Queen’s University Since 1873
Vol. 146 Issue 20 Feb. 1, 2019
AJW voted AMS executive 2019-20
As voting closed Tuesday, a 30.1 per cent turnout rate elected next year’s student leaders J asnit P abla News Editor
Team AJW celebrates after finding out results on Tuesday, Jan. 29.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TESSA WARBURTON
B ell L et ’ s T alk
AMS voters have elected Team AJW, comprised of Presidential candidate Auston Pierce, ArtSci ’19, vice-president (operations) candidate Jessica Dahanayake, Sci ’20, and vice-president (university affairs) candidate William Greene, ArtSci ’19, as their 2019-20 representatives. The team won a 91.3 per cent vote of confidence. “We’re excited for what’s to come,” Dahanayake told The Journal after being elected in a statement. “Thank you to all of our supporters and campaign volunteers, and everyone who believed in us.” Greene added, “We’re extremely humbled by this opportunity and we’re so thankful to everyone who helped us with this.” See Elections on page 2
special issue
eating disorders and varsity athletes
help me help you: love and mental health
Read the Feature on Page 8
Read the Postscript on Page 16 ILLUSTRATION BY AMELIA RANKINE
EDITORIALS
OPINIONS
ARTS
SPORTS
LIFEST YLE
High schools need to prioritize teen sleep routines
page 6
Student Choice Initiative provides freedom to choose
Focus Film Festival returns for another successful year
Women’s basketball’s Marianne Alarie hits 1,000 career points
Personality quizzes are entertainment, not self-discovery
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Friday, February 1, 2018
2019 society election results Jasnit Pabla News Editor
agreement between each other and our core team that we would still go as hard as we possibly could to learn as much as we could from students.” Chayce Perkins, ArtSci ’20, will assume the role of president of the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society, and Aaryan Chaudhury, ArtSci ’21, will join her as the 2019-20 vice-president.
Continued from front ... As voting closed Tuesday, a 30.1 per cent turnout rate elected next year’s student leaders. AMS
Presidential candidate Pierce echoed his teammates, saying, “We’d like to thank everyone who showed up to the polls and everyone who came out. We’ve dedicated our platform to the students and we hope to continue that.” EngSoc
As the only contested position, Jinho Lee beat out Melissa Young for vice-president (operations) in the EngSoc elections. “Thank you so much for voting for me,” Lee told The Journal following his election reveal party at Clark Hall Pub. “I’d like to say thanks to all the service managers and all the execs who’ve helped me through this process. I’ll try my best to do a great job. Thank you.” Lee’s joined by President Del Benoit, Vice-President (Student Affairs) Zaid Kasim, and Junior Senator Peter Matthews, filling out the 2019-20 EngSoc executive team. “I’m just really excited for the position, I’m really happy I won, and I’m looking forward to following through on all my platform points,” Benoit told The Journal in a post-election statement.
Undergraduate Trustee
Team AJW pictured above.
PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON
CESA
Undergraduate trustee candidate Tyler Macintyre
PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON
SGPS
Jeremy Ambraska has been elected as the 2019-20 president of the SGPS, following the only contested graduate students’ election. In a statement to The Journal, Ambraska’s opposition, presidential candidate Jaspar Wong, commented on his loss. “I want to congratulate Jeremy on his successful campaign for SGPS President. I thought he made some fine points during his campaign, and I am confident he will take steps to address issues brought forth by both sides to improve the SGPS,” Wong said. The SGPS 2019-20 executive will be comprised of Vice-President (Community) Cameron Wathey, Vice-President (Finances and Services) Abel Hazon, Vice-President (Graduate) Leo Erlikhman, Vice-President (Professional) Ryan Adlem, and graduate student Senator Courtney Bannerman.
Tyler Macintyre, Sci ’20, who was the sole candidate for the Undergraduate Trustee position, was elected with an 89.2 per cent vote of confidence Thursday. He’ll assume the role beginning in the 2019-20 school year. “I’d like to thank the student populous for turning out at a higher rate than they did for the JDUC referendum and for finding confidence in me,” Macintyre told The Journal in a statement following the results. “It really means a lot to me that the student body is behind me.”
EngSoc vice-presidential (operations) candidate Jinho Lee.
PHOTO BY JOSH GRANOVSKY
ASUS
The uncontested ASUS elections ended with a vote of confidence for Team Chayce and Aaryan. “We’re speechless. Even though we were uncontested, we planned for the worst, hoped for the best,” Chayce Perkins told The Journal in a statement following her election. “At the beginning of the campaign, we made an ASUS executive Team Chayce and Aaryan.
PHOTO BY MATT SCACE
Team Illuminate—comprised of Mackenzi Mellon, Jathorsan Lingarajan, and Carla Namkung, all ConEd ’20—was announced as the CESA executive for 2019-20 on Jan. 30. “We’re just so honoured to be given this opportunity and the campaign was such an incredible opportunity for us to reach out to new people and honestly just share what we have planned for the next school year,” president elect Namkung told The Journal following the results. She added, “We also wanted to congratulate Team RAY on their hard work and we really are honoured and truly happy that we had the chance to run a campaign with them.” Competing team RAY extended congratulations to the opposition in a statement to The Journal. The team was made up of Ruth Bryce, Alexandra Lauzon, and Yael Gazit, all ConEd ’20. “Team Illuminate had an excellent campaign period, and although we didn’t win, we are super excited to see the growth that the new team brings to CESA in the upcoming year,” Lauzon said. COMPSA
On Thursday afternoon, following the end of two—of three—contested elections, the Computing Students Association announced the results of its executive election. Presidential candidate Nana Boateng, Vice-Presidential (Operations) candidate Shreyansh Anand, and Vice-President (Student Affairs) candidate Taylor Brooks, all CompSci ’21, were elected to the 2019-20 executive. No candidates were available for an interview at the time of publication. —With files from Josh Granovsky, Brigid Goulem, Matt Scace, Sydney Ko, and Rachel Aiken.
Friday, February 1, 2018
News
queensjournal.ca • 3
UCARE centre to open this spring
UCARE will be located at 140 Stuart St.
140 Stuart Street to house inclusivity groups Rachel Aiken Assistant News Editor This spring, the University Council on Anti-Racism and Equity (UCARE) will be opening a space for social justice clubs and inclusivity on campus. Formal discussions about the proposed centre initially occurred at UCARE’s inaugural meeting in March of 2018. The proposal follows concerns brought up at the meeting from both council members and club representatives that there was little guaranteed club space on campus. The high number of both AMS and SGPS clubs means finding bookable meeting places can be a challenge. Deputy Provost (Academic Operations and Inclusion) Teri Shearer was tasked with identifying a location and consulting with the involved interested groups. “A primary purpose of the space is to provide some predictable club space for some of the either AMS or SGPS ratified clubs on campus, whose mandate is to promote social justice or inclusion of marginalized community members,” Shearer told The Journal in an interview. She added the centre would also be a place for casual socializing, similar to the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre. While the centre was proposed under the title the “Alfie Pierce Centre for Racial Equity and Social Justice,” Shearer said the
News in Brief
While US charges Huawei, Queen’s proceeds with contracts Queen’s will continue research relations with Chinses telecom giant, Huawei, despite
centre’s name is still under consideration. She said the process of approval for naming a building after an individual is a lengthy one. To avoid delays, the focus is currently on opening the centre as soon as possible, instead of naming it. Despite the demand, Shearer faced difficulties in securing a space for the centre. Initially, the proposed location was on Albert Street.
Designs and estimates had already been put in motion for the location when a construction assessment revealed the floor joists of the three-story house were severely compromised. Shearer explained their options to proceed with the location required demolition or lengthy, costly renovation. Another house on Albert Street was proposed next—a building which currently houses the Employee Health and Safety (EHS) staff group.
However, there were concerns over attempting accessibility renovations while staff remained working in the building. It was late in the fall term when Shearer viewed 140 Stuart St., the former location of Student Wellness Services’ Health Promotion Group, which has since moved to Mitchell Hall. Shearer said the space isn’t as big as other locations but can accommodate their plans. The building provides open lounge space, a kitchen, and a number of large office spaces. The main floor is entirely accessible with an accessibility ramp to the main entrance. The second floor isn’t accessible as of yet, but Shearer said future renovations could be considered if the space proves popular. Because the building doesn’t require construction, the project can move ahead. “We’re aiming to start moving people in March,” Shearer said. She said the next step is to issue a call for Expressions of Interest from student groups who’d like to be considered for the space. The call for interest should be announced within the next two weeks. “I would have liked to get Expressions of Interest for space out ahead of the winter break but what happened is it just got too close to final exams.” Shearer’s in the process of organizing a sub-committee of UCARE to prioritize the requests of space—priority given to those who currently don’t have any space at all. The sub-committee will be comprised of both undergraduate and graduate students, a representative from Student Affairs and Stephanie Simpson, the associate vice-principal (human rights, equity
US criminal charges being laid against the company. On Monday, the US Department of Justice announced criminal charges against Huawei and its Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou. As reported in The New York Times, Huawei has been charged with counts of bank and wire fraud based on alleged attempts to destroy or conceal evidence pertaining to its evasion of economic sanctions on Iran. The University issued a statement on Jan. 29 to The Journal about how it will proceed with its relationship with Huawei, following the charges. “As stated previously, Queen’s will remain
in compliance with all federal directives and regulations regarding research partnerships,” the statement read. “Should the government change its directives or regulations regarding those global research efforts, the university would absolutely comply with their direction while respecting any legal obligations we have already undertaken.” In October, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) issued a warning to research-intensive domestic u n ive r s i t i e s . The agency cautioned the research vice-principals of institutions about receiving funding from Huawei
“A primary purpose of the space is to provide some predictable club space for [...] ratified clubs on campus whose mandate is to promote social justice or inclusion of marginalized community members.” —Teri Shearer, Deputy Provost
PHOTOS BY CHRIS YAO
and inclusion). “I’m hoping we can accommodate most of the demand and if there are smaller groups that don’t need regular space, we might be able to keep one of the offices bookable, so groups that aren’t permanently located there can perhaps use it.”
“The building provides open lounge space, a kitchen, and a number of large office spaces. The main floor is entirely accessible with an accessibility ramp to the main entrance.”
Shearer said she must determine the demands of the space before addressing the specific needs of different groups. The University is covering the costs of the new space; the funds are from the Principal’s Implementation Committee, which responded to recommendations from the 2017 Queen’s Truth and Reconciliation Task Force recommendations. Through the committee, Principal Daniel Woolf publicly promised $1 million in university funds annually for three years to address the recommendations. Shearer described the centre as part of the University’s continuing commitment to diversity and inclusion. “Personally, I’m really excited to have this space open and I’m looking forward to working with the students to try to make it really a good space for them.” Technologies, citing national security concerns. Queen’s is only one of the Canadian universities financially engaged with Huawei. Early in January, when asked about Queen’s ties to the Chinese telecom company, Dr. Kimberly Woodhouse, vice-principal (research), wrote to The Journal that Huawei had just approved a funding contract with the University for one research project. Woodhouse added that the possibility of additional funding is still under discussion. — Rachel Aiken
News
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The Winter Coat Drive is located in the JDUC Room of Requirement.
PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON
Winter Coat Drive in need of more donations Queen’s Winter Coat Exchange experiences high demand for warm jackets
Claudia Rupnik Assistant News Editor
cold-weather essentials to students, faculty, and staff to ensure the Queen’s community is prepared for winter weather conditions. QWCE can be accessed anonymously, free of charge, Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to midnight, in the
Queen’s Room of Requirement (JDUC 238). It operates on a take-what-you-need basis where students simply take the clothing and return it when they’re done. Former student Heather Poechman, MA ’18, founded the exchange in 2016 during the
the audience on Wednesday, adding the research will look at how school boards are “interpreting, but more importantly shaping, the new human rights concept of gender expression.” “Schools already know this guidance is needed,” they said. “It’s needed because gender is changing, and the future of gender Raechel Huizinga is walking into Canadian schools Assistant News Editor every day.” Airton’s research will Queen’s will receive nearly determine whether school board $5 million for research as part of a nation-wide, $141 million investment. Minister of Science and Sport Along with 92 other Kirsty Duncan announced the researchers at Queen’s, Social Sciences and Humanities Airton and Moon will Research Council (SSHRC) use the support to investment at the Agnes Etherington Centre on Wednesday. pursue research in the She highlighted the work of social sciences two Queen’s recipients, Christine and humanities. Moon and Lee Airton. “We have worked hard to return research to its rightful place,” Duncan said, adding the “historic policy discriminates on the investment” will change research grounds of gender expression or in Canada. gender identity—two different Along with 92 other researchers aspects of human rights. at Queen’s, Airton and Moon The Journal spoke to Airton and will use the support to pursue Moon after the conference. research in the social sciences “Regardless of whatever and humanities. political winds are blowing, Airton’s research will analyze schools and other public how hundreds of school-board sectors need to understand and policy and guideline documents learn about what their legal across 76 Canadian school boards responsibilities are,” Airton said. define gender expression. “Regardless of whether there’s The researchers also addressed public outcry about topics related
to my research and that of others, this is still necessary.” Moon will also receive funding to p e r fo r m policy-informing research. She’ll examine how Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), which was legalized only three years ago, shapes questions concerning death. She’ll investigate the presence, or absence, of racialized minorities in access to, and conversations about, MAID. “My goal is to complicate the whiteness of national discourses surrounding assisted dying by exploring the absences, erasures, and insertions of racialized voices,” she told the audience. Moon noted an early study at one Canadian hospital system showed 95 per cent of MAID recipients were white. “I hope to examine how presumptions of a universal whiteness, under the guise of multiculturalism, affect the health and end-of-life care of racialized Canadians,” she said. Her project will focus on how Korean Canadians interact with MAID and death, eventually influencing Canadian public policy and informing physicians and hospitals about how to enact the new legislation. She told The Journal she was “really fortunate” to have the support but wished there was a way to make these kinds of funds equitable for
Winter clothing is essential to students’ success this time of the year, and Queen’s Winter Coat Exchange (QWCE) knows that all too well. The group provides free
Friday, February 1, 2018 fourth year of her undergraduate degree. She hoped to help provide international and exchange students with access to winter-appropriate attire. After Poechman graduated last spring, the AMS took over the exchange. As AMS Deputy of Environmental Affairs, Laura Lee, Sci ’21, is responsible for managing it. “QWCE is a student-run service under the Social Issues Commission of the AMS. It operates in the same way as in previous years, where students can take winter items when they need and can either return them as the weather gets warmer or keep [them] to use in the future,” Lee wrote in an email to The Journal. “By using QWCE, students can focus on their academic responsibilities, rather than on the cold weather.” Lee is currently focused on raising awareness for the exchange. “I hope to create a unique identity for the service on campus that would help students recognize QWCE easily on promotional materials and social media,” Lee said, adding she made a logo and a Facebook page to raise awareness online. She’s also trying to increase accessibility by adding braille writing to all labels in the exchange room. The AMS is, additionally, considering a proposal to make the QWCE manager a volunteer position next year and going forward. Meanwhile, QWCE relies on
the help of both the Queen’s and Kingston communities. This season, it’s received donations from local businesses, including Roots, Phase 2, Cloth, Cash for Clothes, and Value Village. It’s also received support from the Faculty of Arts & Science Office, the International Programs Office, Queen’s University International Centre, Queen’s professors, and students in the form of donations. Despite these contributions, the exchange is experiencing a shortage in winter gear available for use. Lee explained QWCE had difficulty collecting large quantities of donations at the beginning of the winter season and has been facing a significant challenge in meeting the winter-gear demand for items since the weather has deteriorated. “One of the barriers I’ve faced with meeting the demand for winter items was collecting enough donations,” Lee said, adding she’s been in communication with multiple stores around Kingston to raise awareness for QWCE and seek more community support for the service. For those looking to make a donation, QWCE accepts gently used coats, hats, mittens, scarves, socks and new winter boots. Items can be brought to the Room of Requirement or Social Issues Commission Office in the AMS Offices, open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.
graduate students. “Graduate students often face housing and food insecurity,” she said, adding they struggle with accessing childcare and are six times more likely than the general population to face mental health issues. “If there was a way for grants like this to be distributed more equitably across graduate students, I think that would be great,” she said.
Following the conference, Duncan told The Journal that students considering pursuing research projects of their own should “take time to dream [their] greatest dreams.” “Possibility’s there,” she said. “We can’t wait to see what you do next.”
journal_news@ams.queensu.ca
Ottawa pledges almost $5 million to Queen’s researchers
Christine Moon, Lee Airton among those to receive historic funds
journal_news@ams.queensu.ca
News
Friday, February 1, 2018
The arrests took place on Jan. 24.
queensjournal.ca • 5
PHOTO BY DOMINIC CHRISTIAN OWENS
Arrests over alleged bomb plot took place on edge of University District Matariki Indigenous Student Youth facing terror The programme will run this summer at Queen’s.
Police charged the youth with knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity and counselling another person to “discharge or detonate Iain Sherriff-Scott an explosive or other lethal Staff Writer device” in a public place with the intent to “cause death or serious This story first appeared online bodily injury.” on Jan. 29. A second adult was also arrested but was released without After police raided a house on charges after 24 hours. the edge of the University District “This incident has, no doubt, hit last Thursday, a youth was close to home for many Kingston charged with two terrorism families, and people in our related offenses. community will hug their loved The youth appeared in court ones a little tighter today,” Ian on Friday and via video link Arthur, Kingston & the Islands on Monday. He received an MPP, wrote in a statement adjournment until next week to last Friday. allow his lawyer to prepare for “These charges may be a bail proceedings. reminder of the vigilance needed The accused, whose identity to protect our safety, but I know is protected by a publication ban our community will respond under the Youth Criminal Justice with kindness and support for Act, will remain in custody until our neighbours, and I know we his full bail hearing is scheduled. will redouble our efforts to unite The youth’s defense lawyer, rather than divide,” he added. Douglas Caldwell, declined The accused is scheduled to to speak with media on appear in court again on Feb. 4 via Monday after proceedings video link. were adjourned.
charges
INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS IMPACTED BY SEXUAL VIOLENCE GET HELP, GIVE HELP queensu.ca/sexualviolencesupport Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Coordinator, Barb Lotan bjl7@queensu.ca
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
Mobility Programme to be hosted by Queen’s Fourth annual programme will facilitate a discussion about Indigenous Learning, Language, and Land
Claudia Rupnik Assistant News Editor Queen’s is set to host an Indigenous experiential learning programme this summer on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee. The Matariki Indigenous Student Mobility Programme (MISMP) is an international experiential learning program that brings Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, faculty, and Elders together to critically analyze the lasting impacts of settler colonialism on Indigenous cultures, learning, and land. This year will be its fourth run, taking place from June 23 to July 6. The two-week event is organized by the Matariki Network of Universities (MNU), a group of seven post-secondary institutions located in different countries around the world, including Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, the US, and New Zealand. Last year, Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, hosted MISMP. Participants in the Queen’s programme can expect to gain a better understanding of Indigenous traditions and current issues affecting Indigenous peoples around the world. This year’s theme is Learning, Language, and Land. Kanonhsyonne Janice Hill, associate vice-principal (indigenous initiatives and
reconciliation), is an advisor for the upcoming programme. “The goal is to have undergraduate students who will return to Queen’s [after the programme] and use what they’ve learned,” Hill said in an interview with The Journal. First priority for acceptance into the program will be given to undergraduate Indigenous learners, followed by graduate Indigenous learners, and then non-Indigenous learners. Applications are open to all students at Queen’s through the International Programs Office website until Feb. 15. According to the application, individuals require previous ties to an Indigenous community or an affiliation with the field of Indigenous studies in order to participate. “We hope they’re already doing research or are interested in doing some kind of research in Indigenous studies because they’ll be asked to do presentations during the programme,” Hill said. Participants can expect to have their perspectives broadened through interaction with students and faculty from around the world. “What’s interesting [...] when we gather and talk about the research that’s being done in our countries, with our peoples, is how many similarities there are. We’re all grappling with the same issues,” she said, adding the different perspectives brought into the programme can create avenues for collaboration in the future—broadening the
research network. According to Hill, this year’s program will likely be the last rendition of MISMP. It started as a three-year pilot by the MNU, and although last year should have been its last, Queen’s received special permission from the MNU to deliver an additional round of the programme. Moreover, Hill believes the programme is a positive step toward reconciliation because it will facilitate important conversations about widespread issues facing Indigenous communities around the globe, particularly that of stolen land.
“What’s interesting when we gather and talk about the research that’s being done in our countries, with our peoples, is how many similarities there are.” —Janice Hill (Kanonhsyonne) Associate Vice-Principal
“We can’t really talk about reconciliation until we talk about land, language, and kinship, because those things are the most important to us as Indigenous people. Until we address [them], it’s difficult to talk about reconciliation,” Hill said. “It’s not just a local issue. Our concerns about land are not just Ontario or Canada, it’s global.”
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Friday, February 1, 2019
EDITORIALS
The Journal’s Perspective
THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL
High schools sleeping on chronic teen tiredness Tired young people are so common, the sleepy teen has become a well-known trope. Even most adults remember the struggle of getting up early to sit at a school desk without a full night’s sleep. While teenagers are scorned for their sleep routines, their behaviour has merit. Circadian rhythms—essentially hormonal “body clocks”—shift teenagers’ natural bed and wake-up times later. Simultaneously, university and college applications demand young people are more accomplished than ever, matching high grades with various talents and hobbies. These factors lead to an unavoidable fact: Teen sleep deprivation is an epidemic. It’s preventing growing young people from functioning properly, and it needs to be mitigated as teenagers
develop lifelong habits and health patterns. Most high schools start between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. For rural and suburban students, getting to school for a full day of learning requires them to get on a bus or in a car before 7 a.m. If they miss their morning bus, they miss school. Unexplained absences lead to anxious teens, angry parents, and lost learning time as students face a perpetual struggle to catch up with overdue work. These cycles impede on teen success, and, more importantly, teen happiness. Exhausted people are unlikely to find joy in relaxation. Teens will never address their poor resting patterns if they’re told it’s acceptable to sacrifice sleep for ambition. Millennial burnout culture glorifies not sleeping, equating late nights with rigour and intelligence. Whether pursuing straight As, playing soccer, or bagging groceries after school, foregoing sleep for a fuller resume is viewed as productive in today’s society. Particularly as teens compare t h e i r
successes and try to differentiate themselves, a lack of sleep can increase anxiety and a tendency to ignore self-care. Finding a solution to this issue is challenging. Practically, school must start at the same time as the professional workday. Starting and ending schedules later would mean less time for the extra-curriculars and jobs bringing students fulfillment and experience. That being said, 13- to 18-year-olds require minimum eight hours of sleep per night. Sleep promotes mental health and necessary recuperation after a long day. It should be prioritized and taught in schools the same way exercise and nutrition are. This plan can extend to promoting sleep hygiene in curriculums across Canada, making good sleep a non-negotiable part of daily life. Teens should be better taught not to sleep with their phones and to unplug from screens before bed. They should also be made aware of the dangers and effects of sleep deprivation, including obesity, diabetes, and depression. Left to their own devices, teens are pushing themselves too hard. We need to inform them to prioritize their health—before they grow into adults and normalize a lack of focus and constant yawning. —Journal Editorial Board
Boring classes have purpose
PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON
Angus Merry
and learn from them in ways that’ll benefit your future. First and foremost, boring classes can improve your work ethic. One might think interesting classes would better foster a work-driven disposition, but think of
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ILLUSTRATION BY ZIER ZHOU
When asked about his days as a chowder-pot scrubber in southeastern Connecticut, Casey Neistat—one of YouTube’s most revered vloggers and filmmakers—said: “If you don’t know what you want to do in life, spend as much time as possible doing something you absolutely hate.” With regards to contemporary academia, that maxim holds especially true. It’s no secret that most of the classes we take throughout our academic careers fail to stimulate our interest. Back in primary and secondary school, being bored in classes seemed more or less part of the experience. But now—with thousands of dollars invested in tuition—being subjected to classes that feel useless is deflating. Of course, this is all relative. Someone in Engineering might hate their p ro g ra m wh i l e 15 others find great joy in it. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who goes to every class for four years straight with a smile on their face. Depending on where you’re situated on the s p e c t r u m — wh e t h e r it’s just one class that bores you or you’re beginning to question your entire degree—it’s best to use sub-par classes constructively
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it this way: What’s a better test of a jogger’s dedication to training for a marathon—running in sunshine or running in two feet of snow? If you take a class you find substantially worse than others, it’ll test your focus, and you’ll likely become more efficient by getting your work done as quickly as possible. Second, bone-dry courses can seriously try your patience—and that’s a good thing. Let’s be honest, our constant phone-checking during lectures is a microcosm of our generation’s issues with patience. And it really shows. Sitting through a three-hour lecture at 7 p.m. on a Wednesday while paying attention is hard, but it shouldn’t be. Use the opportunity to become better at being patient. Finally, accept and lean into the fact you don’t like your classes. Take it from Casey Neistat: Spending 50 hours a week doing something you hate will sharpen your view of what you’d rather be doing. You may as well use it to your advantage.
Angus is The Journal’s Digital Manager. He’s a second-year History major.
Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions. The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston. Editorial opinions expressed in The Journal are the sole responsibility of The Queen’s Journal Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers. 190 University Ave., Kingston, ON, K7L 3P4 Editorial Office: 613-533-2800 Business Office: 613-533-6711 Fax: 613-533-6728 Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Please address complaints and grievances to the Editors in Chief. The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Performance Group of Companies in Smiths Falls, Ontario. Contents © 2019 by The Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of The Journal. Circulation 3,000
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OPINIONS
Your Perspective
•7
Talking heads ... around campus PHOTOS BY TESSA WARBURTON
What are your thoughts on #BellLetsTalk day?
“People should remember corporations are behind it. Mental health is ‘in’ right now.” Zach Lehman, ArtSci ’21
Ben Gelman argues the new opt-out framework will ensure more accountability from student-governments.
PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON
Student Choice Initiaitive promotes student interests, freedom of choice Recent education reform a victory for students Ben Gelman, ArtSci ’22 While many welcomed the Ford government’s recent decision to cut tuition costs for all students by 10 per cent, the proposed Student Choice Initiative (SCI) ruffled more than a few feathers. In an effort to give students more freedom when they spend their money, the SCI will slash a majority of most mandatory student fees. Universities and colleges will now transition to an “opt-out” framework, where students can choose which organizations they associate with and fund. As it stands, the SCI provides students more freedom to choose where their money is spent and whether they can afford to give it. The policy also holds student governments more accountable—without an automatic transaction from students, money that’s sometimes taken advantage of by student governments will be more scrutinized. While lowering the cost of tuition was well received by some, the proposed SCI was met by protest from various student groups and organizations across the province—most prominently, the Canadian Federation of
Students (CFS), who’s the chief beneficiary of mandatory student fees. Currently, the CFS represents over 350,000 Ontario college and university students from 37 different student associations, collecting membership fees from each of them. When students pay tuition, they’re additionally charged fees to support student unions, campus services, or even completely unaffiliated organizations under the CFS. Some schools such as Queen’s already allow their students to opt-out of certain fees. However, many students aren’t even aware of this option, and few end up opting-out of fees they don’t want—or can’t afford—to pay. As a first-year student, I paid $692.78 in mandatory fees for services and organizations this year. For many, that could go towards paying a month’s worth of rent. Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Merrilee Fullerton, clarified that certain non-academic programs—such as health, safety, and athletic service—would remain mandatory under the SCI. This means the money students devote to on-campus services would go towards things they actually use, and with a more affordable cost. Besides affordability, the lack of individual choice—as well as the corruption in certain student governments that student fees fund—has been a source of ire for
students for decades. The expense scandal at the Ryerson Students’ Union is the latest example. As The Eyeopener first reported, Ryerson’s student government executives allegedly spent more than $250,000 on night clubs, casinos, and the LCBO, among others. They’ve been unable to explain why they used student fees for their extravagant expenses. Until the SCI was proposed, the only real accountability measure for irresponsible student unions was university administrations, who can refuse to transfer revenue from mandatory fees over to student associations. This recently happened at the University of Ottawa, where the president of their student government was alleged to have embezzled $20,000. It’s unfair Ontario students are forced to fund advocacy campaigns which they fundamentally disagree with. CFS appeals to a small segment of the student population, yet they collect fees from all of them. York University, with its undergraduate population numbering approximately 50,000, hasn’t succeeded in engaging even a fifth of students in elections in recent memory. In any other context, a turnout like that would signal a significant problem with an institution’s structure, further causing disengagement in the university’s student-led democratic process.
“I’m pro raising mental health awareness, because social media is so dominant in our culture.” Morgan Antoniuk ConEd ’21
The most outrageous response from student protests regarding recent educational reform is the charge that Premier Ford’s motive is to undermine democracy in student organizations, such as the CFS, who oppose his policies. However, given the “I think it’s amazing they’re attempting such a large aforementioned Ryerson and effort. It’s a step in the UOttawa student government right direction.” scandals, it seems democracy in student unions is hard to find. Dev Bailey, The Ontario government’s ArtSci ’21 restructuring of the student fee framework will hopefully mean greater accountability for student groups. The CFS and corrupt student politicians may not like it, but this move is the necessary answer to the wrongdoings at universities like Ryerson and the UOttawa. Minister Fullerton’s goal with this policy is to protect the financial interests of students from corruption and abuse—and “I think it’s necessary to raise signaling that their behavior awareness, but I also think it shouldn’t be just one day, or is unacceptable. so commercialized.” Under the SCI, students won’t have to pay hundreds Narges Jamamli, of dollars for a student radio ArtSci ’21 station they don’t listen to, services they don’t use, advocacy campaigns they oppose, or student leaders embezzling money to line their pockets. If this policy moves us closer to realizing those goals, the SCI will be a victory for both students and free choice.
Letter to the Editor
Ben Gelman is a first-year general arts student.
Have your own thoughts on this article? Send a letter to the editor to journal_letters@ams. queensu.ca
8 • queensjournal.ca
Friday, February 1, 2019
Features Branded: eating disorders and varsity athletes A look into the silent struggles of Queen’s student-athletes Maggie Gowland Assistant Sports Editor This article discusses eating disorders and may be triggering for some readers. The Canadian Mental Health Association Crisis Line can be reached at 1-800-875-6213. When Branna MacDougall realized what was happening, it was too late. After feeling an unexplained pain in her back on a practice run, she told herself it was nothing. Just to be safe, she had an MRI done. Several days later, her coach pulled her into the showers of her Iowa State University locker-room to discuss the results of the MRI. The scans showed MacDougall had a grade three stress fracture splitting the left side of her sacrum. MacDougall could only cry, knowing the fracture’s cause. How we got here
One of MacDougall’s current cross-country coaches since transferring to Queen’s, Brant Stachel, has always been alert for signs of eating disorders among his athletes.
In an interview with The Journal, he said that he always asks, “Are they afraid to eat at a team dinner? Did they bring their own foods? Do they have allergy restrictions that haven’t been diagnosed by a doctor?” In part, Stachel is watching for the most common eating disorders among atheletes. One, anorexia nervosa, is the severe restriction of food intake. Another, bulimia nervosa, is characterized by binge-eating and purging. The third is orthorexia, or obsessive “healthy eating.” MacDougall herself suffers from anorexia. Often, in Stachel’s experience, these disordered behaviours are about control. “You can’t control what your coach is doing or if you’re getting more practice time, but you can [control your diet],” he said. “This is coming from the mind down, not the body up.” Based on a 2016 Statistics Canada survey, an estimated two to three per cent of the population (725,800 to 1,088,100 Canadians) meet the criteria for an eating disorder. Though they can affect anyone, a 2004 study indicated they occur more frequently in athletes, but its results weren’t conclusive. Stachel said disordered eating shares the same traits, regardless of athleticism. “The athlete’s goal might be to be skinnier and faster, and the non-athlete’s goal might just be to be skinnier because of body perception issues—but the goal is the same,” he said. “The goal doesn’t change because this is performance based [...] The goal is still, ‘Get my body to where I want it to be so I’m happy.’”
But whatever the goal, an eating disorder always demands a little bit more. Researching the effects on varsity student-athletes, a study was launched into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1999 that sampled 1,445 students from 11 Division I schools. The survey was voluntary and anonymous, and asked 133 questions. It indicated a lower proportion of athletes were at risk of disordered eating than researchers had anticipated, but also noted inconsistencies between the interview phase and the survey phase of the study. The problem with these statistics is often stated in the discussion of the studies: different definitions lead to varying results. In a phone interview with The Journal, Geneviève Masson, a sport dietician at the Canadian Sport Institute, said that most datasets have conflicting information because of that reason. “If you look at the literature, the numbers vary a lot,” Masson said. “What terms they use to make a diagnosis, what they see as struggling. So, depending on the questionnaire, the criteria—the level, elite, sub-elite, recreational, if its adolescent or adult—there’s a lot of variation.” She also noted a risk in looking at data and thinking that eating disorders occur more in one sport than another. “I think there’s a benefit and a risk to having numbers,” Masson said. “A vicious, vicious sport”
Originally a gymnast, fourth-year cheerleader Courteney MacNiven knows how the pressures of size and appearance intertwine with aesthetic competition. Fo r h e r, gymnastics is a “vicious, vicious sport.” When she started, MacNiven was seven. Her coaches would weigh her and her teammates at practice
each week and give them a strict diet. After two years in the sport—at nine years old—she stopped eating. “I remember growing up only eating yogurt all morning and then throwing out my lunch because we were getting weighed that day,” she said. By seventh grade, MacNiven weighed around 60 pounds—the average weight for a 13-year-old girl is 101 pounds. The risk for disordered eating in athletes is higher in aesthetic or weight-class sports, especially for young females, according to a 2004 study of elite athletes in Norway. Aesthetic and endurance sports—such as dance, gymnastics, swimming, and distance running—place a higher emphasis on an athlete’s appearance when compared to non-aesthetic sports. The difference has been reported to be up to 18 per cent higher for females competing in aesthetic sports. These ideal body types weren’t permanent, and MacNiven and her friends frequently studied and commented on the bodies of their older teammates. “‘Oh, this girl is getting bigger because she’s hitting puberty. She’s not going to be able to do this. Oh, look, she has hips. Look, she’s getting boobs. She can’t do it anymore. She’s not going to be a good gymnast,’” MacNiven recalled thinking. She refused to make the same mistakes as her older teammates. She did everything possible to stay on top. She ate as little as possible and purged the rest until she was 15 years old. These struggles are common for athletes that began in gymnastics. “As a little nine, 10-year-old, you’re not smart,” she said. “You don’t think, ‘Hey, let me eat all of this broccoli and spinach and kale and get strong that way.’ No, you’re thinking, ‘Well, I’m just not going to eat so that I don’t get bigger.’” By the 10th grade, MacNiven felt she wanted a change and tried to become healthier. She started eating, but stabbing pains greeted
every tentative bite of a new diet. When she first saw a doctor for the pain, they said the complaints were excuses to refuse food. In response, MacNiven’s mother insisted that if her daughter said she wanted to eat, she meant it. MacNiven began seeing specialists shortly thereafter. For athletes like her, the physical symptoms of eating disorders often alter the approach to treatment, regarding them as a condition rather than a mental illness. However, the symptoms are often hidden in athletes. Along with weight loss, the physical symptoms that can result from disordered eating vary, but often include a thick layer of hair over the body, poor circulation, abnormal menstrual cycles, and reduced bone density, according to Healthline. For MacNiven, the result was even more extreme. After several tests, she was scheduled to remove her gallbladder. Before the surgery, she received one final MRI, where doctors determined that was not the problem at all. MacNiven’s stomach acid burned the lining in her organ, forcing it to be surgically stripped all the way to her lower esophagus. Following the surgery, MacNiven was in and out of the hospital for the remainder of high school. Today, she takes around seven vitamins and one anti-acid a day. They’re necessary: damage to her digestive system prevents her from gaining enough nutrients through food. All the while, none of MacNiven’s doctors ever referred her to a mental health professional. According to a 2016 Statistics Canada survey, only 6.3 per cent of psychiatry residents felt they’d be effective working with patients struggling with eating disorders. Throughout MacNiven’s treatment for stomach issues, the real danger, her mental illness, was never addressed.
Friday, February 1, 2019 Soon, MacNiven was a first-year at Queen’s, but nonetheless reverted to old habits. The pressure to lose weight returned in her first-year routine. As a cheerleader, MacNiven is a top, being thrown into the air by her partners before they catch her. Some teammates frequently groused during practice: she’s too heavy, they said. “I never really said anything because I was in first year, and they were all vets,” MacNiven said of her teammates’ comments. “I didn’t want to be like, ‘Hey, stop, this is me and I am a person,’ but because I was on them for this term, I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll stop eating.’” When her first competitive season was over, MacNiven managed to get herself back on track because of her previous struggles. But she said the urge to restrict her eating and purge her meals subtly persists. “There’s always this voice in your head that’s like, if you eat too much, if you feel too bad, ‘Hey, throw up,’” she described. “Once you throw up and make yourself throw up once, and you do it for so many years—it’s just simple.” “You don’t even have to think.” On the scales
Similar to aesthetic sports, eating disorders affect weight-class sports like rowing, wrestling, and boxing. To control their weight, athletes can quietly perpetuate toxic eating habits in these sports, according to a 2006 study published in the journal Sports Med. One of these sports, rowing, has two classes of athletes: lightweight and heavyweight. The benchmark weights between the classes differ between leagues and genders. In the OUA, the maximum weight for a female lightweight rower is 125lbs, while men’s is 160lbs. In his first year, Queen’s rower Michael Bryenton lagged behind his heavyweight competitors on the water. To gain a competitive advantage, his coach recommended dropping down to lightweight.
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Having struggled with his body image since the eighth grade, Bryenton agreed. He liked the idea. It meant he’d lose more weight. He consulted with a dietician to construct an 1800 calorie meal-plan would allow him to lose the necessary weight safely. He checked in with the dietician throughout the competitive season and several times after. He admitted it wasn’t healthy. At 6’3”, his weight dropped from 178lbs to 154lbs over the course of his first season. But Bryenton enjoyed the diet because he enjoyed the feeling of hunger. “Because if I was [hungry], I was losing weight,” he said. The opportunity to race as a lightweight allowed him to bury his disordered eating in athletics. “Even looking back now, is kind of when I was most happy with how I looked,” he recalled. The weight-loss also affected his performance. Shortly before the OUA Championships, he didn’t hit the same standard as the first weeks of the season. The coach who suggested he shifted to lightweight asked if he was eating enough. “I remember saying, ‘No, of course not,’ kind of jokingly. But it was true that I wasn’t eating enough.” Then, two weeks after the competitive season ended, Bryenton gained back 30 pounds. He unsuccessfully tried to go back on the diet and bring his weight down. Without the need to make his weight class, Bryenton had no clear reason to maintain the diet. “Especially after I gained the weight, I went back [to the dietician] and tried to see if she could give me something else to follow, but she wouldn’t.” When asked why she refused to make him a new plan, Bryenton simply said, “It wasn’t healthy, and the season was over.” ***
At the end of his first year, football player Tim Va n h e uve l e n wanted to improve. He
became fixed on one idea: if he lost weight, his performance would improve. An offensive lineman for Queen’s, his first-year roster profile listed him at 6’6” and 356 pounds. By the middle of second semester, he’d lost 70 pounds. His second-year roster shows him at 312 pounds. Initially, Vanheuvelen’s goal was to be healthier to increase his performance, but he thought he controlled his eating habits. The thought of seeing the numbers go down on the scale was “captivating,” he said. According to Geneviève Masson of the Canadian Sports Institute, disordered eating habits can emerge as a method to exert control over a schedule. “Sometimes it’s harder when they lose that control for whatever reason—injury, travels, or they go home [during the holidays] and their patterns change, and then they realize, ‘Oh, I can’t have control over my food the way I that I’d like to,’” Masson said. In her work, she watches for the time athletes devote to thinking about food. If 50 per cent of their energy goes into thinking about what they’ll be eating, it’s become a problem. “Sometimes, that’s where it’s, ‘Oh, okay, I’m not in charge right now. Something bigger is in charge.’” The loss of control that Masson describes is similar to what third-year football player Vanheuvelen experienced. “I always had this feeling in the back of my head that was kind of saying, ‘Oh, there are better ways to do this,’” Vanheuvelen said. The problem was results weren’t guaranteed. As time wore on, Vanheuvelen’s teammates and friends praised his weight loss. When he went home for the holidays, his parents were concerned, but passed it off as a result of his training. One February morning, he followed his routine. He stepped on a scale before a workout. Looking down, there was a new, unexpected realization. His weight loss was out of control, dipping under 300 pounds for the first time since ninth grade. “That was the part where it was initially, good, bad, and then,
‘There might be an issue,’” he said. “It was just kind of awe, just shock.” “That I’d done something I wanted to do, but I felt so much guilt about it.” “That’s part of the obsessive part of it—where the scale is what’s telling you if you’re good or not good, so the scale holds a lot of power,” he said. Vanheuvelen never told anyone the truth behind that moment on the scale. Branded
Branna MacDougall still thinks about her moment with her coach in Iowa and the MRI. Her long battle with anorexia aided the fractures running along the left side of her sacrum. A third-year engineering student on the Queen’s cross-country team, she was first diagnosed with anorexia nervosa in eighth grade. She knew part of the reason for her stress fracture in first year was from an enduring struggle with disordered eating and failing to fuel herself properly. “You’re just starving yourself so much that you’re just losing control, and your body can’t be irregular like that,” she said of her disorder’s contribution to her injury. Hearing her first diagnosis was being “branded,” she said. “This was going to be part of my identity for the rest of my life.” Initially, running was an escape from her eating disorder. But once her competitive career began in grade 10, she realized distance-running culture is surrounded by disordered eating. Nonetheless, she distinguished herself. MacDougall has raced in the 2016 under-20 World Cross Country Championships, and is the 2016 under-20 Canadian 5,000 metre record holder. She was both the OUA MVP and U Sports bronze medalist in 2017. On all the teams she’s been a part of, and despite all her success, disordered eating has always been a taboo. “I’ve been on national teams where it’s just whispers about it,” she said. “In Iowa, I found people would whisper about other people, too.” A Kingston local, MacDougall transferred back to Queen’s after sustaining her sacral stress fracture to live at home and train with her long-time coach, Steve Boyd, who’s
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head coach of the Queen’s cross country program. “[It’s] not something that I’ve felt comfortable saying before, but I think a lot of [the injury] did have to do with my eating habits, just not fuelling myself properly,” MacDougall said. By the end of her semester at Iowa, she was equipped with strong eating habits despite her injury. But this summer, she began to struggle again. “It starts so innocently,” she said. She began by cutting out sweets to be healthier for the season, but it wasn’t enough. “I just felt like I needed to be in control more and more, and I needed to restrict more and more.” Because of her reduced caloric intake, she suffered a knee injury that took her out of the beginning of the competitive season. The injury fed into her eating disorder, and it inhibited recovery. Then, two months later, MacDougall saw a photo of herself with some of her teammates at the Queen’s Open Invitational Meet, and could see how much weight she had lost. That was the moment she realized she lost control. Looking at it, she almost cried. “I looked so terrible.” Shortly after, Boyd approached her, concerned. “So I was like, ‘Okay, I need to decide what’s more important to me: if I get to race, or this eating disorder,’ and I had to kind of make that decision,” MacDougall said. She chose racing. Granted, the struggle has never gone away since the beginning. “It’s this misperception that you’re cured,” she said. “You’re never cured. It’s something you’re always dealing with.” “It’s like this other person that’s kind of attached to me. Because I’ve had this thing for so long, it scares me less, because it’s almost like I know it.”
ILLLUSTRATION BY AMELIA RANKINE
10 • queensjournal.ca
Friday, February 1, 2019
Arts BAND PROFILE
Listen Up Kid delivers nice-guy grunge rock Local band preps for Friday concert at The Toucan Listen up Kid at their studio in Kingston.
Brittany Giliforte Assistant Arts Editor Grunge rock and hospitality don’t usually mesh—but when Listen Up Kid invites you to their rehearsal space, it’s the exception. Located behind a thrift shop, the hallway entrance to the rehearsal space is a maze of milk crates leading to the distant beat of drums, and someone strumming on a bass. In the rehearsal space, a string of yellow light bulbs hang from the ceiling and a neon purple light glows in the corner beside a dismembered mannequin. Posters cover the walls; recording
COMMENTARY
equipment and instruments fill the room. Settling into the space, lead singer Dennis Clark sat down with The Journal while other members of the band warmed up for their jam session. The band was preparing two songs, “I Wonder” and “Scream-it,” for Friday’s show. Clark wrote “I Wonder” in one night after hearing a melody written by guitarist Charlie Thomas. “It’s about a break-up and wondering what could’ve been. It’s about regret and it’s vague. If you’ve ever had your heart broken, you wonder what could’ve been if it kept going,” Clark said.
The song’s melodic, emotional musing is a dramatic contrast from the second song they played, “Scream-it.” More on-brand for a grunge rock band, “Scream-it” is loud and heavy. When the band starts performing it, they scream the nearly indecipherable lyrics, and earn the song’s title. All the while, Clark sang and head-banged, waving his guitar as he played. The song’s lyrics are intentionally vague to relate to more people, according to Clark. The two songs were polar opposites: “I Wonder” is one of the band’s few soft songs breaking up their alt-rock repetoire. The departure was a long-time coming for Listen Up Kid. Though the band was formed in 2012 its current four member line-up have only been working together for a year. Their current songs are all originals, indicative of the act setting their sights on the future. There’s around 30 of them, all displayed on a billboard in the band’s rehearsal space. Originally formed in 2012, the band’s first line-up got their song “Make Up” on the National Top 200 list. It was a dream come true, according to Clark.
Remembering Rembrandt’s contributions to art history 350 years later One of history’s most influential artists, still relevant today Brittany Giliforte Assistant Arts Editor 2019 marks the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt’s death. Three-and-a-half centuries later, it might be the best time to celebrate some of the artist’s finest work. In Kingston, the Agnes Etherington Art Centre holds five original Rembrandt pieces, including “Portrait of a man with arms akimbo,” and a self-portrait sketch. Rembrandt van Rijn, born in the present-day Netherlands in 1606, is considered to be one of the greatest artists that ever lived. He was a drawer, painter, and printmaker, and his consistent ability to produce intense, captivating portraits are proof of his talent and voice. Despite being a university drop-out, Rembrandt achieved renown in his lifetime—a rare accomplishment in art. Working as an apprentice to other painters, Rembrandt refined his skill and
became a master of his craft. A defining part of the Dutch Golden Age, his work dealt with religious, political, and social themes. His portraits of regal, high class individuals show viewers what the men who ruled looked like throughout history. His work at the Agnes, “Portrait of a man with arms akimbo,” is of an unnamed, unknown man with a stoic expression. He looks ahead, making eye contact with the viewer with an arresting gaze. The painting is done in dark, muted colours, adding to the shroud of mystery surrounding the man. Meanwhile, his self-portraits are some of his most famous work. The painting titled “Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul” mixes his focus of religion with his self-image. The man in the painting looks out to the viewer with an engaging expression. Eyebrows raised, lips pursed, eyes-wide, he appears to be mid-conversation with the viewer. His self-portraits aren’t vain. He shows himself as he must’ve seen him: unsymmetrical features, wrinkles, grey and unkempt hair. It adds to the hyper-life-like appearance of his work. Rembrandt’s ability to create life-like and visually compelling details while
PHOTOS BY TESSA WARBURTON
They’ve since become a recognizable name in Kingston, even working with The Glorious Son’s producer, Terry Benn. Recent developments aside, Benn and Clark first became friends in high school. “I’ve always looked up to him, I watched his studio grow throughout the years. I was really stoked to work with him because he’s super pro,” Clark said. Remembering the time he spent working with Benn, Clark said their experiences together are “captured on that album like a time stamp.” These memories—like Justin Kennedy’s bass slamming Clark’s nose—form a foundational part of their sound. “That probably wasn’t my favourite time. It made for good footage though,” Clark said. Regardless of the memory, they can all agree The Toucan is one of their favourite venues to play. “It’s pretty sweet because they pay well and it’s a free show so a lot of people come out,” Clark told The Journal. “They’re more drunk and they’re happy they didn’t have to pay $10 just to get in.” With no cover, there’s nothing like watching an energetic band scream for free.
simultaneously creating a year-long celebration with events and an suggestion of movement exhibition called Year of Rembrandt. is a testament to his skill. This celebration will include a It a p p e a r s guided tour of all Rembrandt in “The Blinding pieces, a presentation of 22 paintings, of Samson.” The 60 drawings, and over 300 of his prints. painting depicts the While his work has been known Philistine soldiers and celebrated for centuries, this year stabbing out the eyes offers a new take on remembering of Israelite warrior Samson—a Rembrandt: even three-and-a-half centuries legendary figure in the Bible’s Book after his death, his work is still appreciated. of Judges. Through the generosity of the Baders, The soldier’s knives are plunging into Queen’s students have the luxury Samson’s eyes—but are painted like they’re of being in walking distance from his in motion. Meanwhile, a woman is work. A quick stroll to the Agnes will mid-turn as if fleeing behind the men in the bring you to face to face with some of painting’s background. Rembrandt’s most famous paintings. Rembrandt’s works often show subject Remembering Rembrandt’s work matter that is hard to look at, but it’s a sign of this year reminds us that effort, persistence, his dedication to his craft—always examining and dedication to passion life and depicting it honestly. are key ingredients to making art Today, Rembrandt’s work is that stands the test of time. celebrated all over the world. In the 350th year since his death, the Agnes is one of many museums presenting his work to remind people of his contributions to the art community. Notably, the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands PHOTO BY BRITTANY GILIFORTE is holding a Rembrandt’s “Portrait of a man with arms”
Arts
Friday, February 1, 2019
EVENT REVIEW
Paige Kedrosky Contributor With only a theme, a camera, and 72-hours, 100 participants from 14 groups had to shoot and edit their own short films for this year’s Focus Film Festival. On Thursday, a full-house saw the results of each participant’s hard work as the 14 short films made their debut at the annual gala held at Grant Hall. Students, members of the public, and industry professionals were in the audience at the evening’s gala. This year’s theme, Focus Blockbuster, required each team to create a film based on a classic movie quote given to them prior to the competition period. The quotes varied from The Wizard of Oz’s, “There’s no place like home!” to The Godfather’s, “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” “It’s funny to see where everyone takes the idea, people get so creative with the quotes,” said Alexandra Phillips, ArtSci ’20, one of the Focus Film Festival co-directors. Open to all faculties, the festival asks that participants simply have an interest in film and a willingness to learn. “We put the participants in groups based on skills and interests, you can apply with an interest in anything from cinematography to acting and be placed accordingly”, said Sean Stead-Fecser, ArtSci ’19, one of the festival co-directors. Once all of the films are produced and submitted, they premiere at the annual gala where students, members of the public, and industry professionals gather to celebrate the hard work put into each film.
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PLAY REVIEW
Focus Film Festival rolls out red carpet at Grant Hall 72-hour film festival demonstrates filmmaking talent
queensjournal.ca
Learning What a Young Wife Ought to Know Play is a witty reminder of women’s struggle for reproductive freedom
The semi-formal gala and screening provided nearly all the glamour of a star-studded awards show, featuring a red carpet photo-op, food and drink, and a raffle for $50 worth of assorted gift cards. The 14 films were screened and with a potential to win one of the 14 awards handed out by the festival’s three judges: Toronto filmmaker Ray Savaya, Queen’s Alumni and accomplished actress,Sara Garcia, and esteemed acting coach Dean Armstrong. After the 14 films were screened, the audience voted for its choice for Best Film which went to Pursuit of the UniKiller, a mockumentary style short following the life of an aspiring serial killer. The film also won Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing. While the Blockbuster theme ensured original content, horror and relationship issues were Sudac and Montagnese at the Grand Theatre.
The festival asks that participants simply have an interest in film and a willingness to learn.
recurring themes in several films. The 14 categories for awards varied from First Submission, honouring timeliness, to Best Use of Theme. The films ranged from the silent, audio-muffled film Blue, which focused on the struggles of relationships, to cult-crazed sorority girls in Zeta Zeta Zeta. Each film kept the audience uniquely engaged and waiting on the edge of its seat for what came next. The festival was an evening full of entertainment and networking for students inspired by filmmaking. Despite the quick turnaround and emphasis on theme, each of the films this year succeeded in gaining a positive audience response and, together, created a lively evening of film among friends.
Focus Film Festival’s premiere gala at Grant Hall.
PHOTO BY BEIBEI LI
Brigid Goulem Arts Editor
laugh about things that make them uncomfortable. However, the three actors—Anna Sudac as Sophie, Jesse MacMillan as Jonny, and Alexandra Montagnese as Elba— bring Moscovitch’s masterful script to life. They navigate the line between serious and playful perfectly, giving the audience permission to laugh in situations that don’t usually merit laughter. The jokes in the play highlight the deeper issues. Sophie’s continuous back-and-forth with the audience is a reminder that while women phrase their questions in more modern terms, they aren’t old-fashioned issues. Although women today aren’t penalized for pity-kissing the dying postman, as poor Sophie was, there are still a lot of moralistic approaches to women’s sexuality and reproductive decisions. South of the border, women’s reproductive rights have been under attack as states work to defund Planned Parenthood and restrict access to birth control and abortions. These restrictions can actually cost women their lives. When women don’t have access to birth control and abortions are illegal, women are at risk.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ROSEMARY DOYLE
As the audience watches Elba die from a cathertar-induced abortion, Sophie asks whether this is a common form of birth control for women. The sad truth is the answer is still yes for many. At one point in the play, after arguing about more children, Jonny asks Sophie whether she wants another baby. She rightly points out she can’t afford another child and could die if she gets pregnant again. For many women, the question of whether to put your own needs ahead of those of an unborn child is seen to be a selfish choice, assuming that motherhood is not a choice. In Ontario, women have access to free and safe abortions. It’s our right and we should never lose sight of the fight it took to get here. This access allows each woman to decide her own life course, and choose to start a family at her own pace. What a Young Wife Ought to Know is an important reminder of the women who died in the fight for reproductive rights. It’s something we take for granted these days, but it’s valuable to remember the cost of a world without free, safe abortions, whether it’s on stage or not.
The story of a young woman struggling to defend her reproductive choice in 1920s Ottawa might not strike audiences as a hilarious, heartwarming romance. However, audiences would be proven wrong by Hannah Moscovtich’s What a Young Wife Ought to Know—on stage at the Grand Theatre until Feb. 17. The play centres around Sophie, a young working-class woman in ’20s Ottawa. After Sophie loses her sister, Elba, to a botched abortion, she marries Jonny, her sister’s former lover. As time goes by, and money gets tighter, Sophie’s less inclined to have more children. On top of financial pressure, she has a prolapsed uterus and her womb can’t provide the necessary nutrients for the foetus. After four pregnancies, Sophie and Jonny try to stop having kids. They try abstinence, but they can’t keep their hands off each other. They try some sort of sponge that Sophie sticks in her vagina, but it just ends up stinging Jonny and and melts with use. Their attempts at birth control are amusing, and throughout the show, Sophie pauses and asks the modern-day audience whether this is what they use to prevent pregnancies. Throughout the show, the outdated takes on morals and medicine provide the audience with some comic relief while the still-relevant reasons of why women choose not to have children are adressed. The lighthearted approach to the serious content matter could easily be butchered. It’s challenging to make people Sudac and MacMillan embrace as Sophie and Jonny.
12 • queensjournal.ca
Friday, February 1, 2019
Sports
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Marianne Alarie hits 1,000 career points Fifth-year guard averaging career-high in points per game this season
Marianne Alarie (10) is the fourth women’s basketball player in the program’s history to score 1,000 career points.
Andrew Schjerning Staff Writer
On Saturday night, Marianne Alarie pushed her way into Laurentian’s zone and dropped in an easy teardrop layup. It quietly cemented Alarie in Queen’s basketball folklore, becoming the fourth player in franchise history to hit the 1,000 career points mark. Alarie is having what’s possibly her best season with the women’s basketball team, defined by her phenomenal scoring ability and resounding leadership. Entering her fifth and final season with Queen’s, it’s evident the 5’9” guard from Sudbury, Ont., is looking to finish her career with the Gaels on a high note. “I had the opportunity to live that on home court and ironically, against my hometown
of Sudbury […] it’s really heartwarming to see everyone congratulating me,” she said of joining the 1,000 point mark. She added Head Coach Dave Wilson congratulated her in front of the team after the game. “He pointed out that it took a lot of hard work and dedication, and I spent a lot of time in the gym putting shots up.” Alarie is currently averaging 15.8 points per game—a career high—and ranks third in the OUA. In an interview with The Journal, she said all-around improvements in her game have allowed her to flourish as one of the league’s top scorers, adding her personal growth off the court has been just as important. Coming into Queen’s in 2014-15, Alarie was already an elite scorer, but understood there were certain facets of her game that needed improving.
FOOTBALL
Tom Flaxman named offensive coordinator
“I’ve always been offensively minded, and I think that’s one of my strengths. But when I came into Queen’s, coming into the university level, you have to be able to do more than just put the ball in the basket,” Alarie said. In her rookie season, she averaged four points per game on 45.5 per cent shooting. Over her five seasons with Queen’s, Alarie has steadily improved her scoring averages—but it’s how she’s refined other areas that define her play. In each season since arriving on campus, the guard’s upped her field goals per game, free throw percentage, and points per game, making her a more polished and all-around threat. “I’ve had to work hard on my defensive game and it’s improved a lot,” she said. “And as I’ve grown older, I’ve definitely improved on my leadership too […] But offense is important—I definitely like to score.” Alarie acknowledges her on-court improvements wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for undergoing substantial personal growth. She said her first year with the team was rife with challenges,
PHOTO BY CHRIS YAO
and the pressure to excel on the court was often overwhelming. “The biggest difference, for me, has been in my personal growth,” she said. “First year is hard for everyone, and I felt like I wasn’t quite myself.” Overcoming these obstacles, Alarie added, was largely due to the role her teammates played in helping her come into her own. “As I grew with this team, I kind of blossomed and became the player I am today. I thank my teammates for that,” Alarie said. “They allowed me to be comfortable with who I am.” “For me, my biggest growth has been in my personal life, and I’m thankful for that.” Reflecting on her time at Queen’s, Alarie said she wishes she could go back and teach her younger self the lessons she’s learned over her undergraduate career. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, and enjoy the ride,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to be yourself. That’s something I wish I could’ve told myself first year. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best right away, but I know now that it comes with time.”
Former McMaster OC joins newly hired Steve Snyder’s staff Max Bradshaw Staff Writer Queen’s football made a new addition to their coaching staff last Thursday, naming Tom Flaxman the team’s new offensive coordinator. Flaxman spent the past 11 years coaching in the OUA, most notably for McMaster, Western and U of T. In his most recent season with McMaster, Flaxman served as the program’s interim head coach following the mid-season termination of Head Coach Greg Knox. The Gaels hope Flaxman will refresh their offence after they went 3-5 last season. Flaxman and newly-appointed Head Coach Steve Snyder have some history on and off the field, having played each other in the mid-2000s when they both attended schools within the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference.
During his playing career, Flaxman was a running back. He played at McMaster—where he won the 2003 Yates Cup—and Acadia, capturing the 2005 Tom Flaxman. and 2006 AUS Title. Meanwhile, Snyder laced up for conference rival St. Francis Xavier. and culture. I know we are on the same “So we’ve been going at it for a long page,” Flaxman said. time,” Flaxman said at a press conference In addition, Flaxman has the reputation on Jan. 24. as a skilled recruiter. During his time at Flaxman got his start in U Sports coaching Western and McMaster, Flaxman had brought in 2008 with Acadia, eventually helping in the top three Canada Football Chat the team win the 2011 AUS championship recruits while working with the schools. as its offensive coordinator. He’s also been Given his history of bringing in athletes, involved with Team Ontario over the past Flaxman tried recruiting some players who seven years, and won the Canada Cup Gold are in fact currently on the Queen’s roster. in 2014. “Working at McMaster and Western, Snyder and Flaxman share similar I’ve recruited a lot of the guys on [Queen’s] coaching styles and ideals, which they hope roster so I have some relationships with will lead to long-term success for the Gaels. them,” Flaxman said, adding he hopes his “We’ve spent a lot of time at various previous dialogue with players will help them functions discussing philosophy on adjust to his coaching. offense, philosophy on the program Although he never attended Queen’s,
PHOTO BY RICH ZAZULAK
Flaxman said he’s aware of the institution’s reputation of excellence in sport and academics. “I’ve had a number of family members who have gone to Queens and they’ve always spoken highly of the Queens community,” he said. Most importantly, Flaxman is hoping to help build a championship football team with the Gaels. He wants to “create a culture of competition” within the team and for players to hold each other accountable. “I’m excited to be here and join the tradition and hopefully build on it,” Flaxman said. The Gaels will open their 2019-2020 season on Aug. 25 at home against the Carleton Ravens.
Sports
Friday, February 1, 2019
queensjournal.ca
• 13
CROSS COUNTRY
Brant Stachel named Coaching Coordinator of Athletics Ontario, NACAC Team Coach Cross country assistant coach expands reach onto national stage Matt Scace Sports Editor According to Brant Stachel, a positive culture defines an athlete’s success. If his career is any indication, that philosophy holds credence. Earlier this January, Athletics Ontario (AO) announced Stachel, Queen’s assistant cross country coach, as their Coaching Coordinator effective immediately. Additionally, in December, he was named Team Coach of Athletics Canada’s 2019 North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country team, a race that’ll take place in just over two weeks in Trinidad and Tobago. Current Queen’s athletes Brogan MacDougall, Makenna Fitzgerald, and alumni Claire Sumner will join him. With his position at AO, Stachel is responsible for coaching and professional development within the organization, along with assisting in their high performance training with the province’s top athletes. Stachel believes the two opportunities—which have been arguably the biggest of
his career—came to fruition because of the paths he’s taken. He credits his six years at Queen’s for providing him with the tools to fill the role. To him, Queen’s cross country Head Coach Steve Boyd has been at the forefront of his development. “Having Steve as a mentor was a really big thing,” Stachel, who arrived at Queen’s in 2012 and slowly progressed into the role of assistant coach, told The Journal. “I think it’s something we’re missing in coaching education is an engaged mentorship.” While under Boyd’s tutelage—which Stachel said brought a team oriented and healthy environment to the cross country program—his core values as a coach were fostered. Over the past two years, Queen’s women’s
Cross country Head Coach Steve Boyd (left) and Assistant Coach Brant Stachel (right).
team has won consecutive OUA Championships and placed second in the U Sports Championships. “Part of the role I’m trying to create with AO is mentorship opportunities because I saw the value in it,” he said. Making a career out of coaching has always been Stachel’s primary commitment, but putting himself into these roles has never necessarily been prioritized. He
said he’s always let his work speak for itself. “I never really thought out my goals […] it was just a hard-focus on developing athletes, doing it the right away, building community, and building support networks for our athletes to succeed,” he said, adding that getting the position at AO was a surprise. “The coaching one was a bit of a shock.”
Matt Scace Sports Editor
This story was first published online on Jan. 28. This weekend, the men’s volleyball team (10-3) enjoyed two wins in a weekend that was expected to be anything but routine. Going up against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues (9-5) and Ryerson Rams (9-4), the Gaels beat the teams 3-1 and 3-0, respectively. The three squads currently round out the top spots in the OUA East—Queen’s game against Ryerson was a tiebreaker between the two, with both sharing identical records ahead of their match on Sunday. “We had a great weekend—I think the guys really bought into the game plan this week,” Head Coach Gabriel DeGroot said after Sunday’s win against Ryerson. Against U of T, the teams split the opening two sets—the Gaels took the first 25-17 while the Blues
Zac Hutcheson (15) landed 18 kills against Ryerson on Sunday.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
PHOTO BY CHRIS YAO
Gaels make statement against U of T, Ryerson Queen’s solidify first place in OUA with straight-sets victory over conference rival pushed back to win the second 25-22. While both teams were tight across the statistics—Queen’s hit 51 kills to U of T’s 46 and made 48 assists to the Blues’ 42—U of T fell victim to their errors. The visiting side committed 23 errors, 10 more than Queen’s. DeGroot said his team’s consistent defense was particularly
key to its win. “[We had a] little more of a balanced, disciplined defense from us […] it worked really well,” he said. Against Ryerson, the Gaels rolled by the Rams in just over an hour. The win pushed Queen’s past Ryerson to first in the OUA East. The two teams shared a 9-3 record
ahead of the game. While the Gaels commanded a quick match, all three sets were tight. Queen’s held Ryerson to 23 points in the first two sets and 20 in the third. Logging just three less errors than the Rams, Queen’s edged out Ryerson in kills 43-34. “[We] worked hard at making
PHOTO BY MATT SCACE
With his role at NACAC, Stachel’s travel schedule has steadily increased. Last summer he lead Team Canada at the International University Sports Federation World University Cross Country Championships in Switzerland. Despite travelling approximately 35 weekends over the year, he’s staying focused on his primary goals. “It’s not a huge difference […] the life of a coach is travel on the road. I’m super fortunate that I get to give back to the community and build the next generation of coaches,” he said. As Stachel grows in the Canadian cross country coaching landscape, he has a message for coaches who’ve begun looking up to him. “Everything we do and I try to do is team-oriented,” Stachel said. “If we can always keep that in mind it keeps you grounded in what you’re trying to do. If you stick with your goals and aspirations and have sound development, then it makes it a bit easier to extend the pathway and create athletes who follow and trust you.” really specific adjustments to our components, and that showed in this game,” DeGroot said. Fourth-year Zac Hutcheson had one of his strongest games of the season against Ryerson, punching in 18 kills and recording two blocks. DeGroot said Hutcheson has been the Gaels’ most well-rounded player this season. “We had a great weekend from Zac […] he’s stepped up in every aspect,” DeGroot said. “Defensively, offensively, he had an awesome weekend.” In addition, second-year Zane Grossinger led Queen’s offense, accounting for 38 of the Gaels’ 42 assists. Next weekend, Queen’s will travel to Northern Ontario to play the Nipissing Lakers (3-7) on Saturday, then back down to Toronto to take on the York Lions (4-6) on Sunday. Now first in the OUA East, Queen’s has the opportunity to keep hold of its position in the standings, considering each of its last five opponents has a losing record.
14 • queensjournal.ca
Friday, February 1, 2019
e l y t s e f i L QUEEN'S TAKES THE REAL WORLD
An unexpected detour to med school How I landed in medicine after graduating Amy enrolled in University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine after her third year at Queen's.
Amy Yu Contributor Every medical student has a story of what they were doing when they first got their university acceptance: how they celebrated, who they immediately shared the news with, and how they felt relieved and rewarded for their hard work. I wish I had that. Instead, acceptance to medical school came with confusion. If you asked me a year ago what my post-grad was going to look like, I’d say I’d be moving into a tiny apartment in downtown Toronto to work at a startup. My day-to-day would involve designing pitch decks and strategizing marketing campaigns, all while lounging back in a beanbag chair and sipping kombucha. After spending the previous summer in a startup incubator and two entrepreneurship communities, it made sense. The last thing I expected was to trade it all for a doctor’s
Zier Zhou Editorial Illustrator
Personality quizzes drive massive amounts of internet traffic each day. Although they may appear arbitrary, there’s a reason why we’re curious to find which inanimate objects or food best match our personality. It’s in our instincts to seek out community and discover our identity. We’re inquisitive, but also want to be known and understood by others. The long-term solution to this question can be found by immersing ourselves in meaningful relationships, work, and other organizations that align with our values. These endeavors require a lot of time and effort. Meanwhile, personality tests come quick. They’re fun, light-hearted, and can provide us with a quick sense of satisfaction.
coat and four more years of school. As you can imagine, I was pretty shocked when I was accepted to University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine. At the time, I was spending my summer in Tokyo doing marketing and design at an advertising technology startup, immersed in what the city had to offer and ready for a carefree summer. Suddenly, I was hit with a wave of pressure to make the biggest decision of my life. Fearing friends and family would sway my decision, I withheld the news and took time to think. I’d never felt lonelier or more lost. In second year, I changed my mindset and strayed off the traditional path to medical school. I didn’t want to give up my summers to do research just for
the sake of padding my resumé. Meanwhile, my mental health was taking a toll from the stress of trying to maintain a perfect GPA. But I applied to med school anyway because my mother advised me to keep my options open. I faced some pretty hard questions while deciding whether to go or not. As someone who’s very ambitious, I asked myself: was I reconsidering medicine only because the opportunity was now available? I sat on the floor of my tiny apartment in Tokyo for days, unsure of how this would pan out. After a lot of self-reflecting, I ultimately chose medicine because I believed it would challenge me in ways I needed—and give me the fulfillment and purpose I longed for in a career. Fast forward a few months, and I came home from Tokyo to
WHY DO I LIKE THIS?
Toronto with only six days to pack up my life, get all of my paperwork sorted out, and move to Ottawa. Change can be intimidating, but it’s something we have to accept. When I first moved to Queen’s, I spent so much energy worrying and missing home that I passed up on all the new, exciting experiences first year brings. With this new beginning in Ottawa, I decided to let go and embrace change. I was able to open myself up, meeting some amazing people who I now consider my close friends. I’ve allowed myself to explore the city. I’m also enjoying what I’m learning, since it can contribute to something more worthwhile than passing an exam. Of course, things aren’t always perfect. There have been times where I’ve doubted myself and
The appeal behind personality quizzes Quizzes should be seen as entertainment, not self-discovery Granted, we’re not seriously convinced our favourite kind of bread has anything to do with how many kids we’ll have in the future—but maybe that other quiz about 2019 being our lucky year is right.
Despite how random the results of personality quizzes may be, if it’s one we’re particularly fond of, we may as well hold onto it in a world full of uncertainty and chance.
BuzzFeed quizzes are very popular among readers.
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
When I took the famed Myers-Briggs personality test for the first time, I found it surprisingly accurate and thought it was one of the coolest things I’d experienced. But then again, the results only made sense because I’d just answered 64 questions about myself. The test provided a vague summary of my results—telling me things I already knew. Some of the most popular quizzes tell us what character we are in our favourite TV show or movie franchise. While it can be interesting to wonder about which house we’d get sorted into at Hogwarts, we should never take personality quizzes too seriously.
ILLUSTRATION BY GENEVIÈVE NOLET
felt incompetent. It’s important to remember, whatever your career, that someone saw potential in you and that’s why you are where you are. What helped me most was to reach out to my classmates because, more often than not, they were going through the same thing as me. As you head towards the end of your undergrad at Queen’s, you’ll see friends figuring out their plans for the future. It can be anxiety-inducing, especially if you don’t know what the future holds. Remember that everybody struggles, even if you only hear of their successes. Go at your own pace and focus on being present. Your next semesters will zip by. There’s really no place like Queen’s and your experiences here will stay with you as you move on to your next chapter. In whatever time you have left, cherish every moment—you’ll figure the rest out later. In contrast to reality, where our closest relationships depend on our background or who we’re related to, fictional worlds like Harry Potter create sharp boundaries between people with different values and abilities. There is an illusion of stability, as if each person fits in their own group and can live this way in total harmony. Personality quizzes are easy, entertaining, and often promote a sense of community. Sometimes the results are ridiculous and make us laugh. Other times, they allow us to feel normal and find comfort in organized kinds of diversity. There’s nothing wrong with taking personality quizzes—we’re naturally wired to seek out ways to self-reflect. However, it’s worth knowing our personalities are unique and rarely set in stone. They can’t be categorized by a simple label or result.
Lifestyle
Friday, February 1, 2019
queensjournal.ca
• 15
POP CULTURE
Thanks to online players, Dungeons & Dragons makes a comeback Why the fantasy role-playing game is more accessible than ever Tegwyn Hughes Copy Editor Vintage tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons isn’t fading into obscurity anytime soon. Thanks to the game’s representation in shows like Community and Strangers Things, and the novelisation of several franchise stories, D&D has experienced a resurgence in popularity. According to Syfy, 2017 was the game’s most successful year since 1997. D&D, created in 1974, combines the best aspects of improv, fantasy storytelling, and gambling into one adventure-filled experience. The game is often played in small groups. Each person creates a fantasy character who’s plunged into an imaginary journey created by the Dungeon Master, a player who orchestrates and narrates the quest’s events. Sets
of dice dictate the consequences of your character’s actions, which can range from picking a lock to stabbing an enemy. If you roll higher than a certain threshold, you succeed; if you roll lower, you fail. In one game, you could take on the role of an elven princess, and in another, you could be a gnomish rogue. The possibilities of D&D are endless—the game is only limited by your imagination. Thanks to the internet, new platforms for D&D have emerged. Through podcasts and videos, roleplaying fans can immerse themselves in campaigns without even playing. Podcasts were the first venue for players to share their campaigns with the world. One of the most popular, The Adventure Zone, started in 2014 and features brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy. Along with their father, Clint, the brothers narrate their various adventures
Dimension 20 combines D&D with high school.
in the game. The podcast has been so successful that it was adapted into a graphic novel last July. Other notable podcasts include Critical Role, which features voice actors and occasional celebrity guests like Felicia Day and Joe Manganiello, and Dames and Dragons, an all-female campaign buoyed by humour and a mysterious storyline. The most ambitious D&D show I’ve had the pleasure of watching is CollegeHumor’s video-based campaign series, Dimension 20. Once known for its comedy skits about young adulthood, CollegeHumor recently rebranded by launching a paid platform called DROPOUT. The website hosts the skits fans love and also features comics, chat-based stories, and episode-length shows. Watching Dimension 20 has been my favourite pastime since its first eight episodes were released for free on YouTube this past October. Hosted by Dungeon Master Brennan Lee-Mulligan, with a cast made up of improvisers and Collegehumor alumni, the show’s first season
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALLY MASTANTUONO
made me laugh, cry, and grit my teeth each episode. The premise of the show’s inaugural season is relatively unique compared to other “high fantasy,” Tolkien-like campaigns. Instead of being set in a fantastical medieval realm, the show’s characters are high school students attending an “adventuring academy” for young quest-takers in a small, 1950s-inspired town. The intrepid heroes contend with evil teachers, enchanted arcades, and annoying parents. The campaign has all the intrigue, excitement, and magic of a classic D&D campaign—with the added bonus of teenage romance and family drama. The light-hearted show is a great introduction to D&D, especially for players who aren’t familiar with the intricacies of fantasy storytelling. Thanks to the cast’s background in improv, the story’s plot and dialogue have an impressive flow. Characters often generate funny one-liners or inspiring speeches on the fly; inside jokes follow the cast from
the first episode to the last and make viewers feel like they’re part of the campaign. High production value also adds to Dimension 20’s immersive experience. Each episode is filled with mood lighting, background music, and sound effects that enhance the viewer’s experience. In battles, specially-designed figures of the characters and detailed sets give visual representations of the fight’s progress. I find podcasts and shows about D&D entertaining because they make the game accessible to beginners and people without an established campaign of their own. As a university student, I can’t devote a few hours a week to playing tabletop games in-person. Instead, I satisfy my love for the game by watching my favourite online personalities play together. If you’ve never heard of D&D and are interested in learning more about the franchise, the internet’s the place to start. D&D-inspired media is scattered across the web, and it’s making the role-playing franchise more popular than ever.
TV REVIEW
Netflix’s You promotes a dangerously appealing protagonist Ally Mastantuono Assistant Lifestyle Editor Netflix’s latest thriller-drama, You, is smart, bizarrely compelling, and wildly popular. But the show’s excellence doesn’t excuse how it romanticizes stalking women, whether intended or not. You excels in subverting traditional rom-com expectations while exposing the pitfalls of dating in the age of social media. It does so with enough humour and suspense to have viewers bingeing all 10 episodes in the span of a weekend. On one hand, the show’s cynical take on the horrors of modern dating is nothing short of praiseworthy. On the other, its portrayal of romantic obsession toes the line of danger. You follows Joe (Penn Badgley), a bookstore manager, whose chance encounter with customer Beck (Elizabeth Lail) marks the beginning of his unhealthy obsession. Convinced their playful flirting is an invitation into her life, Joe gleans Beck’s name from her credit card and proceeds to stalk her online and in person. Once he steals her phone, Joe gets the unrestricted ability to keep tabs on Beck’s whereabouts,
The popular drama romanticizes its stalker lead follow her around New York access to his every thought, City, and lay claim to her deepest desire, and intention. As viewers, thoughts—and does so while we’re constantly in Joe’s head. convincing her he’s a real-life And that’s part of the problem. prince charming. While Beck remains Joe’s sole Since both characters are focus throughout You, in many literary-minded—Joe ways, Joe’s our being a bookworm, Beck an MFA student and aspiring poet—the nature of storytelling remains an important PHO t h e m e TO ILL throughout the US T R A T IO show. That said, Joe’s N immediately given total BY JOS power over the narrative, as he H GR A NO VS exerts control not only over Beck’s KY life but also what the viewer sees and hears. focus. Forced Whereas Joe’s role as Beck’s to follow him through his stalker allows him to decide twisted quest for love, viewers where she goes and who she sees, see how he justifies violent his function as You’s narrator actions, experiences remorse, and means everything the audience plays unofficial guardian to his encounters is filtered through neighbour’s neglected son, Paco his perspective. (Luca Padovan). During his all-consuming Early on in the series, Joe fascination with Beck, Joe’s lends Paco a copy of Mary incessant narration gives us Shelley’s Frankenstein, the story
of a monster who, in Joe’s words, is “not really the monster.” As he reads it, Paco agrees—the monster’s point of view allows readers to understand why he does what he does. The scene ends with the dangerous conclusion that while Frankenstein’s monster is problematic, he’s “not all bad [because] maybe Dr. Frankenstein’s the bad one for even making him.” In the same episode, Joe’s given the benefit of tragic flashbacks, which show him as the victim of repeated psychological abuse. No longer is he portrayed as a manipulative and violent stalker—he appears as an emotionally neglected man trying to give Paco the support Joe never had. The series tries to create empathy for an otherwise destructive predator. And, in a lot of ways, it works. Whether Joe is sneaking into Beck’s apartment to access
her laptop or trailing her trip to Connecticut, viewers are bound to instinctually root for his safe getaway. This is in part thanks to the fact he plays the perfect boyfriend. In the end, Beck’s shown to benefit from Joe’s constant intervention. The friend he wants her to lose proves shallow and manipulative, while the former fling she’s hooked on is, in fact, toxic. While Joe becomes the root of a lot of her problems, he’s simultaneously pegged as her saviour and improves her life in ways she couldn’t on her own. While You manages to expose the grim reality of unwanted attention, it also betrays the dangerous ambiguity surrounding the culpability of stalkers. This has been evidenced by recent online controversy: Since the show’s release on Netflix, Badgley has taken to Twitter to remind infatuated fans not to romanticize or defend his morally corrupt character. You is ultimately worth the watch so long as viewers maintain the right mindset. While bingeing, it’s important to remember the hero of this story is also the villain.
Lifestyle
16 •queensjournal.ca
Friday, February 1, 2019
POSTSCRIPT
Me Before You: Love and Mental Health Sharing a personal story in honour of Bell Let’s Talk
Support doesn't mean putting another person before your own mental health.
This article mentions suicide and may be triggering for some readers. Due to the sensitivity of the content, the author's name has been removed to maintain anonymity. As the middle child in a family of three girls, my mum always referred to me as the glue. I kept the sisterly fighting to a minimum and made sure we were laughing instead of slipping death threats under each other’s doors. I was a good peace-keeper through all our crazy teenage years, probably because I was always a happy kid. I never thought by the age of 20, I’d be at my worst mental state, trying to support and care for my bipolar boyfriend.
I never thought by the “age of 20, I’d be at my
worst mental state, trying to support and care for my bipolar boyfriend.
”
High school flew by, with its spirit days and sports teams, and the few parties I went to—where I discovered that my five-foot-tall frame couldn’t survive an entire mickey of Smirnoff—seem like another lifetime now. I look back and laugh: my biggest concerns then were the 67 per cent I got on a Latin quiz and who was taking me to prom. The summer after I graduated, I started seeing my boss. I use the term ‘seeing’ because he was five years older than me and had a girlfriend—he was completely off-limits. Something about me changed that summer. Suddenly I was
lying to my family all the time, missing dinners to sneak off with him, and even pretending I liked country music. He was the biggest secret I’d ever kept from my parents. He was also my first big love. It hit me hard and fast, though I think that’s true for everyone’s first. In a state of complete oblivion, all the lies and sneaking around seemed well worth it. When summer ended and I moved into Adelaide Hall, the lovely all-girls residence on campus, my summer fling went back to his life, doing whatever 23 year olds do. I thought this wild chapter of my life was over, but we continued talking. I started to believe we could make it work. Less than a month later he ended things, ducking out of paying the $1,000 he owed me from work. A year later, he contacted me and, after several apologies, we started dating. The relationship was a big step up from the previous summer. He told me he had Bipolar Disorder, a diagnosis he received about five years ago from his psychiatrist. He took a variety of medications to treat it, and went to biweekly therapy sessions. I was under the impression he had the disorder under control, but it was very much the opposite. He was a textbook alcoholic, drunk every day, and I was a naïve 19-year-old thinking this was a normal relationship. I turned a blind eye to every red flag. One Sunday, after he spent the weekend with me in Kingston, we said goodbye only for him to come back through my door two hours later. He was drunk, high, and an
embarrassing mess. I made some excuse to my friends and laughed it off as I dragged him upstairs to my room and put him to bed. Ignoring the major assignment I had due the next day, I stayed up taking care of him. That night, I learned he was also addicted to cocaine. He was very sick, and not the kind where you can come over, make chicken soup and watch movies until you feel better. He was mentally unwell. Second year was the hardest year of my life. School was pushed to the back of my mind because my number one priority became making sure my boyfriend’s mental illness didn’t take his life. Every problem I had seemed incomparable to the constant battle he was fighting, so we never talked about me. I didn’t feel remotely like myself anymore. I was missing class every day, lying to my friends and family constantly, and dreading waking up in the morning. Some days I stayed in bed and stared at the wall, completely numb.
feel remotely “likeI didn’t myself anymore. I
was missing class every day, lying to my friends and family constantly, and dreading waking up in the morning.
”
I was my boyfriend's only support system, his personal suicide hotline, and an around-the-clock mental health caregiver. Later that year, things got a bit
better. He finally quit the drugs and alcohol cold turkey, and he got himself sober for me. He cleaned himself up, started taking his meds consistently, and stabilized. I decided to tell my parents about him, and after that, we became a normal couple for a while. I wish it could've been that easy. Every week was a roller coaster of highs and lows, and I struggled to keep up with each manic-depressive episode. By the end of the year, no one really knew just how bad things had gotten with me. I was completely rundown because we were fighting constantly. I cared for him like no one else, but every suicidal threat tore into me and the psychological torture kept getting worse. He was a master at emotionally manipulating me into staying with him. I became depressed. For so long, I’d put his needs before my own, leaving my mental health behind to give him my full attention and care. I’d become skilled at hiding my feelings and pretending that everything was fine when my parents would call to check in; the reality was I was barely holding on. I’d developed an irrational fear that my parents, sisters, and friends all hated me. I thought the only person I had left was him. I finally called my dad one night and told him everything through tears. I opened up about what'd been going on and told him I wasn’t okay. My dad helped me realize I can’t blame myself for fights, or
PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON
stay with my boyfriend out of fear his suicidal threats will come true. No matter how much I loved him, my mental health was important too. I learned support doesn’t mean trying to act as professional
I learned that support “doesn’t mean trying to
act as professional help. No university student is qualified for a role that serious.
”
help. No university student is qualified for a role that serious. Support doesn’t mean putting another person above your own mental health. You can’t take care of others if you’re not okay yourself. After talking with my parents, I knew it was time to start looking after myself and get back on track with school. I spent a lot of time with my friends and family over the Christmas break, and have finally started to feel like myself again. I ended things with my boyfriend on good terms. He’s still sober and sees his psychiatrist more regularly. My biggest regret is ignoring my own mental health and bottling up my feelings for so long. I’m grateful for my sisters, housemates, parents and friends, and I regret not telling them what was going on sooner. Mental illness isn’t a broken leg, the flu, or a sliced hand. You can almost never see when people are struggling, and they almost never ask for help. It’s time to change that.