidcock, insisted their involved 605 students. The students were intentions were good. placed in a statistics class that split them up “It’s not like we force them to play in either a technology based or in-lecture dodgeball. It’s not like high-school P.E,” he class. The technology-based classes involved told Maclean’s. minimal lecture time. The study concluded that students who — Rosie Hales took the technology based class performed just as well on the standardized tests as the other students and were able to learn the concordia to allow students course material 25 per cent quicker. The University of Manitoba recently to use chosen name implemented blended learning due to recent budget issues affecting the amount At Concordia University, transgender of available professors to teach introductory students will be able to use their chosen psychology courses. names on everything except their transcripts Queen’s has added blending learning to starting fall 2012. some of its classes in recent years, including After two years of campaigning, students PSYC 100. were granted the ability to make a written request to have only their chosen name on — Rachel Herscovici students IDs, class lists and exams, meaning that they don’t have to risk being called by a name they don’t identify with. The University of Toronto has a similar policy. At Queen’s, any requests to change a name must be accompanied by
TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2012
QUEENSJOURNAL.CA
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FEATURE
PHOTOS BY ALI ZAHID
The new Human Media ‘boutique’ laboratory was designed by Karim Rashid (far right) for Roel Vertegaal and his research students.
TECHNOLOGY
INSIDE THE HUMAN MEDIA LAB
A futuristic playground Human Media Lab unveils new workspace in Jackson Hall B Y M EGAN C UI Features Editor
remove visual and auditory distractions in the pod. When students wish to communicate with one another from adjoining pods, they can do so with ease.
where we can hang equipment from the ceiling and drill through the floors,” he said. Smoak said the Topological Media Lab and the Human Media Lab both received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. “Although [the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s] projects are consistently geared towards the infrastructure side of research, the outcome’s going to look different from project to project.” Lab designer Karim Rashid created the workspace by incorporating visual fluidity with curvilinear shapes. In the lab, right angles are rare, while curvy, cantilevered conference tables and pod-shaped chairs are the norm. “It’s important for a space like this, where people are innovative, to take away those harsh angles and conventional rectangles you see virtually everywhere else,” Rashid said.
Queen’s is now home to the first-ever ‘boutique’ laboratory, featuring innovations such as We don’t like a videoconferencing pod and paper-thin phones. to think of our The $1 million futuristic project technology as ‘devices.’ was designed for Roel Vertegaal They should be as and his team of 12 to 14 computing organic and natural and engineering graduate research students. as if it were integrated The lab is hosted on the third seamlessly into our floor of Jackson Hall and was lives. unveiled to the public on May 12. Its use of visually stimulating — Roel Vertegaal, patterns, shapes and colours Human Media Lab director combined with cutting-edge technology are meant to provide an interactive workspace for “We used geometric orientation its students. and eye-tracking technology to The Human Media Lab is one recognize when students next door of several ubiquitous computing to each other are initiating contact. labs in Canada. Although they Then the glass panes respond by each possess different qualities, changing its opacity to become ubiquitous computing labs aim transparent,” Vertegaal said. to integrate technology into Alex Mihailidis, director of the everyday objects. Intelligent Assistive Technology A space such as the Vertegaal, director of the and Systems Lab at the University Human Media Lab Human Media Lab and his team of Toronto said their university can definitely help to believe their technology will be lab uses a combination of attract top students viable in 10 to 20 years. conventional and non-conventional and trainees. Goodwin Hall was the original lab environments. home of the Human Media Lab, Their goal is to create flexible but despite its functional capacities adaptive technology that enables — Alex Mihailidis, Intelligent Assistive it lacked inspiration, said Vertegaal,. users with disabilities to better carry Technology and Systems “We don’t like to think of our out physical tasks. Lab director technology as ‘devices.’ They “We have the HomeLab, which should be as organic and natural as is a fully functional house within if it were integrated seamlessly into our hospital so that we can easily For Rashid, the shapes our lives,” he said. configure different scenarios for and lines he’s incorporated After securing the funding for testing,” he said. represent freedom. the program from the Canada The designer said he wanted Mihailidis said the attractiveness Foundation for Innovation and of the Human Media Lab sets it to create a sense of wonder and the Ontario Ministry of Research apart from similar technology labs excitement in the laboratory, and Innovation, Vertegaal and in the country. inspired by the experiments Queen’s School of Computing “A space such as the Human conducted in the Human Director, Selim Akl, set out Media Lab can definitely help to Media Lab. on planning and securing attract top students and trainees,” Rashid said he wanted to construction rights. create a space that would outlive he said. Following the three-year Harry Smoak is the founding short-term design trends. blueprint process, Vertegaal said research coordinator and graduate “I [tried] to make a space that partnering with award-winning student for the Topological Media will always be fresh, always be designer Karim Rashid was the Lab at Concordia University. inspiring many years from now,” obvious choice. He said a more finished space he said. “The key really, is to design The lab offers an open space wouldn’t work for his type of with ideas like ‘freedom’ and available for group work as well research because of their off-screen, ‘stimulation’ in mind, and not style.” as individual work areas. Students hands-on approach. David Holman, PhD ’12, may opt to work privately in their “Our space is quite different, is currently studying the use of own focus pod, each of which is more like a cross between a Organic User Interfaces in the workshop and theatre space with Human Media Lab. divided by opaque glass. “The new lab is pretty exciting,” Noise-cancelling headsets the kind of raw infrastructure
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BLOBJECTS: Objects shaped like pop cans, latex spheres and cardboard boxes are turned into an interactive display, capable of playing anything available on a conventional computer screen.
ORGANIC USER INTERFACES: Foldable paper computers that use hyper-thin film circuit boards to display information.
ATTENTIVE USER INTERFACES: Detects what users are paying attention to when multiple applications are viewed on screen. The Human Media Lab is developing a high-resolution eye tracker to track user attention from over 10 metres away.
TELEHUMAN: Life-size hologram-like telepods that use a cylindrical display and multiple cameras to capture and track 3D video.
DIGITALIZED BOARD GAMES: Settlers of Catan is revolutionized by using projected images of characters to move on the board with a computer, infrared camera and overhead projector.
— Source: Queen’s Human Media Lab
he said. “This is definitely a great development for the lab and students who might get to take advantage of it in the future.” Holman is still uncertain as to how likely the lab will be able to concretely promote creativity. “Creativity is such a difficult thing
to grasp and it’s always brought out by a bunch of things working together, never just a single criteria. I think it’s going to be exciting to wait and tell.”
news
4 •queensjournal.ca
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
isAbel bAdeR centRe
Work begins on arts centre Concert hall scheduled to be completed by fall 2013
The preservation of the Stella Buck building caused concern prior to construction beginning.
B y R osie H ales Assistant News Editor
there are currently no plans to increase enrolment in them. Construction of the centre was Construction has begun on supposed to begin in spring 2011, the Isabel Bader Centre for the but the history and heritage of the Performing Arts, which is set to site caused the two year delay. “The delay was a combination of open its first stage in fall of 2013. “It will open in stages,” Gordon things. This is a really complicated Smith, associate dean of Arts and project because of the site. All of Science, said. Smith is the chair the heritage issues took a long time of the centre’s Operations and to work through,” Smith said. In 2010, members of the City Planning Committee. “The concert hall will open first of Kingston’s heritage committee and we are hoping to have a series objected to plans to remove the of concerts in the fall of 2013. The windows and chimney on the Stella actual teaching in the facility will Buck Building, which were built in 1923. not happen until 2014,” he said. The planning team ultimately A dozen workers are currently working at the site to break the decided to maintain the windows limestone ground so a crane can but not the chimney. The Stella Buck building will move in during the first week of June to start digging the foundations. be incorporated into the centre, The construction team for forming the west side of the centre the centre is confident that work and including backstage areas and a will be finished on schedule. The film production studio. Members of city council also rest of the centre will open in objected to the shiny metallic summer 2014. “It will be fantastic for Queen’s siding the planning team originally students. We’re going to have planned to use, which they said one of the best concert halls in would be a potential distraction to eastern Canada for our music passing motorists. They have since students, a black box theatre chosen a less shiny siding. “It was a mutually agreeable for drama students,” Smith said, adding that there will also be a film decision, so there was no lingering animosity on those features at all. screening room. “The facilities are really state of The city is really pleased with the university’s work on maintaining the art,” he said. The centre will be the new the heritage features.” Smith said he hopes the centre home of the Film and Media department faculty offices, as well will boost tourism in the area. “We’ve got some really exciting as teaching spaces. The Music, Drama and Fine Arts departments plans for festivals and other will also use the centre for teaching functions happening within the Bader Centre,” Smith said and performances. Smith said the centre will — With files from Katherine definitely affect enrolment numbers Fernandez-Blance for Arts programs at Queen’s, but
Stay on top of campuS newS over the Summer
Photo by GINA eLDeR
OCUFA claims inaccurate, Senate committee says Continued from page 1
provincial governments. In their letters, they claim a section of their report, which was critical of supplemental instruction, was removed from the final report, and that text was added that was in opposition to their conclusions. The authors had previously refused to add suggested changes which were later included in the final report. Both the original and the altered reports are available on OCUFA’s website. They also took issue with the published report’s disclaimer, which stated that the report solely reflected that of its authors. “We realized that what was posted was different than what we had submitted,” Field said. Massey and Field requested the report be removed from the HEQCO’s website and replaced with their original submission. They also requested an apology from HEQCO. The report was due to HEQCO in June 2010 Jennifer Massey submitted the report in December of that year. Jennifer Massey sent a report to HEQCO in June
@QJnews
done more to ensure that they understood what the terms of the contract meant,” she said. Adamson said OCUFA has called for Queen’s to do an investigation and for the Government of Ontario to look at HEQCO’s research practices. No such investigation has yet been announced. Provost Alan Harrison said he thinks it’s unfortunate OCUFA didn’t inform Queen’s what they were going to post online before they posted it. “Had they done so, we would have pointed out some substantial factual inaccuracies,” he said. “One of those factual inaccuracies was characterizing Jennifer Massey as someone who was doing this work as a grad student, when in fact she was doing it as an employee of the University.” Harrison declined to comment on Massey and Field’s request for an apology from HEQCO. “It’s not anything to do with us,” Harrison said. “What they do or don’t do is entirely up to HEQCO.”
Campus Calendar Thursday, May 31 Special Olympics Ontario, Spring Games K-Rock Centre Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Free Saturday, June 16
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2011. The report had already been through several rounds of edits at that point. Weingarten said HEQCO made revisions to the report after failing to hear back from Massey. “We felt the June 2011 report needed some edits and needed some changes,” he said. “By September we had not heard back from [Massey] and our attempts to deal with the principal investigator, well, we couldn’t deal with her because she went AWOL.” Weingarten said HEQCO then approached Queen’s Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs Ann Tierney with two options: either Queen’s abandon the project and not receive their final payment of $22,500 or have other staff at Queen’s finish the report. The University chose the second option, and Chris Conway, director of the Office of Institutional Research and Planning, submitted a final report in Dec. 2011. OCUFA president and Queen’s librarian Constance Adamson said she thinks Queen’s didn’t protect the academic freedom of their researchers. “They probably should have
Annual Kingston Pride Parade Starts at City Park Begins at noon Friday, June 15 First Capital Day Celebrations Happening throughout
Kingston 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free For information on events see cityofkingston.ca/firstcapital Saturday, June 23 Doors Open Kingston Happening throughout Kingston 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. See doorsopenontario.on.ca for full details Sunday, June 24 Gardens Open Kingston
Happening throughout Kingston 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 on the day Call 613-546-4291 x 1716 for details Tuesday, June 26 Mental Health and First Aid Refresher Gordon Hall, Career Services Workshop Room 325A Noon to 1 p.m.
news
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
queensjournal.ca
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New program similar to ones in Europe and Asia Continued from page 1
Medicine, including undergraduate education, in six years, instead of the traditional eight. “A review of the education of physicians in many other countries, including most of Europe and many parts of Asia suggested that a shorter time frame might be feasible,” Reznick said. Queen’s will be the first university in Canada to implement such a program, Physiology professor Ken Rose said. Rose was responsible for proposing the motion at Faculty Board. “I’m really enamored with the idea of being the first,” Rose said. The program could also allow students to proceed to medical school without taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT.) “Medicalcolleaguesarebecoming increasingly concerned about the closing of the socioeconomic gap of those taking the MCAT,” Rose said, adding that the test itself costs around $300 to 400, not including
preparation courses. To be considered for the program, students must be competitive candidates for the Chancellor’s scholarship, awarded to 50 new Queen’s students each year with an annual value of $9,000. Students must have an average of 90 per cent or above to be considered for the Chancellor’s Scholarship. High schools can nominate one to three students depending on the school.
One of our strategic “priorities in the school of medicine is to explore innovative model of medical education.
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is extremely cohesive and the ten other students have to be assimilated,” Rose said. James Simpson, Aesculapian Society representative to the AMS, said he believes the program holds numerous pros and cons for students. “One of the most important features of Queen’s Medicine is the camaraderie within our class,” Simpson, Meds ’15, said. “It certainly is possible that bringing in a special group of students through a separate stream will damage this camaraderie to some extent.” Simpson said it’s important to note that accelerated systems have
been successful in Europe, where students get into slightly longer medical programs straight out of high school, and in Quebec, where students can apply to enter medical school after two years in a public vocational college. “As far as I’m aware, there isn’t any evidence showing that these doctors are any worse than the rest of North American doctors, despite the fact that North American doctors probably have two to three years more undergraduate training on average,” Simpson said. “If this is true, then isn’t our system wasting money?”
Final decision left to Woolf
— Dr. Richard Reznick, director of the School of Medicine
Around 50 to 60 students from the Chancellor scholarship candidate pool will be invited to Queen’s for an interview. Following
Accelerated program will be the first of its kind in Canada, professor says.
the interview process, offers will be made to ten students. Students will be required to take the standard five courses during the first two years, including 21.00 credits worth of mandatory classes, including BIOL 102, MATH 121, ENGL 100 and STATS 263. The students will also be required to take part in laboratory and clinical internships and learning modules. The program also involves using first and second year medical students as mentors as a way to immerse the 10 younger students in the School of Medicine. “The medical class at Queen’s
Continued from page 1
“These discussions were really just a sounding board for ideas,” Francis, ArtSci’13 said. “I opened it up and asked them what they think needs to be addressed and how they think they should solve the issue of a massive street party that goes off the wire.” Following Homecoming 2008, the event was cancelled for two years by then-principal Tom Williams. In 2010, Woolf extended the cancellation for an additional three years until 2014. According to Francis, the faculty society presidents were wary of the Aberdeen street party returning if Homecoming were restored. “[They] talked about how it’s not good for anybody, it’s not safe, specifically an unsupervised massive street party,” he said. He said the plan to reinstate a fall reunion is being taken seriously because of the strong alumni support for its return. “The whole tradition needs to be revitalized,” he said. “There are compromises that have to be
Photo by tIFFANy LAM
made. In order to safely restore and revitalize it we’re going to have to do it differently.” Save Our Neighbourhood Action Group (SONAG) creator Don Rogers said he thinks there needs to be stronger policing at the event in order to make it safe for students and alumni. SONAG is comprised of Kingston residents “who are fed up with the unacceptable behaviour of many Queen’s students,” according to their website. “A large part of the responsibility lies with the police,” Rogers said. “If they are more consistent [than] they had been in past years by issuing tickets they’d be able to control the minority that push the limits” Rogers has lived in his Sydenham District home since 1979. He said Homecoming celebrations in the 1990s were calmer than it was in the 2000s, due to what he sees as greater control and organization. “To be able to get back to having a safe Homecoming we need to explore ways to control that small minority that causes these
problems,” he said. Kingston Mayor Mark Gerretsen said he’s spoken with Principal Woolf about making Homecoming a safer event in the future. “What needs to happen is that the city and the police have to work collaboratively with the University so that we can minimize the impact that the Aberdeen situation has with the taxpayers.” He added that along with Queen’s alumni relations, the city of Kingston has suffered economically since Homecoming was banned in 2008. “It’s affected tourism into the city and with that comes effects on hotels, restaurants, businesses in the downtown area and the spin-off effects that all those have,” he said. “However, at the same time, we’ve benefited because we don’t have to spend upward [of] $400,000 or $500,000 on having to police the event.”
NEWS IN BRIEF cheating in civil engineering
According to civil engineering student Alexandra Benko, Sci ’13, a similar incident happened in a third-year engineering course she took last year. A student was caught cheating, and was unable to receive above a 55 per cent in the course. The professor announced the incident then held a talk about academic integrity in her class, she said. “Cheating like this usually happens once a year,” she said. “Usually a person gets caught, they basically fail the course, and everyone is scared out of it for the rest of the semester.”
Civil engineering assignment drop boxes have been removed after a group of students in the Civil Engineering department were caught copying classmates’ assignments last semester. Dr. Novakowski, head of the Civil Engineering department, said the incident involved students stealing other students’ assignments out of an assignment drop -box and copying answers. He said the incident involved a fourth-year technical elective class, but declined to comment on — Vincent Matak further details. “I’d really prefer to not state what happened other than that it Principal releases was a breach of academic integrity vision document involving those assignment drop boxes and as a result those drop On May 11, Principal Daniel Woolf boxes will be removed,” he said. released a document detailing his “The matter was dealt with vision for the University over the according to academic policy.” next decade. According to the Faculty of The Third Juncture is a sequel Engineering and Applied Science, to Woolf’s 2010 vision document punishment for academic integrity What’s Next which also addressed ranges from an oral or written the direction Queen’s is heading in warning to loss of percentage or the coming years. total grade of the assignment or In The Third Juncture, overall course. Woolf identified the present
smARt awarded time as a pivotal period in the University’s life. contract with the city He also discussed his vision of Queen’s in 2022, which includes A newly created AMS team less government funding and the has been chosen by the City of development of other streams of Kingston as a property standards revenue, with a rise in international bylaw contractor. student enrolment and focus on The Student Maintenance international reputation. and Resource Team (SMART), Woolf ’s vision of run out of the Municipal Affairs internationalization includes Commission will contract students increased language and culture to clean properties in the student training. He also sees Queen’s housing area that don’t meet city becoming a leader in academic and bylaw standards. non-academic support for at-risk The city released a request for students, such as those with mental proposals (RFP) for contractors to illness or disabilities. cover property standards bylaws In the document, Woolf said he in the student neighborhood for a wants to see the division between two-year term. main and West Campus erased SMART responded to the RFP, as well as create new student and the city chose them. residences and provide new forms The city will direct SMART to of transportation like electric busses clean properties when tenants have or trams to carry students between failed to respond appropriately to different areas of campus. bylaw orders themselves. Fewer lecture hours and an Fees for the contracts will vary increase in blended models of depending on the work performed. learning are also in Queen’s future, SMART students will also according to the document. provide free clean-up and beautification services to students living near campus, as well as — Holly Tousignant contract work for landlords. — Holly Tousignant
bird droppings reveal effect of insecticide Bird droppings collected in an unused chimney on campus have provided clues about the declining population of the North American chimney swift, a small bird, according to Canadian researchers. The six-feet-deep collection of excrement represents 50 years of bird droppings. The chimney was covered with mesh in 1993 to relocate the 4,000 chimney swifts that lived there at the time. By studying the droppings in the chimney of Fleming Hall, the researchers were able to discover a link between the use of the insecticide DDT and the decline of the insect-eating birds. The research shows that the height of DDT use coincided with the swifts eating fewer DDT-susceptible beetles, and more lower-quality bugs. The findings were published in the biological journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. — Holly Tousignant
6 •queensjournal.ca
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Dialogue EditoriaL — The Journal’s Perspective
Students deserve a genuine Homecoming
T
he University Council’s recent decision to recommend the restoration of Homecoming is long overdue. It indicates an important shift in the University’s treatment of its students. Woolf’s decision to extend Homecoming’s cancellation until 2014 in 2010 set a patronizing tone, sending a message to students that they weren’t to be trusted. Instead of trying to negotiate with students and community members off the bat, the University acted like a parent punishing a naughty child by indefinitely lengthening the postponement without engaging in any sort of negotiation. It now rests in the hands of senior administrators and Principal Woolf to give the final go-ahead and decide on what the new Homecoming might look like or whether it will return at all. The Council’s vote is a teaser to students who expect a return of the original Homecoming, but may instead get a rebranded, reworked and ultimately lacklustre version. Renaming the event ‘Fall Reunion’ is unlikely to change the way it’s seen by alumni. But, if the
university’s senior administrators take stronger measures to mitigate the street party and the revelry surrounding the event, they may risk altogether eliminating the essence of Homecoming that is so well-loved and missed by students and alumni.
EditoriaL — The Journal’s Perspective
Katherine Fernandez-Blance
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Joanna PlucinsKa
Editorial Illustrator
he allocation of $30,000 of student funding to the creation of a men’s centre at Simon Fraser University has been finalized after the University’s Student Society Treasurer proposed the initiative. Controversy has surrounded the opening of the centre, with doubts raised about the intentions behind its creation and what purpose it may serve. All in all, the idea of a men’s centre isn’t negative, so long as it’s implemented in a careful, well-thought out and sensitive fashion. Specifically, much concern has been raised about the potential that a men’s centre could simply turn into a frat house — a place for men to make misogynistic jokes, play video games and watch sports. It’s ultimately unfair to assume that this will happen — it creates negative stereotypes that deny the use a men’s centre could have on a university campus. Men, just as women, face countless gendered societal pressures. Much of machismo culture denies men the safe space to discuss their vulnerabilities and personal issues with one another. This has led to much higher suicide and alcoholism rates among men compared to women. Homosexual or transsexual men face societal stigmas on top of this. A men’s centre can be used to create a safe space for men to discuss their problems, helping to fight the stigmas that they encounter on a day-to-day basis. But, in order for such an environment to be created, a significant amount of oversight must be implemented by the students and university members
involved in the centre’s creation. A clear mandate must be outlined for the centre, with an appropriate level of funding allocated – $30,000, which is the amount currently recommended, seems excessive for the proposed purposes of the centre. Furthermore, students and administrators must hold the centre to account, ensuring that it’s used as a safe space to discuss issues that men face. Otherwise it risks
henry liu
Opinions Editor
terence Wong
Arts Editor
savoula stylianou
ILLUSTRATION By HENRy LIU
such as sanctioned events at Alfie’s, to follow the Council’s have the potential to be successful recommendation, and potentially if marked appropriately. The reinstitute Homecoming, senior University can also adopt previously administrators should be mindful used measures such as establishing of what Homecoming means to safe drinking tents with volunteers students and alumni. We’ll now encounter the first on hand giving out water and red cups to prevent broken bottles to graduating class that has yet to experience a true homecoming. maintain a safe environment. In deciding whether We’ve already endured a five-year wait — let’s make sure that the return of Homecoming means that the most important and beloved parts of the event aren’t forgotten.
Men have right to safe space T
Editorial Board Editors in Chief
The administration needs to trust that students and alumni alike will realize the consequences of their actions. The administration needs to trust that students and alumni alike will realize the consequences of their actions and behave in an appropriate fashion during future homecomings. Students shouldn’t have to be babied with a watered-down version of Homecoming — they deserve to have the most missed parts of the celebration such as the football game, the parade and the festivities surrounding the event restored. Alternatives to the street party,
About the JournAl
morphing into a boys’ club that only furthers patriarchal values and negative stereotypes. The creation of a men’s centre shouldn’t stifle the prevalence or importance of women’s issues, or issues facing other marginalized groups on campus. A dialogue about gender issues facilitated through the men’s centre would add a positive element to its creation. For equality’s sake, men, just as
— Journal Editorial Board
Assistant Arts Editor
marK louie
Sports Editor
Peter morroW
Assistant Sports Editor
nicK Faris
Postscript Editor Photo Editor
Janina enrile gina elder
Assistant Photo Editor
tiFFany lam
Multimedia Editor
colin tomchicK
Web and Graphics Editor
ali zahid
Blogs Editor
trilBy goouch
Assistant Blogs Editor Copy Editors women, should have a safe space allocated to them to discuss and cope with the societal stigmas that they may face. If the men’s centre at Simon Fraser University can establish an environment that fits the above criteria, its creation and funding will be justifiable.
— Journal Editorial Board
Julia vriend
chloë grande carling sPinney
Staff Writers Contributors
lauri Kytömaa
isaBelle duchaine
Business Staff
Business Manager geroldine zhao
Sales Representatives explaining my friends’ fears. As recent articles in Maclean’s and Canadian Business magazines announced, the best jobs are to be found in the oil fields of Alberta. This is because, according to Canadian Business magazine, employment for oil engineers has increased by 85 per cent between 2006 and 2011, with some of joanna plucinska the highest starting salaries in the country. With students graduating with large debts and limited job prospects, guaranteed employment and large salaries are undeniably very attractive. But can a good job really be hen fourth-year hit, I defined solely by money and found some of my most guarantee of work? intelligent and capable friends I’d like to borrow an idea expressing increasing uncertainty from Adam Smith’s concept of about their futures. As the end of comparative advantage, a theory exams approached, they doubted that outlines how an economy whether their decision to write should specialize in what they essays and read novels for four can produce most efficiently years as ArtSci ’12s was indeed a and cheaply. sound one. It’s an idea that’s meant We’re bombarded with statistics to increase productivity in an about high unemployment rates economy — an idea that should for new graduates, especially for also be transferred to how those equipped with Arts degrees, young people pick careers and
More than
money
W
university degrees. The reason I didn’t pursue a degree in engineering was because I’m no good with math, chemistry or physics and quite frankly, I have very little interest in the field. Even if I were to become an oil engineer, I probably wouldn’t make a very good one and I certainly wouldn’t enjoy going to work every day. People should be working in jobs that they have a comparative advantage in, meaning jobs that they are both good at and that they enjoy. There’s no way to define what the best job is, but, there is such a thing as the best job for you. Ultimately, people shouldn’t sacrifice their talents and sanity for the sake of financial security. While this idea may seem idealistic, especially with the current economic climate, I still believe that people should find their economic niche in which they can capitalize on their talents, and thus, maximize what they give back to society.
JenniFer che Fanny raBinovich-KuzmicKi hanK Xu Tuesday, May 29, 2012 • Issue 1 • Volume 140 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. Contents © 2012 by the Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the Journal. The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Performance Group of Companies in Smiths Falls, Ontario. Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions. Subscriptions are available for $120.00 per year (plus applicable taxes). Please address complaints and grievances to the Editors in Chief. Please direct editorial, advertising and circulation enquiries to: 190 University Avenue, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3P4 Telephone : 613-533-2800 (editorial) 613-533-6711 (advertising) Fax: 613-533-6728 Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca The Journal Online: www.queensjournal.ca Circulation 6,000 Issue 2 of Volume 140 will be published on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
DialoGuE
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
oPiNioNS — Your perspective
Student strikes raise concerns
Rising tuition costs across the country need to be evaluated to ensure quality education
queensjournal.ca
•7
Talking heads ... around campus PHOTOS By TEREnCE WOng
How do you feel about Homecoming possibly returning in 2013?
have spent the past few months attending class, writing exams and strolling through campuses filled with pamphlets, protesters and riot police. The past few weeks Isabelle DuchaIne , artscI ‘13 have seen a transformation of the protests into a wider social For over 100 days, students in movement, drawing upon “It’s about time for Quebec have been marching, longstanding social, political and Homecoming to come back.” chanting and boycotting classes in economic concerns. protest of a $1,625 tuition increase So what does this mean for us BEnjamin roSEnBErg, spread over five years. at Queen’s? artSCi ’14 Student protesters have The reality is that tuition in led peaceful demonstrations Ontario has increased every year with thought-provoking and for the past five years and our clearly-articulated talking points; tuition due on Sept. 1 will be they’ve also rioted, broken increasing yet again. The Ontario windows and tossed smoke bombs government has extended the into subway systems. current tuition framework allowing national and international schools to increase their tuition by SUPPLIEd media have been recycling and an institutional maximum of five Quebec students march in protest against a provincial recreating exciting names for the per cent. Some programs, such plan to increase their tuition by $1,625 over the next five years. movement. From the Toronto as Commerce, have increased by “I hope I can experience a true Star it is the ‘Student Uprising’, at eight per cent. commit fewer crimes, vote in and solid policy rarely grab as Homecoming before I graduate.” Maclean’s it is the ‘Maple Spring’. Since 2009, Ontario has held larger numbers, volunteer in their much attention. kathlEEn liu, artSCi ’14 The Quebec student strikes have the dubious distinction of having community and donate to charity. Continually increasing the most expensive average There is a financial imperative highlighted important concerns tuition without tuition. Continually increasing to investing in post-secondary about accessibility, affordability, and tuition without developing education, according to the cost-sharing, situations relatable developing metrics metrics that guarantee quality Canadian Chamber of Commerce to Ontario students burdened by that guarentee is detrimental to the value of a ‘the 27 per cent of Ontarians with unfairly shifting costs. quality is detrimental post-secondary experience. post-secondary education Instead of dialogue equating credentials contribute 50 per cent the importance of a university The governments of Ontario to the value of the of the income tax.’ education with its ultimate financial and Quebec argue that the current post-secondary A cost-sharing model, one consequences, we also need to system is unsustainably expensive. experience new technology, new departments, which equitably divides the tailor our discussions on quality new building projects, increased contributions of the government within the undergraduate context. “It can’t be a bad thing.” There’s no question that student support services, pension and students can deliver affordable, These concerns are not post-secondary education for agreements and a booming number quality education. limited to students. Faculty and Emily BlaCk, artSCi ’13 The AMS currently administration are hypersensitive Quebec students is cheap — it’s of students have led the costs one of the least expensive options associated with an undergraduate advocates a 70 per cent to the changing field and nature in north America. education to skyrocket in the past government, 30 per cent student of post-secondary education, but split based on the average universities in Quebec have been Today, Quebec’s average 30 years. undergraduate tuition is $2,519 The rationale behind tuition contributions of governments quiet on the ongoing strike. Presently, per year, in comparison Ontario’s increases remains that Ontario is across Canada. Discussions on tuition must Ontario split is include an understanding of the average is $6,640. currently experiencing concern the 55 per cent government, roles and responsibilities of all Quebec’s perspective on over provincial debt. tuition cannot be isolated from However, students 45 per cent student. stakeholders: government, its social and historical roots. The remain highly sensitive to universities and students. unique socio-economic position economic flux; unemployment I was born in Quebec City. “I hope it won’t tarnish Queen’s The leaders of the reputation again.” of Quebec requires a nuanced among high-school students, If I had chosen to attend any largest student groups understanding of a culture with post-secondary students and recent university in Quebec, it’s possible say that ideally tuition that I would be paying less than Cathy Zuo, Comm ’14 a long standing, powerful youth graduates remain incredibly high. in Quebec will reach half of my Queen’s tuition. The and union movement as well as The governments can’t deny the level promised legacy of your Queen’s education a philosophical alignment with affordable access to all students more socialist education policies of in a world which increasingly during the Quiet cannot be simplified into a France, germany and Sweden. requires the technical and Revolution in the bottom line. The Quebec student strike has The leaders of the largest intellectual sophistication of a 1960s — free. student groups say that ideally, post-secondary education. done a tremendous job of casting tuition in Quebec will reach the Reasonable increases in tuition, major attention on the financial level promised during the Quiet as measured using inflation giant placards cost of a Quebec education, but the Revolution in the 1960s — free. should be allowed to ensure quality, announcing “Hey! The pivotal issue that remains is how to Despite cries of “Solidarity!”, but the Ontario government must complicated mélange of global measure exactly how much tuition student strikes remain incredibly recognize that students are currently financial concerns, conflicting we should be paying, and how we “I don’t know enough about Homecoming to have a divisive within their own graduating with more debt and institutional perspectives and calculate if it’s worth the cost. good opinion.” communities. The discounted rates fewer employment prospects than stagnant funding formulas have led are not universal; only eligible our predecessors. my University and government Isabelle Duchaine is the AMS to students born in Quebec or Both the government and to increasingly look at my Academic Affairs Commisioner ya jiE Qiu, PhD ’16 educated through their secondary broader society reap the rewards fourth-year history tuition as a school system receive lower tuition. of our post-secondary learning; revenue generator!” aren’t nearly as About 30 per cent of Quebec Ontarians with degrees are more eye-catching as strike tactics. students are striking; the rest likely to live longer, be healthier, Unfortunately, good politics
Have an opinion? Submit a letter to journal_letters@ams.queensu.ca
On May 5, University Council voted to bring back a Fall Homecoming in 2013.
8 •queensjournal.ca
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Arts
photos by tiffany lam
Co-owner of Modern Primitive David Parkinson says the most popular pieces in the store change depending on seasonal trends.
FASHION
Travel treasures Downtown store gets merchandise from annual global trips B y S avoula S tylianou Arts Editor
tHeAtre
Youth connections Blue Canoe Productions puts on their second all high school show with 13 B y S avoula S tylianou Arts Editor Running in and out of the Baby Grand theatre during their dress rehearsal, the cast of 13 exchanged fist bumps of congratulations after a successful scene. Community theatre company Blue Canoe Productions prides itself on its commitment to involving people from various age groups in its shows. The company is showcasing its second high school show with 13 the Musical. The first time the group produced a show with all high school students in the cast was in 2009’s Rent. Queen’s student Michael Sheppard founded Blue Canoe Productions in 2006 when he first came to Queen’s because he saw a need for more student-run productions open to both students and the community. Sheppard said from 2007-2009 Blue Canoe was completely student-run and all profits made from ticket sales went
directly to funding the group. Blue Canoe Productions became an AMS club in 2009. “We didn’t get a student fee, but we got the ability to book space on campus for free and having a connection to the AMS made it easier to get students involved,” Sheppard, ArtSci ’12, said.
Modern Primitive isn’t just another shop sprawled across the stretch of Princess St. — it’s a place that traces the travels of its storeowners. The store has an array of jewellery and clothing for shoppers to browse, straying away from mass-produced items and opting for unique pieces from across the globe. David Parkinson co-owns the store with his wife Bonnie. He’s been in the jewellery buying and selling business for over 20 years and he said Modern Primitive started with an encounter in Spain. “I met a guy from Argentina. We used to work on the same markets in Pamplona during big events like the running of the bulls,” Parkinson said. “The guy said to me: ‘I’ll give you the key to life if you want to travel’.” Parkinson met his wife while in Spain and they began to sell jewellery together. After the couple traveled around for a few years in Europe, Parkinson said he and his wife decided to
move to Canada because she was anxious to come back home. The couple first opened a shop at 120 Princess St., later moving to their current location at 72 Princess St. When the shop first opened, most of their jewellery was from Mexico. “There’s a huge market for jewellery in Mexico. It’s very popular there,” he said. At first they only sold jewellery in the store, but later decided to expand into the back area and bring in apparel. “It was a normal progression,” Parkinson said. Markets in Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal and India are just a few of the places that Parkinson has traveled through to buy products to sell at the store. “When I go there, I go to the market first to see what’s going on. Markets aren’t like what they are here — markets are huge and they have a whole section of artisans,” he said. In order to decide what items to purchase, Parkinson said he simply takes a look around.
“I look at what the tourist girls are wearing because those are the kinds of things girls here would wear.” Parkinson added that even if there is a language barrier when he travels, everyone understands the language of buying and selling. “People get the idea if I want to buy something from them,” he said. On average, trips last a couple of months and items are shipped to Canada after they are chosen. Parkinson said half of the money is given immediately to pay for production costs while the shipper gets the rest of the money to give to the merchants and artisans upon delivery of the finished items. He added that the most popular items in the store often vary. “Some years you may get a hot item of jewellery that everybody wants, like feather earrings for example, and it’s always changing,” he said. Parkinson said they are planning to expand Modern Primitive with a location opening in Westport, a town one hour north of Kingston.
Any sort of head “position is a university student. We’ve always been a mix. ”
— Michael Sheppard, founder of Blue Canoe Productions
In January 2013, Blue Canoe Productions will become Blue Canoe Theatrical Productions Incorporated. photo by ali zahid The group will become its own Reid Cunningham (centre) plays the male lead, popular guy Evan, in the musical 13. separate entity and will have access students in the crew than any other to apply for provincial grants, the university chapter and Sheppard university students. “Any sort of head position is a Blue Canoe show in the past. Sheppard said. representing the community side “A lot of ConEd students were Ideally there will be two so he can stay with Blue Canoe in university student,” Sheppard said. “We’ve always been a mix.” attracted to the project because it is co-presidents of Blue Canoe the long term. Production manager Molly working with high school students,” in the future, Sheppard While the cast of 13 is all high said — one Queen’s student to run school students, the crew is largely Russell said 13 has more ConEd See There on page 11
Arts
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
queensjournal.ca
•9
Art revIew
Creating a spectacle From billboards to tents, Art in Public Places Kingston includes six installations located around town
Greenroom is a living room set partially made of hollow fibreglass.
B y k atherine Fernandez -B lance Editor in Chief I’ve walked past Bagot and Queen St. dozens of times in my four years at Queen’s, but when I saw a radically green living room set up, I had to do a double take. For me the encounter wasn’t accidental. Earlier in the day I’d climbed aboard a school bus packed with artists and art lovers for the opening tour of a six piece curated art project titled Art in Public Places Kingston. The public exhibits are part of a show put on by xcurated Cultural Collective, created to stimulate discussion about art by situating it in public places. The theme, appropriately titled ‘Spectacle’, presented a dual question to audiences — is public art a spectacle in itself or does it only depict the spectacle already inherent in society? We first stopped by Catherine Toews’ billboard piece on Taylor Kidd Blvd. which showed three fashion magazine inspired images of women looking vulnerable and exposed. We then arrived at Lemoine Point
photo by ali zahid
Conservation Area to view what appeared to be a simple red tent in the middle of a field. As we headed down the trail, we were told that the tent was actually Robert Hengeveld’s Into the Wild. No longer just a piece of camping gear, the interior had been spread with camouflage nylon and small pieces hung down like drying meat at a butcher’s shop. The hung nylon alluded to an unsettling reality. Surrounded by the otherwise tranquil and natural lake, it was as if something dark was hiding in the shadows of the installation. As the bus veered back downtown, Michael Davidge’s Pretty Vacancy appeared from the bus window — a neon-lit sign which was a literal representation of the Sex Pistol’s 1977 hit “Pretty Vacant” melding with the stylistic design of a motel’s vacancy sign. The mundane and lazy manifestation of a curious phrase makes this one stop that can be avoided. Luckily, those without a car can view the best and most outlandish pieces of the collection within walking distance from campus. Inside a pit that will eventually
be filled with condos lies Greenroom, a living room set partially cast out of hollow fibreglass. Millie Chen and Warren Quigley’s piece was created to be a socially conscious satire on the corporate greening trend. The brown walls of the pit provided a contrasting landscape for the hues of green the work utilizes. It’s proven its purpose by already making passersby stop and stare at the brilliantly thought-out juxtaposition between interior and exterior. Steven Laurie’s Donut Machine inside the Cataraqui Centre is also included in the collection but was not part of the tour. The final stop of the tour took us to the
tree in front of the Pump House Steam Museum to see Shayne Dark’s Free Form in Blue, a vibrant stack of cedar split rails covered in deep blue paint and nestled amongst the tree’s branches. Dark’s installation was the most simplistic of the project, but also the most overt example of the theme of spectacles — enabling viewers to stop and question what public art means. Art in Public Places Kingston runs until June 8. A roundtable discussing the importance of public art will be held on June 7 at 7 p.m. in Market Square.
INtervIew
Sweet Jets take off Queen’s garage pop trio releases first EP ‘Noise Candy’ B y M ark l ouie Assistant Arts Editor When Kingston’s Sweet Jets started out playing house parties, they had no idea they would be recording an EP just a year later. Guitarist and vocalist Colin Robinson, bassist James Gagne and drummer Paul Dyck released ‘Noise Candy’ on April 1. Although they’ve only been together for a short time, Dyck, ArtSci ’13, recalls their misfortune while playing in a restaurant in Toronto, which had just been on the show Restaurant Makeover. “A pipe exploded on the floor above us midway through our set and the ceiling just started dripping serious amounts of water all over the bar — it was pretty epic.” The band recorded the EP this spring in their friend’s basement. They decided to make their album available online for free download. “Right now we’re just trying to get
exposure — we’d rather have people download it now than have people not listen to it because they didn’t have the money to pay.” The band originally started playing with only Paul on drums and Colin on guitar in January 2011, later adding bassist James in October. “James can lay down the groove with the bass and drive the song instead of just relying on fast guitar hooks,” Dyck said. The EP contains all original songs written by the band. “One of our most popular songs is ‘Wish I’. It was the dark horse of the album. We didn’t think people would like it as much as they do.” Sweet Jets have played several shows at the Mansion and Clark Hall Pub in the past and have come a long way since their early days. “We played in my basement for a bit, and then we moved into James’ basement.
photo supplied by Russell lowRy
Drummer Paul Dyck (right) says the band wanted to make their EP ‘Noise Candy’ available online to make it more accessible for people to listen to it.
Now we’ve moved up to the main floor in Colin’s house. This is actually a big step up,” Dyck said. While the group is in the midst of balancing band activities with personal pursuits, they show no signs of slowing down. “We’re looking to record an A side/B side, duo release, just two songs, hopefully this month, and then work on new stuff for the
rest of the summer,” Dyck said. — With files from Savoula Stylianou Sweet Jets’ debut EP is available for free download at sweetjets.bandcamp.com.
10 •queensjournal.ca
Arts
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Arts in brief Nude Stephen Harper portrait sold A nude portrait of Stephen Harper named ‘Emperor Haute Couture’ that is on display at the Kingston Public Library on Johnson St. was sold for $5,000 on May 24. Artist Margaret Sutherland painted the piece for the Kingston Arts Council’s Juried Art Salon, an annual competition that’s judged by three professional artists. The oil painting depicts the Prime Minister lying on a recliner in the buff with a dog at his feet. He’s also being served a Tim Horton’s coffee from a woman. The painting is meant to be a political satire of Harper’s cuts to arts programs in the country. Sutherland’s body of work includes other nude portraits and more popularly, a demonic painting of Pope Benedict’s face. The painting will be on display at the library until the end of the month. — Savoula Stylianou
Awesome Kingston funds film project
The venture is called 26 Shorts and will involve asking a group of Kingston filmmakers to shoot one movie every week using a Kingston cast, crew and location. Eric Ferguson came up with the idea when he realized that local filmmakers spend more time sitting at the pub than out making movies. “A lot of pints get finished, but not a lot of films,” Ferguson, ConEd ’11, said. Ferguson went to an Awesome Kingston meeting and had 90 seconds to pitch his idea to the panel of judges. “The idea is the antithesis of a normal grant procedure,” he said. “They gave me a paper bag filled with $1,000 cash and they don’t check in afterwards.” The filmmakers are currently in the stages of scouting and planning the 26 short films that could range anywhere from one minute to 10 minutes. Ferguson said he’s planning to start the project in August and finish by early February next year. The project is aiming to screen some of the films at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival in March 2013. — Savoula Stylianou
Awesome Kingston has given a $1,000 grant to a Kingston film project that intends to make one movie a week for 26 weeks.
Keep up tO DAte ON KINgStON’S Art, MuSIc AND tHeAtre SceNe
Follow @QJArts on Twitter
Arts
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
queensjournal.ca
• 11
‘There was a divide’ middle school stereotypes like with people, you totally become a the vain cheerleader and the whole group,” he said. Russell, ConEd ’13 said. dumb jock. The cast rehearsed five days a Russell has been with Blue The male lead of 13 is popular week as opening night approached. Canoe Productions for two years guy Evan, who eventually falls In school every day as well, and she said working with high for Patrice, the awkward girl Cunningham said that this has given school students is different than in school. them limited time to hang out after working with university students. Evan is played by twelfth rehearsal, but he added that he will “What I find with high school grade student Reid Cunningham “absolutely” be hanging out with his students versus some university from Loyalist Collegiate castmates after the musical is over. students is that there’s no ego and Vocational Institute. they’re a lot more willing to learn.” “At the beginning of rehearsals 13 the Musical runs until June 2 at the 13 is about the trials and there was a divide with people Baby Grand Theatre. tribulations of a group of from different high schools but thirteen-year olds who fit different when you start working together Continued from page 8
Get Out there Art
Theatre
Modern Fuel, Main Gallery Dustin Wilson: The Institute for Future Life Regression Until June 9
Grand Theatre The Odd Couple May 31 to June 9 See kingstongrand.ca for ticket and pricing details
Modern Fuel, State of Flux Gallery Ann Clarke: Edgewise Until June 9 Union Gallery Main Space Mackenzie Browning, Ebonnie Hollenbeck, Janghan Hong, Kaisa Moran and Daniela Tanaka Lo: cut + print Until June 22 Union Gallery Project Room Alejandro Arauz: In the River Until June 22
Domino Theatre (52 Church St.) Arsenic and Old Lace June 14 to June 30 See kingstongranda.ca for ticket and pricing details
Tickets available at ticketscene.ca The Mansion Gordie Johnson + The Balconies + Greg Ball June 8, 9 p.m. $12
What We’re Listening To The Journal brings you summer tunes to beat the heat waves: 1) ‘Some Nights’ by Fun. 2)’Disparate Youth’ by Santigold 3) ‘All of Me’ by Tanlines 4) ‘Victory Lap’ by Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis 5) ‘Take a Walk’ by Passion Pit
The Grad Club P.S. I Love You CD release party June 9, 10 p.m. Tickets available at ticketscene.ca
Music The Mansion The Novaks June 7, 9 p.m. $7 The Grad Club Ron Hawkins and the Do Good Assassins June 8, 10 p.m.
The Mansion Les Breastfeeders June 13, 9 p.m. $10 Time to Laugh Comedy Club Henry Rollins June 14, 7 p.m. $25
SUMMER SERVICE HOURS SERVING STUDENTS SUMMER LONG
HOURS APPLICABLE UNTIL AT LEAST AUGUST 10TH
MON & THURS 4:305:30 PM MCGILLIVRAY BROWN HALL
NEXT AFLIES NIGHTS WED JUNE 13 FRI JUNE 15 CLASSIC ROCK FRI JULY 6 HOE DOWN CHECK ONLINE FOR MORE
EVERYDAY 9 PM 1 AM LOWER JDUC
MONTHURS 48 PM LOWER JDUC 034
WEEKDAYS 10 AM 4 PM UPPER JDUC
WEEKDAYS 10 AM 4 PM LOWER JDUC
12 •queensjournal.ca
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
SportS
PHOTO by gINA ELdER
Richardson Stadium will host the Canadian national team on June 9 as they take on the United States.
RUGBY
Underwood to suit up for Canada Former Team Canada rugby captain leads charge in bid to bring international test match to Kingston B y Peter M orrow Sports Editor Queen’s is set to host a major international rugby competition next month. Team Canada and Team U.S.A. will face off in a men’s rugby test match at Richardson Stadium on June 9. Gaels veteran Liam Underwood will dress for Team Canada. It’s
an honour he’s earned after a steady progression up Canada’s rugby ladder. “The Coach has seen me play from past tournaments, so we’re familiar,” Underwood said. Part of Canada’s under-20 team in 2010 and 2011, Underwood’s jump to the senior roster partly came out of the blue. The opportunity arose after Team
Canada’s Connor Braid sustained an injury while playing for his club in B.C. Underwood plays the same two positions as Braid — fly half and fullback. “I didn’t really see it coming,” Underwood said, adding that he’s never played in front of thousands of fans before, despite previous international rugby experience. Head coach of the Gaels men’s
rugby team Peter Huigenbos is also video analyst for the Canadian men’s team. “It’s a pleasure to work with Liam,” Huigenbos said. “I’ll actually be spending much more time with Liam; it’s a 24/7 commitment, and he’s ready for it.” Huigenbos has coached Underwood since 2010, the year the Gaels won the
footBall
Aprile to the Blue Bombers Gaels receiver drafted 16th overall B y N ick Faris Assistant Sports Editor Just six years after playing his first football game, Gaels wide receiver Giovanni Aprile could be on his way to the pros. Earlier this month, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers selected Aprile with the 16th overall pick in the 3rd round of the 2012 CFL Draft. Originally from Toronto, with only two years of high school football at Senator O’Connor College School behind him, Aprile suited up for one game in his first two seasons at Queen’s. He secured a starting role in 2010, and enjoyed a stellar 2011 campaign that saw him emerge as a premier offensive threat in the CIS. “I didn’t really care where I went [in the draft],” said Aprile, who was ranked 12th in the CFL’s pre-draft rankings. “If I was drafted in the sixth round, that would have been sick.” Aprile was the lone Gael chosen in the draft. Running back Ryan Granberg, offensive lineman Derek Morris and defensive lineman Frank Pankewich all attended the CFL evaluation camp in early
March, but were not among the 45 players selected. The Blue Bombers, who are coming off a 34-23 loss in the 2011 Grey Cup, expressed interest in shifting Aprile from receiver to safety, a position he hasn’t played since high school. At 6’3 and 213 pounds, Aprile is significantly bigger than any current Winnipeg defensive back. “[The Bombers] are going to try me out at a few different places because they’re looking for a more versatile player,” Aprile said. In addition to starting at receiver, Aprile dominated on special teams in 2011 as the Gaels’ primary kick returner, leading the CIS with 36.5 yards per return and two touchdowns. Although Gaels head coach Pat Sheahan believes Aprile’s versatility will be a terrific asset at the professional level, his ability to adapt will depend on where the Bombers choose to deploy him on the field. “I believe this is kind of where potential meets opportunity,” Sheahan said. “Are they going to use him at [receiver]? If they do, then he’s got good grounding in
OUA championship. “He was 18 years old, setting up three of our four tries to win the OUA,” Huigenbos said. “He’s a quiet leader ... who understands the game on another level.” The game at Richardson Stadium is a ten-minute walk from where Underwood plays each fall in a Queen’s uniform. Huigenbos said the local organizational committee deserves much credit.
It’s a 24/7 “commitment, and he’s ready for it. ” —Peter Huigenbos, men’s rugby coach
“The community’s support for this game has been phenomenal.” he said. On June 9, there will be more than just national pride at stake. Canada is ranked 13th in the world, while the U.S.A. is ranked 17th. Only the top 12 teams from the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand are automatic qualifiers for 2015. Huigenbos said these test matches affect those international rankings. See Local on page 15
InsIde FAMOUS GAELS
Brad Smith to star in The Bachelor Canada. PAGE 13 Giovanni Aprile eludes a Laurier defender during Queen’s 58-35 win on Sept. 17, 2011.
that position, but if they like him as an athlete and want to use him somewhere else, then there will be a pretty steep learning curve.” Aprile will attend training camp with the Bombers, which runs from the end of May until the start of the regular season on June 29. Players drafted to the CFL do not forego
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
their CIS eligibility, so Aprile could return to Queen’s in 2012 in lieu of signing a professional contract. “I suppose Queen’s fans would not be disappointed to see him back for a little bit of a refresher. But he may impress and stay, you never know,” Sheahan said.
SOCCER
Kingston FC takes the field for the first time. PAGE 13
FOOTBALL
Running back headlines Gaels’ recruiting class. PAGE 14
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SoCCER
Kingston FC makes franchise debut Local team hopes to establish ties across the Eastern Ontario region
B y Peter M orrow Sports Editor The Queen’s Gaels soccer team no longer plays at the highest level in Kingston. That title now lies with Kingston Football Club (Kingston FC), which competes in the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) against teams from across Ontario, as well as Montreal. Management operates out of the nation’s capital, and the team practices there. “I understand it’s not ideal for the Kingston community or for me,” said former Gaels midfielder Jordan Brooks, who’s currently completing his master’s in biology at Queen’s and training with the team year-round. “I know it makes sense from a team and management perspective. I’m fine with it.” It’s abnormal for any pro soccer team to practice two hours away from its home stadium, but Kingston FC is different. Club president and head coach Jimmy Hamrouni coached Ottawa’s Prospect FC from 2010 to 2011. Both Prospect FC and Ottawa’s Capital City FC, a first-division CSL team, folded in 2011. Without an Ottawa team, Kingston was the next-best market in Eastern Ontario. The construction of the Invista Centre’s artificial turf field coincided with Kingston FC’s arrival. Many players from Ottawa’s former teams lined up for Kingston FC, which fields a team in both CSL divisions. The club operates out of Ottawa under Hamrouni, due to his previous experience in the league. Nearly all of the club’s players are from the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Only a small handful — led by Brooks — are not. After completing his fifth season as a Gael, Brooks signed a pro contract with Kingston FC two weeks ago. “At the moment I’m the only [Kingston native] on this team, but I think in the next few weeks that could easily change,” Brooks said. Two players from Gananoque and two from Belleville are currently on the reserve team. With Brooks, they travel a long distance for practices — costs which are covered by the club. While the club may attract more players from across Eastern Ontario, the supporters will largely hail from Kingston. There were 700 fans at the home opener to witness a 4-2 loss to Toronto FC’s Academy. The following Saturday, 500 fans watched the team earn their first point in a 1-1 tie with the York Region Shooters. “The level of play is the third highest in Canada, behind the NASL and MLS, so this team’s still just improving,” Brooks said, adding the quality of play between the OUA and CSL is difficult to compare because it’s a different style of soccer. “[The OUA]’s not a technical league — it’s a physical, athletic one, not often pretty to watch,” he said. Chairman of the club Lorne Abugov said the team has long-term See Regional on page 14
Jordan Brooks (third from left) celebrates with his Kingston FC teammates during their game against the York Region Shooters on May 12.
PHOTO by ALI ZAHId
faMoUS GaElS
From the field to the Bachelor Brad Smith and other former Gaels in the public sphere B y N ick Faris Assistant Sports Editor Former Gaels wide receiver Brad Smith may be a free agent in the CFL, but if he plays his cards right, he won’t be a free agent on the love market for much longer. Smith has been chosen to star on the first season of The Bachelor Canada, which will air this fall on CityTV. Without a CFL team to play for in 2012, he’ll instead spend his spring surrounded by 25 eligible bachelorettes, passing out roses rather than receiving passes. The executives of the show are aiming to attract viewers through Smith’s combination of charm and athleticism. One of the top Gaels’ wide
receivers of all-time, Smith graduated from Queen’s in 2007 after earning two CIS AllCanadian honours during his university career. He was drafted 44th overall by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2007 CFL Draft, later playing for the Montreal Alouettes and the Edmonton Eskimos. While Smith’s career path is unconventional for a former CIS athlete, it’s not uncommon for Queen’s athletes to experience fame following their Gaels careers. Inspired by Smith, here are four former Queen’s Gaels in the public eye: Brad Smith played for the Edmonton Eskimos before being cast as Canada’s first Bachelor.
SUPPLIEd
Mike Schad
rod Smith
Jock Climie
Kate McKenna
An ex-Gael offensive lineman who enjoyed the football spotlight in the U.S. rather than in Canada. The big man from Belleville, Ont. is the only player in CIS history to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Schad was selected 23rd overall by the L.A. Rams in 1986, where he played from 1987-88. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he retired in 1993. Over his career, Schad played in 62 NFL games for the Rams and Eagles.
The TSN sportscaster played offensive guard for the Queen’s football team in the late 1970s. The anchor of the weeknight edition of SportsCentre, Smith joined the Gaels in 1979, a year after Queen’s clinched its second Vanier Cup championship. Smith joined TSN in 1987 and has been a mainstay on SportsCentre since 1995, previously serving as a play-by-play announcer for the CFL on TSN and several CIS championship games.
The CFL on TSN studio analyst starred as a receiver for Queen’s in the late 1980s. In 1988, Climie set the CIS singleseason record for receiving yards with 1,091. A member of the Queen’s Football Hall of Fame, Climie played 12 seasons in the CFL, earning his law degree from Queen’s over the course of six winter semesters and off-seasons. A practicing lawyer, Climie joined TSN as a football analyst following his retirement in 2001.
Former Queen’s goalkeeper currently works for the CFL as an online host and content producer. McKenna played for the Gaels’ women’s soccer team and graudated from Queen’s Concurrent Education program in 2008. She has previously worked for TSN, CBC Sports and the Hamilton Spectator. and served as the host of Ticats TV for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during the 2010 CFL season. — Nick Faris and Peter Morrow
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footBall
Running back commits Three former teammates also joining Gaels B y N ick Faris Assistant Sports Editor Running back Stephen Trivieri will join the Queen’s football team in 2012, returning to Canada after spending his senior year of high school in the U.S. Trivieri, a Toronto native, moved to Ashburn, Virginia for his final high school season, scoring 23 touchdowns in 12 games with the Stone Bridge Bulldogs. A former member of the Toronto Jr. Argonauts of the Canadian Junior Football League, Trivieri attended Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute and St. Michael’s College School in Toronto before transferring to Stone Bridge. After entertaining scholarship offers from several NCAA Division II schools, Trivieri ultimately committed to the Gaels. “There are a lot of St. Mike’s boys playing there now. After evaluating all my options, I decided that [Queen’s] was a good fit,” he said. Trivieri’s powerful running style and willingness to fight for extra yards should allow him to compete for a feature spot within a talented Queen’s backfield. Like all incoming rookies, Trivieri will be confronted by the faster pace and increased physicality of university football. Unlike most recruits, he will also have to readjust to the technical differences of the Canadian game following his season in Virginia. “I just want to come in, learn the system and work hard,” Trivieri said. “I plan on giving everything on the football field, and hopefully it works out.” Three of Trivieri’s former teammates at St. Michael’s College School are also part of the Gaels’ 2012 recruiting class:
Max townsend Quarterback Max Townsend was a two-time captain and team MVP at St. Michael’s. A three-sport athlete in high school, Townsend was the top-rated quarterback at the 2011 Queen’s Elite Passing Camp. Originally from Halifax, Townsend will enter the Commerce program at Queen’s. Townsend will compete for a backup spot behind incumbent starter Billy McPhee in his Steph Emard challenges for the ball against the York Region Shooters. rookie season.
peter Boivin Offensive lineman Peter Boivin won the Outstanding Lineman Award in his final season at St. Michael’s. A conference All-Star and a member of Team Ontario East at the 2011 Canada Cup, Boivin will join a loaded offensive line recruiting class for Queen’s in 2012. Boivin will follow in the footsteps of his uncle, Michael O’Shaughnessy, who suited up for the Gaels in the early 1970s.
Josh Jordan Defensive back Josh Jordan played alongside Boivin for Team Ontario East at the 2011 Canada Cup. A two-sport athlete at St. Michael’s, Jordan was team captain of the Toronto Jr. Argonauts, Trivieri’s former club team. A prospective engineering student, Jordan will fight for playing time as a rookie in a defensive backfield full of returning veterans.
PHOTO by ALI ZAHId
Regional outreach
Continued from page 13
plans in place. “We’re looking to build this into more of a regional team, and affiliate ourselves with local clubs from all over,” Abugov said. “Across the region we’re building an informal soccer bridge.” Abugov said expanding the region means there will be a greater quantity of higher-caliber players. “It’s our objective absolutely to find as many players from the area as we can,” Abugov said. Often referred to as a hockey city, Kingston’s soccer fans have thus far filled the bleachers at the Invista Centre. Abugov said the team has performed well for these crowds, but there is still much work to be done. SUPPLIEd Kingston FC won its first game last Sunday Football recruit Steven Trivieri moved over Brampton City United, after suffering to Virginia and played for the Stone Bridge Bulldogs before committing to Queen’s. from a three game losing streak. “Rome wasn’t built in a day, so you know it takes time.”
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JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
Liam Underwood fights off a tackle to score a try against McMaster on Nov. 5, 2011.
Local rugby scene growing Continued from page 12
“For [World Cup] 2015, unfortunately we still need to qualify. Despite beating Tonga [in New Zealand], they still finished ahead of us in our pool, claiming automatic qualification for the next world cup.” One of Kingston’s most decorated rugby figures helped make the game happen. John Phelan, an associate professor at Queen’s School of Business, is a former captain of Canada’s national rugby team. He’s also chair of the 15-person
Local Organizing Committee that capitalized on a bid to bring the test match to Kingston. Consisting mainly of local business people, it was the same committee that brought the Barclay’s Churchill Cup pool games to Kingston in 2008. “Teams have always liked playing here,” Phelan said. “We did a good job in 2008 hosting Canada, Ireland, Scotland, England, U.S.A. and Argentina, and if we do it well this time, they’ll come back again.” While Rugby Canada continues to use Richardson as a venue for international rugby competitions,
the sport is also thriving in Kingston. Phelan said rugby is evolving more into the forefront of Kingston sports culture. “KEDCO and Kingston tourism are some of the businesses behind us,” he said. “And Kingston truly is a rugby community.” Phelan works with the Kingston Panthers rugby organization at the youth levels creating introductory programs for children as young as six years old. “One of my older mentors once told me ‘you owe the game,’ and I agree because it’s given me that much in my life.”
WaNt to KEEP UP WItH tHE GaElS DURING tHE offSEaSoN?
folloW @QJSPoRtS SPORTS IN BRIEF Hopeful olympian falls short Kingston native Isolda Penney saw her Olympic rowing dreams come to an end at the U.S. National team selection regatta on April 12. The 37-year-old finished in third place in the women’s single event with a time of 7:47; she finished behind Genevra Stone (7:32) and Lindsay Meyer (7:36). If she won the time trial, Penney would have needed to place in the top three in Lucerne, Switzerland at the end of May to qualify for the Olympics. After seeing the Canadian national team cancel the single boat program, Penney used her dual-citizenship to try out for the U.S. roster. Given her age, the third-place finish will bring a premature end to Penney’s comeback to rowing, which began in 2008 after 11 years away from the sport. — Lauri Kytömaa
Brittany Moore earns all-Star game award Brittany Moore was named OUA East player of the game at the OUA All-Star Game in Waterloo on April 28. The 5’6 point guard from
Hannon, Ont. recently completed her fifth and final year of eligibility for the Queen’s women’s basketball team. In her five years with the Gaels, Moore established herself one of the OUA’s top performers. Moore finished fourth in points per game during her final three OUA seasons — third overall behind the Ottawa Gee Gees’ Hannah Sunley-Paisley and the Windsor Lancers’ Jessica Clemmencon. She averaged 16.5 points per game in those three seasons, finishing with a career high 17.1 in her final year as a Gael. — Peter Morrow
Pegg, Underwood, Kelly to represent Queen’s at World University 7’s Championships The Gaels’ Clara Pegg of Barrie, Ont. joined the Canadian women’s roster set to play in the 2012 World University Rugby Sevens in Brive, France. Pegg joins a Canadian team with considerable success in past tournaments, winning the tournament in Beijing 2004 and in Rome 2006. Pegg heads into her third
Brittany Moore.
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
OUA season with international experience, as an athlete eligible to receive future bursary funding from Rugby Ontario. Varsity men’s rugby players Liam Underwood and Matt Kelly of Toronto, Ont. will be representing Canada’s men’s team at the tournament. Both athletes represented Canada in 2010 and 2011 with the under-20 team. Heading into their fourth years as Gaels, Underwood and Kelly have both received Rugby Ontario funding. The tournament will also be held in July in Brive, France. — Peter Morrow
ACROSS 1 Edible seaweed 5 More (Sp.) 8 Opposed to 12 Finished 13 Inventor Whitney 14 Ring out 15 Actress Campbell 16 Turtle shell, e.g. 18 Look of pain 20 Photocopier name 21 Greek vowel 22 Meadow 23 Blue Shoes 26 Late 60 Minutes correspondent 30 Born in the 31 The Simpsons network 32 Payable 33 Designer Gianni 36 Eye color 38 Pipe material, for short 39 Solidify 40 Weird 43 Countertop, e.g. 47 Hot rodders com petition 49 Back 50 Division word 51 de deux 52 Therefore 53 Examination 54 Explosive letters 55 Handsome is as handsome DOWN 1 King 2 Always 3 Jeans-maker Strauss 4 Undergrad course of study 5 Muhammad’s birthplace 6 Wings 7 Knight’s address
8 9 10 11 17 19 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 34 35 36 37 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 48
Go to a higher court Approach Mexican entree Holly Figure-skating leap Consumed Remiss Minivan alterna tive Work with Listener Trouble Wood-shaping tool Pool stick Moray, for one Media watchdog org. Tap State with confi dence That girl Batman’s butler Visitor Fix a manuscript Sea eagle Phooey! Read cursorily Plane-related Zoo structure Love god Suitable
LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS
16 •queensjournal.ca
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
postscript relationships
Love from far away Long-distance couples focus on communication B y J anina E nrilE Postscript Editor There are few things as sweet as the airport reunion. With couples reuniting everywhere, one must remember that the long-distance relationship was around long before the first airplane was constructed. When Romantic era poet John Keats died of tuberculosis in 1821, he was over 1000 miles away from his lover and fiancée Fanny Brawne. Forced apart for most of their relationship, the couple corresponded by letter. In more recent times, soldiers stationed overseas use modern technology, like email or Skype, to stay in touch with their other halves. With the onset of the summer months, Queen’s students will also forcibly succumb to months apart from their significant others. For Hannah May and Aidan Payne, this past year may have been the last time they shared an area code. When the couple began dating in early 2011, it hadn’t yet occurred to them that, the following summer, they might be trying a long distance relationship. “You have those love goggles where you don’t see anything wrong [and] don’t see that anything could [go] wrong,” Payne, ArtSci ’12, said. “And then at some point Hannah turned to me in the car and said we need to talk about us not seeing each other for months on end.” It wasn’t the last time the two would try long distance. Following Payne’s graduation this past April, he will be moving back to Boston, MA indefinitely. May said Payne’s absence this year will bring changes to her day-to-day life. “For the past year and a half,
he’s been a major part of my life here at Queen’s,” she said. “It’s going to be weird and definitely an adjustment to not have him there at school with me, and not nearby — I’m just going to miss him.” The couple doesn’t plan to break up anytime soon. “He’s the best boyfriend,” May said. “He’s so thoughtful — the craziest, the funniest. I’m never bored.” Although May, ArtSci ’13 is remaining in Kingston come September, the couple doesn’t yet know if their separation will be permanent. “We’ve talked about it,” Payne said. “I’m working in the film industry and so I can go between the two, but I’m not a citizen of Canada yet.” While May is considering moving to the States in the future, she must endure the year without her boyfriend. “I can’t just up and move,” she said. “Obviously if I could , I would.” Payne said he plans to visit Canada as much as possible in the coming year. “I’ve been trying to get film shoots in the Toronto area so that I can come up here on businessrelated reasons and then hop over to Kingston on my way back home,” he said. “That way I could see her for a bit and not lose money in the process.” To compensate for time spent apart during the summer and school year, Payne and May said they will meet in New York City. For most of the year, however, over 850 km will separate the couple. They plan to call and Skype as often as possible. “Sometimes the timing doesn’t work out in the day,” May said. “But sometimes a short phone call or Skype call goes a long way.”
“We are getting an international texting plan,” Payne added. “That’s romantic,” May said. “That’s like new media love.” The couple agree that the long distance effort will be worth it in the end. “There’s no one quite like Hannah,” Payne said. “I’ll go through whatever we need to go through in order to have her at the other side.” To help their love thrive, long — distance couples can take an extra step and try alternative forms of communication. English professor Mark Jones said love letters are an old-fashioned but effective way of keeping the intimacy alive. When Keats was kept in isolation because of his illness, he and Brawne would exchange brief, undated letters from different sides of the duplex house where they lived. According to Jones, this was their version of today’s modern forms of communication. “The same dynamics are going to apply, no matter what medium you’ve got,” he said. “You’re still going to have some form of communication that is … abridging distance.” While love letters stand as a reminder of the distance between a couple, Jones said they also help bring them closer together. “There’s incredible intimacy — maybe some things you can’t tell someone face to face,” he said. While letter-writing is effective in long-distance relationships, Jane Sherwood, a Kingston-based couples counsellor, said that prolonged time apart can bring on an unnaturally long ‘honeymoon phase.’ She said couples who spend the majority of their time apart risk remaining in this stage longer than normal.
what to do while you’re apart When you go weeks on end without seeing your significant other, these activities will help keep the romance alive. Try some out with your partner, whether it’s a summer separation or a lengthier long-distance.
it to each other over Skype or phone. This is ideal for people in different time zones — you can fall asleep to the sound of each other’s voice.
synchtube
Download the same movie, start it at the same time and put Skype on its audio function. Now it’s like you’re watching a movie in the same room — annoying questions and obnoxious laughter included.
Synchtube.com is just one site that helps people on separate computers watch videos at the same time. Now you can share the experience of watching cat videos while you’re in different countries.
read a book Pick a book and take turns reading
watch a movie
send flowers Find a florist in your partner’s area that will let you order over the phone. You can set a time and date for the delivery just in time
for a special day, like a birthday or anniversary.
mail a journal Send a notebook back and forth, filling it with notes or artwork. When you reunite, it can act as a record of your time apart.
Get busy Fact: some of us like sex. Don’t lose out — just get creative with your voice and your long distance phone plan. If you don’t want to leave things to your imagination, try Skype to skip the “what are you wearing” jargon. — Janina Enrile
Emails are a modern form of letter writing. They can help keep a long distance relationship alive.
photo by gina elder
According to couples counsellors, long distance couples risk a lengthy ‘honeymoon phase.’
photo by gina elder
“You never have to go through the drudgery of everyday life, like dividing household chores and paying bills,” she said. “They may always have a great time when they’re together and they visit and then they go home to face all those issues on their own.” The problem here, according to Sherwood, is that these couples may move too quickly into high-commitment situations like marriage. “So the problem is … jumping too far ahead in the relationship too quickly because everything’s so rosy,” she said. “Take some time to maybe live together or do some counseling together to discover where you’re at in terms of compatibility.” Couples who are aware of an impending long-distance separation should come up with a plan, she said. “It should be tailor-made to each individual couple,” she said. “Each couple should sit down and communicate clearly what their expectations are.” In her own sessions, Sherwood said similar issues come up with long-distance couples. She said that couples typically face issues around trust, expectations and a lack
of communication, among other issues. According to her, students make up a high amount of long-distance relationships due to summer separation. Sherwood said student couples who live apart, but attend the same school, don’t have the same issues to worry about. “They’re involved in all the nitty gritty of each other’s lives,” she said. “If they’re in daily contact, then I think they would move out of the honeymoon phase.” So how do long-distance couples keep an intimate relationship together? “I think visiting as often as possible definitely would be number one,” she said, adding that telephone and Skype contact should be done as often as possible. It’s important to know, however, that one half of the couple will occasionally put other commitments, like work, school and family ahead of their significant other, Sherwood said. “Don’t expect perfection during distance with each other,” Sherwood said. “Expectations can get too high; I think you need to keep a perspective that this isn’t going to be perfect.”