The Queen's Journal, Volume 142, Issue 19

F r i d ay , J a n u a r y 2 3 , 2 0 1 5 — I s s u e 1 9

j the ournal Queen’s University — Since 1873

AMS

Blair, Li focus on student connection

Mike Blair, left, and Jennifer Li at Thursday`s trustee debate.

PHOTO BY MICHELLE ALLAN

Trustee candidates don’t stray from message at Thursday night debate B y M ishal O mar and J acob R osen Assistant News Editors Undergraduate Student Trustee candidates Mike Blair and Jennifer Li were hesitant to stray from their platforms during Thursday’s trustee debate at the JDUC. Mike Blair mainly spoke of his experience as a student trustee for the Niagara Catholic School Board and his experience with the AMS as First Year Engineering Representative.

He emphasized his past experience in corporate governance as what makes him the better candidate for the position of Undergraduate Student Trustee.

Blair also reiterated how important he thinks it is to be able to connect with students on a “grassroots” level and then bring out the collective student voice during administrative procedures.

“Being a student leader is tremendously humbling in the sense that you’re able, in fact, to be trusted with the student opinion, the student voice and understanding and connecting with people at the

grassroots level is something that’s fundamentally important to me,” he said.

Blair said he intends to use social media to reach out to students and understand their needs, and he also plans to reach out to different clubs and societies on campus to gain a better understanding of the student voice.

He also said he has a lot of experience in understanding what students need and then bringing that up to the administrative level so these needs are reflected in government policy.

“It would be very much exciting to get back out there and to be able to take these very complex at times, and very dry things at the Board, and really elaborate,” he said.

After the debate, Blair said he was confident in his chances in the upcoming election.

“I think the debate went really well — it was a great opportunity to connect and talk about the issues at hand, because we did cover a number of issues about finance and the student experience and risk aversion and all that,” he said.

See Finances on page 6

Editorial • Acclamation omits students • page 9

EDUCATION

Moodle to be jettisoned Transition to new learning management system will start this summer B y M ishal O mar Assistant News Editor Over the coming years, Queen’s will synthesize its student body’s online learning experience by transitioning from Moodle to Brightspace, a learning management system.

Brightspace, which was created by educational software company D2L, is currently used by the Ontario Ministry of Education for

all primary and secondary school boards in Ontario, as well as several faculties at Queen’s.

Moodle will be phased out within the next 18-24 months.

Jill Scott, vice-provost of teaching and learning, said she hopes the University can begin the transition next summer.

“My hope is that in the summer of 2015 we can start looking at some of our larger courses as well

Gymtimidation • page 20

as our online courses,” she said.

Scott said the reason for the long window of time is so that faculties have time to transition without having too much pressure on them.

Moodle was initially introduced at Queen’s in 2010 as a replacement for WebCT, which was phased out fully in August 2011.

Scott said there were three main reasons why Queen’s decided to

make the transition from Moodle to Brightspace.

The first is that Brightspace is already used by some faculties on campus — the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Queen’s School of Business and the School of Nursing — and transitioning away from Moodle will make it easier for students and faculty who have previously had to use both learning management systems for classes, since there are crossovers.

“What we recognized is that our students were definitely having to spend too much time going back and forth between two systems, having to learn all over again how to work with both systems and that

was valuable time that could have been spent learning other things,” Scott said.

Scott added that Brightspace is better able to track “learning outcomes”, and it would be easier for students to do this themselves.

Brightspace also allows students to make e-portfolios, which can include co-curricular activities or academics.

“Looking at where things are going, it looks like some sort of an e-portfolio is going to be really important for students in the future,” she said.

The third primary reason for the decision to transition to Brightspace is that the program See AMS on page 7

Athletics’ grand plan • page 16

News

2 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 23, 2015

COMPSA ELECTIONS

All positions uncontested in COMPSA executive race

Candidates cite class loads as reason students don’t get involved B y J enna Z ucker Contributor This year, the races for COMPSA President, Vice-President of University Affairs and Vice-President of Operations are all uncontested.

After being involved in COMPSA for the past two years, Max Garcia plans to take the next step by becoming COMPSA President.

“I want to continue contributing to the society, to continue representing students and to be an advocate for them at University and faculty levels.”

Garcia, CompSci ’17, said this position has frequently gone uncontested over the past several years, as there are many different ways of getting involved within the faculty. He added that by continuing to promote this type of position, it’s likely that more students will get involved.

“Having Eril Berkok [CompSci ’12] as last year’s President of the AMS opened the doors for other students as well as motivated them to become more involved,” he saif.

Garcia has four main platform points: developing better outreach, increasing student advocacy, introducing mental health training for the incoming executive and council and improving COMPSA Site Services, which develops websites for student organizations and clubs.

“We’re an ASUS subsidiary and sometimes we aren’t taken into consideration when ASUS makes decisions, so to have a better presence when it comes to decision making and make them take us into consideration is key,” he said.

To achieve this, Garcia plans to attend or have proxy representation

Max Garcia, presidential candidate.

at ASUS meetings.

“In order for our representation to be taken into consideration, [we must] participate and raise awareness of issues inside the School of Computing,” he said.

Garcia added that he’d “like to change COMPSA Site Services” and will be “discussing ways to improve it with incoming AMS executives”.

In addition, Garcia said he wants to strengthen the communication between COMPSA and ASUS. This way, computing students “can take advantage of all of the resources” ASUS has to offer, he said.

Garcia believes that his experience within more than one of the university’s faculty societies will benefit the computing faculty as a whole.

“Being elected as a first-year representative and currently being the academic affairs commissioner and my involvement in AMS as a first-year intern,” he said, has prepared him for this position.

“I’ve been developing different skills from each different area of experience and my background [is] good for a society.”

in my faculty,” Baum said.

“Over the last year and a half since I’ve been here I’ve found that the computing faculty has been welcoming and has made my university experience so far really great,” he added.

“I want to help other people get the experiences I’ve been able to get.”

This position will require Baum to arrange conferences, manage budgets and hire commissioners — “to manage the internal workings of COMPSA” — all of which he feels prepared for with his experience as the chair of orientation week.

Baum said that “six months ago [he] wouldn’t have even thought about running [for Vice President of Operations].”

“But over the course of the last few months and starting to plan orientation week, I realized these [jobs] are similar,” he said.

Baum underlined COMPSA’s recurring goal to make the faculty better known within both the Queen’s community and other Canadian universities.

In understanding this desire, Baum has come up with the idea *** of having each commissioner be required to submit a written Zachary B a u m , report at the beginning of each CompSci ’17, is running for assembly — something he believes COMPSA Vice-President has worked for ASUS in past years. of Operations — and The commissioners each have a until recently, so was specific job and help the executive an opponent. council at the general assemblies.

Having Baum’s only opposition At each assembly they have the drop out just before the debate has opportunity to explain the progress shed light on the lack of student of their current project, but they involvement even within this don’t always show up or show small faculty. Academic pressures their progression. are cited as a reason for less “Having a written report participation in student politics. gives [the commissioners] more “It’s the first time I’ve ever run of a responsibility, and I think for student elections, so it’s new for that would make them more me, I wanted to get more involved accountable for their position,”

PHOTO BY ARWIN CHAN

Mareena Mallory, VP of university affairs candidate.

he said.

These records would be put online for all who are interested — Baum’s way of reaching out to the rest of COMPSA and showing the rest of Queen’s what they’re doing.

“Being able to allow and catch a glimpse of what’s going on in COMPSA would be beneficial,” he said.

Having online records will allow everyone’s involvement, he added, and “there’d be more representation because people would actually know more of what’s going on”. *** Mareena Mallory hopes to create a close-knit family within the Computer Science faculty as the Vice-President of University Affairs.

“I hope to bring together the grad students, the alumni and the undergrads. I want to keep everyone on the same page and bring the faculty closer together,”

Zachary Baum, VP of operations candidate.

PHOTO BY CHLOE SOBEL

PHOTO BY ALEX PICKERING

said Mallory, CompSci ’17.

“I know I definitely wanted to stay involved in COMPSA and out of all the position descriptions, this one seems to fit my personality and skill set most.”

Mallory is running uncontested in the election, and believes the reason others aren’t running are academic pressures in the program.

“I will be taking a reduced courseload to ensure that I have enough time to give the job the attention it deserves,” she said.

In order to bring the entire faculty together, Mallory would bring back the faculty newsletter after a three-year hiatus, a goal also included in Garcia’s platform.

This newsletter will go out to “undergrads, grads, and alumni so that they’re aware of what events to come back for and so everyone knows what’s going on,” she said.

“Not everyone uses Facebook or Twitter, so emailing out a newsletter is a great way to get in touch with every single person in the faculty,” she added.

Mallory is the current formal events commissioner for COMPSA, which has given her experience in the General Assemblies.

“I’m also the logistics chair for computing orientation week which has given me the chance to work with upper-years and first-years, so I feel like I’ve got a great connection between the all of them,” she said.

“That will be a huge asset in the successful running for this position.”

Mallory said she possesses the necessary skill set to fulfill her duties, which include alumni relations, organizing the class photo, representing student needs and putting together the newsletter.

This is Mallory’s first time running for an elected position and being on an executive council, and she said she hopes to build better “interfaculty relations so we can go to each other’s events, and people can meet and help each other”.

Even though Mallory’s running uncontested, she said it hasn’t affected her attention to campaigning.

“I want to know what [students] want from me and how I can best represent them,” she said.

Friday, January 16, 2015

queensjournal.ca

•3

FEATURE EXCHANGE

From a castle to Kingston First-year students at the Bader Centre see new measures to ensure smooth transition to Queen’s B y L aura R ussell Features Editor Aaron Tang’s favourite part of spending first-year at Herstmonceux Castle was weekend trips to Amsterdam and Paris.

Tang, ArtSci ’16, came to Queen’s Kingston campus in 2012, after studying for a year at the Bader International Study Centre (BISC) in southeast England.

Located in the village of Herstmonceux, Queen’s castle has approximately 2,600 residents.

The castle is isolated three kilometres southeast of the village, making it a sequestered environment for students.

Coming to the Kingston campus, Tang said, felt like stepping into a larger environment.

“You see more people at Queen’s,” he said, “and you feel less isolated in a way.”

Tang applied to both Queen’s main campus and the BISC in high school, and decided to spend first-year at the castle in order to travel.

He said he wasn’t concerned about coming to Queen’s after spending first-year abroad.

Through joining clubs, attending events and going to class, Tang said he made new friends when he came to Kingston in second-year.

“If you spend a year somewhere else and travel, and then come back to Canada, you won’t be nervous at all,” he said.

“I didn’t feel like I missed out on the first-year experience of living in residence and meeting friends, because I still met people after and I met friends of friends.”

Though Tang felt prepared to come to Queen’s once he returned to Canada, many students who study at the BISC need an established support system to help them with their transition.

The BISC Buddy Mentorship Program, managed by Queen’s Student Experience Office and formed in 2012, “aims to ease the transition of students for their first year of study at the BISC to their second year at Queen’s University’s Kingston campus,” according to their website.

Gavin Clark, ArtSci ’16 and a BISC Mentor Leader, said the group acts as a middleman for students coming to Queen’s for the first time.

All BISC Mentor Leaders are students who attended the castle in their first-year, and use their transition experience to help younger students.

“We want to take the castle students and transition them into Kingston,” Clark said. “Everything that they’re going through was something that we’ve been through. We’ve experienced it as much as they have.”

Clark came to Kingston after spending first-year at the castle and went to the BISC Buddy Mentorship Program orientation.

He said he became more involved by attending networking workshops and events and meeting new people, and believes he’ll be a part of the mentorship group for his entire university career.

You see more people at “Queen’s, and you feel less isolated in a way.

”

— Aaron Tang, ArtSci ’16

“If you want to be a part of the Queen’s community and really settle in, you can be a part of it as long as you want to,” he said.

“It’s a give-and-take relationship.

As much as you put into it you’ll get out of it.”

The mentorship group receives a list of all first-year students at the castle who will be studying in Kingston the following year, and they target them for the program.

Each leader is given 10-20 students to work with and mentor.

The incoming students can decide whether or not they would like to be a BISC Mentee.

Clark said the main concern for these students is the same as any other student.

“It’s the transition of moving away. You’re in a totally new environment, you’ve never been here before and you’re living on your own,” he said.

“One of the big concerns is finding housing. You’re entering Kingston and you’re a student.

You didn’t have the residence experience, so you’re kind of jumping right into a house.”

Some

mentees feel nervous about making friends, fitting in and understanding Kingston as well as students that have lived here a year before them, Clark added.

Michelle MacLean, ArtSci ’16, had this concern when she was coming to the Kingston campus in second-year, after studying at the castle.

“I was nervous about getting lost,” MacLean said. “The castle is almost like you’re going to a high school because you’re only going to one building for classes — as opposed to Queen’s, where it’s a whole campus and you have to find your way around.”

MacLean only applied to the BISC out of high school — rather than both Kingston and the BISC — because the castle appealed to her more.

“The whole program seemed really cool because it was in England and I could travel on top of doing school work and decide what I wanted to do when I was there,” she said.

While at the castle, MacLean travelled to places like Venice, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Dublin and Barcelona.

Coming to the Kingston campus in second-year wasn’t too bad, she said — even if her time in Kingston has been less exciting.

“I had made some friends in first-year, so I had people who were in the same position as me,” she said.

“Every day at the castle was more of an

adventure because you’re living in a different country, so everyday was a new trip, and at Queen’s, you can’t do that.”

MacLean said she has found that classes and interactions with teachers are different at Queen’s than at the BISC. “The teachers at the castle were very hands-on, because the classrooms were so small — only about 20 kids in a class,” she said.

“At the castle you could talk to the teachers anywhere or time, because you saw them walking around, whereas Queen’s, you have to set up a meeting with them.”

When she came to Queen’s in second-year, MacLean added, she found it harder to meet new people.

“It’s different at the castle because you’re making friends a lot more rapidly, as opposed to Queen’s, because you’re going places and you have to pick roommates and who you’re going to stay with in different countries,” she said.

Everyone in first-year “tends to form their groups

with the people they met in residence so it’s hard to make new friends.

”

— Michelle MacLean, ArtSci ’16

“Everyone in first-year tends to form their groups with the people they met in residence so it’s hard to make new friends.

Everyone already knows each other, and you’re kind of the new kid that comes in in

second-year.”

Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Arig al Shaibah said the Student Experience Office has been focusing on identifying problems students have in their transition from the castle to the Kingston campus.

“We’ve been keeping an eye out, doing surveys and focus groups to gain data about what the experience and the needs are if any new programming is necessary,” al Shaibah said.

While no large problems have surfaced from these surveys, al Shaibah said, only a small number of students have participated.

Twenty of 117 students responded to the 2014 Second-Year Transition Survey.

She added that these students have many sources they can go to if they need help with the transition, including the Student Experience Office, the BISC Buddy Mentorship Program and the Castle Connections Group, an organization that connects students at Queen’s who have attended the BISC at different times. al Shaibah said these students are nervous about integrating themselves into the new community, and how they’ll meet students across their discipline when coming to the Kingston campus.

“They feel like they’re one year behind their colleagues,” she said.

SUPPLIED BY MITCHELL GLEASON

News

4 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 23, 2015

RESSOC ELECTIONS

ResSoc teams seek student involvement GCS and LCG both look to engage more students in society B y O livia B owden Opinions Editor Both teams running for Residence Society (ResSoc) executive are aiming to get more students involved in the society.

Team GCS believes ResSoc can be innovated and improved on, while prioritizing student wellness and engagement.

The team is one of two teams running for ResSoc executive this year. Last year, one team ran unopposed.

The team, all ArtSci ’17, includes Presidential candidate Greg Radsic, Vice Presidential (Resident Affairs) candidate Cole Smith, and Vice Presidential (Judicial Affairs) candidate Segen Mehreteab.

GCS’s platform is structured as a ‘pentagon’, with an emphasis on Dialogue, Sustainability, Engagement, Stability and Evolution.

Mehreteab and Radsic met in their frosh week, and found Smith through their ResSoc participation.

Radsic, House President of Watts Hall and member of the Residence Society Elections Committee, said ResSoc has the

ability to make changes for the better, being a fairly new society.

ResSoc’s first executive election was in 2013, after Main Council Residents’ Society (MCRS) and Jean Royce Hall Council (JRHC) amalgamated.

“We have the tools in front of us to implement change,” Radsic said.

PHOTO BY ARWIN CHAN “It’s about finding efficiencies within From left: Leo Liu, Emily Gjos and Marianne Cameron. the society and really ensuring that we’re running smoothly and effectively as we can.” Hall, worked with Queen’s Enactus to *** Radsic said simple restructuring within provide funding for 60 green bins for the the society will prevent too many positions residence along with two larger compost ResSoc could benefit from increased from overlapping. bins provided by the Sustainability Office communication between staff, better training Positions will have more clear-cut roles, at Queen’s. and stability, according to Team LCG. Team GCS’s platform explains, making Smith said residences produce more Team LCG consists of Presidential sure volunteers aren’t in a situation where garbage than is necessary. candidate Emily Gjos, Vice Presidential someone has already completed their work.

“One of our big plans was to just get (Residence Affairs) candidate Marianne “Just by restructuring a little bit internally organics and waste protocol in order,” he said. Cameron and Vice Presidential (Judicial and not even doing anything overly drastic “Queen’s has in place existing infrastructure Affairs) candidate Leo Liu. … [is] an easy way right there to help lower for taking away organic waste, but right now After spending their first year at the [a] deficit,” Radsic said. our residences aren’t collecting it.”

Bader International Study Centre (BISC) The team is also looking to implement Working with other on-campus groups, as together, Gjos and Cameron, both ArtSci ’16, a “Smart Waste” program, building off well as the University, will help fund Smart believe their experience abroad helped them initiatives that Smith already implemented Waste, Team GCS’s platform states. understand the need to build a “home away this year.

Mehreteab, the Residence Facilitator in from home” while in residence.

Smith, as House President of Leonard Morris Hall, said mental health awareness is “The main thing about our platform is the important to bring to residence. stability of the society,” said Gjos, currently She added that, if elected, the team hopes the House President in Harkness Hall. to work with groups such as the Mental She said maintaining and improving Health Awareness Committee (MHAC) in ResSoc for the future is a priority. order to address mental health preventatively.

“It’s stabilizing the finances and the future Ultimately, she said ResSoc needs to of the residency society … making sure that connect better with students. everything is accountable and transparent.”

“It seems like ResSoc is a negative, where Improved staff training is a part of they get you into trouble… that shouldn’t the “accountability” section of Team be the case. It should be something that LCG’s platform. everyone wants to get involved in.”

Gjos said if elected the team will aim

From left: Segen Mehreteab, Greg Radsic and Cole Smith.

PHOTO BY MICHELLE ALLAN

See Social on page 7

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING GRADUATE STUDIES AT CARLETON UNIVERSITY

Funding available for Canadian Graduate students • work with leading researchers on cutting-edge topics • one of the largest ECE programs in Canada • modern, well-equipped labs and state-of-the-art computer facilities • proximity to and collaboration with government departments, research organizations, and high technology firms • exceptional national capital location • funding available for Canadians and Permanent Residents

Learn more at: carleton.ca/ece/about-ece/

News

Friday, January 23, 2015

queensjournal.ca

ENGSOC ELECTIONS

EngSoc VP Ops candidates look to improve services Crawford seeks transparency, Murphy accountability B y N atasa B ansagi Assistant News Editor Andrew Crawford and Erin Murphy are hoping to have a chance to oversee six services, three director positions and the budget and strategic planning process of Orientation Week and Sci Formal, as the Engineering Society’s (EngSoc) Vice-President of Operations.

Crawford, Sci ’15, who served as Grease Pole Coordinator in 2013 and Orientation Roundtable Concert Director in 2014, said he’s the best candidate for the role because he takes a critical and broad approach to addressing problems.

“My focus on long-term planning starts with coming in knowledgeable,” he said, adding that “if I’m not very knowledgeable already, I make sure I am.”

Crawford hopes to expand the role of the Director of Human Resources beyond EngSoc services — garnering feedback from the FREC and Sci Formal committees, for instance. Changing the role to an officer — rather than director — would allow the individual to oversee directors and the executive, in addition to managers and staff.

His priorities include supporting long-term planning of the services and ensuring that the “proper aspects” of this — financials, for instance — are considered.

Crawford said he wants to extend financial considerations beyond the services — where he says financials are already well handled — including making “public and easy-to-follow financial long-term resources” that are accessible to anyone.

He added that he wants to ensure students are protected — in legal and financial terms — and have proper preparation in place, including contingency plans, for insurance purposes.

“If … there is severe consequences for a student as a result of the traditions you practice, it becomes very quickly apparent that that tradition should not exist anymore, as it’s no longer contributing to students,” he said.

The biggest weakness — and strength — of student societies, he said, is the yearly turnover they experience.

“So finding ways and strategies that can ease that transition — whether it is through increasing the amount of hands-on training people have as managers and staff, making sure you have structured meeting times and more than just one transition meeting.”

While Crawford aims to introduce documentation, such as manuals, to aid in this transition process, he cited the Tea Room’s “Teas for Trees” initiative as another type of resource.

“I’d like to make things like that happen for everyone — for all the services,” he said.

“It’s not strictly knowledge, but it’s an idea and ideas are also resources themselves.”

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE

FROM ARBITRATION TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS THE UNIQUE SKILLS YOU WILL NEED TO LAUNCH YOUR CAREER AS AN ARBITRATOR, CONCILIATOR, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS OFFICER, MEDIATOR AND MANY OTHER EXCITING CAREER OPTIONS.

business.humber.ca/postgrad

Andrew Crawford, left, and Erin Murphy at Thursday’s debate.

*** Murphy, who served as treasurer for EngWeek in 2012-13 and Sci ’16 treasurer last year, and is currently Director of Finance for EngSoc, said her experience makes her the best candidate for the role.

The main pillars of her platform include accessibility, communication and accountability.

Murphy said her proposed online system for cheque requisitions — to replace the current system of paper copies with attached receipts — would mitigate the effects of losing or misplacing physical documents.

“Turning that into an online system would, first of all, take off a lot of work from the Director Finance and the VP Operations because you could do it for the services as well,” she said.

“That would make everything more accountable, because you would have not only the paper copy that could be printed and stored — you’d also have it on the cloud.”

While she said that services tend to operate “on their own”, Murphy hopes to foster a broader team environment amongst service managers, including more frequent meetings or communication between them.

“Very applicable to a degree

PHOTO BY ALEX PICKERING

in engineering is you work as a team, and although each one has their own mini-team, it’s, I think, a better environment to work as a large team,” she said.

“I really want to focus on trying to improve the dialogue between the services and having each of the services rely on each other to a certain extent.”

In terms of accessibility, she said she’d like to increase student opportunities and awareness of these opportunities within EngSoc. To improve existing services, Murphy discussed marketing efforts and finding products that are more economically sustainable. She said the services have “ecologically sustainable products”, but lower-cost “comparable substitutes” to the foodstuffs currently sold can be implemented to achieve this.

“Clark [Hall Pub] does a good job of marketing primarily to engineers, but I really want the services to branch out to even outside Engineering and the Kingston community,” she said.

“Showing that we have these services that are incredible and all have these unique aspects and are going to benefit not only us at Queen’s, but also the greater community.”

— With files from Sebastian Leck and Anisa Rawhani

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE

FROM TRADE SHOWS TO WEDDINGS TO CULTURAL FESTIVALS, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS THE UNIQUE SKILLS YOU WILL NEED TO LAUNCH YOUR CAREER AS AN EVENT COORDINATOR, SPECIAL EVENTS ORGANIZER, ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE, CORPORATE MEETING PLANNER AND MANY OTHER EXCITING CAREER OPTIONS.

business.humber.ca/postgrad

•5

6 • queensjournal.ca

News

Friday, January 23, 2015

ENGSOC ELECTIONS

EngSoc VPSA candidates aim to promote camaraderie Wood, Haron both want to reach out to engineers B y N atasa B ansagi Assistant News Editor

ADVERTISING – MEDIA MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION EVENT MANAGEMENT FASHION MANAGEMENT & PROMOTIONS FINANCIAL PLANNING GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MARKETING MANAGEMENT PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

business.humber.ca/postgrad

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE

FROM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TO ADVERTISING, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS THE UNIQUE SKILLS YOU WILL NEED TO LAUNCH YOUR CAREER AS AN ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, MARKETING MANAGER, MARKETING SPECIALIST, PRODUCT MANAGER AND MANY OTHER

Jerry Haron and Alex Wood are the two candidates running for the position of Vice-President of Student Affairs (VPSA) for the Engineering Society (EngSoc).

The position includes oversight of the Director of Communications, Director of Events, Director of Internal Affairs, Director of Design and Director of IT within EngSoc and representation of the Society to other student societies on campus.

As per EngSoc’s website, the VPSA offers an “out of the classroom” perspective and may assist in developing new projects.

Although Haron, Sci ’17, said he only recently joined EngSoc, he said all of his experience since then has fallen under the portfolio of VPSA. “Maybe not in a high position, as a director … but I’ve been that person on the ground, I know what events should look like, I know what the AMS meetings should look like,” Haron said.

He said the overarching theme of his platform is student development and learning outside the classroom, in an age where many online learning resources are available and “anybody can learn an engineering degree”.

“What’s the point of paying money to come to Queen’s?” he asked, adding that it’s the atmosphere that makes the experience worthwhile.

Design teams, events and conferences are his three main pillars.

He said he would like to maintain safety measures put in place by the Director of Design this year — which he said will help ensure that sponsors are willing to provide funding to design teams at Queen’s — as well as bring those clubs that are less visible or known to the society “out of the nooks and crannies”.

Haron proposed running workshops for Event Organizers and holding an Events and Services all-ages night at Clark Hall Pub, a greater number of frosh-FREC

events and inter-discipline and inter-year tournaments.

“If I got a group of my friends from Sci ’17 to face off against a group of, maybe my FREC’s friends in Sci ’16, battling off in a dodgeball tournament, that would be pretty fun,” he said.

“Just getting people together, getting them communicating, making the entire Queen’s Engineering program feel a little bit closer.”

Haron situated his proposal for an external conference bursary as a follow-up to the termination of the Director of External Communications position within EngSoc, as well as its distancing from the Engineering Student Societies’ Council of Ontario and the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students.

“I think it’s a big problem because obviously Queen’s Engineering has a brand and we want as many people to know about this brand as we can,” he said.

“It’s very important, especially this year, to get people out to these conferences, to get people talking with other universities, professional societies and industry, to promote the Queen’s brand and get people talking about Queen’s.” *** Wood, who served as year vice-president as a second-year engineer and director of human tesources this year, said his years of experience with EngSoc makes him the best candidate for the position.

“I’ve got to know a lot of the facets of the society throughout all the stuff I’ve done,” said Wood, Sci ’16.

Protecting spaces is one of Wood’s main priorities.

“A lot of our clubs and design

teams are having trouble finding space and as class sizes increase, we have more great ideas and so more clubs and teams want to join,” he said.

Wood said he’d like to combine the community outreach program — currently tasked with the Fix N’ Clean event — and the external relations committee, which helps with the Kingston snow fort building contest and the City’s Santa Claus parade.

Wood’s proposal to combine groups — such as Fungineering and the Buddy program — results from what he said is the idea that “some groups start off with a great purpose and then become somewhat unneeded.”

Citing the Buddy program — which pairs upper-year engineers with a first-year engineer — Wood said the involvement of FRECs in the first-year experience “kind of eliminated” the need for upper-year buddies.

“That’s why I wanted to combine that one with another committee that plans a lot of interdisclipinary, inter-year events, so that we can kind of centralize our events, for our internal events,” he said.

Noting that this will be student-driven, Wood said he’d like to implement outreach events for students who don’t normally attend EngSoc events.

“What I would do is basically try to get a public opinion on what — the people who aren’t coming to our engineering society — what are their interests?” he said.

“Are they interested more in athletics, are they interested more in the arts?”

— With files from Sebastian Leck

Finances v. opinion at debate

EXCITING CAREER OPTIONS.

Continued from page 1

business.humber.ca/postgrad

Li referred back to her main campaign points for most of the questions in the debate, highlighting communication, quality student experience and financial aid as her main focus.

“If the board wanted financial solutions they would hire an expert,” Li said in a rebuttal to Blair.

She said it’s more important to relay the student opinion to the board than to address the finances directly.

“It is very clear the University wants student perspective when making decisions,” she said.

Li also reiterated her campaign point on greater social media presence from the trustee to keep students aware and have them virtually join in on the discussions on the Board.

“Advocacy in numbers is stronger than advocacy as an individual,” she said in discussing how she plans to work with other student leaders.

She added that she plans to attend various faculty society meetings to get an idea of what students and student leaders want to see from her.

The primary question that separated the two candidates was how they would deal with advocating against something they

thought was unethical on the board.

Li said she’d stay true to the students she represents and, rather than act based on a personal opinion, she’d want to consult with the students beforehand to ensure she could take into account the diverse perspectives of the student body.

In her closing statement, Li got emotional when addressing her campaign manager and the volunteers who’ve helped her.

“If elected, I know I’d be able to perform to the best of my ability in order to have the changes in the board reflect what students want,” she said.

News

Friday, January 23, 2015

AMS not consulted Continued from page 1

makes better use of data, so it’s easier to provide students with better learning experiences.

Brightspace allows faculty and staff to see where students are having more difficulties, and use the information provided to improve course and program design.

Colin Zarzour, AMS academic affairs commissioner, said the AMS should have been consulted in the decision-making process that led to the switch to Brightspace.

“I wasn’t consulted at all in the decision to switch to Brightspace, which I think was a very risky maneuver when coming to a learning management system,” he said.

“You’re ignoring a very large group — the primary group — that will be using it.”

Zarzour said Brightspace appears to have features that Moodle does not have.

This includes a cleaner, more professional “look”, and while Moodle is customizable and can have features built into it, Brightspace is “feature-complete” — it comes with all the features that Moodle would have to have built into it.

Zarzour added that it’s crucial for faculty to take the time to learn how to use the new system.

“When faculty members and professors choose to not put data into a learning management system, then they’re not going to get any data back out,” he said.

“It’s extraordinarily important that if we want to have the best system for students, that faculty invest their time, learn how to use it, and then use it.”

Social engagement key to a wider audience, we’re hoping to get more students involved,” she said. to check in with staff throughout the year She said the team hopes to use social to ensure they’re prepared, instead of only media to increase a general understanding checking in at the start of the year. of ResSoc. Staff training itself can be improved Liu, ArtSci ’17, said increased through bi-weekly staff meetings, and communication between Residence Life and through examining specific roles in more ResSoc would help students better navigate detail, she said. the peer-based conduct system.

“We want to make sure [staff] have more If students are written up they deserve hands-on, scenario-based training, rather transparency regarding that decision, he said. than just theoretical,” she said.

“If the student receives a letter of Cameron, House President of Chown, responsibility, they have the right to ask for said the team is looking to get students more the rational behind the decision,” Liu said. engaged with ResSoc. “It all goes back to the idea that ResSoc “We’re looking to re-vamp our website is created by students, working for students. and be very active on Facebook, Twitter and That’s where all the ideas of accountability Instagram accounts. Being able to reach out and engagement all stem from.”

Continued from page 4

queensjournal.ca

•7

8 • queensjournal.ca

Editorial Board Editors in Chief

Nick Faris Vincent Ben Matak

Production Manager

Sam Koebrich

News Editor

Chloe Sobel

Assistant News Editors

Natasa Bansagi Mishal Omar Jacob Rosen

Features Editors

Sebastian Leck Laura Russell

Editorials Editor

Anisa Rawhani

Opinions Editor

Olivia Bowden

Arts Editors

Olivia Loncar-Bartolini Kashmala Omar

Sports Editor

Sean Sutherland

Assistant Sports Editor Lifestyle Editor

Brent Moore

Chloë Grande

Assistant Lifestyle Editor Photo Editors

Kate Meagher

Friday, January 23, 2015

DIALOGUE

Editorials — The Journal’s perspective

“It’s irresponsible to accept students without being sure of how you’re going to support them.”

ADMINISTRATION

Sexual assault policy still inaccessible The University’s release of a temporary sexual assault protocol was a good move, but the policy needs to be heavily advertised and made readily accessible.

The interim policy for sexual assault on campus, publicly released on Jan. 16, will be used until the end of the academic year, when a permanent procedure will be released. The policy consolidates all of the resources and information survivors may need in the event of a sexual assault.

How the school will conduct assault investigations remains undetermined.

It’s unfortunate that the policy’s

Arwin Chan Alex Pickering

Assistant Photo Editor

Michelle Allan

Graphics Editor and Editorial Illustrator

development was only expedited advertised by the University. during an investigation. It’s critical after media coverage shamed the Finding a copy of the policy that when survivors go through the administration for lacking one. without the direct link requires non-criminal system, they don’t But the University made the right navigating Queen’s maze of a bear the brunt of altering their call in moving quickly to release a website. The University made a housing and class situation to fulfill short-term policy to bridge the gap. one-page mind map that’s much “no contact”.

Enacting an interim measure is more straightforward than the The policy’s inclusion of essential in ensuring survivors don’t 12-page policy document — but employees at Queen’s — not only continue to go without guidance, it’s even harder to find online. as potential assailants, but survivors and to assess what changes should The entire document is — is also a much-needed addition. be included in a permanent policy. overwhelming for anyone to read, It’s good the University is The temporary protocol let alone a traumatized survivor, exploring options for anonymous document remains largely and the mind map doesn’t provide suggestions in the development of inaccessible, though.

Save enough detail about the procedures. the policy, as they should provide for an article in the Queen’s Physical copies of the policy as many avenues as possible for Gazette — in addition to coverage need to be made available students to submit feedback. in the Journal and the Toronto around campus — particularly The protocol is a good Star — the policy hasn’t been to first-years in residences, where starting point. As it evolves into numerous assaults are alleged to a comprehensive policy, public have occurred in recent years. consultation and ample input from Important inclusions in the survivors should be taken into policy are the alternative housing serious consideration. and class schedule options for both alleged assailants and survivors — Journal Editorial Board

Michaella Fortune

Web Developer Copy Editors

Karen Chen

Leigh Cameron Christine Ellis Chandra Erickson

Contributing Staff

Olivia Bowden

Staff Writers and Photographers Mitchell Gleason Luke Kessaram Lauren Luchenski Ryan Pardy Claudia Tsang Jenna Zucker

Not a bitter pill to swallow

Contributors

Kristen Olver

Business Staff Business Manager

David Worsley

Marketing Manager

Hayley Square

Sales Representatives

Fraser Bruce Katelyn Martinko Jacob Rumball Teddy Taggart Friday, January 16 • Issue 18 • Volume 142

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

Editorial opinions expressed in the Journal are the sole responsibility of the Queen’s Journal Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers.

Contents © 2015 by the Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the Journal.

The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Performance Group of Companies in Smiths Falls, Ontario.

Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Subscriptions are available for $80.00 per year (plus applicable taxes).

Please address complaints and grievances to the Editors in Chief.

Please direct editorial, advertising and circulation enquiries to: 190 University Ave., Kingston, ON, K7L 3P4 Telephone: 613-533-2800 (editorial) 613-533-6711 (advertising) Fax: 613-533-6728 Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca The Journal online: www.queensjournal.ca Circulation 6,000 Issue 19 of the Journal will be published on Friday, January 23, 2015

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAELLA FORTUNE

ADMINISTRATION

Enrolment an avoidable Catch-22 Queen’s needs a systematic plan to address the inevitable strain that increased enrolment will place on valuable student services.

In 2013-14, 86 per cent of Queen’s total budgeted operating revenues came from tuition and operating grants from the provincial government — grants that increase as enrolment grows.

With the cost of operating on the rise, Queen’s, like many universities, has sought to increase in size.

By 2016, Queen’s enrolment will increase by approximately 1,500 students — an expansion the University said will be accommodated with the addition of 550 beds in two new residences and a new food outlet on campus.

Queen’s efforts to garner funds are understandable, considering the school’s precarious financial state in recent years. But the absence of a plan to mitigate the inevitable strain expansion will place on student services is worrisome.

Health, Counselling and Disability Services (HCDS) is a critical service that, with only two part-time psychiatrists, is already stretched thin. Mental health is a serious concern at Queen’s; the University needs to be proactive in further supporting HCDS and other services so that students have unrestricted access.

While the addition of two residences was a good move and swiftly executed, 550 new beds can only do so much. International and upper-year students won’t be living in residence, placing a large strain on the housing situation in Kingston.

It’s irresponsible to accept students without being sure of how you’re going to support them. With this risk on the horizon, the University needs ensure any enrolment increases are actually sustainable.

— Journal Editorial Board

The abortion pill mifepristone is approved in over 60 countries worldwide including the United States, most of Europe and Australia. But not in Canada.

It’s taken Health Canada more than 750 days and counting to approve the medication.

That’s the longest the department has ever taken to approve any medication in the last few years, especially for a drug that’s been used worldwide for more than two decades.

Health Canada’s lack of an explanation for the delay isn’t only due to the red-tape mentality of the federal government.

It’s indicative of the general disregard for women’s health in this country, with particular flippancy towards reproductive health and abortion rights.

Access to abortion remains a major issue in Canada. Only 17 per cent of Ontario hospitals provide abortions, while provinces such as P.E.I. remain without a single clinic.

New Brunswick only recently struck down legislation requiring women to receive permission from two doctors to have an abortion.

According to the National Abortion Federation (NAF), who represents 80 per cent of Canada’s abortion providers, complications with the use of mifepristone are rare.

NAF has been trying to get the drug approved for years along with many Canadian doctors in order to make abortion more accessible in Canada.

Decades of medical research show the drug is safe. As the Globe and Mail reported, studies show that risk of death is higher with over-the-counter drugs such as antetaminophen and Viagra. Side effects, like with many daily-use medications, are rare.

Anti-abortion groups such as the Campaign Life Coalition fuel rumours of mifepristone’s “danger” without citing correct evidence.

But these anti-choice organizations aren’t where we should be looking for real information.

The World Health Organization has listed mifepristone as “essential” along with doctors worldwide who praise the drug. Countless studies hail the medication’s success.

More importantly, this drug could increase abortion access in Canada, which today remains sorely lacking.

With abortion clinics usually situated in major urban centres, women often have to travel far distances to receive surgical abortions, including out of province flights.

If mifepristone were available in Canada, women would be able to have abortions privately without the extra travel costs. It would allow a degree of discreetness and confidentiality, as abortion remains highly stigmatized.

Health Canada needs to give a clear explanation of why they’ve delayed the decision on this medication.

Canada doesn’t have to approve a medication simply because other countries have.

Yet, keeping Canadians in the dark as to why there’s a delay, what their process has been so far and what evidence they’re examining, gives the impression they aren’t as neutral a body as they claim to be.

Olivia is the Journal’s Opinions Editor.

She’s a fourth-year history major.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Dialogue

queensjournal.ca

•9

ELECTION

AMS acclamation omits students Originally published online Jan. 20.

Without a vote of confidence, Team CBW’s imposition as incoming AMS executive was undemocratic.

The AMS acclaimed CBW — Kanivanan Chinniah, Kyle Beaudry and Catherine Wright — as the 2015-16 executive last week, after they were the only team to fulfill the election’s nomination requirements on time.

It’s never explicitly stated in AMS elections policy what to do in the event that only one team runs. If a situation that isn’t covered in policy arises, the AMS Chief Electoral Officer is mandated to “interpret the policy in a manner consistent with its intentions.”

Election by acclamation has been used in the last three AMS elections where only one team has run — 1983, 1990 and, now, 2015.

But acclamation isn’t in the spirit of the policy. Instead, it prioritizes the best interest of the team involved and omits the input of students.

With an acclamation, the winning team — who will be responsible for student advocacy, services and commissions — is ushered in before students know anything about them, simply because they handed in the right paperwork on time.

The AMS needs to hold a vote of confidence, as ASUS, ComSoc, CESA and ResSoc did last year in uncontested elections.

The AMS’s executive election policy should also be updated to

explicitly state what to do in the who’s selected to run their society. — on Monday and Tuesday week that the election process was event that only one team runs, The AMS didn’t send an email evenings — to meet with students “properly advertised” — but two rather than leaving the policy up to — or any message to all students and discuss future initiatives. print advertisements in the Journal, interpretation.

— announcing the acclamation. These forums weren’t sufficiently a post on the AMS website and Whether students have Instead, they announced it over advertised in advance. a 26-word announcement in the confidence in the single team or Facebook and Twitter, which only While it’s problematic that executive’s December newsletter not, they deserve the opportunity their followers could see, and there’s no specific AMS policy to isn’t nearly enough. to voice their opinion. released a press release that, instead deal with uncontested executive Mass emails, poster campaigns, Voting, even for confidence, of being featured on the front page elections, the crux of the issue class talks and messages on TV establishes accountability in those of their website, was buried in the is that only one team ran in the screens in the Queen’s Centre are who are eventually voted in. That “Campus News” section. first place. all ways the AMS could have better accountability isn’t there with an In lieu of debates, CBW is AMS Chief Electoral Officer advertised the nomination period acclamation; voters have no say in hosting a pair of public forums Chris Casher told the Journal last — and, perhaps, attracted more than three candidates from over 16,000 undergraduate students.

Without a voting process to let students choose their future executive, CBW has to work even harder to prove they deserve their new roles.

So far, their relationship with the student body has gotten off to a rocky start.

While nominated teams usually release their platform at the very beginning of the campaign period, CBW only released theirs Monday — five days after their acclamation, without any public explanation for the delay.

CBW — whose three members all have experience working for the AMS or a faculty society — should have had their platform ready for release last Friday. Even a brief summary of their primary objectives would have sufficed.

So far, the AMS and CBW have done the absolute bare minimum to engage students. It’s a troubling approach from our current and future student leaders.

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAELLA FORTUNE

— Journal Editorial Board

10 • queensjournal.ca

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Opinions — Your Perspective

Talking heads

During each year’s AMS executive election campaign period, the Journal runs an opinion piece written by the campaign manager of each candidate team.

... around campus PHOTOS BY OLIVIA BOWDEN

How do you feel about CBW’s acclamation?

“I think it’s a shame they won by default.”

Isabella Gartha, ArtSci ’18

AMS

CBW is seeking student support Kristen Olver, campaign manager of CBW, argues the team deserves to be in office

“I think it’s important that students are aware of what the policy was.”

Alex Blaine, Con-Ed ’15

Kristen Olver, ArtSci`15

students to participate in the delivery of the AMS’s programs and services.

On Jan. 15, Team CBW was elected by Team CBW has seized this opportunity acclamation to be the next AMS executive. and has reached out to various constituencies An unusual and unprecedented situation to build their team for the upcoming year. nobody anticipated, election by acclamation I’m confident in Team CBW — not just is a method used by other electoral from witnessing their tireless dedication on bodies, including elections to the House of their exciting and pragmatic platform, but Commons of Canada. from the unique individual experiences they Nevertheless, since the beginning of the bring to the table. election period, CBW has been working to President-elect Kanivanan Chinniah is engage with students in the same nature as a fourth-year economics student and the many executive teams before them. current campus services director, and sits They’ve collected signatures, organized as an arts and science student senator on volunteers and presented a platform to reflect University Senate. Kanivanan has a history their vision for the AMS and its students. of firm yet pragmatic advocacy on behalf of The platform wasn’t made overnight — it students, whether it be on University Senate, was a result of extensive consultation with or on ensuring the financial sustainability and all stakeholders. affordability of AMS programs and services.

This platform will build a better AMS. Vice President Operations-elect Kyle Throughout the campaign period, CBW Beaudry is the current president of the has prioritized facilitating awareness on commerce Society. campus for their platform, and remaining In his capacity as President, Beaudry has accessible to students who want to voice their proven himself as a good manager and concerns about CBW and their platform. diligent steward for delivering high- quality Team CBW recognizes they must earn the conferences and events that the Commerce support of students.

Society is renowned for.

The team acknowledged at their As a Commerce student, he represents a candidates’ forums this week that they need commitment to broaden the AMS’s appeal to work twice as hard to gain the trust to underrepresented faculties. of students. That work has begun, and Vice President University Affairs-elect will continue well after the end of the Catherine Wright is an economics and gender election period. studies student and a don in Victoria Hall.

Despite not being subject to an election Last year, Wright was the AMS municipal period, Team CBW has performed multiple affairs commissioner, where she led and won class talks in many faculties to introduce the AMS’s appeal to the Ontario Municipal themselves to as many students as possible. Board on Kingston’s electoral district They’ve attended meetings of all faculty boundary realignment, in spite of opposition societies throughout this election period, and from the City of Kingston. will continue to do so.

Her proven vision and steadfast The team has also made recruitment a perseverance demonstrate that she’s a strong key plank of their outreach strategy. Meeting advocate to lobby for students right from students as the incoming AMS executive the start. presents an opportunity to recruit more Team CBW offers both an internal and

external perspective on the AMS, bringing diversity, knowledge and the necessary pragmatism to handle the unique challenges they will face as an AMS executive. Together they are committed to creating a two-way conversation, not a one-way platform, about the future of the student experience at Queen’s.

In office, CBW won’t be characterized by grandiose ideas or unrealistic initiatives that won’t come to fruition.

Their focus as a team is on small, practical changes for students that will streamline current services to support students as Queen’s grows. The student body requires a sustainable AMS that works to preserve the value of our Queen’s degree.

With the expected increase of 2,000 students over the next four years, campus resources will be strained.

Adding more seats at Common Ground, advocating for increased study spaces and supporting the expansion of student clubs are important priorities to work on, to ensure students are supported as campus grows.

Along with our campus, opportunities for engagement are changing. Learning occurs in a variety of forms, and so it’s important we have an AMS executive that advocates for additional credits earned in the broader learning environment.

Student-led initiatives are the backbone of Queen’s tradition and the classic Queen’s experience. Continuing to support student-run orientation week is just one aspect of our university experience that sets Queen’s apart, and that CBW is committed to preserving. CBW is committed to strengthening and preserving the best in our school.

CBW has drafted a plan to ensure the AMS remains accountable to its constituents, be it by making budgets public and accessible or

“I was pretty surprised that only one team ended up running.”

Carling Counter, ArtSci ‘17

“You’d think there would be more teams running.”

Ava Brown-Mantha, ArtSci ’17 continuing to put students first by consulting them on their changing needs.

Through their class talks and visits to faculty societies, they’ve made an effort to ensure that they reach out to as many people as possible.

CBW’s the team the AMS needs at the helm to represent its constituents in the coming months, as the University takes on new challenges that will affect students for years to come.

I’m excited to see all they will accomplish, and have full confidence that whichever decisions they make as the incoming AMS executive, it will lead students and our university to great places.

Kristen Olver is Team CBW’s campaign manager.

Check out Video Talking Heads: queensjournal.ca/opinions

Friday, January 16, 2015

queensjournal.ca

• 11

B y K ashmala O mar Arts Editor Fine art student Iris Fryer paints to transform mundane, everyday experiences into wistful, thought-provoking ones.

The artist is in her fourth year, and although she has dabbled in printmaking and sculpting, painting is her speciality. “[Painting] really allows you to use a whole lot of different styles, and it allows you to paint things that just are unreal,” Fryer said.

“With sculpture, you’re kind of limited a little bit in space, but I find with painting you can create whatever imagery you want.”

Fryer is originally from Bradford, Ont., and draws much of her inspiration for her work from both her hometown and Kingston.

“I’m really interested in capturing that feeling of travelling and sort of being at home, but not being at home,” Fryer said. “I use the term ‘lost and found’ a lot to describe my paintings.”

The artist also uses the term “itinerant” to give meaning to her paintings, using the idea of moving from place to place and essentially being a wanderer.

Fryer’s paintings have a common theme. Looking around at them, one instantly feels at ease, and is almost transported to a time of travel. The colours used are dark and inviting, while the landscape of the pieces focuses on the actual act of travelling, whether it be by train or car.

They evoke feelings of nostalgia, and are strangely calming to look at.

“When I’m on the Megabus doing that long stretch on the 401, I find that it’s a very interesting phenomenon to be surrounded by

ARTS

CAMPUS ART

Making the ordinary extraordinary Profile of fourth-year fine art student Iris Fryer

people but not engaging with them at all.

“So you have these individual travellers, who are very

introspective — you don’t know what they’re thinking,” she said.

“And you’re sharing a space, but you’re not really sharing anything

BAND PREVIEW

A debut show in Kingston

Montreal band Nancy Pants performs their “dirty pop” tunes

SUPPLIED BY NANCY CRAY

Nancy Pants formed in Montreal.

B y L auren L uchenski Staff Writer Montreal-based, self-proclaimed “dirty pop” trio Nancy Pants puts their own twist on pop-punk music.

Their debut album, Total Nancy Pants, showcases the bands style of loud, playful and honest pop-punk songs.

Nancy Pants was born when lead vocalist Ohara Hale and bassist Adam Waito were on a road trip to an independent comic book convention.

PHOTO BY ALEX PICKERING

Fryer pictured with an untitled piece she painted last semester.

Both being illustrators, the two had collaborated on previous artistic endeavours and thought that playing music together would be just as fun.

“Adam and I have been collaborating on art stuff for a while — and we’ve had a crazy amount of fun with it,” Hale told the Journal via email. “We thought that since we also did music we should see if it would be just as fun collaborating on that too.”

The band became a trio when Hale and Waito sent some prospective tunes to drummer

Jeremy MacCuish.

The trio’s musical collaboration was an instant connection, making playing their music all the more fun and easy.

“One summer evening we met up, played the songs right off the bat as if we had known them forever,” Hale said. “It was a really intuitive musical connection and was so surprisingly easy and free for all of us that it just seemed natural to keep doing it.”

Nancy Pants recorded their first five-song demo on a cellphone and uploaded it to the Internet the next

else with them.”

The artist likes to capture moments that are atmospheric — rather than political — in her work, she said.

Fryer focuses on parts of life that can perhaps seem monotonous at first, such as going to and from school via train, and painting them in such a way that they are new and inspiring.

“I’m much more interested in sort of a championing of the mundane,” she said. “So instead of typically beautiful things — like landmarks that you always see paintings of — I like to take simple scenes and experiences and take them into the realm of fine art.”

Although Fryer only began painting regularly in her first year at Queen’s, she picked it up quickly and saw all sorts of potential in it.

“I sort of just fell in love with it,”

she said. “It’s very easy to get very layered and you can use whatever colour you pick up, and whatever paint treatments you want to create a photorealistic painting, or an abstract one.”

After she graduates this year, the artist hopes to continue painting while pursuing a Master’s degree in the fine arts.

This semester, Fryer said, she plans on putting a new spin on her paintings and will aim to create works that are less photorealistic.

“I’m trying to push the boundaries of what can be considered beautiful,” she said.

day. Their spontaneous approach to music produced a genuine, light-hearted and upbeat sound.

“We think [spontaneity] is fun — we love that kind of rawness you can hear from a jam,” Hale said.

Having progressed to producing an album with real microphones, Nancy Pants is extremely eager to share their new album. “[We] didn’t really have a focus except to get what we had so far recorded and out there,” she said.

Nancy Pants believes in approaching music in an honest and free way.

They love that they can do whatever they want with their music to keep them happy and keep their music fun, Hale added.

Because of how much happiness their music brings to them, they’re genuinely excited to share their music.

“There is no shame in sharing your joy,” Hale said.

Hale and Waito have had lots of songwriting experience that has taught them to not overthink their songs too much, because it keeps their sound and lyrics genuine.

“We just sort of vibe out instantly when we jam and work on songs and there isn’t much thinking going on there — just lots of heart,” she said.

Friday is Nancy Pants’ first time playing in Kingston, and they’re ready to have some fun with the new venue.

“I’m stoked to play and I also love, love, love going to places for the first time,” Hale said. “I think it will be a fun show.”

Fryer will be presenting her work as part of a speaker series for the Ban Righ Centre on Feb. 6.

Nancy Pants performs at the Mansion on Friday.

Arts

12 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 23, 2015

ART EXHIBIT

Landscape visions The Park and the Forest at AEAC B y O livia L oncar -B artolini Arts Editor “Go to Nature in all her singleness of heart … rejecting nothing, selecting nothing and scorning nothing; rejoicing always in the truth.”

This quotation by influential English 19th-century art critic John Ruskin is printed adjacent to the artwork on the walls of Agnes Etherington Art Centre (AEAC).

And there’s no better way to describe the theme of The Park and The Forest exhibition.

Rolling hills, lush greenery and summertime foliage in the sprawling English countryside are the subjects of focus for the artists in this collection. Using mostly materials like watercolours, pastels, charcoal and pencil to depict these landscapes, a feeling of softness and lightness is evoked.

Viewing the works, I’m brought back to 15th- and 16thcentury landscape studies of Dutch masters Pieter Brueghel the Elder and Jan Van Eyck. The piece that stands out the most in this sense is Windsor Castle by British portrait painter George Harlow (1879), painted in the classical panoramic

landscape style.

The charcoal studies in the exhibition by James Duffield Harding are akin to the depictions of everyday life by Dutch master Rembrandt.

Using this classical approach as well as strong influences from the Royal Academy in London, 19th- and 20th- century artists took a modern approach to their landscape and nature paintings. At this time, they began using different materials such as watercolour and pastel, where the classic masters would have used oil paints.

In the 1830s, a more naturalistic style became favoured over detailed realism which led to a softer, more experimental landscape painting.

With looser strokes and more of a focus on capturing the “feeling” of the landscape, excruciating detail was no longer the epitome of the style of British landscape in the 19th century.

The intention behind these works of art is what it appears at first glance, which is simply to capture a moment in time to show the world exactly what they saw.

Because of this, the collection is very easy for audiences to digest.

These works, which could be

PHOTOS BY ALEX PICKERING

George Harlow’s “Windsor Castle” watercolour, pictured above.

considered studies in landscape depiction or just attempts to capture the appearance of nature during a time of day or time of year, exemplify the mastery of the artist’s craft in their ability to capture certain details in the natural world which is their subject matter.

Another noteworthy feature of this exhibition is a book of 46 photographs of paintings by Scottish photographer William Norton. Compiled together, this

book shows the advancement of photography during the mid-1800s and provides context to the way the style of landscape painting was changing during that time

in England.

The Park and The Forest exhibition will stay at AEAC until April 12.

COMIC BOOKS

A Queen’s comic to come

Queen’s Comic Book Legion will present issue of “Gael Force” B y K ashmala O mar Arts Editor Two years after the formation of the Queen’s Comic Book Legion (QCBL), the club has officially created a brand-new series of comic books about Queen’s that will represent the student experience in a fun, exaggerated way.

President Brendan Montgomery, Sci ’15 and the founder of the club in 2013, decided that this year they would expand the club’s opportunities by introducing the comic to students on campus.

“After one semester of simply having comic book discussions and watching superhero shows together, I decided that in the fall of 2013 that the club should explore the possibility of making our own student made comic books about Queen’s,” Montgomery told the Journal via email.

This year, the club covers both comic book discussion and creation at their weekly meetings, in addition to running other small events.

The comic, “Gael Force”, has created one issue so far that will be

published next month, and it took the group some time to settle on a plot and characters that would accurately represent the Queen’s student body.

“We talked a lot about ideas for the comic since the possibilities are limitless,” Montgomery said.

“Originally, we tried to make one superhero to represent all of Queen’s — but no matter how we came up with it the character couldn’t represent the diversity of our student body.”

The club then shifted gears into coming up with a team of heroes for the comic book instead, Montgomery said. The team could then represent several different faculties and personalities of students on campus.

“With this diverse team we wanted readers to be entertained by the hypothetical situation of students with super powers,” he said. “They eat cheap ramen noodles and go to a party like any other student. When trouble arises at the party though, they don’t flee in terror but rise up to face the menace.

“Similar to teams like the Justice

League or Avengers, this style of book can appeal to more people and include group dynamics and social commentary,” he said. “This diverse team is what Gael Force has ultimately become.”

Once the idea was set, the QCBL artists started with the design process for the characters, followed by several revisions of the script storyboard.

To promote this exciting new endeavour, QCBL is focusing on partnering with local comic book store 4-Color 8-Bit’s replacement, Kingston Gaming Nexus. They’ve also set up tables at the JDUC and the Queen’s Centre to reach out to students.

For the first issue, the club hopes to introduce characters to the readers, but not in a conventional manner.

“This issue, we really wanted to introduce our characters to the reader, but not in a traditional origin story,” Montgomery said.

“We decided to focus on what our characters are doing rather than how they got their powers.”

The first issue took about a year and a half to complete, and ideally

Description of the show in the gallery at AEAC.

the QCBL will release one new comic book per semester.

“Gael Force” will be published over a three-story arc, with three different issues — the next two are in the works right now.

“That’s the idea with this first issue — that we can all rise up and make a difference in the lives of our fellow students,” Montgomery said. “Not everyone can have super

powers but it is a symbol for what us students can aspire to.”

“Gael Force” Issue #1 will be printed and sold on campus and at local comic book stores by the end of February.

Friday, January 23, 2015

queensjournal.ca

• 13

AMS winter referendum statements The Journal provides this free space for parties on the ballot. All statements are unedited.

Students benefit not only all Queen’s students. The from accessing comprehensive Conference is three days of individual support services workshops, highly acclaimed related to HIV/AIDS and Hep speakers, networking with C which include one-one other development innovators, Continuing Fees: counselling, support for testing and meeting the people from and also support regarding living Africa who travel overseas to Do you agree to the with HIV. They also receive share their experiences. continuation of the HIV/ quality HIV/AIDS education AIDS Regional Services and prevention programs Raising awareness (HARS) fee of $0.75 (subject delivered through various throughout the Queen’s and to individuals opt-out) for the campus venues throughout the Kingston community, through next three years? This fee was academic year. We want to events like the Pumpkin Smash, established 1999 and last went continue our partnership with youth engagement programs, to referendum in 2011.

Queen’s and urge you to give and pushing Queen’s Fair Trade the HARS fee referendum Campus Designation.

HIV/AIDS Regional question a resounding “YES”.

Services (HARS) is a nonNew Fees: profit, charitable organization Changing Fees: that has provided services to Do you agree to the various communities within and Do you agree to an increase in establishment of a $0.08 fee around the Kingston area for the Engineers Without Borders (subject to individual optover 25 years. We provide Fee (subject to individual optout) to support the Queen’s a number of confidential out) from $0.75 to $1.25, an Diabetic Society? services for individuals infected increase of $0.50. with or at high risk for HIV/ Queen’s Diabetic Society’s AIDS: supportive counseling, The Queen’s Chapter of mandate is to establish a support information, referrals, support Engineers Without Borders network through which Type 1 groups, volunteer support, (EWB) is an organization Diabetics and those affected by practical assistance, advocacy, devoted to addressing global the disease can connect with as well as a prison program. and local, developmental and each other. Through various We provide extensive harm social inequalities. It is part events such as dinners and reduction services to the of a larger NGO that works retreats, our goal is to provide public at large, including a across Canada and abroad to a safe and social environment needle exchange program, alleviate poverty, specifically in for students to link up with condom/lube distribution, a Sub-Saharan Africa. Our group other diabetics. Also known as comprehensive resource library consists of 80 devoted directors juvenile diabetes, it is commonly and a public speaker program. and executives from multiple diagnosed around age 14 but faculties. We provide students many students in late high school The Queen’s student body with the opportunity to apply and university are diagnosed. It is one of the communities their problem solving skills to is important that these students served and HARS has engineer positive social change. have a well-organized support maintained collaborative, structure to help them adjust to effective working relationships EWB works with the their condition while ensuring with several campus groups Canadian and African their university experience is not over the years: Queen’s Medical governments to make foreign hindered. Rather than being a Outreach, Queen’s School aid more effective. In Africa, setback during their educational of Nursing, AIDS Awareness EWB works on the ground journey, Queen’s Diabetic Committees, Queen’s Legal Aid supporting African NGO’s. Society hopes to enhance the Services, Queen’s Sidewalk Sale, EWB works on a systemic Queen’s experience of those Sexual Health Resource Centre, level, with the aim of creating affected by Type 1 Diabetes. the International Centre, Don’s sustainable solutions for Resource Fair, Women’s Studies, communities in Africa.

Using the student fee, events Black History Month Kingston, and activities will be organized Queen’s Human Rights Office, On campus, the Queen’s to promote healthy living and EQUIP, among others.

Chapter is focused on support for Type 1 Diabetics developing projects to work in and those affected by it. Guest Queen’s and HARS have parallel with those in Africa. We speakers and networking mutually benefited from are heavily involved with Fair opportunities will be facilitated numerous student volunteers Trade, curriculum enhancement, through Queen’s Diabetic and placement opportunities. and community engagement. Society, and the generous Staff have assisted students These projects aim to foster a support of the Queen’s doing HIV/AIDS research positive environment, so that community will enhance our and course work. Over the systemic change in Canada ability to help others. last 3 years, student fees has can reinforce the development contributed to the continuation work being done overseas.

Specifically, events such as of education, prevention and hosting Chris Jarvis at Queen’s, volunteer programs at HIV/ The funding EWB would a Canadian Olympic rower AIDS Regional Services. We use receive from the $0.50 increase with Type 1 Diabetes, are being the funds to maintain the various in student opt-out fees will be planned. Having an opportunity education resources needed for used by our chapter for: to hear how elite athletes can outreach this includes materials Funding two volunteers compete and thrive in their directed at various populations (Junior Fellows) to work with daily life gives encouragement including those living with HIV, EWB Canada. One of the to some who may feel youth and Harm Reduction. Opening the EWB National overwhelmed. A diabetic retreat We also purchase condoms both Conference application to all is also an exciting opportunity male and female that can be Queen’s students. to step away from studies and distributed to those who may Raising awareness connect in a less traditional not be able to purchase them. throughout the Funding two setting.

Funds are also used to assist with volunteers (Junior Fellows) to the running of many groups, work with EWB Canada. One Do you agree to the workshops and training sessions. of theQueen’s students will be establishment of a $0.50 fee All the above services are used sent to Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, (subject to individual opt-out) by the community which or Uganda to work with EWB to support MUSE Magazine? includes Queen’s University staff and an African NGO. The students. Health Canada only other will be sent to the National MUSE Magazine is a biannual partially funds our education Office of EWB in Toronto to student-run publication, program, while the balance is work with the top coordinators dedicated to exposing funded through fundraising, the and administrators. underground, artistic student provincial Ministry of Health talent at Queen’s University and student fees.

Opening the EWB National and within the surrounding Conference application to Kingston area. MUSE strives

to showcase all student work, be it personal essays, visual art, fashion design, creative writing, music, or any other forms of creativity. We speak bluntly, creating an edge that we hope will provoke conversation, allowing students to question the world around them. Our hope is to engage in a discourse within the Queen’s University student body, inspiring further student creativity.

Our organization has two primary goals: to introduce Queen’s University students to the unique Kingston arts culture, and to provide a platform upon which university students can express themselves.

Our printed copy is crucial to spreading this message. While MUSE Magazine is available in both the print and online format, nothing brings to life the collaborative effort of the Queen’s creative community more than a tangible, physical product. In essence, the print issue is who we are. Our print issue serves as the physical manifestation of the uninhibited creativity that MUSE embodies, and allows us to maintain a tangible presence on campus.

MUSE’s mandate states that we strive to be different and to make bold statements- part of living up to this mandate is being able to publish an issue readers can truly interact with, in order to eceive the complete effect of the MUSE experience.

Each issue of our magazine is released for free, and all funds received from optional student fees will go directly towards printing expenses.

University students develop a better understanding of what other organizations are doing to become more sustainable.

We aim to draw speakers from academic, corporate, and government backgrounds to discuss the successes of becoming more environmentally friendly.

Greg Bavington, the Executive Director of the Queen’s Innovation Connector, is the first person to accept an invitation to speak at QSUS. If QSUS receives a student fee, we will use the money to reduce the cost of our delegate fees. We want to make our conference affordable for all Queen’s University students.

QSUS is well aware that some Queen’s University students do not have the means to spend money to attend a conference.

Therefore, we want to make our delegate fee as low as possible to ensure that the ideas of students from all socioeconomic backgrounds can be heard at QSUS. The student fee will cover costs associated with food and drink; speakers (ex. hotel accommodation, thank-you cards, etc.); printing (ex. delegate packages, case packages, etc.); marketing (ex. booth materials, posters, etc.); supplies (ex. pens and lanyards); and web hosting.

“Do you agree to the establishment of a $0.35 fee (subject to individual opt-out) to support Talking About Mental Illness (TAMI)?

Talking About Mental Illness (TAMI) is a youth directed awareness program located MUSE serves as a creative in Providence Care. It seeks outlet for students on campus; to raise awareness on mental with a student fee, we will be illness and reduce stigma able to continue to provide this through workshops facilitated outlet at the most effective and by volunteer professionals powerful level possible. at Providence Care. Each workshop is followed up with MUSE Magazine: “From a presenter from the Kingston creative minds, for creative community or Queen’s minds” Yours Creatively, The University student body whom MUSE Team share their experiences living with a mental illness with the Do you agree to the audience in the program. We establishment of a $0.59 fee target secondary and post(subject to individual optsecondary settings and receive out) to support the Queen’s requests from members Sustainability Conference? in the community. We use a two-pronged approach in our The Queen’s Sustainability program because research Conference (QSUS) aims to has shown that using both bring together students from all methods in conjunction is far Queen’s University faculties to more effective than using one better understand the resource alone. In addition, if any serious usage of our campus and create mental heath concerns appear solutions to make our campus due to the nature of the topic, more environmentally friendly. health care professionals are Our inaugural conference there to attend to the concerns will take place on October immediately.

2nd and 3rd, 2015.

We have partnered with Queen’s The student fees will fund University’s Physical Plant the honorariums and program Services to obtain real data on materials for the presentations. our campus buildings’ energy Program material includes travel and water usage to create an costs for presenters, printouts interactive case competition. In and boards. The honorariums addition, we will have a pitch will be going towards Queen’s competition where Queen’s and community speakers University students can suggest themselves. In the last year, how our campus can become we have received over 60 more environmentally friendly presentation requests in the while reducing costs. QSUS Kingston area. Being able to also wants to help Queen’s have this student fee means that

14 •queensjournal.ca

News

Friday, November 7, 2014

we will be able to support more Queen’s students in being apart of this growing program.

TAMI also acts as a mediator for several resources including Providence Care Mental Health Services, Frontenac Community Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

All in all, TAMI is a program offered to Queen’s University students to use to teach other students on mental illness and stigma as well as an advocacy program for those living with a mental illness. Our goal is to engage the Queen’s community in a discussion on mental illness through direct facilitation on the topic as well as bringing stories directly to them.

Plebiscite Question: “Do you agree to having the AMS assess the feasibility of divestment from fossil fuels for its Restricted Funds portfolio and the Queens University Pooled Endowment Fund”

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE

FROM PROJECT MANAGEMENT TO PUBLIC FINANCE, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS THE UNIQUE SKILLS YOU WILL NEED TO LAUNCH YOUR CAREER AS A COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, PROGRAM OFFICER, POLICY ANALYST, BUSINESS ANALYST AND MANY OTHER EXCITING CAREER OPTIONS.

business.humber.ca/postgrad

‘‘

Friday, January 23, 2015

queensjournal.ca

• 15

We can be

the generation

‘‘

that no longer accepts that an accident of latitude determines whether a child lives or dies. But will we be that generation?

Bonon Bono thinks poverty and hunger are key global issues.What do you think?

Have you ever thought about what causes food insecurity in developing countries? Do you have a passion to make a difference?

The University of Guelph’s Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE) is Canada’s leading food education and research institution.

Thinking about graduate studies for 2015-16? Join a group of thinkers who are hard at work on a better tomorrow.

For more information on graduate studies at FARE, visit

fare.uoguelph.ca/grad-intro FARE Queen's University Ad Series-12.22.14.indd 1

Food,Agricultural and Resource Economics

CHALLENGE TO ONTARIO POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS

A lens can capture life as it happens, catalogue important documents, confirm a prognosis or protect an endangered species.

Improving lives and protecting the planet is our responsibility.

Help us see what you see at http://whatyousee.ca Enter today: tell us a problem and your idea to solve it using Canon imaging technology.

Finalists will pitch to Canon Canada‘s CEO to win money, equipment and an opportunity to solve the problem with Canon.

Over $25,000 in cash and Canon hardware to be won!

Early Bird Prizes each week just for entering early.

Challenge entries accepted January 19 - Feb 20, 2015. Full details at http://whatyousee.ca

14-12-22 1:57 PM

16 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 23, 2015

SPORTS

Construction on the new Richardson Stadium is expected to be finished in the fall of 2016. The revitalization project will cost $20.27 million to complete.

FOOTBALL

PHOTO BY ALEX PICKERING

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Richardson expected on time Top-10 grudge match After Board of Trustees approval, new stadium scheduled to be ready for fall 2016 B y S ean S utherland Sports Editor

While no shovels have hit the ground yet, the University is optimistic they’ll build the new Richardson Stadium without any negative impact on Gaels football.

In a December meeting, Queen’s Board of Trustees approved the revitalization of Richardson Stadium, expected to cost $20.27 million. Construction on the new stadium is slated to begin at the end of the 2015 football season and be finished in time for the Gaels’ 2016 campaign.

That leaves nine to 10 months for the work to be done.

“We have from now until the end of the football season this year to really get all of our plans and things locked down,” said Leslie Dal Cin, director of Athletics and Recreation.

“We’re very confident in the timeline because we built three other fields on campus, so we know that the central construction is the field and everything works around it.”

The school is working with Shoalts and Zaback Architects Ltd.

and contractors M. Sullivan and Son Limited — both of which are Kingston firms — on the stadium.

The same companies also worked on the Queen’s School of Medicine building, completed in 2011.

Dal Cin said Queen’s has contingency plans if construction is delayed, but declined to comment on where the football team would play if construction isn’t finished before the 2016 season kicks off. “[Physical Plant Services] is really responsible for managing that

timeline and they do an excellent job. We had to bring in Nixon Field at a certain time, and that was done, and we had to bring in Miklas-McCarney Field in at a certain time, and that was done,” she said.

“If you have to call any — excuse the football pun — but any options and audibles at the line of scrimmage, you know what you have to do.”

Dal Cin said the University has looked at what other football

programs did in situations where construction of a new stadium was delayed — including the Ottawa Gee-Gees, who played their 2012 home games in Carleton Place, roughly 50 kilometres southwest of downtown Ottawa.

Backup options for Queen’s could include opening the season on the road or finding a temporary home at another stadium, Dal Cin said, though no scenarios are fully developed.

See Turf on page 17

ATHLETE PROFILE

he had to take a more circuitous route on the athletic side. Despite being a standout high school volleyball player in Kingston, he wasn’t recruited by the Gaels.

Still, he enrolled at Queen’s as a kinesiology student and decided to show up for open tryouts.

He wound up finding a spot on the roster.

After sitting out Queen’s first 10 games as a rookie, Wright first got the chance to showcase his skills halfway through 2013-14 — when the Gaels went on an exhibition tour of Bulgaria, and Queen’s other setters were unable to play due to injuries.

“It was my turn to step up,” Wright said. “After that, I just started playing a lot better.”

Wright stepped on the court in OUA play for the first time in a four-set loss to the Waterloo Warriors on Jan. 11, 2014. Since then, he has become an essential piece of the Gaels’ schemes.

In last week’s tussle with the McMaster Marauders, he put up 31 assists and contributed a kill — an at-the-net spike that drew applause from the stands and back slaps from all the other Gaels on the court.

See Another on page 17

See Home on page 17

Jamie Wright went from walk-on to starter in under a year Jamie Wright wasn’t recruited to play Gaels volleyball, but he knew he wanted to attend Queen’s.

The school — and its athletic programs — is in the second-year setter’s blood.

His older sister Jenny is the leading scorer on this year’s women’s basketball team, and his father Bob quarterbacked Gaels football to the 1983 conference championship, before falling in the Vanier Cup. Wright wanted to follow in their footsteps by attending Queen’s, but

Head coach Brenda Willis originally contemplated redshirting setter Jamie Wright before last year’s Bulgaria exhibition trip, where he stepped up after two other setters couldn’t play.

PHOTO BY ARWIN CHAN

B y B rent M oore Assistant Sports Editor If women’s hockey wants to even their score against the Guelph Gryphons, they’ll have to do it against one of the OUA’s top goaltenders.

Tonight’s matchup will be the second clash this season between the pair of top-10 rivals, with the Gaels hosting Guelph in a battle that could determine second place in the province.

Queen’s (12-2-3) currently holds that position — they also rank fourth in the CIS — while the Gryphons (11-2-3) sit only two points back in fourth place. They hold a game in hand on the Gaels.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” said Gaels head coach Matt Holmberg. “They’ve historically had a great team that we’ve had a good rivalry with.”

Queen’s has bumped the Gryphons out of two consecutive post-seasons. When the teams met up on Nov. 8, the Gryphons handed the Gaels their first regulation loss of the season, winning 1-0.

Queen’s has been on a tear ever since, amassing a 7-1-1 record over their last nine games.

“It’s a battle between teams that are fighting for precious points in the season,” Holmberg said.

The coach added that he expects a low-scoring game, as Guelph allows the fewest shots on net out of any team in the province.

“They are playing some extremely stingy defence and that is something we’ve talked about and worked on a bit in practice — just getting the puck to the net.”

Homegrown hustle B y B rent M oore Assistant Sports Editor

Gaels look to avenge November loss to Gryphons

Sports

Friday, January 23, 2015

queensjournal.ca

• 17

Turf replaces grass Continued from page 16

With Athletics confident the stadium will be built on time, the focus shifts to the way in which it will impact Queen’s athletic programs.

The new stadium will have an artificial turf field, allowing Athletics and Recreation to spread out the use of their turf fields among varsity teams, clubs and intramurals, Dal Cin said.

“It opens up another artificial turf field, it opens up a ton more space and time for people to use and it allows us to distribute all of our programs more broadly across the four artificial turf fields,” Dal Cin said. “Teams get more time on better surfaces and our recreational users get more access to those fields on a more regular and earlier time frame.”

Both soccer teams will move from Miklas-McCarney Field to Richardson Stadium when it’s completed. Miklas-McCarney will continue to see usage on weekends where both football and soccer have home games, Dal Cin said, in addition to hosting lacrosse games and intramural sports.

Dal Cin said the revitalization of Richardson was the next step in Athletics’ goal to develop Queen’s athletic facilities.

“I think for us it’s one of the highlights, certainly of 2015, but for a long time in terms of our sports facilities,” she said. “The ARC was a great get. The combination of our outdoor fields and the stadium, they’re the next big piece.”

Gaels football coach Pat Sheahan said the revitalization of the stadium will have a positive impact on his program, both from a student perspective and on the athletic side.

“The whole image of the program changes,” Sheahan said. “When you walk into a new stadium, it sort of denotes a much higher sense of importance on campus. The appearance is there [that] the entire campus is behind the promotion of competitive sport.”

Sheahan said there would be a stronger pull for students to attend football games at the new stadium, as the facility would increase the pride students have in the program.

“The very seats, the bricks and mortar that are going to be there supporting the event were primarily paid for by Queen’s alumni, for the enjoyment of all students” he said. “Both the ones on the field and the ones in the stands.”

Sheahan said the new complex will also help draw future recruits to the Gaels, and has the potential to be a “first-class stadium.”

The one problem the coach has with the new stadium is the move to artificial turf. The Gaels are currently the only OUA team to host games on natural grass, something Sheahan said he and his players preferred to play on.

He added that he understands the decision to move to turf, due GRAPHIC BY MICHAELLA FORTUNE to the money being invested The new Richardson Stadium will have a capacity similar to the Gaels’ current home. into the project. Grass fields are limited in terms of dealing with turf, Sheahan called the stadium weather-related problems, Sheahan a “monument to excellence”, and said, and turf allows for more usage. said it’ll have a great impact on “I honestly believe the artificial the school. surface is a consequence of “I think the athletes who wear progress,” he said. “I think if we the colours here are really going Continued from page 16 In a low-scoring game, the team spend that kind of money on a to enjoy stepping onto a first-class will turn to its captain and top stadium, we want to get maximal sports venue,” he said. “I think it’s Guelph netminder Stephanie scorer Shawna Griffin for tenacity use out of it, and I’m afraid maximal going to be a lot of fun to see the Nehring is a two-time OUA in front of the net. Griffin said she‘s use means that the artificial surface Gaels play in that stadium and I’m All-Star and currently leads the up for the challenge. is incorporated.” really looking forward to it.”

OUA with a 1.25 goals against Griffin remembers the Despite his feelings about average. She’s second in the league November contest and is confident with a .943 save percentage. the Gaels have improved since then.

Holmberg said if the Gaels “It wasn’t our best game, for are to win, they’d have to do it sure. They really took advantage by going away from pretty plays, of the weak spots we had in our and instead looking to scoring game,” she said. “I think the effort garbage goals. was there — we were just a step “He’s always been a very really liked having him as the setter “[Nehring’s] going to stop most below the level we’re playing soft-spoken guy, but I think he’s and so I rode that.” of the pucks she can see,” he said. at now.” becoming more confident in a Willis described Jamie as a “The only way you’re going to beat Over her five years with the leadership role and in his play,” “gamer” — someone who plays her is by getting the puck to the net Gaels, Griffin has partook in a she said. their best during matches, as with some screens and hope for number of battles between her Wright has averaged 8.73 assists opposed to practices. some rebounds.” squad and Guelph. per set this season — seventh “If you’re going to have a guy The Gaels have yet to lose in “It’s always a competition when best in the OUA. But it hasn’t that does one better than the other, the Memorial Centre this season, we play them,” she said. been a seamless transition to the then it’s certainly better to have the but haven’t played at home since a “I hope that we can get as many starting lineup. gamer,” she said.

Nov. 30 overtime win over fans out there as we can because Before Jamie’s showcase on the “I just need him to keep making the first-place Western we do build off that energy. We’re Bulgaria trip, he was behind two progress in practice.”

Mustangs (14-1-2). excited for a very fun, but tough, other setters: Matthew Bonshor “We’re happy to be back home,” hockey game.” and fellow rookie Thomas Ellison.

Holmberg said.

“Jamie really came out of nowhere for us last year,” said men’s volleyball head coach Brenda Willis.

Wright hadn’t turned any heads in practice until the mid-season trip, and Willis said she had considered redshirting him — meaning Wright wouldn’t touch the floor at all during his first season.

“I believe that playing time is earned in practice,” Willis said.

“And Jamie didn’t look, in practice, like he was going to be an option for us.”

With the other setters out of the Bulgaria tournament, Willis was in a tight spot.

“I needed to turn to Jamie, and when he went on the floor, it was like a different guy,” she said. “He quarterbacked fluidly and all the guys kept coming and saying they Captain Shawna Griffin (18) is tied for the team lead in points this year, with 19 through 17 games. JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Another Wright in tricolour Continued from page 16

Wright grew up playing basketball and volleyball in Kingston. He picked up volleyball in elementary school, played at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Secondary School and competed with the Kingston Pegasus, a local club team.

Both sports he played growing up appealed to Wright at the university level.

“I knew I wanted to play one of them,” he said. “I just wasn’t sure [which].”

The only thing he was sure of was his desire to come to Queen’s.

Wright had an inside source who could tell him all about life as a student-athlete — his older sister, who’s currently a fourth-year wing on the basketball team.

“I was giving him information about going to school while playing a varsity sport,” Jenny said. “I really wanted him to come here.”

Jenny described her brother as “humble” and “genuine”, adding that she’s very proud of him.

“Our relationship has gotten stronger since being here,” she said. “We’re both going through the same thing and can relate to each other.”

Jenny believes her brother is more assertive on the court this season.

Home ice stand

18 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 23, 2015

LIFESTYLE LOCAL FOOD

Pedalling to promote local business New Kingston-based delivery service strives to provide students with sustainable goods B y C laudia T sang Staff Writer Do you dread the trek out into the snow to pick up groceries or crave sushi but can’t bring yourself to change out of your pyjamas? For $4, you no longer have to.

Eli Scheinman and his entourage of fellow cyclists will brave the snow for you. As the founder of Spoke and Fork, 27-year-old Scheinman has introduced Kingston to an innovative and sustainable method

of delivery services.

Spoke and Fork is a bicycle delivery company elevating the traditional delivery services. They not only provide restaurant deliveries, but will also pick up your grocery lists, pet food and even alcohol. Focused on enriching Kingston with an environmentally sustainable delivery system, the service aims to make local restaurants more available to Queen’s and the larger Kingston community.

Spoke and Fork collaborates exclusively with independent Kingston businesses that are more likely to use organic produce.

By concentrating largely on independent businesses, Scheinman wants to contribute to the local economy.

Atomica, Pan Chancho and Tara’s Natural Foods are just a few of the places they’ve partnered with.

Although Scheinman recognizes that many of these businesses may be priced above student budgets,

he isn’t worried. “[Students] are discerning and mature about what they eat and enjoy,” he said.

Scheinman, who completed his undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia, is See Delivery on page 19

SOCIAL MEDIA

YikYak on right track Overheard may be “dead”, but YikYak is more active than ever B y L uke K essaram Staff Writer “Overheard is dead,” the Journal’s Production Manager Sam Koebrich proclaimed in a signed editorial published on Sept. 24.

Attacking the popular Facebook group Overheard at Queen’s, his statements caused quite a stir on campus and many took him to task.

Since September, strange new

stirrings have been spotted on campus — but this time not on Facebook. A novel social media app called YikYak has taken the Queen’s community by storm.

If designed and used correctly, social media platforms can help communities thrive in the digital age. Just look at Overheard at Queen’s, whose nearly 20,000 members attest to the strength of the Queen’s community online.

COLUMN — QJ SCIENCE

In many ways, YikYak is quite similar to the “dead” Facebook group.

At its best, Overheard provides meaningful dialogue, as demonstrated by the “anonymous quotes that showcased a grittier side of Queen’s homogeneity,” Koebrich wrote.

There’s no shortage of gritty, PHOTO BY ARWIN CHAN anonymous quotes on YikYak. YikYak is replacing Overheard for students at Queen’s.

Combining GPS and instant messaging technologies, the app messages with one another in a allows users to anonymously public forum. interact with smartphone users Much like Overheard, YikYak nearby. Users create, share, vote on paints a picture of student life at and respond to short anonymous See App on page 19

New antibiotic discovery

they use to defend themselves from other bacteria. Some of these bacteria-killing chemicals could then be cultivated for use as antibiotics.

However, around 99 per cent of bacteria in soil can’t be grown in a lab, so our source of antibiotics was quickly exhausted. The lack of new antibiotics, as well as the improper use and overuse of antibiotics, has led to bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the cause of tuberculosis) and Staphylococcus aureus (a cause of skin and respiratory infections) developing resistance. These bacteria ignore most, if not all, treatments we throw at them.

To help solve this problem, researchers at Northeastern University in Boston developed the iChip or “isolation chip”.

First, a single bacterium is placed inside each of the several hundred diffusion chambers (or pods) on the iChip.

PHOTO BY ARWIN CHAN Antibiotics are moving toward computerized technology in an effort to prevent resistance.

Then the iChip is immersed in the bacteria’s natural environment B y R yan P ardy antibiotic in 30 years. the fight against antibiotic-resistant (i.e., soil), where nutrients and Staff Writer The iChip works by isolating bacteria, the iChip has already led growth factors are able to diffuse antibiotic compounds in their to the discovery of a new antibiotic. into the pods, thus allowing Contrary to what the name may natural environment. As Ed Yong Starting in the 1940s, the bacteria to grow but not escape. suggest, the iChip has nothing to of National Geographic wrote, majority of our current antibiotics, The results of Northeastern’s do with Apple Inc. “Teixobactin is a fish; the iChip is including penicillin and study on the iChip, published The electronic device has the rod. Having the rod guarantees streptomycin, were discovered. in the journal Applied and introduced a new method of that we’ll get more fish—and we The process was done by taking Environmental Microbiology, growing bacteria and helped desperately need more.” soil bacteria, growing them in a lab indicate minimal overlap between discover teixobactin, the first new Hailed as a “game-changer” in and screening them for chemicals bacteria species grown in the iChip

Novel methods of development are changing antibiotics

and those that can be cultivated in a lab. This means that for the first time in nearly 30 years, we’re able to screen new bacteria for chemicals that could be used as antibiotics.

As if that isn’t good enough news on its own, the same research group has recently announced the discovery of a new antibiotic teixobactin.

Teixobactin kills bacteria by preventing them from building a cell wall, which protects them from the outside world. Since its method of killing bacteria is different than that of other antibiotics, bacteria have yet to evolve resistance to it.

Furthermore, recent trials have indicated no damage to mammalian cells. The implications for human disease, particularly antibiotic-resistant infections, are enormous.

Although it might sound like a miracle drug, teixobactin, like all antibiotics, will do absolutely nothing to treat viral diseases like the flu or the common cold.

It’s also a long way from being available to humans, as numerous levels of clinical trials must be passed first.

Nonetheless, for the first time in quite a while, humans might finally have an advantage in our arms race against bacteria.

LIFESTYLE

Friday, January 23, 2015

queensjournal.ca

Delivering in any weather Continued from page 18

also a holistic lifestyle coach. “The west coast got the best of me in exploring healthy lifestyles, exercise and diet,” he said.

It wasn’t until after graduation when he embarked on a cycling trail from Vancouver to San Diego that the spark for Spoke and Fork was ignited.

“I was in a café [in San Francisco] and there were all these bike messengers,” he said. “They seemed to be living a pretty fun life. Seeing that and then having cultivated a passion in my own life for the environment, for sustainability and for healthy lifestyle molded … into wanting to create something where I could apply my passions in my work.”

He then moved back to his hometown of Kingston where he created Spoke and Fork.

As expected, the biggest challenge remains keeping warm and being able to

bike efficiently in this snowy and icy weather.

“It’s just become normal. I’ve just adapted,” Scheinman said. Despite the sometimes less-than-ideal conditions, deliveries only take approximately half an hour.

Only a little over two months old, Spoke and Fork has already evolved from being a one-man operation to a team of three.

Having received a positive response from the Kingston community, Scheinman hopes to expand his team and bring in more bikers as demand grows.

Already, he’s had several Queen’s students join his team. While they’ll be mostly focusing on cementing a committed delivery system, Spoke and Fork will also be offering their own products in the future.

“We really want to enrich the Queen’s community especially with some of the best restaurants Kingston has.”

Spoke and Fork brings food, groceries, pet supplies and more to your house.

PHOTO BY ARWIN CHAN

App overtakes Overheard Continued from page 18

Queen’s. It functions based on proximity, so in places like the University District, the app is virtually flooded with posts from Queen’s students.

At the start of the term, some local users even celebrated the return of students to campus because it meant that YikYak would be more entertaining.

If Overheard truly is dead, then perhaps YikYak is here to fill its space. While Overheard was criticized for becoming so vulgar, oversensitive and strictly moderated that it lost its edge, YikYak is quite un-moderated. It’s a place where anything goes.

There’s some congruity between posts that show up on YikYak around campus and those on Overheard. One interesting parallel is the references to local squirrel culture: “Just a small town squirrel, livin’ in a lonely world,” one user writes.

Its whimsical and anonymous nature allows the app to showcase other sides of student life. For example, one user asked, “If a girl made eye contact and we smile at each other does that mean she’s interested or just being polite?” and received 10 responses of varying sincerity.

In this way, YikYak shows a breadth of the thoughts that interest Queen’s students day-to-day. With its mobile format and constant stream of fresh content, YikYak

isn’t the place for drawn-out arguments, like those infamous on Overheard. It’s a place where Queen’s students can connect, jest and empathize with one another on a quick and casual basis.

YikYak also doesn’t support images. The app is free from photos of tricolour objects and Canada Goose jackets. This difference sets the YikYak app apart from Overheard, which Koebrich claimed now portrays a parody of the Queen’s community, rather than a meaningful reflection.

“Overheard was once a place for words and dialogue,” he wrote. Has YikYak risen from Overheard’s ashes?

Follow @QJLifestyle for recipes, travel, fashion and more

ACROSS 1 Ballet skirt 5 “A pox upon thee!”

8 Score 12 Microwave, for one 13 Praise in verse 14 Comrade of Mao 15 Clothing store section 16 Attendance check 18 Wolf in the henhouse?

20 “Yes” or “no” follower 21 Settled down 23 —generis 24 Command to Fido 28 Being, to Brutus 31 Historic time 32 Elaine’s surname on “Seinfeld” 34 Wire measure 35 Air outlet 37 Price reduction 39 Baseball hat 41 Actor Julia 42 Antarctic volcano 45 Now 49 Race drivers’ protectors 51 Lumber 52 Reed instrument 53 Fish eggs 54 “Do — others …”

55 Collections 56 Do sums 57 Equal

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 17 19 22 24 25 26 27 29 30 33 36 38 40 42 43 44 46 47 48 50

Grant’s — Eye layer Be inclined (to) Open Letbygonesbeby -gones type Wedding words Morays and congers Accumulate Special appeal Aperture Christmas Fleurde- — Amorphois , ass Male voice Churchly title (Abbr.)

Raw rock Trusted knight Got sick again Bracketed notation Wapiti Insult Restaurant furniture Enlarge a photo Saloon Love god Pajama cover-up Poet Teasdale Zilch Carry Smell Scepter

• 19

LIFESTYLE

20 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, January 23, 2015

POSTSCRIPT

Gymtimidation jitters

The fear of working out in public gyms can be crippling for some students C hloë G rande Lifestyle Editor

before. Callum Owen, co-founder of CrossFit Queen Street, didn’t always feel comfortable lifting Do you avoid the ARC at all weights in public. costs? Does the thought of lifting “I think everyone’s experienced weights in public make you gym intimidation on some level. cringe? Do you only exercise And I know when I first started during off-peak hours? You may working out, just the weight room suffer from gymtimidation. itself … can be very intimidating The term was coined to without the people there,” Owen, describe the fear of working out ArtSci ’15, said. “I think the people in public. According to a 2014 that are in that environment survey in the UK’s Daily Mail, the are what really define whether biggest qualms for women are you have a good experience or other gym-goers noticing them bad experience.” and feeling unfit. On the other Most people are under the hand, men claim their worst fear impression that everyone else is is appearing not to know what more fit and stronger than them, they’re doing. but that feeling is something that I’m guilty of preferring the can be overcome with time. smaller, women-only gym over the “What you’ll find is, in good jam-packed cardio zones in the gyms at least, people are pretty ARC. I also avoid using unfamiliar friendly and they want to share machines and feel hyper-aware of their knowledge,” Owen said. “The my every move. people who are knowledgeable and It turns out I’m not the only actually want to help you, they’re Queen’s student that can’t stand there to make you better, not just crowded gyms or feels like they’re beat you down.” always being scrutinized.

At CrossFit Queen Street, the Many students admit they only goal is to provide an inclusive exercise in the early morning or atmosphere for all skill levels. late evening, when the ARC is least Owen said their coaches make busy. Others constantly feel judged an effort to always introduce for how much weight they’re themselves to new members and lifting or how fast they’re running. ensure they feel welcome.

But gymtimidation seems to hit Although I’d never stepped men and women hardest in the foot in the Queen St. gym before, weight room. my initial impression was a Emma Selleck said she positive one. I was immediately sometimes feels scared to go into greeted and given a tour of the the weight room alone because facility. The friendly environment people may think she has bad form. made the heavy weights “One of the things I’m worried and complicated-looking about is someone comparing me equipment suddently seem to someone else that’s there,” said less daunting.

Selleck, ArtSci ’16. She sometimes CrossFit sometimes gets pegged makes comparisons of herself for having a negative reputation, against others. yet my experience visiting But Selleck recognized that her the Queen St. facility settled fear is often unfounded. Most my gym-related anxiety. people don’t pay attention to Having been in the position of anyone besides themselves while both a gym newbie and CrossFit working out. coach, Owen has seen both sides “Even if you think you’re not fit of gymtimidation. enough to be at the gym, people “I totally understand why people are giving you props for being would be intimidated by CrossFit,” there,” she said.

Owen said. “People think it’s a Even regular exercisers confess really intense program, they they’ve felt intimidated at the gym think it’s going to injure you and

According to one study, women often fear that others will perceive them as unfit.

it’s dangerous.” picture and remind yourself of the He blames the internet and benefits of exercise, no matter how the CrossFit Games for these nervous you may feel. misperceptions. People often post “Obviously intimidation is going videos of themselves doing crazy to be present, but there are so workouts that get mistakenly many positives to engaging in labelled as CrossFit. exercise. It just makes [you] a better The Games are the top tier person … in all other aspects of of CrossFit and represent an your life,” he said. “It’s worth incredibly small per cent of athletes. finding something that you can do Spectators should keep in mind that you’re going to enjoy, that’s that the Games are the most going to improve your health competitive aspect of CrossFit and and wellbeing.” aren’t an accurate representation For the most part, gymtimidation of the sport. is something that gets built up Contrary to CrossFit stereotypes, internally. The imagined situations Owen said the program is “100 can be much worse than per cent scalable”. Athletes can reality — we picture ourselves compete at whatever level wiping out, being ridiculed and they’re at and follow a gradual laughed at. training progression.

“It really is all in your head, Owen’s advice for people the intimidation thing,” Owen said. experiencing a bad case of “If you ask yourself, ‘What’s the gymtimidation is simply to face worst thing that can happen if I their fear. make this choice?’ and even if you “If you really want to start just write it out, it’s probably not exercising, find a friend because going to be that severe.” then you hold each other The likelihood of negative accountable. Find a program events actually occurring is slim. where you can actually set Even if something bad does goals that are realistic and happen, the consequences won’t performance-based.” be as catastrophic as you imagine.

It’s important to look at the big “Once you see the other side, you see how positive gyms can be, you don’t see it as intimidating anymore,” Owen said. “If you find a place that shows you how to exercise and gets you integrated the right way, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.”

Fellow CrossFit Queen Street Co-Founder Storm Patterson also experienced initial gymtimidation, but has since adapted a new outlook.

“I think there were two factors that were contributing to my intimidation. One, not knowing what I’m doing in the gym [and] seeing a lot of these big guys, very athletic guys, doing crazy exercises,” said Patterson, PheKin ’15. “The second thing [was] the size thing.

Going in there 130 pounds soaking wet and you see guys who are 225 pounds plus working out.”

For Patterson, it all came down to building the nerve to approach fellow gym-goers, even if he was just asking them to explain what they were doing.

“I think a lot of people don’t

One of the biggest fears for men is not knowing how to use gym equipment and appearing inexperienced.

PHOTOS BY ALEX PICKERING

realize that when you’re in that certain environment, you both have something in common. For the most part, people are typically welcoming,” he said. “It’s a courage thing, taking that first step.”

Mental health benefits are another motivation to exercise, especially for those who may feel apprehensive about starting a gym routine.

Patterson said studies show how exercise also makes your mind sharper and lets you work more efficiently.

The health benefits of exercise play a huge role in Blake Canning’s regular workout regime. He’s only been working out since September, but he’s been feeling stronger and healthier ever since.

Canning, ArtSci ’16, describes himself as a short guy who used to be easily intimidated by burly football player-types at the ARC. “When I started, my biggest fear was someone coming up to me and saying, ‘What the hell are you doing here? You’re barely even lifting, your form’s horrible, get out of the gym!’” he said. “I knew that wouldn’t happen but it’s a fear I guarantee at least a couple other people have.”

His worst gym experience was when a “mountain of a man” called him out for bad form. To be fair, Canning said it was his own fault for momentarily losing focus and lifting poorly.

“He was trying to be nice about it, but it was still embarrassing.”

Canning frequents the gym with friends, which makes exercising more enjoyable. Nowadays, he doesn’t feel any intimidation at all.

“That’s one thing people should know, is that the intimidation really goes away pretty quickly as soon as you realize no one is going to call you out on … how dumb you look — because you don’t.”

The more students I talked to, the more clear it became to me that gymtimidation is a fear that affects most of us. There’s no easy fix, but supportive friends and a healthy dose of courage make facing a crowded gym more bearable.

After all, we all share a common goal of being active — no one’s there to criticize you or your body.