the journal Queen’s University
Vol. 148, Issue 3
Queen’s rookies remain driven despite COVID
plan outlining commitments to
First-year athletes share their attitudes on a semester without sports
QTBIPOC students Commitment follows alls to action from student-led equity groups
D aniel G reen Assistant Sports Editor Malcolm Shields faced a difficult decision on whether or not to attend Queen’s when all fall sports were cancelled in early June. While COVID-19 ultimately didn’t stop the incoming men’s rugby rookie from coming to Queen’s, it didn’t make his decision any easier—originally, he and his parents were keen on deferring for one year. “[If I deferred], I would have the proper frosh week and everything. But I just wanted to go and get ‘er done.” With most classes at Queen’s being held online in the fall semester, first-year students will be missing out on first-time university experiences—especially incoming athletes, who will be missing their first seasons as Gaels. On June 8, OUA announced the cancellation of sanctioned sport programming until December 31. Since some rookies have lost their first season, planning ahead for a sixth year at Queen’s to finish up their undergrad and use all five years of eligibility could be an appropriate decision.
S imone M anning Assistant News Editor Following campus-wide calls for support, the AMS committed to combating systemic forms of racism and strengthening support for QTBIPOC students in a new action plan. The AMS released the Commitment of the Alma Mater Society to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity (EDII) on July 24. “We started by listening to the voices that called us in, such as [‘Stolen by Smith’] and [‘Erased by FEAS’]. While we had been assessing ways in which we could incorporate further equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigeneity into the AMS, QCRED’s call to action held us accountable and made us realize that it was important to highlight these items to students in order to be transparent,” wrote AMS President Jared den Otter, Vice-President (Operations) Alexandra Samoyloff and VicePresident (University Affairs) Alexia Henriques in a statement to The Journal. According to the executive, the development of the EDII Commitment Plan process relied on transparency, self-education, and communication. “We read a report by the Canadian Federation of Students entitled Campus Toolkit for Combatting Anti-Racism,” the executive wrote. “Last Friday, we sent a very rough version of the report to all of our staff, allowing for anonymous feedback. This helped us to assess gaps and effectively communicate the areas in which we can change or revisit to better serve QTBIPOC students.”
The Society also provided equity-related clubs with early drafts of the action items, provided avenues for anonymous feedback, and met with the Education on Queer Issues Project (EQuIP) this past week. The executive plans to connect with other student groups in the coming month. “We also relied on AMS staff to provide feedback [as they] have been very passionate about this process and have introduced many great ideas. We will continue
to have these discussions on [the] document as well as other areas for improvement within the AMS related to supporting our QTBIPOC community,” the executive wrote, pointing to a general feedback form the Society has added to its website for all students. The Society said it will be “heavily” revising the document at the start of winter term to update progress and address new challenges. “It is important to note this
is a working document which is not finalized. As we gain more insight and feedback, we will be constantly assessing and updating on our website,” the executive wrote. “Last Friday, we sent a very rough version of the report to all of our staff, allowing for anonymous feedback. This helped us to assess gaps and effectively communicate the areas in which we can change or revisit to better serve QTBIPOC students.”
Features
Editorials
Arts
Lifestyle
Class of 2024 on
Freedom and
Diversity in
Page 7
queensjournal.ca
Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples.
Since 1873
Monday, July 27, 2020
AMS releases
living off campus
Situated on the traditional lands of the
cancel culture
Queen’s theater
@queensjournal
@queensjournal
Page 8
Page 10
PHOTO BY JENNY ZHU
It’s either our year “takes a bullet, or the
next [few years] take a piece of the bullet.” — Malcolm Shields
Shields managed to secure a place in residence, so he’ll be making the trip from his home in B.C. to Kingston this fall. Shields said men’s rugby Head Coach David Butcher told him the likelihood of deferring was low. He said if Queen’s let one person defer because of COVID-19, it’d set precedent for countless others to See AMS on page 3 follow suit. A mass deferral would cause problems for the University and team rosters. The class of 2025 would essentially double in size, requiring more firstyear courses, spots in residence, tiktok dieting and having more young players on teams, Shields said. culture must end “ It’s either our year takes a bullet, or the next [few years] take a piece Page 15 of the bullet,” Shields said.
See Student Athletes on page 13
@queensjournal
@thequeensjournal
News
2 • queensjournal.ca
Following delay, University shares proposed revisions to sexual violence policy Amendments focus on confidentiality of disclosures, new amnesty policy Claudia Rupnik News Editor After the updated policy came under fire last October, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Task Force announced proposed revisions to the Policy on Sexual Violence Involving Queen’s University Students on July 21. “[T]he Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Task Force was asked to consider amendments to the notification procedure associated with Section 8.8 of the Policy on Sexual Violence Involving Queen’s University Students, and any other incidental
changes relating to disclosures of sexual violence,” Teri Shearer, deputy provost (academic operations and inclusion), wrote in a statement shared to Facebook. The consultation for the policy was deferred from the spring because of COVID-19 to ensure all faculty, staff, and students would be able to reflect on the amendments and provide feedback. Shearer said members of the task force considered several options to ensure the policy aligned with the University’s commitment to supporting individuals who have experienced sexual violence, and to ensure
‘This is an amazing opportunity’: In conversation with first female Dean of Health Sciences Jane Philpott talks possibility of embedded counsellor in School of Nursing
Julia Harmsworth Assistant News Editor Ahead of the fall term, Dr. Jane Philpott, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), said she's committed to advancing discovery, harmony, and equity at Queen’s. Philpott started her five-year term July 1, succeeding Dr. Richard Reznick who held the position for ten years. She's the first woman to hold the position of Dean of the FHS. “This is an amazing opportunity to work in the Faculty of Health Sciences,” Philpott said in an interview with The Journal. “It’s a place where I can put to use all of the things that I have learned not only as a clinician and a teacher, but as a policy maker.” In addition to her extensive work in medicine and global health, Philpott was elected as the Member of Parliament for Markham-Stouffville in 2015. She served on the federal cabinet as
students have timely and accurate information regarding available support services, academic accommodations, and options for formally reporting the incident. The proposed revisions have been reviewed by the University’s senior leadership team, according to Shearer. The task force developed revisions to the policy regarding confidentiality of disclosures, the disclosure process, and staff training requirements. The proposed amendments reflect a commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of disclosures whenever possible for students who choose to disclose incidents of sexual violence. A statement on the importance of confidentiality would be included in the updated policy, along with an outline of the limits. These limits include cases where information may need to
Monday July 27, 2020 be shared to address a safety risk, where employees are obliged by law to share the information, or where the incident occurred in a University residence. Regarding the disclosure process, the proposed revisions would require University employees who aren’t health care providers to notify the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator of a disclosure. The policy wouldn't require them to identify the student unless given permission to do so, or where the limits of confidentiality apply. Employees who are health providers would continue to comply with the rules of their specific professions. Though the task force considered removing the notification requirement, it determined that would place the responsibility of responding to a disclosure of sexual violence solely on the employee who receives it. While the task force recommended training on the policy be mandatory for all employees, it acknowledged implementing mandatory training would require a longer revision period. To update the confidentiality and disclosure sections of the policy in a time-sensitive manner, the policy currently states training is strongly encouraged. The task force is recommending the senior leadership team make training mandatory as soon as possible. Through training, employees would be taught how the policy applies to them, how to
Minister of Health, Minister of Indigenous Services, President of the Treasury Board, and Minister of Digital Government. “That breadth of experience, I think, brings an opportunity for new relationships and connections for the Faulty of Health Sciences and ideas that I’ve picked up from across the country,” Philpott said. In this role, Philpott will lead the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, and the School of Rehabilitation Therapy. She intends to focus on three Jane Philpott started her five-year term July 1. main goals: advancing research, integrating health systems, and better we will be able to provide Philpott said she will continue being fair and inclusive. health care,” she said. to work with faculty, staff, and By promoting discovery In an effort to advance students to ensure everyone in the through research advancement, equity in the FHS through FHS has access to mental health Philpott hopes to bring new fairness and inclusivity, Philpott supports. She's in communication partners to the University, acknowledged that certain with the Director of the School of expand resources, and share groups, including Indigenous Nursing about the possibility of an the discoveries made at Queen’s people and Black Canadians, embedded counsellor for nursing across the country. are underrepresented in the students, a need students brought Philpott also wants to health professions. She intends to her attention. further harmonize medicine by to adapt certain admissions and “It’s certainly an ongoing integrating health systems to curriculum processes to ensure challenge, and, of course, it’s build on the Southeastern Ontario the FHS is providing fair access to probably even more accentuated Academic Medical Organization its programming. in the context of COVID-19, where (SEAMO)’s model of cooperation She will also form the Dean’s it’s no secret that these months of across specialties. As part of her Action Table on Equity and ensure isolation and stress have had, in role as Dean of the FHS, Philpott the faculty and student body some cases, a significant impact also works as the Chief Executive are representative of Canada’s on people’s mental wellness,” Officer of SEAMO. diversity. She's currently working Philpott said, though she didn’t “We are training a range of with student representatives specify what new supports might health professionals, and the more in the Black Medical Students become available to those in they work together well […] the Association to achieve this goal. the FHS.
respect confidentiality, when confidentiality cannot be maintained, and what steps to take if there’s a safety risk to the disclosing student or the Queen’s community. As the University is unable to guarantee all staff are sufficiently trained to respond appropriately to disclosures, the task force believes contacting the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator would ensure the employee who receives a disclosure is provided with guidance on how to respond to the student and is advised of accurate information about sexual violence support services. The proposed revisions also include the addition of an amnesty statement to Section 9.1 of the policy. This addition formalizes the University’s current practice of exempting students who were drinking or using illegal substances at the time they experienced sexual violence from disciplinary action by the University for alcohol or substance use violations of Queen’s non-academic misconduct policies. The amnesty statement was created in response to feedback from the Queen’s community and members of the task force, who believe it will mitigate a possible deterrent to disclosing an incident of sexual violence. Individuals interested in providing feedback on the proposed revisions are encouraged to review the documents and contact provost@queensu.ca by Oct. 1.
SUPPLIED BY JANE PHILPOTT
Regarding COVID-19 and remote learning, she said she’s been spending “a lot of [her] time” working with her colleagues to ensure the FHS is properly balancing students’ social and educational needs with their health needs. “Our big mandate here is about education and about serving the needs of students […] I look forward to meeting them because that’s the very best part of my job,” Philpott said. “I really look forward to working with the fantastic local faculty and staff and students to respond to the most pressing challenges of our time.” journal_news@ams.queensu.ca
News
Monday July 27, 2020
queensjournal.ca • 3
‘Erased by FEAS’ captures systemic discrimination in the Faculty of Engineering of having to erase my identity in engineering," Ramsubick said in an interview with The Journal. "I'm really glad I can be having these conversations on Queen's campus." Ramsubick credited his inspiration to accounts 'Stolen by Smith' and 'Black at Harvard Law'. In the wake of surfacing stories about anti-BIPOC racism, sexism, Larissa Zhong and misogyny, and other forms of Contributor discrimination in FEAS, Ramsubick said he's received messages asking Throughout July, students and him to “take the page down and alumni have taken to ‘Erased by stop slandering Engineering.” FEAS,’ a student-run Instagram Ramsubick said the Faculty account, to share personal historically responds to these experiences with systemic issues in a performative manner discrimination, violence, and because “there’s never been abuse in the Faculty of Engineering anything to hold administration and Applied Science (FEAS). accountable.” He added that Nicholas Ramsubick, Sci '20, students "will have to push founded the platform on July 10 for [accountability].” to create a safe space for QTBIPOC Kevin Deluzio, dean of the FEAS, and female engineering students reached out to Ramsubick on July where they can feel seen, heard, 13 in support of the page. and validated. “My reaching out to Nick was "I took this initiative on because to thank those students and I was tired of being silent about applaud them for bringing these my experience as a Black engineer, issues to light and having the
Student-run Instagram page pushes for accountability with administration
courage to do so,” Deluzio told The Journal. “These are sad, troubling 'Erased by FEAS' was launched on July 10. PHOTO BY CLAUDIA RUPNIK experiences our students have had and I think anybody’s going engineering solution is to look at recounting negative experiences to read those with a sense other solutions and see if we can in environments operated by the of compassion.” adapt them. Aboriginal Access Engineering Society (EngSoc), Deluzio said he hopes these to Engineering (AAE) can serve including Clark Hall Pub and the stories can be a catalyst and help as a template.” Science Formal, EngSoc told The effect change. Melanie Howard, director Journal that "racist, homophobic, “Proactivity starts in education of AAE, told The Journal she sexist, and other offensive and with real, active participation thinks 'Erased by FEAS' is a “very attitudes have no place in the and partnership with our student good idea.” Engineering Society.” body,” Deluzio said. “Within that “It’s a great place for students “We fully support this initiative need to be proactive, engineering to voice these things because I and believe that it is essential is a professional degree program think as members of minority in improving the culture in and we have with it a duty of care. communities, we often talk engineering," EngSoc wrote. "We Part of being an engineer is the amongst ourselves about these want to thank Nicholas Ramsubick responsibility that your work has things, but it doesn’t ever get for organizing this platform and social impact.” out there in the public eye,” taking on the labour of sharing Deluzio described the nature Howard said. these important experiences.” of engineering itself as analogous Howard added there’s work to EngSoc released its Equity, to the process of dismantling be done in FEAS to make people Diversity, and Inclusion Action systemic discrimination in feel more welcome. Plan for the 2020-21 year the FEAS. “Building a community is what’s on July 24 with input from "It’s an engineering approach going to make people feel welcome Ramsubick. The Society is also to things in the sense that we’re at Queen’s,” Howard said. “We have revamping the Science Formal trying to solve a complex problem, a community built for Indigenous bursary structure. and I always say that engineers students, but there’s work to be "Overall, it is paramount that we are problem solvers at their done [ … ] to understand that as foster a more inclusive culture in essence,” Deluzio said. “Part of the we diversify Queen’s, you have the coming year, and we hope that to listen to these voices and read introducing these changes to the the [posts] on 'Erased by FEAS'. current EngSoc structure will help Think about your place in that and us achieve this," EngSoc wrote. hopefully take some action.” Responding to posts
AMS to 'heavily' revise equity action plan in winter term Continued from front ... The Society also provided equity-related clubs with early drafts of the action items, provided avenues for anonymous feedback, and met with the Education on Queer Issues Project (EQuIP) this past week. The executive plans to connect with other student groups in the coming month. “We also relied on AMS staff to provide feedback [as they] have been very passionate about this process and have introduced many great ideas. We will continue to have these discussions on [the] document as well as other areas for improvement within the AMS related to supporting our QTBIPOC community,” the executive wrote, pointing to a general feedback form the Society has added to its website for all students. The Society said it will be “heavily” revising the document at the start of winter term to update progress and address new challenges. “It is important to note this is a working document which is not finalized. As we gain more insight and feedback, we will be constantly assessing and updating on our website,” the executive wrote. The AMS intends to run focus groups once the policy has been finalized and budgets have been approved, with
compensation provided to contributing students for time and labour. Regarding the quantitative measures the AMS will take to support initiatives like ‘Stolen by Smith,’ the executive said the Society is forming a consultation policy to mend relationships with equity-focused clubs that have historically been excluded from AMS conversations. Though the EDII plan was prompted by criticism from QCRED on the Society’s silence
about the Instagram account ‘Stolen by Smith,’ the executive said anti-racism initiatives were already in the process of development and were projected to be part of their summer summary. “[I]t was evident that we needed to be more transparent to our peers that we serve. [In outlining] the areas in which we are working on, it allows our students to hold us accountable to our words, as well as to hold ourselves accountable to our actions,” the
executive wrote. Acknowledging QCRED’s call for monetary support towards QTBIPOC students, the AMS is completing a budget assessment to determine whether there's available funding or the possibility of reallocating resources to compensate student focus groups. The executive also said the Society is advocating for QTBIPOC labour compensation from the University. “[Having] met with [Principal Patrick Deane] this past week, we proposed the ability to be able
to bring students from outside the AMS into these conversations,” the executive wrote, adding they’re “looking forward” to the next steps taken by the administration. “[T]his organization has been historically fueled by reactionary statements and empty promises and will not allow for this further. [We wrote] this document and its yearly revision into policy to hold ourselves as well as future AMS Executive Teams accountable to the QTBIPOC community at Queen’s,” the executive wrote.
News
4 • queensjournal.ca
Monday July 27, 2020
Smith Full-time MBA program returns to in-person setting University approves some graduate programs as part of Phase 3 reopening Claudia Rupnik News Editor Following the Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) region’s move to Phase 3 on July 17, the Full-time MBA class at Smith School of Business returned to in-person classes last week at Goodes Hall. The University approved several activities as part of the phased return to campus as permitted by the provincial Phase 3 reopening framework. Smith’s MBA program was one of a few programs approved by the University to resume some on-site components this week. The Faculty of Arts and Science was also approved to allow biology and cultural studies grad students to return to their offices. The Smith MBA is a 12-month program that runs January to December each year. “It was a good choice for the pilot program as a number of the 91 students had remained in the Kingston area,” Patrick Legresley, Smith’s executive director of finance, wrote in a statement to The Journal. “The program is currently in the elective course phase so class sizes are smaller and social distancing requirements could more easily be met.” Legresley added that after receiving approval from Queen’s, Smith followed the University’s Return to Campus Guidelines to prepare Goodes Hall for the return of students, staff, and faculty. These measures include additional cleaning protocols, hand sanitizer in each classroom, the use of masks, directional signage,
MBA students return to Goodes Hall.
and no access to kitchens, team rooms, or study rooms. Smith has provided a reusable mask to each student for use in situations when distance cannot be maintained. Student teams will continue connecting through video-chat platform Zoom. “We have also posted way-finding signage that routes student traffic in specific areas around classrooms, stairwells and elevators,” Legresley wrote. Smith is also keeping a daily log of individuals entering Goodes Hall. Regarding classroom set-up, capacity has been reduced from 80 to 10 people per room with designated seating areas. “The main classroom hosts nine students with the professor,” Matt Reesor, director of Smith Full-time MBA, told The Journal. “There is an overflow classroom that allows students to engage through Zoom on a big screen.” Students and faculty also have the option of remaining remote by participating in lectures through Zoom. “We have a schedule that allows students to rotate into the main classroom,” Reesor wrote. “All classrooms are cleaned after each use.” The process for providing students with the option of in-person learning involved Smith, the wider Queen’s campus, and students, according to Reesor. “We held numerous town halls with students to discuss this over the past four months and their input has been instrumental in informing our return to campus plans and protocols,” Reesor wrote. The Return to Campus Guidelines will also permit research-based MSc and PhD programs at Queen’s to return to campus in September. “We are excited to pilot this program and see what a gradual reopening will look like at Queen’s,” Legresley wrote.
SUPPLIED BY SMITH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Deane addressed staff and faculty on Zoom.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW CORMIER
‘I think it is a crisis, I think there’s no doubt about it’: Principal Deane talks campus racism, COVID-19 in virtual town hall
Queen’s shares strategies for managing future outbreaks Matthew Cormier Contributor
aggressive, longer-term plan for cultural transformation which will depend on very forthright and Principal Patrick Deane said strong measures at the curricular racism on campus is a crisis in a level, in terms of hiring,” Deane July 22 virtual town hall for staff said. “And then, it will take also and faculty. short-term measures which The virtual town hall was directly address some of the hosted by Stephanie Simpson, immediate concerns.” associate vice-principal (human Other than hiring practices, rights, equity, and inclusion). Deane didn’t share details The discussion included Deane; regarding how the University Mark Green, provost and vice- intends to address issues of racism principal (academic); Donna on campus, but said Queen’s is Janiec, vice-principal (finance and doing everything it can “in terms administration); Kim Woodhouse, of measures, short, medium, vice-principal (research); Jane and long.” Philpott, dean (faculty of health He said true change will take sciences); and Kanonhsyonne time and a process of redefining (Janice Hill), associate vice- the University’s history and culture. principal (Indigenous initiatives Deane’s pledge was followed and reconciliation). by praise for the Queen’s Black “I think it is a crisis,” Deane said. Academic Society (QBAS) for “I think there’s no doubt about it.” initiating conversations about Deane’s comment was equity, diversity, inclusion, and prompted by a question drawing anti-Black racism at Queen’s. on dissimilarities between the He said it was “very gratifying University’s “centralized, quick, to see and very gratifying to feel” and decisive” response to the the Black Lives Matter movement COVID-19 pandemic and the lack on campus. of response from the institution Green added the University’s regarding displays of racism success in combatting racism relies on campus. on everyone doing their part and This question was referring called for the leaders at Queen’s to the recent vandalism of the to take responsibility and initiate Four-Directions Indigenous these difficult conversations. Student Centre and anonymous accounts of overt racism and abuse COVID-19 published on the “Stolen by Smith” Instagram page. Deane said progress has been “All of these things speak to made since he hosted the last a racist culture that is alive and town hall on May 13, adding the well around us and within us University is moving forward to a degree that is very, very with some concrete plans for the concerning,” Deane said. fall term. He said the University has so far However, he said the status of only done the easy things to address the winter term remains unclear. the issue of racism, adding it’s “We are not losing sight of time to start thinking about more the expectations and directions comprehensive measures. of public health in everything “[Change] requires a robust, we do,” Deane said. “The plan
for our return to work is a phased plan.” Deane said there are logistical concerns that need to be considered while making strides to return to campus, including how often a building should be cleaned while accounting for physical distancing and the maximum number of people permitted in a particular space. The default for both students and staff will be to work from home, Deane said. This arrangement will continue until the University is confident that whoever chooses to return to campus can do so safely. Acknowledging the return to in-person activities has limitations for those with children and risks for those living with healthcompromised individuals, Deane said the University intends to cooperate with individuals to find a solution. “The University will continue to be flexible and open to different ways of working,” Deane said. Having reintroduced graduate students to research laboratories and some staff to campus in the summer, Green said the University is now planning for a Phase 3 strategy in the fall term. “In all faculties there will be some graduate courses that are delivered in-person in the fall and certainly in health sciences there will be undergraduate courses delivered [in person],” Green said. Individuals returning to campus will also be required to wear masks. The University announced face masks will be mandatory in all indoor public spaces starting July 24. Read the rest online at queensjournal.ca/news
News
Monday July 27, 2020
queensjournal.ca • 5
PHOTO BY JENNY ZHU
Household model encourages students to live, eat, and socialize with the same small group.
Residence to offer 'household model' in the fall to limit contact between students Hospitality Services yet to release protocol for dining halls
Julia Harmsworth Assistant News Editor
“The University hadn’t really put out any information about whether classes would be online When Phoebe Schneider, ArtSci or not,” Schneider said in an ’24, applied for residence and paid interview with The Journal. “And her deposit in June, she wasn’t then after they announced things sure what to expect. would be done remotely […] I According to the University, was a little bit unsure of what was residences will be organized in a going on, and while Queen’s did “household model,” with students send out a couple emails giving living in floor-based communities updates […] it was a little difficult alongside other students in their to get concrete information for same program of study. The specific questions I had.” idea is that students will live, Schneider has been offered a eat, and socialize with the same space in residence in the fall and small group. plans to accept. If she weren’t “This model aims to help reduce accommodated in residence, she the number of contacts among likely would have stayed home students living in residence and in Prince Edward Island for the limit the potential spread of the fall term. virus as the pandemic continues,” She said she felt the University the University wrote in a statement. was fair in distributing spaces and Queen's did not establish that it’s been a “pretty equitable” this model prior to the June 8 process. She feels that, since residence application deadline. June, Queen’s has been clear in
Common Ground implements contact tracing system
Other AMS services to use similar methods upon reopening Sobika Ganeshalingam Assistant News Editor After reopening in June, Common Ground Coffeehouse (CoGro) is using a contact tracing system as a preventative measure in the case of a COVID-19 outbreak on campus. “At Common Ground we are taking appropriate safety measures to ensure our service is risk free,” Kate Gaffney, Common Ground administration and staff relations manager, wrote in a statement to The Journal. “Given the current situation, we think that
there is no such thing as being too careful when it comes to the health of our customers.” According to Gaffney, contact tracing is a prevention method applied in the case of an outbreak of COVID-19. It requires businesses to track who has visited their stores by keeping their contact information on file for a certain period of time. The process is used to identify, educate, and monitor individuals who have had close contact with those infected with the virus. These people are at a higher risk of becoming infected and spreading the virus to others. Contact tracing can help limit further spread of the virus in the community. “The Common Ground app uses the ChowNow platform, which was around before COVID-19. Here, users create an account where their contact
communicating what residence will look like in the fall, except for how dining halls will work. Queen’s Hospitality is still developing an operations plan for the fall. “I think, in general, they’ve been pretty transparent about the fact that they don’t really know what’s going on either and how things are evolving, and that they’ll keep adjusting things depending on the COVID-19 situation and how things are looking,” Schneider said. Residence was not guaranteed this year. Due to physical distancing guidelines, only single rooms are available in the fall term, meaning that residence is at nearly half capacity— only 2,300 students are being accommodated. This arrangement might change in the winter term, depending on direction from Public Health. Students were offered rooms on a priority basis, with nursing students, those admitted under specialized pathways, and students with special circumstances given the highest priority. Applicants were asked to submit
a Personal Circumstances form by June 30 to supply this information. The remaining spots were filled through a random lottery, leaving some students on program-specific waitlists. The University contacted applicants during the week of July 13 to 17 to let them know whether they secured a spot in residence and which waitlist group they’re in. Students will receive their specific room assignment on July 29. Those who choose to decline their spot in residence will receive a full refund of their residence deposit. Move-in is scheduled to happen over several days, beginning on August 31. However, international students who need to complete the required 14-day quarantine in residence must arrive by August 17 and pay the daily room and board rate of $50, which includes accommodation and food. In the fall, no guests—including non-residents of Queen’s Residences, residents from a different building, and residents from a different room—will
Signs posted informing patrons about contact tracing at CoGro.
information can be found,” Gaffney wrote. “We started using this app to allow for contactless pickup. The app keeps a record of those who have ordered.” In the event of an outbreak, Gaffney said Common Ground will reach out to all those who visited the store using mobile ordering and pick-up. She added this action would be taken as a safety precaution to ensure the health of their customers is prioritized. Regarding privacy concerns with these methods, customers who have placed orders in-person have been informed their numbers are being kept for potential contact tracing.
CoGro has also added a disclaimer to its app for current and future mobile customers to be notified about contact tracing. “At Common Ground, the privacy of our customer base is as important as their health,” Gaffney wrote. “The contact information will only be utilized in the event of an outbreak and will not be shared unless we must do so based on public concerns. If this were to occur, the information would only be shared with relevant parties at Kingston. Frontenac, and Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health." When The Journal inquired
be permitted inside residence buildings. Group gatherings will be restricted based on Public Health recommendations, and common spaces will be limited. Students will be encouraged to use the stairs rather than the elevator. Students must maintain a physical distance of two metres and wear a mask where physical distancing is difficult to maintain. Students are also expected to practice vigilant hand-washing and uphold hygienic behaviour in shared spaces—cleaning kits will be provided. Residents must also follow all instructions from Queen’s University staff, stay up-to-date on their immunizations, and abide by the information in the Residence Contract and Residence Community Standards. Should a student develop symptoms related to COVID-19, they must follow the established protocol for disclosing the information. Designated isolation rooms will be available for students who are required to self-isolate.
PHOTO BY JENNY ZHU
whether other AMS services would be implementing a similar system as they reopen, Alexandra Samoyloff, AMS vicepresident (operations), said the procedure is in place for them to do so. "All open AMS services with public facing interactions will be implementing a system of contract tracing to ensure the safety of our community,” Samoyloff wrote. “The priority of the AMS and our staff during this time will be to follow guidelines and recommendations set out by the Government of Ontario and Queen’s University to ensure the safety of our community."
6 • queensjournal.ca
Monday, July 27, 2020
KINGSTON STUDENT HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE APPLYNOW FOR 2020-2021 4,8 AND 12 MONTH LEASES
171 Members 21 houses right in the University district!
www.ksh.coop
Why Co-op?
Excellent standard of accommodation. Affordable, high quality meal plan. Non meal plan rooms available. Focus on sustainability.
Monday, July 27, 2020
queensjournal.ca • 7
In September, first-years are picking between living in residence, off-campus housing, or staying at home.
Features
Class of 2024 entering an untraditional September Incoming first-year students discuss variety of living arrangements as fall term approaches Carolyn Svonkin Features Editor Over the past six months, the incoming class of 2024 has experienced the ‘untraditional’ more than most. Zoom prom, online classes, and drive-by graduations have replaced the usual senior year rites of passage in an unprecedented and sudden way to say goodbye to high school. “Senior year ended kind of abruptly. Now I’m expecting things to not work out,” Kim Nguyen, ConEd ’25, said of any plans associated with university. As September approaches, the incoming class’s untraditional experiences aren’t over yet. With the capacity of residence slashed, many members of the Class of 2024 have spent the summer devising alternate plans. Due to COVID-19 and with academic delivery mainly remote
for the fall semester, university residences will only be operating at 50 per cent of their normal capacity, housing 2,300 students in single-occupancy rooms only. Students were offered a spot in residence based on a priority basis. If their application for residence was successful, they received their offers by July 22. Students living in residence can expect to follow strict guidelines due to COVID-19. As it stands, no one is allowed in a residence room except its occupant, and physical distancing and masks will be enforced in public areas such as bathrooms. Traditionally, the vast majority of first-year students at Queen’s live in one of the University’s 17 residences. Many students look back fondly on their year in residence—it’s thought of as a place where many friendships and memories are made. Spending first year away from home in a residence often functions as a transition between living at home and living independently in upper years. Eesha Kohli, Comm ’24, planned on living in Queen’s residence before the pandemic, but will now stay home with her parents in Mississauga. “Ideally, I’d like to be in residence and able to go to class
normally, but the decision was instant for me,” she said. “The pros [of living in residence or off-campus housing] aren’t enough to justify spending that much money for online classes.” Nguyen will also be living at home in Guelph. “The decision was financially based. I financially couldn’t apply for a single room or a single-plus. It was logical for me to stay at home since classes are online, and all the resources will be, too. What’s the point of living on-campus or off of campus?” Russell Mandel, Sci ’24, took a different route and will be living in an off-campus house with a group of friends he knows from home. “The freedoms of having a house with my friends really outweighed what it’s going to be like to live in residence with all the restrictions,” he said. “You’re not allowed any guests, which is really tough. If I have a friend in a different residence and I want to see them, they can’t come into my building.” The process of organizing a house from Toronto—considering having not spent a year at Queen’s like most students have before moving off-campus—initiated unique difficulties for Mandel. “It started with five guys from my high school, and then we invited two more guys going to
IN-DEPTH STORIES FROM AROUND CAMPUS AND IN THE COMMUNITY
Queen’s. The number of people in the house was rising and falling, but we ended up with eight guys, which is a lot, but should be fun,” he said. Mandel said his housemate spent several weeks looking at 15 to 20 off-campus housing options before settling on a house the entire group felt happy with. “Eventually we got to the house that we’re at now, which is really good for first year. I don’t know about whether it’s a great location past first year, but it’s right by campus and residence so it’s perfect for us.” Ultimately, Mandel is pleased with where he’ll be living come September amid the current circumstances in residence. “For what the situation is, I’m happy. We couldn’t have done better than what we got in this current situation. But if I could have gotten [residence], that would’ve been ideal.” Kohli, Nguyen, and Mandel all chose to apply for residence despite their reservations. Nguyen said she’s found communications from Queen’s about residence to be “pretty fair” and that the application was easy to navigate. As for the residence experience, she’s not setting the bar high. “I don’t have many expectations for residence since COVID-19 is so new,” she said. With that said, Nguyen knows she’s missing out on aspects of first year she looked forward to before COVID-19 hit. “I do feel like I’m missing out on the university experience of going out and getting decorations for my dorm and living on my own.” However, she feels Queen’s
PHOTO BY JENNY ZHU
has been doing its best to make things as normal as possible for incoming students. Kohli is still hoping to live in residence for the winter term. The University informed incoming first-years the decision about whether residence availability will change in the winter is “dependent on whether [the University] chooses to do online classes for the winter term.” The University hasn’t communicated whether the price will be lowered for students if they only live in residence for one semester, but provided refunds to all students who moved out at the beginning of the pandemic in March. All three students interviewed spoke of a level of disappointment at the untraditional living arrangements come September. “We’ve looked forward to first year freedom and the university experience for so long,” said Kohli. “I’m afraid of missing out […] everyone says you make all your friends and social connections in residence, and I’m sad to miss out on frosh week.” Mandel expressed excitement at the prospect of living with friends, but knows the moments he’ll be missing out on that define the first-year experience. “I wanted to meet new people, and living in a house with people I already know takes away from that whole experience,” he said. “But for the most part, I think people do not want to stay home. You want some aspect of normalcy with your university experience, especially the beginning.”
8 • queensjournal.ca
Monday, July 27, 2020
EDITORIALS Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequence The Journal’s Perspective
Earlier this month, writers and academics penned “A Letter on Justice and Open Debate,” criticizing cancel culture and calling for open debate. While The Journal Editorial Board agrees we need to encourage more civil debate, that doesn’t make the letter’s more notorious signer any less problematic. In today’s politically charged climate, it’s true civil debate can be hard to come by. Many are more likely to converse with like-minded people rather than argue with those they disagree with. As individuals, it’s important we consider diverse viewpoints, as well as educate people with ignorant ones.
criticism, she continued to defend her stance. A part of open debate is listening to the opposite side and acknowledging when you’re wrong—something Rowling has failed to do. No one should live in fear of speaking their opinion. But freedom of speech doesn’t imply freedom from consequence; if your opinion is problematic or misinformed, you must expect backlash. This is especially true of people with prominent social platforms like Rowling’s. Speaking problematically about an entire community of people like she did is an abuse of that platform and the power that comes with it. Her followers have the right to be offended and hold ILLUSTRATION BY ALISON ANDRADE her accountable, too. Freedom of speech, on the other hand, Rowling hasn’t been silenced, nor is is alive and well. Contrary to the letter’s anyone taking away her freedom of speech claims, cancel culture doesn’t infringe on rights. She’s simply faced criticism for her freedom of speech rights. No one is stopping intolerant views. you from speaking your mind, especially While it’s important we don’t “cancel” on the Internet. But freedom of speech is a people without giving them the tools and two-way street, and people are equally free to opportunity to change, we need to accept criticize you. that many of cancel culture’s so-called While we can’t—and shouldn’t—pretend victims deserved what was coming to them. to know the intent of the signers of The Rowling was “cancelled” for a reason. Harper’s letter, it’s ironic that J.K. Rowling If she wants to tout open debate, then she appears among them, considering she is no must be willing to not only engage in it but stranger to cancel culture. Most recently, she grow from it. received backlash for a series of transphobic tweets. Instead of listening to her followers’ —Journal Editorial Board
If Smith wants to commit to the safety of its BIPOC students, it needs to start listening to those students This piece uses “Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC)” to refer to the experiences of racialized students. We acknowledge this term is not universal. With the launch of ‘Stolen by Smith’—an Instagram page detailing incidents of intolerance experienced by Smith students and alumni—the Smith School of Business is once again subject to nationwide criticism for its treatment of BIPOC students. Yet despite Smith’s virtual town hall meeting, it’s failed to truly listen and commit to BIPOC concerns. Smith held a virtual Commerce town hall where students could voice their concerns to help form equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives moving forward. From a closed chat to the complete absence of opportunity for students to speak directly with Smith faculty, the event was nothing more than a way for Smith to cover itself—that is, an opportunity for them to appear open to listening to the voices of their BIPOC students without giving these students a public platform to say anything less than savory about the school. Questions often weren’t repeated word for word, but rather paraphrased when read out loud.
to listen to BIPOC voices even if it makes powerful people uncomfortable. They need to do this publicly, rather than trying to sweep student concerns under the rug because they aren’t polite enough. Smith: your BIPOC students are upset and have been for a long time. It’s not on them to communicate their concerns to you in a way that doesn’t hurt the egos of your administration, nor is it PHOTO BY JENNY ZHU acceptable for you to censor This is nothing short of censorship of their voices in any way. BIPOC voices—voices that are necessary Even if they’re angry. Even if they’re to informing effective EDI initiatives and cussing. Even if they’re asking Lori Garnier, voices that have historically been ignored executive director of Commerce, to resign by Smith. for her failure to address the concerns of As a POC commerce student, I’m painfully BIPOC voices the entirety of her time in aware that my school cares more about the role. appearing safe than it does actually being To be a BIPOC student at Smith is to safe—despite the fact myself and every constantly be uncomfortable in the toxic other marginalized Commerce student wasteland that is Goodes Hall. White students pays this sorry institution upwards of and administrators, if you truly want that $16,000 a year, and three times that for to change, it’s time for you feel a fraction of international students. that discomfort. Smith needs to hold a new town hall that gives students an opportunity to Aysha is a third-year commerce student, speak directly to administrators. It needs and one of The Journal’s Features Editors.
Aysha Tabassum
THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL Volume 148 Issue 3 www.queensjournal.ca @queensjournal Publishing since 1873
Editorial Board Editor in Chief Managing Editor Production Manager
Raechel Huizinga matt scace tessa warburton
News Editor Assistant News Editors
claudia rupnik sobika ganeshalingam Julia Harmsworth Simone Manning
Features Editors
Carolyn Svonkin Aysha Tabassum
Editorials Editor
Chloe Sarrazin Ben Wrixon
Opinions Editor
Nathan Gallagher
Arts Editor
Alysha Mohamed
Assistant Arts Editor
Matt Funk
Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor
Daniel Green
Lifestyle Editor
Shelby Talbot
Assistant Lifestyle Editor
Kirby Harris Jodie Grieve
Photo Editor
Jenny Zhu
Assistant Photo Editor
Lauren Thomas
Video Editor
Francesca Lim
Assistant Video Editor
Julia Guest
Graphics Editor
Ryland Piche Hannah Strasdin
Copy Editors
Contributing Staff Contributors
Larissa Zhong Matthew Cormier Georgia Gardner Kathryn Matsushita Ahrani Gnayakhan Rohini Datta
Staff Writers
Talia Nicholson Sasha Cohen
Business Staff Business Manager
Christine Mao
Sales Representative
Bronte Simon Yoli Wang
Fundraising Representative
Sonya Patel
Want to contribute? For information visit: www.queensjournal.ca/contribute or email the Editor in Chief at journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions. The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston. Situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. The Journal’s Editorial Board acknowledges the traditional territories our newspaper is situated on have allowed us to pursue our mandate. We recognize our responsibility to understand the truth of our history. Editorial opinions expressed in The Journal are the sole responsibility of The Queen’s Journal Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers. 190 University Ave., Kingston, ON, K7L 3P4 Editorial Office: 613-533-2800 Business Office: 613-533-6711 Fax: 613-533-6728 Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Please address complaints and grievances to the Editor in Chief and Managing Editor. The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Performance Group of Companies in Smiths Falls, Ontario. Contents © 2020 by The Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of The Journal. Circulation 3,000
Monday, July 27, 2020
Single-session therapy is necessary during the pandemic
O PINIONS
queensjournal.ca • 9
OPINIONS Your Perspective
Exploring virtual SST as mental health treatment both during and post COVID-19 The negative influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological health presents an immediate need for timely mental health solutions. Virtually delivered single-session therapy (SST) is a mental health intervention that could alleviate COVID-19-related psychological concerns. Maltby Centre is a not-for-profit organization located in Kingston, Ontario. The Centre offers youth ages 0-24 and their caregivers access to a free one-hour counselling session with a registered psychotherapist. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the service has shifted online. Its new Mental Health Access program operates five days per week to connect clients for a session within 24 hours of contact. Continued services are also available. As both staff and clients adjust to the virtual learning curve, the service nonetheless provides timely mental health support to the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington area. Protective measures taken in response to the pandemic have varied. The impact of curfews, self-isolation, social distancing, and travel restrictions have been compounded by the circulation of misinformation and global changes to educational, political, and economic procedures. Some of the anticipated negative consequences of social distancing, including substance abuse and domestic
violence, are risk factors for mental health issues. Studies have linked social isolation to anxiety, depression, self-harm, and attempted suicide. These concerns have manifested in countries where feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression are attributable to the pandemic. The global spread of COVID-19 has endangered both the physical and mental wellbeing of people across the world. While the pandemic’s complete impact on mental health isn't yet quantified, early reviews suggest psychiatric interventions could help the general public. Adapting to the social landscape of the pandemic requires individuals to be resilient and mindful of others—it should be a public health priority to facilitate these skills both during and after the pandemic. Research has found unchecked mental health concerns beginning during a pandemic may later develop into severe mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder. For example, the 2003 SARS epidemic was associated with a 30 per cent increase in suicide rates among those older than 65, 50 per cent of infected SARS patients reported anxiety, and 29 per cent of health care workers faced emotional distress. If the mental health fallout post-SARS is any indication, similarly
ILLUSTRATION BY ALISON ANDRADE
adverse symptomology might follow the pandemic. SST is a well-established model for delivering mental health services for various needs. By focusing only on present issues, counsellors can offer support for specific challenges. Clients learn from a counsellor’s advice and work with them to develop a plan to take control of their mental wellbeing. This model is effective in treating conditions that are of particular concern during social isolation measures, including mood, anxiety, anger management, and sleep issues. Many organizations are implementing SST through walk-in clinics, hoping that more people will seek support without the added barrier of long waitlists for an appointment. Although the suspension of in-person visits has made the traditional delivery of walk-in clinic services impossible, the same services can be offered through virtual sessions. Telepsychiatry has made remote mental health support more common. The Chinese government has been a pioneer in implementing large-scale virtual mental health services during COVID-19. These services include online surveys to assess patients for specific mental health risks, online cognitive behavioural therapy
for depression, anxiety and insomnia, and novel AI programs targeted toward suicide prevention. Virtual services can reach a wider client base, especially those living in rural areas where walk-in clinics would otherwise be inaccessible. Virtual SST supports the safety of staying home during the pandemic while ensuring mental health support is readily available. However, virtual services still have limitations. Varying access to technology and reliable internet strains the connection with mental health service providers, while concerns surrounding the security of online video chatting presents privacy risks. Organizations across all levels of governance are searching for solutions. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has spoken about the lack of internet access in rural areas and committed $150 million to increase broadband cellular connectivity. Similarly, school boards across Ontario are looking to make more technology available to students working remotely. Community-based mental health agencies are also determining how to make their services more accessible. With restrictions on in-home service delivery, these agencies may consider reallocating these budgets to provide better technology access for their clients. The concept of reverse-opening—where office space is opened to clients while staff stay home—might also mitigate these privacy concerns. The flexibility of virtual service delivery has created many opportunities for socially distanced support. The implementation of virtual SST is a cost-effective solution for organizations to continue offering mental health support by limiting wait times and other barriers to service. The promising transition made by Maltby Centre to offer SST online should set a positive example for other mental health centres to follow.
Kathryn Matsushitha is a second-year Masters of Public Health student.
Arts
10 • queensjournal.ca
In 2016, Queen’s production of Othello drew controversy over casting a white female student as Othello.
COMMENTARY
Monday, July 27, 2020
ILLUSTRATION BY ALISON ANDRADE
Lack of diversity manifests on stage and behind the scenes in Queen’s theatre Queen’s performing arts may be a microcosm for the University’s larger issues of racism Alysha Mohamed Assistant Arts Editor Dhanish Chinniah, director of 2019’s Fun Home, was the second visible minority to direct a Queen’s Musical Theatre production since 2012. In an interview with The Journal, Chinniah, ArtSci ’19, openly recognized the incredible opportunity of having full creative control over a musical as a student but was also
vocal about the obvious flaws in the system. He described his experience in the drama department at Queen’s as “similar to an abusive relationship, where [he] was gaslighting [himself] and gaslighted by other people.” When discussing the cause of racial homogeneity in casting, Chinniah argued the lack of diversity goes deeper than just race, adding it’s also impacted by socioeconomic status.
CURRENT EVENTS
Agnes reopens with safety measures Up to 36 visitors allowed in art centre at once
Agnes reopened July 7.
Nathan Gallagher Arts Editor Agnes staff weren’t thrilled when they had to close their doors in March due to the pandemic, but on July 7, the art museum reopened with precautions. In a statement to The Journal, Kate Ducharme, visitor services assistant, and Kate Yüksel, communications
coordinator, discussed how the Agnes reopening has been handled amidst the pandemic. “There were not any difficulties reopening,” Ducharme said. “I am happy with how things are running considering the amount of visitors we are receiving and that it is mandatory for everyone to wear masks.” Ducharme trained the Agnes’ public-facing receptionists on safe
“People who fit the ideal culture at Queen’s—often white, upper middle-class Ontarian students who had a traditional background in theatre—were always getting cast,” he said. Chinniah said the lack of minority representation in the drama faculty is difficult to navigate, especially for students who are the only minority in the room. He recounted an uncomfortable experience self-advocating in a table read of around 30 people. Chinniah and two other students brought up the question of using another word to replace a racial slur in the script, which was meant to be read by a white student. “It was up to the three BIPOC students in the room to advocate, diffuse tensions, and explain why a qualifier was necessary to the white leadership,” he said. Chinniah also said that when
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
practices when greeting the public. “When we reopened, the required signage was put in place, hand sanitizing stations were installed at building entrances, the front desk work station was divided to ensure social distancing, a Plexi-glass shield was mounted on a greeting kiosk, and the reception team [was] trained on new procedures and facility updates to ensure guest
overtly racist incidents did take place in his time as a student, the overwhelmingly white faculty was left to respond with “no lived experience or understanding to actually fix racist problems.” The intersection between ingrained racism and theatre has also been proven in controversial Queen’s drama performances. There have been two major incidents regarding an extreme lack of diversity in productions on campus, including Othello in 2016, organized by student-theatre company Queen’s Vagabond, and Concord Floral in 2017, directed by Professor Greg Wanless as a Dan School major. Othello is a highly soughtafter role for actors and is one of Shakespeare ‘s only leads written with the intention of having a person of colour in the spotlight. However, in 2016, a white female student was cast in the role. Race and sexuality and staff safety while on site,” Ducharme said. She added that, based on her observations, most guests are practicing social distancing and wearing masks. “We have been asking guests for contact tracing information and most provide without hesitation,” she said. To ensure safe social distancing can be practiced in the Agnes, only 36 guests are allowed in the building at one time. “I am happy we reopened,” Ducharme said. “The guests I have spoken to have been so appreciative to be able to come visit and experience artwork as a break from these surreal times. I had one guest, whose wife was in the hospital receiving dialysis, say how thankful he was that we were open and how much he enjoyed the diverse artwork.” Ducharme is confident the Agnes’ safety measures are working and believes it was well worth reopening so the public can once again experience the joy of the art galleries. When the Agnes closed in March, the online
are not interchangeable; the entire plot revolves around the racial discrimination Othello faces as a Moor in Venice. The production was cancelled after facing serious backlash from the Queen’s community, but it’s important to consider the systemic failures and culture at Queen’s which would initially permit this artistic decision to be made. Although there was an open forum addressing the casting issues of Othello, Concord Floral was cast the next year with an almost completely white cast. The show, written by acclaimed playwright Jordan Tannahill, revolves around a group of teenagers in northern Toronto fleeing to an abandoned greenhouse. It’s a gothic mystery with illness, transformation, and discovery in every line. The original cast featured teenagers from various backgrounds and ethnicities to reflect the setting. This theme of diversity aligned with the playwright’s vision and continued in performances following the premiere. Once again, an open forum was held to discuss failures of diversity and inclusion in the Queen’s production. The 2017 production was spearheaded by a Queen’s drama professor, suggesting that racial homogeneity is perpetuated by those in positions of power. There was a noticeable effort to promote diversity on stage in last year’s major productions of The Drowsy Chaperone and Mr. Burns, though it’s important to consider whether these changes are surface-level and performative. Having a couple visible minorities on stage doesn’t always indicate systemic change and as Chinniah described, biases and microaggressions are still present behind the scenes. “Western theatre is historically racist,” Chinniah said. “Like at Queen’s, if you’re a BIPOC theatre creator, you’ll have to carve out a space for yourself wherever you go. But if you have a passion for theatre, then go for it.”
exhibition pages were expanded to feature more of the works. However, Ducharme insists the Agnes website doesn’t do justice to the galleries. “To be able to truly experience artwork, you have to see it in person to be able to note the details and see how an exhibition can relate to a story or feeling,” Ducharme said. “While I am glad we are able to provide opportunities to engage with Agnes from home, visiting in person gives an individual the opportunity to create an emotional experience or relationship with an artist, an artwork or an artefact.” According to Yüksel, staff and visitors are happy about Agnes’ reopening. “Staff were excited to reopen, and the public has been responding positively to being able to visit once again,” she said. “Visitors have been coming in at a manageable pace, wearing masks, following physical distancing and in good spirits. The key to this situation is to be flexible and responsive to the ever-changing situation.”
Arts
Monday, July 27, 2020
Queen’s Players adapt end-of -year show for the internet.
LOCAL ARTISTS
SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE
In move online, Queen’s Players raises nearly $7,000 Digital platform increases comedy troupe’s audience Georgia Gardner Contributor After cancelling their winter show due to COVID-19, Queen’s Players moved online to a bigger audience, raising a record amount for charity. In an interview with The Journal, Director Ryan Cormack described Queen’s Players as “one of Queen’s
hidden gems.” It’s a student-run organization that performs skits, dance numbers, and pop-culture parodies throughout the school year at The Mansion, a local Kingston bar. Proceeds from ticket sales go to charity. Last March, the Queen’s Players’ cast and crew were told the day before opening night
they would have to cancel their end-of-year performance. Cormack knew that “it was not the experience that anybody deserved,” and he was determined to come up with a fun and safe solution to adjust to the pandemic. He proposed using Zoom, an online video chat platform, to perform the show live over the internet.
queensjournal.ca • 11
Paul Smith, president of the Queen’s Players Board, said that for some of the cast it would be their last show, and for others it would be their first, but he didn’t want the cancellation be the end to all their hard work. “The amount of work is crazy.” Smith told The Journal. “Cast members are pulling eighteen hours of rehearsals on top of their classes.” A major reason why the club wanted to move their show to an online platform was because of how hard everybody worked to make it a success. People like cast member Harry Meddings, who had auditioned three times before finally being cast in the show, expanded on the tremendous amount of work that goes into developing a Queen’s Players show. He explained there are three main components of putting a show together: vocals, choreography, and the script itself. “The script is written by the cast, and all of the music is compiled by a band,” Meddings told The Journal. No one wanted this effort to go unseen, so the team worked to adapt their show to Zoom, an entirely new medium for Queen’s Players. They had to go over the script and change anything that wouldn’t work in a Zoom setting, as well as record themselves dancing and singing in sync and address any technical challenges that could take place. Nathan Ye, the team’s technical director, had to develop a show that was “never meant for Zoom,” according to Cormack. In adapting the show for Zoom, Cormack’s biggest focus was, “how
do we make it as much of a Queen’s Players show as possible?” He wanted to maintain the traditions of the end-ofyear show despite the drastic difference between the Zoom platform and the in-person venue of The Mansion. “How do we get the audience to buy the cast drinks, raise money, and incorporate choreography with twelve people not in the same room?” Cormack said. While this presented some challenges, Cormack said Zoom provided Queen’s Players with unexpected benefits, including a larger audience. “In The Mansion, you can fit 120 people, and we had 400 people watching the stream one night, including alumni watching. They were able to watch the show from the comfort of their own homes,” Cormack said. “We came up with a Zoom show to bring the cast and our show to people not only in Kingston, but around the world.” Initially, Cormack hoped they could raise $100 in donations each night for eight shows—the length they usually run at The Mansion—but they happily surpassed that goal, managing to raise just shy of $6,700 in only two shows using Zoom and YouTube Livestream. The money will go to Black Lives Matter and various Kingston charities, which the Board will vote on at the end of the year. “[Queen’s Players] set the standard for doing Zoom shows at Queen’s, and I’m excited to see what the future of it looks like,” Meddings said.
Local tattoo shop tackles COVID-19 precautions amidst influx of customers
True North Tattoo implements Plexiglass shields, no walk-ins, and questionnaires to protect public Talia Nicholson Staff Writer COVID-19 has improved business for Wayne Murrill, owner of Kingston’s True North Tattoo, and now he must meet the demand while keeping his staff and customers safe. The Journal spoke with Murrill, who has been tattooing for more than 26 years and opened True North about 10 years ago. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, he has implemented a number of safety measures at his shop to protect his staff and clients as the shop experiences an uptick in popularity. “I would have expected COVID to harm business, but we are busier than we were before we closed,” Murrill said. “I guess you can indirectly attribute that to what is going on because we had a three and a half month backlog of people. While we were closed the line-up out the door got longer and longer.” While True North Tattoo once accepted walk-in visits, they are now appointment-only. Customers are also expected to fill out a questionnaire before entering to assess whether they’re experiencing symptoms. “I think it was kind of a case of the damn breaking
wh e n we re o p e n e d ; we were just flooded with requests. That seems to have subsided some. Now we are back to our normal l e v e l ,” Murill told The Journal. True North has eliminated its waiting room and taken away
tattoo portfolios and other reading material such as magazines, which had the potential to become contaminated. Staff have also implemented spot wipe-downs throughout the shop with disinfectant and installed plexiglass shields between stations. In accordance with local
health guidelines, each tattooist wears a face shield. According to Murrill, his clients are responding very well to the changes. “Our clientele has been really good about it, really understanding,” Murrill said. “I think a lot of people appreciate
[the safety measures].” Despite the influx of tattoo requests beginning to level out, Murrill said his tattooists are still backlogged for months, with some being booked until October and others all the way to December.
12 • queensjournal.ca
Sports
Monday, July 27, 2020
Remembering Ilse Loomer-Scott Queen’s rower was known for her kindness and positivity Matt Funk Sports Editor
SPORTS Gael Gavin Stone was set to compete with Canada’s National Rowing Team this summer in Tokyo.
‘Whatever it takes to get there’
PHOTO BY MICHAEL BRYENTON
Would-be Olympian Gavin Stone discusses approach to postponement of Tokyo Games Matt Funk Sports Editor
the Olympic squad was another step up in intensity. Stone, who was used to being the fastest guy In Gavin Stone’s average day, few on the water at Queen’s, found hours go wasted. himself with new teammates who Waking up before 5:00 a.m., were equally fast—or faster. he’s at the boathouse by 5:30 for “It certainly was a transition a gruelling row of up to 20km and point […] it took a little while to does some form of cross-training like figure out [my] role on the in the afternoon. team and everything,” he said. This has been Stone’s daily “I’m a pretty competitive guy, regimen for the past four years, and so it was just kind of even and it was supposed to culminate more fun, because once you do in a run for Olympic gold in Tokyo start beating some of the guys this week. That is, before the you’ve looked up to or are past International Olympic Committee Olympians, it’s kind of like […] (IOC) announced this March that that’s the fun part.” the Olympics would be postponed Getting a spot on the national for a year due to COVID-19. team had been a goal of Stone’s Stone, who put his degree on since he started rowing in high hold part way through his fourth school. He attributed much of year to train full-time with the his success to the coaching he Canadian National Team, was received throughout his time at initially chagrinned when it Queen’s, particularly when Phil became clear the Olympics were Marshall—who coached at the Rio not likely to take place. Olympics in 2016—took over the “It was certainly a shock,” Stone program in his second year. told The Journal. “He had quite a “When the news about Italy high-performance mindset and started coming out, we were like had many individual chats with ‘Oh [we’ll be] in a different part some of the higher performing [from the COVID outbreak], we’ll athletes at Queen’s, who he probably still go,’ and then when helped come up with their longit got really bad, I kind of started term plan and their development,” to realize that we’re probably he said. not going to race this summer,” Stone disclosed to Marshall that he said. making the national team was a “So, we knew before it became major goal of his, and Marshall official, [competing in Tokyo] outlined how the second-year probably wasn’t likely but hearing could make it happen. Stone [the Olympics were cancelled] was believes he would have eventually certainly like, ‘Wow, how’s this made a boat on the national squad, going to affect us?’” but Marshall’s programming Stone first joined the Canadian expedited the process. national team in 2018, though “I think if [Marshall] hadn’t come it wasn’t his first time and changed the way Queen’s kind representing Canada on the of operated as a broken system, water. The Gael was also a part it probably would have taken a of Canada’s under-23 national few years more years for sure,” rowing crew in 2017 and 2018 Stone said. where the team placed seventh Leaving his team for the and fifth, respectively, at the National Training Centre in Under-23 World Championships. Victoria, B.C. part way through Nonetheless, graduating to fourth year wasn’t a decision
Stone took lightly, but was a necessary sacrifice to achieve his dream of rowing for Canada at the Olympics. “If I wanted to make the 2020 Olympics, I had to join the training centre in January 2019 because boats qualify the year before at the World Championships. So I knew I needed to make that boat, I couldn’t just come out [to Victoria] in 2020,” he said. The postponement of Tokyo 2020 has had varying effects for Stone and his teammates. For some, it adds another year away from loved ones, while for others it means another block of gruelling training before retirement. For the 23-year-old, it means another year of deferring the last semester of his undergraduate degree. “[N]ow because of COVID it’s another year I have to put off. So it’s definitely going to be a bit of a difficult time going back to Queen’s,” Stone said. Despite the year’s unforeseen setbacks, Stone said Canada’s rowing squad is taking them in stride and is instead focusing on the positives. “Overall, we’re all just looking at it as another year to get better technically, get more fit, and get stronger, and then just train hard and know the Olympics are still going to happen, so we need to put ourselves in the position to perform.” Stone was able to find silver linings in the three-month period from March to July when he and the team were essentially unable to train. Being prevented from training toward a life goal would be testing to most elite athletes, but Stone believes his coach, Terry Paul, fostered a healthy approach to handling quarantine. “[H]e told us not to worry, to stay fit but don’t try to get in better
The Queen’s rowing team and University were deeply saddened to learn of Ilse Loomer-Scott’s untimely passing on July 15 while surfing in Tofino, B.C. Born on May 20, 1999, Loomer-Scott had recently turned 21 years old and would’ve been entering her fourth year at Queen’s in the fall. Loomer-Scott was a rower and coach for both the Queen’s and Kingston Rowing Club teams. She touched many lives during her time at Queen’s and is remembered fondly by her team, friends, classmates, and family. “Her glowing smile, consistently positive attitude and passion for the sport will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her and having her in their lives,” a tribute from Queen’s rowing’s Instagram wrote. Outside of rowing, Loomer-Scott possessed a strong love for music and was known to bring her friends together at Queen’s for “jam sessions” in her basement. This was a tradition she even brought with her overseas on exchange semester in Sweden, according to her obituary. Loomer-Scott embodied the notion of living one’s life to fullest, her obituary wrote. “The world is a beautiful place full of amazing people. Ilse would want you to enjoy it, respect it and treat it with care.” “She lived a very full 21 years. One of Ilse’s gifts was that she didn’t wait until tomorrow to live, but lived each day to its fullest aligned with her values. It is the way of life that leads to having no regrets,” the obituary reads. The Loomer-Scott family has founded a “special honour” at Ilse’s high school, which will reflect the values she embodied. Those interested in donating are invited to visit her obituary to find out details, and share any thoughts, memories, or photos they have with LoomerScott. Her Obituary can be found at: https://www.forevermissed.com/
shape than you are right now because it’s not really possible on your own. So, enjoy the time off, and use it as a little mental reset,” Stone said. The break allowed Stone to spend quality time with his family and take up some new hobbies, a luxury he’s missed in his pursuit of the Olympics. “I was home for three months, which is like the longest I’ve been at home since first year. So, it was really nice to get caught up with my family because I never really get to see them because I’m training in B.C.,” he said. “I bought a road bike and I spent a ton of time on it and had a ton of fun learning a new sport, which I think was good for that part of me that likes different things.” The rowing crew has been back at their training centre in Victoria, B.C., since the beginning of July and has resumed full-time training, but not without a couple COVIDinduced hitches. Stone’s event is the men’s 4x—a 4-person boat with double oars—and current guidelines prohibit more than 2 people in the same boat at once, leaving them unable to train at full capacity. It can be easy to focus on the inconveniences brought forth by COVID-19, but rowing is a sport of poise and discipline, and focusing on the pain of the moment isn’t the key to success—it comes through focusing on the finish line. It’s something Stone said he’s been able to carry over to his everyday life. “You have a goal and you do whatever it takes to get there,” he said. Considering his goals for the 2021 Olympics, Stone paused for a few seconds, replying with SUPPLIED BY QUEEN’S ATHLETICS a laugh. “Um, a gold medal would Ilse Loomer-Scott was a rower and be good.” coach for the Gaels rowing crew.
Monday, July 27, 2020
Sports
VARSITY ATHLETICS
QUEEN’S ATHLETICS
Queen’s rookies remain driven despite COVID cancellations
First-year athletes share their attitudes on a semester without sports Daniel Green Assistant Sports Editor
Parker Janes, an incoming rowing team member, mentioned the unique issues rowing faces Continued from front... due to being primarily run through local clubs. “I’m still only 17 […] I’m playing “Without a racing season, we guys who are 23. It’s a huge gap don’t really have any reason to in physical development. I was train as a university team through bummed out, it sucks that I won’t Queen’s at the moment. Currently, be able to play the proper season pieces of the team who are in in my first year. But, at the same Kingston are training out of a time, I wasn’t too upset about it Kingston rowing club, and the because it’s going to give me a rest of the team currently and year or so to develop [physically] possibly through the rest of the fall, and understand how they are training at their home clubs do things.” until we can come back together For university athletes, athletic in the spring or whenever the scholarships are often crucial university opens back up and to whether or not they compete. train as a team again,” he told On its website, Queen’s Athletics The Journal. says it “is committed to Janes shared a similar view to honouring [Athletic Financial Shields in having time to develop Award] agreements.” his abilities during pandemic. “All I know is that, I think I should “Losing my first year is definitely be [receiving my scholarship], tough […] but it’s kind of nice because I’m still training with that COVID is giving me time to the team and practicing, we’re train more and out on my own just not going to have any games,” to get better. I’m taking it as a incoming football player Taran kind of year of work instead Birdi told The Journal. of a year off.” “I’m supposed to have a meeting Bryana Buttar will be joining with Coach [Steve] Snyder […] and the women’s soccer team in the fall, the whole entire team within the and is in a more unique situation next two weeks, and we should than the typical rookie, as she’s know more information then.” transferring from the University of Birdi struggled with the the Fraser Valley (UFV) in B.C. pandemic and the unknown Buttar won Canada West Rookie future of the team, but is keeping a of the Year in her last season at positive mindset. UFV. She committed to transfer to “When Ontario was hit really Queen’s before the pandemic hit bad, I was thinking, ‘Okay, is it even Canada hard, conscious that she worth going?’ But, since everything would be redshirted—meaning has [started to] settle down, I’m she’d be practicing with having no second thoughts,” the team and playing in a Birdi said. limited number of games,
queensjournal.ca •13
if at all—for her first season. Luckily, she won’t have to sit out two seasons in a row and will join the team as a full, non redshirted member in 2021. COVID-19 hasn’t kept Buttar away from soccer by any means. She has been training with women’s and men’s soccer teams in B.C., as well as personal soccer and strength trainers. All of it comes with COVID-19 safety precautions like hand sanitizing, distancing, mask wearing, and not touching the ball with your hands. “I’m trying to keep [life] as normal as I can,” she said. Women’s soccer team Head Coach Dave McDowell told The Journal that the first-year players are already becoming friendly with one another despite being apart. “With COVID, they actually know each other better [than a first-year group would normally at this point]. Because of some of the things we’ve been doing online, and the way we set things up, and some of the mentorship, our first years were involved with our returning players much, much earlier,” McDowell said. Now, with their seasons another year away, Queen’s rookies have learned to look at the pandemic as an opportunity for personal and physical improvement rather than a barrier towards it. “[I’ve learned that] what’s out of my control, I can’t do anything about,” Shields said. “You just got to hope the grass is greener on the other side.”
ILLUSTRATION BY ALISON ANDRADE
Queen’s to host women’s rugby and soccer U Sports Championships in 2021 and 2023
Highly-touted Gaels squads look beyond COVID-19 to future championships at home
Queen’s will host two U Sports championships.
Daniel Green Assistant Sports Editor
PHOTO BY DANIEL GREEN
sure that our athletes are okay, and that there is an adjustment that has to be made,” he said. “We Although both the women’s rugby gave ourselves a couple of weeks and soccer teams’ upcoming to wrap our heads around the seasons have been cancelled unfortunate news that the season due to the coronavirus, Queen’s had been cancelled. But, then, we has lots to look forward to when also made it very clear that at they return. some point we needed to draw a On July 2, U Sports announced line in the sand, dust ourselves off, that, due to COVID-19, winning bids and refocus.” to host national championships Much of the same can be said were being deferred by a year. for the women’s soccer team: they Queen’s was originally supposed dominated the regular season, to host the women’s rugby finishing with 12 wins, one loss, National Championship from Nov. and two ties. Their record earned third to seventh, but will now be them automatic entry into the OUA hosting in 2021. The tricolour will quarter-final, where they fell to also host the U Sports women’s the University of Toronto Varsity soccer National Championships Blues 3-0. in November 2023 at Veteran Head Coach Dave Richardson Stadium. McDowell has been with the team Queen’s will be granted a spot since 1988, winning OUA Coach in each tournament, regardless of of the Year in seven of his seasons, either team’s success during their and U Sports Coach of the Year in regular seasons, as is standard for 1993 and 1998. all U Sports tournament hosts. “We’ve assembled a good young However, there’s a chance team that we’re excited about neither team will need a free pass. getting a chance to compete in Last season, the Queen’s nationals at home,” McDowell told women’s rugby team was The Journal. “We have another dominant, winning the OUA really good group coming in Championships and earning this year […] I think [our young a silver medal at the U Sports core] will form the basis for us National Championship. Their in 2023.” roster is lined with star power, Falling short in the playoffs after including fourth-year Sophie de such a dominant season has had a Goede, who took home the Shiels positive effect on the team’s drive, Division MVP in 2018. he said. Women’s rugby Head Coach “It has been a real rallying cry Dan Valley, who’s led the team and a lesson learned. They have since 2017, said the team is been tremendously engaged even optimistic about the future. through all of the COVID and “We’ve chosen to look at [the disappointment of the season season being cut] as a unique being cancelled.” opportunity that gives us 14 Both teams are preparing for months to put ourselves in a the future, looking to conquer situation where we can go and their U Sports Championships on repeat as champions, and win a U home turf. Sports championship on our home “There are some things from pitch,” Valley told The Journal. COVID and COVID training that Valley also said the team’s will benefit us in the long run […] mental health has been prioritized we’ve done some things in terms in wake of the cancellation. of flexibility and resilience that “Priority A […] is just making have really helped,” McDowell said.
14 • queensjournal.ca
LIFESTYLE
Monday, July 27, 2020
Lifestyle Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ is a storytelling triumph
New movie is far from romantic.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JODIE GRIEVE
'365 Days' is alarming, not sexy The film’s popularity goes to show there’s still work to be done dismantling pervasive rape culture narratives Shelby Talbot Lifestytle Editor Have you been thinking about sitting down to watch 365 Days? My advice: don’t. The Polish film, released on Netflix earlier this summer, has become a viral sensation. It’s not difficult to see exactly how 365 Days has managed to stand out so significantly from other ‘romance’ movies on the streaming platform; with most people relegated to their homes, now is the ideal time for a movie centred on lavish travel, wealthy extravagance, and kinky sex to succeed. The film’s story follows the relationship between a woman named Laura and her captor, brooding Sicilian Mafia boss Massimo. Massimo kidnaps Laura and keeps her with him in his lair, giving her 365 days to fall in love with him before he’ll set her free. Spoiler alert: they’re in love before the year is up. If you’re hoping for a plot-driven love story, you’re in the wrong place. If you’re looking to watch two attractive leads stare
Don’t roll the credits on the movie theater experience In the streaming versus theater debate, the film industry is big enough for both Ahrani Gnananayakan Contributor
I saw Avengers: Endgame, the highest grossing film of 2019, in a packed theatre. I'm a casual fan of the Marvel franchise, but I still remember the moment the audience burst into wild cheers when—spoiler alert—Captain America summoned Thor's
suggestively at each other for two hours, I recommend you turn just about anywhere else to get your fix. It’s true that the story isn’t the main appeal for most of 365 Days’ viewers. Chalked full of longing stares, sexual tension, and its fair share of softcore porn, the film has leveraged its suggestive subject matter into contentious mainstream success. Netflix’s description of 365 Days as “controversial” may be a bit of an understatement. Reactions to the film have been extremely polarized, with some praising it as a sex-positive fictional romp and others condemning it as perpetuating rape culture. Fans claim the movie’s critics are taking the nitty-gritty of the plot too seriously. But in a post-#MeToo entertainment landscape, is it really too much to expect on-screen romances to be consensual? Marketing the kidnapping and coercion of a woman by a violent criminal as a love story flies directly in the face of the ideals of consent. No matter how desperately the movie tries to paint Massimo as a misunderstood romantic, the fact remains that he snatched Laura off of the street to hold her captive for a year in a compound with a giant creepy photo of her hanging over the bed, and no amount of soulful staring or shopping montages can offset the power imbalance in their relationship. 365 Days approaches sex and romance from a very particular niche of the male gaze. The film plays into the rape culture
hammer. It was hard not to be swept up in the excitement of the crowd that showed up that night, which was the whole reason I wanted to be there. Watching that iconic scene for the first time wouldn't have been quite as impactful if I’d streamed it on Disney+ a few months after opening night. For the past few months, however, going to the movie theatre hasn't been an option. Until recently, the current COVID-19 pandemic and public health guidelines made it impossible to enjoy films as part of an audience. However, with most of Ontario now in Stage 3 of the province's plan for reopening businesses, the ability to watch that upcoming film you’ve been looking forward to in a socially distanced, heavily sanitized fashion is coming soon to a theatre near you. The temporary shuttering of theatres combined with the proliferation of streaming services during quarantine has brought a question to the forefront of moviegoers' minds: is the curtain about to fall on the era of watching films in theatres?
fantasy of a woman who says no but really means yes—who doesn’t know what she wants until it’s forced on her. It’s not a risque film about kinks and rough sex—it’s a grossly irresponsible and deliberate romanticization of a non-consensual relationship. The movie is acutely aware of its own messy association with rape culture. It asserts right from the jump that Massimo’s crew doesn’t participate in sex trafficking, and Massimo promises Laura he won’t touch her without her permission. But the bar for romantic male leads, particularly those targeted at women, must be higher than abstaining from human trafficking. It can no longer be enough to sell leading men who fail to even scrape the underside of the bar of basic human decency under the guise of being misunderstood, toxically masculine heartthrobs. The alarming popularity of 365 Days is a poignant reminder that there’s still much to be done to dismantle the pervading foundations of rape culture that influence our perceptions of sex and romance. Entertainment giants like Netflix must be more cognisant of the rhetoric they’re giving platform to, but everyday viewers need to engage critically with the media we consume, too. 365 Days isn’t a worthwhile watch because it’s more than just a bad movie—it’s a reckless pander to the rape culture narratives we should be working to eliminate.
Trolls: World Tour is a crucial player in this conversation. In April, Universal Pictures opted to make the movie available for streaming instead of waiting for a theatrical release. According to the production company, the experimental move was a success. To some, this success spells doom for movie theatres. Concern about the viability of cinemas isn't new. Last June, The New York Times asked major Hollywood figures about the future of the industry. They shared valid concerns: the theater experience can be inaccessible compared to the in-home alternative of a monthly subscription service. For students looking to save on both time and money, streaming can also be more appealing.
To read the rest of this article, go to queensjournal.ca/lifestyle
Singer’s surprise album showcases her impressive songwriting abilities Rohini Datta Contributor On a seemingly ordinary Thursday morning, Taylor Swift threw fans for a loop with a simple Tweet and an Instagram post detailing the midnight release of her eighth album, Folklore. Teasing new music just over 12 hours beforehand is an unusual move for Swift who’s known for putting out radio-friendly singles, high-budget music videos, and elaborate social media campaigns during the months leading up to album releases. Folklore comes only 11 months after her last album, Lover, with Swift crediting the quick and surprise release to a gut feeling. Despite being released with little notice, the album has quickly smashed streaming records and topped charts. Folklore’s 16 songs and bonus track explore an indie folk sound that’s new for Swift, who got her start in country music before transitioning to pop. The album’s consistent indie sound grants Folklore a sense of cohesiveness, a style that Swift’s previous albums didn’t achieve. Although it’s a pivot in genre, Folklore showcases Swift’s most impressive skill as an artist: her songwriting ability. Swift is credited as a writer on all 16 of the album’s tracks. While she’s long established herself as a talented lyricist when it comes to penning songs about her personal life, Swift flexes her creative muscles on Folklore to extend her writing to include characters and imagined stories. These stories are conveyed with the same conviction and vulnerability that had previously been reserved for only her most personal songs. Folklore explores themes that appear frequently throughout Swift’s previous music such as love, childhood innocence, and vulnerability, with a newfound layer of maturity and introspection. The album confidently dismisses the boundary between truth and fiction as it weaves between songs based in imagined narratives and Swift’s own experiences. Swift successfully emulates the timeless mysticism of the type of stories she named her album after, with its simple acoustic sound casting the focus on her elegant lyricism and the stories she’s telling. The tracklist starts off with “The 1,” one of the lighter, more playful songs on the album. In it, Swift ponders the unanswerable question of how her life might be changed “if one thing had been different.” Though it’s not the album’s most impressive track, it sets Folklore’s tone as one of curiosity and self-reflection.
To read the rest of this article, go to queensjournal.ca/lifestyle
LIFESTYLE
Monday, July 27, 2020
queensjournal.ca •15
The conflicting sides of 'Hamilton' The release of the popular musical on Disney+ has reignited debate about the show’s characterization of the Founding Fathers Revisiting the popular musical in these unprecedented times.
Sasha Cohen Staff Writer The much-anticipated Disney+ release of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mega-hit Hamilton landed in our living rooms amidst a confluence of global, political, and social justice movements. Hamilton is the reimagined history of one of America’s Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, the first treasury secretary appointed by George Washington. With its trailblazing cast of diverse actors, Hamilton is “the story of America then, told by America now.” With refreshed interest in the musical, some are advocating to ‘cancel’ Hamilton because of its titular character’s relationship with slavery, which many say is glossed over in the show. However, there are those,
ILLUSTRATION BY SHELBY TALBOT
myself included, who believe we can still enjoy Hamilton while engaging with its subject matter critically. This extraordinary time we’re living through is a powerful moment for the release of this pro-shot version of Hamilton. Theatrically, the show is groundbreaking. Politically, it’s driving vital conversation about race and legacy. Most representations of American history aren’t without their flaws, and Hamilton is no exception. As a 17th-century immigrant and abolitionist, Hamilton’s thirst for influential peers has inspired 21st-century criticism. Although Hamilton didn’t own slaves himself, his close relationships with many who did left him, at best, complicit in American slavery. Additionally, criticism
regarding the play’s celebration of the Founding Fathers, most of whom were slave owners, has raised concerns about the show’s potential idolization of these figures. Now, amidst the current social and political climate, the story of Hamilton undoubtedly affects many of us differently than it did when the show was in its original run. The musical resonates with its audience in a deeply personal way, and in the context of systemic racism in Canada and the United States, the legacy of America’s Founding Fathers is not a good one. In a statement, the Executive Chairman of Disney, Bob Iger, said “in light of the extraordinary challenges facing our world, this story is about leadership, tenacity, hope, love and the power of people to unite against the forces
of adversity is both relevant and impactful.” In Miranda’s retelling of American history, his vision was the story of the country’s Founding Fathers made relatable to a diverse modern American audience. As journalist Alana Semuels put it, Hamilton communicates a version of American history in which both women and people of colour “share the spotlight with the founding fathers.” While the deliberate casting of predominantly non-white actors as white historical figures doesn’t absolve the show of its failure to engage with the Founding Fathers’ role in slavery beyond a few throw-away lyrics, it emphasizes in its own way that the history of the United States is not the history of only white Americans.
Alexander Hamilton’s life embodies what many consider to be the American dream. As an immigrant and a self-made man who clawed his way to success, there’s strength and resiliency in his story that’s relatable to many audiences. History cannot be rewritten, nor should it be censored. Discussing the uncomfortable parts of a nation’s history is important in a conversation about legacy. Hamilton gives us the latitude to do just that: not only drive important conversation, but continuously better our understanding of the lasting impacts of a contentious time in history. The show doesn’t meditate on the Founding Fathers’ legacy perfectly, but that too should be included in the dialogue Hamilton inspires.
TikTok’s algorithm works in mysterious ways, curating personalized feeds for each individual user based on the content they interact with. The nature of TikTok allows anybody to go viral, making it easy for dangerous or hurtful messages to reach large amounts of young people with little fact-checking or accountability. Although it seems like everyone’s on TikTok nowadays, the app’s largest demographic in North America is young women. In the United States, female users outnumber males nearly two to one. The eclectic content on TikTok means you never know what might pop onto your feed next. One minute, you could be watching someone rank Barbie movies from best to worst, and the next you’re being hit with dieting tips from an 18-year-old who probably doesn’t have a degree in nutrition. Often, this type of advice is portrayed as ‘helpful’ and ‘inspiring’ health and fitness content. At a closer look, it’s apparent that these videos are anything but positive, promoting thinness over health and moderation.
It’s eerily reminiscent of another era when mainstream social media was flooded with content promoting unhealthy and unsustainable ideas of what diet and exercise should look like. In the early 2010s, popular internet culture was the biggest advocate for toxic dieting. Many of us would have been young teens when we first came across a post on Tumblr or Instagram that made young people—women, in particular—question whether their bodies looked the way they should. It was an exhausting exercise in learning exactly how harmful social media can be. Over time, anti-diet culture sentiment grew louder and louder until the tides changed. For the past few years, mainstream diet culture seems to have been heavily subdued on popular social media websites. Of course, the content is still around—particularly if you follow the Kardashians —but Skinny Tea promotions are no longer the first thing unsuspecting teens see when they open a social media app. TikTok has seen a resurgence of the type of content we were starting to rid ourselves of. There’s now a generation of teenagers on social media who were too young
to experience the death of the thigh gap, and they seem to be in danger of falling victim to the same body-image traps we did. “What I eat in a day” videos have become advertisements for under-eating. Body transformation videos that encourage rapid weight loss have become competitive challenges. There’s a consistent underlying message to this type of viral content: your body is inadequate, and you need to be working to change it. It’s the same message every generation receives in some form or another, packaged in a different product with a $39.99 price tag. Even when juice cleanses are no longer popular, there’s always something waiting in the weight-loss-wings to take its place. This revival proves that toxic diet culture isn’t dead, and that we’re going to have to actively fight against unrealistic beauty standards for generations to come. As we move forward, there’s hope that we can do so with accountability. When Rae Wellness’ Metabolism Drops went viral on
TikTok earlier this year as a weight loss hack among underage users, the company made the decision to pull the product from shelves. This choice proves that while the fight against diet culture isn’t over, we aren’t back at the starting line. If we continue to fight for a factual and realistic representation of health online, we can create a better version of social media, one where nobody feels their body is inferior. We need to protect young people from the toxic dieting culture of the past, and that need to start on TikTok.
TikTok is proof that we can't outrun toxic diet culture
The unhealthy beauty standards that defined social media in the 2010s are back, and they’re putting young people at risk Kirby Harris Assistant Lifestyle Editor While traditional media may have eased up on the promotion of diet culture in recent years, social media allows anyone to grow a platform and advocate for dangerous standards of beauty. On TikTok, gaining that platform is now easier than ever. In 2020, TikTok has taken the throne as the new king of social media. The Chinese video-sharing platform boasts over 800 million active users, outperforming platforms like Twitter and Reddit which have been around for over a decade. The app is arguably the most influential platform for today’s youth.
ILLUSTRATION BY SHELBY TALBOT
16• queensjournal.ca
Monday, July 27, 2020
POSTSCRIPT
Aysha is critical of the direction of the body positivity movement.
PHOTO BY JENNY ZHU
Confronting my relationship with body positivity I’m tired of being told I have to love every part of myself to be empowered Aysha Tabassum Features Editor When I was in the third grade visiting family in Bangladesh, I wore a lot of short skirts and shorts to keep cool in a tropical climate. I remember watching TV one afternoon with the windows open. I was sprawled across the couch, sweat beading down my forehead, craving an iced cappuccino and wishing I was home. That’s when my cousin, who was at least 10 years older than me, walked into the room. Without so much as a ‘hello,’ she abruptly told me I shouldn’t be wearing skirts anymore because I was starting to grow hair on my legs. I was eight. That was the first time I ever felt weird about my body, and it wouldn’t be the last. I’ll never know if I would have started shaving body hair if no one had ever made me feel like I had to, but I do know I could never disentangle the societal expectation to shave my legs from my choice to do so. Before leaving the room, my cousin also commented that my thighs were getting a little big and I should watch out for that, especially when I start to like a boy. Now I have a weird relationship with body positivity. While I know there are good intentions behind a movement
that aims to make women feel more comfortable in their skin, I’ve never enjoyed how the movement has worked towards its goal. Take all of the products it’s inspired: makeup campaigns talking about harnessing your natural beauty or shapewear for plus-sized women, for instance. In a world where billions of dollars each year are dedicated to industries that prey on women hating themselves, it makes sense that these same industries are trying to create the illusion they can pivot toward women empowerment. After all, those industries would disappear if we all woke up one day and decided we didn’t care about conforming to beauty standards. For those with a stake in these industries, the best course of action is convincing women that using their products isn’t a way to appease beauty standards, but rather a conscious and valid choice that doubles as self-empowerment. But why do we let them do this? I think all women have, to some extent, been exposed to unfair beauty standards in really odd forms.
"
I think all women have, to some extent, been exposed to unfair beauty standards
We’ve grown up thinking unshaved legs are something to be ashamed of, mostly so that Gillette could widen its market. We spend exorbitant amounts of time and money shaping our eyebrows, wearing makeup, getting our nails
done, and making sure we never smell anything but rosy. And when we’re done dealing with body hair and ‘imperfect’ skin, those of us with vaginas might even feel we have to tighten them. I also think all of us women know these expectations are messed up and we’ve known it, at least a little bit, since the moment we first realized the world expects women to look a certain way. Ye t , new-wave feminism—which is really only made for rich white women by rich white women—has convinced us so many of the things feminists have historically argued against are, actually, empowering. It’s convinced us that we’re not adhering to patriarchal expectations when we spend money on fashion and beauty, but rather that we’re making a choice to look how we want to. That frame of mind is a lot more comforting than walking around all day knowing that we’re slaves to beauty standards created simply so men will find us attractive. Now, we’re still spending the same amount we always did on beauty products, lining the pockets of male executives who don’t actually care about whether or not we love ourselves—we’re just not complaining about it anymore. Companies like Unilever and LVMH can sit tight having harnessed body positivity to their own marketing advantage. Profit-making entities are no longer transparently attempting to make women hate themselves to move more product. Rather than supressing the feminist movement, corporate giants have realized they can appropriate and
weaponize it to appeal to women consumers. Maybelline, which has come under fire more than once for neglecting the needs of women of colour, can tell you it’s committed to breaking stereotypical barriers to beauty just to sell you lipstick. Dove, owned by a company that’s only rebranding its skin whitening creams in response to #BlackLivesMatter rather than discontinuing the products altogether, can tell you it cares about your self esteem to direct you to its e-commerce platform. Capitalism got to body positivity before feminism could really latch onto it, and now both causes are being commodified. What used to be a movement telling me I don’t need to appease any sort of standard of beauty has devolved. Mainstream feminism is now hell-bent on trying to convince me that shaving my legs and spending an hour on a full face of makeup is empowering—if I draw on my eyeliner sharp enough I can kill a man or if I wear a tight dress I can slay in the boardroom. Making us feel the need to attract men is how companies have long sold to women. Body positivity has turned into a movement that doesn’t make it so we don’t feel the need to be attractive to men—it just makes that market more accessible to more people than before. We’re not telling women they can exist without feeling the need to be f—kable, we’re telling them that each and every one of them could one day be f—kable. Body positivity now means telling me my stretch marks are sexy (like tiger stripes!). It means telling me people love my bushy
eyebrows. It means telling me that, one day, a man will find me beautiful without makeup, and that this thought should be enough to make me feel comfortable in my own skin. Well, I’m tired of wanting to be pretty and being told I’m immature or weak if I don’t find every part of myself beautiful.
of wanting "toI’mbe tired pretty and being told I’m immature or weak if I don’t find every part of myself beautiful
I’m tired of being told that, to love myself, I have to love my stretch marks—which are really just annoying, at best—and that I have to somehow overcome a lifetime of shaming and pretend to love my body hair, too. I shouldn’t need to be beautiful or f—kable to exist or be okay with my body existing. I shouldn’t need to be pretty and hairless to appeal to anyone, including myself. We need to stop telling women they must love their reflections to be secure. Companies need to stop telling women they hold the secret formula to make this false security a reality—especially not when they’ve created a world filled with expectations that make it virtually impossible. Body positivity shouldn’t be about screaming at women to love themselves and shaming those who admit how difficult this is. It should be about dismantling the systems that create unfair beauty standards in the first place.