Queen's Journal, Volume 147, Issue 1

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the Queen’s University

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journal Volume 147, issue 1

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Monday, June 3, 2019

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

since 1873

Commission strikes fund for Black medical students Group sends apology letters to families of those impacted by the 1918 ban on Black medical students Luca Dannetta Assistant News Editor Less than a year after a PhD candidate alerted the University to a 1918 policy that banned Black medical students from enrolling, a commission to address the historic wrong is taking steps to reconcile the damage.

At the University’s April Senate meeting, Principal Daniel Woolf and Richard Reznick, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, issued a formal apology on behalf of Queen’s for a century-old policy which prohibited Black students from enrolling in the School of Medicine.

As part of the ongoing process to reconcile the colour ban’s harmful effects, the Faculty of Health Sciences established a Commission on Black Medical Students (CBMS) to generate recommendations for how the University should extend its apology beyond a symbolic gesture.

Edward Thomas, who’s now the associate director of the McDonald Institute, was the one who first brought attention to the policy

Commission seeks reconcilation for Black medical students.

that initiated the ban.

With his help, the Commission generated a list of families whose relatives were affected by the ban. After contacting these families, the Commission began to send out letters of apologies.

The first letter was delivered to the family of Dr. Ethelbert Bartholomew, a Black student whose medical career was halted abruptly by the ban in 1918.

The Commission has also developed

GRAPHIC BY AMELIA RANKINE

curricular content designed to educate medical students about the historic and continuing effects of the ban.

In an email to The Journal, Dr. Mala Joneja, chair of the Commission, confirmed this process has been completed and the curricular content will be introduced this fall.

The Commission will also provide financial support for Black medical students. According to Joneja, the Medicine Admission Award for Black Canadians has

Board of Trustees approves new draft of sexual violence policy The Journal breaks down the policy’s major potential changes C arolyn S vonkin Assistant News Editor On April 17, the Board of Trustees approved a new draft of the University’s sexual violence policy, marking its first revision since its implementation in 2016.

The scope of the revisions are wide, ranging from altered definitions to complete overhauls of protocol.

The Journal reached out to Barb Lotan, Queen’s sexual violence prevention and response coordinator (SVPRC), but she was unavailable for comment on the proposed changes.

Notably, the draft policy would usher in changes surrounding the confidentiality of complainants.

The current policy states the University “recognizes that disclosures are often made in confidence, and that the student may have an expectation of confidentiality.” The person to whom a disclosure is made may consult with the SVPRC for advice, but it is

not mandated to do so.

If implemented, the amended policy would require university employees who are not health care providers to “immediately notify” the SVPRC and “answer the SVPRC’s inquiries about the disclosure.”

The way the University will handle complaints could also change. Under the draft policy, a respondent must be a member of the University at the time a complaint is filed.

A new clause titled ‘Alternative Resolutions’ stipulates the University “can informally resolve a complaint, with or without the agreement of the complainant, in circumstances in which it considers such a resolution appropriate.”

No examples of circumstances where this clause may be used are offered.

Hearing procedures are now outlined more specifically in the draft policy.

The conductor of the hearing has been changed from a student conduct panel to the vice-provost, dean of student affairs, or an “unbiased and trained member of the University Community” chosen by the vice-provost or dean.

The draft policy would also tighten appeal guidelines.

A written appeal must now be submitted

within 10 days of an adjudicator’s decision.

Additionally, the policy specifies appeals wouldn’t be re-litigated through hearings, and a respondent must prove either the procedure the adjudicator used was unfair or the decision was unreasonable based on evidence.

The policy would also expand the definition of sexual harassment.

Whereas the current policy requires “a course of actions” for a complaint to qualify as an allegation of sexual harassment, the draft policy would allow single incidents to be considered sexual harassment.

The listed examples of behaviours qualifying as sexual harassment now include the “implied or expressed” promise of benefits or advancement in return for sexual favours, as well as threats of reprisals for rejecting unwanted advances.

The draft policy also shifts the responsibility to address anonymous complaints from the SVPRC to Campus Security Emergency Services.

In 2016, the Ontario government mandated post-secondary institutions to implement sexual violence policies and amend them every three years.

See Draft Policy on page 3

been fully established. Financial support up to $50,000 will be available to students admitted in 2019.

Financial support from this fund will be awarded to Black Canadians on the basis of demonstrated financial need and academic achievement.

The Commission additionally promised to establish a permanent exhibit in the School of Medicine’s atrium to depict the history of the ban and its effects.

Joneja said that preparation for the exhibit would be ongoing over the 2019-2020 academic year.

“The exhibit is important as it will be a display of remembrance and acknowledgement of the students affected by the ban, and will serve as an additional touchpoint for our current students who will now learn about the ban as part of their curriculum,” she said.

Joneja is hopeful the Commission’s work will help acknowledge this and other racist parts of the University’s history, by educating future students and creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for medical educations.

“If the Commission is successful, the future of Queen’s School of Medicine will be that of increased diversity and an inclusive learning environment, with an increased number of Black medical students and faculty,” she said.

Student groups take Ontario to court over Student Choice Initiative In court documents obtained

by The Journal, CFS-O says Minister Fullerton “acted unlawfully” on Student Choice Initiative directives Raechel Huizinga and Iain Sherriff-Scott Journal Staff

This article first appeared online on May 29.

On May 24, the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario (CFS-O) filed an application for Judicial Review at the Superior Court seeking to quash the Ford government’s proposed Student Choice Initiative (SCI).

Announced in January, the SCI would make most post-secondary student fees non-essential and give students the choice to opt out of them. A narrow slate of fees the province deems “essential” would remain See Ford on page 3

IN THIS ISSUE: The history of Greek life at Queen’s, p. 5. Agnes exhibit tackles sexual norms, p. 8.

Rugby player overcomes concussions, p. 10.

The ultimate indie summer playlist, p. 12 queensjournal.ca

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AMS updates for the month of May establishment of a commission for mental health initiatives, the team has taken steps toward some of their other platform pillars, like sustainability and accessibility.

In terms of sustainability, Jessica Dahanayake, vice-president (Operations), said single-use cutleries have been replaced with Sydney Ko reusable ones in the AMS offices.

Assistant News Editor She added the Society is in the process of getting rid of plastic Since students headed home cups at Queen’s Pub and hopes for the summer a few weeks to have biodegradable cups in ago, the AMS executives have place before students come back begun tackling some of their in September. platform promises.

The team also addressed the While the platform the impacts of the SCI and how the Executive initially released AMS is moving forward. during their campaigning period “We’re currently advocating contained promises now infeasible for an opt-out system that following the Student Choice informs students the fastest way Initiative (SCI), the team is close to possible about what these fees finishing an updated platform. are,” Pierce said. “That’s an “The SCI [has] changed a lot ongoing process we’re of what we want to achieve,” working very closely AMS President Auston Pierce said with the SGPS on, and we’re in an interview with The Journal. having constant communication Despite being forced to let go with faculty societies because of certain initiatives, such as the they’re also being heavily impacted

Society aims for biodegradable cups in Queen’s Pub, kickstarts open office hours

by this.”

With the implications of the SCI looming, Pierce brought up the importance of transparency and how they’ve started a marketing campaign to inform students to about which fees are affected.

William Greene, vice-president (University Affairs) added it’s important incoming students AMS kickstarts open office hours. are informed how the SCI has changed the fee system and information will be centralized faculty initiatives. online, and all event dates will be “We want to make sure students solidified throughout the years so know what the benefits and being students will be able to find the a member of the AMS are so they information easily. can make the right choice moving Similarly, the Society is also forward,” he said. in the process of developing an On accessibility, the team online tool that allows students to is introducing resource cards be more aware of the many clubs to distribute. on campus.

With collaborations from Greene explained that the web other faculties, these resource tool attempts to match students’ cards will be used to provide interests with clubs on campus. basic information about all the Acting on one of their biggest resources students can find on goals—improving student campus, such as supports for engagement—the team is also mental health, sexual violence, currently holding open office and academic support. hours for students to stop by and Aside from resource cards, all ask questions every Wednesday

JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

While the turnout rate wasn’t high for its debut last week, the team hopes to eventually have more than one open office hour during the week.

“We want to be there and accessible. We welcome all feedback, we welcome all conversation, and generally students have some of the greatest ideas,” Pierce said.

“There’s so many people who are experts in their field, and that’s what we need. We envision the future of the AMS being an open and collaborative environment that drives students forward.”

Unable to afford treatment, community rallies for cancer patient The Nantes family.

More than $30,000 raised for family of Queen’s alum Raechel Huizinga News Editor Five years ago, Julie Nantes’ husband was declared cancer-free.

This Valentine’s Day, they got a call—the tumor was back.

Julie graduated from Queen’s in 2001 with a degree in theatre.

She met her husband, Geoff, working on the set of Man of La Mancha. He was the light and sound designer, and she was the stage manager. “[Cancer’s] not ever where you expect to be,” Julie said in an interview with The Journal.

“We’ve been through this once.

You kind of think you get to the end of it. You start to fall into the

routine of normalcy again as you get another year cancer-free.”

Six months before their wedding, Geoff was diagnosed with brain cancer for the first time. Now, six years later, he was diagnosed again five months before Julie is due with their second child.

This might seem like a bad omen to many, but Julie doesn’t see it that way.

“Having that positive event coming up helped a lot and I think, again, this time we have this baby coming in a few weeks now that keeps you moving forward, too,” she said.

The first time Geoff underwent treatment, Julie’s mother—a trained nurse—was one of their biggest supports. She passed away from cancer last September.

“Our family has just been through this, so [we’re] barely out of the grieving process and here we are dealing with cancer again,”

she said. “It definitely presents a challenge to all of us, but we’ve had a lot of great people who’ve stepped up and who’ve helped us out.”

Geoff immediately started chemotherapy following his diagnosis in February, but the radiation caused extreme swelling in his body, forcing him to stop the treatment.

They were told his best option was to start drug therapy, but the cost was $16,000. Not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or government grants, funding the treatment was going to be difficult.

When a friend offered to set up a GoFundMe page for Geoff’s treatments, Julie didn’t have high expectations.

“I was kind of thinking, well, if we get half the money, we can figure out how to finance the other half,” she said. “I didn’t have any high expectations.”

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY JULIA NANTES

In less than a month, nearly move forward. You can’t dwell. We double the treatment cost were very positive last time and was raised. we were very blessed with a good More than $30,000 came outcome. Our family is growing pouring in from the Nantes’ and that’s something we both family and friends, but also from are working towards.” strangers. Julie said they received Julie said the first time her donations from Queen’s professors husband was diagnosed, she and students she hadn’t seen remembered going online since she graduated years ago. and seeing several “doom and “We’ve been absolutely blown gloom” stories. away by all of the support we’ve “I remember a friend saying received,” Julie said. to me it’s because people who With maternity leave looming are doing well don’t take time in a few weeks, Julie added the to share their story,” she said. support relieves financial stress “I think it’s important, when because the family lives off you’re moving forward and her salary. you have some positivity, it’s Geoff has already gone through good to share it so other people the first round of treatment and can hopefully be encouraged will finish up two days before through that.”

Julie is due to give birth to their “We’re glad our story is out second son. there and other people who Julie said it’s funny how timing are maybe in similar situations works out. can find some strength from that.

“You get up, you keep going for That helps a lot.” your family,” she said. “You have to

monday, june 3, 2019

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Feustel back in Kingston’s orbit More than 3,000 attendees at annual science rendezvous Lauren Thomas Contributor Last October, Queen’s alum Drew Feustel was commanding the International Space Station. On May 11, he came to Kingston to answer kids’ questions about what it’s like beyond Earth’s hemisphere.

More than 3,000 people showed up to the Leon’s Centre last month for Kingston’s ninth annual Science Rendezvous. More than 60 booths featured the work of scientists showing off the latest in chemistry, physics, biology, math, and engineering.

The event was sponsored by multiple Queen’s departments and faculties, as well as St. Lawrence College, the Royal Military College, and other community organizations.

Visitors were able to interact with live beehives, championship-winning robots, and virtual reality pig operations, but the event’s biggest feature was the appearance of NASA astronaut Drew Feustel.

“I think it’s important we have these local and regional events so students from the university and researchers can come out and share their stories and information with the kids and get them excited about their future,” Feustel said in an interview with The Journal.

Feustel, who’s spent more than 225

More than 3,000 attend science rendezvous.

days in space and performed over 61 hours of spacewalks, took the stage to answer questions ranging from why spacesuits are white to whether he’d ever seen an alien.

“Well, I can’t tell you,” he joked. “I think that as we get better about sending technology and sensors and scientific equipment into space, especially in a place like Mars, that we might soon see evidence of either bacterial life forms or microbial life forms.”

Feustel also said he hopes all humans will be able to go to space one day.

“Turns out, we’re not George Jetson. We’re kind of like Fred Flinstone still,” he said.

“We’ve only been working on this program for 50 years, so eventually all humans will have much [easier] access to space, I hope.”

Lynda Colgan, a faculty of education professor and lead organizer of the event, said she believes access to space starts right here on earth.

“Scientists are not just old men with crazy white hair like Einstein,” she said in an interview with The Journal. “They come in all shapes, sizes, ages, genders, and it’s so wonderful that they can inspire, be mentors and give opportunities for children and adults and older people.”

For Colgan, one of the event’s successes was how much the younger attendees enjoyed it. She said she didn’t want the event to be “dumbed down” because it was for kids, but informative and entertaining instead.

The event also included a “chemistry

CFS-O hopes to block Student Choice Initiative before September Continued from front. would remain mandatory.

The CFS—a national student association representing over 500,000 students from more than 60 post-secondary institutions—has been vocal in its opposition to the policy. The York Federation of Students is also a party to the suit.

At a press conference on May 28, Kayla Weiler, the national executive representative for CFS-O, questioned the province’s legal authority to impose the policy, saying they are doing so “in bad faith.”

She told reporters the lawsuit is aimed at pushing the Ford government for a complete repeal of the SCI. “If this government was truly for the students, they would respect our autonomy and repeal the Student Choice Initiative,” she said.

If this government was truly for the students, they would respect our autonomy and repeal the Student Choice Initiative.

—Kayla Weiler, executive representative of CFS

The CFS-O’s application for Judicial Review, obtained by The Journal on Wednesday, says Merrilee Fullerton, the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, “acted unlawfully” when the ministry designated “democratically determined

fees” as non-essential. health, and career services.

The application requests a judge hear the The CFS-O called the misclassification case on an “expedited basis” in an attempt a “fundamental departure” from to get a ruling or a temporary injunction long-standing practices. before the fall semester begins in September.

The application also cites a fundraising It also requests a judge issue a declaration email sent to supporters by the Ford that the minister, Merrilee Fullerton, government which said, “I think we all breached procedural fairness for “failing to know what kind of crazy Marxist nonsense notify and consult” relevant stakeholders in student unions get up to. So, we fixed that.” the sector before announcing the policy.

CFS-O said the sentiment shows Minister The CFS-O states repeatedly in its Fullerton’s “animus” toward student application the fees collected by universities associations. It also cites the email as and administered by student governments evidence that the catalyst for the policy “was are “democratically determined” through not to protect ‘student choice.’” campus referenda.

“Without any legislative authority or AMS, University respond mandate, the Minister’s Directives purport to supersede long-standing agreements In a written statement to The Journal, between student associations and Auston Pierce, AMS president, said the university and college administrations,” the SCI “negatively impacts all members of application read. the [Society].”

The application explains that fees “The AMS was forced to make significant determined through student referenda reductions in areas of our programming that have never been subject to regulation from we feel are fundamental in pursuing our goal the province. of representing Queen’s undergraduates “In previous protocols that imposed and facilitating their success,” he said. conditions on institution ancillary fees, While unable to comment on the the Minister expressly excluded ‘existing lawsuit’s specifics, Pierce said students and future fees established by student are “better positioned to determine governments, including those resulting which fees should be mandatory and from referenda sponsored by them,’” the opt-outable at [Queen’s] than any official at application read.

Queen’s Park.”

“Until the [Student Choice He added the Society’s referendum Initiative], the Province has at all times system for establishing and maintaining fees respected the democratic autonomy of prior to the SCI was “superior” in serving student associations.” student needs.

The application claims Minister In an email statement to The Journal, Fullerton’s April 3 directive misclassified Tom Harris, interim provost and democratically determined fees as vice-principal (Academic) wrote, “It would “ancillary fees”—which have traditionally be inappropriate for the administration been distinct from fees established by to comment on any activity in which it is student referenda. not directly involved.”

Ancillary fees are imposed by institutions themselves to fund activities like athletics, journal_news@ams.queensu.ca

PHOTO BY LAUREN THOMAS

magic show” by the Queen’s chemistry department, which illuminated the main stage with chemical reactions throughout the day. As well, live demonstrations from the Limestone Beekeepers Guild gave a presentation about honeybees and other local pollinators.

Melinda Knox, associate director of research profile and initiatives at Queen’s, was involved in the event’s organization. She told The Journal one of her hopes for the event is to inspire future Queen’s researchers.

“Seeing the looks of excitement and enthusiasm in the kids when we’re introducing them to the different research topics makes me really excited and hopeful for the future,” she said.

Ministry requires earlier deadline for sexual violence policy Continued from front.

After the release of Student Voices on Sexual Violence Survey results, the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities (MTCU) bumped the deadline up from January 2020 to this coming September.

The shortened deadline is a result of the survey’s significant findings, which included statistics ranking Queen’s second among participating institutions for highest number of sexual harassment experiences disclosed by survey respondents.

The Ministry also required universities to develop sexual violence task forces, made up of diverse student representatives. In March, Principal Daniel Woolf announced that the Queen’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Working Group (SVPRWG) would be transitioned into the required taskforce.

The University did not respond to a request for an update on the task force’s progress in time for publication.

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Monday, June 3, 2019

Top faculty salaries see jump in 2018

The Journal breaks down this year’s Sunshine List Luca Dannetta Assistant News Editor City leans towards opt-out of public drinking.

GRAPHIC BY AMELIA RANKINE

Mayor hesitant to relax public drinking rules Paterson cites concern over unsanctioned street parties, Breakwater Park Raechel Huizinga News Editor In its 2019 budget, the Ontario government outlines provisions that could relax rules surrounding alcohol consumption. If implemented, it will be up to municipalities to decide whether alcohol can be consumed in public areas such as parks.

Despite a lack of information about which public areas are up for discussion, Mayor Bryan Paterson told The Journal relaxing rules surrounding public alcohol consumption would challenge the City’s efforts to discourage unsanctioned street parties.

“These provincial changes, I think, would create challenges for us in terms of trying to work against the flow [of street parties] that we’ve seen in the past,” he said. “I think that would be the main concern.”

Paterson also cited apprehensions about alcohol consumption at Breakwater Park as another reason to be cautious about changing the rules.

He said the park is a popular spot for both Queen’s students and families, making the power to address unsanctioned drinking there “important to be able to retain.”

“There are scenarios and situations where it could work really well and others where it wouldn’t,” he said. “It would be difficult to know without understanding the details of the policy.”

Paterson said it’s difficult to determine whether relaxed rules about alcohol consumption would complicate the

University District Safety Initiative (UDSI), a bylaw implemented last summer that requires any student ticketed during Frosh Week, Homecoming, or St. Patrick’s Day to appear in court.

“I wouldn’t necessarily focus immediately on the complications that might be involved,” he said. “My initial reaction is, is this something that’s going to help or is this something that would exacerbate the situation? My concern is it might be the latter.”

Paterson added he doesn’t know when the government will provide more details about when and how municipalities will be able to opt in or out of the new legislation, nor does he know whether the public areas under consideration would include streets such as Aberdeen St. and University Ave. “It wasn’t entirely clear to us what public spaces would be considered, but our understanding was, it’s more than just parks,” he said “It can be public spaces, squares, and potentially could be streets.”

Paterson said if Kingston decides to pursue an opt-in outcome, the City would consult with the University and the AMS. “It’s difficult for us to know if we would even get to that point,” he added.

While the budget would allow bars and restaurants to begin serving alcohol at 9 a.m., AMS President Auston Pierce, said the hours at Queen’s Pub would remain unchanged in a written statement to The Journal.

He added the Society has been advocating for a campus alcohol policy, up for consultations this September, which will promote a safe drinking environment for students.

“The [Society]’s primary concern is the safety of our peers, and as such, harm reduction is what we believe this alcohol policy should be about,” he said.

On March 27, the province released its annual Sunshine List, disclosing the salaries of Ontario’s public employees who topped $100,000 in 2018. Here’s our breakdown.

In his last year at Queen’s, Principal Daniel Woolf’s salary increased for the first time since 2015. Woolf saw a 7.42 per cent pay increase, making his total salary for the year $415,303.

Despite the increase, Woolf dropped from fourth to fifth place on the University’s list of highest-paid employees, marking only one of 2018’s shuffles in the school’s top ten earners.

Last year’s list, showing public employees’ salaries from 2017, aired mostly modest pay increases for the University’s top earners.

This year’s list included significant raises for some faculty.

Six of the top ten earners at Queen’s saw double-digit percentage increases in their pay. The University’s highest-paid employee, Richard Reznick, dean of the faculty of Health Sciences, earned a 21.23 per cent pay increase, netting him $517,186.

Elspeth Murray, associate dean of MBA programs, and David Saunders, dean of the Smith School of Business, also received double-digit percentage pay increases.

Three of the university’s top ten earners in 2018 were women, a statistic that hasn’t changed in two years. With a

Richardson Hall.

salary of $455,467, though, Murray’s 16.25 per cent pay increase bumped her up to the second-highest-earning employee at Queen’s.

To add to 2018’s shuffles, this year’s top ten features two new faces. John Smol, biology professor and Canada Research chair, saw a 50.63 per cent pay increase from his 2017 salary. Smol made $374,037 in 2018, putting him in ninth place on Queen’s list.

Sean Cleary, finance professor at the Smith School of Business, saw an 11.55 per cent pay increase in 2018, kicking his salary up to $344,453 and earning him the tenth spot at Queen’s.

Among the top ten earners this year, only David Walker, the executive director of the Queen’s School of Policy Studies, saw a pay decrease. Walker’s pay fell 0.10 per cent, dropping him from the second-highest earner in 2017 to the seventh-highest in 2018.

As an employer, Queen’s University saw a 9.52 per cent income increase, earning just over $177 million in 2018. This is the largest pay increase the University has seen since 2010.

Despite the increase, Queen’s only ranked eighth out of Ontario universities and 19th out of all employers for highest revenue in 2018.

As usual, the University of Toronto beat out the province’s other universities, taking home over $652 million in 2018 and ranking fourth out of all public employers.

The University sector was the second-highest-paid sector in 2018, bringing in more than three billion dollars. This marks a 2.40 per cent increase from 2017.

JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

As Queen’s turns to smoke-free campus, cessation supports scarce

End to Leave the Pack Behind limits help for those trying to quit Carolyn Svonkin Assistant News Editor Queen’s campus and properties went completely smoke-free on June 1, joining 82 other Canadian universities with smoke-free campuses. The ban applied to cigarettes, nicotine vaporizers, cigars or any product capable of being smoked.

In the policy, the University said it will facilitate the transition to a smoke-free campus with signs reminding community members of the policy, along with cessation resources and supports.

According to a press release about the policy, “the university is offering assistance to both students and employees seeking smoking cessation supports.”

For students, the first cessation resource the University offers is a suggestion to

make an appointment at Student Wellness Services where they can seek help from a doctor or health care professional.

The second—and last—resource provided by the University for students who may be seeking cessation support is to sign up for Leave the Pack Behind, a tobacco control program that, due to Ford government cuts, will cease all activity this June.

Despite the program’s impending cancellation, the University still lists Leave The Pack Behind as a support available for students and employees who wish to quit smoking.

For employees, the only other option the University provides for smoking cessation is the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), “which can incorporate smoking cessation as a goal and provides resources and coaching to assist employees in reaching this goal.”

On the University’s page providing information about the EFAP, nicotine addiction is not explicitly listed as an available counselling service and it’s advised that, “while the program can be used for

crisis intervention, the ideal time to use the program is before problems get out of hand.”

Will McLelland, Law ’21, is a recreational smoker who plans to follow the new regulations and no longer smoke on campus.

In an interview with The Journal, he said he believes the policy will be effective in reducing the number of smokers on campus, citing the lack of time to leave campus between classes.

However, he rejected the University’s suggestion to turn to non-smoking nicotine alternatives, such as gum or the patch.

“They do not provide a good alternative and I think most people feel the same way,” he said.

McLelland suggested a less extreme policy, such as banning smoking only in high traffic areas like public walkways.

There are limited exceptions to the policy, including permitted use of cannabis for medical purposes and the Indigenous use of tobacco, sweet grass, sage, and cedar for the four sacred medicines.

Exceptions will also be made for approved teaching and research.

The ban covers campus and university properties, including West Campus, the Queen’s University Biological Station, and the Queen’s family health team clinic. Smoking in vehicles parked on university property is also prohibited.

The new policy follows the University’s adoption of the Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health-Promoting Universities and Colleges last January, which pledges to “create and apply wellness-related policies and programs with demonstrated impact.”

The policy also states non-compliance may make a person subject to actions, discipline or sanctions, ejection or suspension from venues, or termination of the individual’s relationship with the University.

More serious enforcement measures will depend on the individual’s relationship to Queen’s, the nature of the incident, and where it occurs.

Policy compliance will be monitored by Campus Security and Emergency Services.

Monday, June 3, 2019

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Features

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IN-DEPTH STORIES FROM AROUND CAMPUS AND IN THE COMMUNITY

How Queen’s rejected the rise of fraternities Queen’s historian attributes Greek life’s absence on campus to University’s Presbyterian roots Andrew Schjerning Features Editor In the early 1930s, the AMS banned fraternities from campus. Now, nearly 90 years later, Kingston is home to three fraternities—all predominantly made up of Queen’s students.

To understand the University’s long and complex relationship with fraternities and sororities, The Journal spoke to Queen’s historian Duncan McDowell.

Though Greek life has never fully taken root at Queen’s, two of the three frats currently existing in Kingston were established in the last seven years.

The University’s fraught history with Greek life stretches back to 1933, when the AMS court ruled fraternities were to be banned from campus. The ruling came as a direct response to the presence of two groups—one made up of Arts and Science students and another of medical students—who sought fraternal status and university affiliation.

Still, with fraternities making a slow return to Kingston in recent years, questions about the nearly century-old ban linger.

In an interview with The Journal, McDowell, professor emeritus, said he’s often pleasantly surprised by how engaged Queen’s students can be with their school when he frequents campus, despite the University lacking the staple frats have become on campuses across North America.

Its one of the reasons he believes fraternities and sororities never took root at Queen’s.

“I’m struck [by] how involved Queen’s students are in public service,” McDowell said. “I always notice in the ARC that students are raising money for charity, or supporting some good cause.”

He views these traditions as a reflection of the University’s values

as an institution.

McDowell says the unique founding values of Queen’s—togetherness, egalitarianism, and altruism—are precisely what has kept the resurgence of fraternities at bay, though the ban is approaching its hundredth anniversary.

According to McDowell, historically, these principles unified members of the Queen’s community against groups which were believed to foster exclusivity—though campus still struggles with allegations of privilege and classism today.

In contrast to other major Ontario universities, like the University of Toronto—which was founded as an Anglican

institution—Queen’s roots as a Presbyterian college shaped the values McDowell says turned away Greek life on campus.

I always notice in the ARC that students are raising money for charity, or supporting some good cause.

—Duncan McDowell

Though Queen’s became a secular institution in 1912 when it started to receive government funding, the values of its Presbyterian origins remained strong.

According to McDowell, an understanding of Queen’s Presbyterian roots is crucial to understanding why the University

rejected fraternities and sororities.

“If you know much about Presbyterianism, you’ll know it’s a very egalitarian ethos. At the heart of Presbyterianism, and therefore at the heart of Queen’s in its first decade, was this Presbyterian-egalitarianism— we’re all equal, we’re all in this together, we’ll all do well out of this education together.”

This idea, McDowell said, was for Queen’s to be an open society.

“This kind of openness led to very strong school spirit and sense of togetherness.”

When the AMS was created in 1859, its leadership was aligned with the University’s early Presbyterian values.

At the time, the Society proclaimed to advocate for

rejected the ban on fraternities by continuing their practices were tried in the AMS court in 1934 for the “contravention of the AMS Constitution.”

The medical students were found guilty and were punished by being excluded from all student activities for a year. ***

While Queen’s has technically never been home to any sororities, the majority of women on campus were members of the Levana Society, an organization founded to further the interests of women on campus.

The Society held private meetings and organized

coalition which voted to against the allowance of fraternities and sororities in the 1930s.

The Levana Society officially disbanded in 1967 and its remaining members joined ASUS, the u n d e r g ra d u a t e society representing the Faculty of Arts and Science.

The Society is survived by the Levana Gender Advocacy Society, a group “devoted to fighting gender oppression” and “advocating for broad ideas of gender empowerment.” ***

After the now-infamous trial of the medical students in 1934, Queen’s steadfast ban on fraternities and sororities remained largely unchallenged.

That was until 2013, when the AMS Assembly once again considered the University’s longstanding ban on groups they deemed to be exclusive in nature.

The AMS A s s e m b l y — seemingly inspired by Queen’s longstanding values reaffirmed the ban, a decision that was backed by the Senate.

Despite the long history of rejecting Greek life, Kingston is still home to fraternities.

While they might not be associated GRAPHIC BY AMELIA RANKINE AND TESSA WARBURTON with the University, the majority of the members in these fraternities equality among students—despite advocacy events exclusively for are Queen’s students. These only extending these efforts to its membership. While the group fraternities are recent additions to male students. was described as sorority-esque the Queen’s community, all having However, in the 1920s, Queen’s at the time, it was welcoming to been founded in the last 10 years. egalitarian values were tested with all women on campus and did not With fraternities seemingly the introduction of two fraternities: exclude anyone based on secret, making a resurgence in the one for Arts and Science students, arbitrary grounds, unlike the Kingston area, it may be only a and another for Medical students. fraternities on campus. matter of time before they seek The Medical students were affiliation with the University. particularly firm about becoming Some, like McDowell, believe a fraternity similar to the ones the decision to have fraternities established at prestigious Are students prepared reinstated into campus life comes American schools. They sought to defend their quality down to a choice that must be affiliation with such groups, and of life? Or do they made by the students. had their own house exclusively believe that their way “Are students prepared to for medical students, where of life is found wanting defend their quality of life?” they hosted private events. under the AMS, and McDowell asked. “Or do they This behaviour was frowned that they should turn to believe that their way of life is upon by the Queen’s community at fraternities? found wanting under the AMS, large, with many in the community and that they should turn to criticizing its exclusivity —Duncan McDowell fraternities?” as harmful. As a result, the AMS voted to ban fraternities from journal_features@ams.queensu.ca campus in 1933.

The conflict came to Counter to the description of a head when medical the group as a sorority, the Levana students who wholeheartedly Society was part of the AMS

6 •queensjournal.ca

Monday, June 3, 2019

EDITORIALS

The Journal’s Perspective

THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL

Young Canadians deserve better access to birth control Inaccessibility of contraceptives should not be an obstacle facing Canadian youth in their pursuit of protection against unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

In a recent position statement, the Canadian Paediatric Society called for all forms of contraceptives to be made available to Canadians under 25 confidentially and at no cost.

Maintaining your own reproductive and sexual health is a significant responsibility, impacting your life every single day.

However, for some young Canadians, upholding that responsibility simply isn’t financially feasible.

Currently, youth who have limited or no insurance must pay out-of-pocket for prescribed birth control methods. Those covered by a guardian’s insurance are forced to choose between sacrificing their confidentiality from the policy-holder and paying for the contraceptives themselves.

Without the necessary funds, young people can remain stalled between receiving a prescription and filling it, leaving them at risk for pregnancy, STIs, and other health concerns.

The current universal healthcare system doesn’t guarantee Canadians equal access to “supplementary” health benefits—like drug coverage. The national health insurance program is made up of 13 separate provincial and territorial health insurance plans. It’s at the discretion of each province and territory to determine what services are covered beyond those insured under the Canada Health Act. Canadians should be choosing their contraceptives based on what works best for

Editorial Board Editor in Chief Managing Editor Production Manager News Editor Assistant News Editors

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their bodies, not what they can afford. Longacting and highly effective methods of birth control, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), are among the most expensive. This puts young Canadians with limited finances at a distinct disadvantage. Even non-prescription contraceptives like condoms—which protect against STIs—don’t come without a cost.

But the price tag isn’t the only factor impacting young people’s access to contraceptives: timely access to prescriptions is just as vital.

Our nation continues to fail to reduce long wait times for healthcare services.

Canadians can be forced to wait days or weeks to see a physician and acquire a prescription for contraceptives. To mitigate this problem, the federal government should consider granting pharmacists

across Canada the ability to issue birth control prescriptions—a practice which has already been implemented successfully in Saskatchewan.

When it comes to fulfilling the fundamental human right of bodily autonomy, putting out the occasional bowl of free condoms isn’t enough.

Our national healthcare program needs change by the federal government to achieve equitable access to contraceptives—which are essential to unplanned pregnancy prevention and to overall health.

Heeding the Canadian Paediatric Society’s recommendation to give Canadians under 25 free and confidential access to all contraceptives would be a step in the right direction.

—Journal Editorial Board

Patrick Deane should champion fossil fuel divestment as Queen's principal Patrick Deane, Queen’s incoming principal, should pledge his support to the students, faculty, and staff who want to see the University rid itself of more than $230 million of fossil fuel investments.

Two months ago, hundreds of students rallied against inaction on climate change and divestment at Queen’s as part of a global climate strike demanding action from governments and institutions.

Though support for fossil fuel divestment has never been stronger, since 2015, the administration’s response to the issue has been negligible.

In 2015—the year a Queen’s advisory committee returned recommendations that the University keep its stake in the oil and gas industry—Deane, president of McMaster

Volume 147 Issue 1 www.queensjournal.ca @queensjournal Publishing since 1873

University at the time, was facing similar pressures of his own.

That year, the McMaster chapter of Fossil Free, a divestment advocacy group, collected close to 1,000 signatures for a petition asking the University to divest from all holdings in funds involving fossil fuel companies.

In response, Deane struck an advisory committee on fossil fuel divestment which, like Queen’s, returned recommendations not to divest from the companies.

Instead, the report suggested 12 recommendations for McMaster to pursue, including sharing the carbon footprint of its investment portfolios with the public and holding town hall meetings on campus to address investment-related issues.

Queen’s report, on the other hand,

Iain Sherriff-Scott

PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON

returned only five recommendations—none of which committed to similar provisions.

Since the 2015 report, Queen’s stake in the oil and gas industry has remained largely consistent.

Both reports failed to achieve what students, faculty and staff have long hoped for: divestment from an industry denying young people a livable future.

What’s clear from the critical responses to both reports is that, when it comes to the climate crisis, half-measures won’t cut it.

The leaders pushing back against the divestment movement argue it’s ineffective, purely symbolic, and won’t contribute to broader change. They’re wrong.

A recent study from the University of Sussex argues that, while divestment’s direct financial impacts on the industry are small right now, “there are signs that early adopters [of divestment] have begun a substantial asset movement worth $2.6 trillion.”

When the current climate crisis can be attributed to 90 individual fossil fuel CEOs and executives, we have no excuse to support their destructive industry, even if they’re donors or alumni of the University.

Queen’s can lead on this issue—if it chooses to.

Although the Board of Trustees has the final say, if Deane—who will have a seat on the Board—champions fossil fuel divestment, it could pressure them into acting.

It’s time for our leaders to own up to their negligence on fossil fuel divestment and make a proactive decision, rather than wait until mounting pressure forces them to take action.

Iain is The Journal’s Managing Editor. He is a fifth-year History student.

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For information visit: www.queensjournal.ca/contribute or email the Editor in Chief at journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions.

The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston.

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.

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7 • queensjournal.ca

Monday, June 3, 2019

OPINIONS Confusing coercion with consent Your Perspective

Sexual assault awareness deserves more than a month on Queen's campus

PHOTO BY DANIELLE OUELLETTE

Chloë Grande believes advocacy and awareness are key to survivors' healing after facing sexual assault.

This opinion piece discusses sexual assault.

The Journal uses “survivor” to refer to those who have experienced sexual assault. We acknowledge this term is not universal.

survivors from coming forward.

It’s never your fault, though, for drinking or flirting or wearing a cute crop top.

The fault lies entirely with the perpetrator for placing their needs and desires May marked Sexual Assault Awareness above yours, abusing their position Month. This month is particularly of power, and inflicting suffering on close to my heart—not only another human. because I recently started working When I tell people now that I work for for the Ontario Network of Sexual a sexual assault and domestic violence Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment treatment centre, the response I commonly Centres, but because I was sexually get is, “That sounds depressing.” assaulted at Queen’s.

What’s depressing is that 75 per cent I was a second-year student at the of assaults are committed by someone time. After a night out with friends at Ale, I the survivor knows and trusts. What’s went back to his place. He wanted to have depressing is that one in sex, but I said no. He kept asking, three women and one in over and over and over again. This six men have experienced sexual continued until I finally said yes—the abuse or assault. And what’s most next morning. depressing to me is how many of us—myself To me, this incident didn’t “count” included—bottle up our own traumatic as a sexual assault because I eventually gave experiences, yet encourage others to be in. I’ve turned the question over open and trusting. in the back of my mind ever since: In the post-#MeToo era, treatment Was our sex consensual? centres are seeing more survivors coming Absolutely not—coercion is not consent. forward with their stories. Many people Consent is enthusiastic, voluntary, and are just now processing the trauma of crystal clear. what occurred months, years or even It took a lot of counselling and reading decades ago. Yet every time a survivor for me to reach this conclusion. After is not believed, questioned for their years of self-blaming and shame, I sexual history or lost in our legal understand why myths and stereotypes system, we perpetuate a vicious about sexual assault and rape prevent victim-blaming mentality.

It’s for these reasons that the results from Ontario’s Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey are so significant. In April, we found out Queen’s ranks second-highest for students who reported experiencing sexual harassment and fourth-highest for non-consensual sexual violence. I wasn’t surprised that the majority of our clients in downtown Toronto are female-identifying individuals in their late teens and early twenties. A lot of them also happen to be university students.

I’m thankful that in the seven years since my assault, many more resources and supports have been put into place at Queen’s. I’ve spoken to Barb Lotan, the Queen’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator, and I can attest that she’s a compassionate and knowledgeable advocate for anyone navigating what comes after experiencing sexual violence.

“Asking survivors what they want and need support to look like is important. Find the balance between being supportive and being too much,” Lotan said. “It’s also okay for supporters to ask questions about how they can be helpful.”

For the students who didn’t have a chance to fill out this survey and learn about the options out there, I recommend taking Barb’s advice to go to a safe space, first and foremost, and seek medical attention. Then

you can think about the next steps, like reporting to police or speaking to a counsellor. Having a strong support system of friends and family who believe you unconditionally is another integral part of the healing process.

Therapy and talking to friends who have gone through a similar traumatic experience have helped me realize I’m not alone or overreacting. Sometimes, all you need is validation.

This past Sexual Assault Awareness Month reminded me to check in on myself. Even if I felt uncomfortable and overwhelmed at times, I’m grateful for the courageous survivors who speak out and carve a path for the rest of us.

With the flood of hashtags and online movements—#YesAllWomen, #BelieveSurvivors, #WhyIDidntReport, and more—remember, no matter what, it’s your story. There’s no right way to act after a sexual assault. It doesn’t matter how little or how much time has passed.

As a survivor, you have control over who you tell, who you trust and who you talk to.

I believe you.

Chloë Grande (ArtSci’15) is the Website and Outreach Associate at the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres. She was the Vol. 142 Lifestyle Editor at The Journal.

“The scenery.”

“Queen's campus.”

“The pier.”

Sarah Fang,

Ting Ding,

Victoria Preston,

Talking heads

... students around campus

PHOTOS BY TESSA WARBURTON

What's the best thing about summer in Kingston?

ArtSci '20

M. Eng. '19

Kin ’21

8 • queensjournal.ca

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Arts Darkie series, by Anique Jordan

New exhibit aims to normalize all things sexual Brittany Giliforte Arts Editor On display until December 1, Let’s Talk About Sex, bb—guest curated

by Carina Magazzeni and Erin Sutherland—focuses on questions of sexual identity, orientation and expression.

This exhibit features the work of 15 artists. Their pieces are arranged throughout the Samuel J. Zacks and Contemporary Features Galleries.

Written on the wall across from the entrance to the Samuel J. Zacks gallery is the title of the exhibit, Let’s Talk About Sex, bb.

Pulled from a Salt-N-Pepa song—though ‘baby’ has been changed to a more text-slang version, ‘bb’—the lyric gives viewers an invitation to talk about all things sex with the artists.

Part of the exhibit is strictly observational, but another part is intensely interactive.

One room invites viewers to walk up to a large screen and watch a video recording of artist

For one night only, the Great Russian ballet dances into Kingston Brittany Giliforte Arts Editor

Ballet Giselle proves the enduring attraction to stories of love, betrayal, and forgiveness.

On May 1, the Great Russian Ballet performed Giselle at The Grand Theatre.

Giselle, advertised as a deathdefying masterpiece of a love story, follows the courtship between young maiden Giselle and Duke Albrecht, who is already engaged to be married.

The first act shows Albrecht as he disguises himself as a villager to win the heart of Giselle. He brings her flowers and patiently waits as she gains the courage to dance with him.

The ballet was first choreographed in 1884 by Marius Petipa, the ballet master of the Imperial Russian Ballet. His brother, Lucien Petipa, danced as Duke Albrecht in the very

GALLERY

Agnes attendees invited to talk about sex

PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON

Vanessa Dion Fletcher’s cervical self-examination.

The video was made by attaching a small camera to a speculum (used to perform cervical exams), showing the menstruating subject’s cervix.

Throughout the video, the subject talks to a group of friends gathered in the room with them—but not shown in the video—about what they’re seeing and why it’s a taboo or shameful topic of conversation.

They never arrive at a definitive answer, but the point is that they’re talking and breaking silence around the topic.

That’s where the exhibit title comes in. Let’s Talk About Sex, bb simply encourages people to open up about their sexuality. It disregards shame and convention through matter of fact and direct approaches.

This is apparent upon entering the gallery room—the very first thing viewers see is a leather BDSM mask.

The artist, Dayna Danger, made

the mask as well and the photographs that hang above, showing a person wearing it.

Agnes director Jan Allen explained that Danger gave a mask to her friends as

a gift.

In the room, a voice recording plays of a conversation between Danger and a friend who are trying to create words for BDSM sex in their indigenous language—which

Adrienne’s Mask, by Dayna Danger

about sex in the future.

Many of the installations have a similar theme of connecting friends—or family—through honest and open conversations.

Another piece, made by Tiffany Shaw-Collinge and her niece Vivienne Shaw, a trans woman, is called her.

This piece—made of mirror mylar, fishing line, and plastic sheets—has text printed onto it reading “himhimhimhimhim,” and “herherherherher.”

The piece brought the aunt and niece together to explore the ways in which a transgender person’s transition can affect a family dynamic.

PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON

aren’t currently part of its lexicon.

The text is simple, but it shows As of now, words for this kind of Tiffany’s acceptance through a sex don’t exist. Their conversation dialogue change that acknowledges is one not just talking about sex, but Vivienne’s gender identity. creating a way for people to talk Throughout Let’s Talk About Sex,

BALLET

Giselle brings death-defying love story to Grand Theatre stage “Why won’t he listen to her and leave her alone?”

However, it was romantic in the end, as the plot establishes that the duo’s mutual interest.

To w a r d s PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON Giselle was performed at The the end of Grand Theatre on May 1.

Act One, the audience first performance of Giselle in catches on that the man is Paris, France. really a duke and he’s been Today, it’s performed globally, lying to Giselle, pretending to and Giselle is one of the most be a commoner. coveted roles that exists for a The viewers watch—knowing prima ballerina. she can’t end up with Albrecht Giselle is a timid and reserved since he’s already engaged to maiden, but the Duke insists on someone else—as she dances, winning her over. Eventually, after swooning over him. declining his requests to dance In the final moments of Act One, several times, she dances with him Giselle discovers the truth and goes and falls in love. mad. She pulls her hair out of its The reaction to this might neat bun and sobs, showing wild be inherently negative, causing emotion. She runs across the stage, modern audiences to wonder, appearing to confuse and worry

the rest of the dancers.

The whole ballet relies heavily on the dancers’ ability to convey their emotions and dramatic tension through facial expressions and body language.

Giselle’s loss of sanity is a perfect depiction of the necessity of this ability. If the ballerina didn’t have that skill, it wouldn’t be as believable when she climactically drops to the floor, brought to her death by betrayal and heartbreak.

Anything less dramatic than the performance of prima ballerina, Natalia Balan would have been underwhelming. Fortunately, Balan has been heralded as one of the most accomplished ballerinas to perform this role.

Her grace on stage sets her apart from the ensemble of ballerinas, whose roles in the play are specifically designed to support her. They dance behind her or along the sides of the setting, but they’re never the centre of attention when Balan is on stage.

This is most apparent in Act Two, when Balan’s Giselle fights against the will of

bb, each exhibited piece depicts a separate exploration of sexuality. In turn, they all encourage viewers to “talk about sex.”

Some pieces that incorporate dialogue into the viewing experience encourage this more than others.

Along with the video of the cervical examination, there’s another work that requires active viewer participation.

Behind a black curtain, two chairs are positioned next to each other with a radio between them.

A recording of two women talking plays on a loop—the two artists who made the piece, Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan.

This piece is called I believe in Miracles.

The whole room smells of chocolate and the walls are painted brown.

It’s unclear why the room smells like chocolate—it has nothing to do with the conversation that’s playing—but, nonetheless, it’s comforting.

The women talk about aging, lesbian sexuality and how crucial lesbian women have been throughout history in progressing the women’s rights movement.

The conversation is unapologetic and unfiltered. The setup of the room, the scent, and the tone of the conversation all contribute, inviting viewers to participate in the experience.

Some pieces are more explicit than others—like the menstruating cervix and the Inuit stone-carved butt plug on display.

Regardless, every installation invites viewers to talk about sex—but the emphasis is placed on completely removing judgement or shame. the other ballerinas.

All of the ensemble ballerinas in Act Two are the Wilis—ghosts of dead women whose lovers betrayed them. They wear white dresses and wedding veils, referencing their unrequited love and commitment to the men who deceived them.

They haunt the forest by Giselle’s grave and force men who walk by to dance to their deaths.

It’s a total power move.

When Albrecht comes to grieve at Giselle’s grave, the Wilis start urging him to dance.

The ballet’s dramatic climax begins when Giselle intervenes and shares the burden with him.

Her love compels her to reject her fate as a Wilis. She can’t bring herself to make the man she loves dance to his death so the two dance together, slowly gaining speed and intensity.

The ballet’s message of the power of love and forgiveness is obvious: they dance through the night and, in the end, Giselle is able to save him.

Themes such as these add an enduring quality to the revenge plot that has kept the ballet relevant for so long. By the reaction of the audience during the standing ovation, Giselle is still a success in 2019.

M• onday , June 3, 2019 9 queensjournal .ca

Arts

queensjournal .ca2019 •9 Thursday , April 4,

GALLERY

Studio 22 exhibits celebrate famous artists of the last century Contrasting exhibits highlight artists’ strengths Brittany Giliforte Arts Editor

Nina Simone / Feeling Good by Neli Nenkova.

In its latest exhibits, Studio 22 highlighted two artists’ strengths through stark contrast between the neighboring exhibits.

For the month of May, Studio 22 displayed two series by vastly different artists: Bernard Clark’s Notorious and Neli Nenkova’s Tears and Smiles.

Owners of the studio, Ally and Hersh Jacob, arranged their Mick Jagger (mugshot), by Bernard Clark.

May exhibits in a way meant to draw attention to abandoned shops and restaurants, the extreme differences between retro logos, tattoo artists and their each artist’s work by optimizing work, and anything generally their space to create a more considered “badass.” satisfying experience.

Celebrity Mugshots evolved from Clark’s work is in the first exhibit this study. room, greeting viewers when they He started by creating fake enter the upstairs gallery. celebrity mugshots to line the walls His photographs are an next to the real ones. assortment of black-and-white Many of the mugshots are headshots—a series he calls famous, making it hard to spot a Celebrity Mugshots—making real one from a fake. up a smaller subsection of his larger The very fact that so many ongoing series called Notorious. celebrities also harbour a criminal Notorious began as record is intriguing. a study on mugshots His series contemplates the of gangsters—hence the title. relationship between Hollywood Much of Clark’s work centers and crime. around rugged subjects like old Many faces will be recognizable

colours. Eventually, this became less important to her, as she felt the singers required more depth to convey their emotions.

Each artist she paints has historically dealt with extreme diversity or struggle.

Nenkova’s fascination with these artists is in their success, despite their hardships.

Simone wanted to be a concert pianist, but nobody wanted to hire a Black woman to play the piano.

She wrote music and lyrics and started performing them herself, despite never intending to be a singer. Her success was born from her rejection.

Other artists painted in her series include Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Amy Winehouse, and Chet Baker.

These artists all endured difficulties t h ro u g h o u t their careers but ultimately, despite the negativity surrounding some of them, all are remembered for their greatness.

Their lives, memorialized in Nenkova’s work, are a reminder of the value of hard work and perseverance.

This series is a tribute to their endurance.

as some of Hollywood’s most famous celebrities. If you look closer, you’ll see that they’re not photographs, but mosaics.

Made up of keyboard keys, dice, and Scrabble tiles, the mosaics are made by expanding the photographs until they’re grainy and unrecognizable.

Clark then uses an algorithm to fill in the pixels with tiles and keys to create his own rendering of the mugshot.

Not all of his works are based on actual police mugshots. Some are photo stills from movies, or, in the case of his Elvis photo, are fake police mugshots.

Some examples that line the walls are Jane Fonda holding up her fist in an act of rebellion, John Belushi, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, and Johnny Cash.

Walking into the next exhibit room, Nenkova’s work similarly features some of the most

recognizable faces in pop culture.

They’re profiles of jazz artists over the last few decades.

Her work is painted in bright neon colours, overwhelming the senses.

The exhibits are vastly different from one another—but it’s their differences that allow their strength to shine through.

Clark’s absence of colour makes Nenkova’s extreme use of colour more enjoyable. Viewers are deprived of stimulation through Clark’s muted, reserved collection, then bombarded by emotion and expression in Nenkova’s work.

Nenkova’s work on her series, Tears and Smiles, started with her portrait of Nina Simone.

Simone—who, in the painting, is shown in shades of purple accessorized with hues of orange—is painted in profile.

She gazes off with no emotion on her face, but her narrowed eyes give her an air of superiority.

Nenkova started painting Simone without a plan to make a whole series on jazz musicians.

At first, her goal was to make portraits using just three

In keeping with his country roots, Savage also plays guitar for the Foley Mountain Playboys, who performed this year at Homegrown, all while maintaining a busy folk solo career.

Although Savage rarely hops off the live tour circuit, whether the venue is Calgary, Fredericton, or here at home in Kingston, he emphasizes that when it comes to the arts community, you get back what you put in.

Back in Kingston, he hosts regular Wednesday night open mics at the Rose and Crown.

Savage notes that as a musician, “Kingston stands out in how they support their own local artists, especially for a smaller city.”

It’s the vibrancy of Kingston’s art scene that has kept it going strong through the dramatic changes to online streaming that have faced the music industry in recent years.

A seasoned professional, Savage is familiar with what he describes as the “double-edged sword” of modernization for artists.

“The internet can help you promote and get work, but with streaming, it’s hard to get paid properly for your music,” Savage told The Journal.

“I think young people keep

the scene fresh and challenge artists here to push forward with new creative ideas. More than a few musicians attending Queen’s have adopted Kingston as their permanent home, so that also helps the scene thrive.”

For students looking for space to have their voice heard in the world of music, Savage says the most important step is the one out of your front door.

That’s why he recommends trying your luck at open mic nights.

Tom Savage’s personal evolution through his musical career Homegrown Live Music Festival highlights Kingston talent Pamoda Wijekoon Assistant Arts Editor Tom Savage shows just what Kingston artists are made of at the 11th annual Homegrown Live Music Festival.

On May 4, local bars, art galleries, and restaurants overflowed with patrons who came out to hear the musical stylings of Kingston’s homegrown talent.

The festival attracted musicians and music lovers alike.

With 15 venues participating in the event and 135 performances, the event raised a total of $14,000 for the Joe Mill Instrument Lending Library.

The library allows Kingston residents to borrow instruments at a low annual fee to learn how to play music.

Supported by the festival, it’s a widely valued asset to the community. Events like this one help to keep the library alive and, in turn, help to produce so many of Kingston’s talented musicians.

Tom Savage, one of these homegrown musicians, has since found success in cities across Canada but keeps Kingston as his musical base for the thriving local art scene, and for the community that music creates.

For Savage, his instrument of choice—his well-worn 1973 Guild acoustic guitar—has been an education in human connection, proving the value of having access to these resources.

Playing guitar has transformed him into a musician of all trades.

Moving from coast to coast, and band to band, he’s settled in the spirited blues and jazz-infused rock of his latest work, but doesn’t let genre cage him.

In 2018, he breathed new life into the rock band Tom Savage Trio, reinventing it as the music collective, Dead Root Revival.

PHOTOS BY TESSA WARBURTON

Tom Savage, one of Kingston’s Homegrown talents.

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY TOM SAVAGE

Although much has changed since he made his debut onstage, Savage says “the experience of playing music is remarkably similar to when I first started out. It brings me joy and my music brings joy to others. It’s a wonderful thing.”

Still, Savage admits to coming a long way from when he started

out in 1987. He jokes that it may have been the rockstar lifestyle at the time, not the music, that led him to his career.

In 1987, Irish band U2 released their single “With or Without You.” The rock ballad catapulted the band into international stardom and was their first number-one hit in the United States and Canada.

Images of a ponytailed Bono in a leather vest were broadcast around the world. Here in Kingston, it was that image—the rockstar with a guitar slung around his back—that inspired a young Tom Savage to kickstart his music career.

Now in his 28th year as a professional musician, he adds that “the guitar is more useful when you actually play it.”

While Bono might have been Savage’s beginning, it was his love of music and the way it moves people that has kept him playing through the years.

On the horizon, Savage looks forward to the fall release of his new solo studio album and aims to release another in 2020 alongside his band, Dead Root Revival, in collaboration with musicians from across Canada.

For Savage, music has long transformed from a hobby to a calling. “It’s the language I best communicate with,” Savage said.

“I can’t imagine another life.”

Sports

10 •queensjournal.ca

Monday, June 3, 2019

Sports (Centre) Emma Crivello powers through Guelph defenders.

SUPPLIED BY EMMA CRIVELLO

Crivello conquers concussion The senior rugby player talks setbacks and comebacks Jack Rabb Sports Editor Concussions are a frightening prospect for athletes whose performance depends on hurtling full-speed at their opponents.

Emma Crivello, a flanker for the Queen’s rugby team, knows them all too well.

Severe headaches, sensitivity to light, an inability to focus: the three symptoms that conspire to debilitate sufferers.

Crivello has had two major concussions over her career with Queen’s, one suffered off-field, and another during practice—as well as one “off-the-record” concussion before she joined the Gaels.

Hopeful for the future, since her last concussion, she’s fought her way back to the pitch.

“Every concussion is different for every person,” Crivello said in a phone interview with The Journal.

“Personally, I found that my vision was impacted, I had trouble seeing distances, whenever I tried to focus it was really blurry, the more I tried to focus the more it impacted my headaches, and that just led to feeling very foggy, groggy.”

Traumatic brain injuries, a subsection of injury to which concussions belong, are part of the often unseen morbid reality of contact sports. This is a reality obscured by the status and acclaim that comes along with playing high performance sports.

Crivello was rightfully worried after her second major concussion.

She had a candid meeting with her coach, Dan Valley, about her future.

“There was definitely a huge part of me that thought that [a comeback] might not happen and I did have to have that conversation with my coach which was really tough, because he knew that I had come back from a pretty bad concussion the year prior.”

She said that the meeting was constructive and that Valley’s primary concern was her wellbeing, which gave her a sense of comfort and reassurance about her decision-making process.

“Concussions are something that we obviously know not to mess around with, it was something that I had to think about very carefully,” she said. “I basically told him that I wanted to take the season off to see if I could have a chance to play again.”

Crivello went through extensive rehabilitation for her concussion, working closely with physical therapists and specialists to track her progress. In the meantime, her teammates missed her on the pitch.

“As an athlete, Emma brings a level of versatility that not everyone has,” says her teammate Lydia Salgo. “She can play in so many different positions on the field […] From an attitude perspective, Emma brings positivity, leadership, and dedication.”

“Regardless of what is going on in her personal and academic

life, when she gets on the field to practice or play, her attention is only on becoming a better rugby player, performing at her best, and helping those around her do the same.”

Crivello made her return to the field earlier in the month, playing against the Montreal Barbarians as a member of the Kingston Panthers.

She scored a try in the opening minutes of the game.

“It gave me a sense of relief. It was like, ‘Okay, we are back and we are ready to roll.’

[It was] definitely a good start to the game—definitely very reassuring.”

Especially considering her return to form, Crivello has her eyes set on the looming season.

“I think that we have a really good group of recruits coming in and we are fortunate enough to have [head coach] Dan Valley and all of our other coaches … a large group of us are staying [in Kingston] and training to get that OUA gold, to make it all the way to nationals.”

“We definitely have the capacity to go all the way. We just need to apply everything we have been working on and be relentless.”

In spite of her quick acclimatization to the game, Crivello recognizes that all her progress could be for naught if she re-injures herself.

“I find that there are moments when I notice I am not as reckless as I used to be and feel a bit more timid.

“That’s something that can be more dangerous than anything.”

But with the help of her physical therapists and support of the Queen’s coaching staff, Crivello feels like she’s on track to get back to playing at her full potential.

“Once my symptoms were completely clear, I slowly started to progress and work back into contact, and so I wasn’t throwing myself right back into the game.

I got to build my confidence back up piece by piece and I think that has definitely led me back to the place where I am now.”

“I’m back into playing games, and I can smash people.”

ports SSports

Monday, June 3, 2019

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• 11

Varsity summers: how athletes are training in the offseason Queen’s athletes reveal their offseason regimens Jack Rabb and Alina Yusufzai Journal Staff Just because the season is over doesn’t mean Queen’s athletes are putting their feet up. Being a varsity athlete is a year-round effort—summer just means getting ready for the next season. Here’s what some of our athletes are doing to prepare for their next campaign: Men’s Basketball Bruno Chan, Sophomore Point Guard

Now that I’m back home in Brazil, I practice in the mornings with a couple guys from my town that play in the U.S. Monday to Friday. We do mostly skill work, like ball handling and shooting drills. On Mondays and Wednesdays I practice with a university team near my house. It’s a good time to get my cardio up and play 1v1 and 5v5 with older guys.

I also try to lift at least four days a week following the workout program that the strength & conditioning coaches, Colin and Evan, prepared for us. On June 20th I’m heading back to Kingston for the rest of my summer. For the guys training in Kingston, there is a 7 a.m. workout from Monday to Friday, and team practice late afternoon from Monday to Thursday.

Men’s Soccer Michael Chang, Senior OUA Midfielder

The main thing I'm doing to prepare for next season is focusing on staying on top of working out and conditioning. The OUA is a physically demanding league and it takes a lot of dedication to ensure my body is ready to compete and stay healthy.

Athletes talk routines outside regular season.

I am also focusing on some technical skills that I think could be improved, mainly my finishing. I want to be able to execute more with the opportunities I get in games.

The last thing I am doing is trying to work on is the mental side of my game, specifically my leadership skills. Being named co-captain is a huge honour and responsibility.

When August comes around I want to be ready to lead this team and help give us the best chance of winning an OUA championship.

Women’s Volleyball Danielle Corrigan, Senior Middle Blocker

I’m serving full time so I just get my lifts and runs in every morning before work,

and then when I have extra time or a day off I try to get to a yoga class to stretch. I also go to physio to help with some chronic issues from this past season.

Football Tyler Roy, Senior Defensive End

I’m personally emphasizing hip mobility and conditioning, which are things of concern from last season that I needed to improve. We do a lot of push and pull, explosive movements, and triple extension work for football, plus tempo runs for conditioning.

Men’s Basketball Harry Range, Senior Forward

GRAPHIC BY JACK RABB

Well, since I am in Toronto for the first time since I started playing at Queen’s, my training has been different this year.

I have been working out at a local gym doing all of our lifts from the work out app Teambuildr. And I have been playing in a few men’s leagues around the city to try and get exposed to high level basketball. I’m focusing on being more of a scoring threat as we have graduated a lot of guys.

I feel good! We have taken a lot of steps to get to where we are. It’s important that we keep getting better every day and are never satisfied. journal_sports@ams.queensu.ca

Sports in Brief: month of May Junior Gaels program creates positive change

ARC gym under renovation for the upcoming school year

Richardson Stadium to play host to national football tournaments

The Junior Gaels are beginning to prepare for their upcoming seasons at Queen’s.

The Junior Gaels program is a new initiative that encourages local youth to pursue sports further, along with a post-secondary education.

Junior Gaels include students from the Kingston area and local youth sports teams through a partnership with Queen’s Athletics. The program has been successful so far, generating interest from youth athletes and the community at large.

The Junior Gaels have many opportunities within the program. They’re able to learn from current athletes, gain input from Queen’s coaches, and attend Junior Gaels specific events at the ARC. This environment fosters relationships between Queen’s and promising athletes, giving them valuable exposure to U Sports personnel and potentially opening the door for later recruitment. Most importantly, the program shows the students involved they’re capable of continuing their athletic ambitions beyond high school.

Part of the ARC gym is closed for the summer as parts of the main level are renovated. The changes include the Q Services desk, entry gates, Q Shop, and the student and alumni lounges. The workout areas remain open during the renovation, but access is only available through Mitchell Hall.

Signs have been posted on the doors of the ARC, directing gym-goers towards the Mitchell Hall entrance. The renovation prohibits access to the main floor of the ARC North. All member services will be available through the ARC South Q Services desk.

The renovations will include a new exit gate and two entry gates, a Q Services counter with no barrier and a separate ticket counter to allow guests easier access to ticket services.

As well, the renovations will include more meeting spaces, a larger Q shop, and a renovated alumni lounge for larger meetings. The current changes are set to be finished by September.

Football Canada, the city of Kingston, and Queen’s University have partnered to bring two youth tackle football tournaments to Richardson Stadium this July.

Nearly 480 athletes competing in the Canada Cup and the Under-16 Eastern Challenge will descend upon Kingston

— Alina Yusufzai

— Alina Yusufzai

ARC gym entrance on Sunday.

for games that will be played between July 5 and 13.

The Canada Cup will feature eight teams representing provinces across the country, while teams from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario will compete in the Eastern Challenge.

Admission is free.

—Jack Rabb

PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON

LIFESTYLE

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Lifestyle tegwyn hughes

Assistant Lifestyle Editor

After what felt like endless months of winter coats and final exams, summer is finally on the horizon.

Even though the seasons don’t officially change until the end of June, it’s never too early to start thinking about the best season of the year.

No matter what you’re doing over the next couple of months, these upbeat indie songs are guaranteed to put you in a sunny mood—even if the weather doesn’t follow suit. ***

“Daylight” by Matt and Kim Vocalist and keyboardist Matt Johnson and drummer Kim Schifino are a perfect musical duo, best proven by their song “Daylight,” a buoyant hit with a wonderful blend of lyricism and percussion.

This song has been used in a handful of television and movie productions since its 2008 release, which makes it instantly familiar and adds to the nostalgia of its lyrics—you’ve probably heard this song somewhere, but can’t quite place it.

With lyrics like, “We cut the legs off of our pants / Threw our shoes

into the ocean / Sit back and wave through the daylight” and “Open hydrant, rolled down windows / This car might make a good old boat,” it’s impossible to listen to this song without thinking of the freedom that summer brings.

“Daylight” is about the liberty of summer in the city, endless possibilities, and cramming as much fun into the day as possible.

If you’re looking for a love song about summer, this is it.

The crux of “Daylight” comes with the echoing final lines of the chorus, when Johnson sings, “And in the daylight I don’t pick up my phone / 'Cause in the daylight anywhere feels like home.”

“Drive” by The Well Pennies

This sweet, folksy love song about summer drives, written by husband-and-wife duo Bryan and Sarah Vanderpool, is an ode to relationships under the summer sun.

The verses’ lyrics, sung mostly

by Sarah, describe helping a loved one when they’re struggling. She sings, “When you're feeling empty / When the skies are grey / I will be your honey / And chase the blues away.”

The song’s chorus proposes a remedy for this melancholy, repeating the words,

QJ PLAYLISTS

The Journal’s summer 2019 playlist Songs for pool parties, bike rides, and long drives with the windows down GRAPHIC BY AMELIA RANKINE

"Let's go out for a drive / Need a little sunshine, need a little sunshine / What a day for feeling alive.” The Well Pennies would rather embrace the beauty of the world than dwell on its downsides.

The gentle banjo strumming in the song’s background keeps the sadder lyrics of the pre-chorus from weighing down the track, and gives “Drive” a uniquely folk feel.

“Sunstroke” by Wylder

Instrumentals and vocals blend together seamlessly in this song

by Virginia-born band Wylder from their 2016 album, Rain and Laura. “Sunstroke” describes waiting for a lover that never comes.

Despite being about unrequited

SUMMER PICKS

Kingston's best patios

From cafés to restaurants, Kingston has plenty of patios to choose from.

Ranking the city’s outdoor eateries on food, drinks, and atmosphere Emily Elliott Contributor

Kingston has finally warmed up, which can only mean one thing for students and residents alike: it’s officially patio season.

Filled with khaki shorts, pastel ball caps, and sundresses, the limestone city is bustling with excitement for days of sunshine.

The average Kingston newcomer is quick to learn about its rich heritage and the abundance of tourist attractions the city has to offer during the warm months. However, another special thing about Kingston is that each restaurant with a patio

is unique in its own way, offering a special experience you can’t find anywhere else.

I’ve been granted the important task of ranking Kingston’s best terraces based on food, service, atmosphere, and overall experience. Look no further when planning your outdoor escapades—here’s a list of Kingston’s top five patios, ranging from quaint cafés to glorious rooftops.

5. Balzac’s Promenade

If you’re looking for a small patio in the centre of downtown Kingston, Balzac’s is the place for you. During the summer, they often close off a small portion of Sydenham Street that turns their patio into a makeshift promenade complete with patio umbrellas and a well-balanced sun-to-shade ratio.

I like to enjoy my favourite iced coffee in town and read

Monday, June 3, 2019

PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON

a book while enjoying—from a reasonable distance—all of the dogs that like to frequent this patio as well.

Unfortunately, Balzac’s patio hours aren’t always consistent, and the hustle and bustle of the main road is nearby, so bliss isn’t always a guarantee.

4. Juniper Café

Once the hidden gem of Kingston, Juniper Café is now a popular attraction for students, tourists, and residents.

As the only public waterfront patio in Kingston, the charming café offers customers beautiful views and a serene atmosphere.

If you want to enjoy Lake Ontario in all its glory by drinking something a little stronger than coffee, you’re in luck because the café is LLBO licensed.

With great beer options like the MacKinnon Brothers Brewing

love, the song is dotted with warm-weather imagery, like when lead singer Will McCarry sings “Sinkin' down into the street / In the summer in the heat / Wishin' I could just tell ya now.” The use of violin in the chorus gives the song an even sunnier vibe.

However, too much sun can be dangerous—the title, “Sunstroke,” suggests that the singer’s obsession with “waiting in the sun” for his lover may do him more harm than good.

The outro echoes the singer’s promise to “wait in the sun and I know that I love you,” as the cheerful instrumentals backing most of the song fade away. The once-upbeat lyrics stop abruptly at the song’s melancholy finish.

Despite its pessimistic conclusion, “Sunstroke” is impossibly catchy and demands to be sung. The chorus and backing vocals are sung in multi-part harmonies—even if you’re alone, it feels like you’re singing with others.

“T-Shirt Weather” by Circa Waves

Circa Waves, an English indie rock band, truly embodies nostalgia in this song about Co. and a breathtaking location, Juniper is one of a kind.

While Juniper Café is a bit out of the way from downtown (making it harder to hop from one patio to the next), their delicious food (baked in-house), wide selection of drinks, and exclusive location make it a must-visit.

3. Amadeus Café

Amadeus Café’s patio is one of Kingston’s best-kept secrets.

Located at the back of the German restaurant, the cozy biergarten is a true gem.

While the café is known for serving up some of the tastiest dishes in the city, many don’t realize this restaurant has something hidden out back. If you’re looking for a patio that transports you out of Kingston and into a Narnia-esque atmosphere, Amadeus is definitely for you.

However, given its beer and wine focus, if you’re on a boozy conquest to explore the city for its mixed drinks, you may want to skip this one for now.

2. The Mansion

I would argue that The Mansion has Kingston’s most underrated patio. With a dog-friendly area, outdoor televisions, and late hours, it’s impossible to go wrong.

This is the ideal location for

thinking back to youth, friendship, and warm summer days.

“T-Shirt Weather” has a catchy and repetitive chorus—it’s so easy to remember that, by your second or third listen, you’ll be singing along.

Lyrics like “We were singing our lungs out / In the backseat together / And the seatbelts were burning our fingers” are so full of tactile imagery that you can’t help but be mentally transported to a hot car on an even hotter summer day.

What’s doubly ironic is that this song is the perfect candidate for singing your “lungs out.” The singer almost shouts the lyrics, and the background instrumentals are the perfect upbeat blend of rock and indie vibes. ***

Whether you’re jamming in your car or lounging under the sun, these upbeat songs are the perfect background music. For over an hour of indie summer hits, including these four great songs, check out The Queen’s Journal Lifestyle section’s ultimate summer playlist at queensjournal.ca or on Spotify. nighthawks looking for a 1 a.m. patio soirée. Did I mention the kitchen is open until 2 a.m.?

Since The Mansion isn’t always the first choice for patio season, you’re almost always guaranteed a seat, especially given the patio's large size. Speaking personally, this location’s Caesar Sundays will always hold a special place in my heart.

1. Jack Astor’s Rooftop

What’s not to love about a restaurant that serves mixed drinks in fishbowls?

As Kingston’s only LLBO-licensed rooftop patio, Jack Astor’s offers delicious drinks and a stunning view of the lakefront city. The restaurant’s extensive menu, never-ending list of mixed drinks, over thirty beers on tap, and friendly customer service make this spot the champion of Kingston patios.

It’s also the perfect setting for an Instagram photoshoot, as the nearby Springer Market Square and City Hall make for a unique backdrop. Since you’re guaranteed an experience that is sure to be the highlight of your hopping, Jack Astor’s is a must-visit.

Reminder: The often-full patio does not allow reservations, which means that you may be looking at a hefty wait time if you come at peak dining hours. Be sure to get there early!

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STUDENT LIFE

Breaking down the Finsta phenomenon How fake Instagram accounts help alleviate the pressure to be perfect Finstas are a great reminder that nobody's life is as perfect as it seems.

Chloe Sarrazin Copy Editor

Instagram has become such a popular social platform having one account isn’t enough—these days, you need a fake one too.

Finstas, a shortened term for fake Instagram accounts, have become a virtual phenomenon among young people. If you have an Instagram account—or what some go as far as to call a rinsta, or real Instagram—then you may also have an accompanying finsta.

A finsta is a secondary account where users can post photos they wouldn’t normally share.

Unlike a main account, which is often heavily curated, a fake Instagram is typically filled with candid photos and videos of its owner, their friends, and anything from animal photos to memes.

Most importantly, an average finsta has significantly fewer followers than a regular account, and most of these followers are the user’s Brittany Giliforte Arts Editor

Netflix’s newest original film puts a fresh spin on a classic genre. Rim of the World, written by Zack Stentz, hit computer screens on May 24, delivering all the right nostalgic 80s sci-fi feels.

Stentz, known for his work on The Flash, X-Men, Thor, and even Agent Cody Banks, made his Netflix debut with the film, which follows four young teens at a summer camp outside Los Angeles called Rim of the World.

Early in the movie, the protagonists find themselves left behind during an L.A.-wide evacuation brought on by a global alien invasion.

Alex, Zhenzhen, Dariush, and Gabriel spend the rest of the film working together—despite their extreme differences—to literally save the whole world from destruction.

The movie falls into the sci-fi adventure genre that has historically produced classics.

While some of the best from the genre—including ET, Independence Day, and Star Wars—were either produced or set in the 1960s to 80s, Stentz purposefully breaks away from this trend by setting his film in 2019.

“I very deliberately set Rim of the World in the present day with contemporary diverse characters to better reflect the experiences of teens in 2019,” Stentz wrote in an email to The Journal.

Stentz’s desire to make a film that resonates with today’s kids

closest friends.

Although the idea of having two accounts may seem pointless to those who’ve never used Instagram, those who are familiar with the app might understand the appeal. Instagram on principle is all about image—the images you post, but also the way people perceive you and your life through those images.

If you look at those deemed Instagram-famous—users with anywhere from thousands to millions of followers—it’s clear that success on the app depends on having an aesthetically curated feed. Your photos must be pleasing to look at, showcasing an essentially perfect life. This idea of presenting the most perfect version of yourself to the public trickles down to even non-famous

users. Many feel pressured to post only the best aspects of their lives.

The idea behind fake Instagrams is much different.

Think of a finsta as a more exclusive Instagram account, meaning you can be selective about who follows you. When only close friends have access to your secondary account, some of the pressure to present yourself as perfect is alleviated.

In some ways, finstas are all about the imperfections, or the uglier side of life. The laughing selfies and sexy beach pictures of real Instagrams are replaced with crying photos, ranting captions, funny texts from your dad, and overall rinsta-rejects.

A finsta is like a diary with an audience of your choosing. It’s a therapeutic experience, allowing

INTERVIEW

you to post about all aspects of your life, both good and bad.

Finstas are especially appealing to young adults and university students, who are constantly meeting new people in social settings, as well as business ones. It’s natural to want people to like and admire us, and these feelings can often play into our Instagram posts.

When you’re constantly making new acquaintances, and subsequently gaining more Instagram followers, there is an increasing pressure to portray yourself in a specific way. There can also be consequences for what you decide to post publicly. For example, you probably don’t want your boss or your grandmother to see your drunk selfies online.

Additionally, mental health is a

Screenwriter Zack Stentz on Netflix’s Rim of the World Modern sci-fi film sets global alien invasion in 2019 was ignited when he dropped his own children off at summer camp. The camp, located in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California, was just off the Rim of the World Highway.

Driving down the highway, Stentz could see all of L.A. Seeing his city from this new angle led him to wonder what L.A. would look like if it were a warzone.

This thought, coupled with the highway’s proximity to the summer camp, inspired Rim of the World.

He wrote a draft of the movie in just three months, creating his protagonists and focusing on their relatability and dimension.

Each of his characters deal with personal problems that the others k n o w nothing about.

Throughout their journey to save humanity, the young teens find support and true friendship in each other, which helps them face their differences.

One character’s rich, another deals with poverty, the third is grieving the loss of his dad, while the fourth isn’t wanted by her parents. Working together helps them learn how to trust each other.

“There’s something wonderful about putting kids or teens into a situation where they’re forced to be braver, smarter, and kinder than they ever thought possible,” Stentz wrote.

Stentz’s idea of pairing up teens with completely different

Rim of the World proves there's room in sci-fi for inclusivity.

backgrounds was partly inspired by the 80s cult classic film The Breakfast Club.

“We all love The Breakfast Club and the way it traps very, very different teenagers together and forces them to work out their issues. I wanted to do something like that, only in the context of a road movie/quest adventure where the stakes for the characters are physical as well as emotional,” Stentz added.

While Rim of the World shares a similar moment with The Breakfast Club when the four teens sit down to open up to one another, the rest of the plot is nothing like that of the detention-bound movie.

The road movie and quest adventure elements of Rim of the World are

PHOTO ILLUSRATION BY ALLY MASTANTUONO

GRAPHIC BY AMELIA RANKINE

serious issue among students and often suffers under the workload of classes and pressure to succeed.

Constantly seeing your peers living their best lives online can make you feel like you’re living life wrong. In reality, no one is happy all the time and everyone faces their own set of struggles behind the scenes. What you see on apps like Instagram is only a manicured glimpse into someone else’s life.

In a world where social media often rules our lives, our online image can be important both socially and professionally. On finstas, appearances matter a little less. Scrolling through a feed of imperfect people who experience the same ups and downs as us is a refreshing contrast to rinsta, and serves as a reminder that nobody’s life is as perfect as it seems.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to post only the best on Instagram, as long as we realize there’s a lot more to life than what’s posted online. Finstas are a great reminder of that.

reminiscent of The Goonies or Stand by Me—films that feature a group of kids travelling together on a journey with a shared purpose.

Stentz’s film doesn’t merely rely on the bonding moments between friends to sell his message of unity and overcoming differences. His film is self-referential, making it stand out as a new kind of sci-fi adventure film. He draws attention to the stereotypes, the sexism, and the clichés often used in these types of films and makes a joke out of them.

At one point, a grown man doubts Zhenzhen’s capabilities because he hears her voice and can tell she’s a girl. The male protagonists respond by arguing that “aliens don’t stand a chance against her.”

Later in the movie, two Black camp counsellors ask each other why they’re talking like “Black men from the 80s,” coming to the conclusion that that’s how other people want them to act.

This kind of dialogue—though brief—exposes the genre’s previous lack of diversity and reliance on racial stereotypes throughout its history. The diverse characters and their awareness of these stereotypes contributes to the modernity of the movie.

Stentz’s narrative choices for one of the most popular film genres proves there’s room for sci-fi adventures in 2019, and that those movies can—and should—be more responsible and inclusive.

LIFESTYLE

14 •queensjournal.ca

Monday, June 3, 2019

POSTSCRIPT

How learning about my PTSD at Queen's helped me overcome it Finding my inner strength after trauma

An on-campus support group helped Raechel realize her own strength.

Raechel Huizinga News Editor

This article discusses sexual assault.

The Journal uses “survivor” to refer to those who have experienced sexual assault. We acknowledge this term is not universal.

A long time ago someone hurt me, and I turned off.

That’s how I described my situation before I learned about hypo-arousal, one of the ways the brain responds to unresolved trauma.

Widely experienced by trauma survivors and also known as the “freeze” response, hypo-arousal is what happens when your brain can’t handle all the bad stuff going on in your head, causing you to shut down.

Up until this year, I didn’t know any of this. I thought I’d been used up, or that I’d just stopped working somehow. In between getting triggered by seemingly tiny things, I felt flat. I don’t know how much I can describe what it’s like to feel nothing because an even deeper part of you believes everyone and everything exists to hurt you. All I can say is that it was incredibly lonely.

My life at Queen’s before I learned about why my brain was functioning in a hypo-arousal state alternated between pain and exhaustion.

If I used a smaller stall when I went to the washroom, I’d start panicking, so I found myself using the larger wheelchair-accessible stalls. If that wasn’t an option, I’d close my eyes and hold my head in my hands until I was done. Sometimes, I’d go home and cry after, and those were the days I felt like I was losing my mind.

Other days, I felt like I was barely there at all.

I lived 20 minutes from campus but I rarely took the bus home, afraid of the noise and being physically close to strangers. If I did end up on the bus, something as simple as someone’s arm brushing against mine gave me the urge to start screaming.

I isolated myself, spending entire days in bed. I’d stop eating, and then I’d overeat. Small tasks overwhelmed me, and when I couldn’t do them, I’d hate myself.

I couldn’t go to class or maintain relationships. The smallest noise or touch would make me jump, and I’d wrap my arms around myself, trying to feel so small I couldn’t feel anything. I put pillows behind the blinds in my room because any kind of light seemed unbearable.

When I showered, I’d make the water so hot it was scalding and turn off the light so it was completely dark. Even though it was pitch-black, I’d sit down and put my head between my legs, letting the burning water beat into my back. I had no concept of how much time went by.

A couple months into my second year at Queen's, I finally admitted to myself that something was wrong. I made my first appointment at Student Wellness Services.

I could barely get through the call without crying, but I showed up there a few weeks later and started saying out loud what had been in my head for years.

That same term, I was harassed in my place of employment on campus. I was already feeling vulnerable from opening up about my abuse, and this couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

I had never made a formal complaint before, and I became too distressed to go to my lectures at all. At a time when I was trying so hard to get help for what

happened to me a long time ago, I had to meet with a lawyer and repeat what had happened at work again and again.

I received a password-protected email from the University saying I shouldn’t tell anyone at Queen’s about what had happened at my place of work, and that scared me enough to listen. My faculty didn’t have its own counsellor, so I couldn’t continue making appointments. Unable to afford my own therapy, I felt more alone than ever.

Thanks to that initial counselling, though, I was able to make small steps, including applying to my student newspaper, The Journal.

I started my third year at Queen’s, my new job at the newspaper requiring me to constantly be on campus and interact with others. Spending days in bed was no longer an option for me, but when I found myself alone, my limbo state returned.

Trying to appear fine to the rest of the world turned out to be exhausting, and it’d only be so long before something broke.

to appear fine “toTrying the rest of the world turned out to be exhausting.

”

When I finally did reach that breakdown in October, though, somebody was there with me.

My best friend was the first person who wasn’t a counsellor I’d ever confided in about what happened. Walking home together one night last fall, she told me I didn’t need to carry everything myself. It was okay to let other people take some of it, she said, and then she did exactly that.

She was there when I had my

panic attack, pulling me out of a bathroom stall and taking me outside where I could breathe.

I started seeing a counsellor again later that day, which taught me one of the biggest lessons I’ve ever learned: letting people help you is the key to moving forward.

By this time, my faculty had its own embedded counsellor, and I was able to have regular appointments. I began to understand why something as simple as going to the washroom made me so upset, but I also learned about post-traumatic growth. Slowly, I stabilized.

In the winter term, I registered for PEGaSUS, a psycho-educational group for survivors of sexual assault at Queen’s. I’d never been to group therapy, and the first few times I went were the most difficult. Simply being there felt like a confession, and I couldn’t always make myself go. When I did go, I rarely spoke, but I listened.

In one of the first meetings, we learned about how the brain can respond to trauma. Everybody says when faced with danger, we choose between fight and flight, but when it comes to unresolved trauma in the brain, I learned it’s not that simple.

As I sat in that room and listened to hypo-arousal being described to me, it felt like someone was reaching out and punching a flashlight into my chest.

There was science behind that sense of being all used up, of spending days in bed feeling like I was barely there. The most shocking part was that I was surrounded by other people who’d been going through the same thing.

A few weeks later, we talked about shame. We were told if we’d spent years carrying around guilt for what’d happened to us, we

PHOTO BY TESSA WARBURTON

didn’t have to anymore. I’d been told before it wasn’t my fault, but sitting in a room full of people who were realizing their freedom for the first time made the truth of what I’d been told tangible.

It was my abuser’s fault, not mine. It was his shame to carry, not mine.

The most memorable part of the program for me, though, was a five-second exercise.

Write your name on a piece of paper. Decorate it if you want to, but you don’t have to. Now crumple it up. Unfold it. Your name is still there, and you can still read it. You’re still there.

That’s what changed everything for me—a wrinkly piece of yellow paper I carried around in my bag for days. That night, though, I sat on my bed and looked at it, crying.

That's what changed “everything for me—a wrinkly piece of yellow paper.

”

I was grieving, mourning my lost years and loss of personhood. He’d had so much of me, but no more. He’d had so many of my years, but the next second was mine.

As the weeks went by, counselling combined with the support group built my resilience.

I still had days when everything that happened came and sat in my head for a while, turning me off, but I started to see myself as someone who had strength.

I let myself believe I could have good things, and that I was capable of doing great things and being loved by other people. I pushed myself outside my comfort zone, again and again.

I finally realized I wasn’t used up.