The Queen's Journal, Issue 10

Feature

DIALOGUE

ARTS

SPORTS

POSTSCRIPT

The costs and benefits of blended learning.

Debating joint Canada-U.K. embassies.

A review of the Kingston Glass Studio and Gallery.

Queen’s to host Quidditch nationals.

A look at what it means to be beautiful.

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F r i d ay , S e p t e m b e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 2 — I ss u e 1 0

the journal Queen’s University — Since 1873

Campus life

PEC to reopen

Tricolour ambition

Sports

Off the field

Gym space to be ready by December

Athletics suspends field hockey team

B y Vincent M atak Assistant News Editor After the Physical Education Centre (PEC) officially closed three years ago, plans are in the works to have parts of the building reopened

by December.

Physical Plant Services (PPS) had conducted an assessment over the summer for a $1.4 million renovation of the former athletics complex.

Renovations began earlier this month and will include installing The University launched its Initiative Campaign on campus Thursday and will launch officially on Photo by Alex Choi a new roof and ventilation system, Saturday. The campaign aims to raise half a billion dollars plus one million dollars in estate planning gifts over the as well as new heating system and next four years. For full story see page 5. fixing electrical issues.

The aesthetics of the building will also be addressed, building was flooded and PEC came about as a result of the space on campus.

“During our campaign we did AMS executive’s platform initiative with new interior paint renovations were put on hold.

“Throughout the research for that would see more space for research and found that a lot of and flooring.

Before the proposal to our campaign, it was apparent intramural sports on campus, Doug people needed more space on campus,” Johnson, ArtSci ’12, reopen the PEC came forward, to us that the space demands on Johnson, AMS president, said.

The AMS submitted their said. “We got enormous amounts last year’s AMS executive team campus exceeded the capacity of put forward plans to renovate initiatives like the MacGillivray- proposal to the Provost for of support from students to find a MacGillivary-Brown Hall in order Brown renovation,” Tristan an assessment in March. Queen’s way to do this.”

The AMS won’t directly pay for to increase intramural and club space Lee, AMS vice-president of Student Affairs and the University Registrar also submitted proposals the cost of renovations to reopen operations, said. on campus.

The decision to reopen the to the Provost calling for more In the summer of 2011, the See PEC on page 4

winter semester.

Bonnie Jane Maracle, Faculty of Education lecturer and instructor for the Mohawk courses, said bringing Aboriginal language classes to Queen’s helps to reinforce the awareness that First Nations are separate nations, each with their own language and culture.

“We’re just as diverse as Italian and French and Swedish, you know? As Aboriginal people, we don’t expect to go to Europe and just have one European language, we know that there are distinct languages,” Maracle said.

“However, Europeans think there’s just one Aboriginal language.”

While instruction in Indigenous languages is valuable for the growing number of Aboriginal students at Canadian universities,

Queen’s women’s field hockey team has been suspended indefinitely for an off-field incident.

Queen’s Athletics and Recreation announced Thursday that the team had been reprimanded for violating the school’s Student-Athlete Guidelines for Behaviour.

As a result of Athletics and Recreation’s initial investigation, the team will forfeit their next two games, against the Waterloo Warriors on Sept. 29 and the York Lions on Sept. 30.

“The athletes made an error in judgment and they need to be accountable for that,” said Athletics Director Leslie Dal Cin. A disciplinary panel will convene early next week to decide if the team will face any further sanctions.

Dal Cin said previous disciplinary decisions have contained educational and community service components, in addition to on-field consequences.

The team will remain under suspension until the disciplinary process is concluded.

Because Queen’s field hockey is classified as a varsity club, the investigation falls under Athletics and Recreation’s Sport Club disciplinary stream.

The three-person panel will be composed of an athlete and coach from another Varsity Club, as well as Recreation and Sport Clubs Manager Marg Jones.

Dal Cin said the panel will review the incident, taking into consideration the team’s degree of remorse.

“The range of penalties and sanctions the discipline panel can impose is clearly set out in our discipline policy,” she said. “It can range from verbal warnings to a recommendation to suspend the program.”

Although Dal Cin wouldn’t comment on how Athletics and Recreation was initially notified of the field hockey incident, she said all disciplinary notices they receive are investigated.

These notices can come from

See Mohawk on page 5

See Decision on page 13

Academics

Mohawk, Inuktitut courses in demand Indigenous language courses offered by department of languages, literatures and cultures B y H olly Tousignant News Editor

Mohawk and Inuktitut were introduced this year, with 30 students enrolled in each.

The courses are being offered by the department of languages, literatures and cultures, which is home to courses in seven other

languages, including Arabic, Chinese, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, with French studies being a separate department.

Introductory Mohawk is being offered this term, while Inuktitut will be offered in the

Instructor Bonnie Jane Maracle teaches Mohawk to her class of 30 students.

Photo by Tiffany Lam

Two new Indigenous language courses are at full capacity in the first year of them being offered at Queen’s.

B y N ick Faris and Peter M orrow Journal Staff

2 • queensjournal.ca

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Mason responds to report Retired professor Mike Mason agrees with findings of the Canadian Association of Teacher’s investigation into admin’s treatment of him B y H olly tousignant News Editor

of history, told the Journal that the allegations were “way more complicated than how they’re Mike Mason, the former Queen’s represented,” and that students’ adjunct professor accused of private concerns shouldn’t have making allegedly racist and been discussed in class as they were sexist comments last fall, said on Oct. 26.

CAUT claims that invitations he agrees with the Canadian Association of University Teachers for University administration to (CAUT) report condemning the participate in their investigation University for their handling of were declined.

In a Sept. 21 Journal article, the situation. and Vice-Principal Mason left the University last Provost fall after students and TAs brought (Academic) Alan Harrison said concerns about comments he CAUT has no jurisdiction over had made during lecture to the the matter.

“The individual about whom history department.

Last week, CAUT issued a report this report was written took a leave charging Queen’s with violating of absence and as a consequence of Mason’s academic freedom and that, no further action was taken,” acting “callously and irresponsibly Harrison told the Journal.

Following the allegations, three in how it handled complaints with of Mason’s classes were cancelled. respect to his teaching.”

When the original allegations After his departure, various lecturers emerged in fall 2011, Mason had stepped in for the remaining classes.

Mason said he went to his declined to comment to the Journal due to legal reasons. He was doctor to request a note for a unable to be reached for comment health leave. Although he has a immediately following the release minor heart irregularity, he said the stress of the experience was the of the CAUT report.

Mason had stepped out of catalyst for his leave.

“My doctor immediately retirement for the second time to teach one fall second-year history communicated with the University that I was suffering stress and I course at Queen’s.

Mason said in his eyes, CAUT’s need to go on health leave,” he report is completely accurate. The said. “So at [that] point I’m no report criticized the actions of longer teaching the course under members of the administration who any conditions.”

Mason said he wouldn’t teach issued Mason a series of conditions on which the continuation of the the course under the conditions course depended. In a Nov. 4 article, set out by the administration, James Carson, department chair which included having Carson sit in on Mason’s classes occasionally until the end of the term. Those conditions were to be the result of a failure on Mason’s part to agree to prior conditions, including

an investigation and a cease from teaching during the investigation, according to the CAUT report.

Queen’s administration couldn’t be reached for comment following the interview with Mason.

“In 50 years, no administrator [has] ever cancelled a single class of mine … I was worried that these guys were actually wrecking my course,” Mason said.

“This is in fact a deprivation of academic freedom. Nobody had consulted me.”

Mason said one concern with his teaching that was brought to his attention was his use of the term “jap.”

“I had read from a textbook a recently published book about World War II, a passage in which in 1944 an American general said … something like ‘I didn’t know the little jap sons of bitches could have done this,’” Mason said.

“He was talking about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and he was expressing surprise that the Japanese were able to carry out a surprise attack and destroy the Navy just about.”

Others were concerned about his referring to women in the class as the mistresses of the course, according to Mason and the CAUT report. “[I meant] I want you to pay close attention to what I’m teaching you because … I want you to become the masters or mistresses of what I teach you, of my lectures,” Mason said.

Since the incident, Mason said he hasn’t heard from anyone at the University. He has no plans to return to Queen’s.

CAMPUS CALENDAR Saturday, Sept. 29

Tuesday, Oct. 2

CNN’s Ali Velshi Returns to Queen’s Alumni speaker event Common Ground 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Free with student card

2012 Further Education Expo Graduate, professional, post-graduate, MBA and study abroad programs Grant Hall 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Chilifest Chili tasting, classic cars, entertainment Confederation Park Noon to 3 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 4 School of English 70th Anniversary Open House 96 Albert St. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday, September 28, 2012

queensjournal.ca

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Feature Academics

New model gets blended response Blended learning, a mix of online and classroom instruction, and collaborative group work has become a prominent method of teaching in the Faculty of Arts and Science over the past two years B y R osie H ales Features Editor Of over 140 100-level courses listed in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences course calendar, five are taught in a blended format. But the gradual move towards this new method of learning isn’t always the most cost-effective way to study.

In 2011, the Collaboration for Online Higher Education Research (COHERE) released a report highlighting the emerging trend of blended learning in university classrooms.

This report states that while there may be significant upfront costs for universities that lack adequate technical infrastructure to implement blended courses, higher revenue can be attained through expansion of programs and students.

Brenda Ravenscroft, associate dean (studies) of Arts and Science said blended courses could be saving money when it comes to campus infrastructure.

“If the growth of blended courses means that the University does not need to build more large auditoriums then this could be seen as a cost-saving benefit,” Ravenscroft told the Journal via email.

The Faculty of Arts and Science has received funding from the Provost’s Office to support blended learning. Most of this funding has been applied to the development phase, which provides instructors who are redesigning the course with an instructional designer.

If the growth of “blended courses means

that the University does not need to build more large auditoriums then this could be seen as a cost-saving benefit.

”

— Brenda Ravenscroft, associate dean (studies) of Arts and Science Psychology professor Jill Atkinson said that she believes the blended format will make learning more effective for students, but the necessary increase of TAs for PSYC 100 will add extra costs Blended learning refers to the combination of classroom learning and online learning. Students are encouraged to engage actively through online learning, and collaborative classroom work in labs and tutorials with fewer lecture hours — the general structure of the blended format at Queen’s.

Atkinson, one of the course coordinators for PSYC 100, said the number of TAs has increased since implementing the blended model, meaning higher employment costs.

Previous years have had 15 TAs for the full year. This year there were 24. PSYC 100 has seen a decrease in students this year — 1550 compared to 1800 last year.

“The big cost is getting enough peer mentor facilitators, TAs, people who can work hands-on with the students,” Atkinson said.

A blended course differs from correspondence and online courses in that they have mandatory lecture and classroom components.

The big cost is “getting enough peer

mentor facilitators, TAs, people who can work hands on with the students.

”

— Jill Atkinson, psychology professor GPHY 101, SOCY 122, GNDS 120, FILM 110 and CLST 205 are also being offered in the blended format this year. Five more courses are under development for the blended format.

Atkinson said the process began when the department started a committee following discussions in 2009 regarding blended learning.

She added that students learn best when they’re in small groups, actively solving problems and interacting.

The blended format of PSYC 100 combines online lessons accessed via Moodle, with classroom time in the form of traditional lectures and labs. The new format means students have to produce written work every week for their classes and labs.

Atkinson said that students might enjoy lecture format more because there’s less responsibility on the learner to actively learn.

“In lecture, there is no expectation and what you do at that point nobody knows — it’s a private process,” she said.

There have been no results published pertaining to how effective blended learning in PSYC 100 has been. Because the course is now structured around what research states will encourage better learning, student learning will be more effective, Atkinson said.

Isabelle Duchaine, AMS academic affairs commissioner, said the AMS supports the idea of blended learning, but at this stage it’s not a measure that’s less expensive than traditional lecture.

The decision to introduce blended courses to Queen’s was in an effort to capitalize on new technology communication amongst students and professors.

Duchaine, ArtSci ’13, said she currently believes there to be significant upfront costs of developing a blended learning course because of new infrastructure

Blended learning involves time spent working through lessons online, in lecture and with other students in labs or tutorials.

that needs to be built.

D’Arcy Norman, an expert in online communities from the University of Calgary, said he thinks education will be more blended in the future.

“Communication in the rest of our lives is online. Why would education be immune to that?”

Norman told the Journal via email.

Scott Matthews, adjunct professor in the policy studies department, taught his American Elections course online. His course wasn’t blended, but he said he missed out on interacting with students.

“Head nods and smiles give you a lot of feedback that you don’t get with the online medium,” he said.

Matthews said that he thinks that having to go to lecture is a powerful motivator.

“I’ve taught classes of more than 200 students and even in the worst week when everyone is writing term papers, I still get at least half the class coming.” By the end of the course he had less that 20 per cent of students looking at the material online, he added.

Veronica Tuason, ArtSci ’15, is a student in FILM 110 — another class to have transitioned to the blended learning format.

After taking the class both last year in the traditional format and this year in the blended version, she feels that there’s a lack of interactions between professor and students.

Head nods and “smiles give you a lot

of feedback that you don’t get with the online medium.

”

— Scott Matthews, adjunct professor in the department of policy studies According to her, the blended format lacks the intimacy of the traditional lecture courses because the screening and lecture are combined in the same slot.

This lack of intimacy was made up for in the weekly labs because TAs now seem more engaged in the course, she added.

“Last year with my TA he didn’t really know much about film so we talked about what we thought and it was nice, but he couldn’t really explain the prof’s lectures,” she said.

Tuason said she was surprised

photo by tiffany lam

by only having one lecture per week.

“I kind of liked last year’s format better where we have an actual lecture and where the prof could talk to us and then have a separate time for screening,” she said.

Sidneyeve Matrix, an associate professor in the film and media department at Queen’s, has employed various social media outlets in her FILM 240 course.

The course isn’t blended, but it offers students the choice between attending a lecture or watching a webinar.

Matrix said after introducing social media to her classes and publishing information such as flash cards on Facebook, Twitter and Moodle, student marks jumped 10 per cent.

She began doing this in 2008 after feeling dissatisfied with students’ marks on their final exams.

“The fun thing about a webinar — you don’t have to wear pants to school.”

— With files from Alison Shouldice

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Friday, september 28, 2012

PEC space to be used for exams, intramurals Continued from page 1

the building, Johnson said.

Student Affairs has gathered some funding for the renovations from grants, Johnson said.

“One of the biggest concerns was that a lot of people thought [the PEC] was condemned,” he said, “but it’s not as bad as everyone thinks; there are no major renovations that need to be done.”

In 2011-12, the waitlist for intramural sports teams at Queen’s

exceeded 1,000 students.

The University has spent upwards of Duane Parliament, coordinator of The reopening of the PEC will bring three $50,000 a year in proctor fees because of the intramural and summer leagues at Queen’s more gyms in addition to the two housed number of different rooms exams are held Athletics, said the planning process to in the Athletics and Recreation Centre, in, Johnson said. incorporate more intramural teams hasn’t allowing more students to participate in The reopening could also see more yet started. intramural sports. commercial opportunities between Queen’s “It’s great news for us obviously with the Johnson added that having these added and other groups in Kingston in need of extra space that we’re going to get,” he said. facilities available for exam period will athletic facilities, Johnson said, adding that “We’re just sort of finding out about this and make it easier for students to ask professors Queen’s currently allows Kingston Collegiate starting there and we hope to expand as questions during their exams.

Vocational Institute access to Tindall Field in quick as we can.” “[When the PEC closed] it became much exchange for their gym facilities.

Parliament hopes to have a detailed plan more difficult if you had a question for a prof, “We saw the PEC could also do that with ready for December. they had to go back and forth,” he said. other groups throughout the city,” he said.

“We’re over 500 intramural teams total The PEC will also house additional now because of the extra space we have at space for Queen’s Health, Counselling and KCVI,” he said. “It’s great news and we hope Disability Services, as well as other clubs to continue to expand.” on campus.

PEC renovations will cost $1.4 million, an assessment by Physical Plant Services says.

10% off for students, faculty, and staff

Photo by Alex Choi

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‘Mohawk is one of the least taught Indigenous languages’ Continued from page 1

Maracle said she also likes to see interest among non-Aboriginal students in the courses, especially those whose future careers will bring them into contact with First Nations communities.

She sees the possibility of additional First Nations languages, such as Ojibway, Cree and Blackfoot being offered at Queen’s in the future.

Mohawk is taught at Queen’s using the English alphabet, though pre-colonial Mohawk people

communicated orally rather than through writing, according to Maracle.

She said the written form of the language was streamlined in the late 20th century. Currently, there are three prominent Mohawk dialects.

Queen’s sits on Kanienkehaka territory and is located about 80 km east of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, which makes the instruction of Mohawk at Queen’s all the more important, Maracle said.

Jill Scott, acting associate head

NEWS IN BRIEF initiative campaign launches The Initiative Campaign was launched on campus yesterday — a four-year plan to fundraise hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as raise Queen’s profile.

The plan seeks to bring Queen’s “at least half a billion dollars plus a further $100 million in planned estate gifts by 2016,” according to a Queen’s News Centre release.

The Campaign kicked off on “Tricolour Thursday” with University community members encouraged to don Queen’s clothing and pick up a Tim Hortons coffee free of charge. An assembly was held in Grant Hall to announce the Campaign.

The official launch will take place on Saturday. An advertising campaign will promote the initiative on campus and off.

— Holly Tousignant

Jimmy and rosalynn carter to receive honourary degrees Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, former president and first lady of the United States, will receive honourary Queen’s degrees, the University announced today.

The pair will be awarded their degrees on Nov. 21.

Jimmy Carter served on term as president from 1977 to 1981. He was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work with the Carter Center, a non-profit human rights and global health organization that he co-founded with his wife.

Jimmy Carter has received numerous honourary degrees from American institutions. The presentation of the Carter’s Queen’s degrees will take place in a morning Grant Hall convocation ceremony.

— Holly Tousignant

of the department of languages, literatures and cultures, said Mohawk was chosen partly because of its local ties. She added that the Four Directions Aboriginal Centre guided the department in finding appropriate instructors and developing the area of Indigenous studies at Queen’s.

“Mohawk is one of the least taught Indigenous languages because there are so few speakers.

There are only a few thousand speakers,” she said.

Inuktitut dialects are primarily spoken by the Inuit people of Canada, Greenland, Alaska and Siberia. It’s the official language in Nunavut; Northwest Territories; Nunavik, Que.; and Nunatsiavut, Nfld.

“Inuktitut fell into our laps,” Scott said. “It was really happenstance that a very experienced Inuktitut instructor has come to Queen’s as a … graduate student.”

Inuktitut language and culture will be taught by teaching fellow and PhD candidate Noel McDermott, and like the Mohawk course, it’s already full.

“We had to turn a lot of people away,” Scott noted.

She added that she too sees additional Indigenous language courses eventually coming to Queen’s.

“Indigenous studies is one of our top priorities … it’s definitely something that we are interested in increasing and enhancing in the future,” she said. “The institution has a really vital role to play in assisting with language revitalization.”

— With files from Katherine Fernandez-Blance

CAMPUS CATCH -UP Nine canadian schools make world ranking top 200 The University of Toronto recently hired the school’s first full-time Muslim chaplain.

Amjad Tarsin’s hiring followed a fundraising campaign by the University’s Muslim Students Association, which brought in $70,000. An estimated 5,000 Muslim students attend the school.

The $70,000 will cover appointment costs, but for Tarsin to continue the position past one year fundraising must continue.

The University of Toronto’s multi-faith centre website lists nearly 30 full- and part-time chaplains, representing many Christian denominations — Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Judaism, First Nations beliefs, Paganism, humanism, Sikhism and Islam.

Queen’s is home to one chaplain, Brian Yealland, whose office is designed to counsel students across faiths.

— Holly Tousignant

first full-time muslim chaplain at u of t The 2012/13 QS World University Rankings was released on Tuesday, and placed nine Canadian schools in the top 200.

McGill University and the University of Toronto topped Canada’s rankings at 18th and 19th place respectively, while the University of British Columbia was 45th. Queen’s was ranked at 175th place.

Other Canadian schools to break the top 200 include the University of Alberta (108), Université de Montréal (114), McMaster University (152), Western University (173) and the University of Waterloo (191) The ninth annual list’s top three spots were occupied by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge and Harvard University.

According to CTV, the lists are based half on surveys as well as by “student-to-faculty ratios, research citations and the proportion of international students and faculty.”

— Holly Tousignant

Quebec student group continues to press for free tuition CLASSE, the student group that was a driving force behind the Quebec student strikes, is continuing to press tuition reform after fee hikes were ditched.

The newly-elected Premier Pauline Marois of the PartiQuébécois vowed early this month to freeze tuition and scrap Bill 78.

Consequently, tuition in Quebec will remain at $2,168 a year.

Following Marois’ announcement, students took to Montreal’s streets to march in celebration.

CLASSE representatives stated their intention to push for free tuition for all students. Spokesperson Jeremie Bedard-Wien, who spoke in Kingston in July, told the Montreal Gazette that CLASSE’s “struggle for accessibility to higher education is not yet over.”

— Holly Tousignant

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

DIALOGUE

“

ETHICS

EDITORIALS — THE JOURNAL’S PERSPECTIVE

The conversation needs to happen inside and outside of the school.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE

A

P

ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA MERSEREAU

news articles, I became a book curmudgeon — someone who forgets the joy of reading. Eventually, analyzing short story fiction for class and being surrounded by self-proclaimed literati got to me. I got curious. I picked up a book again.

I credit Kingston’s used bookstores for fully reawakening my joy. These are places where I would spend time sifting through old modern literature volumes.

It was like treasure hunting. If I was going to keep buying pretty books, why not start reading more JANINA ENRILE of them? So I began spending my summer evenings reading novels eading is my job. and needlessly alphabetizing my Between time spent book collection, an old pursuit I working for the Journal and thought I had forgotten. finishing my English degree, I It was refreshing. spend over 40 hours per week Lost love for reading doesn’t looking at some sort of text. just apply to overtired university It made for a struggle when students. A Sept. 24 article in I, someone who developed the Washington Post reported a eyesight problems because four-decade low in high school I ignored my mother’s pleas to students’ SAT reading scores. “get my nose out of that book,” Is this indicative of a future was forced to stop reading for where students refuse to read —Journal Editorial Board fun. In a flurry of textbooks and anything but their textbooks?

Editorial Board Editors in Chief KATHERINE FERNANDEZ-BLANCE

LABIBA HAQUE

Production Manager

TRISTAN DIFRANCESCO

News Editor

HOLLY TOUSIGNANT

Assistant News Editors

RACHEL HERSCOVICI VINCENT MATAK

Features Editors

ROSIE HALES ALISON SHOULDICE

Editorials Editor

JOANNA PLUCINSKA

Editorial Illustrator

OLIVIA MERSEREAU

”

Needless spending

Abstract realities rofessor Christine Overall recently called on individuals to view childbirth through a lens of ethics instead of biological destiny during a talk she gave at Queen’s. Many of the concerns she raised are inapplicable to real life and, ultimately, don’t explore some of the more tangible nuances of the debate surrounding the ethics of childrearing.

Overall argues childbirth raises ethical concerns, as one is bringing a child into the world that didn’t consent to be born.

Furthermore, she claims that parents never know what kind of impact their child will have on society.

While philosophizing on these questions can be interesting, Overall’s argument ultimately has very little sway in the real world.

She’s put herself in the same position that many academics do — she philosophizes in her ivory tower while remaining out of touch with the more specific questions that matter on the ground.

In reality, the ethics of having children rely heavily on the circumstances of the parents and on the resources available to them — one has to ask more specific questions relevant to the given situations instead of simply philosophizing on large ideas There are of course those parents who are ill-equipped and ultimately too irresponsible to raise kids on their own, but many parents who make the conscious decision to have children are well-equipped with the resources needed to raise a child safely, healthily and responsibly.

At the end of the day, this debate is too full of grey areas. Of course one can’t predict what their child will do once they’re born — there is an inevitable element of uncertainty in parenting.

There is value to philosophizing on certain topics, and there are undoubtedly ethical questions to having children, but the arguments presented by Overall are too abstract and inapplicable to carry any significant weight in modern society.

•7

Read with me

R

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Opinions Editor TERENCE WONG

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mandatory class in equity or scrutiny from the public and the women’s studies may create media to better deal with these more discussion surrounding issues issues and speak openly about how of sexual assault and violence, but to find solutions.

In order to actually deal with the is unlikely to provide a realistic solution to the problems that York problems of sexual violence on the York campus specifically, university University faces.

In the wake of a string of administrators should invest in sexual assaults on the campus, the even more security to protect their York Federation of Students has students, not spend money on a suggested that all students take course that might bring little benefit a class at some point in their to remedying the actual situation degree to learn about the negative at hand.

While they’ve already done repercussions of these attitudes.

There most definitely needs this to some extent, they need to be a larger discussion about to continue ensuring that these sexual assault and violence on measures are being put in place this campus and on any university and that they’re working.

The course might campus — this is a problem that should take priority in any effectively reduce the stigma surrounding sexual violence, given situation.

York University has been creating a safe space for students to accused of maintaining a ‘culture of talk about their experiences.

However, a course of this silence’ in past years about issues of sexual assault. The media and nature might also unintentionally former students have accused them upset students who aren’t of sweeping these issues under inherently interested in the the rug in order to improve their subject matter and who don’t want to pay tuition for such public image.

With four reported sexual a course.

The same lessons could be assaults at the school last year and numerous others over the summer, taught through other programs York has been under increased and initiatives that would be less expensive for students, such as workshops and talks on campus.

However, some of the assaults Will they, like me, forget what it’s like to truly sympathize with a at York haven’t even been directly character? Will they forget what it’s carried out by students — many are like to look up from a novel only to from the outside community.

This points to a more widespread realize that the sun has disappeared problem — one that requires action from the sky?

While students are barraged by from community leaders.

How can we educate people group work and essay deadlines, it’s easy to forget about what words both inside and outside of university can really do for us. It’s not just campuses that sexual assault about escape — it’s about having isn’t okay?

The discussion needs to a place where learning isn’t limited begin early, before students enter to the lecture hall.

Reading shouldn’t be a chore or university lecture halls.

The idea that sexual assault a job. It has its utilitarian purposes, like teaching a student the anatomy is okay begins when children of a beetle or reiterating the news start forming their views on the from Syria, but I think it’s more world. The only way to stop the assaults in the community at large organic than that.

It’s separated us from is to deal with this problematic animals — this ability to learn by mindset early on.

A university lecture might spark looking at seemingly unremarkable symbols. It’s the fact that we some discussion surrounding have the means to communicate the issue at best. Ultimately, the complex and beautiful ideas to conversation needs to happen both each other, simply through a pen inside and outside of the school and paper. To me, that’s kind of and it needs to target those who are least likely to understand the profound. Let’s treat it as such. issues involved.

Janina is the Postscript Editor at the Journal.

Business Staff Business Manager GEROLDINE ZHAO

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ADAM GANASSINI

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JENNIFER CHE FANNY RABINOVTICH-KUZMICKI HANK XU Friday, September 28, 2012 • Issue 10 • Volume 140

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Please direct editorial, advertising and circulation enquiries to: 190 University Avenue, Kingston, Ontario, 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 11 of Volume 140 will be published on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Dialogue

8 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, Septmeber 28, 2012

Opinions — Your Perspective

Talking heads ... around campus

Point/ Counterpoint

Photos By Terence Wong

What do you think of the reopening of the PEC?

Too close for comfort

Our contributors debate the merits of joint Canadian-British embassies

Digvijay Mehra, ArtSci ‘14 There has been widespread criticism of the plan to share embassies announced by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Criticism of this criticism is even more widespread.

Since the joint press conference, Ministers Baird and Secretary Hague have continually downplayed the significance of this partnership by suggesting that they are merely formalizing ad hoc agreements already in place.

Suggestions that Canada will lose its sovereignty and will be linked to the former imperial power are mocked throughout the national media — perhaps understandably so. Yet, I strongly believe that this is a step in the wrong direction for Canadian foreign policy.

I’m not an expert in civil engineering, domestic security or international travel, but having lived in Ghana, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Kenya and having had significant interactions with the Canadian high commissions in these countries, I often reflect on how globalization and modernization are transforming the world at such an alarming rate.

Both British and Canadian commenters are maintaining that financial pressures are guiding their actions, but how severe do these tensions have to be in order to justify an inability to maintain independent embassies

“It’s good to have more space for exercise.”

Photo Illustration by Alex Choi

and consulates?

It’s been pointed out that in Haiti and Myanmar, an informal practice of housing one diplomatic mission within the embassy of another country has existed and this new agreement only formalizes that.

Considering the low labour costs in both Haiti and Myanmar, is the financial reasoning behind this new agreement valid? Moreover, everyday costs for living, air travel and local security are also decreasing. Ironically, the Haitian government operates an embassy in London and the government of Myanmar operates one in Ottawa.

While the reasoning of cutting costs is perhaps flawed, the motivation behind this agreement could be financial in another nature. Beyond the formalized joint embassies, a larger disengagement on Canada’s part seems to be taking hold in countries not essential to short-term Canadian profit.

This reduction in Canada’s diplomatic missions, especially to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, will hinder long-term benefits that can only be realized by maintaining a strong presence abroad.

Three years ago, I was at the Canada Club in the Canadian High Commission in Accra, Ghana, for the monthly ‘International Night’. If it wasn’t for my casual conversation with the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana (and Togo) who convinced me to apply to Queen’s, I wouldn’t be in Kingston today.

The imagery of Canada is very carefully constructed — a deliberate creation by our government to promote and enhance Canada’s See position on page 9

Corey Schruder, ArtSci ‘16 While Canadians are facing flu season, it seems Parliament Hill is grappling with a case of British Derangement Syndrome. This sickness seems to manifest itself in people who are insecure about what the Canadian identity is.

I have news for them: foreign partnerships don’t mean selling out Canadian sovereignty. The Canadian government’s agreement with the British to share embassy space is just that. Period.

Canada will gain access to countries where it currently has no representation. The Australian Embassy currently handles basic Canadian diplomatic services in Laos, this agreement will potentially allow our two countries to open a diplomatic mission in Laos and other countries where it isn’t feasible to have a separate diplomatic mission.

It’s important to understand that British consular officials won’t represent Canadian interests.

British diplomats won’t speak for Canada and neither will Canadian diplomats speak for the United Kingdom.

My roommate doesn’t do my assignments and I don’t do his. My academic integrity isn’t threatened because I share a room with a rather smart individual. Similarly, Canadian sovereignty won’t be undermined just because we have a roommate-like agreement with the U.K..

As I’ve learned from my own

experiences, sharing space doesn’t have to mean sharing views.

There should be no confusion of the British-Canadian relationship here.

We share many things in common; our values, half of our language and most importantly, a storied history of peace, order and good government. Even though this is true, we are still representing our own interests. For example, the U.K. supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq — we didn’t. This agreement will allow us to share costs with the British, specifically building and security expenditures.

Lower costs will allow us to open diplomatic outposts where it was once unfeasible to do so and will therefore broaden the reach of Canadian foreign policy. It’s more important to have greater representation than to have a bombastic one with all the frills.

Canada has been closing trade missions, consular offices and embassies all around the world due to costs and that means removing Canadian diplomats as well.

Instead of having a few “Canada Houses” around the world, this joint-initiative would make Canada more easily accessible because it will share space with the British in common embassies.

The point here is that the most important aspect of any diplomatic mission abroad is having the actual diplomats themselves present in the country. Whether or not that requires all the furnishings, such as a building, is what the agreement seeks to address. Sharing an office with the British will ensure Canadian diplomats are present, while foregoing the embassy and

Reimar Belschner, ArtSci ’15

“It’s good to see it being put to use again.”

Amanda Thackway, ArtSci ’13

“It’s positive that they’re endorsing team sport.”

Mike Yeomans, ArtSci ’13

“I think it’s an excellent use of space. Well done Queen’s.”

Sarah Budd, ArtSci ’13

See other on page 9

Letters to the editor Logical fallacies Re: “Queen’s criticized” & “Two sides of Motion 312 — the abortion debate” Dear Editors, Two egregious fallacies made their way into last Friday’s (Sept 21) edition of The Journal. As a devoted professor of logic, it would be remiss of me not to correct them.

The first occurs in the following passage from the front page article “Queen’s Criticized: University violated academic freedom, report says”, where it is stated: “Students

complained to the department about Mason’s USE [sic] of the term [sic] ‘towelhead’, ‘rag head’, ‘japs’, ‘little yellow bastards’ while teaching about post-imperialist subject matter.” Professor Mason used no such terms.

Philosophy of Language 101 teaches the basic and quintessentially important distinction between using a word and mentioning it. (It is apparent that some Queen’s administrators, Heads of departments and Journal editors, need remedial philosophy of language.) To use a word is to refer to what it denotes. It is a linguistic activity. To MENTION a word is a radically different activity.

It is a metalinguistic activity. To mention a word is to refer, not to the thing the word denotes, but to the word itself.

In “Cicero was a Roman orator”, the word ‘Cicero’ is used to refer to Cicero. (Note the MENTION of the word ‘Cicero’ in the latter clause, noted by the single mention quotes, as well as its USE later in the clause.) The sentence is true because Cicero was indeed a Roman orator. (Note the USE of the word ‘Cicero’ in the previous clause, and its mention in this one.)

The sentence “ ‘Cicero’ has three syllables” is true. The sentence “Cicero has three syllables” is false. In spoken language, mention

quotes are not pronounced; they must be inferred from context.

Unfortunately, there is no escaping the fact that this requires thought.

The great logician W.V.O Quine admonished against “playing fast and loose with mention and use”. Professor Mason was the victim of just such reactionary thoughtlessness. The intelligent thing to do would be for the many who succumbed to this fallacy to apologize to him.

The second fallacy, no less egregious for being popular, is committed on the anti-abortion side of the article “Two sides of Motion 312” [p. 8], when its See Motion on page 9

“I wish they’d open up a hockey rink instead.”

Mike Robinson, Sci ’13

Have your say: queensjournal.ca

Dialogue

Friday, september 28, 2012 level. Steps such as these are practical applications of a policy of disengagement that increasingly characterizes how Canada interacts (or doesn’t) with the rest of the world.

Continued from page 8

position on the global stage. By formalizing an agreement to further reduce the direct means with which Canadian diplomats interact with governments, businesses, organizations and the citizens of the world, we are physically reducing the little international influence we possess.

Minister Baird and Secretary Hague may be correct in downplaying the micro-level administrative changes that may occur as a result of this agreement.

However, these changes will be perceived on a much larger

The reduction in Canada’s diplomatic missions, especially to countries in sub-saharan Africa, will hinder long- term benefits.

Policy analysts and experts in foreign policy may debate the relevance of this agreement as

it affects our relations with the U.K. and other commonwealth countries. Yet, as a Canadian planning on working, travelling and living in countries affected by this growing trend of Canadian disengagement, this policy is very disconcerting.

When you return from your backpacking trip through Europe, you may reflect on the warm welcomes and friendly recognition you received as a result of that maple leaf on your backpack.

What is disconcerting about Canada’s new approach is that those of us who choose to visit countries that have had their diplomatic relationships with Canada loosened, may not receive this warm welcome. In fact, that maple leaf may not be recognized at all.

queensjournal.ca Continued from page 8

other associated costs.

There’s no harm in the Canadian Diplomatic Corps Services sharing the same building with Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Service, as sovereign governments will understand that we operate on different principles.

The point here is that the most important aspect of any diplomatic mission abroad is having the actual diplomats themselves present in the country.

No country is ignorant enough to punish another one that is sharing a diplomatic outpost. North Korea doesn’t treat the Swedish diplomat who represents American interests in Pyongyang with the same contempt that it treats American diplomats.

•9

The notion that we will now be associated with British policy if we share a British embassy is simply absurd. Are we currently associated with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s carbon tax, just because Australians handle our diplomatic interests in Laos?

Beyond partisan antics this agreement will only help Canada and the U.K.. It will allow us to have a presence in countries where it isn’t feasible for us to have an embassy. This means Canadians abroad can have better access to Canadian consular services.

The bricks and mortar of an embassy are just bricks and mortar.

Nothing more, nothing less. The embassy won’t give us an audience with the leaders of a nation, our presence alone allows us to attend that audience.

LeTTers To The ediTor Continued from page 8

Motion 312” [p. 8], when its author moves from the claim “The question of when human life begins isn’t a religious or moral question — it’s a scientific question” to the claim “Canada’s definition of when a child becomes a human being is outdated, and in this 21st century — dishonest.”

This is a good example of the fallacy of equivocation. I like to call it “bait and switch.”

‘When life begins’ is a scientific question, and ‘when human life begins’ is a biological question. Both

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questions have been answered: at conception. (Although sperm, being self-locomoted, have some claim to being “alive,” as do ova for different reasons, but let that pass.)

Here comes the switch.

‘Canada’s definition of when a child becomes a human being’, apart from being badly formulated, equivocates: nor the nth time, the relevant question is not when a zygote becomes a life. Carrots are alive and we still eat them.

The relevant question (as Bertha Wilson clearly put it) is ‘when the state’s interest in protecting human life becomes compelling’ (or more

compelling than other of the state’s interests, like protecting some of its citizen’s bodily integrity).

That is a moral question, not a scientific question. And though moral questions may be clarified by scientific understanding, they are not the same.

Adele Mercier, department of philosophy

10 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, September 28, 2012

art Review

Refined reminiscence Local artist Liz Dalton recreates century-old Kingston photographs B y A lison S houldice Features Editor Had I known the artful power of a brushstroke could be so calming, I would have made my way to an art gallery in Kingston sooner.

The bright vibrant blue and green oils on canvas caught my eyes and brought the otherwise dull white walls of the Kingston

Glass Studio and Gallery to life.

Calling Tramp Royal, Kingston Harbour, a painting which was part of the exhibit Reminiscence, depicted serenity through the juxtaposition of the sea blues and gradients of greens.

But the colours themselves were far from the simplicity of the subject of the painting — a single sailboat.

The large brushstrokes used by Dalton in her pieces help to depict the theme of memory.

photo by tiffany lam

Upon reading Liz Dalton’s artist statement, I found that the exhibit demonstrates one of life’s complicated realities — the ever-changing nature of memories.

Initially a family history project, Dalton’s piece allows her to channel her views on her memories.

The paintings, reworked versions of Queen’s Archives photographs of the Kingston Harbour at the turn of the 20th century, were an interesting way to connect the idea of history to personal memories.

Small versions of each original photo sit on the wall next to each of the renewed paintings, but both versions depict an identical scene.

The only thing that changes is the colouring — from black and white prints in the originals to vibrant hues.

Another interesting piece entitled Verona at Rest shows two human silhouettes on a boat engulfed by a fiery red sky. The strong colour choice could have easily given me an angry, anxious feeling, but instead moved along with the theme of the rest of the exhibit. The large brushstrokes used in Dalton’s pieces were sweeping showings of movement in her work that was reflected in her message of memory.

A part of Reminiscence is glasswork by Paul Smits. Although lacking the memory-laden meaning, the pieces on display

Arts Dalton’s blue and green shades encapsulate the viewer.

are just as colourfully enticing as Dalton’s paintings.

Smits exhibits both glass pendant jewelry and a variety of plates and bowls.

Taking a group of thin-coloured glass tubes, Smits cut them into small pieces and melted them together in a kiln to shape them.

The result is a mosaic of blue and green glass in bowl form that looks like a concave globe.

Interview

Pools of the pacific, waves of the west Popular Vancouver band Hey Ocean! plays Revolutions tomorrow night B y M ark L ouie Assistant Arts Editor Imagine, if you will, David, holding an infant in a Vancouver home.

Nearly two decades ago, the Hey Ocean! guitarist David Beckingham was my babysitter.

I reconnected with Beckingham briefly during a conversation with lead singer and flautist, Ashleigh Ball.

Over the phone, I could hear muffled traces of Beckingham’s voice as we dialogued through Ball, who was caught in the middle of the reunion.

Swept away in light-hearted reminiscence, Ball and I, who happen to share the same hometown, spoke fondly of the city’s various offerings. I mention a favourite hangout spot that rests on one of Vancouver’s finest views — one my friends and I call it Secret Beach.

Reciprocating, Ball mentions a spot of her own — a spot a little further down than my own.

“My friend, he brought a couch in his truck and left it there. I’ll have to go check out your spot when I get home,” she said.

“I’ll have to go find that couch,” I responded.

Ball considers that perhaps the band’s west coast origins have been imprinted on the nature-inspired music they write. With a name like

Hey Ocean! this seems plausible.

“It’s home. You can’t help but write about what you know best. It’s a beautiful place.

We’re surrounded by oceans, mountains and trees,” she said.

“I think you can’t help but miss that when you go away on tour.”

I’m beaming with pride at this point, if you can’t tell.

Hey Ocean!’s exploratory disposition and creation of music seem to be guided by the previously mentioned sense of nature.

Examples include songs like “Big Blue Wave” and “Islands.”

As I spoke with them, it became clear that the band writes about what they care about.

“I remember turning my phone on one day and there was this message from Gene Simmons,” Ball said.

In her burliest male imitation, she continued.

“Oh this is actually Gene Simmons, and I’m calling about your band. Yes, it’s the crazy guy

who sticks his tongue out. I’d like it if you would call me back.”

Simmons would go on to court the band for his record label.

I think it’s fair to say that many would envy such an opportunity.

But to my surprise, Ball explained that Hey Ocean! would ultimately decide to go their own way.

“I remember him pulling out his credit card — it had KISS printed on it — and saying to us, ‘We’re talking about music business here, not music.’ We just felt like he may

photo by tiffany lam

Piecing together Dalton and Smits’ work for one show seemed puzzling to me, as only Dalton truly references the Reminiscence title in her work.

I left the exhibit with that same sense of calmness that I was given in my first few steps taken in the gallery.

Reminiscence will be at the Kingston Glass Studio and Gallery until Nov. 1.

have seen us as dollar signs,” she said. “He gave us a lot of great insights about songwriting, and he knows a lot about music, but it just wasn’t our cup of tea.”

When asked about the band’s brand or image, Ball responded with a short and sweet description of “homeless and poor.”

Quite comically, she refers to the currently luggage-less Beckingham.

“Somehow David’s suitcase fell out of the trailer and got lost within a 2 km radius. So he has no clothes,” she said. “This kind of thing happens all the time.”

Hey Ocean! plays Revolutions on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.

Lead singer Ashleigh Ball says Hey Ocean!’s music is inspired by nature and the scenic surroundings of their hometown, Vancouver.

supplied

Arts

Friday, September 28, 2012

queensjournal.ca

• 11

play review

Breaking basic boundaries White Rabbit, Red Rabbit gives voice to playwright Nassim Soleimanpour all the way from Iran B y S avoula S tylianou Arts Editor I wasn’t expecting that.

When I first heard the play title White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, I thought I was in for an evening watching a play about jovial forest animals.

Well, I was partially correct.

White Rabbit, Red Rabbit isn’t like any other play you might have seen before.

In fact, if you haven’t seen this play before, you should stop

reading here or risk spoiling it for yourself. The show, put on in the Vogt Studio with the support of the drama department, is a one-actor production. Also, this actor doesn’t get to see the script until the start of the first show.

The victim on the opening night of the show was Queen’s drama professor Kim Renders, who took a break from her sabbatical to do this show. The next three productions of the show will feature other drama professors, including Craig Walker. She was given strict

instruction not to read anything about the play beforehand in order to make herself a blank tableau for the material. Renders was handed the script at the beginning of the show after the audience was seated and immediately started reading the lines given to her on the page.

Nassim Soleimanpour, the playwright, breaks the fourth wall in the theatre by speaking directly to his audience using the chosen actor as a mouthpiece for his words in the script. The author communicates to us that he’s

In the play White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, one actor receives the script for the first time at the very beginning of the show. They then start to read — solo.

home in Iran where he’s barred from leaving.

Soleimanpour’s words made me giggle at certain points and at other times had me unable to take notes because I was so gobsmacked by what he was saying.

The beginning of the hour-long show featured Renders acting out a scene involving a white rabbit, a bear as a security guard and a crow police person.

Confused? So was I. But this comically dramatic ordeal helped to put the audience at ease before Soleimanpour delivered his final message.

Through the retelling of his uncle’s practice of making rabbits compete against each other for a carrot, the playwright whispers a deeper message into the ears of his audience — a message of competition and the way people will fight for what they want.

Soleimanpour requested audience number themselves at the beginning of the show. When the time came, some numbered audience members were able to aid Renders in playing the roles of the rabbit and the bear. In a show that was otherwise largely played by ear, this was one part I felt was contrived. The chosen audience members seemed like they had actually rehearsed beforehand.

Renders delivers the final message of this script with finesse and skill, much like the rest of her performance. Soleimanpour may be limited to leave his country, but his play allows for his voice to be heard on a world stage.

White Rabbit, Red Rabbit will run until tonight with performances at both 7 and 8 p.m.

photo by tiffany lam

art review

Drawings from the past Exhibit highlights the intricacies of sketches and drawings B y S avoula S tylianou Arts Editor While I was walking down the road to see an exhibit, little did I know when I finally made it to the right gallery, I had stepped into seventeenth-century Western Europe.

I was visiting the exhibit Draw Every Day: Practice and Study in European Works on Paper and on the walls in front of me were drawings — frail brown lines on paper that were gracefully framed together to make figures of people from the god Apollo to a strange woman sitting alone with a basket.

The aged pieces of art in the Frances K. Smith Gallery at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre weren’t vibrant and colourful. They were drawings that almost looked like plans for grander paintings in the future.

Initially, it was difficult to remember I was still standing in an

exhibit because the muted blacks and browns of the drawings melted into the off-white hues of the walls so fluidly. The result was a collection of tan shades in the room that made me feel like I was sitting on the seats of a Buick Enclave.

One example of these simplistic brown lines was Willem de Poorter’s work entitled Solomon’s Idolatry. The piece uses light and shadows to depict the metaphoric downfall of the Biblical character King Solomon, as he partakes in the worship of idols. Minimal strokes are used to depict the scene and long straight lines portray the dress robes, as squiggly short lines depict Solomon’s hair.

A short six steps to the right, Agostino Carracci’s Latona with the infants Apollo and Diana depicts Latona and Jupiter’s two children, Jupiter being the god of sky and thunder. The family is sitting under a tree as Apollo is breastfed by his mother. The shading around the

faces of people in the drawing gets darker, while the leaves on the tree are lighter and airier.

If I was able to take anything from my metaphoric journey to Europe for the afternoon, one thing was for sure. As I walked around the U-shaped room, the exhibit’s simplicity aided in showing the intricate details of each individual aspect in every drawing.

Even if these drawings were merely plans for larger paintings, it’s clear the artist may not have gotten the same detail across to the viewer with bolder colours and shapelier lines. In this particular case, less was more.

Queen’s drama professor Kim Renders came out of sabbatical for a one-night only performance.

photo by tiffany lam

Draw Every Day: Practice and Study in European Works on Paper is on exhibit at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre until Oct. 7.

photo by Alex Choi

The Frances K. Smith Gallery has several large and small drawings ranging from ones of random people to mythological characters.

12 • queensjournal.ca

Arts

Friday, september 28, 2012

interview

It’s about who you know

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Three of the four Buffalo Tree members are bartenders in Kingston.

B y vincent M AtAk Assistant News Editor Shayne, Van, Matt and Dylan are musicians during the day and three are even bartenders at night.

Not the most original story, but that isn’t to say they can’t rock a tune. I met Shayne Godin and Dylan Carquez over a casual beer at the Red House on King St. W. on Wednesday and I was initially surprised at how softspoken the band members were — they weren’t at all what I thought they would be.

Godin, Carquez and their two friends make up Kingston band Buffalo Tree, a Monday night regular at the Mansion.

Carquez tends bar for the Mansion, while Godin works at the Brass. All four guys like to spend time at the Toucan though.

“We spend a lot of time drinking and getting to know each other,” Godin said.

The band members have seen the effects of alcohol addiction first hand through some of their experience working as bartenders in Kingston, although they’ve never experienced it themselves.

“We sing a lot about substance abuse because we’ve seen a lot of people go down that road,” he said. “But I do know what it’s

photo by tiffany lam

like to be in a hole and want to get out.”

At this point, I was hesitant to ask them for more details because it seemed like they were becoming increasingly uncomfortable.

The band got their Mansion gig, which they landed a year and half ago, thanks to their connections.

“We kind of got hooked up by knowing people,” Godin said. “We’re all sort of friends with the owner [of the Mansion] Casey.”

Little did I know that becoming a regular bar musician was widely dependent on who you knew.

The band’s music is hard to put a label on, Carquez said. But the jazz and country elements infused with their solid rock base gives it a Canadiana feel.

Since the band got together in 2010, they’ve written over 30 songs and plan to release a full-length album by December.

“When the four of us get together to write a song, it never ends up where we think it’s going to be,” Carquez said.

Just like this interview — I felt like it ended up somewhere totally different than anything it was supposed to be.

Buffalo Tree play the Mansion every Monday in October.

Friday, September 28, 2012

queensjournal.ca

Sports

• 13

Football Commentary

Gaels strong at midway mark Sheahan stresses offensive consistency B y N ick Faris Assistant Sports Editor

brilliance,” though their execution on long passes down field is still a work in progress.

Although he’s thrown for five touchdowns, McPhee’s missed on several deep balls by a matter of inches.

The defence has embraced a bend-but-don’t-break mentality, surrendering yards in the middle of the field but minimizing scoring opportunities.

Aside from late, inconsequential touchdowns from York and Laurier in the season’s opening weeks, McMaster has been the only team to pierce the Gaels’ defence.

Last week’s loss was more indicative of the Marauders’ ability than any shortcomings for Queen’s.

The Gaels put together the season’s most impressive defensive stand on Sept. 15 against Western, throttling quarterback Donnie Marshall and allowing just three points.

Queen’s quest to dull their remaining imperfections will begin tomorrow, when they host an Ottawa team in disarray.

The Gee-Gees haven’t won a game under new head coach Gary Etcheverry, sitting dead last in the OUA at 0-4.

The Ottawa game will most likely resemble

What a difference a year makes.

Midway through the 2011 football season, Queen’s sat at 2-2, with early losses to McMaster and Ottawa overshadowing a brief win streak. That streak would eventually extend to the OUA semi-final, where the Gaels fell once again to the Marauders.

Queen’s still lags behind McMaster in 2012, but they’re significantly closer to championship contention.

The Gaels are currently 3-1 — just one game above last year’s mark, but miles ahead in terms of their on-field performance.

Photo By Alex Choi Billy McPhee has thrown with Queen’s Quidditch Club held try-outs over three days last week for its competitive team. more accuracy and confidence in his second season as starting Quidditch quarterback, commanding an offense that can score with the best in the OUA. Head coach Pat Sheahan has emphasized the need for greater offensive consistency after nearly every game this season. That much was clear during the loss since the club’s inception last year. the University, Badwal said. to McMaster, but Sheahan’s B y Peter M orrow This year, the club hosted “The city of Kingston has assessment has also rang true in Sports Editor three full days of try-outs for the actually been more helpful so far.” each of Queen’s three wins.

The club held try-outs on the

By McPhee’s own account, the Thanks to the sport of quidditch, competitive team.

“A lot of people are scared of patch of grass just east of Kingston offense has demonstrated “spurts of the Queen’s-Hogwarts comparison See Homestretch on page 15 will reach an all-time high trying out for the competitive team, Hall. For competitive club practices and just want to play recreational, 1-2 times a week, the club will be this November.

On Sunday, Nov. 11, Queen’s which is fine,” Badwal said. “We’ve out at West Campus.

The club executives are will host the second annual had broken ankles and concussions, looking to book Nixon Field Canadian Quidditch Cup, where so it gets pretty intense.”

While student interest is for the Canadian championship teams from across Canada will take part in the sport’s official snowballing, the club has yet in November. to receive any funding from national championship.

See Interest on page 15 The club executives are working to attract journalist Rick Mercer to cover the event.

“We’ve had a ton of interest this year, and the club’s only two years old,” said Queen’s Quidditch Club president, Kirpa Badwal. alcohol-related incidents.

Continued from page 1 The sport invented in J.K. Last week, Wilfrid Laurier Rowling’s Harry Potter book series anyone, including anonymous or University suspended the school’s involved players literally flying eyewitness reports. baseball team for four games, for on broomsticks.

The field hockey investigation hazing incidents that violated the The revised version has similar began Monday night, before school’s Student Athlete Code rules, minus the magic, and players the suspension was announced of Conduct. run around with broom-sticks on Thursday.

“Have athletes and teams between their legs.

The team will have the in the past made errors in It’s co-ed, and full-contact. opportunity to appeal the judgment? Sure they have,” Dal Badwal described the disciplinary panel’s decision. A Cin said. “It’s not necessarily that competitive version as somewhere Notice of Appeal must be submitted error — it’s how they learn from it, between dodgeball and rugby. within three business days of the take accountability for it and don’t This year’s sign-up list to join decision being announced with the do it again.” the Queen’s Quidditch Club had written consent of the majority of The field hockey team is led by over 700 people express interest, team members. head coach Mary-Ann Reid and with student interest sky-rocketing Athletics and Recreation’s three senior co-captains.

“We’re accepting it and Appeal Policy and Procedure states that decisions can only be appealed we’re going to move on,” said on procedural grounds — not the co-captain Marina Giovanoli. merit of the decision itself.

“There’s nothing else we can do, at These grounds are limited to the this point.”

Soccer The team is 1-4 in OUA play availability of new evidence or “a Recapping Queen’s men’s substantial procedural irregularity this year, having beaten McGill 2-0 and women’s games at on Sept. 23. After the two forfeited in the consideration of the case.”

Carleton on Wednesday The Appeal Panel consists games, they’ll have five games left of three members: Dal Cin, a in the season.

Opinion “It sucks because it’s a short Gaels student-athlete and Sarah Men’s soccer player Nick MacKenzie, the Chair of the AMS season, and we’re right in the Pateras discusses student middle of it,” Giovanoli said, Judicial Committee. implications of the teacher who’s playing in her fourth year In 2010, 11 players on Queen’s salary disputes Photo By Colin Tomchick baseball team received two- of eligibility.

Running back Ryan Granberg has played a PAGE 14 “It’s been a crazy week.” year suspensions for a pair of substantial role in Queen’s 3-1 start to the season.

Running on brooms Queen’s prepares to host national Quidditch championship

Decision pending

Inside

Sports

14 •queensjournal.ca

Friday, September 28, 2012

Opinion

Victims of a political rift Ontario students shut out from athletics

N ick P ateras In light of the Ontario teachers’ salary bargaining dispute with the provincial government, student athletes have become victims.

Teachers are walking away from extracurricular activities, putting school sports in a chokehold.

Not only could this tarnish the students’ memories of their years at high school, it’ll likely go so far as to impact their athletic endeavours..

The Putting Students First Act (Bill 115) partially freezes the salary grid of school staff and offers them zero per cent increases, in addition to eliminating sick day banks and banning strikes for two years.

The bill was passed in the Ontario legislature two weeks ago and, unsurprisingly, has prompted a hugely negative reaction from teaching staff across the province, as well as their unions.

In protest, many teachers have abandoned their volunteer positions coaching sports teams or supervising clubs, to the distress of their students.

While a number of high schools have managed to continue offering some extracurricular programs through parental assistance or the

blessing of dedicated teachers, others have had to shut down every sports team and club as a result.

From elementary to high school, students are now caught in the crossfire of the politically charged argument, one in which they’re simply a third party bystander.

School sports are often an important setting for players to continue work on their skills throughout the academic year against competitive opposition.

This is particularly true of the high school years, which can serve as a springboard to a higher level of competition.

School team opportunities also serve to expose students to new sports they may not have realized they have a natural gift for or even been previously interested in.

The Kingston Collegiate Vocational Institute is fortunate enough to be one of those able to continue running a portion of its clubs and teams.

Nonetheless, they have still had to cancel a handful of clubs and some students worry there might be more to come.

“It’s stressing people out.

Everyone is worrying about it,” said Alrich Dewet, a Grade 12 student from the school.

Entering his final year of high school, Dewet was looking forward to playing a variety of sports, including rugby, volleyball,

The introduction of the Putting Students First Act could put Ontario student-athletes behind.

tennis and track and field.

Although nothing’s been announced yet, there’s a possibility that these programs will also be subject to cancellation should more teachers choose to walk away.

For student-athletes like Dewet, the situation may also be a serious hindrance to their prospects of being recruited for post-secondary sports.

Many see their final year of high school as a prime opportunity to showcase their talents to university coaches.

Women’s Soccer

Ravaging the Ravens Queen’s fully back on track with shutout win at Carleton B y J ordan C athcart Contributor The Gaels rolled over the Carleton Ravens 4-0 in Ottawa, after fighting to a 0-0 draw with them in Kingston on Sept. 16.

The game was highlighted by the potent Queen’s offensive attack, led by sniper Jackie Tessier’s hat trick. Tessier reached the 50-career goal plateau with her first marker and eclipsed it with the second and third.

The other goal scorer for the Gaels was second-year defender Jessie De Boer.

This match marked the first real competition for the Gaels since the last time they squared off against the Ravens. This game was a test to see how far the Gaels offensive attack had come, as well as their overall confidence.

The Gaels showed that they were improved on both fronts and are starting to show glimpses of last season’s team.

Like all coaches, Gaels skipper Dave McDowell still sees room for improvement, despite the blowout win.

“We truly weren’t very consistent, but we had some good individual moments,” he said.

Although there may be local clubs to join for sports like hockey or soccer, they are often expensive and this option isn’t always available for less popular sports.

Consequently, athletes who compete in these other sports may be faced with

Photo by Alex Choi

far more limited recruiting opportunities in comparison to non-Ontario students.

Nick Pateras is a fifth-year member of Queen’s men’s soccer team.

men’s Soccer

Finally beaten Gaels lose first game of season, as Carleton claims first place in division B y Peter R eimer Staff Writer

The men’s soccer team lost their first game of the season and the top spot in the OUA East Division Wednesday night, falling 1-0 to the Carleton Ravens.

Head coach Chris Gencarelli said the team came into the game with the right mindset.

“I don’t think we felt the pressure of staying undefeated,” he said. “We came up here and we played hard … It just wasn’t our day.”

The game was decided in the opening minutes, when a Ravens throw-in led to a scramble in front of the Gaels’ net.

Despite Gaels defenders blocking a couple of attempts, Carleton defender Christophe Laberge Perrault eventually beat goalkeeper Dylan Maxwell, ending SUPPLIED BY Willie Carroll, THE Charlatan Queen’s moved into second place in his shutout streak at approximately 382 minutes. the OUA East after Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Carleton.

One goal was enough for the “Obviously, when you’re not 10-1, and have now won four Ravens, as the rest of the game particularly sharp or crisp and you games in a row. win 4-0, it’s always a good sign.”

Gaels co-captain and midfielder The Gaels got on the scoreboard Riley Filion isn’t surprised with the quickly when Tessier found the team’s success as of late.

“We knew we could win, it back of the net in the 7th minute.

De Boer slotted in the second goal was just a matter of getting things organized with the starting lineup,” in the 29th minute.

Sabrina Carew had the shutout she said. “We are feeling much for Queen’s, making one save to more productive, and it’s only remain undefeated in seven games. going to get better.”

The Gaels outshot the Ravens

passed without incident.

“It was a pretty hard fought match, pretty defensive both ways,” Gencarelli said. “We just couldn’t really create much going forward.”

Coming into the game, the Gaels and Ravens were ranked first and second in the OUA East, and 5th and 10th in the CIS’s weekly top 10.

As a result of the Gaels’ loss, Carleton jumps into first place in the OUA East, two points ahead of Queen’s.

After playing Laurentian and Nipissing last weekend, Wednesday’s game was the Gaels’ third in five days.

But Gencarelli said the team can’t look past their game against RMC on Saturday.

“We’re looking forward to having some time to just train, and practice some of the things we’re seeing in games.”

The Gaels beat the Paladins 5-0 in their season opener. RMC plays host to the Gaels Saturday at 3:15 p.m.

FOLLOW @QJSPORTS on Twitter

Sports

Friday, September 28, 2012

ON DECK CIRCLE FOOTBALL Saturday Sept.

Gaels (3-1) Gee-Gees (0-4)

29, vs.

MEN’S RUGBY 1

p.m.: Ottawa

MEN’S SOCCER Saturday Sept. 29, 3:15 p.m.: Gaels (6-1-1) at RMC Paladins (0-6-1) WOMEN’S SOCCER Saturday Sept. 29, 3:15 p.m.: Gaels (6-1-2) at RMC Paladins (3-6-0) Sunday Sept.30, 1 p.m.: Gaels vs.

Montreal Carabins (6-1-0) — exhb.

Saturday Sept. 29, 3 p.m.: Gaels (21) vs. Waterloo Warriors (2-2) WOMEN’S RUGBY Friday Sept. 28, 7 p.m.: Gaels (4-0) at Trent Excalibur (1-3) CROSS COUNTRY Friday Sept. 28, 11 a.m.: Lehigh ROWING Saturday Sept. 29, 9 a.m.: Head of the Trent

queensjournal.ca

• 15

Interest snowballs Continued from page 13

“We’re forced to play out on West Campus, but we’d like to host the tournament on main campus so that other schools get to see more than just West Campus,” Badwal said.

The club is fundraising regularly to cover practice costs and the approximate $5,000 pricetag on hosting the championships.

Badwal said the final list of participants is 200, up 150 from last year. All players chip in $10 off the start to help cover fees.

“Because we’re hosting this year, we’re applying to grants from all over the place,” she said, adding the International Quidditch Association (IQA) is donating $1,000 in support.

The IQA promotes and facilitates an

annual World Cup, regional tournaments like the Canadian Quidditch Cup between university teams and global team rankings.

The Queen’s team is one of 14 official teams listed under the IQA, which is looking to improve upon its fifth-place finish at the tournament last year at Carleton.

Former cadet and current team captain Zoe Scantlebury made the Canadian national team next year and hopes to hold regular training sessions before November’s competition.

Scantlebury is the on-field leader, while the club executives work to grow and promote the club.

“We won’t be playing any games, but we’ll be practicing weekly,” Scantlebury said.

“We’re always looking to improve.”

Homestretch on horizon Continued from page 13

Queen’s home opener against York — a swift and insurmountable lead well before the final whistle.

There’s definitely room for progress: McPhee completing more deep passes or the defence pitching a shutout.

The Gaels will almost certainly host Western on Nov. 3 in the OUA semi-final, a rematch they should be expected to win.

The defence has demonstrated the blueprint to stifling Garret Sanvido and the Mustangs’ running backs, while Marshall can’t reasonably be expected to beat Queen’s with his arm.

The road to the Yates Cup, of course, goes through McMaster. There’s a slim chance that anything will come between the Marauders and their second straight conference title.

They’re operating on a level above anyone in the OUA, and perhaps the country.

For Queen’s to pose any threat, they’ll need to realize Sheahan’s favourite mantra: consistency.

Starting tomorrow, it’s time for McPhee and the offense to turn their spurts of brilliance into sustained, Billy McPhee has thrown the ball accurately through four games, championship-calibre success.

Photo By Colin Tomchick

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16 • queensjournal.ca

Friday, September 28, 2012

postscript

Seventeenth century artist Rembrandt came under much criticism for his realistic portrayal of the female form, often including belly fat. Above is his 1636 painting Danaë.

supplied

aesthetics

In pursuit of perfection Within fashion, fine art and architecture lies a common goal — creating beauty B y J anina E nrile Postscript Editor Chloe Van Landschoot lost a modeling job because of her body.

Last August, she was told the day before a fashion show that she couldn’t walk the runway because they “didn’t want to use bigger bottoms.”

It’s nothing new for someone who was once told by a modeling agency to lose 15 pounds.

“I’m not going to change my body for [agencies] to achieve something that I don’t want,” Van Landschoot, Nurs ’16, said.

The high fashion world typically uses models that look similar — slender girls with long hair and size 24 hips, she said. It’s the industry’s idea of perfection, often linked with what’s labelled as “beautiful.”

“It’s unfortunate that girls think they need to be that model,” she said. “There’s nothing unique about them.”

Though a certain kind of look has been the long-held standard for booking modeling gigs, it’s a

pattern that’s recently come under criticism for its unrealistic portrayal of beauty.

This summer, Seventeen magazine pledged to stop digitally altering editorial models’ faces and bodies. It was in response to a campaign against airbrushing led

by Julia Bluhm, a 14-year-old student tired of the standardized idea of perfection.

While the industry seems to be making some changes, Van Landschoot, who has been modeling since the age of 16, said there hasn’t been much of a difference.

“In actuality, it’s getting progressively worse,” she said.

“You watch a runway show and they’re all probably 100 to 115 pounds. How is that beautiful?”

The methodical nature of booking models reflects an industry where uniqueness doesn’t have a place.

“You can compare models used in ad campaigns around the world, and realize that those Western ideals of light-skinned, ‘small nose,’ thin, high cheek bones, and long

Chloe Van Landschoot, Nurs ’16, has been modeling since the age of 16.

supplied by Devon ryan

According to Yasmine Djerbal, MA ’13, ad culture often determines what we find beautiful.

straight haired women are being projected as the new ‘esthetic norm.’” Yasmine Djerbal, MA ’13, told the Journal via email.

According to Djerbal, beauty is something that changes amongst different countries.

“Beauty is a very malleable concept that differs from one region to another, according to culture, traditions and society,” she said. “What is considered beautiful in North America is very different from beauty ideals in Sub-Saharan Africa, for example.”

Western ideals of beauty are often determined by consumer culture, she said. These ideas can stretch to other markets.

“With the globalization of mass media (ads, magazines) or the Hollywood movie industry, stereotypical Western-centric ideals of beauty are also exported to the rest of the world and are resulting in a more homogeneous notion of ‘beauty,’” she said.

Djerbal doesn’t believe in the saying that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

“I believe that beauty is in the eye of the media producers that dictate what society will accept as the norm/ideal,” she said.

The industry hasn’t always been like this though. Djerbal said shifting standards of beauty can be observed in models used in ads over the past decades.

“You will, for example, realize that fat-shaming is, historically speaking, a very new concept, and that for many years, and still in many cultures, is considered beautiful,” she said.

Beauty’s relation to physicality extends beyond the human body. Others see it in physical structures — like architectural models, for example.

“We’re searching for ideas of perfection,” said Albert Smith, a professor in Ryerson University’s

department of architectural science.

He compares this to fashion models’ pursuit of depicting the perfect image.

“In architecture, as in many design fields, you really start looking for basic principles such as balance, order, repetition, symmetry — many of the basic design issues,” Smith said.

Using these principles, he said one can find a connection between truth and beauty. If a building can be clear in what it communicates as its purpose, Smith asserts, then it’s beautiful.

Beauty is a very “malleable concept that

differs from one region to another, according to cultures, traditions and society.

”

— Yasmine Djerbal, MA ’13 A 1994 study in the scientific journal Nature found that humans, as well as other species, found symmetrical patterns more attractive than asymmetrical ones. The study suggests that symmetry in humans and animals communicates that they’re healthy.

“It’s … a sort of natural beauty,” Stephanie Dickey, a Queen’s art history professor said.

Beauty has always been the goal of the artist.

“The depiction of the beautiful female body has been one of the most important subjects in visual art, in European tradition at least since ancient times,” she said. “If you can represent female beauty, then you have really achieved something important as an artist.”

In the female form, curves had been idealized in past centuries.

“Having a little bit of curvaceous feminine flesh was not a bad thing

supplied by devon ryan

in the 17th century,” she said.

“I think it sometimes has to do with economics.”

Centuries ago, curves were seen as a sign of prosperity.

She said in present-day times, where food is in abundance, fat is seen as a lack of self-control.

In times where food wasn’t so plentiful, however, people with curves were seen as prosperous.

Dickey’s area of study focuses on 17th century art, a time when it was typical for a wealthy person to commission a portrait of themselves.

“Generally people have always wanted a portrait to show them at their best,” she said. “We can sort of assume that portraits express the ideal of the time.”

These portraits were often used as ways of falsely advertising beauty.

When royals were put in arranged marriages, the only glimpse of a bride-to-be was often from a portrait. It made for some surprising moments when the betrothed finally met face-to-face, Dickey said.

“Today we have Photoshop,” she said. “In the old days, you had a painter.”

The portrayal of beauty in elegant curves was something that not every artist glorified.

Rembrandt, for example, came under much criticism for painting portraits that portrayed harshly realistic features, as opposed to the idealized standards of the time.

“He was criticized for making his female nudes look too flabby,” she said. “They looked like they still had garter marks on their legs or their bellies were sagging.

“He didn’t care. He just made them look that way because he thought they were beautiful just the way they were.”