The Queen's Journal, Volume 142, Issue 20

Opinion: Condemn election trash talk

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T u e s d ay , J a n u a r y 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 — I s s u e 2 0

the journal Queen’s University — Since 1873

Our vote of confidence In the wake of their acclamation, the Journal Editorial Board met with Team CBW, the incoming AMS executive.

Editorial: page 6

ACTIVISM

A hunger to help read Stauffer Library plays host to Room to Read’s 10th annual live-in B y M ishal O mar Assistant News Editor Two students living in Stauffer Library for the week are pitting Queen’s faculties against each other, Hunger Games-style, as they raise money for a charity that works to promote literacy in developing countries.

The 10th annual live-in is organized by the Queen’s chapter of Room to Read, a charity organization that donates money and works with local communities, including writers and publishers, to offer an accessible education for children.

It also builds schools, libraries and provides scholarships to girls in the developing countries it operates in.

Queen’s Room to Read is the only university chapter in Canada that’s officially affiliated with the charity.

Rene Zou, the director of logistics and events for the Queen’s chapter, and Yuzuki Saitoh started their live-in on Jan. 21, and it’ll end on Jan. 28. They’ve been sleeping in a tent in Stauffer and only leave to shower or to go to class.

The live-in is Hunger Games-themed, with each faculty assigned one of the 12 districts of

“I don’t know much about what the agreement was with the landlord when the founders created this space eight years ago, but when I moved in I knew that the past year we were struggling a little bit,” — Stephanie Nativdad, resident at The Artel

Artel moving forward

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Panem, the country the series is set in. Members from the faculty that donates the most money will be entered into a raffle to win The Hunger Games trilogy boxset and a copy of the first movie.

“It has definitely attracted a lot Rene Zou, left, and Yuzuki Saitoh are camping out in PHOTO BY ALEX PICKERING of attention,” said Zou, ArtSci ’18. Stauffer Library to raise money for Room to Read.

“We’ve had a really good chance to engage … just do community bake sale, organized a photobooth material to be more culturally outreach and just explain our cause, by donation and held a “spot the suited to the children’s needs. and it’s been a really heartwarming typo” contest. They’ll also hold “The local writers are writing thing to see people looking at our another bake sale and host a them and so the children are more map and engaging in our activities.” whiteboard campaign before they engaged and it’s coming from So far they’ve raised over $500 pack up. what they’re around, so it’s a bit and are aiming to reach $1,000 by Zou said funding local writers more relatable for [the children],” the end of the live-in. and publishers to write books for Zou said.

The two campers have hosted a schoolchildren allows for reading See Education on page 4

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Queen’s snags second at QEC Harvard-based team wins worldwide entrepreneurial competition B y J acob R osen Assistant News Editor When the Queen’s Entrepreneurial Competition (QEC) wrapped up its 27th year, a team from Harvard took home first place for a U.S.-centred project, and a Queen’s team came in with silver.

The QEC is a competition open to undergraduate students worldwide. Students submit a 23-page business plan in October, without specifying where they

attend university, which is then reviewed by professors and experts.

The top 15 teams are invited to give a 20-minute presentation to a panel of judges in Kingston, followed by a question and answer session. The top six teams then present in front of a new panel of judges on Saturday, who choose the top three teams. Third place this year went to the University of Waterloo’s Sparkgig.

“The only requirement is you need to have a decent idea, a

well-written business plan and you have to be an undergrad,” said QEC co-chair Jane Mills.

The judges for this year’s final round featured a panel of successful Queen’s alumni, some of whom started their own companies, and others who are currently CEOs at top financial firms.

The competition was founded

by Meredith van Binsbergen, Comm ’90. What began as a 30-second business pitch has See Quorum on page 4

News

2 •queensjournal.ca

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

COMSOC ELECTIONS

AVC wants to earn ComSoc’s confidence

All three members are on exchange, but working to remain engaged with Commerce students B y N atasa B ansagi Assistant News Editor

After exchanging ideas with Caroline Hayes on issues discussed at Commerce Society (ComSoc) Assembly and the future of the Society, Ana Lopez said it was only a matter of time before they began thinking of a third member to complete their executive team.

Lopez, who is running for ComSoc president, said that third member was Vasanth Ranganathan, who she added had similar ideas for ComSoc and was a “really good manager”.

Together, the three became Team AVC, and are running uncontested in ComSoc’s executive election.

“We’ve obviously talked a lot more since forming a team and we get along really well, the three of us, through a strong interest in rap music,” said Lopez, Comm ’16.

Lopez, who was ComSoc representative to the AMS in first- and second-year, said her experience and the relationships she has forged make her the best candidate for the role of ComSoc President. This role, she added, has often been described as a “relationship manager”.

The team’s platform hinges on three pillars: academic and student support, valuable external relationships and committees, and conferences and competitions.

Lopez said the feedback her team received during consultation fit within these three categories and AVC consulted with people with varying degrees of ComSoc experience, from those who haven’t held ComSoc positions to those serving as co-chairs.

“ComSoc really exists to serve both these types of students and we wanted to make sure that we kept both stakeholders in mind, and obviously anyone that fits between those two extremes,” she said.

This year saw an extended nomination period after the initial nomination period resulted in either one or no candidates running for each of ComSoc’s elected positions.

Commerce students are much more likely to apply to positions instead of running in elections, Lopez said.

“There’s no question about the health of hiring within the society,” she said.

“It’s just for many elected positions, it’s harder for students to put themselves out there.”

Contrary to past executives, whom Lopez said focused on operations or advocacy, she said AVC chose to focus on “specific

issues” they believe are important to ComSoc. While actions taken by past executives have all been “great things”, she added, AVC can now focus on issues like improving nomination turnout in elections.

“We can now take this opportunity to work on … building on the future and building on things that we see as chronic issues,” she said.

VP External candidate Hayes — who is currently one of ComSoc’s Chief Marketing Officers — said she is “confident” she’ll be able to engage with external parties to bolster recognition of the ComSoc “brand”.

Hayes, Comm ’16, said the part of AVC’s platform that she’s most passionate about is strengthening corporate relationships.

“Sponsorship is inherently competitive, but we plan to create a space where executive committees can share best practices,” she said.

“I also hope to work closely with our Corporate Relations Officers to improve feedback mechanisms and bring suggestions back to Co-Chairs.”

Ranganathan, Comm ’16, is running for VP Internal.

Ranganathan — who is a co-managing director at CREO Solutions and is on the Queen’s Consulting Association executive — told the Journal via email that he thinks he’s the best candidate for the position because of his leadership experience “delivering large-scale impact” for students and the community and managing organizational finances, coupled with “passion for enriching student life and building rich relationships across campus.”

“My experience outside Assembly also brings a special perspective to the table as we continually strive to improve ComSoc’s visibility and impact with the student body,” Ranganathan said.

As for a point that he’ll be especially championing, Ranganathan said he’d like to set “long-term, operational and cultural precedents” to ease the congestion of resources at Goodes Hall.

“Tangibly, this looks like improving the room-booking system and increasing individual study space to free up breakout rooms for group work, among other key ideas,” he said.

A vote of confidence for Team AVC will be held Jan. 30-31.

From left: Vasanth Ranganathan, Ana Lopez and Caroline Hayes.

SUPPLIED BY TEAM AVC

RESSOC ELECTIONS

ResSoc teams debate future Debate discusses finances, accountability for young society B y O livia B owden Opinions Editor

is important to emphasizing when the teams were asked how staff positions. they would aim to increase revenue “One of the ways we want to for the society.

Sunday’s Residence Society change [training] is making the “We would start by cutting five (ResSoc) executive debate, held training material more accessible, per cent off executive pay. Student in Victoria Hall, saw both teams so you can use it throughout fee adjustment in the coming year express the need to maintain and the year.” would also help, and we’ll be prepare the young society for Vice-Presidential (Judicial gaining new revenue from the new coming years.

Affairs) candidate Segen residence buildings,” she said.

Greg Radisic, presidential Mehreteab also responded to a ResSoc’s peer-based judicial candidate for Team GCS, said question on staff training regarding system was a major point restructuring the society could Residence Facilitators (RFs). of discussion. bring in extra revenue, when asked Mehreteab, ArtSci ’17, said Team LCG Vice-Presidential about increasing funds for ResSoc. the team would ensure RFs (Judicial Affairs) candidate Leo Liu “Currently, we’ve been looking communicate more with said the team wants to ensure that to efficiencies with the structural students regarding the peer-based students understand the system. reorganization of the society, judicial system.

“The peer-based system is a major possibly going with a ratio system “It’s important to have increased part of our platform — we do value with the Residence Facilitators,” training, [so] the RFs can explain its fairness and accountability,” said said Radisic, ArtSci ’17. to students their decision-making Liu, ArtSci ’17.

He added that it’s important process,” she said.

“We want to make the process to make sure workload is “The ResSoc members can clear to students from the start of spread evenly among Residence meet with each floor, go through the year. Residence Facilitators can Facilitators (RFs). the rules, and what could lead add sessions … students have the Radisic said facilitating a positive to consequences.” right to know the rationale behind residence experience for students Mehreteab added that she each decision,” he added. is important. receives many emails from Marianne Cameron, “Not everyone can go home students who don’t understand the Vice-President (Residence Affairs) all the time,” Radisic said. “We peer-based system, furthering the candidate, said the team would want their residence family to be need to increase communication look to create more hands-on, their home.” with students about how discipline situational training for staff, and Vice-Presidential (Residence within residence operates. would better ResSoc’s relationship Affairs) candidate Cole Smith Presidential candidate Emily with Residence Life (ResLife). of Team GCS said the team had Gjos of Team LCG emphasized “We want to encourage open “looked into” cutting house budgets platform points such as increasing communication between the Dons to manage expenses, if an increase accountability and transparency and House Presidents. We want in student fee was unsuccessful. within the society. more building-wide events through Smith, ArtSci ’17, said student “The integrity and stability that relationship,” said Cameron, engagement should remain the [of ResSoc] is at stake. We need ArtSci ’16. first priority regardless of fees, and to increase engagement and The team was also asked ResSoc should ensure this. accountability so [students] can about student engagement, and When asked about staff training, benefit,” said Gjos, ArtSci ’16. how they’d ensure that ResSoc Smith said ResSoc’s training week Gjos referred again to stability remains relevant.

Cameron, said Team LCG would use the ResSoc website to give updates, and showcase a newsletter, along with more social media use.

Gjos said in her closing statement that the team is looking to ensure ResSoc is stable for the long-term.

“Our main goal is to create stability now and long-term longevity for the society,” she said.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

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FEATURE POLITICS

Devoted to democracy

A Q&A with Alison Loat about her book Tragedy in the Commons and Canadian politics B y E mily M iller Staff Writer From submitting essays in Mackintosh-Corry Hall to co-authoring a best-selling book on Canada’s democracy, Alison Loat has always had a passion for politics.

In 2009, Loat, ArtSci ’99, and fellow Queen’s alumnus Michael MacMillan, ArtSci ’78, launched Samara Canada, a non-partisan charitable organization aimed at increasing political engagement and participation among Canadian citizens.

Before these prominent alumni could endeavour to solve the problems facing Canadian democracy, they needed to identify the primary challenges encountered by the country’s parliamentary governing system.

Loat and MacMillan interviewed 79 former Members of Parliament and reflected on thematic trends in these politicians’ parliamentary experiences.

The pair published their conclusions in Tragedy in the Commons: Former Members of Parliament Speak Out on Canada’s Failing Democracy — now a Globe and Mail #1 bestselling book.

Loat shared her thoughts on the challenges facing Canadian politics with the Journal last weekend.

Why should Canadians be concerned about the health of our democracy?

Countries where people are free to speak, encouraged to participate and have a voice are ones that tend to be healthier, stronger and do better in every area of development.

My view is that it would help us to have stronger policy and stronger ideas on how to tackle things like the environment, health care and education, if we had citizens actively engaging in those issues, whether it’s participating through

a Member of Parliament or in other ways.

That’s the wonderful thing about Canada’s democracy — ­­ there are lots of ways to get involved. Another reason to be concerned is that we know that people who tend to participate less in democracy are people who are less enfranchised in the country, so people who are new to Canada, or people who have less education or less money.

If you want a country where citizens are truly treated equally and welcomed equally, that’s another reason to be concerned.

What do you think holds people back from wanting to engage politically, or knowing how to become politically engaged?

A big reason people don’t engage is because the system actually doesn’t encourage them to engage.

Currently, there are 308 ridings [in Canada]. Each political party nominates a candidate to run in that riding. Over half of those ridings don’t even have websites.

That’s just an example of how it can be very difficult to get involved.

Politicians themselves also discourage participation, and they do that unknowingly. One of the things that we found in our exit interviews is that when we asked the MPs why they got involved in politics, they all had similar versions of the same story: they had never planned to run, it had never occurred to them before, it wasn’t until they were asked that they thought about it, they’re not the kind of person that you’d think would be a politician.

They went out of their way to almost make excuses for what they had done. That sends a very damaging message to everybody, including young people.

Tell me about your organization, Samara, and how you view its role within Canadian society.

Both of us [Loat and MacMillan], although our backgrounds were different, had a similar concern over people checking out of their democracy, not caring, not voting and generally not engaging in what was going on in their communities and their country. We recognized that, and wondered if there was not a way that we could shine a light on our democracy and try to encourage greater participation in it.

Why do you think Canadians aren’t voting today, especially those between the ages of 18-24?

If you look back to previous generations, young people have always voted in smaller numbers than their parents. What is changing now is that they’re increasingly less likely to ever start voting.

Fifty years ago, a 20-year-old really didn’t vote then either, but when they were 25 or 30, they started voting. Now, they’re not, so we’re almost socializing permanent non-voters. There are all kinds of different theories, but for whatever reason, young people today are not growing up thinking that they have a responsibility to vote, that it’s their duty or that it’s important.

What we see is that people who have never been educated to think about voting don’t feel qualified [to vote]. It’s a lot about introducing people to thinking about what matters to them in their community, how that relates to government and how one’s elected official can influence that. You have to help people understand and feel less intimidated before you start to encourage voting.

What would you say to someone who argues that his or her one vote won’t make a difference?

I would ask how they came to that point of view. Telling somebody to do something differently than they already do it is usually not effective. Most smokers know they shouldn’t smoke and they still do it. So I usually just try to ask people what their experience is, what issues they care about, and how they try to make a difference on those issues. I try to come at it from an angle that interests them.

Some people may never decide to vote and they’re free to do that.

I respect people’s choices. I always say that even if you just go to the poll and spoil your ballot, then at least you see that there is some function that’s taking place there.

Loat would like to see more transparency from Canada’s political parties.

SUPPLIED BY ALISON LOAT

Do you think we would have a stronger democracy if we had career politicians, rather than Members of Parliament with varying professions?

The book was written by Loat and fellow Queen’s alumnus Michael MacMillan.

I actually think it’s a strength of our political system that we do have a diversity of people in politics.

Egypt tends to have a lot of people in the military that run, so [politics] is a more defined career path there.

In Canada, although there is a lot of lawyer MPs, it’s not the main profession. We have this relatively diverse political class—notasdiverseasitcouldbebya mile — but there’s not a set path.

You don’t have to be a millionaire.

You don’t have to have gone to certain schools or have a certain background, and I think that’s a strength of the system.

What are your thoughts on Canada’s parliamentary system?

Do you think there are better alternatives?

I think there are a lot of things that are very strong about it. It has evolved and is very receptive to the people who serve in it, so this is how I always come back to the role of the MP being so important.

If you look at what people are most dissatisfied about, it actually has to do mostly with political parties. While there are changes that could be made to Parliament, on the whole, I actually think we have a very good system.

What are some of the changes we could make to help Canada’s political system become more effective and efficient?

What I’d like to see is the regulation of political parties, one of the most heavily supported public organizations in the country.

They’re well subsidized through taxpayer money. If you really look at where they’re spending their money, I bet you a lot of it is going towards negative advertising, and why we allow our tax dollars to go to that, I’m not sure.

So more transparency from our political parties, how much they’re spending and what they’re spending it on. I would like them to spend a lot more money on policy development and

PHOTO BY CHLOE SOBEL

citizen engagement, particularly at the riding level, than on negative advertising.

Currently, women comprise approximately 25 per cent of Parliament. How can we increase the number of women legislators and make the House of Commons more representative of Canada’s population?

We definitely underrepresent in a number of different areas, and women is obviously one of them.

This comes back to the political parties. Women will win if they are nominated in ridings that are competitive.

Who does the nomination; who decides who the candidates are going to be? That’s the political parties. You have to get more women nominated in winnable ridings, so they’ll be more likely to win.

Earlier this month, over 300 Queen’s students received a copy of Tragedy in the Commons at the annual Queen’s Model Parliament conference in Ottawa. Why should a Queen’s student, or any university student, read Tragedy in the Commons?

Ultimately, one of the privileges of living in a representative democracy is that the system is meant to be a reflection of us. I think it provides a really important reflection on the state of the country we live in.

We tried to write it so that there’s things that you can question, that you can talk about over dinner, to try to spark ideas for a better political system that works better for people.

My hope is that young people will read it, and they’ll have some concerns, but they’ll also be left with some optimism and a sense that they have a role to play in helping our democracy function better.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

News

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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Education part of wider world problems Continued from page 1

Zou added that since the charity hires local writers and publishers, it allows for a more sustainable and efficient business model that spurs economic development in the communities the charity works in.

“They publish books in collaboration with the publishers and writers, they also build libraries and schools in the developing countries — and not only that, they very strongly believe in gender equality in education,” she said.

Zou said having access to

education is a basic right, and added that it’s important in addressing many of the issues in the world today.

“I honestly think that education is the first step to solving global issues, whether it be poverty, the water crisis or just health issues in

terms of overpopulation and infant mortality and a lot of different issues that are really connected

to literacy she said.

and

education,”

Quorum launches day after win at Queen’s conference Continued from page 1

become “one of the longest-running and best-known undergraduate business plan competitions in the world, according to The New York Times.

Mills emphasized supporting young entrepreneurs as the goal of

the competition.

“Watching someone balance running a business and being in school, you just have so much respect for them,” she said.

“For us, it’s really about fostering their business idea and giving them seed money to grow their business.”

Jonathan Marks, far left, and Alex Wirth, far right, won first place with their plan for Quorum.

SUPPLIED BY JANE MILLS

This year’s winners, Quorum, were quick to put their $25,000 to use, officially launching the website they’ve been working on for roughly a year the day after they won.

Quorum was co-founded by Alex Wirth and Jonathan Marks, roommates in their senior year at Harvard University, and is an online legislative strategy platform that provides quantitative information on the United States Congress.

“We’re obviously pretty excited with the result of the competition and honoured to have won $25,000, which represents half of the total amount of money we’ve spent on developing a platform, so it’s really significant for us,” Wirth said.

“We had some tough questions that allowed us to think things through more for our strategy and how we’re approaching things.”

Wirth added that their

Test Drive Your Career

The Queen’s Entrepreneurial Competition executive.

success wouldn’t have been possible without all the members of the Quorum team, which is made up of students from Harvard, MIT and Washington University.

Mitigating Advertising, a team made up of second-year Queen’s students, won second place and $10,000 for their plan.

The team — Amit Kumar, Alex Craciun and Yong Jia Xiao — told the Journal via email that they’re an “enterprise software startup” that deals with digital advertising.

“We have relied on a lot of valuable advice from professors,” they said.

“As second year students, we have seen tremendous growth in entrepreneurial interest and we are excited to see where it will lead us.”

For Zoe Keirstead, co-chair of

SUPPLIED BY JANE MILLS

the competition, the success of Queen’s students this year proves there’s a need to further develop the entrepreneurial environment on campus.

“Queen’s doesn’t have much that supports entrepreneurship,” said Keirstead, Comm ’15.

“I think the fact that five out of 15 teams were from Queen’s proves that there is that need.”

She added that the successful commerce and engineering faculties show the need for an incubator.

“The fact that we have such a good business program and engineering program, which are the two streams that you see most entrepreneurs coming from — I think an incubator would be an incredible asset that would tie the two together,” she said.

Looking for work experience?

Consider the DeGroote MBA The DeGroote Co-op program provides students with the opportunity to gain 12 months of valuable paid work experience over the 28 month program.

Students in our program earn an average of $45,000 during the three work terms.

This program is for you if you are a recent graduate with little or no work experience and you are looking to gain a competitive advantage in the workforce.

We are coming to Queen’s University on Tuesday, March 3rd for an information session on the program.

If you cannot make the session we will be back on March 19th for an information table in the Queen’s Centre.

Please see your Career Centre for more details and to register.

mba.degroote.mcmaster.ca

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

News

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Tuesday, january 27, 2015

DIALOGUE

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAELLA FORTUNE

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

On board with Team CBW

The Journal’s Editorial Board has — such as increasing study spaces behalf of “AMS Inc.”, as he put it.

City’s strong opposition, was no full confidence in Team CBW as around campus, expanding Conversations around libel small feat. the AMS’s incoming executive.

Common Ground’s seating area and other insurance issues, Throughout their campaign, CBW— comprisedof Kanivanan and hosting housing workshops though necessary, can often Team CBW said they would Chinniah, acclaimed AMS for students transitioning out of alienate students. fervently advocate for student president; Kyle Beaudry, acclaimed residence — account for the toll input to be taken into account vice-president of operations; and that increased enrolment will in the University’s major projects, Catherine Wright, acclaimed have on student services, and such as the redevelopment of The majority of Team vice-president of university how minor changes can mitigate Richardson Stadium and the CBW’s platform affairs — has a praiseworthy this strain.

Health & Wellness Centre in appears practical focus on student advocacy These smaller projects would the PEC. and a long-term approach to help improve the day-to-day lives and feasible. Just While we feel confident in the student leadership. of students. team’s abilities to advocate, they’ve as importantly, it CBW is right to credit CBW is aware of the major yet to determine specific methods demonstrates a sense their diverse backgrounds issues facing Queen’s. This shines for garnering student opinion, of continuity that’s and experiences as their through in their proposal to hire an except for surveys. refreshing to see in greatest strength.

Educational Campaigns Manager Team CBW’s platform includes AMS executive plans.

Chinniah — the AMS’s current — a position that will focus on points on Queen’s TV, which, Campus Services Director and a widespread campaigning for sexual following the platform’s release, former ASUS representative to the assault awareness — and to strike a was amalgamated into the newly AMS — has both internal and committee that will promote safe CBW’s proposal to provide created Studio Q. external experience, while Wright discussion spaces. insurance information packages to As the AMS’s current Campus has the most internal involvement When the team was asked to list AMS clubs is a good way to balance Services Director, Chinniah was of the three as last year’s Municipal a mistake made by a predecessor the interests of the University aware of the pending change, but Affairs Commissioner. that they’ve learned from, Chinniah and students. By understanding due to confidentiality issues, he said Beaudry’s resume is entirely cited decisions made by the libel, club leaders will be able he didn’t tell Beaudry, who wrote peripheral. He’ll have the largest 2005-06 AMS executive to sign to take informed, responsible the “Service Reviews” section of adjustment when transitioning into over total control of the Queen’s risks and effectively fulfill their CBW’s platform. At the very least, his new role, but his experience as Centre project to the administration. club’s mandate. this speaks to Chinniah’s integrity, the Commerce Society’s current This response demonstrated Team CBW has a prime which he maintained despite president should assist in engaging an understanding that decisions opportunity to revitalize other interests. students from smaller faculties. made by an executive can impact town-gown relations in When responding to questions The majority of Team CBW’s the student body for years beyond collaboration with Kingston’s new concerning the Underground, platform appears practical and their term in office.

City Council.

CBW’s response that student input feasible. Just as importantly, it Chinniah’s expressed desire to Wright successfully spearheaded needs to be taken into account demonstrates a sense of continuity “de-corporatize” the AMS is critical the AMS’s appeal on electoral echoed current Vice-President of that’s refreshing to see in AMS to ensure the executive fulfills their district boundary realignment Operations Justin Reekie’s during executive plans. fundamental purpose of advocating to the Ontario Municipal Board his executive campaign. While Their proposed initiatives for students, rather than acting on in 2013, which, considering the student opinion is critical, action

“

”

Editorial Board Editors in Chief

Nick Faris Vincent Ben Matak

Production Manager News Editor

Sam Koebrich 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

Web Developer

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 Arwin Chan Alex Pickering

Assistant Photo Editor

Michelle Allan

Graphics Editor and Editorial Illustrator

Michaella Fortune

Copy Editors

Karen Chen

Leigh Cameron Christine Ellis Chandra Erickson

Contributing Staff

Staff Writers and Photographers Mitchell Gleason Zoe Kelsey Luke Kessaram Adam Laskaris Justin Mathews Emily Miller

Contributors

Emma MacNaught Dylan Yegendorf Mike Young

Business Staff Business Manager

David Worsley

Marketing Manager

Hayley Square

Sales Representatives

Fraser Bruce Katelyn Martinko Jacob Rumball Teddy Taggart Tuesday, January 27, 2015 • Issue 20 • 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

needs to be taken by this executive to maximize the space.

While it’s critical an executive efficiently completes as much as they can during their term, they must also consider the best interests of students in years to come.

CBW’s understanding of their place within a larger history — and their plans to implement practical change — makes them ideal student leaders for the coming year.

— Journal Editorial Board

Our Process The Journal’s vote of confidence took into consideration Team CBW’s platforms, interviews, public forums and a private questioning period between each candidate and the Journal’s Editorial Board. The interview included a list of 10 predetermined questions and open questioning period for over an hour. While the private questioning period was taken into account, it was only a small part of a greater process of consideration.

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

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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 21 of the Journal will be published on January 30, 2015

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

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Opinions — Your

•7

perspective

ELECTIONS

Take out the trash talk Insults directed at student candidates makes campaigning inaccessible

Personal attacks against candidates running for student leadership positions are discouraging to current and future candidates.

Mike Young, ArtSci ’15

possible perceived benefit.

Some of the discussion I’ve Political campaigns for student heard and read during this year’s leadership positions are hard. elections period has been made But they can also be among the up of personal insults directed most invigorating and enjoyable at candidates. things a student does during their This negative discourse is time here. creating a poisonous environment I’ve been there. Last January, as for candidates and voters alike. It I began my campaign to become discourages potential leaders from Queen’s next Rector, I ran from running. It needs to improve, class talk to class talk, to booths, because if it doesn’t, we’ll fail to meeting students and drinking as properly inform voters and attract much coffee as I could handle. the best possible candidates.

For me, it was an Running parallel to the Rector overwhelmingly positive elections last January were the experience, regardless of the result. AMS executive elections, which The campaign itself was fun and I consisted of two teams and six regarded it as positive, constructive incredibly passionate leaders that and forward thinking. ran in a very public campaign.

There was a great deal of As these teams emerged, so respect maintained throughout the did an anonymous blog that campaign between myself and the focused primarily on the character other candidates, and this respect of candidates, picking apart has sustained since the election. certain individuals.

It’s become evident over the A climate was created in past few years that my story isn’t which the health and wellness of true for everyone at Queen’s who candidates were strained and their runs in elections. resolve tested. It became more In the midst of a political about making it through to the end campaign you’ve thrown yourself of the campaign in one piece than into, winning at all costs can about delivering the ideas they’d seem like the only option. But worked on for months. throughout particular campaigns Factors like this blog can rob at Queen’s over the last few years, a candidate of the desire to put those costs have outweighed any themselves out there for fear of

persecution and negative attacks. cookies” that ended up being used It’s important to remember that on both sides to vilify the other. candidates are students, too.

ASUS Vice-Presidential I don’t think the individual or candidate Brendan Goodman individuals who created the blog was slammed on social media should be automatically regarded for saying something he didn’t as evil people. actually say. There was a lack of It’s largely the product of a understanding as to where the culture of political campaigns comment originated and why it we’re subject to that consists of was mentioned. attack ads and dragging people On the other hand, the through the mud. Anyone who comment itself took Presidential has followed a major election in candidate Brandon Jamieson’s Canada will know what kind of ads words out of context to make him I’m referencing. look insensitive.

We’ve been conditioned to try Instead of focusing on the and prove someone we’re running answers to debate questions, the against is immoral, incompetent discussion following the debate and inferior, rather than proving was centred on this “controversy”. our worth or that of the candidates This issue was only exacerbated we support. by anonymous comments on This year has had similar issues, the Journal’s website, such particularly involving discourse as “Goodman's accusation that surrounding the ASUS executive Jamieson was making light of eating candidates. We’ve seen personal disorders when Jamieson said that attacks on both sides of campaigns, he likes to ‘binge eat’ cookies is rumours being spread or speculated perhaps the single dumbest thing upon and, at times, a distinct lack I have ever heard”, posted by of positivity. user “OneHandsomeSheep”.

We’ve seen incredibly negative Attacks on character from both comments posted online sides leave me as a voter with a on Twitter and the Journal’s frustrated, bitter taste in my mouth. comments section.

The vitriolic nature of At last Wednesday’s ASUS political campaigns is completely executive debate, there was a inaccessible to voters. I want to comment about “binge eating know what each team will do for

PHOTO BY ARWIN CHAN

me and what I can expect from them if elected.

Baseless attacks and accusations make elections a less comfortable space for voters to actively engage with. They make it harder to learn what each candidate has to offer.

This system of negativity makes it less likely that viable and quality candidates will put their names forward. As a student body that participates in a negative discourse, we’re telling potential candidates they should prepare for public ridicule and attacks if they declare their candidacy.

Not only will this deter quality candidates, it also prevents a larger and more diverse group of students from running.

If we want more people to run, we’re going to have to do better than what we’ve seen this week.

We have to continue to be critical of ideas and candidates, but in a way that challenges ideas and doesn’t attack people.

It shouldn’t be hard to do, but it’s going to take buy-in from candidates, campaign teams and those watching from the outside.

Be perceptive to ideas, have an open mind — and stay constructive.

Mike Young is Queen’s current Rector.

Talking heads ... around campus PHOTOS BY OLIVIA BOWDEN

How do you feel about anonymous comments criticizing students in elections?

“You should support them based on [political views], not their character.”

“I would expect more from Queen’s students, that they would have more respect.”

“It’s pretty negative. I wish it didn’t happen.”

“It’s detrimental to the concept of encouraging people to run for these positions.”

“They make people less inclined to run.”

Claire Doucette, ArtSci ’17

Adrien Bettio, Comm’17

Pablo Opazo, ArtSci ’18

Annabel Thorton, ArtSci ’18

Leah Rowe, Comm ’18

8 • queensjournal.ca

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

ARTS

The Artel resident Stephanie Nativdad doesn’t want to see the collective closed.

THE ARTEL

Moving forward Artist collective plans for relocation B y L uke K essaram and O livia loncar - bartolini Journal Staff The Artel is scrambling to find a new home after receiving notice from their landlord that they won’t be eligible to resign their Sydenham St. lease.

The Artel is a collective of artists and offers a space for the community to access arts programming, which include exhibitions and performances. It also functions as a home for six of

the nine-person collective.

The Artel has made its home at 205 Sydenham St. since its inception in 2006. The property is managed by Keystone Property Management, who informed the collective they won’t be renewing their lease when it expires on May 1, in order to renovate the building.

The collective received their first notice three months ago.

Stephanie Nativdad, a resident and part of The Artel collective, told the Journal The Artel has shared a “rocky relationship” with

PHOTO BY OLIVIA LONCAR-BARTOLINI

Keystone properties over the years, mostly due to the conditions of the building.

“I don’t know much about what the agreement was with the landlord when the founders created this space eight years ago, but when I moved in I knew that the past year we were struggling a little bit,” Nativdad said.

“There’s an issue with the sidewalk and the way that the base

of the house is lower than it’s supposed to be which can cause flooding, and you know a lot of their properties are really nice so they just told us basically that they decided that they want to renovate and they’re not renewing our lease.”

Keystone told the collective they’re planning to convert the space into two separate units, which wouldn’t be suitable for the open concept studio and living space that The Artel currently is, Nativdad added.

Keystone Property Management didn’t respond to multiple interview requests by the Journal.

Avery Everhart, a resident and member of the collective, opened a Town Hall meeting on Sunday to discuss potential relocation options.

Around 50 people attended the meeting.

Some attendants suggested the collective consider relocating to the University District as a viable long-term option, while others proposed looking to spaces closer to the downtown core, as well as in Williamsville District.

Hearing feedback from community members and other organizations proved useful for The Artel as it begins to decide how to adapt to the circumstances, said Everhart, MA ’16.

“We were able to make more

direct connections,” Everhart said following the meeting. “We knew that the Artel, as an organization, had ongoing relationships with other organizations … but some of those connections weren’t ones that this generation of The Artel had directly.

“Now we were able to make introductions with people invested in the kind of stuff that The Artel does for the community even if they aren’t always able to come to events.”

Everhart joined the collective in September while studying gender studies at Queen’s.

They added the constantly evolving nature of the collective has kept The Artel dynamic, but it means that many members don’t have roots in Kingston that go as deep as the organization itself.

The longest standing member has been involved for around three years.

“The rest of us have been around at most for like six or seven months,” Everhart said For The Artel, the sudden need to move presents a formidable challenge, but it also presents an opportunity.

“We’re trying to view it as a way that we could expand in terms of programming,” Everhart added.

ART EXHIBIT

Cultural harmony Collection of African masks, statues, and photography capturing traditions B y K ashmala O mar Arts Editor The Justin and Elisabeth Lang Collection of African Art is an eye-opening arrangement of masks, statues and photographs that capture the diversity of African cultures.

The art works, showcased at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre

(AEAC), is a small sampling from the original collection, which includes over 500 objects. This particular selection is called Protection and Social Harmony in the Art of West and Central Africa.

At first, I was pulled in by the rich colours used in the masks and statues on display — and how despite the darkness of the brown hues, the amount of detail visible in

Congolese ritual mask Ndeemba pictured above.

PHOTOS BY ALEX PICKERING

Masks on display in the AEAC.

each mask was striking.

One mask in particular, the Ndeemba mask of the Yaka peoples from Congo, was used in the 20th century in ceremonies that marked the passage from adolescence to adulthood. The mask was different from the rest, with a yellow- redand blue-painted face set on canvas against a lion-like mane of straw.

To me, the colours seem to signify the brightness of adolescence, while

the mane and detailed headpiece capture the “growing up” aspect of the ritual — advancing onto bigger and better things.

Aside from the masks, the collection boasts an impressive selection of statues, many of which depict mothers breastfeeding and carrying children.

Some of these were modelled after real-life places and people, such as the Verandah Post, depicting a mother of twins. The sculpture once served an architectural function of the Ogboni society’s meeting house in Iloro, Nigeria.

With this provided cultural insight, it’s easy to appreciate the art on a new level. Each object has its own story, and many have been passed down for decades, giving every piece an added dimension.

The piece that stood out to me most in the collection was a photograph, Initiation rituals among Yaka people, that depicted masks similar to the Ndeemba mask being used as part of a significant tradition.

The photograph portrays two young boys, standing majestically with their headpieces on against a Congolese landscape, presumably taking part in the ritual.

The photograph captures the uses of these masks in different

African rituals, and allows those of us that aren’t familiar with such cultures to form a higher admiration for them.

This collection only skims the surface of various African traditions — but delving deeper into the context of every piece provides important information that aids in teaching us about cultures that viewers may not have learned about through other mediums.

Do you have a passion for art, theatre or music?

Email: journal_ae@ams. queensu.ca to contribute.

Arts

Friday, January 9, 2015

queensjournal.ca

POETRY SLAM

Powerful poetry Queen’s Poetry Slam hosts January event

Follow us on Twitter: @QJArts

Nominate a GREAT Queen’s instructor

for the

2015

Crowds gathered to watch poets perform at the Mansion.

B y K ashmala O mar Arts Editor Queen’s Poetry Slam hosted their January slam event on Monday to eager audiences with an impressively diverse panel of poets.

The event, hosted at the Mansion, held a crowd of over 60 people that displayed their passion for poetry with finger-snapping and cries of encouragement towards those brave enough to bare their intimate writing to strangers.

The atmosphere was exciting, the lights dim, and the overall feeling of the venue welcoming to those of all circumstances — this was explicitly stated throughout the venue by host Rachel Manson, who also provided bouts of humour and motivating words in between each reading.

Before any actual “slamming” occurred, there was an open mic session where anyone could go on stage and reiterate their poetry without being scored by judges.

One of the performers that stood out to me the most was Raven Adams, who performed a short, yet emotional poem about a friend of hers that had passed away.

“This is about a really good friend of mine — possibly one of the most inspirational people to walk the earth,” Adams said.

The poem, entitled “He Dances”, portrayed a powerful message of loss, and having realizations about your loved ones

PHOTOS BY MITCHELL GLEASON

after it’s too late. The crowd responded enthusiastically and respectfully given the heavy content of the poem.

To start off the timed and judged slam section of the event was Danielle d’Entremont, executive director of Queen’s Poetry Slam. She commanded the stage with ease, and clearly had experience with performing her poetry, giving the audience a comedic introduction.

“I guess this is a lesson — if you kiss a poet once and walk away, they’re going to write a poem about you,” d’Entremont, ArtSci ’14 said. “Have you guys ever kissed a person that smelled like gasoline? I have. This poem is about them.”

The poet then went on to read her powerful piece, “The Candles Have Scoliosis”, which was about a boy she had kissed once that she wrongfully called “Otis”.

The poem was sweet, funny and sombre at points, resulting in loud finger-snaps from the audience.

Even though poetry slams are commonly hosted at Queen’s, each one brings something new and exciting to the table, given the wide variety of content that’s present at every slam.

The January slam in particular was abundant with emotional speech, high energy and an atmosphere of acceptance from both the crowd and performers.

Danielle d’Entremont performing her piece “My Candles Have Scoliosis”.

Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Deadline is February 27, 2015.

Nominations are accepted from Queen’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Submit online: queensu.ca/alumni

alumni@queensu.ca queensu.ca/alumni/ 613.533.2060

•9

10 •queensjournal.ca

Thursday, January 27, 2015

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Perfect homestand

Ryerson and Toronto downed, as Gaels keep on playoff pace B y B rent M oore Assistant Sports Editor The Gaels are flying high after a pair of straight-set wins in their final home games of the season.

Victories over the Ryerson Rams (12-4) and Toronto Varsity Blues (4-13) kept Queen’s (11-5) in fourth place in the OUA, just behind the Rams and the third-place Waterloo Warriors (12-5).

“We were firing really well,” said Gaels head coach Brenda Willis. “We had very few unforced errors.”

The Gaels brought their best game of the year in Sunday’s match with the Rams.

“I thought yesterday was one of the first games where we were just as crisp and just as intense in set three as we were in the previous

MEN’S HOCKEY

On-ice woes Men’s hockey drop seventh of last eight B y A dam L askaris Staff Writer The men’s hockey team has found themselves at a crossroads with four games left in the regular season.

The Gaels have lost seven of their last eight games, with their most recent defeat coming this past Friday against the McGill Redmen in a 4-1 loss.

McGill (17-5-0) is tied for second place in the OUA East.

Queen’s (9-12-1) is stuck in sixth, meanwhile, six points behind the fifth-place Nipissing Lakers (12-10-1).

“No one’s going to feel sorry for us,” said Gaels head coach Brett Gibson. “We lack confidence right now.”

After a scoreless first period, McGill got on the board 30 seconds into the second, when a dumped-in puck led directly to McGill’s first marker.

“We played a great 25-second shift,” Gibson said. “A mental mistake on a misplayed puck cost us the first goal.”

Samuel Labrecque of the Redmen took over about 10 minutes later. Labrecque scored three consecutive goals in seven minutes and 30 seconds to put the game out of reach at 4-0.

Brett Foy scored the lone Queen’s goal late in the third.

“We played a good game for 40 minutes or so,” Gibson said. “That eight-minute stretch killed us.”

While he feels his team has potential to be one of the better programs in the OUA, Gibson said they’re still a step behind perennial contenders like McGill.

“They do everything better than us at this point,” he said. “You see acts of brilliance from us, but See Men on page 12

sets,” Willis said.

The team has been caught giving up late-game points after going up two sets.

“We didn’t get comfortable, which has been a little bit of a concern,” Willis said. “That was really nice to see.”

The men played Ryerson earlier in the season — a Halloween day loss in straight sets.

“We had a lot to prove because we really underachieved when we went there,” she said. “We were pretty specific with our game plan going into the Ryerson game.”

The first set was neck-and-neck, and included several long scoring runs from both teams before Queen’s closed out the frame 25-23.

The second set was even tighter, with neither team able to establish more than a two-point lead at any point.

Queen’s also put that set away 25-23, showing poise in the final minutes.

Queen’s stayed ahead in the third set, winning 25-18 and clinching the match.

Queen’s middle blockers attacked well throughout the contest. “[Setter] Jamie Wright really trusted his middles at the end of the sets which is something we’ve been trying to improve,” Willis said.

“We felt we were getting more and more predictable in matches, hitting more and more outside balls in the home stretch, so we’ve been working on really trying to keep

our four-man offence active all the way through.”

Outside hitter Philippe Goyer had 11 kills and five digs, while Mike Tomlinson had 11 kills, 12 digs and three blocks. Libero Ivo Dramov added 11 digs of his own; the Gaels as a whole tallied 45 digs over the three sets.

Saturday’s game, a 3-0 walloping of the Varsity Blues, was more one-sided. The sets were 25-19, 25-17 and 25-13.

Outside hitter Aaron Nusbaum got the start for Queen’s and played confidently, attacking aggressively and getting up for blocks.

Queen’s led virtually the entire match, with scoring coming from starters and subs alike.

Nusbaum was the squad’s leading scorer with 10 kills and five digs. Three other Gaels added eight or more kills in the contest.

The Gaels’ four remaining matches all take place on the road, meaning they’ll have to win away from Kingston to maintain a playoff spot.

“We just need to keep getting better,” Willis said. “That’s the goal every practice, every week.”

The Gaels will face the Western Mustangs (8-8) and the Windsor Lancers (6-10) this weekend.

Back in late October, the Gaels hosted both these teams at the ARC during the season’s opening weekend. They lost to Windsor in five sets and were swept by the Mustangs.

PHOTO BY MITCHELL GLEASON “We’re looking for redemption With an 11-5 record and 22 points, the Gaels are on the road,” Willis said. fourth in the province. Ryerson and Waterloo each have 24 points.

SPORTS

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Inconsistent play nets split Halladay’s pair, Lester’s shootout winner garner Gaels two points over weekend B y D ylan Y egendorf Contributor Despite failing to play up to their potential, women’s hockey managed to come away with two points last weekend.

After losing 3-1 to the Guelph Gryphons on Friday, the Gaels barely squeaked by the last-place Brock Badgers with a 4-3 shootout victory the next night.

With the weekend split, the Gaels (13-3-3) fall into a three-way tie for second place in the OUA with Guelph (13-2-3) and the Toronto Varsity Blues (13-3-3).

The Gryphons hold a game in hand on both Queen’s and Toronto.

“We’re certainly happy to get two points,” said Gaels head coach Matt Holmberg. “On the flip side, I’m not happy with how we performed. I don’t think we played

to the best of our ability for a big part of the game.”

In a battle among two of the OUA’s top teams, the Gaels couldn’t get going against Guelph. They struggled against the Gryphons’ forecheck and cycle game, falling behind 2-0 early in the second period.

Defenceman Danielle Girard scored a power play goal shortly afterwards to bring Queen’s within

Rookie winger Addi Halladay scored twice in the Gaels’ 4-3 shootout win over Brock.

PHOTO BY CHLOE SOBEL

one, but Guelph’s Christine Grant iced the game with an empty-net goal with 20 seconds left.

Queen’s (13-3-3) hosted Brock (1-13-4) Saturday night in a back-and-forth affair that saw the Gaels come out to an early lead, thanks to Addi Halladay’s pair of first-period goals.

Brock bounced back quickly, narrowing the gap with a first-period tally, then tying it up 11 seconds into the second period.

The Badgers hung in with Queen’s for the entire game, answering each Gaels score up until Fiona Lester’s final shootout winner.

Last-place Brock is mathematically out of the playoffs, while Queen’s is still very much in the hunt for top spot in the OUA. But the game wasn’t played as lopsidedly as their respective positions in the standings would suggest.

“Brock is effectively out of a playoff spot right now, and sometimes that’s a very dangerous team to play against,” Holmberg said. “We try to avoid that inclination to play down to a team’s level … we didn’t have the focus that we had hoped for.”

The game was as close as it was See Halladay on page 12

Sports

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

queensjournal.ca

• 11

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Win sets them apart Gaels defeat Toronto and takes number three spot in division B y B rent M oore Assistant Sports Editor Rookie Tanner Graham led men’s basketball to a crucial victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday.

The first-year guard put up 24 points as the Gaels topped the Blues 82-74. The win kept Queen’s (4-8) a single win ahead of Toronto (3-9) for the OUA East’s final playoff spot.

While Graham’s heroics led to a victory against Toronto, he only managed to score seven points the next night as the Gaels suffered a 90-65 defeat to the East-leading Ryerson Rams. “[Graham] is going to be a great player in this league,” said head coach Stephan Barrie. “His battle right now is to try to be really good every night.

“We’re seeing it in flashes, in

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

OT comeback

Gaels bounce back from 17-point deficit B y B rent M oore Assistant Sports Editor Women’s basketball had to battle back to defeat a divisional foe last Friday.

Down 10 points at the half against the Toronto Varsity Blues, the Gaels pressed back hard, tied the game up at 71 and dragged it into overtime.

As the final seconds counted down, Gaels post Andrea Priamo nullified Toronto’s last scoring chance to give Queen’s a 79-77 victory.

The Gaels couldn’t keep the momentum going the next

night, losing 79-71 to the OUA East-leading Ryerson Rams.

Queen’s (8-4) sits second in the division, with Toronto (7-5) right on their heels. The Gaels are almost guaranteed a playoff spot, needing just one more win or a loss by the York Lions (2-11) to punch their ticket to the post-season.

Second-year guard Abby Dixon said the Gaels were poised going into overtime against the Varsity Blues.

“Our mentality going into the overtime game was really good, so that helped us,” Dixon said.

“Coming back from a 17-point See Dixon on page 12

parts of games and that was pretty much a full game where he played great,” Barrie added. “We just have to push him to get those kinds of performances constantly — each quarter, each game.”

The Gaels were outscored 29-15 in the first quarter against Toronto before Barrie made a few adjustments.

“They had really good energy and certainly there was initial parts where our defence was good,” he said. “We were pressuring too much and getting beat off the dribble, so we just had to back off the pressure somewhat and that helped us.”

Barrie said the team remained composed despite falling behind early.

“They were fine,” he said. “I think they realized that they were doing a lot of good things, there were just some very, very small details that were not there that were hurting us.”

The Gaels tied the game at 50 late in the third quarter when guard Patrick Street faked out his man and knocked down a three right in front of the Gaels bench.

Queen’s held on for the win in a high-scoring final quarter.

With the playoff implications of the Toronto game, the Gaels’ singular focus prohibited the team from doing any extensive preparation for Ryerson on Saturday.

This weekend, the Gaels will face Windsor (8-4) and Western (8-5), the two top teams in the West.

“We paid no attention on the Ryerson game up until the minute the U of T game ended because we just had to have that U of T one,” Barrie said. “It was more about just coming out and playing with a certain competitive fire.”

The Gaels couldn’t find their offensive game against Ryerson, scoring only 29 points by halftime.

The final score was 90-65 for Ryerson, who lead the East division with 24 points compared to the Gaels’ eight.

“We were just poor in a few parts of the game that I just felt really affected the overall score,” Barrie said. “That game was more about defence versus an athletic team — we didn’t have enough in the tank, I think, to stop them.”

PHOTO BY MITCHELL GLEASON

The men take on the Windsor Lancers (8-4) and the Western Mustangs (8-5) on the road this weekend.

“Both teams are playing really, really well right now, so it’s going to be a tough, tough road trip,” Barrie said.

Ryerson and Windsor have similar up-tempo playing styles, Barrie said, so it’s important the Gaels tighten up their transition game before the weekend.

“We’re watching films on those teams in transition to try to see how important it is for us to make sure we get back with a greater sense of urgency,” he said.

“That’s going to be one of the biggest keys going into this weekend.”

Sports

12 •queensjournal.ca

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Senior send-off

Queen’s takes one of final two home games B y S ean S utherland Sports Editor Women’s volleyball’s senior players won the final regular season game they’ll play at the ARC. After falling in straight sets to the undefeated Toronto Varsity Blues (15-0) on Saturday, the Gaels (11-5) bounced back to sweep the Ryerson Rams (11-4) the next afternoon.

With three games remaining in their season, Queen’s holds the fourth and final playoff spot in the OUA East. They’re two wins ahead of the fifth-place York Lions (9-6).

Gaels middle blocker Katie Hagarty said the playoff race is a major focus for her and her teammates.

“All we’re thinking about right now is what we can do to make playoffs,” Hagarty said. “Every time we have a team meeting, it’s talking about how we need to win.”

Hagarty added that the team needs to focus on winning their remaining games, so they won’t have to count on other teams losing to secure a post-season spot.

As it stands, both Toronto and Ryerson are set to join Queen’s in the OUA’s elimination rounds.

“We know we can beat these teams — it’s just whether or not we show up,” Hagarty said. “In playoff games and big games, we show up.

So hopefully we can do that again.”

The Gaels came out flat and were unable to get their passing game going against the Varsity

Blues. Toronto took advantage of Queen’s mistakes, rolling to a 25-18, 25-17, 25-17 win.

“We didn’t play that well [against Toronto]. We couldn’t pass very well and when you don’t pass, you can’t run the middle,” Hagarty said. “Everything went bad, so that was really rough — probably one of the worst games we played all year.”

The Gaels bounced back quickly against Ryerson, taking the opening set 25-8. Hagarty said the team’s negative feelings about the Toronto game helped spur them to victory.

The Rams match was the final home contest for Queen’s senior players, including Hagarty.

“We really wanted to finish our career here with a win and we got one, which was nice,” she said.

The Gaels wrapped up the remaining sets by scores of 25-19 and 25-16. Shannon Neville led the Gaels with 10 kills, while Hagarty added nine.

The Gaels travel to Ottawa this weekend to face the second-place Ottawa Gee-Gees (12-3) on Saturday. The Gee-Gees swept the Gaels in their previous matchup on Nov. 9.

Hagarty said Queen’s has improved heavily since the loss, and will be in a better position to challenge Ottawa this time around.

“We’ve changed a lot since then and grown a lot, and there’s no doubt in my mind that we can beat them,” she said.

Outside hitter Shannon Neville tallied 10 kills in the Gaels’ straight-set win over Ryerson.

PHOTO BY MITCHELL GLEASON

Men fail to reach potential Continued from page 10

we don’t have the consistency we’d like.”

Gaels goaltender Kevin Bailie was pulled following the second period, after allowing four goals on 20 shots.

Gibson pointed to his team last season — who lost just six games in regulation all year — as a benchmark for this team’s potential.

“We have a young team, but a lot of guys were on that roster last year,” he said. “We just haven’t been executing like we can.”

Gibson noted that he’s constantly been tweaking the

Halladay still steady Continued from page 10

largely due to the Gaels’ struggles on the penalty kill. Queen’s allowed two power play goals, one in each of the first and third periods.

“The penalty kill is something that’s been a major focus for us the last couple of weeks knowing that our PK has slipped, and yet, we continue to give up PK goals,” Holmberg said. “That’s the one sore point … Obviously we want to continue to stay out of the box, but we’ve got to figure out how to get the puck out of our zone.”

In spite of the team’s struggles in the hard-fought win, there were some positives to take away from Saturday night’s game.

Holmberg was particularly impressed with the performance PHOTO BY MITCHELL GLEASON of Halladay. The rookie winger Fourth-year guard Jenny Wright leads the Gaels notched two goals in the with 13.4 points per game. She had 12 points in the Ryerson loss. opening period.

“As a rookie, she’s come in and contributed all season long and has come up with some big goals,” Holmberg said. “She’s proven tonight that sometimes by just getting the puck to the net, good things can happen.”

After a shootout scare against a much weaker opponent, Holmberg said the Gaels need to “take a deep breath and regroup … refocus and get going” before they head to Oshawa Thursday to take on the UOIT Ridgebacks (6-11-1).

roster, looking for the combination of the hardest working players on a consistent basis.

“If we don’t learn how to play, we’ll be bounced in the playoffs in two games.”

The Gaels return to action Tuesday night when they host the seventh-place UOIT Ridgebacks (9-13-1), who Queen’s defeated 2-1 in the second game of

the season.

Both teams come into the game with 19 points, but Queen’s has the advantage, having played one less game.

“If we win, we’ll have the upper hand on them heading into the final few games,” Gibson said. “You don’t need much more motivation than that. Will’s going to beat skill.”

Dixon at her best Continued from page 11

deficit in the third really got us going.”

Dixon said the Gaels had no specific strategy or game plan going into extra time.

“We just wanted to come out and play and show we weren’t the team we showed we were in the first half,” she said.

The women scored 14 points in the first quarter and 16 in the second, and trailed by 10 going into the break.

Dixon ignited scoring in the second half, draining 15 points after the midway mark. Guard Emily Hazlett led the team with 20 points, while post Robyn Pearson had 17 points and three steals.

The Gaels started slow again in Saturday’s game against Ryerson. managing only five points in the first quarter and 12 in the second.

Despite outscoring the Rams by 17 in the second half, the Gaels were unable to pull even and lost 79-71. The loss brought the team’s six-game win streak to a halt.

Dixon said it was a winnable game.

“First quarter, we had five points. Obviously, that doesn’t

show how we can play,” she said.

“Shots weren’t falling and our defence wasn’t quite up to par.

Second half was a lot better and we just need to make sure we don’t get ourselves into holes like we have been.”

Dixon came off the bench in the Ryerson game and made a big impact. She contributed 17 points against the Rams, while Jenny Wright had 12 and Priamo added 11. “[Assistant coach] James [Bambury] came up to me in the second half of the Toronto game and told me to put it into gear like he knows I can, and I think I showed that,” Dixon said.

On Friday, the women will meet the Windsor Lancers (11-1) and the Western Mustangs (4-9) on the road.

The women lost to both teams last season. Windsor clobbered them 82-56 and Western topped them 69-60.

“We know that Windsor is number one in the country, so we have to bring our game for 40 minutes,” Dixon said. “It’s crucial that we play for 40 minutes as a team and communicate, because that’s how we’re going to win.”

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Sports

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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

LIFESTYLE COLUMNS — QJ POP

Hubbub over Oscar nomination snubs The predominately white, male nominees list has sparked outrage online

B y Z oe K elsey Staff Writer The Golden Globes have come and gone, filling their role as the slightly more casual (and much more drunken) precursor to the Academy Awards.

With this brief glamour aside, all eyes may now turn and bask in the golden glow of Oscar, and await the biggest night in Hollywood.

As is the case every year, the nominations incited a veritable firestorm of controversy, but this year, the chorus of commentators seems particularly vehement.

In a year teeming with dialogue about the role of race and gender in systems of privilege, power and representation, the Oscars have disappointed audiences increasingly ready and eager for diversity.

All 20 performance nominees are white and all 15 writing and directing nominees are male.

After the announcement, the Twitter-verse exploded with

angry responses, including the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite.

Unquestionably all of the nominees in performance categories are worthy contenders, but the Academy’s snub of all Selma actors is emblematic of the industry’s predominately white, male perspective.

Since Halle Berry’s beautiful, tear-stained acceptance of her best actress award in 2001, not one woman of colour has taken the trophy home. Similarly, only four African-American men have won best actor since the Academy’s inception 87 years ago.

In the past 10 years, virtually no one of Latino, Asian or Aboriginal descent has won in any performance category. The stats for the representation of women in all creative, technical and production categories are similarly unsettling.

That’s not to say Birdman or Whiplash weren’t the most excellent, artistic and creative films of 2014. These statistics are simply

glaring reminders of the relatively which follows the early life of narrow opportunities for great Stephen Hawking. films and roles available to people Both movies are emotional of colour.

British biopics of geniuses The most nominated films were overcoming adversity, with Birdman and Wes Anderson’s The fantastic performances by their Grand Budapest Hotel, with each male leads and supporting actresses. movie garnering nine nominations.

Another male-driven story with Richard Linklater’s ambitious a troubled protagonist nominated Golden Globe-winning portrait of for best picture is the controversial family life Boyhood remains the American Sniper, starring favourite for Best Picture.

Bradley Cooper and directed by Coming in at eight nominations Clint Eastwood. is the Alan Turing biopic The American Sniper has received Imitation Game, starring the broad and intense criticism for infamously named Benedict being “propaganda” and glorifying Cumberbatch. The film bears military violence. Considering striking generic similarity to one of the film’s most passionate The Theory of Everything, advocates is Sarah Palin, you have

to wonder what the Academy was thinking. Other questionable decisions include the devastating snub to the delightful Lego Movie for best animated feature.

The passionate backlash arising from the Academy’s nominations is a testament to the power and popularity of the institution to make, validate and endorse popular culture.

And in 2015, no matter how much they love Meryl Streep, people are tired of the sea of white faces on their televisions every awards season.

They’re ready for a future of more diverse storytelling.

FASHION

Quality clothing over quantity Think twice before making impulse buys B y E mma M ac N aught Contributor Fast fashion brands, such as H&M and Forever 21, are like McDonald’s fries — only delicious in a fleeting moment. In the long-term, they’re not worth it.

The consumer fashion industry tends to favour highly profitable trends over quality. As a result, commoditized style forces us to accept mediocre clothing.

Are those cheap, impulse purchase skinny jeans quitting on you? Chances are it’s not personal.

Despite an era of low-cost fashion,

your own closet is proof of the industry’s lack of attention to quality.

Although it may be easy to ignore flaws in your wardrobe, consider the role clothing plays in your life. In particular, recognize the importance of key elements of your wardrobe — your favourite bootcut jeans, the essential plain-white button down, those ankle booties that get you to class. You deserve to invest in a more conscious approach to those pieces.

While I’m not suggesting abandoning trends for extravagant

Martin Luther King biopic Selma’s snub reflects the Oscar nominations’ lack of diversity.

purchases, I wholeheartedly DrugSmart, including my average believe in the notion of getting tri-annual breakage replacement what you pay for. Inexpensive fad fee, this hair accessory would clothing certainly has its place as cost me $17.82. Meanwhile, an expressive and consumable part my well-crafted J.Crew version has of culture. saved me $53.46 over three years.

But industry-driven styles are While far from an Archimedes best left separate from pieces you “Eureka!” moment, I’ve applied my intend on putting to good use. hairclip theory to all of the key By carefully selecting what you pieces of my wardrobe — jeans, choose to buy, you’re investing in trousers, little black dresses and your wardrobe. Though it may winter boots. I still shamelessly or may not be more expensive, indulge in trends, but only where it clothing chosen through a makes sense. quality-conscious lens is better in Despite downsizing my the long-run. wardrobe substantially, I have a This epiphany came in the form deeper appreciation for the fit, of a $20 J. Crew barrette. Before feel and durability of clothing I you write me off as a hair tie purchased with intention. snob, consider this: at a current Looking to test the hairclip price of $5.94 for a hairclip at hypothesis yourself? Downtown

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Kingston’s Heel Boy, Felicity and Fritz, and Blueprint all offer a great selection of apparel and footwear committed to strong materials and quality fit.

More budget conscious? Do some market research in advance to find the material, brands and styles that work for you.

Take your newfound knowledge to any of Kingston’s second-hand stores and begin your hunt. Many of my best and longest-lasting clothing, like Gloverall duffel coats, have been the result of such adventures.

The extra time spent shopping will be handsomely rewarded with the satisfaction of a well-earned quality piece.

COLUMNS — QJ POLITICS

National plan is needed Canada lacks a consistent approach to carbon taxing B y J ustin M athews Staff Writer

Your sartorial choices can have an important impact.

PHOTO BY MICHELLE ALLAN

Carbon tax. They’re dirty words for most Canadians and especially for former Liberal Party leader Stéphane Dion.

After proposing a revenue-neutral carbon tax in the 2008 election, Dion was swiftly decimated at the polls. But it’s

time we look at carbon tax in a positive light.

Seven years later, Canadian opinion on carbon tax has changed considerably.

A recent survey by Abacus Data noted that 54 per cent of Canadians believe that Canada should do more to combat climate change, and nearly 70 per cent believe Canada should introduce a policy

that provides financial incentive to reduce carbon emissions over time.

At its simplest, a carbon tax is a tax based on greenhouse gas emissions. It’s meant as a means to hold carbon emitters accountable.

Extracting fossil fuels isn’t without environmental consequences — emitting carbon contributes to local pollution and See Reduced on page 15

LIFESTYLE

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Reduced emissions key to fighting climate change Continued from page 14

exacerbates climate change.

A carbon tax is great for the environment. In the short term, it encourages consumers to emit less carbon, whether by driving less, turning down the thermostat, purchasing more energy-efficient vehicles or re-insulating their homes.

In the long term, a carbon tax unleashes the market forces to develop cleaner, alternative and more sustainable sources of fuel and energy.

The biggest criticism of a carbon tax is that it harms profits, raises cost of production and, as Stephen Harper put it, ultimately “destroys jobs and growth”.

But Canada does have somewhere to look at the economic effects of implementing

a carbon tax. corporate tax rates on the continent.

That two per cent isn’t Despite national hostility, Also, where critics were a negligible amount of the British Columbia implemented a concerned about the tax harming world’s carbon emissions. Of carbon tax in 2008. The tax was the province’s economy, the the multiplicity of policies introduced on several principles. province’s GDP has outperformed that seek to reduce emissions, First, it was to be revenue the rest of the country since 2008. a carbon tax is the cheapest to neutral: the provincial government This isn’t an economic nightmare, implement administratively. couldn’t spend any carbon tax it’s an economist’s dream.

As B.C. shows, it’s revenue on government programs Since its implementation, the also revenue-neutral and puts us in and was legally required to carbon tax has seen B.C.’s fuel a position to compete with those demonstrate how it was returned use drop by 17 per cent, while in countries already making the shift. to taxpayers. the same time, Canada’s fuel use Today, while all major federal Second, the tax started low and increased by three per cent. parties favour some policy only increased gradually, affording Emissions in B.C. are down by commitment to incentivizing consumers the opportunity to almost as much, while in the rest reduced carbon emissions, it make adjustments accordingly. of Canada, they went up. appears the fear of sharing Dion’s Third, B.C. implemented a Fraser Institute’s Kenneth Green 2008 fate is still alive. refundable low income climate argues that a carbon tax in Canada In a recent National Post article, change tax credit to offset the is virtually meaningless because we Andrew Coyne criticized federal carbon tax paid by low-income only account for two per cent of parties for favouring provincial individuals and families. global emissions. carbon pricing programs over So what’s the story in B.C.?

To the contrary, by implementing offering a national plan.

Residents pay the lowest personal a carbon tax, Canada would join A carbon tax plan isn’t just a income tax rate in Canada (with countries like South Korea, Japan, provincial portfolio where the additional cuts for low-income France and Switzerland as leaders federal government merely offers residents) and one of the lowest on advancing climate change. oversight and coordination.

At a time when public opinion is both receptive and supportive, and when gas prices are the lowest in four years, an absence of federal leadership on carbon pricing is just as stupid as it is cowardly.

We already listen to the economist. This time, the environmentalist is saying the same thing.

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ACROSS 1 “—the season ...”

4 Perched 7 Understand, slangily 8 Tennis player’s sore spot 10 Dish 11 Illinois city 13 Events of 7/29/81 and 4/29/11 16 Type squares 17 “—Foolish Things” 18 401 (k) alternative 19 Old World deer 20 Singles 21 Dracula, e.g.

23 Mirror’s offering 25 Use the oven 26 Use a teaspoon 27 Geological period 28 Weeps loudly 30 Lawyers’ org.

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41 Easter egg preparation

DOWN 1 Cafeteria stack 2 Greek vowel 3 Kadiddlehopper portrayer 4 Coasters 5 Home 6 Actress Spelling 7 Latch (onto) 8 Tools for duels 9 — and dining 10 Opposite of post12 Coincide 14 Sharpen 15 Airline to Stockholm 19 Regret 20 Rowing need 21 Christmas song 22 Accepted 23 “— have to do” 24 Lost 25 — canto 26 Faint 28 Fire 29 Subsequently 30 Heard the alarm 31 Foundations 32 Exist 34 Enthusiastic, plus 35 Sans siblings

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LIFESTYLE

Tuesday, January 27, 2015