housing special project page 11
F r i d ay , J a n u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 1 2 — I s s u e 2 4
j the ournal Queen’s University — Since 1873
Weather
Inside
Blackout stalls campus
feature
B y C atherine O wsik and S avoula S tylianou Assistant News Editors
CFRC airs special holiday programming for prisoners in Kingston-area prisons.
never guaranteed.” Liss said due to Queen’s smaller size, the University could suffer more than universities with a larger pool of resources. “I think it has broad implications for all research-intensive universities and how we support our researchers,” he said.
Classes and workshops on campus were cancelled yesterday after widespread power outages affected buildings throughout the day. Buildings on west campus, including Duncan McArthur Hall, Jean Royce Hall and the education library, lost power shortly after 8 a.m. Power was restored before noon but classes remained cancelled. Cory Laverty, head of the education library, said the inclement weather disrupted Federation Day workshops for fifth-year Concurrent Education students. Many visitors leading the workshops cancelled in the morning, Laverty said, adding that a few workshops continued without power. “Even though we have limited lighting, we do have skylights that gave people enough light to work by,” Laverty said. “We didn’t have internet connection or power, but a lot of people have laptops and they were using them anyway.” She said the library remained open throughout most of the outage. Henry Wang, ArtSci ’15, said some Engineering classes were cancelled today due to the weather. “It wasn’t good. As soon as you walked outside this morning, you could see the freezing rain,” he said. “The blades of grass were all icicles.” Power outages occurred across campus for the rest of the day. The City of Kingston attributed this to a number of trees falling on power lines in the campus area.
See International on page 7
See Outage on page 6
Page 3
dialogue
Examining Queen’s Model Parliament and youth voter turnout. Page 9
arts The city of Kingston attributed yesterday’s blackout to trees falling on power lines during high winds and freezing rain.
Photo by Corey Lablans
Research A review of QMT’s latest production The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Queen’s needs new funding Cut to Ontario Research Fund has “broad implications,” says vice principal
page 15
B y K atherine Fernandez -B lance News Editor
sports
Basketball player Mike Farine makes the jump from intramurals to varsity squad. Page 20
postscript
Exploring raw and caveman diets. page 24
so,” Liss said. The Ontario Research Fund (ORF) provides a total of $730 million over four years to a variety $42 million in provincial research of projects. Last year, Queen’s School of grants will be abandoned over the Computing and the Fuel Cell next three years. “Queen’s was notified along with Research Centre received nearly other universities without really any $4.8 million from the fund. “In the absence of ORF understanding of the rationale or any timeline with respect to when funding, we’re aware of the other it was actually going to be cut,” opportunities and so with industry vice-principal of research Stephen matching funding we’re exploring other opportunities,” he said. Liss said. One way Queen’s can ensure In the weeks prior to winter break, Liss said the Council of that financial cutbacks have a Ontario Universities, a policy minimal impact is through increased and lobbying group, delivered inter-university collaboration, the message. Liss said. “In previous times when there “One of the ways to be have been changes to programs we competitive but to be sufficiently will have been given a call directly strategic in terms of our long-term by the ministry ahead of a public strategy would be to make sure that we’re collaborative,” he said. announcement,” Liss said. Four projects receiving On Jan. 7, the Toronto Star reported that the decision to ORF funding last year involved remove the funds had been made collaborations between Queen’s and other universities. without public knowledge. “In a competitive funding “When the news hit the Toronto Star, that was old news for us, we program, it’s always hit and had known for about a month or miss,” he said. “So you’re
Local business
Coffeeco to move Johnson Street location closing this month B y S avoula S tylianou Assistant News Editor After failing to renegotiate the terms of its lease, Coffeeco is moving out of its 344 Johnson St. location effective Jan. 31. Richard Ottenhof owns Coffeeco and its supplier Multatuli Coffee, a coffee roasting company that also supplies Common
Ground Coffeehouse and the Tea Room. Coffeeco were operating under a sublet agreement with the previous renters of the space, Ottenhof said. “The original five-year lease was signed by Coffee and Company, another coffee shop, in 2001 with two five-year renewal periods, which would bring the full lease See We’ll on page 6
news
2 •queensjournal.ca
Friday, january 13, 2012
inteRnationaL
Israeli-Palestinian project involves locals
Queen’s and Simon Fraser University team receives $223,000 federal government grant
B y M eaGhan wray Assistant News Editor
“It’s very specifically designed as a multi-generational project,” she said. “To allow youth the connection to these An ongoing multimedia project hopes to other experiences I think will strengthen bring to life the diverse histories of homes in their identity.” Sobhi al Zobaidi, a postdoctoral student the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Qatamon. A team comprised of professors from SFU, is a Palestinian filmmaker who and students from Queen’s and Simon will be conducting the filming of families Fraser University (SFU) will work in Jerusalem. Depending on skill level and relevance closely with families displaced by the in area of study, a variety of other Queen’s Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Dorit Naaman, a professor of film and students, from undergraduates to PhD media at Queen’s, said the project has students, will take part. Currently, there are many steps, including an interactive website, no degree requirements and no concrete digital media workshops for youth and a amount of students who can partake. Approximately $223,000 of funding video installation. The video project “Qatamon in Colour” has been provided through a federal will encourage Qatamon families to recall government Research/Creation grant from their memories and experiences. These video the Social Sciences and Humanities Research installations will then be projected onto Council (SSHRC). the houses. “I’m very interested in letting people tell To allow youth the their stories about their homes, but in a connection to these other way letting the houses speak their history,” experiences I think will she said. “The idea of this installation is strengthen their identity. kind of letting the houses … focalize these different histories.” In 1947, the United Nations voted to — Dorit Naaman, film and media professor partition British Palestine into the two states of Israeli and Palestine, which was accepted Dana Olwan, assistant professor at Simon by the former but not by the latter. When Britain left in May of 1948, a war Fraser University, is a co-applicant in the erupted and by April, Israel had begun taking organization of the project with Naaman. The process of finding the Qatamon over Qatamon. Families involved in the project will families, Olwan told the Journal via email, is include not only those displaced by the complicated and involves intricate local and conflict in 1948, but also current residents global networking. “We are relying on already established and individuals who have lived in the contacts but will likely require a use of neighborhood since, including Israelis. Naaman said the installation will likely be variety of tools to locate people, including completed by 2014 and will include guided archival research, email, and word of and self-guided tours. Work is set to begin mouth,” Olwan said. While locating the families is one step, this summer. Teaching local youth about digital film there are other barriers to consider, she said. “Identifying and locating the Palestinian technology is important, Naaman said. “It’s become such a critical source of families does not necessarily mean that information and analysis in our time that we they will want to take part in this project,” need to be very savvy in working on both she said. “The Israeli occupation has had long and lasting damaging effects on our sides of the camera,” she said. Becoming more technologically skilled communities and some people may prefer to will also help youth understand their not participate.” It’s important to understand that the family’s histories.
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Queen’s film and media professor Dorit Naaman, holds up two maps of Qatamon, one hand drawn by Hala Sakakini.
Photo by Corey LabLans
inteResteD in coVeRinG caMPus eLections? eMaiL JouRnaL_neWs@aMs.Queensu.ca
Israeli-Palestinian conflict hasn’t ended yet, Olwan said. “Palestinians are being dispossessed from Jerusalem right now through the building of apartheid walls, the expanding
of settlements, and the confiscation of Jerusalem identification cards,” Olwan said. “Understanding and challenging the contemporary nature of the occupation is a key aim of this project.”
Friday, January 13, 2012
queensjournal.ca
•3
Feature
CFRC received voice messages, letters and song requests from across the country dedicated to people incarcerated in Kingston’s prisons.
Photo by corey lablans
community
Radio reaches out to Kingston prisoners CFRC broadcasts two special holiday programs connecting Canadians with their friends and family behind bars Terra -A nn A rnone Features Editor “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave,” echoed in seven Kingston-area prisons over the holidays, after an anonymous caller dedicated the Eagles’ “Hotel California” to those spending time behind bars. Song requests, voice messages and letters were broadcast on-request during CFRC’s holiday Calls From Home program — an hour-long broadcast aimed at connecting prisoners with friends and family on the outside. Erin is waiting for her partner Pat to finish his sentence at Millhaven Institution. In the meantime, she uses Calls From Home to connect with him. “You’re the most important person in my life and I would never have been able to get to where I am if it wasn’t for your love and support. Hang in there and always remember, after the rain,” she said in a message that aired on Dec. 21. Pat responded to Erin in a letter, read a week later during the second Calls From Home’s holiday special. “Merry Christmas, honey. Keep your chin up and we’ll get through these hard times together. You’re the best baby, I love you so much,” it read. Other well-wishers requested fitting hits to air on the program; Johnny Cash’s song “Folsom Prison Blues” was followed by a Bob Marley classic, “Redemption Song,” on the show. CFRC’s first prison-focused program aired on Aug. 10, 2009 in commemoration of Prisoners’ Justice Day. On that day in 1974, Eddie Nalon slit his wrists in solitary confinement at Millhaven Institution. He died of massive blood loss. Volunteers at CFRC continued to air programs on prison-related issues inconsistently until August 2011, when a group pushed to form CFRC Prison Radio (CPR). CPR has aired every Wednesday evening since. “The Prison Farms struggle here and the announcement of proposed prison expansions in Kingston provided added impetus to begin focusing on prison issues more regularly,” Kristiana Clemens,
operations officer at CFRC, told the Journal via email. Hundreds of Kingston protesters attempted to block trucks from removing the Frontenac Prison Farm’s cattle herd in August 2010. The Frontenac farm closure was part of a federal government decision to axe Canada’s six prison farms. On the last Wednesday of every month CPR devotes its hour to Calls From Home. Six shows have broadcast so far this school year and a seventh is slated for Jan. 27. Clemens said CFRC’s prison-focused programming was born out of similar radio in other provinces. Stark Raven radio, a broadcast out of Vancouver, airs a weekly prison-focused program. Their shows air regularly on CPR. On Thursdays, McGill’s campus-community radio station CKUT broadcasts prison programming as well. Clemens said CPR helps the station to connect with Kingston’s greater community, and fulfill its mandate as media for students as well as Kingston locals. “The political economy of prisons is deeply enmeshed in Kingston’s civic culture, yet rarely discussed openly,” she said. Calls From Home was inspired
by a similar program in Kentucky of the same name. The initiative rose from Thousand Kites, a broadcast out of the U.S. Appalachian region geared specifically toward the maximum security prisons there.
Merry Christmas, “honey. Keep your
chin up and we’ll get through these hard times together.
”
— Pat, prisoner at Millhaven Institution
Vlada Bilyak, a volunteer at CFRC, heard about the program while attending the Allied Media Conference in Detroit this past summer. “We thought if there was a way we could use community radio to make that possible [in Kingston] it would be awesome,” said Bilyak, who produces CFRC’s Calls From Home. “The way that prison issues and prisoners are represented in mainstream media is incredibly negative,” she said. “The CPR Collective is putting that on its head a little bit and providing an alternative to that kind of news and reporting on prison issues.” Ontario Public Interest
Vlada Bilyak produces CFRC’s Calls From Home radio program.
Research Group (OPIRG) gave a grant of just over $100 to CFRC’s Calls From Home initiative. The grant funded the cost of their toll-free hotline. CPR is in the process of becoming an OPIRG affiliate. The title would grant them year-round funding for their programing. “We’ve been talking a lot about posters and flyers and mail outs,” Bilyak said. “All of that costs money, and it would be nice to have their support.” CFRC doesn’t record listenership for most of its programming, Calls From Home included. Though the station may never know who’s tuning in, Bilyak said the program will persist. “Some of the conversations I’ve had with others about this show have been about how it involves people in prison and they assume the messages are about crimes people have committed,” she said. “If people were talking about that kind of information we wouldn’t want it to be on air.” Bilyak said she isn’t concerned about prisoners trying to communicate hidden messages to their listeners, and local prisons haven’t taken issue with the program either. She added that CFRC sent posters advertising Calls From
Home to Kingston Penitentiary a few months ago, hoping the prison would put them up and attract more listeners to the program. Bilyak said the station didn’t hear back. Correctional Services Canada officials were not available for comment to the Journal. “I don’t imagine a program like ours that’s devoted to those serving time and giving messages of support and encouragement and love is something they’d be very enthusiastic about,” she said. One caller requested “Casey Anthony,” a song released in July by female hip-hop artist Lady. The title references a high-profile child murder case that wrapped up this summer. A short voice message accompanied the song request. “So from the sex working community on the outside to those of you on the inside, just want to say we’re thinking about you and we know that prisons aren’t the answer.” Songs and sentiments on the show varied, but their message was consistent: hang in there. To round out the last show, regular caller Carla requested “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts. “Merry Christmas my darling David,” Carla said. “God merged our two broken roads.”
Photo by justin chin
4 •queensjournal.ca
News
Friday, January 13, 2012
news
Friday, january 13, 2012
eQuiP orientation Week wins award
event’s advertising efforts over the summer months to advertise the event. “It was really important that the AMS put [Queerientation] to the forefront and helped spread the message. It’s something they haven’t done in previous years,” she said. The event saw triple the turnout compared to previous years and included people of all ages, schools, sexual orientation and gender identities. Queerientation will receive formal recognition at a ceremony on Jan. 25.
CAMPUS CALENDAR Saturday, Jan. 14
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Observatory Public Tour Ellis Hall, 4th floor 7:30 to 9 p.m. Free
Thursday, Jan. 19
Farmer’s Market JDUC, Lower Ceilidh
•5
NEWS IN BRIEF
Queerientation, an alternative orientation week organized and held by the AMS’s Education on Queer Issues Project (EQuIP), has won the Queen’s Human Rights Initiative award. The award is given out annually by the University’s Human Rights Office in recognition of initiatives that have contributed to advancing equality and human rights on campus. — Vincent Matak “EQuIP is thrilled to win the Human Rights Initiative Award — I am overjoyed that a sense of community, support, and comfort McGuinty tuition cuts were found by so many,” Queerientation have limits Chair Jessica Sinclair said. The event aims to raise awareness While more than 300,000 undergraduate on queer issues, promote positive and students are considered eligible to receive the safe spaces and establish a queer-positive Ontario Government’s new 30 per cent Off support and resource system on campus and Ontario Tuition Grant, a portion of Queen’s in Kingston. students won’t qualify. Typically held over the course of September, Part-time students, those out of this year’s Queerientation was compacted highschool for more than four years and to feature the same events over a course non-Ontario residents don’t qualify for the of 13 days following faculty orientation grant that can result in savings of up to $800 week. The event, held between Sept. 12 per semester. and 24, included movie screenings and “The government needed to set karaoke nights. parameters for the grant and wanted to Sinclair, ArtsSci ’13, said she increased the capture middle- and low-income families,”
Wednesday, Jan. 18
queensjournal.ca
Business Writing Basics Mackintosh-Corry Hall, B176 9 a.m. to noon AMS Assembly MacLaughlin Hall, JDUC 7 to 11 p.m.
said Mira Dineen, AMS academic affairs commissioner. The grant also requires students to have a combined parental income of $160,000 or less. “The AMS is encouraged by the first step from the government in addressing some aspects of accessibility to education,” Dineen said. Starting this September, the 30 per cent Off Ontario Tuition Grant will apply to the full school year, meaning eligible students in
a university or college degree program will save up to $1,600. “For this semester, the government will administer the grant as a reimbursement,” Dineen, ArtSci ’12, said. It hasn’t been decided whether or not future grants will be given through reimbursement or automatically taken from the cost of tuition. — Rosie Hales
news
6 •queensjournal.ca
Friday, january 13, 2012
stuDent oRGaniZations
Project Chickpea donates to Peer Support Centre Self-funded student organization aims to reduce exam stress by providing services on campus B y J ordan r ay Staff Writer Seven Queen’s students have formed a group that aims to alleviate exam stress and raise funds for campus mental health services. Project Chickpea sprung up in October as a new initiative to promote wellness and happiness during exam time. “We were just sort of thinking about some of the problems with exams and how we could sort of, make exams suck less,” said Ted Lee, one of the group’s founders. “Exams can be taxing on
your wellness.” Throughout the December exam season, Project Chickpea offered services like food delivery to Stauffer Library for a cost, a free yoga session and free coffee. The initiative donated the $600 raised to the student-run Peer Support Centre. “We wanted a group that was student run and we thought would have an impact,” Lee, ArtSci ’12, said. Project Chickpea first applied for funding from the Awesome Kingston Foundation in November but didn’t receive the $1,000 grant.
In lieu of the grant, members met with the AMS and Toastmasters
a group “thatWewaswanted student run and we thought would have an impact. ” — Ted Lee, ArtSci ’12
Kingston, both of which provided the group with $200 in funding. While the group also received in-kind support from local businesses Old Farm Fine Foods and Campus One Stop, the group
Outage forces cancellations Continued from page 1
Leonard Hall cafeteria was closed and signs posted on the doors directed students to the Queen’s Centre, Lazy Scholar and Ban Righ cafeteria for food. Reghan Walsh, Nurs ’15, lives in Leonard Hall and said she was annoyed that students would have to walk to Ban Righ to get dinner. “Ban Righ is always so crowded ,
you always have to wait an hour to get food and it’s going to be even busier now,” she said. Walsh added that Nursing classes weren’t cancelled today even though the power was going on and off in Jeffrey Hall. “We had to use our cellphones as light to use the bathroom,” she said. Paul Rudling, Sci ’15, said he saw a tree branch outside Leonard Hall cafeteria fall on a student.
“It knocked his glasses right off,” he said. “He got right back up again.” Rudling, who lives in Morris Hall, said the student didn’t appear to be injured by the branch. The La Salle Building was closed all day and Health, Counselling and Disability service appointments will be rescheduled.
“We’ll move on and survive” Continued from page 1
term to 15 years,” he said. Coffeeco was founded in 2008 and has a location on Johnson St. and at the Kingston Centre. Ottenhof said Coffeeco has been in negotiations with landlord and residential real estate agent Hugh Mosaheb since February 2011 when the first renewal term ended. “We wanted to change it to our name and our lease. We wanted to add a further five years to the lease so we could guarantee we’d be there for 10 years,” Ottenhof said. He said he received notice on
Dec. 23 that the coffee shop would Market Square. need to move out. “Construction should be done in Mosaheb declined to comment. mid-March,” he said. Ottenhof said Coffeeco will Ottenhof said moving out of definitely be leaving the Johnson 344 Johnson St. is only a setback. St. location at the end of the month. “We’re opening a brand new There are 25 staff who work location and we’ll move on at the two Coffeeco locations, and survive.” Ottenhof said. Peter Downard, a defamation “We have five Queen’s students, lawyer hired by Mosaheb on two high school students and six Wednesday, said Ottenhof was full-time workers — the rest are offered the chance to stay at the part-time individuals who are location until the end of 2012 doing various other schooling.” at the current monthly rate of Ottenhof added that all $1,334.16. of the staff members will be offered employment at the new — With files from Katherine Coffeeco location at 322 King St. Fernandez-Blance
Coffeeco has been at 344 Johnson St. since 2008. In March, the new location will open on Market Square at 322 King St.
Photo by asaD ChIshtI
members have paid most of the expenses out of their own pockets. Although Project Chickpea is only running during exam time, the group hopes to expand their operations for the spring exam season. Right now, Lee said the project doesn’t have plans to operate similar services during the regular school year due to time constraints. When the group started, they engaged in a month of consultations with mental health groups on campus, including
Health, Counselling and Disability Services. “We pretty much met with everyone,” said co-founder Sarah Murray, MA ’14. “We also highlighted resources that had to do with academic health and wellness in lifestyle in general, and obviously mental health is a big part of wellness.” — With files from Katherine Fernandez-Blance
news
Friday, january 13, 2012
International partners sought Continued from page 1
Queen’s is also currently looking to increase international partnerships.
It’s really important “though that we keep this in perspective, we’re talking about $42 million over the next three or four years.
”
— Brad Duguid, Ontario Minister of Economic Development “The truth is we have a window to the world through these companies and they are connected globally too, through other academic institutions,” he said, adding that
current partnerships include ones within Environmental and IT fields. While cuts like these impact Queen’s in the longer term, Liss said it’s important to keep a bigger picture in mind. “We’ve got to be careful here,” Liss said. “Funding is important, but the endgame is to advance our research and if we can do that on an international, global basis, I think the funding follows.” Ontario Minister of Economic Development Brad Duguid said the cuts were made with reluctance. These funds will now go towards the Eastern Economic Development Fund and the Southwestern Economic Development Fund, designed for businesses and economic developers. “It’s really important though that we keep this in perspective, we’re talking about $42 million over the next three or four years,” he
said. “We have to make some of these choices to ensure that every dollar we’re spending is getting the maximum return in terms of job creation.” Duguid said there is no connection between the funding cuts and the new 30 per cent off Ontario tuition fund.
In a competitive “funding program, it’s always hit and miss. ” — Stephen Liss, vice-principal of research
“The only connection between the two announcements is that a newspaper decides to write about it in and around the same time,” he said.
Researchers at the Fuel Cell Research Centre have been granted funds from the Ontario Research Fund in the past.
Photo by Corey LabLans
CAMPUS CATCHUP Western’s hiV vaccine gets FDa approval
who have received treatment with protestors left voluntarily. blood products. Executive director for the The last stage consists of Montreal branch of CIM, Jean determining the effectiveness Vavrek, told the McGill Daily that of the vaccine on 6,000 CIM hadn’t encountered a protest HIV-negative volunteers. of this nature before. The vaccine is being developed through a partnership between — Meaghan Wray UWO and Sumagen Canada, a Korean pharmaceutical carleton to open venture company.
The University of Western Ontario will begin testing the only HIV vaccine currently under development in Canada. Chil-Yong Kang works at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry as a sexual assault researcher and professor. The — Meaghan Wray vaccine developed by Kang and support centre his team received approval from the United States Food and Drug A sexual assault support centre students protest Administration (FDA) to begin is scheduled to open at Carleton during seminar human trials this month. University in September 2012. The The United States FDA approval announcement was made Jan. 4. will allow easier access to many On Dec. 7, 15 students lay on The centre was initially meant countries for clinical trials and also the ground and simulated being to include student-led education requires more stringent conditions dead during a die-in protest at and support initiatives, but for approval of pharmaceutical McGill University. administrators pulled away from products for human use. The demonstration interrupted this decision. A partnership To complete the testing a seminar on cement production, between students, staff and faculty phase, the vaccine is required organized by McGill Stochastic will be put in place to decide how to go through three stages. The Mine Planning Laboratory the centre will function. testing begins on 40 HIV-positive (Cosmo) and the Canadian The centre will offer support volunteers. The second stage Institute of Mining, Metallury and services for students, including will include 600 volunteers at Petroleum (CIM). counselling, awareness campaigns high-risk for HIV and test their One of the protestors, Kevin and training. immune responses. Paul, told the McGill Daily that It will include a conference According to an international participants in the die-in wanted room for meetings and planning, HIV/AIDS charity, Avert, the to express their opposition to a counselling room and a high-risk category refers to men McGill’s involvement in Peruvian reception area. who have male sexual partners, mining industries. injecting drug users and individuals Security was called and the — Meaghan Wray
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•7
8 •queensjournal.ca About The Journal
Editorial Board Editors in Chief
Clare Clancy Jake Edmiston
Production Manager
Labiba Haque
News Editor
Katherine Fernandez-Blance
Assistant News Editors
Catherine Owsik Savoula Stylianou Meaghan Wray
Editorials The Journal’s Perspective
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It’s time for Queen’s to add a fall reading week to the calendar.
Terra-Ann Arnone Janina Enrile
Editorials Editor
Andrew Stokes
Editorial Illustrator
Janghan Hong
Dialogue Editor Arts Editor
Brendan Monahan Alyssa Ashton
Assistant Arts Editor
Caitlin Choi
Sports Editor
Five fixes for new year
The Journal lists the top five changes we want to see in 2012
T
he Nov. 9 announcement that admissions to Queen’s Fine Arts program would be suspended was met with shock and criticism. The movement towards its reinstatement to remain vocal and active this semester. AMS’s committee investigating the issue put forth a motion to establish guidelines for the future suspension of programs. While useful for future program
suspensions, it does little to challenge the current suspension of Fine Arts. When the motion was brought to Senate, it was postponed for future consideration. The guidelines for future suspensions and a reconsideration of Fine Arts’ suspension needs to be weighed. Budget limitations require sacrifices, but a more creative solution needs to be reached.
Decisions need to be more transparent, and allow for student consultation — unlike the stark email that was sent to Fine Arts students without warning. Rather than trying to justify the suspension, the University should work to find an amicable solution. Students need to rally support to secure the future of the Fine Arts program.
to students. Instating a fall reading week would also give graduating students time to prepare applications for graduate programs and jobs. The idea of introducing a fall reading week was last brought to an AMS plebiscite in 2007, with an entirely different student cohort than today. Students should be given the chance to vote again on implementing the break. With a winter semester reading week, it makes sense that Queen’s
should have one in the fall as well. The change would likely impact the placement of Frosh Week or the winter break, but these are scheduling hurdles that can be overcome. Implementing a second reading week could have a big payoff for students. If it doesn’t work out, there’s nothing to stop Queen’s from reverting back to the current system.
resources and merging into a larger and more effective body. With greater resources at their disposal, the groups could provide an efficient and united front capable of significant action. Working towards the same goal while functioning as different bodies could result in redundencies. A single combined group could
reduce time-wasting. With months to discuss and formulate plans, action needs to be taken. It would be useful to increase the number of counselors and staff at Health, Counseling and Disability Services and provide more staff for the Peer Support Centre.
remains complicated in the minds of students. Little explanation was provided for the change and students are stressed out, wondering what adverse effects it will have on their transcripts. There are inconsistencies among class instructors, some of whom haven’t switched over
to letter grades or have made a partial switch, using both number and letter grades. It’s confusing. There need to be more resources put in place that will help students and faculty members to get a better grasp of the GPA system this year.
be fixed. SOLUS has proven difficult to use, and would benefit from an extensive in-site tutorial or information Youtube video for first-time users. Staff at the Registrar’s Office aren’t even fully equipped to use the new program. Another piece of technology at Queen’s that needs improving is Webmail. With email functioning as a primary mode of communication, the 100Mb inbox of Webmail is limiting. Restrictions on singular email sizes are troubling as well. With the current popularity of smartphones, Webmail should be tweaked to make pairing your inbox with a phone simpler. As
it stands now, installing Webmail on a smartphone is like navigating a maze. Tech glitches have also been rife in the AMS’s online voting system. This year, some alumni were able to vote, while some eligible students weren’t. If problems like these aren’t repaired, the AMS should consider reverting back to a paper ballot system. Otherwise a shadow is cast on an already low voter turnout. It’s better to have an inefficient system, as long as it ensure a credible democratic process.
Gilbert Coyle
Assistant Sports Editor
Benjamin Deans
Postscript Editor
Jessica Fishbein
Photography Editor
Corey Lablans
Assistant Photo Editors Copy Editors
Justin Chin Asad Chishti Jessica Munshaw Terence Wong
Blogs Editor
Kelly Loeper
Assistant Blogs Editor
Carolyn Flanagan
Staff
I
t’s time for Queen’s to add a fall reading week to the calendar. Doing so would bring us into line with schools like Ryerson and University of Toronto, which recently added the weeklong break. The extra time to catch up on work and readings while providing a change of pace could immensely benefit students. Stress levels are high as assignments and readings pile up, and a break to catch up on them would be a big help
Writers Emily Lowe Peter Morrow Anand Srivastava
Contributors
Rosie Hales Michelle McCann Jordan Ray Peter Reimer Olivia Robinson Jerry Zheng
Business Staff
Business Manager
I
n response to the tragic student deaths last year, various action groups with similar goals were struck. Groups including the AMS’s mental health committee, the Principal’s Mental Health Commission and the mental health working group should consider pooling their
Daniel Weinshenker
Sales Representatives
James Bolt Kyle Cogger Katherine Pearce
Friday, January 13, 2012 • Issue 24 • Volume 139 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 © 2011 by the Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the Journal. The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Performance Group of Companies in Smiths Falls, Ontario. Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions. Subscriptions are available for $120.00 per year (plus applicable taxes). Please address complaints and grievances to the Editors in Chief. Please direct editorial, advertising and circulation enquiries to: 190 University 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 25 of Volume 139 will be published on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.
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New Year’s resolutions
Features Editor
Assistant Features Editor
Friday, January 13, 2012
T
he utility of switching from percentage grades to a Grade Point Average system is questionable, but now that the change has been made, it needs to be better explained. The 4.3 GPA system that has brought Queen’s in line with other North American universities
T
echnology is playing a greater role on campus and in classrooms at Queen’s, but current technological systems have left many disappointed. Expectations were high for the new multi-million dollar SOLUS database, but the new program has failed to meet student hopes. It’s not offline for 12 hours a day like its predecessor, QCARD, but a number of flaws in the new system have kept it from being a vast improvement. Difficulties in finding financial information and a class planner that didn’t provide class times are just two examples of the major frustrations that need to
Corey Lablans
Eat close to home I
f you have a hankering for fresh strawberries or pineapple today, you only have to walk to a nearby grocery store. In the Ontario climate, strawberries are long out of season and pineapple will never exist in a local orchard. Generations ago, enjoying a fresh strawberry sundae required patience until the next growing season. We take the availability of produce for granted without considering that several decades ago, eating summer fruit in winter was a luxury. In order to eat a strawberryor raspberry-based dessert in the middle of winter, foresight, preparation, canning and storage were required. Over the past decade, a move towards healthier and more sustainable eating has sparked new trends like the 100-mile diet. In the U.S., Vermont is the leading state with respect to using local produce. In 2006 the localvores of the region — people who try and eat locally grown produce within a 100-mile radius — embarked upon what they dubbed the Winter Challenge. Participants only ate produce that could be grown within 100 miles of their food shed for one week in the middle February. This may not sound difficult, but remember, this meant no chocolate, no melons and no coffee. Fruit had to be preserved from during the growing season. Kingston has likewise promoted local food with new initiatives. Three years ago the City held an event known as Fare on the Square, where local restaurants served culinary samples made entirely of local produce. Kaitlin Byrick, Local Food Local Chefs co-ordinator said the popular Toast to Tapas, will be returning this February during FebFest. The aim is for local restaurants to create special tapas entirely made of local produce, paired with beverages from local breweries and vineyards. Buying locally-produced food or seeking it out at restaurants isn’t difficult in Kingston. Look no further than the farmers’ market located outside the JDUC every Wednesday. If you want your food made for you, restaurants like Chien Noir, Atomica and Harper’s Burger Bar have menu items made from local produce. Next time you’re eating, consider these questions: Can the food you’re eating be obtained locally? What season is required for what you’re eating? And always consider the distance that had to be travelled for you to eat your strawberry sundae.
Friday, January 13, 2012
queensjournal.ca
““ ” Queen’s takes the Hill DIALOGUE
Perspectives from the Queen’s community
It’s the responsibility of young Canadians to understand the value of voting.
Politics
•9
Talking heads ... around campus Photos By Brendan Monahan
What would you like to see Queen’s do in 2012?
Three-day model parliament is only part of the solution to low political engagement among Canadians
“I’d like wireless internet in residence.”
O livia R obinson , A rt S ci ’12 You might roll your eyes at the notion that a few hundred 18- to 22-year-olds could influence federal parliamentarians. But why is this notion so implausible? On Wednesday, about 300 Queen’s students will travel to Ottawa during the parliamentary break to participate in the annual Queen’s Model Parliament (QMP) — their own three-day session of Parliament in the House of Commons. The conference affords students the opportunity to recreate a session in Parliament for their notable guests, who take turns acting as Speaker of the House. With perseverance and a little luck on their side, the majority of bills are passed in Parliament. According to Elections Canada, voter turnout in the 2011 federal election rested around 61.4 per cent. Though it’s up from 58.8 per cent in 2008, it’s not a number Queen’s Model Parliament delegates gather in preparation for the conference. worth boasting about on our their own choosing — as a result, participant may become a Member political report card. Canadian youth between the Green Party has been elected of Parliament or a political pundit. On Jan. 21, when QMP has the ages of 18 and 24 comprise as government, with the Liberals concluded and the real world 13.4 per cent of Canada’s sitting in opposition. Although some might view this resumes, why can’t it be that population, and it’s about time Green domination as an alternate this fascination with the model someone noticed. Rick Mercer noticed, and universe akin to science fiction, it’s parliament be applicable to the real did what Elections Canada just one of the many ways QMP House of Commons? Are Canadian politics so couldn’t — he’s helped a vast delegates are able to think outside majority of youth voters care about the political box to engage in tangible inexplicably devoid of unfettered dreamers to allow this to happen? Canadian politics. political proceedings. A week from now, QMP Mercer, with his popular Humour obviously plays a role will take the television show The Rick Mercer in the conference, but the debates delegates Report, stimulated this interest by are respectful, witty and never stage — or rather, the desks — of truly believing that Canadian youth farcical. There is an overwhelming federal parliamentarians to debate could make a difference and that sense of camaraderie amongst the issues from crime prevention, their voices mattered. He made QMP delegates — though they to Arctic sovereignty, to the 13.4 per cent of Canadians feel like may sport orange or blue in the preservation of aboriginal peoples’ the 100 per cent. House of Commons, they still cultures in Québec. Delegates take into consideration QMP is no different. The bleed Queen’s tricolour through not only issues which affect our age political make-up of the conference and through. QMP students are extremely demographic, but those that might consists of undergraduate students from all scholastic disciplines, grateful for the participation of better serve our country. The reality is that Canada isn’t from engineering to commerce to past and present Members of biology and everything in between. Parliament such as Elizabeth May, Neverland. As young Canadian It’s more than just a group Justin Trudeau, Peter MacKay, voters age, they’ll be slotted into of individuals traipsing around John Baird, John Turner, Jack a new age demographic and be Parliament Hill playing dress-up Layton and nationally renowned forever chained to a statistic. If parliamentarians took the in parliamentary clothing. There’s journalists such as Rosemary Barton substance behind the bills and and Evan Solomon. They’ve given time to promote the youth vote up their time to join the conference and making young voters feel like passion in the speeches. Take this year’s conference: in past years. they matter, we may start to see They inject hope into more young Canadians develop a delegates are given the opportunity to join a Canadian political party of QMP — that one day a QMP life-long passion for politics.
Remi Soare, Comm ’15
“Bring back Fine Arts.” Jillian Pike, ArtSci ’15
Journal File Photo
This is the underlying issue: if the importance of the youth vote fails to resonate with Members of Parliament, there’s a greater chance that the young voters will turn into the 38.6 per cent of non-voters. Dare we imagine a Canada where the political landscape is nothing more than a ghost town? Will youth voters become the 38.6 per cent of non-voters? Or, will young Canadians assume drone-like voting tendencies as they begrudgingly march to the polls having forgotten the excitement that once was Canadian politics? It’s the responsibility of young Canadians to understand the value of voting, but it’s also the responsibility of parliamentarians and pundits to promote the importance of engaging in the democratic process. In the time being, Queen’s Model Parliament will act its 65th session of Parliament in the hopes that perhaps one day the House of Commons will fondly look this way. Your move, Ottawa.
“Earlier times for intramurals.” Daniel McConnell, Comm ’15
“A greater focus on mental health awareness.” Ally Dodds, ArtSci ’14
“Guiness on tap at QP.” Dave Rees, Sci ’11
Olivia Robinson is media and communications officer for Queen’s Model Parliament 2012.
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Friday, January 13, 2012
DIALOGUE
queensJournal.ca
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11 •queensjournal.ca
Friday, January 13, 2012
Housing Special project
Graphics by Janghan Hong
Renting
Safeguards in place for tenants
Structural housing issues remain largely under-reported to Kingston’s Property Standards department B y Terra -A nn A rnone and K atherine Fernandez -B lance Journal Staff When a rental property isn’t up to standards, Kingston’s building officers want it fixed quickly. The city staff are in court every two weeks with landlords that fail to comply. “If there’s anything wrong with the property, we know the landlords will fix it,” said Steve Murphy, manager of Kingston’s building department. When members of Kingston’s
Property Standards team issue a notice to the owner of a Kingston house, they can be fined $50,000 if they don’t act promptly. “Depending on the severity, if the furnace isn’t working, we’ll give them a day,” Murphy said, adding that for less severe structural repairs, owners will be given two or three weeks to comply. Tenants can report Property Standards violations and the Kingston team will investigate, issuing a work order if necessary. The city team also conducts Property Standards housing
inspections on request. Student houses count for 10 per cent of the 500 housing and commercial properties the team inspects. Murphy said this is largely because students aren’t calling Property Standards with their complaints, and are relying on services provided by Queen’s instead. Guards on stair railings are one of the most common work orders released by Property Standards for student houses. “The loads on those, they’re
supposed to be able to take a couple hundred pounds, you get a few people sitting on them and you can go over backwards,” Murphy said. Stairs can also pose a safety issue when screws are loose or they’re starting to rot, he said. Pam Landy, environmental support officer with Kingston, Lennox, Frontenac and Addington Public Health said mould in buildings is generally indicative of larger structural problems. “People need to realize that moulds are everywhere,” Landy
said. “The only thing to do to keep mould out of the home is reduce the moisture level.” Mould spreads using spores that can be carried though the air. “These little spores are very resistant to drying, they need a nutrient of some source, some moisture, and usually like some warmth.” For people who already have respiratory issues, exposure to mould can heighten allergic respiratory responses. To lessen the development of See Pests on page 14
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kingston police
Holiday crime a concern Kingston Police anticipates an annual spike in Student Ghetto B y G ilbert C oyle Sports Editor The number of breaking and entering offences in the Student Ghetto reaches its annual spike over the winter holidays. “As students start to go home, you don’t have the eyes and ears to report things,” said Kingston Police Constable Paul Cappon. “We always get the highest volume of calls when they come back in January.” Cappon said breaking and entering offences make up the largest portion of Student Ghetto crime. These offences occur in what Kingston Police call Inner Queensville — the region that roughly extends from Union Street to Brock Street and from Victoria Street to Barrie Street. In 2006, Kingston Police reported 85 breaking and entering
Know
offences in the Ghetto. That number rose to 103 in 2007 and peaked at 104 in 2010. Fifty-nine offences were recorded as of Oct. 31 2011. Kingston Police couldn’t provide more recent figures. Cappon has worked as a police officer for 28 years. He said breaking and entering statistics don’t vary wildly from year-to-year because students have a high turnover rate. “When it’s their first time away from home, they probably don’t give enough thought to home security,” he said. Cappon said it’s difficult to track break-ins because criminals can blend easily with students. “These guys generally fall in the student age range,” he said. “Put on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, cover some of the tattoos and you’re not going to draw attention to yourself.” Constable Anthony Colangeli said breaking and entering statistics would be lower if students locked
their doors. “We always ask students if their doors were locked, a lot of them say no,” he said, adding that most criminals are experienced enough that they don’t worry about getting caught. “These guys have been doing it for a long time, they know the houses to hit,” he said. “They really don’t care if a student’s going to catch them or not because they’ll just take off.” Colangeli said he recently recorded a break-and-enter that occurred while students were asleep in the house. “When this guy went to bed, his laptop was sitting on his desk,” he said. “[The thief] opened the bedroom window from the outside, reached in and grabbed the laptop off the desk while the guy was sleeping.” Theft under $5,000 and damage under $5,000 are also highly-reported criminal offences in the Student Ghetto. Theft charges peaked at 87 in 2006 and
Friday, January 13, 2012 reached 69 in 2010, while damage charges hit 99 in 2006 and have consistently been over 50 every year since. Thefts commonly include stolen purses and laptops in Stauffer, while breaking windows or defacing cars classify as damage. Kingston Police divide the city into nine zones, usually keeping one officer on-duty in each. The Ghetto lies between Zones One and Four, making it difficult to ensure consistent monitoring. Bicycle theft is also prevalent on campus and the surrounding area. Kingston Police reported 77 criminal offences of bike theft under $5,000 in 2006.
In 2006, Kingston Police reported 85 breaking and entering offences in the Ghetto. That number rose to 103 in 2007 and peaked at 104 in 2010. With the exception of 2007, the number consistently remained over 40 until 2010. Kingston Police have recorded 24 so far this year. As with laptops and iPods, stolen bikes are difficult to recover because most students can’t provide the serial number for their possessions.
Colangeli said it’s impossible to confirm stolen goods without them. “If the person reporting it stolen has a number, then the guy gets arrested for possession of stolen property,” he said. “But I’ll often run [a serial number] that’s coming back not stolen, so I can’t do anything about it.” Last year, Colangeli was routinely assigned to monitor the Student Ghetto. He said criminal acts were overshadowed by alcohol-related offences in the area. “House parties, open liquor, drinking on front lawns ... there’s a lot of foot traffic,” he said. On an average weekend night in the Ghetto, Kingston Police will take eight to 10 calls. Colangeli said the biggest challenge is controlling crowds of drunken students. “It’s tough, because you can’t reason with a person who’s under the influence,” he said. “The first thing would be to call some backup, just from an officer safety standpoint.” But Colangeli said working last year in the Ghetto has always given him stories to tell. “After Smoke’s Poutinerie opened up, I found a person passed out ... in his poutine,” he said. “First thing I did was pull his head out of the poutine.”
your rights 1. Deposits It’s illegal for landlords to request any deposit other than the last month’s rent before signing. Additionally, last month’s rent can’t be used to cover the cost of cleaning or refurnishing the rented space. 2. Tax receipts When asked, landlords must provide tenants with a tax receipt for payments made toward the rental property. Tenants must request tax receipts within one year of living on the property. 3. Rent payment Post-dated cheques and pre-authorized payments aren’t required payment methods for renters. 4. Snow removal The pathway between a tenant’s front door and sidewalk must be cleared of snow and ice during winter. Landlords are legally obligated to shovel and salt the area regularly. 5. Landlord visits Landlords must provide written notice 24 hours prior to entering a rental space. House checks, repairs and maintenance can’t be completed without first notifying the tenant.The Residential Tenancies Act allows for some leniency toward unauthorized entries in the case of emergencies. — Michelle McCann — Source: Landlord and Tenant Board
Student housing
Queen’s housing inconsistent University-owned rental properties garner mixed reviews B y A sad C hishti Assistant Photography Editor When Renata Colwell, ArtSci ’13, moved into University-owned rental house in 2010, she found rats in her apartment. “It was not good condition, I knew that going in,” Colwell said. “I moved in the beginning of May, it was mid-June before the rats were gone.” With a budget of about $5.7 million, Queen’s owns 496 rental units in Kingston. Colwell said Queen’s housing officials took a few weeks to
respond to complaints about the rat problem. She didn’t renew her lease with Queen’s housing for the following year. “I would not rent another Queen’s University property,” she said. “I thought when I signed up for this … I [wouldn’t] have to worry about being screwed over by a landlord but at times I thought Queen’s University has screwed me over more than an average landlord.” Associate Dean of Housing Bob Pritchett said rats in Queen’s housing aren’t a
common occurrence. “Once we’re made aware of the issue we generally work with the tenant to deal with an issue,” Pritchett said. “All tenants are given the opportunity to report on the condition of the unit at the beginning of their tenancy, unfortunately not all of them take that opportunity.” Getting into Queen’s-owned housing is determined by an application process for west campus properties, or a lottery-system for houses surrounding main campus. “Part of the desire was to have a fairness about the allocation. So,
the lottery was born from that,” he said. All tenants are handled by the housing office, located at 169 University Ave. This includes rent payment and maintenance requests. Though the rent changes every year, as costs escalate, the rental prices for most properties are below market price. “There’s this notion about student housing [that it] is not very good housing or whatever else,” Pritchett said. “I think what you will find by the end of the semester or over the years that it’s really improved. A lot of students who live in these properties are coming from residences so they haven’t really lived on their own yet.” -— With files from Katherine Fernandez-Blance
Special project
Friday, January 13, 2012
queensjournal.ca
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Student housing
Alternative housing options The Journal explores lesser-known housing options for upper-year students B y K atherine Fernandez -B lance News Editor Students house hunting this month have an array of options aside from the traditional Ghetto house. Though this has proven to be the most popular amongst undergraduate Queen’s students, popular alternatives exist.
Co-op Sarah Witiuk lives at the corner of Brock Street and University Avenue with nine housemates in one of the 21 Sci ’44 co-ops around campus. “Basically you can sign up for either a four or eight month lease,” Witiuk, ArtSci ’12, said. “Everyone is their own landlord.” Living in a co-op costs about $8,000 for the year, Witiuk said, including rent, utilities, food and social events. Members rent based on the size of their room and can sign up to have a meal plan. “Basically for three hours a week we all volunteer doing something, like making muffins, making salad,” Witiuk said. “You get to live in a house with exchange students, international students … There’s so many different programs represented.” But, Witiuk stressed that co-op living isn’t for everyone. “This is the same for any time you decide to live away from home, you really have to have an open mind to living with people who are very different from you.”
Upper-year residence After Victoria Onesty’s first year in Gordon Brockington Hall, she opted to remain in residence for her following three years at Queen’s. Onesty, ArtSci ’12, said both her and her parents felt that the process of finding a house off-campus could be stressful and dangerous. “For my parents, it just seemed a little more secure as it was part of the Queen’s University housing,” she said. Onesty has lived in Watts and Harkness International Hall. “It’s kind of enhanced my social life in that I’ve been able to meet all these new people,” she said. As an upper year, Onesty said her residence experience has differed from her first year. “A lot of times the upper-years are more studious and can be quieter … In Harkness there are two dons and very few issues, I guess because students are older and more mature.” Since most students are of the legal drinking age, Onesty said there is less partying in residence. “They’ll go out to party, they’re of age to go out to the clubs or bars.” Regardless of the social benefits upper year residence can have, Onesty said there are also some drawbacks, like not being able to keep your belongings in the same place year after year. When the cafeterias are closed, students that are dependent on a meal plan must fend for themselves.
Family To save money, Jade Lake decided to live with her grandfather 20 minutes outside of Kingston in Amherstview. “I like it, I’ve actually grown to be really close with my grandpa,” Lake, PheKin ’14, said, adding that she’s also found it easier to complete homework in the quiet environment. “It’s more relaxing I find. I hear a lot of people talking about how there’s a lot of tension with their housemates,” she said. While most of her classmates met their friends while living in residence, Lake said she had to become more outgoing. “It was difficult in first year for sure because I didn’t meet as many people,” she said. “I found I just had to put myself out there.” The distance between Lake’s grandfather’s house and campus has also made things like commuting more difficult. “For a while, I didn’t have a car,” she said. “The bus doesn’t run out to Amhertsview after 6 p.m.” While Lake said she has friends to visit during the day, being on campus without her own living space has created minor setbacks. “I think the only negative is that I can’t just go home and have a nap, or grab a book when I want to,” she said.
Co-ops offer four or eight month leases.
Photos by Corey Lablans
First year off-campus Jeff McCarthy has lived at home since his first year. As chair of the AMS’s First Years Not in Residence Students (FYNIRS) group, he said most first-years that live off-campus are far less involved in the Queen’s community than those who live in residence. “For a lot of FYNIRS, not living in residence isn’t really a choice, it’s a matter of financial means,” McCarthy, ConEd ’12, said. The FYNIRS committee
provides a lounge space in the JDUC and also organizes monthly events to build a sense of community amongst the 150 first-years that don’t live in residence. “You see that a lot of people who continue to be involved with our service are actually out of town,” he said. “It’s a lot different in terms of not having that common experience you have when you live in residence.”
Ontario universities
Renting a room in Ontario’s university towns Monthly rent in the Student Ghetto ranges from $400 to $700, Western students pay between $375 and $550 B y J anina E nrile Assistant Features Editor Town-Gown Relations co-ordinator Joan Jones said students will see the housing market swell with leases being posted this month. This means that students may have to look through several properties in order to find the one that’s right for them. “You may have to look at 15 houses before you find the right place, whereas somebody in December may have only looked at two or three houses from one outstanding landlord,” she said. Many of the high-quality leases are signed in December before winter holidays, she said. Students discover these properties through word of mouth or through speaking to landlords directly. Waiting until March 1 to sign a lease may also prove beneficial, Jones said. This is when tenants must lawfully give the 60-day notice to their landlord if they won’t be resigning their current lease. Jones works regularly with students to navigate the decision-making process behind signing a lease.
“I’d be surprised if there was a solid correlation between proximity and price,” she said. “It’s less about proximity and more [whether you are] informed about the rules.” Ontario legislation has set the maximum yearly rent increase at 3.1 per cent for 2012. The increase only applies to tenants who remain in the same unit. Rent is capped by the yearly provincial guideline, unless the landlord has applied for and been granted a rent increase. Landlords may apply for increases in the case of extensive property renovations Students who move often are subject to market fluctuations that can result in price increases greater than the regulated amount. Rentals in the Student Ghetto range from $400 to $700 a month per person, Jones said, adding that students are willing to pay the higher end of rental prices. “People will believe that there are no places out there, and they panic,” she said. “That really skews the market quite a bit.” Property management companies like Jess & Ewen and Varsity Properties have tapped into the student market with new units opening in areas north of Princess Street.
According to Jones, students who want to live in higherquality units are willing to pay more despite the greater distance from campus. “It’s the bells and whistles of that property management firm,” she said. McMaster University’s off-campus resource centre Manager, Jennifer Kleven, said Hamilton’s rent prices, like Kingston’s, aren’t dependent on proximity to the university’s campus. “It used to be that way many years ago,” she said. According to Kleven, the average cost of one McMaster student’s rent is $375 per month plus utilities, though the quality of a house can vary greatly in this price range. At the University of Western Ontario, students are given housing talks that educate about lease guidelines and bylaw issues surrounding renting for the first time. Students are encouraged to lease property farther from campus in order to save money on rent. As part of their mandatory activity fee, much like Queen’s, Western students are given a bus pass that
can be used throughout the year for commuting to campus. “If you take a 10 minute bus ride, you’re probably going to save $100 bucks a month,” Glenn Matthews, housing mediation officer, said. Matthews works with students and landlords to help them learn the ins and outs of leasing. According to Matthews, rent near to the university can reach $550 a month per person, while houses further away dip to $375. At Western, proximity plays a visible role in rental prices. “We tell the students the average is somewhere around $450 but the closer you are to campus, the higher you are,” he said. “You obviously have to pay the premium.” Unlike Queen’s, Matthews said the off-campus housing service conducts a student survey roughly every five years to evaluate rental prices. “Price and location are number one or two as far as considerations go when looking off campus,” he said. An online interactive map to help students find Student Ghetto housing was released by the AMS Municipal Affairs Commission on Nov. 28 The map shows rent prices
and utility fees for available units in the Student Ghetto. Municipal Affairs Commissioner David Sinkinson works with the Student Property and Dwelling Education Team to moderate the site. “Consider this the first step in a couple of years in learning how a market operates,” he said, adding that he hopes to advertise changes in lease price on the map in the future. According to Sinkinson, the map is also designed to draw correlation between rental price and proximity to campus. As of right now, it has shown mixed results. “There’s nothing to suggest that anything closer is necessarily more expensive,” he said. Sinkinson said the housing map is updated as frequently as possible. Students submit their housing information via form available on the website. — With files from Terra-Ann Arnone
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Pests a problem for students Continued from page 11
mould, Landy said it’s important to notice when something becomes saturated with water and to clean and dry it within 48 hours. Asbestos, a once-common method of insulation can become a major health concern if left untreated. “Asbestos was used in older buildings,” Landy said. “If it’s not flaking or damaged, the best recommendation is to leave it be. If you’re going to remove asbestos you need a professional.” Samatha Rice, chair of the AMS-run Student Property Assessment and Dwelling Education Team (SPADE), said the age of Kingston housing has lead to
some illegal living situations. “One of the biggest and most concerning is actually students living in basements which are technically cellars,” Rice said. “They’re not 50 per cent above ground and it’s illegal to have someone live there.” In the past, Rice said SPADE has done housing “blitzes” where the team will partner with Kingston Property Standards representatives to inspect student houses — a process the occupants must consent to. Structural issues resulting from flooded basements can pose health risks. Kingston’s Property Standards bylaws make provisions for the presence of pests as well.
Section 4.26 of the bylaw reads, “Buildings shall be kept free of rodents, vermin and insects at all time.” But according to Joan Jones, this isn’t always the case. Jones, Town-Gown Relations co-ordinator, said it’s not uncommon to find insects and rodents in student houses, though she doesn’t think their presence is greater than in any other Kingston area. “Dealing with pests is a shared responsibility,” Jones said, adding that while landlords are responsible for the removal of pests, students need to make prevention a priority. “When students go for the summer and leave food in the house, some hungry rat or mouse is going to find a way in,” she
Friday, January 13, 2012 said. “Their job is to take out the garbage regularly ... put their food away properly.” Landlords are obligated to seal the points of pest entry. Jones said rats, mice and bats are most common in student houses, though squirrels, raccoons and skunks have made appearances in the past. She said rodents are particularly attracted to water sources. “They’re thirsty little beasts,” Jones said, adding that a leaky fridge can create puddles where rodents will drink. The University regularly issues information about handling bats in campus buildings and student houses, she said. “It’s pretty tempting if you’re not afraid of bats to touch them,” Jones said. “But just opening a window will often let them out safely.” She added that bats aren’t
exclusive to older properties. Included in the Property Standards bylaw are insects. Often referred to as the “Ghetto bug,” house centipedes are indicative of a larger insect problem, Jones said, because they feed off smaller insects like ants and spiders. “We only get a few complaints about cockroaches,” Jones said. “And once you can get rid of them, they should be gone for good.” Fleas and bed bugs are seen less frequently, though according to Jones they’re far more difficult to be rid of. “We’ve had students who have been seriously impacted by a place where there was previously a pet [who carries the insects],” she said. “Mostly it’s not buying things that could have pests already living in them.”
Photo by Justin Chin
Queen’s historian Duncan McDowall said the term Student Ghetto may have originated out of McGill University.
history
Student Ghetto through the years Queen’s historian Duncan McDowell traces Queen’s student housing from the mid-1900s to today B y C lare C lancy and C arolyn F lanagan Journal Staff If successful, attempts to rename the Student Ghetto will change 30 years of history. “It seems to work itself into common usage [in] the ’80s,” Queen’s historian Duncan McDowall said. The Student Ghetto refers to the residential area surrounding Queen’s campus. “It coincides with the problems in that area, street parties and that kind of thing.” McDowall said the use of the term “Ghetto” among Queen’s students may have come from McGill University. The student-populated area East of McGill’s campus was called “the McGill Ghetto” before Queen’s adopted the term. “Historically it’s an enclave of an ethnic group,” McDowall said, adding that the term carries negative connotations of persecution. “It’s a very loaded term in some ways but in terms of Queen’s and McGill it doesn’t carry that connotation as well.” On Sept. 15 2011, the AMS passed a motion to rebrand the Student Ghetto as the University District. Prior to this, the area was called the Student Village — a name implemented by the AMS in 1998. The term failed to enter into popular vernacular. McDowall said at Queen’s the term “Student Ghetto” is rooted in common experience, making it
difficult to change. “Unless something horrendous happens to discredit it, why would people change?” he said. “It’s easier to apply a term like the Ghetto to it because everyone understands the behavior within it.” Housing at Queen’s has evolved since the school was founded in 1841. Before permanent men’s residences were introduced in the 1950s, male students lived mostly in the Sydenham Ward area east of campus in boarding houses. Women’s residences were introduced earlier because of a belief that they needed maternal
care. The first on-campus women’s residence, Ban Righ Hall, was built in 1925. “Around the ’50s and ’60s, students became more like citizens. The idea of university as your ward fell away into society,” said McDowall, adding that students began to look off campus for housing. “The increase of students living in the Sydenham Ward saw the first major frictions between the local citizens and students of Queen’s. They were acting in new ways, having parties and such,” McDowall said. In the ’60s, the student
population increased by more than 10,000 people. To accommodate the influx of students, Queen’s tried to build residences as fast as possible. “There was pressure for growth,” McDowall said. The late ’60s saw campuses across Canada participating in demonstrations and protests for housing. At Queen’s, students camped out on Summerhill lawn and pitched tents. “This is when student politics became really radical. It wasn’t just because students didn’t have space to live, it became ideological. Students saw it as a failure of
Off-campus housing at Queen’s gained popularity in the 1980s after enrolment increased drastically.
capitalism,” McDowall said. By the ’80s, off-campus student housing gained popularity. “The surge of expansion at Queen’s occurred in a relatively small space,” McDowall said. The Student Ghetto has always been a grey zone in terms of jurisdiction, he said. “It was a civic area, yet under the sway of the AMS ethos,” McDowall said. “Behaviours could no longer be controlled by the AMS and the city has been reluctant to move into the vacuum,” he said. “That seems to me the issue [the AMS and city have] been grappling with.”
Photo supplied by Queen’s Archives
Friday, January 13, 2012
queensjournal.ca
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Arts Theatre Review
Musical murder mystery Queen’s Musical Theatre brings Charles Dickens’ last work to the stage
Photos by Asad Chishti
The mysterious disappearance of Edwin Drood casts suspicions on several characters. Audience members cast votes to choose who the murderer is.
B y A lyssa A shton Arts Editor The version I saw of QMT’s The Mystery of Edwin Drood likely ended differently than the one you will see. The musical requires audience participation in deciding who murdered Edwin Drood. Charles Dickens was in the process of writing The Mystery of Edwin Drood when he died, leaving the ending unfinished. Readers are stuck with many questions, including if Edwin Drood is even dead. QMT’s director Radissen Ramoutar, ArtSci ’12, said there are hundreds of possible endings, but for the cast there is only a few conclusions they come to. The audience gets to vote on who will be the detective and who is guilty of the murder. The choose-your-ownmystery play isn’t relaxing. From the moment you walk into Convocation Hall you’re inundated with characters wanting to talk to you, asking you where you are from and if you’ve been informed of the voting procedures. Throughout the play the audience must sing along, become the butt of sexual jokes and even dance with characters. Kudos goes out to the cast for maintaining their characters during breaks in the production — they even speak to you in their English accents during intermission. If you’re someone who likes to sit back and watch, this isn’t for you. The
Mystery of Edwin Drood demands the enthusiasm and attention of its audience in order for it to be a success. The play is dominated by varied male performances, from villain John Jasper played to creepy perfection by Richard Albin, ArtSci ’13, to the enthusiastic Chairman played by Dylan On, ArtSci ’13, who leads the show. Hannah May, ArtSci ’13,
as Helena Landless is the stand-out female. Her range of facial expressions draws your attention in every group scene. The Mystery of Edwin Drood is at its most entertaining when all 18 cast members are on stage, pulling off complex jigs in spite of the tiny stage. It’s quite impressive no one tripped or fell off with the ladies wearing long, flowing skirts and
high heels. With such a zany cast of characters the audience is never without a new person to be drawn in by. The energy of the cast is much needed towards the end of the unnecessarily long play. Just when I thought it was ending, another song dragged the musical further. At over two hours in length, extraneous scenes and prolonged audience participation should’ve
been cut to make the play more pithy. The Mystery of Edwin Drood runs at Convocation Hall until Saturday and will run again from Jan. 19 to 21 at 8 p.m. There are Saturday shows on Jan. 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 for students and seniors and $20 for adults.
Art Review
Ink culture Curator Jan Allen gives an advanced look at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre’s new exhibit Bernard Clark: Tattoo Portraits B y C aitlin C hoi Assistant Arts Editor Curator Jan Allen didn’t hesitate when asked if she considers tattoos to be art. “Oh absolutely, absolutely,” she said. “It’s an art form in all its traditions.” As she took me around the Agnes Etherington Art Centre’s upcoming exhibit, Bernard Clark: Tattoo Portraits, we talked about reasons why photographer Bernard Clark and others are so fascinated by skin art. “Part of that is people want to
beautify themselves, partly tattoos also memorialize memories or associations with events,” she said. “For others, they want to transform themselves from the outside.” For Clark, his fascination with tattoos started when he spent two weeks in Samoa, documenting the processes and patterns of traditional tattoo artists. “[Clark’s photographs] are not only influenced by pop culture, but also by very deep traditions of bodily decoration,” Allen said. The photographs in Tattoo Portraits feature heavily tattooed subjects, with everything from
Photo by Bernard Clark/Tattoo Portraits
The Enigma at the Mini Mart, 2010. The original image dimensions are 71.1 cm x 50.8 cm.
facial tattoos to sleeves. Most startling is The Enigma at the Mini Mart, a portrait of The Enigma, an internationally known figure whose puzzle tattoo covers his entire body, including his face.
Clark, an award-winning commercial photographer, has exhibited as part of group shows at the Agnes gallery before — he has a piece in the See Unlikely on page 19
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Arts
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Arts
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TheaTre review
Dog problems King’s Town Players presents Sylvia, the story of a middle-aged couple adjusting to life with a dog B y C ARolyn F lAnAGAn Assistant Blogs Editor A marriage doesn’t usually breakdown over a pet. But King’s Town Players’ delightful rendition of Sylvia shows how a stray dog “chews a hole in a 22-year-old marriage.” The modern day romance explores the challenges faced by Greg and Kate, a middle-aged couple trying to adjust to life without children. Kate is less than impressed when her husband brings Sylvia, a stray dog, to their New York City apartment. Things deteriorate further when Greg becomes so preoccupied with Sylvia he begins to ignore both his job and his wife. The play relies on stellar acting from the entire cast. Walt Freeman and Michelle Freedman deliver sincere and realistic performances as Greg and Kate. In the title role, Krista Garrett is spot-on as a dog. She transforms into her canine character using a shaggy fur coat and a dog collar. Garrett brings the right amount of sassiness and spark while conversing with the humans to make Sylvia not just a prop, but a major contribution to the production. Rounding out the play is a very welcome performance from Jennifer Atkinson-Spencer, playing three supporting characters with memorable stage presence. The intimate Kingston Yacht Club is a fitting venue for the storyline. The company uses minimal set design, effectively creating a modern downtown apartment. Sylvia’s sass is sure to garner laughs from dog and cat owners alike. Throughout the play she professes her undying love for
Greg, intense disdain for cats and extreme Greg, played by Walt Freeman, devotes his attention to his stray dog contempt when she’s spayed. Sylvia, played by Krista Garrett (right). Though heart-warming and sweet, there are instances of hilarious profanity that prevent the play from being too sappy. A scene where the dog is in heat particularly stands out. Despite directing a play about canine love, Will Britton isn’t a dog lover. In the program he explains that he chose to direct Sylvia because it’s about “relationships and identification and fulfillment.” Though the play may not resonate with students as much as it would with their parents, the play is charming and worth it for the performances alone. Sylvia plays at the Kingston Yacht Club until Saturday and from Jan. 17 to 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $17 for students and seniors.
NEXT ISSUE WELCOME TO BERLIN Blue Canoe Productions kicks off their 2012 season with Cabaret. The musical is about a writer finding inspiration in 1920s Berlin.
A NEW SWELL Current Swell returns to Kingston with their new album, Long Time Ago.
Photo by Corey lAblAns
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Arts
MUSiC SerieS
Loud in the library The Kingston Jazz Society’s Live at Your Library event features jazz from around the world B y A lyssA A shton Arts Editor The first installment of the Kingston Jazz Society’s Live at Your Library series will feature a jazz quartet that was formed specifically for the event. Ewa Heiwa will perform on Sunday, premiering a jazz fusion from Japan, Cameroon and Kingston. “I have no idea what it’s going to be,” the jazz society’s president Ben Hall said of the first concert in the series. Kingston Jazz Society’s public education mandate influenced the decision to host the concert series at the Frontenac Public Library. “[It’s] a very accessible and safe place, so anyone can come there,” Hall said. “It’s not like it’s 10 o’clock at night, upstairs in a bar.” This will be the society’s eighth year running Live at Your Library. This year’s theme is Around the Corner and Around the World, inspired by the City of Kingston which helps finance the society with grants. “One of the things that [the City of Kingston] suggested would be a nice thing to try to bring to Kingston would be innovative art programming,” Hall said. “When I saw that, I thought how about we show the boundaries of where jazz is going.
sUPPlied
Njack Backo was born in Cameroon and will bring traditional Cameroon rhythms to Jazz group, Ewa Heiwa.
“It’s an always evolving art form. It’s always pushing into other areas to reinvent itself.” Hall said this year’s series, which will take place over five Sundays, won’t sound like the mainstream jazz heard on commercial radio. “We’re trying to incorporate what people might think of as traditional jazz and also reaching out to other sort of fusion types of music,” he said. The highlight of this year’s show is Autorickshaw, a quartet who brings together contemporary jazz with classical and popular music from India. “Jazz is a big umbrella like the Liberal party, where there are all kinds of different types of what it is,” Hall said. The Live at Your Library concert series will host events on Jan. 15, Feb. 5, Feb. 19, March 11 and March 25 from 2 p.m. A ticket package for all five concerts is $75 and each concert is $20. Tickets for students are $5 at the door.
Friday, January 13, 2012
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‘Unlikely images’ Continued from page 15
current exhibit Adornment. But Tattoo Portraits, the gallery’s first show of 2012, is his first solo stint at a public institution. Different from some of Clark’s other work, the subject is not the sole focus. Each piece is made up of two photographs: a portrait and a landscape. Clark took the tattooed portraits and inserted them into new settings like cornfields and abandoned industrial sites. “He’s really interested in ways in which we the viewers will experience and project into that image ourselves, so there’s a kind of layering of experience there which I think is quite interesting,” Allen said. “What we see here and an end product is the artist’s imagination at work.” The portraits were taken between 2008 and 2010. “When he takes [the portraits] he goes to [tattoo] conventions so he’s shooting these in studios in very banal hotel rooms or in a convention hall or even on the street — so with very plain backdrops,” Allen said. “So
for him he started to really imagine these characters in different settings.” Allen points out the range of emotion achieved in Clark’s work. “Some of them are very playful, sort of funky or humorous, some of them are very pensive, and some of them are somewhat dark,” Allen said. “Aesthetically, it’s sort of an unlikely image, one that suggests a narrative.” Bernard Clark’s Efix Roy in Parlour and Sarah by the Old Oak Tree. Allen recognizes Clark is not the only one obsessed with ink culture. She goes as far as to say that it’s become a growing global phenomenon. “I’ve certainly noticed over the years more and more students with tattoos and I know there’s an interest and fascination with that culture, and rightly so,” she said. “It’s also moved so much into the mainstream in terms of fashion and celebrity culture that this has influenced the way people think. “That’s something that we feel this body of work really reflects and responds to.” Bernard Clark: Tattoo Portraits opens on Saturday at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre and will run until Apr. 15.
From left to right: The Enigma at the Mini Mart, Mizuz Inkaholik and Detroit Portrait.
Photo by JUstin Chin
Photo by JUstin Chin
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Friday, January 13, 2012
Sports Back in Men’s hockey
stride
Men’s hockey goes 2-1 to start New Year B y Peter M orrow Staff Writer The men’s hockey team lost six of their last seven games in 2011. But after a five-week winter break, the Gaels opened the New Year with a 3-1 win over the Royal Military College Paladins and split back-to-back games with the Nipissing Lakers in North Bay on the weekend. Head coach Brett Gibson said the team’s turnaround was sparked by the return of key Fourth-year student Mike Farine was playing intramural basketball in September. Now he’s suiting up for the Gaels. players like forwards Payton Liske, Jordan Mirwaldt and defenceman Men’s Basketball Robert Stellick. “Having them in the lineup gives us more confidence,” he said. “When guys like [Liske] walk in the dressing room it helps us out.”
photo by corey lablans
An unusual route to the top
“
Having them in the lineup gives us more confidence.
Former football player picked out of intramurals to play varsity basketball
”
— Brett Gibson, men’s hockey coach In the first half of the season, the injury-plagued Gaels relied on first-year players Corey Bureau and Tyler Moore for scoring. The returning veterans made an immediate impact. Five different players scored in the Gaels’ 5-1 win over the Lakers in North Bay on Friday. Forwards See Gaels on page 23
B y G ilbert C oyle Sports Editor Coach Stephan Barrie didn’t expect to check out the intramural league when he was recruiting for the men’s basketball team. But that’s where he found his current shooting guard. After first-years Scott Morrison and Seth Evershed left the team early in the season, Barrie and assistant coach Chris Aim were desperate to fill the empty roster spots. Aim — who knows Farine’s family from youth basketball in
Toronto — suggested that the team Farine’s story gets better check him out. — he used to play for the Queen’s “They came to watch me play football team. He was a backup intramurals in the fall,” Farine said. receiver in 2008, but quit after “I guess they liked what they saw.” that season. Farine said he set his The coaching staff decided to expectations too high and couldn’t pick up Farine and guard James get used to being a practice player. Asefa — two upper-year students “I wasn’t prepared [for training who hadn’t tried to play varsity camp], didn’t run well and got basketball at Queen’s. buried in the depth chart,” he said. Farine said some of his old “When all the veteran receivers intramural teammates aren’t happy committed for another year, I with the decision. decided to leave the team.” “There’s one guy that I personally Although Farine’s route to varsity recruited [for intramurals],” he said. basketball was unconventional, it’s “Every time he sees me, he’s always no fluke. He played on top-level saying, ‘You ditched me, bro.’” teams throughout high school.
men’s Basketball
Two losses without injured starters Gaels fall to 0-10, but aren’t out of the playoff picture just yet B y Peter R eimer Contributor The men’s basketball team’s winter vacation didn’t go exactly as planned — guards Ryan Golden and forward Alex Weatherill were hurt during exhibition play on the team’s trip to Puerto Rico and missed last weekend’s losses to the Ryerson Rams and the Toronto Varsity Blues. Golden was out with bruised ribs and Weatherill missed action due to a fractured finger. But both players still made their presence felt from the sidelines. Head coach Stephan Barrie said he loved the way Golden and Weatherill carried themselves on the bench. “The referee asked me to tell them to sit down,” Barrie said. “That’s a very strong indication of being a good teammate. I couldn’t ask for more from them.” Despite a slow start, Barrie said Saturday night’s 67-56 loss to the Varsity Blues was as close to a full game of effort as the team has played all year. “It’s something to build on,” he said. “We needed a game like that
just to feel the concept of being in the game and having a chance going into the fourth quarter. “That’s something the guys haven’t felt for a bit and they liked that feeling,” he said. “Now, they have to take that to the next level.” Barrie said even though the Gaels were able to string together three consecutive quarters of competitive play for the first time all season, his team wasn’t able to overcome the 14-point deficit suffered in the first quarter. Mike Farine played a game-high 31 minutes in his second start as a Gael. He took advantage of his floor time with 17 points to lead the game in scoring. “We knew … that he’d contribute,” Barrie said. “We need to make sure he builds on this, and when [Golden] and [Weatherill] come back, that he is still someone who is giving what he gave tonight.” Matt Baker added 10 points in the loss. In Friday’s 78-50 loss to the Rams, the Gaels jumped out to an early 12-3 lead thanks to a zone defence that caused problems for Ryerson. But the Gaels were outscored 29-7 in the
second quarter. York Lions at the ARC. “A 29-7 second quarter was the “York’s going to be right there game,” Barrie said. “Otherwise, with us in terms of who’s going through the other three quarters, to get that last seat in the playoffs,” it’s a six-point game, and we’re Golden said. “It’s going to be our right there.” biggest game.” Simpson led the team with 12 Golden said he plans on points, while Farine added 11. playing in tonight’s game against Despite falling to 0-10, the the Laurentian Voyageurs and Gaels can still make the OUA tomorrow’s game against the York playoffs, but their chances hinge on Lions. Both games tip off at 8 p.m. Saturday’s game against the winless at the ARC.
“I grew up playing basketball … In Grade 10, I travelled throughout the U.S. [with a competitive team],” he said. “But in high school, I had this insane year of football and not the best basketball year and got recruited to Queen’s.” Basketball is also a Farine family trait — his older brother, Simon, now plays professionally in Israel for Maccabi Haifa. As a first-year basketball player but a fourth-year student, Farine is the newest and oldest addition to a young, rebuilding team. But he said it’s better late than never. “I used to go to Queen’s games, watch them, and think, ‘That should be me’ — I missed … playing in front of the crowds,” he said. “When the opportunity came, I couldn’t pass it up.” Even though he won’t be at Queen’s to see the current squad develop and mature, Farine said he can still play a constructive role. “The way [Barrie] positioned it was that I would act as a band-aid that they could rely on,” he said. “I’m just here to help out where I can.” The team is 0-10 and routinely gets blown out of games — but Farine said he’s seen enough to know this team will develop. “[Second-year guard] Ryan Golden is one of the budding See Fourth-year on page 23
woMen’s basketball
Guard moves up charts Women split games, while Brittany Moore ascends OUA scoring list B y J erry Z heng Contributor Brittany Moore moved to fifth-place on the all-time OUA scoring chart with a three-pointer in the Gaels’ 73-63 loss to the Toronto Varsity Blues at the ARC on Saturday. The veteran guard could have secured the fifth-place spot a day
earlier, during the Gaels’ 78-56 win over the Ryerson Rams. She was one point shy of the milestone and was awarded a pair of free throws in the final 30 seconds. But she missed one. “She just won’t be put down,” head coach Dave Wilson said. “She is just an absolute prolific scorer and is one of the most competitive people I’ve had the opportunity
to coach.” Moore was the game’s highest scorer with 20 points against the Rams. She scored a team-high 14 points against the Blues on Saturday. Moore said the loss to the Varsity Blues puts an asterisk on her personal accolade. “It’s pretty neat,” Moore said. “It would have been better if it came See At on page 23
Friday, January 13, 2012
Sports
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woMen’s VolleyBall
Women win twice at home Gaels sit second place in the OUA at 8-3 B y A nAnD S riVAStAVA Staff Writer
match the way they started.” With a relatively tight OUA, Queen’s was outblocked 14-3 by Natalie Gray said the best way for Guelph and 10-2 against Waterloo the Gaels to separate themselves The women’s volleyball team bent, Warriors and will look to improve from the pack would be through consistent play. but didn’t break in its victories their play at the net this week. “We’re big … but we’re not “It’s anyone’s year this year and last weekend. The Gaels were pushed to five sets against the over the net and aggressive there,” it’ll definitely just come down to whichever team is the most Guelph Gryphons and four sets Christian-Macfarlane said. The Gaels will travel to consistent day-to-day,” Gray against the Waterloo Warriors, but prevailed both times to improve McMaster and York for two road said. “Our team is learning to to an 8-3 record and move into a games this weekend. Queen’s will be more consistent … it showed be able to measure themselves this weekend with our ability to second-place tie in the OUA. “We could have closed out both against the OUA’s elite when they battle back after being down a matches sooner,” head coach Joely play the 9-1 York Lions on Saturday. few points.” Christian-Macfarlane said. “That’s a little problematic and something we’ll have to work on.” Against Guelph, outside Becky Billings and middle Katie Hagarty led the team with 15 kills each. Outside hitters Natalie Gray and Kelsey Bishop paced the balanced Queen’s offence with 11 kills apiece against Waterloo. Christian-Macfarlane said the team is still learning to play with a lead. “It’s about staying hungry and keeping the fire in your belly,” she said. “When we’re ahead, I try to keep them focused on staying aggressive and finishing out the Outside Becky Billings celebrates after a kill on Saturday. photo by JUstIn chIn
woMen’s hockey
Two losses for women Coach Matthew Holmberg says team needs more consistency B y e mily l owe Staff Writer
minutes into the third period to put themselves up 3-1. Although centre Morgan McHaffie would score her The women’s hockey team missed 14th goal of the season with 6:06 an opportunity to move into second remaining, the Ridgebacks held on for the 3-2 win. Goaltender Mel place in the OUA last weekend. After winning their first game of Dodd-Moher made 24 saves in the new year 5-2 over the Carleton the loss. On Saturday against the Ravens on Jan. 3, the Gaels lost back-to-back games against the Badgers, the Gaels scored first with 10th-place University of Ontario back-to-back goals from winger Institute of Technology Ridgebacks Taryn Pilon, her second coming on and the seventh-place Brock the power play. But the Gaels’ power-play Badgers, both by a score of 3-2. On Friday against the prowess was outshone by their Ridgebacks, the Gaels generated inability to kill penalties. The 31 shots but never held the lead. Badgers scored two power-play After a scoreless first period, the goals of their own in the second Ridgebacks scored twice before period to erase the Gaels’ 2-0 lead Gaels centre Shawna Griffin and scored the game-winning goal notched her sixth goal of the with only 3:26 remaining in the season to pull her team within one. third period. Goaltender Karissa The Ridgebacks scored seven Savage made 28 saves in the
losing effort. Coach Matthew Holmberg said he was disappointed that his team still looked rusty on the weekend. “There was a lot of sloppy play [against Carleton on Jan. 3], but that was understandable given that it was our first game in over a month,” he said. “I would have thought we would have been certainly ready for the games this weekend.” Holmberg wouldn’t say which goaltender he’ll use this weekend. Dodd-Moher has started 10 games, while Savage has started seven. But Dodd-Moher has a 3.05 goals against average and 0.898 save percentage compared to Savage’s 1.89 goals against average and 0.925 save percentage.
SPORTS IN BRIEF Men’s volleyball splits weekend The men’s volleyball team finished another weekend with mixed results, losing to the Guelph
Gryphons last Friday and beating season — prior to that, the Gaels the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday. had won seven of eight encounters The Gaels led 2-1 against the with Guelph. Gryphons before dropping the Outside Joren Zeeman posted final two sets to lose 3-2. It was the 11 kills against the Gryphons to second loss to the Gryphons this move to first for kills in the CIS. He recorded 24 more kills the next day to beat the Warriors 3-2. The split weekend leaves the Gaels at 6-5 for fifth in the OUA. The Gaels’ position is far below preseason expectations — they haven’t placed lower than third since 2005. The team will travel to play the 7-2 McMaster Marauders in Hamilton tonight and the 4-5 York Lions on Saturday.
Outside hitter Joren Zeeman recorded 24 kills against Waterloo on Saturday.
photo by JUstIn chIn
— Gilbert Coyle
Friday, january 13, 2012
SportS
Friday, january 13, 2012
Gaels host At .500 Stingers tonight
queensjournal.ca
Continued from page 20
Continued from page 20
Scott Kenway, Jordan Soquila and Jonathon Lawrance scored in the first period, Bureau notched his 10th of the season in the second period and Moore scored the Gaels’ fifth goal midway through the third period. But Gibson said Queen’s struggled in their second game with the Lakers, losing 7-3 the following night. Goaltender Riley Whitlock stopped 38 shots in the loss, compared to only 23 the night before. “The team’s performance is still night and day,” Gibson said, adding that the last three games are
indicative of inconsistency in his team’s play. The Gaels outshot and outscored their opponent in the first two games of 2012, only to be outshot and outscored against the Lakers on Sunday. The weekend results push the Gaels’ record to 8-8-1, tied for eighth place in the OUA East. The Gaels will return to Kingston tonight to host the seventh-place Concordia Stingers at 7:30 p.m. at the Memorial Centre.
with a win.” The difference between the team’s win over the Rams and loss to the Varsity Blues was consistency. On Friday, the Gaels outscored the Rams in all four quarters thanks to their strong ball movement and rebounding. But the Gaels suffered a fourth-quarter collapse on Sunday, due to a 19-3 run by the Blues. In the end, the Gaels were outscored 21-9 in the final frame. Last weekend’s games puts the team at 5-5 for fourth place in the OUA East. They will host the Laurentian Voyageurs tonight and the York Lions tomorrow. Tipoff for both games is at 6 p.m. at the ARC.
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Fourth-year rookie Continued from page 20
stars in the OUA,” he said. “The growing pains are tough, but you’ll see major improvements in their record in the next few years.” One thing is certain — three years of intramural basketball didn’t prepare Farine for physical demands of OUA basketball when he joined the team in November. “The start was a mess. I was completely out of shape, dying in practice,” he said. “In games, I was nervous and shaky.” But Farine has quickly established himself as a regular contributor — although he initially came in to back up the starting guards, a recent injury to Golden allowed him to take a starting role. In Sunday’s loss to the Toronto Varsity Blues, Farine played a team-high 31 minutes, scoring 17 points.
Farine said he’s enjoyed the return to the competitive environment. “Student life was lots of partying, not that much direction,” he said. “When I had the chance to play, I thought, ‘I’ve done the normal student life, I want to see what this is like again.’” Farine said he wasn’t sure what to expect from the other players after “waltzing” onto the basketball team halfway into the season. He said it didn’t take long to fit into the team’s tight-knit culture. “Because there were so many people on the football team, it was tough to establish close relationships,” he said. “But with basketball, there are 13 guys that you’re with all the time.” Barrie said he decided to pursue Farine because the team needed a player who could contribute immediately.
“We have a couple younger guys who may develop later, but who aren’t quite ready,” he said. “But when it comes to [Farine’s] maturity level and his overall presence, he seems like a fourth-year guy.” But Barrie doesn’t chalk up Farine’s multi-sport ability to his athleticism. “He’s not more athletic than the other guys, but he’s pretty smart, pretty savvy, pretty crafty,” he said. “I would assume that there was some of that in how he played football.” Barrie said Farine makes the team environment more competitive. “He’s poised, he doesn’t get rattled on the floor, and he’s improving steadily as he goes,” Barrie said. “He’s a good example of using what you have to make yourself the best player possible.” ACROSS 1 Bake-sale org. 4 “Mayday!” 8 Basketball team 12 Predetermine the outcome 13 Elliptical 14 Largest of the seven 15 “—the fields we go” 16 Carte 17 Condo, e.g. 18 Green insect 21 Elev. 22 Support of a sort 23 Tom’s prey 26 Lustrous black 27 Dandy 30 Eager, and then some 31 Scratch 32 Color quality 33 Navigation aid 34 Manhandle 35 Virago 36 Cranberry territory 37 Mimic 38 Sport venues 45 Family member 46 Ms. Brockovich 47 Ill temper 48 Genealogy chart 49 Grow weary 50 Kvetch 51 Chops 52 Undo a dele 53 Seesaw quorum DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Item on stage Layer Taj Mahal city Sermon Occurrence Singer k.d. One whose work can be draining
8 9 10 11 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44
Animal life “— It Romantic?” Henry — Food Half-fathom Illustrations Predicament A Gabor sister Wardrobe malfunction Leno’s prominence Supporting Inseparable Parishioner’s seat Attractive items You Luau side dish Small piano Information measures Burning Maze option Entice Over again Unyielding courage Scourge of serge Showdown directive Lily variety
LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS
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Friday, January 13, 2012
postscript food
Fad dieters face drawbacks Raw food and Caveman dieters face risks of nutrient deficiency, local dietitian says B y J essica F ishbein Postscript Editor With an increasing awareness of additives and chemicals, some take extreme measures and opt to only eat food raw. A raw food diet allows for uncooked and unprocessed foods, excluding any food heated beyond 46 C. “It promotes eating lots of fruits and vegetables and leaner meats and fish,” said Public Health dietitian Heather McMillan. There are different kinds of raw food diets, but raw veganism is a common choice. Those on a raw vegan diet only eat unprocessed, raw plant food. It’s a movement that’s gaining prominence in popular culture. Several specialized restaurants in Canada accommodate raw food dieters, and celebrities ranging from Demi Moore to Jason Mraz have publicly spoken out in favour of the diet. But what possesses people to voluntarily subsist on a diet of solely raw food? “People think it’s the more natural way to eat. That’s the draw
of it,” McMillan said. The elimination of processed foods is a major benefit of undergoing a raw food diet. “Processed foods are higher in saturated fat and sodium … and have little to no fruits and vegetables,” McMillan said, citing prepackaged microwavable meals and canned pasta as examples. While one might try the raw food diet to experience food in an organic form, the diet has its drawbacks.
Something like this “challenges normal eating patterns and isn’t a sustainable change.
”
— Heather McMillan, Public Health dietitian
Raw food poses risks of food poisoning and nutrient deficiency, McMillan said. Because a raw food diet excludes grains, McMillan said raw food dieters often don’t ingest enough carbohydrates or fibre.
Raw vegans stick to a diet of mainly fruits and vegetables.
In addition, many raw food dieters face risks by drinking raw milk, which hasn’t been pasteurized. Milk pasteurization involves heating and cooling milk to remove bacteria. In Canada, the sale of raw milk is prohibited. “In terms of food safety, there are issues with raw milk,” McMillan said. “It might be contaminated … you’d want to have it pasteurized, which isn’t allowed. “If you don’t drink milk at all, you’re not getting enough calcium.” But raw milk isn’t the only type of raw food that poses a risk. “With eating raw meat, you increase the risk of contamination,” McMillan said, adding that ground meats have a higher risk of contamination compared to whole cuts of meat. Raw meat contamination can cause food borne illnesses like salmonella, which can manifest through fever and dehydration. Despite these issues, I decided to try the raw food diet myself. I lasted two days, but it felt like a lot longer. While I appreciated the break from processed foods, it’s difficult — and somewhat frightening — to
PHOTO BY JUSTIN CHIN
Raw food dieters eliminate grain products from their diet, one of the recommended food groups in Canada’s Food Guide.
fathom living long-term with these kinds of restrictions. McMillan said raw food dieters rely on several key methods of preparing food, and I can see how this is necessary to avoid boredom in the diet. “You can blend and juice anything … and people on raw food diets often dehydrate food,” McMillan said. I wasn’t so creative and out of pure laziness, simply ate any available fruits and vegetables in their given form. However, the limited selection quickly became monotonous and I can understand a raw food dieter’s need to switch up meals. Ironically, McMillan said there aren’t many health benefits to eating food raw as opposed to cooked. While proponents of the raw food diet claim cooking food decreases its nutritional value, McMillan said it’s not by a significant amount. “Cooking food decreases vitamin level by a little, but certainly not
The Caveman diet Reverting to a Stone Age diet is as restrictive as it sounds. The Paleolithic diet, also known as the Stone Age or Caveman diet, only includes foods that huntergatherers could obtain before the development of agriculture more than 10,000 years ago. The 1975 publication of Walter L. Voegtlin’s book The Stone Age Diet initially promoted the Paleolithic Diet to the public. Voegtlin argued that humans are carnivores and should ingest minimal carbohydrates, focusing instead on fat and protein. As a result, he believed following a diet
similar to those who lived in the Paleolithic era could improve a person’s health. Paleo dieters can eat fish, meat, fruit, roots and nuts. Food is allowed to be cooked. However, the theory that the human body is genetically adapted to only ingest foods from the Paleolithic era isn’t evidence-based, according to Public Health dietitian Heather McMillan. “We have adapted to a lot more than that. With milk, unless you’re lactose intolerant, our bodies have enzymes that can digest it,”
she said. Proponents of the Paleo diet say it helps to prevent cardiovascular disease. According to McMillan, the diet forbids grain products, so Paleo dieters miss out on important nutrients. “They’re missing Vitamin D and calcium, as well as carbohydrates, fibre and minerals,” McMillan said, adding that this could lead to an iron deficiency or anemia. Dairy, potatoes, beans, sugar and salt are off limits to Paleo dieters. Similar to a raw food diet, the only health benefit of the
Paleo diet is the elimination of excess sugar, salt and saturated fat, McMillan said. Ultimately, following the Canadian Food Guide will help one be healthy without having to resort to severe restrictions, McMillan said. “Lots of vegetables, fruits, lean meats and fish are lower in saturated fats — you can get this from just following a healthy diet,” she said.
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enough,” she said. Vitamin B12 levels can decrease by heating food, but eating solely raw foods isn’t the only solution to this problem. “There are still different cooking methods you can use. Instead of boiling it in a lot of water you can only use a little, or stir fry or steam it,” McMillan said. The most difficult part of my raw food diet trial though had nothing to do with food. It was the forced removal of my morning beverage of choice. A die-hard coffee dependent, I was highly disturbed to discover coffee is unacceptable on a raw-food diet, as beans in coffee are roasted. Despite caffeine withdrawal and induced crankiness, I persevered, and took the opportunity to indulge in a plethora of fruits and vegetable salads. I thought that sushi rolls would be acceptable, but sadly the rice is cooked – meaning that sashimi alone is appropriate for the diet. Wishing to preserve my health and avoid salmonella and other food borne diseases, I stayed away from raw meat and adhered to the raw vegan model. However, this doesn’t allow for much more than fruits and vegetables. McMillan said there are no evidence-based benefits of eating raw food, which isn’t hard to believe after personally experiencing the diet. “I wouldn’t recommend it. The main thing you want is something you can maintain in daily life,” McMillan said. “Something like this challenges normal eating patterns and isn’t a sustainable change.” I agree with McMillan. I can only imagine the perseverance and dedication required to stick to this diet.