The Queen's Journal, Volume 149, Issue 17

the Queen’s University

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journal

Vol. 149, Issue 17

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Friday, January 21, 2022

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Situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples.

Since 1873

Student starts petition to rescind Duncan Campbell Scott’s honorary degree

PHOTO BY SPENCER HENDRICKSON

Gossling believes students need to advocate for change on campus.

Senate to develop polices on revoking degrees from the deceased A sbah A hmad Assistant News Editor This article discusses the atrocities committed in Residential Schools and may be triggering for some readers. Those seeking support may contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation or Four Directions. For immediate assistance, the National Indian Residential School Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1-866-925-4419.

Late in 2021, Tayte Gossling, ArtSci ’22, started a petition calling on Queen’s to rescind Duncan Campbell Scott’s honorary degree.

Scott, a civil servant, was awarded an honorary LL.D by Queen’s in 1939.

He was also known for his role as the

deputy superintendent of the Department of Indian Affairs in the early 20th century.

Gossling feels having Scott on the list of honorary degree recipients devalues such an honour.

“I think it’s really problematic that an educational institution that is here for knowledge production would endorse genocide,” Gossling said in an interview with The Journal.

Gossling first learned about Scott in a gender studies course.

“I gave him a super quick Wikipedia search, and I saw that not only had he been a super integral part of the residential school system, but Queen’s also gave him an honorary degree.”

Gossling believed it was her role to advocate against the awarding of this degree as a settler on Indigenous land.

One of Gossling’s professors brought up the matter during a Senate meeting in November. After reading the meeting minutes, Gossling felt there was limited acknowledgment of the issue from other members of the Senate.

“The sentiment was more of ‘we don’t want to acknowledge this, and this isn’t our problem—why does it matter?’”

Gossling said.

She felt “no one” in the Senate had prior knowledge on the matter.

“The fact that he still has the degree is disgusting.”

Gossling attempted to speak at Senate, but later found the process inaccessible and difficult to navigate for students.

“What I can really take away from this experience is that Queen’s is super entrenched in white supremacy, and are very performative about the ways that they deal with it,” she said.

“The processes that are meant to hold admin accountable, and that students are supposed to participate in, they’re not really meant for us to actually do that.”

In an email sent to The Journal, Lon Knox, secretary of the university and corporate counsel, said the Senate and Honorary Degrees Committee reviews requests to revoke degrees.

“Any decision taken regarding a request

that an honorary degree be revoked would require a review with due care of the evidence in support of revocation by the Honorary Degrees Committee, which would then recommend a decision to the Senate,” Knox wrote.

According to Knox, the Senate is still in the process of developing a policy around revoking honorary degrees.

“Queen’s has only revoked one Honorary Degree since it began awarding them in 1872. The Honorary Degrees Committee of Queen’s Senate is currently developing policy guidance to make clear the process to properly and fairly consider any request to examine the past award of an Honorary Degree [sic],” Knox said.

“These honors [sic] are conferred on individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society on a national or international scale,” Knox said.

“Queen’s Senate awards honorary degrees annually in accordance with established policy.”

Dating apps during the pandemic

Queen’s COVID-19 communications fall short

New collective highlights hidden artists

Queen’s Athletes talk pause on play

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NEWS

Classes will remain online until Feb. 28.

PHOTO BY SPENCER HENDRICKSON

Students continue writing fall semester exams

‘We work hard for our money’ Rida Chaudhry Assistant News Editor In light of the surge in COVID-19 cases in Kingston during the month of

December, Queen’s moved fall 2021 exams online to avoid exposure between community members.

On Dec. 12, the university announced all classes would go back online until Feb. 28. Due to the timing of the announcement, students were given the option to defer their fall semester exams to a later

date. Many of these exams are being administered in January as the winter 2022 semester begins.

“I understand why in-person exams were moved online, but it kind of felt like a lot of people were doing it for the wrong reasons,” Dante Caloia, ArtSci ’23, said in an interview with the The Journal.

“It seemed like a bit of an overreaction.”

Caloia felt the negative media attention brought to the university as COVID-19 cases increased prompted the administration to continue with online learning well into the semester, while other universities across Ontario are only keeping things virtual until the end of January.

“I started a petition to get [back] in-person classes,” he said. “I barely even got an answer, and that really doesn’t make me feel heard.”

Caloia said Queen’s could have used a different approach. He felt online learning wasn’t an adequate alternative to in-person learning, in the previous school year.

“As a student, we work hard for our money, and I don’t really think it’s valid for the university to just kind of charge the exact same thing for [a] lower quality education.”

Mitchell Lupa, ArtSci ’23, told The Journal there was a lack of communication from the university on the matter. He found out about the decision to move courses online through “Reddit or Twitter”.

“I don’t think it was a big deal. I mean, we had some in person and we had some online school [during the fall semester], and I don’t mind online school,” Lupa said.

Lupa chose to defer two of his exams. He felt it’s “less stressful” to write exams online.

“It’s a lot less stressful than if you’re sitting in a big room with 300 people.

Even without COVID, that’s preferable.” journal_news@ams.queensu.ca

‘Legal insurance policy’: Queen’s Legal Aid talks upcoming AMS referendum Organisation’s 28-year unbroken history at risk in upcoming referendum Sydney Ko Senior News Editor In November, the Queen’s Legal Aid (QLA) student fee increase of $0.50 was not passed in the AMS fall referendum. Blair

Crew, Director of QLA, hopes students will consider the importance of the service in the upcoming winter referendum.

“We have a 28-year unbroken history providing services to Queen’s legal aid students,” Crew said in an interview with The Journal.

“Over the entire 50-year history of Queen’s Legal Aid, usually about 20 per cent of our clientele are Queen’s students, primarily undergrads. At the current time, over 50 per cent of our clients are Queen’s students.”

According to Crew, student clientele rose

Over 50 per cent of Queen’s Legal Aid clients are undergraduate students.

significantly during the pandemic due to unsanctioned gathering-related offenses.

“Our largest area of demand for service right now is with respect to those administrative monetary penalties of $2,000 that students are facing.”

QLA also handles tenant matters.

“We represent only tenants, not landlords,” Crew said.

“Between COVID-related complications to student tenancies or students that have gone remote and have been required to stay in Kingston […] there are a couple of notoriously bad landlords.”

PHOTO BY SPENCER HENDRICKSON

Cases concern a variety of issues, including illegal evictions and repair and maintenance issues.

Students can also be represented by QLA when appearing in front of the University Student Appeal Board.

“There have been several cases in the past few years where we’ve been successful in fighting an academic decision that would have meant that a student would have had to withdraw from the university,” Crew said.

Since the fee increase didn’t pass in the Fall Referendum, Crew explained that QLA is now “locked” in the upcoming referendum to maintain the fee.

“In the chances and the hopes for trying to preserve the levy from students, we are coming back with the question if they will simply reaffirm the existing $5.50 per student fee,” he said.

According to Crew, the $5.50 serves as a “legal insurance policy” that allows all students access to a student case worker and a lawyer, who supervises their work.

The upcoming referendum is especially significant because it will allow QLA to continue representing all Queen’s students, not just those who meet criteria set out

by Legal Aid Ontario.

“Under our funding agreement with Legal Aid Ontario, which funds us several hundreds of thousands of dollars […] we’re allowed to represent Queen’s students who do not come from families that are below the poverty line as long as we have a fee for service arrangement with the student body.”

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Emily Yeung talks vision as sole ResSoc presidential candidate Yeung commits to advocacy, student support, and education Anne Fu & Rida Chaudhry Assistant News Editors

The Centre will be a go-to destination for guidance in the appeals process.

SUPPLIED BY EMILY YEUNG

Emily Yeung, HealthSci ’23, is the Residence Society’s (ResSoc) uncontested candidate for President in this year’s elections.

Yeung attributes her passion for working in Queen’s residences to her two years of involvement with ResSoc, where she has formerly held roles as a Residence Facilitator and Human Resources Officer.

“I want to work specifically in this department to assist, support, or advocate for the first-year students who transition from high school to university,” Yeung said in an interview with The Journal. “I

think that’s something I hold very dear to my heart: the guidance and support that I know myself I had in first year.”

Yeung’s vision for the position is built upon a platform of three main pillars: “advocate, educate, and support.” She’s particularly interested in assisting with students’ academics and wellbeing during the upcoming school year.

“A couple things that I and my team would like to work on would be mental wellness initiatives, either including initiatives initiated by myself or with the assistance of our residence facilitators who are able to [fulfill] wellness check-ins and support systems for the incoming students,” she said.

According to her campaign site, Yeung also hopes to improve the dissemination of residence conduct information, expand leadership and professional opportunities available to ResSoc members, enhance EDII

initiatives in residence, and continue to support Queen’s students academically, socially, and financially.

Apart from her prior experience and her presidential platform, Yeung believes it’s her personal qualities that make her ideal for ResSoc President.

“What I think works well is a strong work ethic, being an endearing role model for our students, having the passion to reach out to students, [and supporting] them in terms of what residents like, what opportunities there are, and what resources there are,” Yeung said. “[My] ability to stay on top of tasks and stay organized is something that helps me stay dedicated to completing work to ensure that all our students have successful events and initiatives.”

This year, the ResSoc presidential debate will take place virtually on Jan. 20. Voters will be able to cast their ballot on Jan. 24.

SIC advocates for equity grants in upcoming referendum “[The Equity Grants Fee] definitely “We really saw the need for an While equity resources are provided become a grant that a lot of clubs have accessible bursary for students.” on campus through events such as “paint relied on to fund their work because, for The Gender Affirming Assistance Project night” and Cares Week, Lijiam said clubs, it’s really hard to get funding,” Samara was created in 2021. these supports are often intangible.

Lijiam, SIC Commissioner, said in an “It’s a program that provides resources “The things that students need most interview with The Journal. and funding for trans students to are material resources or money—that’s “Those are grants that the SIC hands take away the financial barriers that often the hardest thing” she said. out every year, and any equity clubs on come with transition,” Lijiam said.

Lijiam wants to ensure the fees campus that are doing equity work can She explained this fee will provide are sustainable as well as accessible. apply for it.” financial support for students seeking She emphasized that all fees are going The Mutual Aid Alliance fee name changes, chest binders, or “straight back to the students.” was first proposed after the any other resources involved in their “I think that the equity community at pandemic began to address gaps in transitioning process.

Queen’s is bigger than it ever has been, we emergency bursaries.

Lijiam noted that all three fees are have more resources that we ever have,” she “A lot of students were in really financially a “joint project” with Levana Gender said. “So, we really do need more funding precarious situations,” Lijiam said. Advocacy Centre. to be able to meet those needs.”

New optional fees to support equity-seeking students on campus Sydney Ko Senior News Editor The Social Issues Commission (SIC) is seeking to establish three equity grants in the upcoming AMS winter referendum.

The three optional student fees seeking establishment are the Equity Grants fee, Mutual Aid Alliance fee, and Gender Affirming Assistance Project fee.

AKA hosts discussion on policing in Kingston Event touched on gentrification in Kingston neighbourhoods Cassidy McMackon Opinions Editor

Participants discussed town-gown relations.

PHOTO BY SPENCER HENDRICKSON

Seeing rising interest in increased policing in Kingston throughout COVID-19, AKA Autonomous Social Group (AKA) hosted a Zoom event to discuss the impact of policing on racialized students and Kingston residents on Jan. 18.

AKA is dedicated to “anti-state, anti-capitalist, anti-colonial, and antioppression policies and practices.” The

group holds events and political meetings in its space at 75 Queen Street, and also runs Blue Heron Bookstore where they sell and lend literature on abolition and decolonization.

The event featured a presentation on the impact of policing, how the growth of Queen’s shaped policing in Kingston, and how policing in Kingston has evolved throughout the pandemic.

Attendees were moved between breakout rooms to participate in pre-determined discussion topics.

Attendees could participate in a number of breakout rooms, each covering a different topic—including how town-gown relations impact racialized students, how the city uses Queen’s students to “gentrify non-rich Kingston and employ ‘Divide and Conquer’ tactics” against Kingstonians, how the city has fostered a fear of outsiders to create a “racist and xenophobic panic” that justifies increased policing, and how “violence against Kingstonians and emergency powers is unethical.”

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PSAC 901 continues to advocate for improved mental health supports Conciliation officer appointed to assist with process Asbah Ahmad Assistant News Editor On Jan. 17, PSAC 901 released a bargaining communique stating that they have received no comments from Queen’s as they seek out a new collective agreement.

“Last week we delivered our monetary demands to [Queen’s University], to date they haven’t responded with questions, counter-proposals or new bargaining dates,” the communique read.

PSAC 901 will appoint Conciliation Officer appointed to support the bargaining process.

“A Conciliation Officer will be appointed to us by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development early next week. They will meet with both 901 and the Employer in attempt to come to an agreement.”

PSAC 901 is continuing their online drive to gain support for their demands—including improved work hours,

Campus organizations show support for PSAC 901.

and the provision of paid sexual violence and anti-racism training.

“We have asked Queen’s for the minimum required for us to do our jobs with less precarity including: better access to mental health supports, paid anti-racism and sexual assault prevention training, new and extended leaves, and a hardship fund,” the communique said.

This communique follows a

PHOTO BY SPENCER HENDRICKSON

rally organized for graduate students in late November.

Graduate organizations across campus and in Ontario have released letters in support of PSAC 901 and their collective bargaining demands.

Queen’s Graduate Electrical and Computer Engineering Council released a Facebook post in support of PSAC 901’s efforts.

“The Graduate ECE Council stands in solidarity with PSAC 901 in demanding

fair funding, mental health support and workplace equity,” the post read.

Michael Villeneuve, Director of Faculty Relations, said Queen’s respects employees and the collective bargaining.

“Queen’s values the work of all of its employees and respects the collective bargaining process including obligations to bargaining in good faith,” Villeneuve wrote in an email sent to The Journal.

“We are engaged in a bargaining process with PSAC, and we are, in a timely fashion, actively reviewing the significant proposals put forward to us by PSAC earlier in January.”

The University will not speculate on the state of negotiations or on the bargaining process at this time.

“In respecting the parties involved, the University will not engage in speculation or negotiation outside of the bargaining process.

Once a tentative agreement is reached, and ratified successfully by the parties, the details of that agreement will be shared publicly,” Villeneuve wrote.

Villeneuve added that Queen’s wants to reach to a “fair agreement” with all parties involved.

AMS Charity Month raises $2,500 Funds and supplies will go to Kingston Youth Shelter Anne Fu Assistant News Editor “I expected support from our community, just not this much support,” AMS Vice President (Operations) Tiana Wong said in an interview with The Journal.

In November, the AMS and its services worked to give back to the Kingston community by raising $2,500 and filling eight donation bins with hygiene

products, clothing, and school supplies for the Kingston Youth Shelter.

The month-long fundraiser, called Charity Month, was organized by Wong with the goal of benefiting a local organization selected by AMS senior management. “[AMS] services were allowed to support Charity Month in any way they thought was within their means, whether it was collecting donations or just raising awareness,” Wong said.

The flexibility of fundraising options allowed each organization to come up with their own strategy to raise money.

AMS plans to host second Charity Month in March.

“WalkHome had a TikTok dance nomination, where you could donate some money and nominate a fellow WalkHome employee to do a TikTok dance,” Wong explained.

“At our retail services like CoGro [Common Ground Coffeehouse], the P&CC [Printing & Copy Centre], and Tricolour [Outlet], customers were asked if they were willing to add $1 to their receipt or to their bill to be donated [… and] our Queen’s Student Constables ran an internal fundraiser.”

Wong said she was most impressed by how eager the Queen’s community was to chip in for a good cause.

“The Queen’s community is more willing to support and donate causes within our community than I had thought.

The amount of people who are willing to add a small amount to their bill was just overwhelming.”

Using what she learned in November, Wong plans to host another Charity Month later this year, whose beneficiaries have yet to be decided.

“I am hoping to run another charity month in the month of March, if we are able to return in-person and have some people back on campus,” Wong said.

“I think [returning to campus] will be the main difference

between a successful charity month or not, so I have already got plans in the works for the next one.”

Wong credited the student body for their generosity in making November’s Charity Month successful.

“I am very grateful to everyone in our community who was willing to donate $1 to the cause, and that we have such a giving community.

When we can really work together, it makes a huge difference for those who need it.”

This article was originally published online on Jan. 18 at queensjournal.ca/news

SUPPLIED BY THE AMS

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2022 AMS executive candidates ratified in January assembly Rector election to take place in March Julia Harmsworth Staff Writer On Jan. 20, AMS Assembly gathered to ratify a slate of Winter Referendum fees, validate the candidates running for AMS executive, as well as discuss clubs’ policy, return to in-person operations, and police presence on campus.

Assembly ratified the candidates running for the next AMS executive team: Eric Sikich, Presidential candidate, Tina Hu, Vice-Presidential (Operations candidate, and Callum Robertson, Vice-Presidential (University Affairs) candidate.

All three candidates spoke to their previous leadership experience on campus, particularly in ASUS, and their desire to continue to work for students.

“I really care about […] the way we connect with students. I think it’s really important for us to hold ourselves accountable,” Robertson said.

Laura Devenny, AMS Secretariat, announced that the 38th Rector

election will be held in March, with voting scheduled for Mar. 20-21.

She noted the previous Rector election in October was “unsuccessful” as the sole Rector candidate, Maya Morcos, removed her name from the ballot prior to voting.

The Rector sits on the Board of Trustees and the Senate and is a point of contact between students and the University.

Devenny added that the AMS will put new measures in place to ensure the well-being of the individual elected.

Reports Samara Lijiam, Social Issues Commissioner, discussed the findings of the commission’s survey on student experiences with police on campus during 2021 Homecoming.

The survey found students were fined and detained randomly and arbitrarily, fines were not communicated clearly, and police showed a pattern of vindictive and aggressive behaviour towards students.

“Students [were not] allowed to call friends, lawyers, or parents while at the police station,” Lijiam said.

“Students described being given fines or detained as punishment for asking questions, for not being deferential, or for

not following instructions quickly enough.”

Lijiam said she will compose a report on these findings and meet with various groups to advocate recommendations for the future, particularly for 2022 Saint Patrick’s Day. In his report, AMS President Zaid Kasim said he’s been focused on answering students’ questions about remote learning and the possibility of a return to in-person class delivery.

“It is looking very promising right now […] and it does seem like when we reach that re-assessment date of the 28th, we should be in a relatively good position, as per the conversations we’ve been in,” Kasim said.

“Given COVID-19 and how volatile this entire pandemic has been, obviously things can shift around, so it’s not a promise that things will be back, but as of right now, everyone is very hopeful.”

Ryan Sieg, Vice-President (University Affairs), said he’ll be working with the University to see what Ontario’s announcement regarding loosening COVID-19 restrictions means for extracurricular activities on campus.

“So far all the messaging we’ve been receiving has been a hard and fast no to anything happening in advance of

the academic start date towards the end of February,” he said.

“We’ll be seeing if there are any changes to come.”

Other motions Assembly passed a motion to establish a $122 mandatory fee for Bus-It, the program that provides both undergraduate and graduate students with an unlimited bus pass.

The fee will secure a new contract with Kingston Transit for the next three years, re-instating the relationship that existed prior to the pandemic.

Assembly also voted to establish a number of fees under the Social Issues Commission, all subject to individual opt out: a $2.00 fee for Mutual Aid Alliance, a $2.00 fee for Equity Granting Fund, and a $2.00 fee for Gender Affirming Assistant Program (GAAP).

A variety of club fees were approved to appear on the upcoming 2022 Winter Referendum, for students to vote on. All these fees will be subject to individual opt out.

The referendum will see motions to increase Telephone Aid Line Kingston’s fee from $0.75 to $1.00, increase Queen’s Backing Action on Climate Change (QBACC)’s fee from $0.75 to $1.50, establish a $0.69 fee for the Queen’s Rocket Engineering Team, establish a $0.70 fee for the Queen’s Space Engineering Team, establish a $0.50 fee for Queen’s Entrepreneurial Competition, and establish a $0.25 fee for Kingston Gets Active Ambassadors Club.

Assembly also voted to adopt proposed changes to the Club Policy, specifically regarding de-ratification. Under the new change, Assembly must reach a twothird vote to confirm the de-ratification of a club. The motion also prevents retroactive enforcement of AMS policies.

The change responded to an action passed in December, which allowed the AMS to impose a two-year moratorium on clubs who tried to de-ratify to avoid completing AMS event sanctioning procedure—without an Assembly vote.

“De-ratification has to happen,” Rob Hughes, ASUS Senator, told Assembly.

“But a two-year moratorium—the people who are ultimately paying the price for that are the student body, because they aren’t given the opportunity to be in those clubs.” journal_news@ams.queensu.ca

SIC delivered student-police experience survey results.

JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Features

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FEATURES

PHOTO BY SPENCER HENDRICKSON

Apps have become young adults’ foundation for dating during the pandemic.

How apps are shaping the pandemic dating scene

Dating apps are at the heart of COVID-19 relationships Julia Stratton & Kirby Harris Features Editors Dating is difficult and frustrating in the best of times.

The pandemic has only made the reality of dating worse.

Since the release of Tinder in 2012, many young people have started using dating apps to find romantic relationships and sexual partners. With COVID-19 restrictions stopping people from meeting people in real life, singles are flocking toward dating apps like Hinge, Tinder, and Bumble now more than ever.

I’m more selective “ with who I see because

there’s more risk involved [...] It has to be worth it “There are for sure more people on dating apps,” Maddy Prosserman, ArtSci ’22, said in an interview with The Journal.

Tinder reported that 2020 was its busiest year yet and Hinge’s revenue tripled between 2019 and 2020. Both apps are

owned by the same company, Match Group, which also co-founded the online dating website Match.com in 1995. *** Dating apps like Tinder and Hinge are free to download and use, but users can gain access to valuable new features if they’re willing to pay a monthly fee.

Tinder alone has three levels of premium accounts. The highest tier, Tinder Platinum, costs $80 annually for the ability to see everyone that has liked you, message other users before you match, and “boost” your profile so more users see it. All these features exist with the intention to get users more dates.

And users are more than willing to pay for the ability to get more matches. When paid features were first released in 2017, Tinder quickly became the top-grossing app on Apple’s App Store. As the number of users on dating apps increase, online dating is becoming a multi-billion dollar industry.

Research has found that people who are feeling lonely are more likely to compulsively use dating apps.

A study done by Harvard University during the pandemic found that young adults were hit the hardest by loneliness during the pandemic.

36 per cent of participants across all age ranges said they were lonely “frequently” or “almost all the time.” When researchers looked at the 18-25 year old age group, 61 per cent of participants reported being very lonely.

Loneliness has been considered an issue among older adults for decades, but the widespread social isolation of young adults has seen a sharp incline since the pandemic began.

“There’s a lot more loneliness in the pandemic, so it could be that a lot of people are only going on apps because they want to find people,” Prosserman said.

P re - p a n d e m i c , m a ny students would use their time at university to take risks in both dating and sex. In 2002, a study found that 72 per cent of sexually active students regretted at least one of their sexual encounters. Over a quarter of these regrets were alcohol-related.

With the increased health risk that comes from gathering during a pandemic, many students are more careful about who they’re spending time with. There are a lot of questions to ask before choosing to meet up with someone in person—including who they been in contact with, their vaccination status, and whether or not they’ve been COVID-safe.

“I’m more selective with who I see because there’s more risk involved,” Prosserman said. “It has to be worth it.”

On the other hand, people may be more likely to be rejected for in-person meetings and, more broadly, relationships, since there are more options available.

While their actual algorithm isn’t available to the public, Tinder has given some insight into how their app works. Each profile gets assigned a “desirability ranking” that goes up when people like you.

The more people like your profile,

the more Tinder will show your profile to others.

In other words, dating apps will work better for you if make profile that’s desirable to others and use the app frequently.

“There’s so many more expectations on an app because there’s so many options,” Prosserman said. “People are less likely to give people a chance on dating apps because there’s an option waiting for you right after you swipe.” *** COVID-19 opinions have changed how people swipe, date, and hookup. Since vaccinations have become widely available, dating apps like Hinge now give users the option to indicate their vaccination status on their profiles.

Hinge also gives users the option to display other important beliefs and statuses that may be dealbreakers. Religion, political affiliation, if you want children, and alcohol or drug use can be quickly and easily displayed on your profile. If you’re a premium member, you can even filter out profiles with stances you don’t agree with.

Other dating apps like Bumble have introduced Virtual Date badges for people who prefer to meet virtually, socially distanced, or while masked.

The implementation of video dating software was introduced due to pandemic restrictions, but has also helped alleviate some stress that came with online dating pre-pandemic.

Women, in particular, have

long expressed fear about online dating due to the possible dangers of meeting up with a stranger. Now, dating apps have implemented options encouraging users to get to know each other before they meet up in person.

There are people out “there that I just haven’t been connecting with

The response to these new options has been positive. Over half of Hinge users surveyed in December 2020 planned on incorporating video dates into their dating life.

In 2021, another survey unveiled that video discussions can help users feel more comfortable with the online dating process. 63 per cent of dating app users surveyed said talking over video chat first helped them feel more comfortable before meeting in person.

“I do a lot of Zoom dates or FaceTime dates, so it’s more connecting,” Prosserman said.

While dating can be frustrating and draining, it’s also an opportunity to explore your options and have fun.

“Something really fun that I’ve been doing is on Hinge, I’ll put my Hinge location “ in high population density areas like Nashville, Los Angeles,” she said.

“It actually did teach me a lot […] there are people out there that I just haven’t been connecting with.”

Friday, January 21, 2022

Editorials

EDITORIALS

queensjournal.ca

The Journal’s Perspective

Queen’s needs to keep students informed about COVID-19

THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL Volume 149 Issue 17 www.queensjournal.ca @queensjournal Publishing since 1873

Editorial Board Editors in Chief

Aysha Tabassum Shelby Talbot

Production Manager

Violetta Zeitlinger Fontana

News Editor Assistant News Editors

Asbah Ahmad University students and staff deserve better than the vague instructions, lack of clear communication, and confusing bureaucracy that came from Queen’s in December, when the abrupt switch to online classes threw the community for a loop.

I won’t pretend there aren’t examples of students disrespecting COVID-19 regulations. However, I believe a more concerted effort could’ve been made by universities to communicate a clear contingency plan with students should the worst-case scenario happen—and it did.

Throughout the fall semester, I had many reservations about Queen’s reopening plan. I felt it relied heavily on the assumption that nothing would stop us from beating COVID-19.

But if there’s one takeaway from this pandemic, it’s to expect the unexpected at the most inconvenient time.

As cases increased, my friends complained about bureaucratic processes causing issues in their pandemic-related accommodation requests. I’ve had firsthand experience emailing a course to defer an exam, and the teaching team didn’t know the recent policy changes due to a lack of communication from the faculty.

Accommodations were designed for more accessibility—instead, students were left with confusion.

Many of the setbacks from the Omicron wave could’ve been avoided.

All we needed was a clear directive from the University. At a specific case threshold, certain pre-emptive restrictions should’ve been applied. And students deserved to have

Features Editors

Editorials Illustrator Opinions Editor

Kirby Harris Julia Stratton Anna Fouks Clanny Mugabe Cassidy McMackon

Arts Editor

Ben Wrixon

Assistant Arts Editor Sports Editor

Mackenzie Loveys Angus Merry

Assistant Sports Editor Lifestyle Editor Photo Editor Video Editor

could’ve been reduced if universities stopped playing a failing defensive strategy.

It’s difficult working in administrative positions, especially at major research universities. Students and administrators need to exist symbiotically.

I challenge universities to end this pandemic on a strong note by being proactive, building rapport with the student community, making trustworthy decisions, and streamlining the bureaucracy in place.

I guarantee pre-emptive strategies, like providing students information in advance will be received better by the student body than emails only after a major incident.

I have faith that universities will do their part in communicating proactively with students this semester. The students have spoken—the ball is in their court now.

Asbah is a second-year Biology student and one of The Journal’s Assistant News Editors.

students who feel out of place in Kingston because of its whiteness. This could look like fund transition programs specifically designed for racialized students to feel at home on Queen’s campus or to connect with community in the city.

However, this problem isn’t only the responsibility of the university. To feel accepted and at home as a Queen’s student means feeling support from Kingston as well.

Racialized students moving to Kingston deserve to feel safe, and many don’t.

Implementing sweeping anti-racism efforts within the city of Kingston should be a direct priority of the local government. This can start at local community centres, like libraries, outdoor spaces, and municipal facilities which are well suited to host anti-racist education. Teaching Kingston residents about the experiences of people of colour could foster a more inclusive

and safer city and help to prevent future hateful incidents.

As well, racialized folks must have easy access to resources should they experience a hate crime—including those which don’t include policing. Students who are victims of hate and discrimination should feel supported regardless of how they choose to proceed after a racially motivated incident, both by Queen’s and the City.

Incidents like the one that happened earlier this month won’t disappear overnight.

But making change within the community to support survivors of hate crimes and to mitigate hate before attacks can happen is necessary.

Work must be done to make Kingston a safe, anti-racist community—because as those two Queen’s students can attest, it’s far from one now.

—Journal Editorial Board

ILLUSTRATION BY CLANNY MUGABE

Madeleine McCormick Spencer Hendrickson

Assistant Photo Editor

known that returning to online learning was on the table.

Instead, university officials stuck to the idea that the community was a vaccinated bubble with limited chance of crisis.

The importance of effective, clear, and concise communication is lost on the administration. Queen’s should’ve been willing and ready to talk about what to do in case of emergency—and t hey weren’t.

And don’t get me started on public health.

Queen’s and KFL&A didn’t place a testing site on campus—their first mistake. If a testing site was available for a few hours a week, it could’ve curbed the spread we saw in December.

Instead, Queen’s and other universities have been playing defence in a game against COVID-19, a game that’s hard to win against a crafty opponent.

The losers in this game are the students with the potential for financial loss and affected personal wellbeing—all of which

Natara Ng Alysha Mohamed

Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Alleged racially motivated incident demonstrates reality faced by students of colour in Kingston Two racialized graduate students at Queen’s say they were targeted by a driver who almost ran them over when they were crossing the road at an intersection on Jan. 6. The women later told The Kingstonist the driver didn’t show any signs of remorse or guilt before driving off, and they believe he deliberately sped up to attack them.

The students filed a report with the police, who believe the incident could be a hate-motivated crime.

Fortunately, the students weren’t injured.

Regardless, it’s deplorable students of colour at Queen’s are left feeling unsafe in their new hometown when hate crimes like this happen. The university community has a long history of racially motivated attacks and incidents, but it’s not just Queen’s—Kingston, too, has failed to prevent discrimination and hatred from rearing its head within the city.

Since the incident, the two students were offered support by the university. Although a positive step, the response to hate crimes shouldn’t be simply reactive—it should be proactive as well.

At a university like Queen’s, where the percentage of visible minority groups has rested steadily around 25 per cent over the last five years, it’s important to acknowledge how racialized students receive welcome differently within a predominantly white community. For nonwhite students, Kingston can be a hostile and intolerant place.

In response, Queen’s could better support

Sydney Ko Asbah Ahmad Rida Chaudry Anne Fu

Editorials Editor

PHOTO BY SPENCER HENDRICKSON

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Curtis Heinzl Nathan Carter

Assistant Video Editor Copy Editors

Leah Smithson Martin Hayes Suzy Leinster

Graphics Editor

Dharmayu Desai

Podcast Coordinator BIPOC Advisory Board Members

Lauren Thomas Alysha Ahmad Anya D’Souza Yvonne Tan

Contributing Staff Contributors

Shane Gordon Imaan Javeed Emily Parkinson Teagan Sliz

Staff Writers

Jack Burnham Julia Harmsworth

Business Staff Business Manager Sales Representatives Fundraising Representative Social Media Coordinator

Yoli Wang Medhavi Maurya Will Stewart Riya Shah Francesca Lim

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/or Managing Editor.

The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by by Metroland Media in Toronto, Ontario.

Contents © 2021 by The Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of The Journal.

8 • queensjournal.ca

Opinions

Friday, January 21, 2022

OPINIONS

JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Imaan feels accountability, education, and solidarity are needed to support Muslim healthcare workers and patients.

Anti-Muslim sentiment is alive & well in medicine Meaningful action needs to be taken to dismantle Islamophobia at the ‘CMAJ’ and beyond Imaan Javeed Contributor

and in the countless responses to the article.

CMAJ’s Interim This article discusses terrorism PEditor-in-Chief, Kirsten Patrick, and Islamophobia and may be claims in her retraction and triggering for some readers. apology that she takes “full Naseeha Mental Health Hotline responsibility for the inadequacy of can be reached at 1-866-627-3342. editorial process that led to The Peer Support Centre offers this error”. drop-in services and empathetic In order to maintain some peer-based support and is open from sense of accountability following 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. these events, if she’s truly committed to anti-racism, the Last week in the Canadian Medical Muslim physicians and trainees of Association Journal (CMAJ), Sherif the Canadian Medical Association, Emil, a pediatric surgeon at and the Muslim patients she McGill University, penned a letter serves, Patrick must resign criticizing a picture of a young girl from her position as Interim in a hijab used in an earlier piece.

Editor-in-Chief.

The result was an Islamophobic At the very least, Patrick tirade denigrating the dignity of should recuse herself from pieces Muslim women in Canada and discussing matters of racism and around the world. Emil’s letter social justice until the process has since been formally retracted of learning and accountability is with an apology issued by CMAJ, firmly established. which has committed to adding The idea that Patrick could be Muslim representation to CMAJ swayed by one phone conversation “advisory bodies.” about personal traumas to publish The actions taken by CMAJ are such a floridly Islamophobic a welcome first step. However, this letter without consulting a incident, which demonstrates how broader group of Muslim women easily Islamophobia slips into even is flabbergasting. academic spaces, demands more The fact that she published than words from CMAJ. this piece despite acknowledging To inspire real accountability, the deadly consequences of actions must be taken to educate Islamophobia, as well as outlining or shake-up CMAJ leadership. As plans and making statements for Emil, it should be requested embracing anti-racism at CMAJ he no longer be able to evaluate in March 2021 editorial, is a clear medical trainees at McGill. indication that placating words The letter, which can be viewed alone are meaningless in the fight here, lays out some ludicrous for racial justice. points, including claiming hijabNo one’s perfect. As someone wearing is a practice of “the who has been employed by a most extremist religious homes,” university equity, diversity, and likening the hijab to “child abuse,” inclusion (EDI) office, been and claiming young girls who wear involved with EDI-related the hijab are “typically also banned research, and who often from riding a bike, swimming, or finds myself in conversations participating in other activities that around EDI, I frequently characterize a healthy childhood.” make mistakes.

Muslim women continue to We may gloss over a stereotype, expose the harmful impact of this phrase, or word that has fallen out article. You can read their stories of favour. We may not always pick in various places, including here up on things being left unsaid or

unacknowledged—it happens.

However, when it comes to Emil’s letter, anyone with a baseline level of social consciousness—especially a physician and editor of a significant academic medical journal who claims to understand the weight of Islamophobia—should have seen red flags.

Instead, not only did the Islamophobic letter make it through an expert editorial filter without raising a whiff of concern, Patrick herself took “full responsibility” for crafting the incredibly stigmatizing headline that accompanied the piece.

To let this incident pass without real accountability or a significant structural shift would be an ugly stain on CMAJ’s reputation and call into question its alleged values of service, evidence and integrity.

Many in the medical community have lost faith in CMAJ’s ability to present unbiased social commentary, especially when it comes to the health and well-being of Canada’s largest religious minority, and this will remain the case until real action is taken.

In this instance, we can’t allow words to be enough.

Until sufficient action is taken, more individuals and groups should follow in the bold steps of the Black Health Education Collaborative—who suspended their special issue with CMAJ on Black Health—and impose similar academic conditions and boycotts to press for accountability.

In addition to CMAJ, the piece’s author should also be held accountable.

Emil’s letter has highlighted significant anti-Muslim sentiment that calls into question his ability to fairly evaluate Muslim trainees—particularly those who wear the hijab.

If the Islamophobic overtones of his letter weren’t already clear,

a quick browse of his Twitter makes it hard not to place Emil among the 69 per cent of Quebecers—and 54 per cent of Canadians—who hold unfavourable views of Islam.

Tweets from just the last two months demonstrate Emil conflating “mainstream” Islam practiced by almost two billion Muslims and the violent extremism at its fringes—a centuries-old orientalist trope still used to scapegoat and justify Islamophobia today.

As a Muslim trainee, I’d be uncomfortable wondering if Emil, despite likely being an excellent clinician, would believe I harbour Taliban-esqe views on women’s rights and free speech. Especially if he was leading a discussion around “Spirituality, Religion and Medicine.”

Emil’s attempts to deflect responsibility by citing his work with Muslim patients in Africa and his suggestion we “should be able to find” any episodes where he “disrespected a Muslim patient, family, trainee or colleague” do little to help his case.

At the time of writing, Emil hasn’t apologized or demonstrated remorse for the harm his words have caused the Muslim community within or outside of McGill.

At minimum, rhetoric adopted in Emil’s public statements present the appearance of anti-Islam bias.

He should no longer be privileged with evaluating medical trainees, learners, or applicants.

The CMAJ must start actively repairing the damage done by Emil and Patrick.

Unfortunately, as a Muslim resident physician practicing in Kingston, much of this is unsurprising. Data shows 60 per cent of identifiably Muslim medical residents experience discrimination, compared to 33 per cent across all residents. This

number is higher among visibly Muslim women.

Generally, Muslims in Canada are seen less favourably by our fellow Canadians than any other social group polled. Quebec, where Emil is based, is also home to Bill 21—notoriously anti-Muslim legislation that bans the wearing of hijab and other religious symbols for public sector employees.

The publishing of Emil’s letter could have been avoided if the parties involved had known more about Islam and Muslims. This is why, in addition to educating and diversifying the CMAJ team, the CMAJ should commit to educating the public about Muslim health and Islam’s rich medical historical traditions.

Furthermore, if the team behind CMAJ truly “always respect and support the right of women to choose to dress as they wish,” as claimed in the apology statement, then a commentary on Bill 21’s negative impact on Quebec Muslims’ mental, physical, and social health would also be welcome.

In some ways, we should thank the CMAJ, Patrick, and Emil for reminding us of the extent to which Islamophobic narratives are engrained in our society and the culture of medicine. We can also thank them for giving members of the Muslim community a chance to show solidarity with one another and with our allies—a glimmer of hope in a sea of negative statistics.

As we ponder our gratitude and come together for healing once again, let us all renew our commitments to educating ourselves as we work towards justice for all—inside and outside the medical system.

Imaan Javeed is a first-year medical resident.

This story first appeared online on Dec. 28, 2021.

Arts

Friday, January 21, 2022

ARTS

queensjournal.ca

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SUPPLIED BY QSAA

Talent show aims to offer cultural learning opportunities.

Queen’s South Asian Association plans virtual talent show QSAA president encourages students to submit performances Mackenzie Loveys Assistant Arts Editor Queen’s South Asian Association (QSAA) is planning to host a virtual talent show in early to mid-February that will be run though their Instagram.

Shreya Anil Kumar, ArtSci’23 and current president of QSAA, is excited for all the submissions.

“I’m hoping we get to reach out to a diverse group,” Anil Kumar said in an interview with The Journal.

Anyone interested can submit a video of their talent to QSAA’s Google form.

Submissions will be featured in the Instagram show.

The current submission deadline is Jan. 28, but depending on how many submissions they receive, QSAA may extend the deadline to ensure all interested participants have an opportunity to be featured in the talent show.

QSAA is accepting submissions of any talent and from all Queen’s students.

“Our aim is to bring it to all platforms— not just the South Asian community.

Any student can participate,” Anil Kumar said.

Anil Kumar wanted to organize a memorable event for the South Asian Association’s community after the pandemic cancelled QSAA’s usual Diwali celebration.

“I was thinking, ‘What could we do

virtually that could engage the community without limitations?’”

The idea for the talent show came from Anil Kumar’s desire to engage QSAA’s community while educating Queen’s students about the South Asian Association and the cultures it represents.

“One of our main goals is to facilitate cultural growing and cultural awareness,” Anil Kumar explained. “Hopefully, with this talent show we’re able to bring in some cultural talent as well so it’s a learning opportunity for people in the community.”

The show is meant to help students highlight their skills and step out of their comfort zone. It is also intended to

encourage students to get involved with some of Queen’s many student groups.

“Students who might not have been aware of [a club] and how they work might see their submission, and then maybe next year or even this semester they might take the initiative to join the club,” she said.

Anil Kumar hopes the talent show serves as a digital platform for students and Queen’s clubs who haven’t been able to perform in in-person settings.

“They’ve worked hard throughout the year, and with COVID they [likely wouldn’t] be able to participate in in-person performances,” she said.

“A place for them to showcase their work is my idea and goal for this event.”

New art contest open to Kingston youth Sydenham District Association hosts winter-themed contest Ben Wrixon Senior Arts Editor The Sydenham District Association (SDA) is running an art contest open to youth in Kingston.

Tuesday, Jan. 31, is the submission deadline. Winners will be announced on Feb. 10 across several age categories—the best in the 15-18 and 19-25 brackets will each take home $50.

The Journal spoke with Tara Sharkey, SDA board member, about the contest and using art to strengthen relationships between youth and the community.

“We wanted to include the [19-25] age group to let the students of Queen’s know that we are here. We would love for them to be part of it,” Sharkey said.

The contest prompt is “What I Love About Winter!”, which Sharkey said was inspired by her 11-year-old daughter’s excitement about snow. She hopes the open-ended nature of the prompt leads to a variety of submissions in all styles and mediums.

“It will be really interesting to see what people submit—some people do some interesting cake decorating these days,” she joked.

“We are open to whatever people submit and what they consider art.”

The timing of the contest is no

coincidence. Sharkey and the SDA want to give artists something to be excited about during this chilly January lockdown. “[The contest] had been on the back-burner, but we wanted to get it out now because this [current lockdown] is just depressing,” she explained. “It’s a great opportunity to give something a try.”

Sharkey added that working on art can be therapeutic.

“There is a lot behind art and mental health. Hopefully, students can see it that way—as an opportunity to spend some time doing something to help their mental health.”

While the pandemic has undeniably stressed the relationship between Queen’s students and the broader Kingston community, Sharkey wants to be part of the solution.

“We have common goals. We want to be able to have those communication lines open. The Sydenham District Association wants safer housing for students, safer travel areas, and for [everyone] to feel welcome in the community.”

Sharkey believes offering programming like art contests can be beneficial. “[Student gatherings] are a very contentious issue around the city, but we would really like Queen’s and the city to start thinking out of the box, more proactively,” she said.

“We have to plan for good, safe activities, not crazy ones where the police are involved.

[With the art contest], we just want to promote good relations between students and the Sydenham District.”

For full contest details and to submit Contest offering cash prizes in several age brackets. artwork, visit the SDA website.

SUPPLIED BY SDA

Arts

10 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 21, 2022

SUPPLIED BY KHAC

KHAC helps artists receive sustainable incomes.

Newly-formed collective highlights hidden artists Kingston Hidden Artist Collective supports local artists in disadvantaged situations Mackenzie Loveys Assistant Arts Editor As Kingston’s housing crisis becomes increasingly severe, Kingston Hidden Artist Collective (KHAC) was formed to support local artists who are unhoused or in disadvantaged situations.

The Journal spoke with KHAC founder Ali Sheikh, Eng ‘20, Mara Fraser, head of operations, and graphic designer Arhum Chaudhary, Eng ‘21.

“What really spoke to me about this cause, [since] I’ve always really liked art and felt very passionate it, was the fact that these people are in such disadvantaged situations and they’re still producing art,” Chaudhary said. “It means that much to them, and they prioritize [making art].”

The collective was founded last August after Sheikh experienced downtown Kingston’s unhoused population in a new way.

“I would always run into some of the

artists downtown, [who] we have in our collective now, and would buy art from them,” he said. “I was really surprised that they were able to make a one-time sale of $20 on something that they spent hours and hours [making].”

“

The name “Hidden Artist Collective” was inspired by the community of local artists who are often overlooked by society and are not able to advertise themselves.

These experiences inspired Sheikh to create a platform for these artists where they could generate income from their skills.

“All they needed was a marketing platform,” he said. “It was just about bringing opportunities to already talented people and

kind of putting them on the same playing field as us.”

The name “Hidden Artist Collective” was inspired by the community of local artists who are often overlooked by society and are not able to advertise themselves. “[These artists] were there, but they were just hidden,” Sheikh said.

“They were producing art and selling it, but no one knew about them because [these artists] didn’t have the marketing behind them to really promote their work. [The collective is trying to] bring all those hidden people together. They’re already producing work, and we want to show everyone.”

Five artists are currently involved in KHAC: Skott, Paul, David, Jenna, and Adam.

They all use different media in their pieces, such as pencil, pencil crayon, marker, and paints. Much of their inspiration is rooted in the past—themes range from childhood to finding sobriety.

“Each artist has their own distinct

style,” Sheikh said. “It’s all about their experiences.”

KHAC hopes in helping artists generate income they will then have the monetary freedom to reinvest in their art or make purchases necessary for their lives—like Skott, who has used his earnings to buy a tent, a camping stove, and a guitar to busk downtown.

“I get a lot of gratification handing them the money that they’ve made themselves,” Fraser said. “They feel like they’ve earned it themselves—that affirmation that they experience is really magical.”

Some of the artists’ pieces were on display at The Juniper Café in December.

They’re now working toward their next exhibit with Kingston’s Skeleton Park Arts Festival in The Elm Café.

Those interested in purchasing art from KHAC can visit their website or Instagram with free delivery within Kingston.

Friday, January 21, 2022

queensjournal.ca

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Sports

12 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 21, 2022

How are varsity athletes dealing with the OUA’s pause on sport? of “elite amateur sports leagues” whose teams and players were permitted to continue training with adherence to a modified set of health and safety protocols.

To the dismay of many, the OUA was not given “elite amateur” status.

As a result, varsity athletes across the province have been unable to formally train and meet with their teams for a little over a month, with at least another week still slated before the break is tentatively scheduled to end.

To learn how Queen’s student athletes have been managing Angus Merry throughout this period, The Senior Sports Editor Journal reached out to Men’s Volleyball’s Dax Tompkins, and Almost two years on, the Sophie Deasy, captain of the pandemic is still disrupting the Queen’s Swim team. schedules of varsity athletes.

When asked about his Following a surge initial reaction to the provincial in province-wide COVID-19 government’s ruling, Tompkins cases in December, the Ontario said it was nothing short University Athletics association of disappointing.

(OUA) extended the varsity mid“I spent Christmas break in season break from Jan. 6 until Halifax with my dad and my Jan. 24 at the earliest—effectively brother and my sister, and I pausing all competitive varsity found out the day I was supposed athletics events until the end of to fly back to Toronto that our the month. training had been cancelled,” Following the OUA’s pause he said. of play, on Jan. 6, the Ontario “I was pretty gutted.”

Government announced a list Cognizant of the health and

Men’s Volleyball’s Dax Tompkins and Swimming’s Sophie Deasy discuss their reactions to latest COVID-19 related break

ILLUSTRATION BY SHELBY TALBOT

safety concerns surrounding the pandemic, the third-year middle blocker stated he’s in full support of doing whatever’s safest, but he believes the OUA’s lack of distinction was disrespectful to student-athletes across the province.

“It’s one thing not letting us train for whatever COVID [-related] reasons, but not including us in the list of elite sports is really insulting to athletes who spend so much time and dedicate so much time

[…] to make their sport their life,” he explained.

“It delegitimizes their craft.”

Although he—along with the other members of the volleyball team—have been unable to formally train, Tompkins said he’s still been able to stay healthy by using his home gym, going on walks, and doing yoga. An average day for him may not include volleyball, but he’s staying prepared to return whenever he can.

As a team, Tompkins mentioned

that the men’s squad is staying in touch with each other through weekly Zoom calls and something they call the “QMVB Photo Journal.”

“Anytime that we’re being active, or even eating something healthy, we’ll put a photo in the chat,” he said.

“That’s been really helpful because it’s hard, even when we have Zoom calls once or twice a week […] to stay connected.”

Story is continued at queensjournal.ca/sports

Queen’s professor breaks down the advantage of small towns over bigger cities for producing athletic talent Dr Jean Côté discusses research featured in documentary ‘The Hockey Miracle in the Middle of Nowhere’ Natara Ng Assistant Sports Editor For boys in youth hockey, the chances of playing in an NHL game are one in 1000. If you were born and raised in a small town rather than a big city, however, these defying odds could waver in your favour.

Jean Côté, a Queen’s Kinesiology professor, can explain why.

If you were born in a U.S town of 50,000 to 100,000 people, you are 18 times more likely to become an NHL player than those born in a city of 500,000 people. This statistic appears in the documentary “The Hockey Miracle in the Middle of Nowhere,” an Apple TV film by Rasmus Ankerson.

The film tells the story of Herning, Denmark: a small town with a population of 50,000 that has remarkably produced

five NHL players in the past nine years.

Compare this to Detroit, the hockey capital of America, which has only produced four NHLers over the same period.

Throughout the film, Ankerson enlists in the help of Côté to explain the phenomenon.

Ankerson visited Queen’s campus to interview the professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, where Côté explained why athletes from small towns are at a greater advantage for succeeding in professional sport.

The sports psychology professor sat down with The Journal to discuss the role of his research in explaining the Herning miracle, and how his work applies

to youth sport programming and Evidence from the analysis early specialization. of athlete’s birthplaces in “I think the film does a very nice professional sports leagues job of displaying all the different introduced the “Birthplace probabilities. It’s not one thing, it’s Effect”—that growing up in certain probably a mix of a lot of different environments matters a lot when things that makes Herning what it developing talent. is,” Côté explained.

This paper was revived in Côté became interested Ankerson’s film to explain why in the relationships between Herning became an NHL hotbed. birthplace and professional According to Côté, the sport achievement after Birthplace Effect has little to do observing that many Canadian with the numbers, and everything NHL players come from rural to do with the environment. areas in northern Quebec, “It’s not about size. It’s about— northern O n t a r i o , and I think the film does a nice and Saskatchewan rather than job with it—it’s about what [small large cities like Toronto towns] create, and the social and Montreal. relationship that it creates, and the He discussed his observations role modeling,” he said. in a 2006 paper published in the The organization of youth Journal of Sports Sciences. sport in small towns is

less divisional—there is more opportunity to play, self-esteem is more readily built, and there is less comparison with others compared to bigger cities.

“Maybe you’re not very good, but you think you’re good and you keep practicing, versus [if] you’re in Toronto, and then at seven and eight years old, you’re going to go to a training camp, and they’re going to tell you right away if you’re good or not,” Côté said.

Cities provide funnels for kids as young as seven years old to specialize in a single sport early on, with opportunities for travel teams, selection camps, academies, and year-round play.

“The selection at an early age and telling kids if they’re good or not at an early age does not lead to talent, and we know that. It’s impossible to identify talent at seven and eight years old.”

In small towns, however, early specialization and hyper competitive environments are much less common. Kids have more opportunity to improve their game and reach their potential later in life.

“There’s a lot of research that shows that it’s not too late in most sports. At 14, 15, 16 years old, you can s tart investing.”

Story is continued at queensjournal.ca/sports

ILLUSTRATION BY VIOLETTA ZEITLINGER-FONTANA

Sports

Friday, January 21, 2022

queensjournal.ca

‘It just keeps me driven’: Gaels’ defensive lineman Anthony Federico ranked 15th in CFL scouting report

‘The Journal’ sits down with Federico to discuss his future in football Jack Burnham Staff Writer Queen’s Gaels’ star defensive back Anthony Federico knows who he is and he isn’t afraid to say it.

“I’m a very competitive guy,” Federico told The Journal during a recent interview after being named to the second U Sports All-Canadian team. “I think deep down, this year, I should have got first team, but now it keeps me hungry.”

After coming up painfully short during this year’s Yates Cup—a game in which Queen’s fell to Western 0-29—Federico has been hard at work to continue his football career.

This winter, he was ranked 15th out of 20 prospects eligible for the 2022 CFL draft, and recently attended the College Gridiron Showcase in Fort Worth, Texas—a scouting event attended by both CFL and NFL officials.

“I got a little nervous at first,

for sure […] never really had a pro interview before,” Federico recalled about the process, which involved both personality interviews and practice and scrimmage sessions.

“After the first minute or so, you settle in pretty nicely, you just realize you’re talking football with someone.”

When discussing the prospect rankings, however, Federico’s competitive personality returned.

“It felt amazing, it’s something that you work towards your entire career […] but it still keeps me

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Canadian football.

“For me, being a bit of a quicker, faster guy, that’s kind of to my advantage now […] I can just get off the ball and go.”

If the NFL is looking to draw closer to its northern counterpart, however, Federico has a few suggestions for rule changes.

“I think the rouge, […] that would be really cool to see in the States.

It’s one of the classic historical rules in Canadian football and I think it’s an awesome thing to have, so it would be pretty cool.”

Federico also discussed his thoughts on the different draft PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DHARMAYU DESAI process in Canadian football, which allows drafted players that hungry. There are 14 guys ahead we would watch the games,” don’t make the team’s professional of me, it just keeps me driven.”

Federico recounted chuckling. roster to return to their If his hard work pays off and “If Josh Allen plays the way he university teams. he hears his name on either draft does, our defence stays tough, we’ll “A lot of those guys in the night, Federico is fully prepared for be there in the Super Bowl.”

NCAA, they’ll go in their third year football on either side of the border.

The differing sets of rules on thinking they’re going to make it Growing up in Niagara Falls, he has either side of the border don’t […] Once you declare for the NFL an appreciation for the NFL that seem to bother him either. draft, you can’t go back to college.” he isn’t shy about sharing.

“Just being a football player and Wherever his football journey “Growing up, I’ve always been an athlete, you’re going to be able takes him next, Federico knows a huge Bills fan, it’s where I kind to adjust pretty quickly […] For me, he will be prepared. The Gaels’ of started my love for football. being a defensive end, a defensive product sounded confident My next-door neighbors had lineman, I don’t have that one yard about his future career. a whole garage full of a huge in the States,” Federico explained, “I have a great team in place […]

Bills setup, so every Sunday referencing the distance between I’m getting ready for the next step they would walk in there and the offense and defence unique to into the football world.”

Point/Counterpoint: Should fighting be allowed in the NHL? ‘The Journal’ Sports editors trade takes on ice-based fisticuffs YES

of hockey than Olympic or IIHF tournaments—it’s dirty and aggressive with or without the fists.

It’s a spectacle that needs some form of policing by the players.

It would be ignorant to neglect player safety in this debate, especially when it comes to progressive brain diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). But banning hockey fights won’t solve this injury problem—it would be a mere blip across all pro contact sports, such as football and boxing, that collectively require systemic revision.

Regardless, fighting in the NHL has naturally evolved over the years to become safer and less ostentatious. Enforcers—players whose sole duty is to fight—were no doubt subject to major health hazards. But after the 2005 NHL lockout, this role become obsolete.

Today, it is in a team’s best interest to fill the bottom six of the roster with skill, not goons.

In the 2008-09 season, 41.4 per cent of NHL games had a fight, whereas in 2018-19, that number reduced to 15.3 per cent.

If this trajectory continues, I can see a future where safety is taken into greater account without impacting the integrity of the sport.

NHL hockey is constantly changing and its current state is benefitting from the fighting culture. It isn’t Gladiator out there—most hockey players are morally good and use fighting as a respectable means to stand up for teammates and keep players accountable for their actions.

For now, the Gordie Howe hattrick—collecting a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game—should stay alive.

In most sports, violence is distasteful. In soccer or baseball, the outbreak of a fight would result in a hefty suspension.

There’s a reason why fighting in the National Hockey League (NHL) isn’t seen in this light.

Since the league’s inception a century ago, fighting hasn’t been banned—and it should remain in the game today.

In the NHL, fights between players are an objective violation of the NHL rulebook because it results in a five-minute major to the instigator. But deeply entrenched in the game of hockey’s tradition is another rulebook—an unwritten and universal code of conduct for fighting that serves to sanction and control the tilly.

Dropping the gloves keeps dirty plays and cheap shots in check, especially since the referees can’t catch everything in such a continuous and fast-paced game.

Fights are carried out under an honor system: players don’t sucker-punch each other, and it’s frowned upon to throw a blow to a defenceless opponent.

Fighting also plays a role in shifting the momentum of the game. When a player takes exception for a cheap shot to one of their teammates, their gesture can fire up the bench, bring the team out of a slump, and transform the game’s outcome.

—Natara Ng, Assistant Sports Editor The NHL is a different brand

ILLUSTRATION BY SHELBY TALBOT

NO As a proud Canadian—an identity that’s practically synonymous with loving hockey—it’d be a little strange if I didn’t get a little giddy whenever I see two guys drop the gloves, right?

Unfortunately, a fundamental part of that game has always been, and likely always will be, fighting.

Although I’m often complicit in cheering on two players to run up each other’s dental bills, I know I’m actively contributing to a problem endemic to the NHL. After all, it’s the only North American pro sports league to not actively disavow physical altercations, and we all know there’s a reason why.

Condoning violence as a means of conflict resolution in sports is unconscionable. Full stop.

For most fans, fighting in the NHL is nothing out of the ordinary.

It’s as much a part of the game as the sticks, skates, and helmets that players wear when they take the ice. But, with such an established tradition comes conditioning, and

a normalization of a custom that putting their own health at risk, probably wouldn’t change the NHL one has to respect that consensus all that drastically if it were to be a little bit. removed—if at all.

Yet, the NHL isn’t a ‘players Case in point: many hockey only’ club that exists in a vacuum. leagues worldwide prohibit It has a massive fanbase which fighting, and they function carries enormous influence over perfectly fine. What gives the NHL its viewers. As such, the question more reason than others to keep must be asked: it apart from purely profiting from What do fans—and young fans its entertainment value? Tradition? especially—actually gain from Player accountability? this? Some strange sadistic joy I don’t think so. coupled with blissful ignorance Because everyone views it that somebody’s son, husband, as nothing more than a part of or father just got their front the ‘good old hockey game,’ fans teeth knocked out on TV for a and players can be forgetful of largely avoidable reason. the rather obvious consequence Violence, albeit consensual, that accompanies ‘legal’ is still violence, and nowhere fistfights: a higher likelihood of else in society or pro sports is it developing entirely avoidable permitted, much less encouraged, head injuries which, in the for good reason: there’s simply no case of former Minnesota Wild real need for it. enforcer Derek Boogaard, caused As much as we don’t want a CTE-related death at the to believe it, letting players age of 28. beat the hell out of each other In a 2012 poll taken amongst without consequence is more players, 98 per cent of participants wrong than it is right. Plain were in favour of keeping the and simple. status quo. Clearly, few players see an issue with the way things are —Angus Merry, Senior Sports Editor and considering they’re the ones

Lifestyle

14 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 21, 2022

LIFESTYLE

The Weeknd's new album has a sonic, interstellar tone.

ILLUSTRATION BY DHARMAYU DESAI

The Weeknd lets us escape in ‘Dawn FM’

The 80’s synth album explores hope, transition, and the future Emily Parkinson Contributor The cover of The Weeknd’s newly released album, Dawn FM, provides the first hint about the themes within. The singer's appearance resembles how most of us feel after going on three years of a global pandemic—tired and aged.

With Dawn FM, The Weeknd

provides listeners with a fantastical escape from this pandemic purgatory we find ourselves in.

The first track—and the album’s title track—begins with the voice of actor Jim Carrey inviting the listener to leave their reality behind. Carrey narrates, “You are now listening to 103.5 Dawn FM / You've been in the dark for way too long / It's time to walk into the light / And accept your fate with open arms.”

With his invitation, listeners are transported from the monotonous reality of life amidst COVID-19 to 80’s era upbeat synth-pop sounds and funky, fast-paced beats. The music and tone of the song is most

reminiscent of the star’s hit track “Blinding Lights” from his previous record, After Hours.

Throughout the album, Carrey voices the role of a radio DJ, and he provides somewhat of a narrative throughout the album's segments and phases.

This element of the album is incredibly captivating and unique. Carrey does an excellent job of creating an eerie, almost dystopic feeling throughout the listening experience. His narration provides a sense of division within the album, which helps reinforce the theme of transition.

In the first half of Dawn FM,

fans are treated to the fast-paced and euphoric “How Do I Make You Love Me?” which features a healthy dose of The Weeknd’s trademark upbeat synth sound and focuses on the insatiable feeling that arises when you want someone who seems uninterested.

The energy of the album’s first half carries into “Sacrifice,” a track that is a confession about sacrificing love for “more of the night.” The track is backed by a funky electronic beat, staying true to the retro theme.

The album then transitions towards a calmer and more pensive feel with “Is There Someone Else?” and “Starry Eyes.”

Both songs are reminiscent of the artists’ earlier, melancholic tracks, though they still maintain the lighter sound of The Weeknd’s more recent work.

The former track details the fear one feels wondering if their significant other is seeing other people, while the latter is an expression of the singer’s desire to “be there” for a woman with “a shattered soul.”

In the Apple Music album description for Dawn FM, it’s revealed The Weeknd scrapped the comparatively somber original material for this album at the beginning of the pandemic when he felt he was “wallowing in the depression he was feeling at the time.”

Dawn FM is the glorious product of two years of rumination on The Weeknd’s feelings surrounding the pandemic. The result is a piece of work that exudes hope rather than the melancholia originally envisioned by The Weeknd, focusing on ideas of transition and the future—hence the singer’s aged appearance.

In comparison to some of his earlier work, The Weeknd’s new record departs from My Dear Melancholy and Beauty Behind the Madness, which focused on sex, nightlife, and late-night rendezvous. The prior albums were backed by a more seductive R&B sound in comparison to Dawn FM’s sonic, interstellar tone.

The Weeknd’s recent exploration of the 80’s synth sound and less grungy, heartbroken subject matter is an exciting and revitalizing turn for the artist and his fans as we near what will hopefully be the end of our purgatory.

I for one see myself returning to tune in to Dawn FM for a little escapism and a reminder to hold out hope during these troubling times.

Don’t ask me to name five songs—it’s just a t-shirt Debunking the elitism of band t-shirts Madeleine McCormick Assistant Lifestyle Editor I’ll never forget my first band t-shirt. I was an awkward thirteen-year-old in seventh grade wearing an extra-large Led Zeppelin shirt from Aeropostale paired with a pair of jeggings and low-rise Converse.

I was the epitome of fashion and sophistication, and I knew it.

I strolled my confident little self into the cafeteria that day, only to have the most popular girl in school ask, “What songs do you know on that album? I guarantee you’ve only ever heard ‘Stairway to Heaven.’”

While I’d been listening to and enjoying their music for a long time, I still wasn’t entirely sure if Led Zeppelin was a singer or the name of the band, and I was nothing close to being a loyal fangirl. The illusion of myself as a vogue icon was shattered.

Unfortunately, I’ve carried that

There doesn’t have to be a deep meaning for wearing a band tee.

petty interaction into my adult life.

Until recently, I would only wear my Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Rolling Stones merchandise in the safety of my own home—lest some malicious passerby stop and quiz me on any lyrics.

For years I’ve refrained from wearing merch from bands I’ve adored, even when I’m equipped to defend my knowledge of them.

Ever since that day in the

seventh grade, I’ve been deeply concerned about what people would think if I choked and forgot five of a band’s songs upon interrogation. It’s been an act of self-preservation, sparked by the fear of judgment from those assuming I was just wearing their label for clout.

As thrifting and 2000s-inspired street style makes its way back into current fashion, oversized

ILLUSTRATION BY DHARMAYU DESAI

band t-shirts are becoming even more popular, especially with celebrities and influencers dressing them up with blazers and oversized jeans.

If Zendaya can wear a KISS 77 World Tour shirt with paparazzi swarming her and not face any consequences, I doubt any I’ll face repercussions for wearing a cute, oversized shirt with a picture of a band I don’t religiously

listen to while walking across Queen’s campus.

Sometimes the shirt ties the whole outfit together, and we can’t let a few musical gatekeepers get us down.

Because listening to and loving music can be such a personal experience, it’s not a surprise that we get defensive when people use our favourite artists merely for a stylistic purpose—especially if you’ve had posters of them in your room since you were 10.

That being said, even if you can spot three people on one floor of Stauffer wearing the same ACDC shirt from Urban Outfitters, that really shouldn’t impact or jeopardize your own love for and loyalty to ACDC. It’s okay to wear clothing that has the name of a band you’re not crazy about—you can just love the style or look of the shirt. If the unlikely situation presents itself, in which someone accosts me for my clothing choice, I’ve simply decided to smile and say my clothes make me feel confident— and that’s enough of a reason to wear them.

Lifestyle

Friday, January 21, 2022

queensjournal.ca

• 15

Cryptocurrency for beginners Crypto isn’t just for finance majors and tech junkies

experience much more fluctuation than the stock market.

High energy consumption

Julia Stratton Features Editor Everywhere, people seem to be talking about cryptocurrency.

Money has transformed from physical coins and bills in a piggy bank to numbers in a database.

Now, to make matters more complicated, the world has moved on to cryptocurrency.

The basics of crypto can be broken down to be easy to understand. Here’s your cryptocurrency starter kit to help you converse with your fellow commerce majors and tech junkies.

Why was cryptocurrency invented?

In Canada, most people do their finances online. They must abide by bank formalities and are subject to extra fees such as transaction fees and exchange rates. In other parts of the world, not all citizens have access to secure banks— which puts their finances at risk.

Cryptocurrency offers solutions

Your guide to understanding cryptocurrency.

to these issues of traditional banking. To sign up and start investing in crypto, users can create an account on a cryptocurrency trading sites—of which there are plenty. When compared to setting up a bank account, it’s relatively simple.

Types of cryptocurrency There are many different types of cryptocurrency, and each have different features. The most popular is Bitcoin, which was the original cryptocurrency launched in 2009. Other

‘Don’t Look Up’ is all message, no movie

The Netflix comedy has an apocalyptic warning—but that’s about it Emily Parkinson Contributor Deservedly or not, Don’t Look Up has earned a significant place in contemporary pop culture.

With a stacked, high-profile cast and comedic tone, the Netflix original depicts a reality where a devastation-level comet is headed toward the Earth.

The film is written and directed

by Adam McKay, who is known for comedies including The Big Short and Step Brothers. Since its December release, it has received intense media buzz because of its key, somewhat controversial messaging.

Much to the dismay of scientists played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, everyone from the self-obsessed American politicians to the meme-consumed public refuse to take the threat of mass extinction seriously.

Upon pressing play, I was simultaneously amused and maddened to watch as the characters in power were unable to grasp the gravity of the comet’s threat.

This ignorance is most prominently highlighted by Meryl Streep’s egotistical and

money-hungry representation of the president of the United States accompanied by Jonah Hill, who snobbishly plays her son and chief of staff. Together, they make a Trump-esque duo, mirroring his nationalist rallies, his disregard for science—and his inappropriately sexual remarks about family members.

Don’t Look Up satirically exagerrates a scientific fact being denied and then highly politicized by world leaders, who make their decisions to benefit only the upper class.

The climate crisis and the

The Netflix satirical comedy released on Dec. 5.

ILLUSTRATION BY DHARMAYU DESAI

popular cryptocurrencies include Ethereum, Litecoin and Dogecoin.

Dogecoin is based on a meme and started as a joke, but eventually picked up steam. It’s now a legitimate and popular cryptocurrency and is even accepted by Telsa.

Instead of representing respectable and virtuous historical figures, cryptocurrency is valuing what is funny and viral on the internet. Though it may seem like a joke, cryptocurrency is legitimate form of collecting and exchanging money.

manipulate transactions or alter monetary values.

While this open access network sounds like the perfect breeding ground for identity theft, blockchain is actually more secure than credit cards because cryptocurrency networks don’t require any of your personal information.

Therefore, there’s no risk of your identity being stolen.

Value fluctuates rapidly

Cryptocurrency transactions are recorded on a blockchain network.

Unlike bank transactions, transactions that occur on blockchain networks can be viewed and verified by anyone. This open access means that people cannot

The value of cryptocurrency fluctuates dramatically. Since cryptocurrency is so new, it’s difficult to establish how much it’s worth. The value of cryptocurrency changes as a function of supply and demand, actions of investors, the news—and recent activity of Elon Musk.

The volatility of cryptocurrency means investments are never guaranteed. Experts say that cryptocurrency exchange rates

pandemic are the two most obvious metaphors for the film’s comet. Through Don’t Look Up, McKay points out that we live in a society that allows us to bypass scientific fact and ignore the threat of our own self-destruction for rich people’s short-term gain.

The star-studded cast list was what drew me to watch this film, and they were just funny enough for me to get through it. Timothée Chalamet fans will be happy to know that the actor makes a brief appearance—and has two lines about fingerling potatoes and Twitch streaming.

But what stood out most about

this film was its strong warning message. A message so strong, in fact, that the film was almost all message and no movie.

I developed a deep sense of apathy for Don’t Look Up’s mostly unlikable roster of characters, and I began to think they deserved their fate. Perhaps this was the intention of the filmmaker: the point of this film wasn’t to make the best new comedy, but to blatantly reveal that something is deeply wrong with our society.

In Don’t Look Up, we enter a reality in which people close their ears to scientific truths and politicians are reluctant to put

Safety of blockchain platform

Recall that the cryptocurrency transactions are validated by the blockchain network.

To do this, energy-intensive computers to try to beat other computers so they can be the one to validate the transaction.

If your computer validates the transaction, you are rewarded with cryptocurrency.

This activity is called Bitcoin mining.

As people become more competitive in this lottery, they use faster, higher-energy computers—and with many people playing this game, the energy consumption is huge.

The future of cryptocurrency Cryptocurrency’s future is still largely uncertain. It still isn’t accepted in most real-life transactions; however, some companies and countries are starting to adopt it. In September, 2021, El Salvador was the first country to list cryptocurrency as an official currency and there is a Burger King in Venezuela accepting crypto.

It remains uncertain if Canada or its resident Burger Kings will be accepting cryptocurrency any time soon.

I don’t know if cryptocurrency will stand the test of time, but maybe there will be a future where my grandkids are buying me Christmas gifts with dog-meme-inspired currency. in place any legislation that will negatively affect their exponentially wealthy backers. This film shines a light on how detrimental we and our leaders have become to the world.

All in all, watching Don’t Look Up was a Christmas Eve spent okay with my family.

Though I had to split my attention and watch a few TikToks so as not to lose interest in the film, I can appreciate it for what it was: a hyped-up comedy with a lot of big names and big messages.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DHARMAYU

Lifestyle

16 • queensjournal.ca Anonymous Contributor This article discusses sexual assault and may be triggering for some readers. The Kingston Sexual Assault Centre’s 24-hour crisis and support phone line can be reached at 613-544-6424 / 1-800-544-6424.

The night I lost my virginity, things didn’t go the way I’d planned.

As a straight woman, sex was daunting. When I listened to the stories of other straight women losing their virginity, the words “painful” and “awkward” were brought up far more often than “hot” or “fun.”

to get it over with, I’d made up my mind.

"

George and I had fundamentally different ideas of what sex should be So, carefully, I chose the man I was going to lose my virginity to.

George* was a close friend of mine with lots of sexual

where George’s idea of sex came from.

I wondered how many hours of porn George had consumed in his lifetime where women were handled by men with violence and appeared to enjoy it.

Up to almost 90 per cent of porn videos have been found to portray physical or verbal violence or aggression. The victims of this violence rarely appear upset about it, with 95 per cent of the victims

POSTSCRIPT

Trying to lose my virginity shattered my views on sex

years, I listened to "sexForhorror stories from friends who hooked up with men

Almost every woman I knew regretted the way she lost her virginity.

For years, I listened to sex horror stories from friends who hooked up with men. I heard about men they barely knew critiquing their bodies in bed, men who expected oral sex with no intention of reciprocation, and men who lied to get them into bed and then ghosted them the next day.

I assumed hookup culture was the root of the problem, so I avoided it at all costs. I presumed the men I heard stories about were able to objectify and abuse women they hooked up with because they didn’t have to see them outside a sexual context.

I was going to wait to have sex with someone who knew and cared about me. I always assumed this would come from a long-term relationship, but when that relationship began to feel unattainable, I altered my expectations.

I wanted to have sex. I felt like I was part of a club dwindling in membership, and I didn’t want to be the last member standing.

Despite my friends insisting that I shouldn’t lose my virginity just

George spent approximately 10 minutes pushing me to try anal sex, only dropping the idea after over a dozen refusals.

George and I had fundamentally different ideas of what sex should be.

I thought sex was about love.

I had internalized a narrative that sex was the purest form of intimacy, and I was convinced if I had sex with someone I loved, or someone who loved me, the sex would be inherently good.

Friday, January 21, 2022

My attempts to outrun misogyny in sex failed experience. We were good friends in high school and had remained in contact despite going to different universities.

George checked all the boxes for someone who I felt comfortable having sex with. He understood my situation and he respected me.

I loved him—at least as a friend.

On a couch in a basement, George and I had sex. It wasn’t enjoyable.

I tried to vocalize my discomfort and pain to him, but was quickly shot down.

“This is kind of a lot,” I said, trying to readjust. “I don’t know if I can handle this.”

“That’s kind of the point,” George replied.

I realized then that my discomfort turned him on.

Things only got worse as the night went on. At one point,

I thought sex was about love, but it's often about power.

George didn’t share that point of view. Like the men from my friend’s stories, he pinned me down and ignored my requests to take things slower. I wanted to have sex, but he wanted to hold power over me.

I realized that men "who cared about me were still capable of objectifying me.

In his eyes, my consent to have sex with him also constituted my consent for him to have complete control of the situation.

I felt used and dirty. I felt like an idiot for feeling used and dirty because the entire night had been my idea in the first place.

The next day, I thought about

in porn videos responding with pleasure or indifference.

The problem is that "misogynistic sex is rooted deeply in our society.

Porn is so inaccessible to women that an entirely new industry of women-owned, women-centered porn is gaining traction in part on a promise to center women’s pleasure in its content.

Still, I couldn’t blame the entirety of my experience on porn.

There was also George himself, who maybe wasn’t as kind as I’d assumed.

I had naively thought the terrible men I’d heard about

existed somewhere far away from me. In reality, the men in my life who I trusted and cared about were always going to be the terrible men to somebody else.

George is just like the men in my friends’ horror stories.

I thought I could avoid the men in my friend’s stories if I only picked the "right guy," but I’ve discovered my personal relationship with a man doesn’t make a difference if he has a deepseated, misogynistic belief that sex is about power.

A man can love "a woman and still objectify her.

My worldview shattered when I had sex with George because I realized men who cared about me were still capable of objectifying me. The problem isn’t with hookup culture, or a select few men—the problem is that misogynistic sex is rooted deeply in our society.

From porn to pop culture, we see a narrative of women being submissive by nature. We are taught that it’s natural for men to dominate us.

I thought love could trump a lifetime of societal conditioning and override this narrative.

However, my experience with George proved that a culture of misogyny cannot be undone by love or trust.

I haven’t given up on good sex, but I will never again think that a man will treat me with respect only because he loves me.

It’s a hard pill to swallow, but a man can love a woman and still objectify her.

I now know I can’t make every sexual experience perfect, no matter how hard I try.

The next time I think I might have sex with a man, I plan on having an honest conversation about what sex means to him first.

The actual ‘right guy’ I was looking for is the one who will happily have that conversation.

Names have been changed to protect anonymity.

ILLUSTRATION BY VIOLETTA ZEITLINGER FONTANA