The Queen's Journal, Issue 40

T his issue is dedicaTed To G abriele K inG , who is reTirinG afTer 28 years as The J ournal ’ s a dminisTraTive a ssisTanT .

T h u r s d ay , a p r i l 5 , 2 0 1 2 — i s s u e 4 0

the journal Queen’s university — since 1873

Campus life

Alcohol review looks at changing campus bars Draft of new policy includes practices used at other Universities, including restrictions on residences and bars B y C atherine O wsik Assistant News Editor The draft for a new Queen’s alcohol policy, which will result in more restrictions for on-campus pubs and residences, will soon be finalized.

“Our main concern through this process is that our pubs already operate at a fairly safe level,” said

AMS Vice-President of University Affairs Kieran Slobodin.

He said the final alcohol policy will most likely be passed in the upcoming summer months.

Slobodin, a member of the Alcohol Working Group that created the draft, said the administration is excluding student input by passing the policy during the summer.

“It’s likely going to come into effect when students aren’t here,” Slobodin, ArtSci ’12, said. “Some of what we’ve been talking about would drastically change the nature of events on campus.”

The Alcohol Working Group has taken the “best practices” of alcohol policies from other Ontario universities, including Carleton University and the University of

Toronto, and compiled them into the draft.

Officials from the Alcohol Working Group wouldn’t provide the Journal with a copy of the draft.

Regulations at Carleton University’s on-campus bars include no shots being sold, alcohol only in plastic containers after 8 p.m. and a maximum of one drink per order after midnight.

administration

NAD under fire Admin looks to cut down peer-led discipline following Coroner’s report B y terra -a nn a rnOne Features Editor Over 300 cases of malicious blue light activation have been recorded since September.

But unlike past years, Campus Security has directed the perpetrators of these false alarms to University administrators, not the AMS’s student-run discipline system.

According to student leaders, this change represents the University’s attempt to dismantle the current See Committee on page 3

City councillors and Queen’s officials met Monday night to discuss Town-Gown relations.

Photo by timothy hutama

“If the changes are too restrictive then it won’t bode well … students are going to feel blindsided and ambushed,” Slobodin said of Queen’s draft policy. “The alcohol policy is trying to address a lot of things at once, which is good … but it means there needs to be a lot of discussion.”

The Alcohol Working Group was formed in 2007 to address alcohol culture on campus. Current members include representatives from Student Affairs, the AMS, Housing and Hospitality Services and Campus Security.

Slobodin said ideally no changes would be made until September, once most students return for the fall 2012 term. This would allow for open discussion and communication regarding the changes.

“If it comes out in May there will be nobody to react,” Slobodin said.

He added that last summer, during a May Senate meeting, the GPA system was passed without much student input. This led to backlash and proposed changes to See Restrictions on page 6

Community

Town-Gown relations slowly improve Communication a priority between City and Queen’s officials B y C aitlin M C k ay Staff Writer A Monday night Town-Gown meeting at City Hall sought to increase positive communication between Queen’s and the City of Kingston.

City councillors met with

Queen’s administration to discuss the changing relationship between the City and the University. It’s part of the Town-Gown Strategic Plan, an initiative started by both parties to improve the city and quality of life in Kingston.

The Strategic Plan outlines tangible objectives that are either

editorials

dialogue

arts

The editorial board takes a look at the best and worst from this school year.

Page 8

Don Drummond comments on the Ontario budget.

The best moments of Arts this year.

Page 9

Page 12

completed or currently underway. transportation issues were touched Completed objectives include on during the meeting, which took increasing noise enforcement in place in the Memorial Room at the student area and ensuring City Hall. that students comply with Principal Daniel Woolf, property standards.

Provost Alan Harrison and other Common priorities such University officials, including as improving the quality of Vice-Principal of Operations and student housing, research and Facilities Ann Browne and VicePrincipal of Finance Caroline Davis were present, as well as all the city councillors and Mayor Mark Gerretsen.

“Principal Woolf is trying to demonstrate to the City that the University is interested in taking Town-Gown relations very seriously,” AMS Municipal postscript Affairs Commissioner Dave Sinkinson said.

The results of Postscript’s Sinkinson, who was present Best of Kingston survey. at the meeting, said it was an important event because it shows Page 22

See City on page 7

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Campus life

P&CC gets upgraded $30,000 renovation will be the service’s first since moving into the JDUC 15 years ago B y h Olly tOusiGnant Staff Writer

needs, AMS Retail Services director Jeff Heenan said.

“The trend has been a lot An upcoming $30,000 renovation more printing as opposed to will bring the Publishing and photocopying, and the physical Copy Centre (P&CC) into the layout of the space hasn’t changed to reflect that,” he said, adding 21st century.

The P&CC hasn’t undergone that without the renovations, the a major renovation since moving service would be unable to expand to its current home in the JDUC to satisfy the printing demand.

“We’re doing a lot more work in in 1997.

The 127.5-square metre space our back shop, but we’re reaching will be repainted, reconfigured to a limit of where we can take that.”

Heenan said the copy centre make room for a new colour printer and outfitted with automatic doors can afford the renovations due to depreciation periods. to improve accessibility.

The service will pay the AMS “Our doors are fire doors, so they should really be closed at all Board of Directors in installments times,” P&CC head manager Justin for the next three years to pay Brooks said. “Obviously that’s a for the printers and depreciation problem because the handles we payments will also be used for have are not very accessible, they for the renovations over the next have knobs. That’s why we want five years.

According to Heenan, to do automatic, motorized doors.”

The renovations will commence renovations were first considered after exams and are expected to be last summer when he and Brooks complete by the second week of looked into acquiring a new May. Brooks said the changes will colour printer.

“There wasn’t really a place to provide the P&CC an opportunity put it,” Heenan, ArtSci ’10, said. to grow as a service.

The P&CC currently has seven “We’re really excited about making it easier for the customer, printers, two are full colour.

The new printer will use for students,” Brooks, Sci ’12,said.

Other alterations, including a less than half of the energy as new colour printer and changes to those currently installed and this the space’s layout, are a necessary could lead to a drop in colour response to the change in customer printing prices.

Once new managers start in May, P&CC will conduct an assessment of local competition to determine rates. Heenan said for a single sided, letter-sized colour page, competition charge $0.50 per sheet. The P&CC currently charges $0.60.

Heenan said the P&CC is behind other university print shops and this renovation will provide an opportunity to catch up.

“Western has a print shop about the same size as the P&CC and they’re entirely back shop, they have a front counter and that’s it, and they do about three times as much revenue as we do,” he said.

In the last two years, P&CC ran $10,000 and $70,000 surpluses respectively, Heenan said, adding that this success was incentive to continue the service’s growth.

This year, the copy centre is projected to have a $35,000 surplus.

“Success certainly helps to make a case for renovations. It shows that the service has a lot of potential, but I think the need is there regardless.”

— With files from Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Alma Mater Society Non-Academic Discipline System: The AMS Non-Academic Discipline system is a discipline system that holds all members of the AMS responsible for violations of the Queen’s Code of Conduct, on and off campus.

Statistics At A Glance:

Total Number of cases since May 1st, 2011: 82 Number of cases dropped: 29 (Handled by Residence Life: 4) (Not an AMS member: 14) (Lack of evidence/no violation: 11)

Number of cases being investigated: 2 Number of cases settled: 51

Who Are The Complainants?

Cases from Residence Life: 29 Cases from Student Constables: 14 Cases from Campus Security: 27 Cases from other sources (ex. Community members): 12

Nature Of Our Cases: Incidents involving alcohol misuse: 45 / Physical altercation: 8 Failure to comply with University regulations on alcohol use: 18 Trespassing: 10 / Vandalism: 11 Non-compliance with University official: 29 Infringing on the rights of University or community member: 26 Noise violation off-campus: 11 / Incomplete sanctions: 4

Since May 1st, 2011 the NAD system has processed 82 complaints.In each of these cases the Judicial Affairs Office meets with all parties involved and seeks to restore the harm that was caused by the incident. Sanctions that can be imposed include, but are not limited to fines and bonds (up to $1000.00), educational sanctions, restitution or suspension of privileges (ie. a Tri-Pub Ban).

This past year a number of improvements have been made to the NAD system. Incidents that involve alcohol misuse have been addressed by the use of the Alcohol Workshop run by Health Counseling and Disability Services. This workshop has been used to a greater extent as opposed to monetary sanctions.

This change is consistent with our restorative pillar. Additionally there has been a vast improvement in the consistency with which cases are handled. This is a positive change that will increase the accountability of the office and will be continued in the coming year.

Integral to the AMS NAD system are the pillars of restorative justice, peer-administration and maintaining a non-adversarial approach. These pillars make the current system not only unique within North America, but also well suited to the unique university environment at Queen’s. A student run system is better equipped than the university administration to assign sanctions that are both suited to restoring the harm done to the complaint, as well as restoring harm done to the Queen’s community more broadly.

To file a complaint, written report of an incident (which includes the identity of the student involved and evidence of a violation of the Code of Conduct) must be filed with the Comissioner of Internal Affairs at cia@ams.queensu.ca. For more information please contact either the Comissioner of Internal Affairs or the Judicial Affairs Director (judicialdirector@ams.queensu.ca).

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FeATUre

Photo by Corey LabLans

Judicial Affairs Director Alison Sproat said she’s been in talks with administration since the Coroner’s report was released last May.

Committee to reach decision come fall Continued from page 1

peer-led method of discipline.

Following a recommendation from Coroner Roger Skinner — who investigated the accidental deaths of two Queen’s students last year — administration has been reviewing the AMS’s Non-Academic Discipline (NAD) system.

Almost a year ago, Skinner presented University administrators with a report aimed at curbing the deemed drinking culture on campus, calling for a review of alcohol use in residences, security and the University’s alcohol policies.

He also recommended reform of NAD, writing, “Queen’s University should remove health and safety issues, including alcohol, from the jurisdiction of the peer/student judiciary.”

The NAD system is a completely student-operated judicial board which seeks to discipline and reform students who’ve violated the University’s Code of Conduct.

It’s the only organization of its kind in Canada.

Judicial Affairs Director Alison Sproat, who’s responsible for running the NAD system, said her office started consulting with Student Affairs immediately after the Coroner’s report was published.

“Incidents involving the misuse of blue lights are incidents which fall within our jurisdiction and should be handled through the AMS NAD system,” she said.

Initial talks with then-Dean of Student Affairs John Pierce and former Provost Academic Bob Silverman were halted mid-summer when both administrators were replaced.

Ann Tierney took over as Dean of Student Affairs while Alan Harrison became Provost Academic. Sproat said the turnover posed challenges for Judicial Affairs’ negotiations with University representatives.

“Currently we have less institutional support from the administration for the AMS NAD system than we have had previously,” Sproat told the Journal via email. “The lack of support is shown by the fact that Student Affairs has handled a number of cases that would have traditionally been processed through the

AMS system.”

Though the NAD system traditionally fields cases of blue light misuse, they’ve only processed one offense since administration took the reigns last May. “Student Affairs near the beginning of the summer identified this group of cases as those which they wanted to handle and subsequently directed Campus Security to send the vast majority of cases involving blue lights directly to Student Affairs,” Sproat said. “This was done without our knowledge.”

University views “itThe more as changing student behaviour rather than educating students on what the Student Code of Conduct is and how we can uphold it.

”

— Kieran Slobodin, vice-president of university affairs In October, Student Affairs struck a committee to review the current student-led discipline system. Sproat said the committee has put forward a proposal for restructuring the system next year, adding that it “does not at all resemble the current system we have.”

She said the AMS unilaterally agreed that NAD’s current system should remain as-is in the coming year.

While they’re open to feedback, Sproat said, AMS representatives won’t budge on two of NAD’s fundamental pillars: non-adversarial and peer-administered.

“These discussions have not concluded, but it seems as though the AMS and Student Affairs have clearly divergent interests and ideas regarding how the NAD system should be operated in the coming year,” Sproat said.

Arig Girgrah, assistant dean of Student Affairs, sits on the Non-Academic Discipline Review Committee responsible for determining NAD’s future.

She said Queen’s Senate’s policy on Student Appeals, Rights and Discipline (SARD) grants

the University power over NAD for cases deemed to be of a serious nature.

These include trespassing in construction zones and on rooftops, malicious emergency blue light activations and vandalism, she said.

“Last year, then-Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) communicated to all students reminding them that Queen’s takes very seriously any misconduct ... and that his office would deal with serious violations of the Student Code of Conduct per the provisions in SARD,” Girgrah told the Journal via email.

“This year, the new Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) delegated his authority under the SARD policy to the Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs [Ann Tierney].”

Girgrah said the future of NAD is undecided.

“The Non-Academic Discipline Review is ongoing and a report will be delivered to the Provost once the work of the Committee is complete,” she said.

Kieran Slobodin, AMS vice-president of university affairs, sits on the Committee with Girgrah.

He said right now the group is looking at a reformed model of non-academic discipline that would keep some power with the student government, but transfer a

portion to the University.

“In their view it’s a hybrid model,” Slobodin said. “In our view, it’s a complete removal of the fundamental value of student-run discipline.”

discussions “haveThese not concluded,

but it seems as though the AMS and Student Affairs have clearly divergent interests and ideas regarding how the NAD system should be operated in the coming year.

”

— Alison Sproat, Judicial Affairs director The hybrid model would classify disciplinary cases as major or minor. Those deemed minor will be handled by NAD, while the major cases are taken on by administration.

Slobodin said administration would strike a review board comprised of representatives from Residence Life, Athletics and faculty as well as delegates from the student body. He said faculty members are only consulted on cases in which violations take place in an academic setting, like a student drinking during class.

“The University views it more as changing student behaviour rather than educating students on what the Student Code of Conduct is and how we can uphold it,” he said.

Once the committee has drafted a full proposal for the future of NAD, it’ll be forwarded to the Provost’s Office before coming to a final decision at Senate.

Slobodin said talks will continue through the summer, but administration won’t be making a firm decision until students return in the fall.

“It’s not a decision that’s fully fleshed out yet,” he said, adding that Judicial Affairs was in consultation with Campus Security and Health, Counselling and Disability Services before the Coroner’s report was released.

“Are we unique in having completely student-run discipline?

Yes,” Slobodin said. “And while the University will argue that best practice is not to have it, I’d argue it’s what makes our students leaders.

“It’s our willingness to hold each other accountable, to develop a system that holds ourselves to a higher standard. For us to have it being student-run shows us being leaders every step of the way.”

History of NAD The NAD system at Queen’s was born over a century ago out of other administration-run methods of discipline.

According to the most recent AMS Guide to Non-AcademicDiscipline, a model of peer-administered discipline emerged in the 1880s with a group of upper-year students.

The upper-years would fine younger offenders but “in reality collect money for beer.”

In 1898 Principal George Monroe Grant and the University Senate collectively decided to transfer Non-Academic Discipline to the AMS Court. Until the late 1990s, Non-Academic Discipline was handled by students recruited from the law school.

That same year, after the Law Society seceded from the AMS, full control was transferred to the Society’s undergraduate members.

In 1985, the AMS Judicial Committee was brought to the Ontario High Court of Justice to decide if the group should have jurisdiction over students off-campus. The High Court ruled in their favour, and NAD has since continued to try students for transgressions in the campus’ surrounding area.

Until now, the last major threat to NAD was in 2006.

In what is now known as the Deans’ Motion, seven school administrators motioned to remove the student-run system in favour of discipline run out of the

principal’s office.

The motion was brought forward by then-Dean of Arts and Science Robert Silverman.

“No one recognized how ineffective the Non-Academic Discipline had been with regard to Aberdeen one and two,” Silverman told the Journal in 2006.

“When someone is hurt it will be the University that is sued, not the AMS.” Silverman’s motion was tabled after NAD’s then-leader Jennifer Mansell presented a strategic plan for the service. Set for review in November, the motion lost steam over the summer months and had no effect on the system.

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ams

The AMS in review B y s avOula s tylianOu Asisstant News Editor In May 2011, Team CES, made up of President Morgan Campbell, Vice-President of Operations Ashley Eagan and Vice-President of University Affairs Kieran Slobodin, started their term as AMS executive.

The team won the February election with a platform of 16 different points. The Journal checked in with the outgoing executive to see where they met their promises and where they fell flat.

Photos by justin chin

From left to right: Team CES is made up of Morgan Campbell, Kieran Slobodin and Ashley Eagan. They won the AMS election in February 2011 on a platform of 16 points, 11 of which they have completed.

graPhic by justin chin

AMS corporate services in the red QTV Media Services Director Dan Szczepanek said historically Queen’s TV has always had a deficit.

“In 2009-10, they finished with a $9,500 deficit. Last year, we finished with a budgeted deficit of $11,903,” Szczepanek, ArtSci ’11, said.

He added that while this year QTV was budgeted to have a deficit of $4,600, it ended up being half that much — $2,228.

“This year we’ve hired a business manager as a paid full-time position,” he said.

CFRC CFRC has consistantly run a significant deficit, Szczepanek said.

“In 2009-10, there was a $21,000 deficit. Last year there was a deficit of $18,365,” he said.

Szczepanek added that he hoped CFRC would stay at its $7,000 deficit this year, but it eventually increased.

“We haven’t had the level of success we had hoped for with advertising and sponsorship,” he said, adding that CFRC is now expected to incur a deficit of $11,491.

graPhic by justin chin

TRICOLOUR OUTLET Tricolour Outlet is projecting a deficit of $25,000 this year. Retail Services Director Jeff Heenan said Tricolour Express didn’t do as well as he hoped.

“Last year, there was a 30 per cent decline in bus ticket sales,” Heenan, ArtSci ’10, said.

“This year we budgeted for a 10 per cent increase hoping to reverse the trend.”

Heenan said the bus service has increased five per cent this year instead.

“We’ve been focusing on the Tricolour express in our marketing.”

STUDENT CONSTABLES The Student Constables were projected to have a $25,000 deficit this year before a motion was passed at the AMS Annual General Meeting to increase the Student Constable student fee from $8.34 to $10.

“We’re in negotiations to split the safety services grant from Student Affairs between the two and if that happens, both services would be targeting break-even,” Gracie Goad, ArtSci ’11, said in reference to Walkhome as well.

— Savoula Stylianou

“Mindfulness in Everyday Life” – Insight Meditation Retreat, non-residential, Sun., April 22 to Sat.Apr.28; Mon. –Fri. mornings and evenings; $75 plus donation for teacher; call Linda Tucker, 634-0497.

Thursday, april 5, 2012

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mental HealtH

‘There’s stigma around the word stigma’ An overarching campus-wide review of mental health-related incidences and initiatives

A timeline of initiatives and activities surrounding mental health awareness on campus in the past year.

B y M eaGhan wray Assistant News Editor A report from the Principal’s Commission on Mental Health won’t be released this spring as originally planned.

The final report is scheduled to come out in the fall after soliciting more student input and working on a draft that’s currently in progress.

The Commission was launched in September 2011 to analyze how Queen’s responds to mental health issues on campus, what other universities do and what the best practices are, Principal Daniel Woolf told the Journal via email.

“Its recommendations will help us develop a strategy for Queen’s that brings together everything that’s already happening so as to ensure that we are responding to this question as effectively as possible,” he said.

Woolf said it’s important to recognize that stress and mental illness are two different aspects of life and the University is working to respond to all situations involving mental health and wellness.

A year ago, Woolf released a video regarding mental health after a string of student deaths. It was a time when the Queen’s community was “in mourning and, frankly, in shock,” Woolf said.

He added that he faced some criticism.

“The feedback was generally positive though some (fairly) pointed out that I neglected to distinguish in the video between ‘routine’ stress, depression and sadness and the more serious forms of mental illness,” he told the Journal.

At this point, Woolf couldn’t comment on specific recommendations the Principal’s Commission will bring forward.

“I don’t know what the recommendations will be,” he said. “Generally, I expect they will cover prevention, recognition and response.”

These are only three aspects of mental health spectrum that Dr. Mike Condra, director of Health, Counseling and Disability Services (HCDS), has been working to uphold.

In his 19 years as director of HCDS, Condra has seen significant changes in the state of mental health on campus.

Mental health is a problem on campuses nation-wide, Condra said.

Queen’s isn’t unique in that respect.

But the gusto and enthusiasm for extra-curricular activities and academic

success, he said, is what could potentially set this campus apart from others.

“Queen’s students bring a high level of dedication and intensity to their work,” he said. “We need to think a little bit about how much pressure there is on students from the environment.”

This is one of the main points Condra wants the Principal’s Commission to take into consideration.

He said the Commission hopes to create a better understanding of the relationship between a student’s life and vulnerability for mental health problems.

“It really is I think looking at an overall plan for the University in terms of the whole spectrum of what might be important in the area of mental health,” he said.

Through August to December of last year, Condra said there have been significant developments in the area of mental health, in terms of training for dons in residence and Orientation Roundtable training for Gaels.

Since then, the school has hired a new full-time mental health nurse, a new counselor in HCDS and increased counseling service hours amongst current employees in the School of Business and in residences.

Counseling accessibility for students has been a big focus at HCDS, Condra said, by making sure to assess if student problems require immediate attention.

If students need to be seen more regularly, HCDS helps to find them care within the Kingston community, he said.

When emotions like stress and loneliness take over a student’s life, that’s when it becomes a mental health problem, Condra said.

“Now you start to get into a cycle where that stuff starts to develop a life of its own and they are more socially withdrawn,” he said. “It’s gotten out of control, now it’s a mental health problem.”

Catherine Zulver, ArtSci ’14, said she’s just one student with one personal experience of mental health issues. She said the details of her personal struggle aren’t what need to be shared.

As a student who struggled through mental illness through high school and sought HCDS services upon coming to Queen’s, she said she’s witnessed a variety of stigmas surrounding mental illness on campus — one of them being a misunderstanding of the very word.

“There’s stigma around the word stigma,” Zulver said. “The only way to fight it is to define it and then educate against it.”

Zulver referenced a class discussion on

a film that depicted a man suffering from a form of mental illness.

A comment, made by a fellow student, suggested putting the man in an institution for observation. “[It’s] treating mental illness as if it’s something scary,” she said. “The main stigma I’ve experienced is just that idea of ‘us’ and ‘them’ and creating this feared ‘other’ of someone who deals with mental illness.”

Zulver said a big problem she sees within the current health care system at Queen’s

graPhic by corEy LabLans

is the way in which students are initially responded to.

As HCDS currently operates, when a student calls they are asked whether their situation is urgent or not.

“People call for help not knowing necessarily what’s wrong,” she said.

“You can know something’s not familiar and you’re not yourself, but it doesn’t mean you know ‘this is what I have and this is how important it is.’”

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Restrictions may lead to unsafe decisions Continued from page 1

the system during many Senate meetings throughout the year.

It may also be necessary to change service operations at the on-campus bars, such as Alfie’s, Queen’s Pub and Clark Hall Pub, and the managers will need time to adjust, Slobodin said.

Policy talks so far have included the AMS, the Society of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS), managers from on-campus pubs and faculty society representatives.

Slobodin said the new policy may change TAPS operations but that ultimately the on-campus bars will remain in the AMS’s control.

“We’ll still be in control but because our liquor licences are owned and operated by the University they do have the ability to say ‘These are the conditions under which you operate.’”

Slobodin said the AMS is concerned the draft would impose too many restrictions,

such as early closing times, and this could cause students to leave the safety of campus to drink alcohol at the downtown bars and clubs.

“The students around the table have been very vocal in the sense that we feel if we restrict our locations too much it will push students outside of the University District,” Slobodin said. “[The administration] has voiced that they don’t think that’s as big of a concern.”

Slobodin said Queen’s on-campus bars and pubs offer safety nets that aren’t available for students downtown.

For example, patrons are currently required to present student identification before entering many on-campus locations.

One guest may be signed in per student.

A minimum of two or three Student Constables and bar managers are also always present in these venues to watch the amount of alcohol consumption, Slobodin said.

“We want students to be able to make safe and educated decisions about alcohol,” he

said. “We don’t want students to not be able to make decisions by restricting too much of what they can do on campus.”

Ann Tierney, vice-provost and dean of student affairs, said creating the draft has involved consultations with student representatives, such as the managers of on-campus pubs.

She added that specific sections of the draft are in different stages of development.

“A significant amount of work has been done but there is much more to do,” Tierney told the Journal via email. “I think the group is very committed to this work so that the result is a comprehensive policy that is customized to Queen’s.”

Ryan Flannagan, director of student affairs at Carleton University, said their current alcohol policy was implemented after there were problems with fights in the on-campus bars.

There are two on-campus bars run by

student unions — the undergraduate bar Oliver’s and the graduate bar Mike’s Place.

Flannagan said after the updated policy was implemented in March 2009 there was an initial backlash from students.

“There were significant changes that the students weren’t particularly happy about,” Flannagan said, adding that this included reducing the size of the undergraduate bar Oliver’s.

“Now the student union has come to be really supportive of the policy … [the bars] have become a safe community for students.”

Flannagan said students were consulted prior to the changes.

Now Carleton University is looking into changing policies, like getting rid of the rule that prohibits the sale of shots.

“We’re revisiting that because we think the student union is doing a pretty good job of managing the space,” Flannagan said.

ALCOHOLISM ON CAMPUS Queen’s Health, Counseling and Disability Services (HCDS) offers resources for students that suffer from alcoholism. But according to HCDS Medical Director Dr. Suzanne Billing, many cases may remain undiagnosed.

“There are likely more undiagnosed cases than those diagnosed,” Billing told the Journal via email. “Those who misuse alcohol often tell themselves that they just like to party or have fun and that the way they drink is ‘normal.’”

Billing said by normalizing the misuse of alcohol, people allow the condition to persist for a long time.

HCDS does not collect statistics about the number of students suffering from alcoholism, Billing said.

She defined alcohol abuse as someone who continues to consume large amounts of alcohol without regard to negative health effects.

“Another example would be the student who binges three nights a week (five or more drinks) and suffers from poor energy, rarely attends classes thus failing, or performing very sub-optimally,” Billing said.

She added that these individuals don’t attribute these effects to alcohol.

Physicians on campus may see an injury and not relate it to binge-drinking habits, Billing said.

“Here at Queen’s student health we see a large number of alcohol related injuries which would be unlikely to have occurred without the involvement of alcohol,” she said.

Billing added that those with short-term Substance Use Disorder are susceptible to high rates of depression and suicide.

She said denial was common in alcoholics and therefore treating them was difficult.

Students who think their friend or peer is suffering from alcoholism should approach them when they are sober and say they think they have a problem.

“Suggest that they seek help from a doctor, counsellor or Alcoholics Anonymous,” Billing said. “One can even offer to go with the person if comfortable doing so.”

— Catherine Owsik

Photo by corEy LabLans

Carleton University currently has a strict alcohol policy that prohibits the sale of shots and glass bottles past 8 p.m. at their campus bars. Queen’s alcohol policy draft has partly been based off of their practices.

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City to include students in long-term plans Continued from page 1

how far Town-Gown relations have come.

He said the creation of the Town-Gown Strategic Plan in 2011 has increased the flow of communication between the two stakeholders.

“Before there was a lot of animosity, or at least a lack of communication, between the City and the University,” Sinkinson, ArtSci ’11, said.

He said one of the main issues causing tension between the University and the City was the annual Homecoming weekend.

“The Town-Gown talks started between the City and the University after the really bad Aberdeen Street party in 2005,” Sinkinson said. “At that point relations went from people not talking, to being really angry and now working together to get through the rough patch.”

Town-Gown “talksThestarted between the City and the University after the really bad Aberdeen Street party in 2005.

”

— Dave Sinkinson, AMS municipal affairs commissioner

Sinkinson added that other contentious issues included the University’s effect on neighbourhood families, the poor quality of student housing and the renaming of the University area.

Earlier this year when Sinkinson approached Bill Glover, city councillor for the Sydenham District, about putting “University District” on the street signs surrounding the University he was met with resistance. “[Glover’s] issue with renaming the University District revolved around the fact that it doesn’t fit with any of the City’s official naming policies,” Sinkinson said. “I went back to offer him a compromise, I said what if we called it the ‘University District in Historic Sydenham Ward,’ … he wasn’t thrilled about that either.”

The Sydenham District includes sections of student housing and the University. Glover has been the councillor for this district since 2006.

We don’t want to “make a city within a city.

”

— Daniel Woolf, principal “I’m delighted, we’ve come a long way,” Glover said at the meeting.

Improvements to the student area such as the Williamsville Street Project were also briefly discussed at the meeting. The project is a year-long study conducted for the City and was originally presented in February during an open forum — it concluded that the area of Princess Street, from Division to Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard, is underutilized and requires re-development.

Sinkinson said it’s important

for students to offer input on the project because with an increasing number of students enrolled at the University, more students will soon be living in this area.

“The Queen’s people indicated a great deal of interest in trying to see student housing [through],” Glover told the Journal in an interview.

Another focus of the meeting was on the bleak economic climate and how the City and the University need each other to prosper financially.

“The provincial budget was certainly more austere. We fared better than others but we will not see increased funding in the near future,” Woolf said at the meeting.

“The fiscal reality has placed strain on us. I think that said, I am interested in hearing partnership opportunities with the City.

Development projects, whether they are on Queen’s campus or in the city are at large, can be and often are of mutual interest to both Queen’s and the city.”

A part of these partnerships is

to recognize the need to welcome and incorporate students into the Kingston community.

“We don’t want to make a city within a city,” Woolf said at the meeting. “Students need to find out what’s out there.”

Part of the long-term plan is improving housing and making students aware of the services the city provides.

These initiatives will encourage them to remain in Kingston after graduation, Gerard Hunt, chief administrative officer for the City said.

“When students come to Queen’s they are residents and we encourage them to embrace the city,” Hunt said. “If students remain after graduation it will provide a sustainable workforce for the city.”

-— With files from Katherine Fernandez-Blance and Catherine Owsik

8 •queensjournal.ca About the JournAl

Editorial Board Editors in Chief

Clare ClanCy Jake edmiston

Production Manager

labiba Haque

News Editor

Thursday, april 5, 2012

EDITORIAlS The Journal’s PersPecTive

Darts and laurels 2011-12

katHerine Fernandez-blanCe

Assistant News Editors

CatHerine owsik savoula stylianou meagHan wray

Features Editor

terra-ann arnone

Assistant Features Editor

Janina enrile

Editorials Editor

Labiba Haque

andrew stokes

Editorial Illustrator

No more excuses

JangHan Hong

Dialogue Editor Arts Editor

brendan monaHan alyssa asHton

Assistant Arts Editor

A

Caitlin CHoi

Sports Editor

gilbert Coyle

Assistant Sports Editor

benJamin deans

Postscript Editor

JessiCa FisHbein

Photography Editor

Corey lablans

Assistant Photo Editors

Justin CHin asad CHisHti

Copy Editors

JessiCa munsHaw terenCe wong

Blogs Editor

kelly loeper

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Photographers

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Sales Representatives

James bolt katHerine pearCe

Thursday, April 5, 2012 • Issue 40 • 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 © 2012 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.

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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 1 of Volume 140 will be published on Tuesday, May 29, 2012.

Suspension of Fine Art admissions: The New on-campus services: Making good on administration’s decision to notify the 107 BFA students an AMS campaign promise, the Grocery Checkout of their program’s suspension via email was ridiculous. and Drug Smart Pharmacy are excellent uses of vacant Overall the situation lacked student consultation Queen’s Centre space. and transparency.

Senators Jordan Morelli and Mark Jones: Bands scandal: The vulgar and sexist songs in These senators always have students’ best interests in the Bands songbook were an embarrassment for the mind. They’re persistent in their questions and follow University, but so was the way Bands members were proper avenues to incite change. shamed for traditions they had no part in creating.

AMS stands up to admin: The AMS made NOPIRG campaign: The campaign to vote the right call in withholding student-generated funds down the renewal of OPIRG’s $4 opt-outable student promised to Phases 2 and 3 of the Queen’s Centre. fee was more of a mud-slinging match than a debate of the fee’s merits.

Bryan Fautley and the men’s volleyball team: Fautley’s decision to come out to his coach and Postponement of Queen’s Centre Phases 2 and 3: teammates engendered a positive change for the We’re assuming the indefinite delay of the Queen’s volleyball team and campus athletics in general. It Centre construction equates to cancellation. It’s not too took a lot of courage to share that story — thanks for much to ask the administration to explain the decision speaking up. in detail given the money students have shelled out over the years.

Municipal Affairs Commission: It was the most visible and proactive AMS commission this year.

University District initiative: Rebranding the With initiatives like the “Let our alumni come home” Student Ghetto as the University District was a repeat YouTube video, post-St. Patrick’s Day cleanup and the of the 2007 AMS attempt to rename the area the University District Hockey League, the MAC made Student Village. AMS Assembly’s decreeing of a new tangible changes this year. We darted the single decision name isn’t going to be successful among the student to change the name of the Student Ghetto but the population until there are visible improvements to overall accomplishments need to be recognized. the area.

Men’s volleyball CIS championship: Hosting Mental health committees: A number of mental the CIS championship was a huge undertaking, but it health action groups formed on campus, such as the went off without a hitch. Teams were well taken care of, AMS’s mental health committee, but little tangible attendance at the ARC broke records and every game action has been seen. The Principal’s commission still was posted online. hasn’t written a draft of the promised report, and hasn’t shown the necessary urgency.

Rector and AMS elections: There were more rector candidates this year than in recent memory.

Alcohol ban: The alcohol ban in residence Strong efforts got people talking. Having three AMS during Frosh Week is a counter-measure that welcomes teams run for executive added a layer of competition more harm than good. The ban forces students to the election while still keeping it classy. Team RMS off-campus to drink, which is significantly less safe challenged the conception that only members of the than residence. student government can run for office.

No Fauxcoming football game: The absence of Keep George Here: The campaign to raise a home football game in late September was intentional, funds for Bahamian law student George Evans when giving no clear date for an Aberdeen Street party. But scholarships and other resources fell through was a the loss of the alumni march coupled with a sense that testament to the strength of the law school community. the student body can be controlled by a scheduling tweak, makes for a sad commentary on the year.

QTV coverage: This year showed QTV improving by leaps and bounds. Endorsing an AMS Woolf’s leaked letter: Principal Woolf’s letter executive team established them as a competitive media that explained Queen’s ailing reputation and planned source, creating a media arena on campus that offers for a months-long workers strike hurt the University’s multiple perspectives. The next step is to allow them confidence. If our leader isn’t proud of his school, how editorial autonomy from the AMS. A media outlet that can students be? It was an embarrassment for Woolf endorses candidates can’t have its Executive Producer and there was little to no PR control afterwards. hired by AMS officials.

Student apathy: Turnout for AMS elections this Student and faculty support for BFA: The year was low and the turnout for provincial elections suspension of the BFA program was met with a strong was the lowest in recorded history. opposition from members of the Queen’s community.

round this time last year I walked into the JDUC’s McLaughlin Room in anticipation of attending my first town hall meeting — it was to solicit student input on the changes to the minimum tuition payment deadline.

I was surprised to see three times as many pizza boxes as students.

I shouldn’t have been surprised, as I was well aware of apathy on campus.

As a second-year student, I attended the forum out of necessity for a Journal story rather than my own interest in the discussion. I was guilty of complaining to my friends about the changes that were to occur but had never taken the time to actively participate in public forums or speak directly with student leaders.

My excuses were fairly common: other things in my life took precedence. There I witnessed student leaders actively promoting discussion forums and expecting a large turnout, only to be greeted with a 20-person turnout — most of whom were student representatives.

With the recent discussion surrounding the low turnout at mental health forums, I can’t help but ask where the responsibility for student participation lies.

Is it the duty of those elected as student political leaders to ensure that students are present at these feedback discussions? Or is it up to the students to make sure that they’re informed and aware that these discussions are taking place?

Maybe being informed isn’t practical or convenient for students who are committed to their busy lives. But whether it’s a lack of proactively committing to these formal discussions or a need for better outreach, at the end of the day this responsibility should be left to students.

The fact of the matter is, people are interested but they aren’t engaged.

Too often, opinion is just comprised of a small certain percentage of students. The small numbers who do engage in feedback are the ones who are already engaged in student politics, which brings into question the diversity of student input generated at these forums.

Student opinion is out there. We need to put campus issues on our priority lists and make sure our voices are heard.

Thursday, april 5, 2012

““

queensjournal.ca

•9

It“ is“ troubling“ that“ many“ post-secondary“ education“ institutions“ need“ annual“ funding“ increases“ of“ four“ to“ six“ per“ cent“ simply“ to“ continue“doing“the“same“thing.

DIALOGUE PersPectives from the Queen’s community

Public Service reform

”

Don Drummond on the Ontario budget We must look at the broader economic and fiscal context to drive efficiencies that will help our public services cope with slower funding increases

D on D rummonD Queen’s School of Policy Studies Students, faculty and staff had much at stake with the release of the Ontario budget on March 27.

Immediate interest likely centred on the plan to increase funding for post-secondary education by 1.9 per cent per annum over the next few years, to continue the 30 per cent tuition credit and to maintain the five per cent cap on annual tuition increases.

While the 1.9-per-cent increase will barely cover the projected rise in post-secondary enrolment, it’s nevertheless more than double the limit on total government spending across all areas, reflecting the priority the Ontario government places on education.

But the economic and fiscal context behind the budget should be of even greater interest than the particular actions. I chaired the Commission on the Reform of Ontario Public Services which estimated that without strong fiscal action, the province’s deficit would balloon from $15.3 billion this year to over $30 billion by 2017-18.

Even more troubling, the ratio of net public debt to the province’s Gross Domestic Product — a key indicator of the extent to which fiscal shortcomings are being shifted to the future — would rise from 37.2 per cent to over 50 per cent over the same period.

While still far lower than the ratios of over 100 per cent in many European countries in crisis, such a debt load would inevitably leave the government little choice but to apply wrenching action that would undermine the most valued public services.

So while the medicine being applied now seems bitter, it’s a far superior approach to doing nothing until collision with a fiscal wall. By taking action now the government has an opportunity to absorb a good part of the fiscal restraint through increasing the efficiency of public services.

Health care is a prime example: it constitutes over 40 per cent of the province’s spending and its budget has been rising at more than 7 per cent a year over the past decade. Yet aside from the U.S., the phenomenal spending buys rather mediocre results compared to other developed countries. Parts of the system remain in silos when they should be integrated, and patients fall between the cracks.

Information technology isn’t used effectively. People languish in the wrong facilities at high cost and satisfaction is often poor. We can and must do much better with

slower funding increases.

The same focus on efficiency needs to be applied to universities and colleges to ensure students receive a good education within a more limited fiscal framework.

Efficiency shouldn’t be defined just by the resources used, but the outcomes those resources produce. As with many other areas the Commission studied, more attention needs to be paid to the definition of outcomes in higher education.

It’s not simply a matter of graduating more students. It’s what and how they learn that counts. It is troubling that many post-secondary education institutions need annual funding increases of four to six per cent simply to continue doing the same thing. When funding increases fall short of this, the response is often larger class sizes, which can result in a deterioration of the learning experience.

The challenge before Ontario’s universities and colleges now is to prevent deterioration, and hopefully ensure an improvement, in outcomes within the resource constraints.

At the broadest level the Commission on the Reform of Ontario Public Services called for a different way of running governments — one that is respectful of the taxpayers’ money in times of economic health, rather than only when a fiscal crisis looms.

This shift requires clear definitions of objectives. Programs must be designed to deliver their objectives as efficiently as possible.

Data must be collected and

source: ontario budGet

Graphic by Justin chin

Ontario Budget 2012-13 at a glance.

analyzed to ensure this efficiency.

And where programs are falling short of the efficiency mark, they must be reformed or scrapped.

The Commission found tremendous waste in the overlap of different levels of government.

Numerous departments offer uncoordinated programs in areas such as employment, training, immigration settlement, environment protection and business support.

In business support, for example, we identified about $4 billion of spending and targeted tax relief, spread across at least nine ministries, without clear objectives or stringent tests of success. In most cases the only question asked is whether they create jobs. But what kind of jobs are created and at what cost to taxpayers?

Last Thursday’s federal budget and other recent provincial budgets also played into this theme of efficiency. Immigration is an area where the federal government has recently paid more attention

to defining objectives. Programs are beginning to be assessed and shaped according to which immigrants succeed economically and socially. In other areas, such as with funding for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), we saw a major cut in funding without a discussion of what the public broadcaster’s role should be.

A signature move in the 2012-13 federal budget was increasing the age of entitlement for Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI) from 65 to 67. Inevitably, the link to the aging baby boomer population and longer life expectancy was made.

Longevity, however, is just one of many factors playing out for retirement incomes: with more education, young people start work later. They often have trouble finding good jobs initially and, in particular, are increasingly less likely to receive employee benefits such as a work-sponsored pension.

They have children later and

must then finance their children’s post-secondary education.

In the parlance of economists, the life-cycle pattern of savings has been fundamentally altered. Yet public policy responses have been mostly ad hoc.

Understandably, the immediate attention at universities to federal and provincial budgets is on the actions specific to the sector.

However, the broader economic and fiscal context suggest there’s much more than just post-secondary education at stake for young people.

In March 2011, Don Drummond was appointed by Premier Dalton McGuinty to examine the reform of Ontario’s public services. The Drummond Report was released on Feb. 15, 2012 containing 362 recommendations that the Commission stated would allow the Ontario government eliminate its budget deficit by 2017-18.

Student PoliticS

Student voices sidelined, AMS says Administration’s approach to alcohol policy and discipline ignores student input and could create wounds that would take years to heal

m organ C ampbell , a shley e agan anD K ieran s loboDin AMS Executive Every student who arrives at Queen’s has heard of the University’s long history of student involvement. Fundamentally, we’re told Queen’s thrives on student initiative — from Gaels on the field to students at Senate. We have long been a source of spirit for this school, but there have been a number of warning signs this year that the University’s embrace of involved student leadership

is eroding.

From attacks on our more than a century old non-academic discipline system, to recently proposed changes to the university alcohol policy that would restrict students from advertising beer with profs fundraisers, students have been put on the defensive.

Throughout our terms, we’ve witnessed the University administration work to subtly exclude student leadership from university decision making. The Office of Student Affairs should be our biggest ally and champion, not our intended replacement.

The administration’s attempts to push students out of the decision-making process have also been evident in two committees that were struck this year to address

stakeholders’ concerns over non-academic discipline and the University alcohol policy.

The approach to non-academic discipline — Queen’s system of peer-administered discipline that’s unique among North American universities — has been particularly concerning. When the University brought forward their initial concerns last year, including their impression that the system’s processes were unclear and flawed, they admitted they hadn’t yet read the AMS constitution where this policy is outlined. Further, they weren’t aware the Judicial Affairs Director produces an annual report for the University Senate on the system’s operations each year.

Despite this, the University unilaterally bypassed the AMS

system and started redirecting cases to the Provost’s Office, who then sent cases to the Student Affairs Office, an office that has no Senate-approved authority to hold trials or issue sanctions.

This is a violation of Senate’s decision in 1898 to delegate authority to the AMS (reaffirmed in 2006). Moreover, midway through the summer, the University presented the AMS with a number of cases that had been redirected to the Provost’s Office but had never been acted upon. By that time it was too late to pursue action as a number of the students involved had graduated.

The non-academic review committee has acknowledged that the student representatives don’t See agree on page 11

10 •queensjournal.ca

Dialogue

Thursday, april 5, 2012

Dialogue

Thursday, april 5, 2012

Talking“heads ...“at“the“Journal“House PHOTOS BY BRENDAN MONAHAN

What’s your best memory from the year?

“The marathon editorial board for AMS elections.”

ANDREW STOKES,

VOL. 139 EDITORIALS EDITOR

“The welt my assistant gave me.”

ALYSSA ASHTON,

VOL. 139 ARTS EDITOR

“The time I shot my editor with a paintball gun.”

CAITLIN CHOI,

VOL. 139 ASST. ARTS EDITOR

“Whenever I found a reason to rip on my assistant.”

GILBERT COYLE,

VOL. 139 SPORTS EDITOR

Continued from page 9

agree with many of the changes included in their proposal. The committee has continued to move forward without addressing these concerns.

Meanwhile, the Alcohol Working Group’s draft policy remains unchanged from the originally-presented policy, despite constant opposition from student representatives who insist the policy will not provide a safer environment or encourage healthier habits, but will instead result in students seeking downtown establishments and unmonitored environments as venues for their celebrations.

While the committees cite practices at other universities, there has been no consideration given to the different circumstances of Queen’s, including its proximity to the downtown core, its residential community, the operations of the campus pubs or the unique role of student constables at Queen’s.

The reality is that these committees aren’t doing what they were designed to do. The University has ignored months of conscientious, researched and substantiated student feedback, and plan instead to try to push through new policies that student leaders say will only encourage students to drink off-campus in less secure environments. Initially struck to facilitate stakeholder feedback, the concerns of student stakeholders have not been addressed or incorporated.

It has been disheartening to watch administrative defensiveness and risk aversion at work, slowly erasing the presence of students from University leadership bodies. We’ve seen a tendency for the University to assume parental charge over the student population — a dangerous threat to our capacity to treat students as equal partners in university life.

There’s a very real threat that the tactics undertaken by our

LETTER“TO“THE“EDITORS OcQpy signifies change Dear Editors,

“Head-butting everyone.”

TERRA-ANN ARNONE,

VOL. 139 FEATURES EDITOR

“I ran out of memory cards.”

JUSTIN CHIN,

VOL. 139 ASST. PHOTO EDITOR (VIDEO)

“Making up all the talking heads quotes.”

BRENDAN MONAHAN,

VOL. 139 DIALOGUE EDITOR

University administration — in dealing with students, but also with faculty and even with itself — will create wounds that could take years to heal. If that happens, the strongest feature of this institution, our community, will fail to sustain us.

It took herculean student-senatorial effort to preserve our Principal’s presence during the Orientation Week welcome ceremony, because standing alongside the Mayor of Kingston and the AMS President and welcoming students to Queen’s is no longer a priority. When we fight our hardest, we maintain the status quo. If we get distracted or fatigued, we could free fall.

The community spirit that this school prides itself on comes from us, the student body. We aren’t always alone: our faculty also feel they’re rendered impotent by the futility of Senate and the increasing pointlessness of faculty boards.

The Queen’s magnetism is the student experience. Our recruitment material is plastered with images of engaged students.

Our alumni are indoctrinated with the importance of giving back in order to keep that passionate spirit alive. Yet we reward them by taking away their Homecoming.

This University needs to rediscover what defines its strength and protect what makes Queen’s a unique institution worth attending.

It needs to decide what kind of university it wants to be, rather than let others dictate its character.

We can’t brand ourselves as something we’re not. We can’t advertise our unparalleled student engagement and “spirit of initiative” while increasingly sidelining student opinion and values; we can’t continue to promote traditions like the slamming of Engineering jackets, but then ban students from engaging in this tradition on move-in day.

This institution makes constant

We are a group of students and faculty here at Queen’s who have been inspired by the (re-)emergence of political consciousness and activism across North America. We would like to share what we have learned throughout our activities for Occupy Queen’s (OcQpy).

While our actions have been a lot of fun, they also reflect a sad truth: universities like Queen’s are undergoing radical change.

On Feb. 2 we teamed up with the SGPS and PSAC 901 to bring student debt out into the open. As part of the national “drop fees” day of action called for by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFIS), we occupied the Queen’s Centre and engaged in conversations with students about their personal experiences. In keeping with Ontario averages, most Queen’s students we talked to are or will be around $20,000 in debt by the time they graduate. Of the minority who aren’t experiencing debt, most rely on their parents, even with part-time and/or summer employment. Clearly most of us are struggling with the spectre of massive debt with reactions ranging from quiet apprehension to fear.

It has been an essential — and chilling — experience to connect to

one another about this new aspect of student life.

We came out in support of the Senate and faculty boards in resisting the power grab currently underway by the administration and the Board of Trustees. In a radical break with centuries of academic self-governance and (partial) democracy, our unelected managers have reserved the “right” to treat any matter involving financial considerations as purely financial, and to be theirs to decide unilaterally.

Recently we have started protesting, petitioning and symbolically burning the Drummond Report page-by-page, in a gesture of resistance against the vision of a banker seeking to remould the public sphere in the interests and to the benefit of large corporations and high finance, without even the pretense of public consultation.

In the face of these ongoing threats to our collective institutions, we cannot afford to remain silent or passive, but must rather raise our own voices and claim some measure of participation in the shape of our personal and professional future, our community at Queen’s and the fabric of our future society.

Andreas Reichelt, Matt Shuttz and Ellen Young, on behalf of Occupy Queen’s.

queensjournal.ca

reference to the ubiquitous phrase “Queen’s community.” For this phrase to mean anything, we need to strive as an institution to actively build and sustains that community every day. Not just by the decisions we make, but by whom we empower to make them: faculty, staff and students. We have a long

• 11

history of student involvement and community responsibility. Queen’s must continue to earn its history every day.

Morgan Campbell is AMS president.

Ashley Eagan is AMS vice-president of operations. Kieran Slobodin is AMS vice-president of university affairs.

12 •queensjournal.ca

Thursday, april 5, 2012

graphic by justin chin

Arts

Thursday, april 5, 2012

queensjournal.ca

• 13

TheaTre review

Youthful awakenings QMT’s spring production brings to life the tender and heartbreaking moments of growing up B y J anina E nrilE Assistant Features Editor Growing up is never easy, which the characters of Spring Awakening prove over and over again.

Queen’s Musical Theatre’s spring production takes place in 19th century Germany — a time when being a parent meant hiding the truth about sex and conception from children. That’s the basis for the show’s question-filled opening number, “Mama Who Bore Me.” The song sets the stage for Steven Sater’s rock adaptation of Frank Wedekind’s 1892 play, a heartfelt and often tender story about the turmoil of adolescence.

Contemporary music helps bring issues of sexual awakening

and untimely maturation to the forefront, as seen through standout numbers like “The Bitch of Living” and “Totally Fucked.”

The cast is led by Garrett Duncan and Cody McCallum, who play Melchior and Wendla with enough poignancy and presence to carry their stories to memorable fruition.

They’re two teens who, amidst all the commotion of discovering one’s own sexuality, fall in love rather innocently — despite their dire fate.

Along with Melchior and Wendla come a cast of strong supporting characters, each with their own set of issues they must overcome.

One of the most notable characters is Moritz played by

Calum Mew. His utter dejection in the face of life-changing failure is something everyone can identify with. Mew plays Moritz with such earnestness and innocence that at points it’s too heartbreaking to watch. His powerful singing voice provides a much-needed reprieve from the overwhelming sadness.

The actors regularly alternate between their acting and singing duties, each one complementing the other. The teenage characters frequently join forces to belt out the songs that make up so much of the show, harmonizing or providing creative background vocals like Latin recitations in “All That’s Known.”

The first act is full of powerful chorus work, while the second

Adam Disimine, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainability, and Shawn Lamont of Coca Cola are proud to bring you the AMS Garden Project.

Sponsored by Coca Cola, the project aims to create living cities. The AMS Garden Project is planting gardens for 6 students in the Queen’s community. All excess produce from the gardens will be donated to the food bank.

photos by corey lablans

Photo from left to right: Moritz with his school teachers as he’s about to be expelled; Wendla with her mother.

act contains more solo and duet work. Just as the characters mature throughout the play, the music takes an increasingly dark and grown-up turn as the show develops.

When the actors aren’t singing, they sit directly on the sidelines in full view of the audience. The adult characters, on the other hand, are the only ones to leave the stage at the end of each of their scenes.

With no adults present for most of the play there’s a sense of openness running throughout the play. Though seated to the side, the teen characters can observe most of their peers’ activities, a feeling familiar to students in this ever-connected world.

The audience was seated around the perimeter of the square-shaped stage, only adding to

the play’s exhibitionist feel, as the audience is a part of every aspect of the characters’ coming-of-age.

Nothing is private, the audience soon realizes.

With a musical number in nearly every scene, there is a risk of the story getting lost in the songs. But the songs only serve to enhance the story, propelling the characters’ struggles forward with brutal honesty and a sheer force that reminds every audience member of the harsh realities of growing up.

Spring Awakening plays tonight until Saturday and April 10 to 14 at 8 p.m. with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. in Rotunda Theatre. Tickets for general admission are $22 and students and seniors are $17.

Arts

14 •queensjournal.ca

Thursday, april 5, 2012

inTerview

Hard-rock mythical creatures Nightseeker is more than a simple rock quintet, with a gremlin band member and a magical namesake who helps you find lost items B y a lyssa a shton Arts Editor Montreal-based actor Paul Spence answered, but he quickly handed the phone off to Deaner — his Albertan alter-ego.

Deaner, who became famous in the two Fubar mockumentaries, is currently on tour with his band Nightseeker.

a buddy who’s “gotI got a sweet basement.

I just go over there sometimes. He leaves the window open in the basement so I can just crawl in anytime I want.

”

—Deaner, on where he writes music “The Nightseeker is a mythical creature and it’s the helper of finding lost items,” Deaner said.

“They sort of conjure up the Nightseeker by tapping an oak staff seven times and chanting his name over and over. And then he’ll appear and then you tell him what it was you lost and then he’ll go get it.”

The hard-rock quintet formed in Calgary, where Deaner put up posters at the local Tim Hortons. Unfortunately he found

older band members who were pre-occupied with “kids and marriages and shit.”

Deaner said he had to resort to looking in unusual places for bandmates.

“I found one guy in the forest, basically he’s like all curled up in a ball and I thought he was a little baby,” he said. “But it turns out he was like a little gremlin. I don’t know it just seems like our drummer, we bought a drum kit and the drummer came with it at the pawn shop … the other guitar player, he rode in on a lightning bolt.”

Deaner described the band’s sound as mixing AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.

“I only write rock songs,” he said. “If I heard some sort of other song you know that influenced me from some goofball’s car radio, like I ain’t gonna write a pop song or some sort of bubble gum crap.”

Deaner’s writing process, like all other aspects of Nightseeker, is unique.

“You just lie straight on, preferably concrete if you got it, because it’s kind of earthy,” he said. “Then you just kind of close your eyes …. I play bass you know so there’s always, I’m hearing pulsations.”

According to Deaner, he doesn’t have any concrete in his own house so he has to rely on friends to

supply concrete floors.

“I got a buddy who’s got a sweet basement,” he said. “I just go over there sometimes. He leaves the window open in the basement so I can just crawl in anytime I want.”

An album is in the works for Nightseeker, but they are also hoping to create a cooking show — though it won’t be anything like the shows currently on TV. “It’s always been my dream to sort of, all these chefs are all fancy,” Deaner said. “There’s a lot more easier ways to cook in the kitchen.

The first and only ingredient sometimes is beer. You can make a meal with just beer.”

Deaner hopes the cooking show will include interludes from Deaner describes a Nighseeker show as a roller coaster that often Nightseeker as the food cooks in leaves fans with a “bangover” the next morning. the oven. But until their cooking show pitch is picked up by a network, Deaner is excited to head to Kingston.

“It’s the King’s town,” he said. “I’m going to go check out where the king took a piss and where he got loaded, maybe try on his robes.”

After I hung up and recovered from my laughter, I realized I had just spent 15 minutes talking to a fictional character — or more accurately a mythical creature.

Nightseeker play the Mansion on April 14 at 9 p.m.

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Thursday, april 5, 2012

Arts

queensjournal.ca

• 15

Arts

16 •queensjournal.ca

Thursday, april 5, 2012

inTerview

Golden screams Little Scream brings the experimental sound of The Golden Record to Kingston B y J ustin C hin Assistant Photo Editor (Video) For folk singer-songwriter Laurel Sprengelmeyer of Little Scream, guitars are more than just an instrument.

“I think guitar is a genre,” she said.

The Iowa-born Montreal-based artist only sprang onto the scene in 2010, but has already toured Canada, Europe and America, making a recent stop at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in Texas.

Her latest tour took her across North America, but despite being close to home, Sprengelmeyer was still surprised by the cities she visited.

“Some of the cities where I had really low expectations turned out to be like, some of the best audiences,” she said.

Despite the busy tour schedule, Little Scream and her band would always find time to appreciate nature’s landmarks. She recently tweeted a photo of Dinosaur Valley in Drumheller, Alta. “[There was] this awesome, weird landscape where it looks like an alien landscape and there’s a big dinosaur museum, we totally did a little hike in the weird alien

landscape,” she said.

She ended her tour last week at a festival in her hometown of Iowa City.

Although there’s a strong base of family and friends in her hometown, Sprengelmeyer considers Montreal home. Iowa has given a solid “rootsy Americano” feel to her music but Montreal is ultimately the place where she can “find her own thing and go for it.”

Little Scream’s music is often described as folk, rock and experimental, but Sprengelmeyer sees her sound as “guitar and mixed tape.” “[Soprano singer] Maureen O’Hara is probably my main [inspiration], especially vocally,” she said. “From really early on, when I came into contact with her music that totally opened up a new world for me. That was like a real starting point for me in terms of what I really wanted to do.”

Sprengelmeyer released her debut full-length album The Golden Record in April 2011. She played violin, guitar and keyboards for the record.

“I am not an amazing violinist,” she said.

“Violin is a really hard instrument and I played it all through school but I am like, definitely the least confident on it.

“I feel like I can play enough to do what I

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown stars six females as the Peanuts characters.

photo by asad chishti

TheaTre review

Back to childhood Blue Canoe Productions takes the classic You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and gives it a feminine flare B y a sad C hishti Assistant Photo Editor It’s the familiar cast of Peanuts characters, except they’re all played by females.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, is the reimagined 1967 musical based on the characters from Charles Schulz’s comic strip, Peanuts.

“There is a precedent in children’s theatre for women to play male roles like Mary Martin on [the 1954] Broadway play Peter Pan,” director Alysha Bernstein said. “What I did was I adapted the beginning of the script so there were six girls on the playground playing the game.”

The play opens with a group of schoolgirls walking around reading Peanuts books after which they decide to don the costumes of their respective characters.

The production has been a popular choice for theatres because of the small cast required and the simple stage design.

An integral part of the entire performance is the combined vocal skills of the cast with

the ability of the orchestra. The play jumps from scene to scene — Charlie’s obsession with the Red-Haired Girl, Snoopy’s desire to be a wild jungle beast, Schroeder’s obsession with Beethoven, Lucy’s bossiness and of course Linus’ attachment to his blanket — with the music leading you through each moment.

The audience in the front row is so close to the stage they can reach out and touch the actors, creating a true sense of intimacy.

Production staff recently listed drawbacks in stage design such as using a painted picnic bench for a piano instead of a real piano, but perfect timing between the musical accompaniment and Mariah Horner’s pounding on the keys as Schroeder made it impossible to tell she was playing on a picnic table.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown plays tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Baby Grand Theatre. Tickets for general admission are $18, students and seniors are $15 and children are $12.

Little Scream has had some special guests on her tour, including a sword swallower at her show in Portland, Ore. in March.

do of all the instruments that I play.”

Sprengelmeyer is not only a multi-instrumentalist, but an artist too — one of her oil paintings is featured on the cover of The Golden Record. The painting was the final product of several months of work, without the thought of music in mind.

She likes the idea that it doesn’t look like an album cover, but it fits with the theme of the album.

The mysterious cover shows four people looking towards the water.

“You don’t know what quite is going

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on,” Sprengelmeyer said. “It’s like grounded in reality, but there’s also like a dream-like quality to it. I think in that sense that really reminds me of my music, how I feel about my music and how my music sounds.”

Sprengelmeyer is currently working on a new record that she said focuses on the cruelty of children and people preparing for death.

Little Scream plays the Grad Club on April 14.

Doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 10 p.m.

Thursday, april 5, 2012

queensjournal.ca

• 17

CIS

Legendary coach calls for CIS improvement Ken Shields discusses the state of Canadian university sport B y G ilBert C oyle Sports Editor Ken Shields knows what it takes to develop Canadian basketball players.

The four-time Canadian Interuniversity Sport Coach of the Year won seven straight national championships with the Victoria Vikes men’s basketball team from 1980 to 1986, coached the Canadian men’s national team from 1990 to 1994, helped out the Australian national team at the 2004 Summer Olympics and was a guest coach with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks in 2006.

In 1998, he was named as a Member of the Order of Canada for his contribution to supplied by university of victoria athletics Canadian basketball.

Head coach Ken Shields, centre, celebrates one of seven CIS titles with the University of Victoria Vikes. He wants CIS But Shields is most proud of basketball to return to the competitive standard that his Vikes team set from 1976 to 1989. how he turned dozens of Canadian Can the CIS compete with teams that are thoughts on the current state of CIS-trained, both teams finished university basketball players into national the NCAA for top Canadian fourth in the Olympics, the international-calibre athletes. traditionally dependent on CIS basketball with the Journal. basketball players? standard of play was high … Last Especially because these days, he CIS athletes are finding fewer year, at the World Qualifying What are your major concerns thinks the CIS is declining without international-level performers Championships, the men’s team [It can] if it focuses on athlete with CIS men’s basketball the resources to keep top athletes in Canada. had one — Aaron Doornekamp. development. We need … a right now?

Under the direction of the in the country.

In my view, this is a very development program that will Shields is currently part of a federal government’s Minister The biggest thing is that 88 of serious problem. panel set up by Own the Podium of Sport, Bal Gosal, the panel See Development on page 19 to address the CIS’ declining role developed a CIS High Performance our very best players don’t play in competitive Canadian sport. Program Concept with two in Canada, and this is just the Specifically, the group focuses fundamental objectives — to retain number in Division One schools. SaIlIng on curbing Canada’s escalating Canada’s top student-athletes It’s reflected in the number of through development programs players that will play for Canada. “athlete drain” to the U.S. In a discussion paper released within Canadian universities, Our national team is made up of in Jan. 13, the panel reported and to improve Canada’s all out-of-country players, there’s that over 2,000 Canadian athletes international performances in been a precipitous drop-off of CIS aged 18 to 23 joined the NCAA selected sports while depending players on our national teams.

In the 1984 Olympics, out of 24 Canadian universities between 2008 and 2010. With top on players [on the men’s and women’s student-athletes consistently for athletes.

On Tuesday, Shields shared his basketball teams], 14 were B y N iCk Faris heading over the border, finishers in MAISA’s North, East and Contributor Central regions. The competition takes place in Newport News, Va. HoCkey The sailing team won’t be heading on April 14 to 15.

The Gaels sent four of their to a prominent North American 15 members to Cornell last championship later this month.

On Sunday at Cornell weekend — third-years Roby University, Queen’s finished fourth Douglas, Arielle Morgan and Matt at the North Spring Qualifier, Sullivan and first-year Andrew missing out on a spot at the LeRiche. While the team struggled Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate at times with uncertain wind B y e mily l owe away from Jock Harty, struggling first year.”

Sailing Association (MAISA) conditions, they were pleased with to even obtain ice time at the The ARC, part of Phase 1 of championship — a tournament the effort.

Staff Writer Memorial Centre — the teams the Queen’s Centre, opened in which showcases the top collegiate “Considering we had an The men’s and women’s hockey routinely held 6 a.m. practices December 2009. The building’s sailing teams from Ontario and the off-regatta and placed fourth teams are still waiting for and played some home games in budget was originally set at northeastern United States. out of 14 against American Napanee and Strathcona. $124 million, but wound up their arena.

Instead, the Gaels will competition, we did pretty well,” “The Frontenacs were still costing $165 million.

In the spring of 2007, the compete in the Leroy Grand Douglas said.

Because of the extra costs, the Trophy, which features the In sailing, points are tallied based 55-year old Jock Harty Arena, playing at the Memorial Centre,” located at the corner of Division Gibson said. “We were really a remaining phases of the project fourth-, fifth- and sixth-place on finishing order — the first team to cross the finish line earns one and Union Streets, was torn down. traveling roadshow for that See The money on page 21 point, the second team earns two Since then, the hockey teams have points, and so on, with the team played home games everywhere accumulating the lowest number from Napanee to Strathcona to the of combined points winning Memorial Centre, located north of the regatta.

Princess Street.

Teams are divided into A and B A new arena was planned to be fleets, with two racers from each included in the final two phases team competing in each fleet. Both of the Queen’s Centre project, fleets compete in several races, with until the project was postponed indefinitely in 2009. all points totaled at the end to Men’s hockey coach Brett determine the standings.

Gibson said he initially didn’t mind The host Cornell Big Red moving to the Memorial Centre won the regatta with 46 points, because of the promise of a new advancing to the America Trophy along with the Fordham Rams, on-campus arena. who placed second, and the “It was an exciting moment Columbia Lions, who were third. because of the opportunity for a Queen’s picked up 87 points, brand new arena” he said. “We well ahead of their lone Canadian didn’t know how long it was going opponent — the University of to be, but [the arena] was going to Toronto Varsity Blues — who be part of the initial planning.” placed ninth with 151 points.

Both hockey programs found photo by corey lablans problems during that first year Jock Harty Arena was torn down in 2007 and still hasn’t been replaced.

See Virginia on page 21

SportS

Fourth at Cornell Sailors miss out on elite championship, set for Virginia regatta later this month

No plans for arena

Queen’s hockey programs close out fifth straight season off campus

SPORTS

18 •queensjournal.ca

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

The Journal’s varsity year-end awards Sports Editors Gilbert Coyle and Benjamin Deans pick the best and worst moments of the 2011-12 season

Journal file photos

From left: John Lenz and the men’s basketball team could only beat the Royal Military College Paladins this season; the men’s volleyball team broke the ARC attendance record twice in early March.

MoSt prEDICtABLE CHAMpIoNSHIp Women’s soccer Coming off of a national championship last year, the women’s soccer team was the favourite going into this season.

After going 13-1-2 this regular season, the Gaels went on a six-game playoff winning streak, bringing home OUA and CIS titles.

LEASt prEDICtABLE CHAMpIoNSHIp Women’s volleyball

fifth-place York Lions.

MoSt SAtISFYING WINS oVEr WEStErN Men’s volleyball The men’s volleyball team lost to Western in straight sets in the third game of the regular season. But in the season’s second-last game, the Gaels upset the first-place Mustangs in straight sets, part of a five-game straight-set winning streak. The Gaels beat the Mustangs again in the OUA final to win a provincial championship.

MoSt SIGNIFICANt rEGULAr-SEASoN LoSS Women’s rugby The women’s rugby team’s only regular-season loss was when they fell 5-3 at home to the McMaster Marauders. But that loss set the Gaels up to face the eventual-champion Guelph Gryphons, undefeated against Ontario opposition since 2007, in the OUA semifinal. The Gaels lost to the Gryphons and missed out on a second straight trip to nationals.

BESt HoME CroWD Men’s volleyball No one thought the women’s MoSt UpSEttING LoSSES volleyball team would win an When Queen’s hosted AGAINSt tHE WEStErN OUA championship this season. the national men’s volleyball MUStANGS After losing two OUA all-stars to championship in March, the Gaels’ Men’s rugby graduation last season and bringing quarter-final against the Alberta in 12 rookies, the Journal predicted The Gaels went undefeated Golden Bears broke an attendance the team wouldn’t even make the playoffs. But after finishing the during the regular-season, except record when 1,806 people filled regular season third in the OUA for a close 13-7 loss to the Mustangs. the ARC. The gym was so loud with a 13-5 record, the Gaels The Gaels made the OUA final, that Golden Bears’ outside hitter beat rival Ottawa Gee-Gees in the but lost again to Western — the Taylor Hunt said he felt the floor OUA final to earn the program’s Gaels’ third OUA final loss to the shaking when he stepped up to serve. first-ever provincial championship. Mustangs in the last five seasons.

WorSt poSt-CHAMpIoNSHIp HANGoVEr Women’s hockey

MoSt IMportANt WINS AGAINSt roYAL MILItArY CoLLEGE Men’s basketball

After a surprising OUA championship and a CIS bronze medal finish last season, the women’s hockey team went 14-9-3 and finished fourth in the OUA, highlighted by a brutal 7-0 loss to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in Kingston. The Gaels fell in the first round of the OUA playoffs, dropping a three-game series to the

Although every Queen’s team beat RMC this season, the men’s basketball team’s two games against the Paladins were particularly meaningful — they were the Gaels’ only wins all season. In head coach Stephan Barrie’s first season, his team couldn’t find consistent scoring.

BESt CLUtCH pErForMANCE Natalie Gray, women’s volleyball Women’s volleyball outside hitter Natalie Gray led her team to a third-place OUA regular-season finish with 3.6 points per set. But she saved her most clutch performance for the OUA final four weekend, recording a combined 47 points en route to an OUA gold medal.

MoSt DrAMAtIC VICtorY Men’s volleyball The men’s volleyball team looked set for an early OUA playoff exit when it trailed the Guelph Gryphons 2-0 at home in the provincial quarter-final at the ARC on Feb. 18. But the Gaels stormed back to win three sets, sparking a run that ended with an OUA gold See Award-worthy on page 21

Women’s volleyball outside hitter Natalie Gray came up big during the OUA final four in February.

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SPORTS

Thursday, april 5, 2012

queensjournal.ca

• 19

oUa

Ontario finds winning strategy OUA conference picks up 12 of 21 national titles after finding ways to keep athletes in the province B y G ilBert C oyle Sports Editor The OUA is getting serious about winning.

This season, the conference posted its best results so far this century, securing 12 of 21 Canadian Interuniversity Sport titles. Ontario teams dominated their usual sports — track and field,

men’s basketball and wrestling — while winning titles in areas where they usually struggle, like women’s basketball, football and women’s soccer.

“It’s one of the best years the conference has had,” OUA sport programming co-ordinator Bryan Crawford said. “There’s been some sports where we’ve always been strong, but now there are other sports where we’ve

Development first Continued from page 17

give you a better chance to develop your maximum potential than the NCAA, because the NCAA is hugely restricted in contact hours with the coach. There are limits to the number of hours you can have contact with an athlete. In the summer, it’s two hours per week. The focus can’t be in the gym with the athletes — coaches can’t go in the gym, they can’t do individual work.

The NCAA isn’t trying to develop players to maximum because restrictions don’t allow it. So, why we don’t have a better development opportunity in Canada?

We need to have a better-developed system and a better-funded system in our own country in select CIS sports. Unless you have comparable or better programs, the athletes will choose to leave our country. the top basketball players go to the U.S. before they even finish high school. Is that the CIS’s fault?

I can speak for British Columbia, where there has been a great erosion in high school basketball because of fewer teacher-coaches.

Across the country, coaching-development programs have slipped. Most of our basketball is played in the school system and yet we don’t have a systematic way to train coaches, which are the lifeblood of the system.

Steve Nash played high school basketball in Victoria, B.C. Was high school basketball’s structure better back then?

It was better, but the erosion had started in the school system. Steve was fortunate he went to [St. Michael’s University School].

Ian Hyde-Lay coached there, he was a bright young coach who had played for the Vikes for his five years, he was a very knowledgeable basketball man. Steve actually started in the public system, but he moved to St. Mike’s because his Dad wasn’t pleased with his attendance record.

How can youth basketball improve?

I would like to see every university run an academy like [Carleton Ravens coach Dave Smart] does. He runs a Ravens club program that’s basically a development academy for youth in that area. You have to have your best players in an academy to lay the foundation for development.

Is it the really CIS’s job to keep Canadian basketball competitive?

In the 1990s, when our top academic scholars were being picked off by large U.S. universities, the federal government and university associations got together and developed programs … to stop the “brain drain.”

In October, Prime Minister Harper announced that the ‘brain drain’ had been reversed because they put scholarship programs and research money to keep these top academics in Canada because the universities were losing the top students.

Just as we have A-level students we have A-level athletes, and our A-level athletes are being drained away to the States. The problem should be addressed, not just in basketball, but across all CIS sports … When people who go to the states, huge percentage stay there, and don’t come back.

How can the CIS even begin to achieve this vision?

That’s going to take a partnership between all of the sports agencies in the country.

Basketball Canada would have to be involved, Basketball Ontario, the national body, Own the Podium … a collaborative effort designed to keep our best athletes at home and then provide them with the training, the competitive experience and coaching. The positive part is that there has been this working group, including CIS leadership, looking at the issue.

Does the CIS have the depth to specialize?

Universities don’t run PhD programs in every discipline — they pick where their strengths are and they focus their resources.

I’m hopeful that universities across the country will want to do this so that a high-performance structure can be formed to allow institutions to pursue international standards, because right now it’s impossible.

Financial rules are the main things that preclude it.

In 1984, we had 25 [University of Victoria] students and coaches at the Montreal Olympics because we focused our resources on a select number of sports. There’s no question that it can be done.

How did your Victoria Vikes teams do so well against NCAA opposition when you coached them from 1976-89?

We played mid-level Division One schools, we didn’t play the very, very elite … When we played Oregon State, they had won [their conference] … We didn’t get blown out, we lost by 14 or 15. But we had a .500 record against NCAA teams on the road, so we were very proud of that ... we showed that our university could go down with Canadian players and compete with mid-level NCAA teams.

What about the seven straight national championships?

They were nice, but they came as a result of trying to do those other things. Our goal was to put players on the national team, and we helped more players do that than any other university. Athletes, when they graduate, should have had the opportunity to have developed to the highest level possible — that means international standards of performance.

Right now, we’re calling excellence the CIS championships. But they’re not excellence in my view. How can you have it if the top men aren’t here? National excellence would be international standards of performance.

Ontario athletics as a whole. Specifically, planted ourselves in the national scene.”

Crawford said a number of OUA OAAP’s objectives are to help Ontario compete at the institutions have raised their Athletic athletes level, to keep them standards, specifically citing Queen’s. He national named the Queen’s Centre as one of in Ontario to train, to compensate the many new high-class facilities across athletes for intensive training on the summer break, and to allow athletes the province.

“Western’s just opened an Athletic Centre, to pursue excellence while at school.

This season, the men’s volleyball team there’s a new one at Ryerson, McMaster just opened a new facility … and a number of came fourth at nationals, its best-ever finish [other] schools are beginning projects,” he at the Canadian championship. Willis said said. “It’s a great thing for our conference up to six of her current players have received up to $7,500 each from OAAP in the past to see.”

Crawford said OUA officials have few seasons.

“It’s a substantial amount of money,” she conducted a comprehensive review over the past few years to respond to growing and said. “This year, I’m only aware of one Ontario athlete that went west — all the emerging provincial sport trends.

“We’re looking to expand if there other blue-chippers stayed home.”

This year, women’s hockey forward are sports that are prepared for it,” he said, adding that women’s fast-pitch is up and OUA leading scorer Morgan McHaffie for consideration.

“We’re also received a $4,000 athletic scholarship as reviewing Algoma University’s entrance well as a Quest for Gold bursary application … it would be an increase from that she expects to be between $7,000 to $8,000. Although McHaffie had 19 to 20 members.”

In December, the OUA’s Board of committed to Queen’s before finding out Directors increased the maximum provincial about OAAP, she said it was a factor in keeping athletic scholarship from $3,500 to $4,000 significant per year. Men’s volleyball head coach Brenda some of her friends at home Willis said this sort of increase proves that the in Ontario.

“We lose a lot of our athletes to the conference has upped its standard — in 2001, the maximum financial award was [U.S.] because they offer full rides,” she said. “[OOAP] is huge and it definitely keeps our only $1,500.

“Most schools, if not all, have invested athletes in Ontario.”

McHaffie said keeping Ontario women’s substantially in sports, “ she said. “There are more full-time coaching jobs, and hockey players at home also helps the with the increase in [financial assistance], national program.

“The Olympic program wants to have we’re able to retain more top athletes in players playing in Canada,” she said. “If we the province.”

Ontario athletes are also benefitting can keep players here, the hockey would be from the provincial government’s Quest much more competitive.” for Gold Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP), an initiative to improve

20 •queensjournal.ca

SPORTS

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

SPORTS

Thursday, april 5, 2012

queensjournal.ca

‘The money is just not there’ Continued from page 17

were postponed.

Queen’s Athletics’ original plan was to build the new arena where Jock Harty stood, until it was revealed in 2008 that building the arena on West Campus could save up to $20 million. But that plan hasn’t been explored since the project was halted.

The AMS originally committed $25.5 million towards the entire Queen’s Centre project, but pulled that funding in January. A student fee of $70.50 was put in place in 2005 to collect the funds — that fee, which doubled to $141 in 2009, will be cancelled now that

the Queen’s Centre project won’t be completed.

“The money is just not there,” Gibson said. “Until someone comes in with a boatload of money, I don’t think [the arena] will ever be built.”

Queen’s Athletics Associate Director of Business Development and Facilities Jeff Downie couldn’t provide any budget information about the proposed arena.

Even though logistics have improved for the hockey teams since 2007-08 — both hockey teams are now permanently based at the Memorial Centre — but Gibson and women’s hockey coach Matt Holmberg said it’s been an

Virginia next week Morgan said, adding that the team took extra provisions to avoid Sullivan and LeRiche competed similar complications this year. in the A fleet for Queen’s, Beginning next season, Queen’s accumulating 67 points in eight will amalgamate the sailing team, a races. Douglas and Morgan varsity club, with the recreational enjoyed a standout regatta in the sailing club — the latter will serve as B fleet, tallying 20 points over a feeder program, allowing novice seven races. sailors to gain experience before In 2011, Queen’s qualified competing at the intercollegiate for the America Trophy, but was level. Douglas believes the move unable to attend the competition will help the team in the long-term. due to exam conflicts.

“It will create a strong base, “It was really frustrating, allowing us to pool our resources especially because we didn’t more effectively and act more necessarily think we’d qualify,” efficiently,” Douglas said.

Continued from page 17

said. “If it’s not McGill or RMC, our crowds are pretty sparse.”

Downie said Athletics is consistently looking to attract ongoing struggle operating north students to games. “[February’s] Carr-Harris cup of Princess Street.

“It’s out of our hands and that’s was moved to the K-Rock Centre, what makes it the most frustrating,” [and it] was the biggest and most Gibson said. “For two years in a student attended game in probably row now, [we’ve] had to play our a long time,” he said. This year’s last home game at a neutral site Carr-Harris Cup game saw a and that game could’ve cost us a 2,576-person attendance.

“Students are interested in playoff spot.”

Holmberg said an on-campus arena would also allow both hockey programs to expand in a way that’s not currently possible.

“It would be nice to run some summer camps out of a rink that would be Queen’s-owned and operated,” he said, adding that the teams also have to temporarily leave the Memorial Centre in September due to an annual fair.

“They take the ice out for that and we have to do our training camp [somewhere else,]” he said.

According to Gibson, it’s more difficult to attract recruits without an arena.

“Kids want to play in a new arena,” he said. “Just look at the results of the volleyball and basketball teams. They have the ARC they’re able to show off.

“The last thing I show kids who are coming in for recruiting is our arena.”

Gibson said the hockey program has lost fan support since moving to the Memorial Centre.

“In the Jock Harty Arena, you’d get [students] walking in, so there was more of an atmosphere,” he

• 21

coming out, it’s just about making it as accessible as possible,” Downie said.

He said Athletics never had a concrete plan for the proposed arena.

“There were a variety of drawings done, there were probably 12 different versions,” he said. “[But] it was just architects coming in and ... seeing what could fit.

Nothing’s been done officially.”

Award-worthy Gaels Continued from page 18

medal and a fourth-place finish at nationals.

MoSt CoNSEQUENtIAL INJUrY (individual) Billy McPhee, football After a rocky start as the football team’s starting quarterback, McPhee ended the regular season

on a six-game winning streak that ended with a 37-0 upset win over the first-place Western Mustangs.

But McPhee bruised a rib against the Mustangs, keeping him out of the playoffs. Backup Ryan Mitchell led the Gaels to an OUA quarter-final win over the Laurier Golden Hawks, but Queen’s was wiped out by the McMaster Marauders in the semifinal.

WorSt INJUrY BUG (team) Men’s hockey Before the season, head coach Brett Gibson said this year’s men’s hockey team was the best he’d ever had at Queen’s. But by late November, the Gaels were missing seven players to injuries. The team finished eighth in the OUA East at 13-13-2, but were swept in the playoffs by the first-place McGill Redmen — their third straight first-round exit.

HArDESt pLAYEr to rEpLACE Brittany Moore, women’s basketball

Brittany Moore is second on the all-time OUA scoring list.

Journal file photo

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Fifth-year captain and four-time OUA all-star Brittany Moore led the women’s basketball team with 17.2 points per game this season, ending her career second in all-time OUA scoring with 1,652 total points. The Gaels’ next highest scorer was second-year guard Liz Boag with only 8.4 points per game.

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Compete on a track Greatly Mrs. Nick Charles Documentary filmmaker Burns Within the law Reverberate ‘Golly!’

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9 10 11 16 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 34 35 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 46 47

‘Planet of the Apes’ role Brewery products Queue Academic Press Lubricate Musician in the brass section Irritate Upper limb Shell game item Tatter Egg — yung Peculiar Become one Utter Sch. org.

Previous night Apollo’s landing site Chutzpah Bloke Anger Somewhere out there Protuberance Fraternal surname of comedy Plankton component Snatch, with ‘onto’ Taxi Teeny

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS

22 •queensjournal.ca

Thursday, april 5, 2012

postscript

About 200 online voters proved opinionated, and often divided in our annual survey. Here are the 2011-12 results for the best Kingston has to offer.

Let’s hope your parents are paying, because Market Square’s classy restaurant Le Chien Noir Bistro took the top spot.

Best of Kingston voters showed their preference for high-quality pizza joints.

Atomica beat out the hub’s Bubba’s and 241.

If you’re on a student budget, get your wallet ready. The fancy but pricey establishments of Grecos and Tango will make it a date to remember.

No shocker here — Indigo’s large selection likely contributed to its first-place finish.

TAPS and Common Ground were deemed equally great student-run services this year. The winners show where student priorities lie — food.

It’s not surprising that grocery giant Loblaws grabbed first place — considering its size, students should have no problem finding what they need.

Once again, the Keg took first place for its specialty.

Sushi is a popular student food, and Sima once again proved the most popular venue for satisfying that ever-present craving.

Voters again showed their affinity for fanciness — Starbucks beat out student-run Common Ground and the simple pleasures offered by Tim Hortons.

Thursday, april 5, 2012

PostscriPt

QP was miles ahead of the Brass and the Mansion in votes, demonstrating that students would rather frequent the on-campus haunt than venture out into the hub.

If you haven’t heard live music at the Mansion, you better get yourself there pronto — according to voters, live music there beats closer-to-campus locations.

If you’re a gluten-free eater, keep Kosher or have other dietary restrictions, Tara’s — located at 81 Princess St.— is the place for you.

According to voters, Urban Outfitters is the key to looking sharp.

queensjournal.ca

• 23

Given the range of creative options, including guacamole and jalapeno peppers on poutine, Smoke’s serves as the best establishment to accommodate all caloric cravings.

Honourable mention goes to Wolfe Island Bakery — the small establishment located on Queen Street, not Wolfe Island.

If you must venture out to class, Goodes Hall on Alfred and Union Streets, frequented by Commerce students, is the ideal location.

Whether it’s in the midst of midterms, exams or final essay crunch-time, Stauffer’s the clear choice to study productively.

No need to venture out into the hub for a night out — voters deemed Alfie’s the best place to show off those dance skills.

People in the Queen’s Centre may not be there to grab food or go to the gym – they could be watching you. But someone also submitted “everywhere,” so technically this could be a concern wherever you go.

Post-exam drinks no doubt combine celebration with an attempt to erase painful study memories. An honourable mentions goes to submissions for Lord of the Rings marathons.

Lucky for students, there are plenty of activities and food options for dates that won’t break the bank.

— Compiled by Jessica Fishbein and Justin Chin

24 •queensjournal.ca

Thursday, april 5, 2012

lAST WordS B y J ake e dmiston Editor in Chief I’ve got 20 inches of newsprint to fill, and I’m thinking about urine. The urine that’s flowed into the toilets at the Journal office, containing within it enough caffeine to kill a school of fish. But coffee intake isn’t what drives the people who work to fill these pages.

It’s because when you’re standing on the porch at this office, the campus often looks like a bowl of Jell-O. And when we produce the right kind of story, it jiggles. We like to think we can change things with the hours of reporting, photographing, writing and editing. But the events of this past year have disproved such a one-dimensional attitude towards journalism.

Sifting through the thousands of online comments that appeared beneath our articles, it’s obvious that we’re dependent on people to read and react. Our coverage of Queen’s Bands sparked a 600-comment discussion ranging from the role of campus media to the Administration’s in loco parentis approach to governance.

To those who spent time to pick up our paper, comment on an article, got pissed off, asked questions, yelled at us, wrote a letter — thank you.

These reactions are what continue to motivate the yearly turnover of unsuspecting Queen’s students who sign up to write for the campus newspaper and end up plummeting into a lifestyle of social seclusion, poor academic standing and neglectful romantic relationships.

We know it’s a privilege to be able to tell the stories on this campus and generate discussion. That’s why each misspelt name or incorrect fact this year inspired a mournful attitude amongst our newsroom. For the errors, I’m sorry.

But I have not, and will not ever question the abilities of the faces pictured above.

They traded a regular student existence for timbits and a chance to produce something worth reading and reacting to. I’m constantly We want to thank the volunteer writers and photographers who contributed to Volume 139.

You made every issue better.

Kye Andreopoulous Devin Clancy Megan Cui Cole Davison Brian Decker Albane Deloule Chantal Dignard

gushing to say I work with you all.

To my embattled co-editor: Clare, you are the reason I did this and the reason I didn’t stop doing it halfway through. You’ve made me better. To the Journal Business Manager: Weinshenker, we’d be publishing this thing on toilet paper and sticky notes if not for you.

Maggie, you’ve been the antidote to all the self-doubt and inner turmoil so common with this position. You make bad days better.

And to my family: I’m lucky to have you.

The Journal operates somewhat like a virus, depending on people to transmit it.

Mike and Jane, you infected me. Tyler and Rachel, you let it grow.

And Labiba and Katherine, here’s my germ-filled handshake. I leave this place, without fear, because of you.

But there’s someone missing from the above picture. Gabriele King, our long-suffering Administrative Assistant, is retiring and it’s going to be like donating a kidney. The Journal will live, but it’s going to be painful.

Gabe, as you are transplanted into retired life, know that you will be missed. But there’s hundreds of Journal staffers that will always remember of you at that desk. I know if you weren’t there this year, I’d be bald and riddled with ulcers.

And if you’re still with me dear reader: Thanks for jiggling.

Gina Elder Nick Faris Caroline Garrod Chloë Grande Michael Green Alexandra Greene Andrew Ha Dylan Haber Rosie Hales Ally Hall Catherine Hart Emily Hayes Ari Herberman

Rachel Herscovici Kirstyn Hevey Brendan Horgan Timothy Hutama Peter Jefferies Brittany Johnston Caitlin Jonni McKay Lauri Kytömaa Tiffany Lam Darienne Lancaster Emily Lowe Simona Markovik Vincent Matak

B y C lare C lanCy Editor in Chief This was a newsworthy year. It kicked off with the threat of a faculty strike, the resignation of Queen’s Rector, a leaked letter written by the principal and an unprecedented Frosh Week alcohol ban in residences. And that was all before our first September issue.

This year, the Journal proved the relevance of campus media once again. From the get-go, our plan was simple: to push for good coverage. It’s clear people noticed. We saw national coverage of stories we broke, including the suspension of Queen’s Bands.

Compelling stories are what I’m proudest of this year, but I can’t take much credit.

To the over-worked, under-appreciated staff of Volume 139, you are the definition of journalists, each with a built-in shock-proof shit detector. You always dug deeper, sacrificing your academics, relationships and general wellness for this paper. Because of you I’m still in love with journalism and I’m lucky to call you friends.

To the editors who came before me, I owe you so much for paving the way.

Erin and Angela: When you hired me as an Assistant News Editor, I didn’t know what was in store for me. You bred the necessary journalistic skepticism in me and also encouraged me endlessly. Jane: You’ve been a mentor to me since I walked into the Journal house, so don’t hate me for telling the world. Tyler and Rachel: I’ll never know why you hired me as News Editor when I was half way across the world on exchange,

Michelle McCann Caitlin McKay Peter Morrow Parker Mott Brenna Owen Katie Panousis Brandon Pasternak Christiane Peric Alexandra Petre Claire Pierce Joanna Plucinska Kiran Rana Gord Randall

but I’m grateful you did.

Katherine and Labiba: A year from now you’ll understand how hard it is to leave this place. It’s a little easier knowing you’re taking the helm. I’ve seen you both do amazing things and I have full faith you’ll leave the Journal better than you found it.

Dan: You are the ultimate Business Manager. I’ll never know what we did to deserve you this year. During your first week on the job, you hunkered down in the Journal house and refused to leave, just to keep this place running.

Gabe: There are so many moments I love you for. After May’s summer press weekend, Jake and I were delirious from lack of sleep and returned to the Journal at 6 a.m. to see the first issue in print. Irrational fear won out and we were convinced there was a glaring front-page error — it’s the only time I’ve dreaded seeing the Journal.

All it took was a hug from you and I knew it was all okay, that the error was in my head and my sanity would return. Over my three years in this place, you have been a source of comfort during the worst times. I know now that the same is true for every Journal kid over the past 28 years. You will always have my love and friendship. Stay sassy in retirement.

Jake: Thanks to you I didn’t feel alone in this for even one second. Not only are you the best co-editor and friend I could’ve hoped for, but you’re also the best reporter I know. Every all-nighter, bizarre news tip and stress-induced panic attack was worth it, and you never let me forget it. I already miss you so much it hurts, but I’ll make do with having you on speed dial this summer.

And to you, the reader: Thank you for every letter to the editor, online comment and angry phone call. You pushed us to be better.

And so, three years and 120 issues later, I’m leaving the Journal, ready or not. It feels like saying goodbye to an old friend.

Dear Journal: I grew up under your watch. As a 139-year-old institution, I know I’m just one in a long line of passionate, fresh-eyed students to find you, but thanks for being there. And thanks for one last byline.

Jordan Ray Peter Reimer Sean Renaud Francesco Rizzato Marcin Mazur Rusak Laura Russell Sebastian Ryde Kate Shao Alison Shouldice Mathieu Sly Anand Srivastava Aryssah Stankevitsch Holly Tousignant

Shomari Williams Sarah Witiuk Jillian Wood Jerry Zheng

Volume 139

Journal Year In Review

2 •

Journal Year in reVieW

News

Coroner wants change to alcohol approach May 31, 2011 University officials announced plans to conduct an extensive review of campus alcohol policy at a press conference today.

The decision stemmed from recommendations made in a coroner’s report. Coroner Roger Skinner investigated two fall-related deaths and recommended that Queen’s look into alcohol consumption in residences.

First-year students Cameron Bruce and Habib Khan both died as a result of falls from campus buildings. Bruce fell from his sixth-floor residence window in September 2010. Khan died from a fall through a skylight in Duncan McArthur Hall in December 2010.

Skinner also said alcohol-related issues shouldn’t be governed by peer groups. Currently, an AMS judicial body is responsible for disciplining students on non-academic matters.

“We have complied

fully with the coroner’s recommendations … and we are moving forward immediately,” Principal Daniel Woolf said.

“That’s why we are in the process of performing a review of the campus alcohol policy.”

The alcohol policy outlines educational, management and legal frameworks the University uses when addressing alcohol consumption.

While the University has no direct legal obligation to follow the coroner’s report, Associate Vice-Principal and Dean of Student Affairs John Pierce said the coroner expects action to be taken.

“The coroner has made it clear that he wishes to check back with us in a period of about six to eight months to see what kind of progress we’ve made in regards to these recommendations,” Pierce said.

Recently, Provost Bob Silverman banned six students from campus for the summer after they were caught on a campus building

rooftop. Pierce said the coroner’s recommendations were not connected to Silverman’s decision.

“I can’t say too much more because it’s just in progress, but I think we recognize that people on rooftops is not a good thing,” Pierce said.

AMS President Morgan Campbell said that as of right now, the AMS is still in charge of student non-academic discipline.

“This is basically just opening the door for us to have a longer conversation over how we’re handling our discipline system,” Campbell, ArtSci ’11, said.

Following the announcement of the coroner’s recommendations, Campbell said the process of changing drinking culture at Queen’s needs to be a student-led initiative.

“I know that we are working on re-working our alcohol policy on campus,” she said.

— Katherine Fernandez-Blance (with files from Savoula Stylianou)

Photo by Corey LAbLAns

Principal’s letter leaked to Facebook July 27, 2011

compromised,” he wrote. “It would have been unthinkable 20 A letter containing Principal Daniel years ago that the quality reputation Woolf’s plan for the upcoming of undergraduate education at year was leaked to Facebook on Queen’s would be challenged by Wednesday, revealing Woolf ’s Waterloo and McMaster … but it expectations that the school year is clearly happening.”

Queen’s Communications “could prove to be a time of major labour disruption at the university.” director Ellie Sadinsky said University administration is in Principal Woolf learned via Twitter mediation meetings with both the that the letter had been leaked Queen’s University Faculty Union and circulated. She said his only (QUFA) and the Canadian Union comment to both the content of Public Employees (CUPE).

Administration has filed No Board reports for disputes with both unions. A No Board report calls an end to conciliation meetings and can be filed by either party if negotiations are found to be insufficient.

Ongoing labour disputes were cited as limitations to Woolf’s year plan throughout the letter to William (Bill) Young who chairs the Board of Trustees.

The letter was written before University administration filed No Board reports for disputes with QUFA and CUPE. The No Board reports mean the University could be in a strike or lockout position in August.

“The upcoming six months of labour negotiations will inevitably take its toll on employee/administration relations,” Sept. 9, 2011 Woolf wrote.

The breakdown of labour talks Three student groups were told would cancel Woolf’s travel plans, they have until Sept. 30 to vacate which were planned in order their Grey House spaces. to fundraise and improve the The Kingston Ontario Public University’s international profile. Interest Research Group (OPIRG), The potential for a strike or lockout the Levana Gender Advocacy forced Woolf to strategically plan Centre and the Education on Queer trips to Brazil, Germany and China Issues Project (EQuIP) were given for the winter months. notices on Aug. 29 by the AMS’s “Given the likelihood of labour Space Allocation Committee. disruptions in the fall, it has been The notices were signed by all prudent to schedule these for the four members of the committee: winter term,” he wrote.

AMS Vice-President of University Woolf stated the University’s Affairs Kieran Slobodin, Clubs financial constraints have Manager Craig Draeger, caused a drop in Queen’s Commissioner of Internal Affairs domestic reputation.

Mark Preston and Student Centre “The quality that once defined Officer Gillian Shields. the institution is clearly being The committee determines

of the letter and the fact that it was leaked was stated in a tweet to former Engineering Society President Victoria Pleavin, Sci ’10.

“This is my annual ‘goals’ doc to the Board — a normal process; negotiated labour agreements are a priority, as stated,” Woolf wrote in a reply to Pleavin on Twitter.

Paul Young, president of QUFA said he saw the letter over three weeks ago as it had been circulating around faculty members

through emails.

“I was fairly upset about the tone of discussion,” he said. “It was as if the whole thing was planned this way.”

QUFA, CUPE and the Queen’s local of the United Steelworkers released a public response to the leaked Woolf letter Thursday.

The response, addressed directly to Woolf, called the principal’s approach to labour relations “disturbing.”

“We are writing this open letter to urge you to change direction, give bargaining teams the time and scope to reach fair agreements, and if necessary, obtain approval from the Board for a revised budget framework and negotiating mandate,” the letter stated.

— Jake Edmiston and Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Grey house groups face removal

Photo by AsAd Chishti

what AMS-ratified clubs go into AMS exclusive and shared spaces.

Both OPIRG and the Levana Gender Advocacy Centre failed to re-ratify as AMS clubs — something the AMS has identified as a requirement to be eligible for AMS space.

EQuIP, a committee within the AMS’s Social Issues Commission is being removed because according to AMS policy, committees aren’t eligible for separate club space.

Former AMS President Safiah Chowdhury said she was puzzled when she heard the groups would be removed from the Grey House.

Along with former Vice-President of Operations Ben Hartley, Chowdhury, ArtSci ’11 signed a Memorandum

of Understanding (MOU) with leaders from OPIRG, Levana and Queen’s Pride Project on April 30 this year.

The agreement identified the groups’ unique place on campus.

“If the MOU had actually been followed up on and been in place, the AMS would not … unilaterally be able to [remove the groups],” she said.

Kieran Slobodin, vice-president of university affairs, worked closely with the former executive last year.

Slobodin said the AMS acted within their policy because both OPIRG and Levana didn’t re-ratify as AMS clubs, even after multiple warnings.

“We feel that we’ve dealt very fairly with these groups,” Slobodin,

ArtSci ’12, said. “Our intent is to extend the ratification deadline, which would allow them to apply for space.”

The groups involved were informed that it was invalid in July.

“Without re-ratification of the groups in question, going into another [MOU] and discussing that would have been out of line with our policy,” he said.

Both OPIRG and the Levana Gender Advocacy Centre receive opt-outable student fees from the AMS and SGPS membership, which means that neither group is under solely AMS or SGPS control.

— Katherine Fernandez-Blance

News

Journal Year in reVieW • 3

John Gerretsen claims fifth straight election Oct. 7, 2011

since I was first elected as a councillor, then as mayor and it On Oct. 6, Liberal incumbent John started right here.”

Gerretsen won Kingston and the With Ontario remaining a Islands, securing 48.8 per cent of Liberal foothold, with a minority the popular vote. New Democratic government, Gerretsen’s Party candidate Mary Rita Holland crowd of 100 supporters finished second with 23.7 per cent remained enthusiastic. of the vote.

The 16-year veteran MPP said “It’s kind of appropriate that in this election he faced tougher we’re right here at Portsmouth competition than ever before in Harbour at the Harbour restaurant,” this election.

Gerretsen said to his supporters on “It was kind of interesting,” he Thursday night. said to the crowd. “The last debate “This is just where we started that we had we all had something when my family and I first came nice to say about one another.” over … it’s been almost 40 years Runner-up Mary Rita Holland

said she felt inspired by the poll results. “It was our goal to be a strong second,” she said in her address to her 50 supporters at Toucan pub on Princess Street.

“This proves we are building here.”

The NDP have finished third in the Kingston and the Islands riding in the previous provincial elections, behind the Liberal and Progressive Conservative parties.

Politics is also something that Progressive Conservative candidate Rodger James plans to pursue after winning 22.3 per cent of Kingston votes.

James, who runs a financial 14,000 votes in his pocket when he service business, told his supporters wakes up in the morning.” that he expects another provincial Green Party candidate Robert election in the next year and a half, Kiley wished James well before the and that he will run again in it. results came in. Kiley won 3.7 per “I’m going to bed and cent of the votes, celebrating with a tomorrow’s a new day,” he said in crowd of 20 supporters at the local his address to supporters.

Green Party headquarters.

At its peak, about 30 supporters He said he would run again in appeared at the local PC the future. headquarters, though numbers “The battle doesn’t end,” Kiley, started trickling out as the poll B.Ed. ’12, ,said. “The issues results came in. we brought are things we must “I’m obviously disappointed champion in our lives.” with the results,” James said. “It’s tough to go against a guy with 35 — Katherine Fernandez-Blance years of experience and he’s got (with files from Journal staff)

Admission into Fine Arts suspended next year Nov. 11, 2011

Photo by AsAd Chishti

Queen’s, yet graduates do great things … they have no idea what AMS Assembly voted to create we can pull off,” she said.

AMS Vice President of a committee last night that will investigate the University’s decision Operations Ashley Eagan said to suspend admissions into the Fine she met with the director of the Fine Arts department, Kathleen Arts program.

On Nov. 9, University Sellars, and Gordon Smith, the administration sent an email to associate dean of Arts and Science fine arts students informing them on Thursday.

“They couldn’t answer important that the program wouldn’t accept any new students for the 2012-13 questions about if the arts program will still be a module system like it academic year.

In an interview with the Journal, is now, which makes it so unique,” 30 fine arts students gathered in Eagan, BFA ’11, said in her address the Polson Room of the JDUC to to assembly.

The decision to suspend Fine express their concerns.

Anicka Vrana-Godwin, BFA ’13, Arts admissions was made on said she’s angry about the decision Wednesday and was a result of budget constraints in the Faculty to suspend the program.

“It’s punishment because they of Arts and Science, said Dean haven’t done their research. No Alistair MacLean. one knows about Fine Arts at Faculty members within the

department of Fine Arts were told of the suspension on Wednesday, shortly before the email was sent out to students in the program.

“Going through the budget process for Arts and Sciences, it became clear that there was a question about whether the program had sufficient resources to continue in the future,” MacLean said.

Fine arts is one of the more expensive programs at Queen’s, MacLean said, adding that the suspension won’t affect professors in the department.

“The professors will continue to teach their courses and will be involved in discussions about the future of Fine Arts.”

— Savoula Stylianou

Queen’s Bands banned for fall term Nov. 18, 2011 Queen’s Bands was suspended on Nov. 17 after controversial material was brought to University administrators.

After the announcement, the Journal received three years of pamphlets entitled “The Banner” which were distributed to band members.

The pamphlets contained phrases like “I will rape you with a lamp” and photos of band members as “people with dicks in their mouths.”

Inside the pamphlets were images of genitalia and pictures of animals and slugs under the headline “Beastiality’s Best…?”

Some of the pamphlets included the lyrics of Queen’s Bands songs, which contained phrases like “chew me, screw me, suck me, fuck me, yaaay Queen’s.” There were also heckling suggestions for the annual RMC and Queen’s hockey game, the Carr Harris Cup like “we hope you can shoot the Taliban better than you shoot the puck!”

Yesterday afternoon the Queen’s Bands Executive sent an email to bands members ordering them to destroy all hard copy or digital versions of the Queen’s Bands

training will also be necessary steps taken responsibility for their Songbook.

“Failure to do so upon receipt for the band to move forward, prior actions.”

“We regretfully inform you of this email will result in your Tierney said, adding that the group immediate expulsion from will meet with the University mid- that our performances have been Queen’s Bands,” the email read. January to discuss the progress temporarily cancelled. Through this adversity, we expect to emerge “There will not be any discussion on made on the action plan.

Queen’s Bands officials declined as a strong organization,” they said this matter.”

Following the suspension interview requests from the in the statement.

AMS President Morgan announcement, Queen’s Bands Journal yesterday.

In a statement issued last night Campbell said the decision met with the AMS Executive and several members of the University by Queen’s Bands on the AMS to suspend Queen’s Bands including Vice-Provost and Dean website, they said they “have was jointly made with the of Student Affairs Anne Tierney to discuss the situation and the next steps for the group.

In an interview with the Journal Tierney said Queen’s Bands material was brought to her desk early last week from an unknown source.

“It was material that included very offensive language, degrading and demeaning language and I’m not going to repeat it,” she said.

Due to the suspension, Queen’s Bands won’t be appearing at events for the remainder of the semester, including the John Orr dinner occurring on Nov. 19.

“They’re going to be working on an action plan to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again and ensuring that they create a culture of inclusiveness,” Tierney said.

Human Rights and Equity

University administration.

“We also consulted with the Athletics and Recreation and the Advancement office because they’re the ones who invite the bands to represent Queen’s University at a lot of their events,” Campbell, ArtSci ’11, said.

— Katherine Fernandez-Blance (with files from Jake Edmiston)

Photo by Justin Chin

4 •

Journal Year in reVieW

News

Academic plan gets go-ahead Nov. 25, 2011

Photo by AsAd Chishti

Eviction decision looms for Occupy Nov. 25, 2011 Approximately 25 Occupy Kingston protesters gathered in Confederation Park on Nov. 23 to discuss possible eviction.

On Dec. 6, Kingston city council members will put the eviction decision to a vote, which will determine Occupy Kingston’s next move.

Protesters have occupied the park since Oct. 15. Fewer than five protesters have slept in the structure erected in the park since the movement began.

According to a city bylaw, the

current set-up in the park is illegal. cannot continue to protest by Councillor for the sitting in the park, holding up Loyalist-Cataraqui District Kevin signs,” George said in an interview.

George spearheaded the motion “Constitutional rights allows that will come to council. for that.”

Part of the motion reads: “Be it If there’s resistance, George said resolved that the Occupy Kingston it will be up to Kingston bylaw protesters be requested to cease officers to decide what happens. camping and to remove all shelters, Roughly one month after tents, equipment and debris from the Occupy movement began in Confederation Park by no later Kingston, eviction notices were than 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, distributed to groups all across December 8, 2011 and to refrain North America, including Toronto from carrying out any of those and London, Ont. activities in other city parks and George said the City has municipally owned public spaces.” been watching the reactions of “That does not mean that they other municipalities.

“Some of them we haven’t been overly pleased [with] because of the violence that’s occurred and the animosity,” he said. “We want to just wait and see what the occupiers themselves may choose to do based on what was happening in other communities.”

Matt Thornton, a Kingston occupier, said there are plans in place in case the protesters are evicted.

“If worse comes to worse, resistance is definitely an option,” he said at the Occupy meeting.

— Meaghan Wray

NOPIRG plans to stop student fee Jan. 31, 2012 A ‘no’ campaign has been launched against the Ontario Public Interest Research Group’s opt-outable student fee. It’s the first time in the organization’s history at Queen’s.

The $4 fee has been in place since OPIRG was started at Queen’s in 1992.

“The chief motive behind the campaign is the use of student dollars or more precisely the misuse of them,” said Stuart Clark, chief organizer of the NOPIRG campaign.

Patrick Allin, AMS speaker and chief electoral officer, said a student constable was offered to each group during the campaigning due to increasing hostilities. Only NOPIRG has utilized this thus far.

Allin, ArtSci ’13, said the AMS has been in regular contact with both parties and neither has violated the rules of AMS referendum.

According to an AMS press release issued yesterday, those responsible will be held accountable under the non-academic discipline system.

Clark said right now QSAFE is committed to stopping OPIRG’s student fee.

“Even if they lose the ability to opt out, no student is prevented from making an individual contribution to the $30,000 salary of the co-ordinator,” he said.

Bissoondial said her salary becomes $24,000 after tax.

“I definitely do think that [NOPIRG] is personal,” she said.

“The campaign about my salary is absurd.” Bissoondial, ArtSci ’10.

“Twenty-four thousand dollars for a recent Queen’s graduate, it’s not a lot of money,” she said, adding that hers is the only salary OPIRG Kingston pays for.

Bissoondial said on Thursday there was a verbal confrontation between OPIRG and NOPIRG volunteers.

“There was an argument, but it was a reciprocal situation,” she said.

AMS Clubs Manager Craig Draeger took a three-day leave of absence from his position to join the NOPIRG campaign.

“I was dragged into the referendum campaign by a series of online assaults on my

character, identity, and integrity that were supported by OPIRG affiliates,” Draeger told the Journal via email. “This included a very homophobic and queerphobic rant about my sexuality, as well as the misappropriation of my image by their previous Director.”

Draeger said his relationship with OPIRG in his professional position has revolved around making AMS-owned resources like funding and spaces available

to them.

“The Clubs Manager has no responsibility ‘over’ an organization like OPIRG,” he wrote. “When I return to my job on Thursday morning, I will resume treating OPIRG with the respect and professionalism I have always displayed.”

— Katherine Fernandez-Blance

JDL wins AMS election Feb. 2, 2012

Incoming vice-president of university affairs Mira Dineen said Sixty per cent of voters solidified she couldn’t predict her reaction team JDL’s win in the first to the win.

“This is better than I thought it round of preferential balloting would feel,” she said. “I want to on Wednesday.

By the time the current AMS win an election every day.”

Team GPP’s presidential executives arrived, bearing champagne, JDL’s campaign party candidate Rico Garcia got a call from the AMS elections team had reached over 80 people.

The crowd cheered out informing him of his team’s loss.

“You get into this thing knowing the team’s name and lifted the candidates onto a table in the there’s a possibility of losing,” main living area. They each made he said.

Team GPP, comprised of Garcia, tearful speeches.

“I can’t even describe the vice-president of operations feeling, it’s absolutely insane,” candidate Duncan Peterson and said incoming vice-president of vice-president of university affairs operations Tristan Lee. candidate T.K. Pritchard, agreed The voter turnout for the they have full faith in team JDL. election was 33.78 per cent — “I know the AMS is going to be an increase from 24.85 per cent in good hands next year,” Garcia, ArtSci ’13, said. in 2011.

Team RMS spent their night President-elect Doug Johnson said his only regret was missing out at Common Ground playing the on talks with individual students board game Settlers of Catan and reminiscing about the campaign. during the campaign.

“I have no regrets about running, “We got so caught up talking to classes that we missed that,” he it’s been a learning experience,” said. “It would’ve really benefited presidential candidate Jeffrey McCarthy said. our campaign.”

Vice-president of university affairs candidate Sean Renaud, ArtSci ’15, said he plans to apply for the position of academic affairs commissioner. Bryor Snefjella, vice-presidential candidate of operations and ArtSci ’12, said he hopes to go to graduate school.

“It’s been a while since three teams have run,” McCarthy said.

— Catherine Owsik, Savoula Stylianou and Meaghan Wray (with files from Journal staff)

The Academic Plan that will direct the University’s academic future was unanimously approved at a Senate meeting on Sept. 27.

The current plan includes 22 specific recommendations, eight general university standards and six guiding points for the planning process.

During the September meeting senators voiced concerns around the over-specificity and financial motives of the plan. “[The Academic Planning Task Force] took anything objectionable out of the Academic Plan,” Senator Jordan Morelli said, referencing points included in the September plan like a mandatory year-long English course for first-year students.

During the Sept. 27 Senate meeting, the task force was given approximately two months to present a finalized plan.

“Realistically, they just ran out of time,” Morelli said.

Morelli, an assistant professor in the department of physics, engineering physics and astronomy, drafted an amendment to the motion that carried on Nov. 22.

As a result, the Academic Plan will be updated on a yearly basis with specific recommendations made to Senate. In the fall of 2012, issues of faculty renewal and online learning will be discussed.

Morelli also presented an alternative motion to the plan, calling for Senate to reject the current plan and consider each point in the September draft one-by-one.

An online petition urging Senate to support Morelli’s motion was opened and since Oct. 20 it received 631 verified signatures from the Queen’s community including professors and students.

He withdrew the motion after his amendment passed.

Morelli said during the Nov. 19 weekend he worked with Senator Petra Fachinger, who sat on the APTF, to draft the amendment as a compromise between the APTF and the community.

“The fact that the [Academic Plan] carried unanimously indicates that there was a compromise made but it was a compromise that the majority of people found some merit in,” Morelli said.

— Catherine Owsik

Photo by Justin Chin

Features

Journal Year in reVieW • 5

Taxing nights behind the wheel Sept. 12, 2011 Mordeen Bondett said her worst experience as a Kingston taxi driver was with a Queen’s student last year.

“He told me that I was just a servant,” the seven-year Amey’s taxi veteran said. “He told me that he judged a person by what they did for a living and what I did for a living wasn’t respectable.”

The mother of two teared up and turned away from me as she spoke.

“Maybe I shouldn’t talk about this,” she said. “All I’ll say is that at that time, two of our drivers had PhDs.” Bondett, who works the 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. shift, let me ride along with her on Saturday night.

Her car had a surveillance

camera installed on the windshield five years ago after studies in Winnipeg and Chicago found that video surveillance was the most successful method for taxi driver protection.

She said people are often concerned about a woman driving alone at night.

“You can be afraid of the daylight too,” Bondett said.

In 2007, Amey’s driver David Krick was stabbed to death inside his cab at 7 a.m.

“I can’t begin to imagine,” she said. “I just have to keep myself strong and alert.”

Bondett keeps plastic bags, bandaids, Kleenex and gum in her car for customers.

“I stock up on plastic bags during Frosh Week and Homecoming,” she said. “That’s when most

people vomit.”

When someone vomits in a cab, a driver can clean it themselves and continue with their shift or send it in for cleaning and forego a night’s wages. Clean-up incurs an $80 charge for the passenger.

“I’m impressed with students who bring their own plastic bags,” Bondett said.

The Kleenex is mainly for students coming back from the train station after a holiday at home, Bondett said.

“I can go through a number of Kleenex boxes, especially after Thanksgiving,” she said. “That’s when all the breakups happen.”

Bondett works a 12-hour shift five times a week.

“I do it so that I can eat,” she said. “But if you’re out here for 12 hours at a time, enjoying your job

Photo by Justin Chin

really helps — and I do.”

Having a bad night — usually one involving vomit, an unpaid fare or mistreatment — can take a toll on drivers, Bondett said.

“One bad customer takes two [good customers] to erase it from your mind,” she said. “One to show you that they’re not all bad and another to wash away the hurt.”

— Terra-Ann Arnone

Student soldiers Oct. 3, 2011 Of the 528 Canadian Forces members studying full-time at Ontario universities, 23 go to Queen’s.

For every two months of service in the Canadian Armed Forces, a student is subsidized for one month of education.

Tuition and books are paid for up front by the student who receives a reimbursement cheque for every course passed.

Cpl. Jeffrey Cho joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2007 when he couldn’t afford to pay for his second year of undergraduate education at York University.

“Would I recommend people to join the military to get an education? Definitely not,” he said. “It’s not just a job.”

Ontario students make up the majority of those who receive education subsidies from the Canadian Armed Forces.

RMC accepts mail-in assignments from students who have been unexpectedly deployed.

“I work my full day then have to manage studies, exams and all

that stuff on my own,” he said.

“It’s difficult to take certain courses if professors can’t accommodate your schedule.”

This semester he was forced to drop all of his courses in anticipation of a late-October overseas deployment.

“Right now I’m missing out on the university experience,” he said.

“The most important things you learn aren’t what you learn in the classroom, right?”

Cho was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) a few years ago, a condition he said was the culmination of a long-term battle with depression.

He said shifting his mental focus from the Armed Forces to academics has helped him to cope with the mental stress.

“I don’t know what it is,” he said. “When you put on that uniform it doesn’t matter what state you’re in, but when you get home … it all hits you.”

— Janina Enrile (with files from Terra-Ann Arnone)

James Ready campaign targets students Oct. 14, 2011 Promotional lawn signs lining Student Ghetto streets this week aren’t for a political candidate.

Beer company James Ready’s bid for student support comes with the promise of free food and beer, a message which has school administration concerned about what’s happening outside their disciplinary jurisdiction.

Every household that agrees to post the sign gets a six-pack of James Ready beer in return.

Deanna Kaminskyj, senior brand manager at Moosehead Breweries — which manages James Ready — said Queen’s was an obvious choice for the beer company’s new campaign across university campuses in Ontario.

The campaign also includes Western, Guelph, Laurier, Brock and McMaster, though Kaminskyj said that Queen’s students drink more of the brand than any of the other universities in Ontario.

James Ready beer makes up eight per cent of the Princess Street Beer Store’s total sales — one in every 12 cases of beer.

According to Kaminskyj, it’s James Ready’s highest point of sale in Ontario.

“We see sales rise in September and drop off in the summer so we know it’s all the Queen’s students,” she said.

Last year, the brand distributed

James Ready posters to Queen’s students. Having the poster in the window of a Student Ghetto home entitled the tenants to a free six-pack of the beer.

In September, James Ready amped up their advertising, adding two student employees — Jared Huras and Remi Ojo — who run weekly promotions online and at Queen’s.

Ojo and Huras trade beer, food and promotional shirts to students who present James Ready bottle caps as proof of their loyalty to the brand.

Campus diplomats Huras and Ojo use Twitter and Facebook to spread the word about promotional events on campus.

The pair’s latest tweet boasted “Buy JAMES READY, get FREE Beer Pong Apparel.”

Kaminskyj said the employees — dubbed campus diplomats — are responsible for ensuring safe drinking practices among students as well.

“They’re not qualified security guards,” she said, “but we went through the basics in terms of looking for IDs that have been tampered with or don’t look like the person who’s using them.”

According to AMS Vice-President of University Affairs Kieran Slobodin, the University isn’t responsible for alcohol campaigns off campus.

Slobodin sits on the University’s

Alcohol Working Group, a body struck in January with the mandate of promoting safe and responsible drinking among students.

He said the working group briefly discussed the possibility of analyzing alcohol-related promo events off campus, like pub-crawls, during the group’s last meeting on Sept. 26.

Director of Housing and Hospitality Services Bruce Griffiths, who’s also a sitting member of the Group, said off-campus alcohol advertisements such as the James Ready campaign is a concern, but acknowledged that little can be done to quell it.

“It’s troublesome,” he said. “But there are just limits to what we can

Photo by Corey LabLans

and can’t control at Queen’s.”

The Alcohol Working Group is developing an advertising campaign for safe and responsible drinking on campus, but off-campus promotion is out of their jurisdiction.

The group has no plans to respond directly to the James Ready campaign.

Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Arig Girgrah said the working group is looking to overhaul current Queen’s alcohol policy after seven years without change.

“Incidents have taken place that have expedited the process and obviously given us a bigger sense of urgency to get this work done,” she said.

A coroner’s report in May called for a review of alcohol policies after an investigation found alcohol was involved in the deaths of two students last year.

The Alcohol Working Group is participating in an overview of policies in Ontario universities.

Advertisements like the James Ready campaign can affect campus culture, she said.

“Our response and understanding of what’s happening in terms of advertising and its impact on our efforts will be addressed throughout our policy and strategies,” Girgrah said.

— Terra-Ann Arnone (with files from Jake Edmiston)

6 •

Journal Year in reVieW

Features

suPPLied by Queen’s arChives

Skeleton Park earns its name Oct. 27, 2011 City officials are working on a long-term project to ensure the cemetery beneath McBurney Park stays underground.

In May, Alec Ross found a decrepit headstone near the park’s baseball diamond.

The former co-ordinator of the McBurney Park Neighbourhood Association was playing catch with his son when he spotted the gravestone of Mary McLeod — a 27-year-old Kingston resident who died in 1834.

McBurney Park, better known as Skeleton Park, started as the Upper Burial Ground in 1819.

“Seeing the stone revealed just kind of made history very real,” Ross said. “I’ve seen other stones in the park, and even some bones during construction years ago.

“You’ve heard about these things before, but actually seeing one and seeing a name on the stone … made me very protective.”

Ross reburied the headstone himself.

“It kept on getting uncovered because kids started finding it,” he said, adding that community members took turns ensuring the headstone remained covered over the summer.

Ross said they affectionately referred to the headstone as Mary. “[It was] like she was a friend,” he said. “We just wanted to protect [the stone] from being wrecked.”

The cemetery was Kingston’s primary burial ground until

1850, when Cataraqui Cemetery was built.

According to heritage consultant Carl Bray, there’s uncertainty about how many people are buried under the park.

“There would probably be several thousand buried there, but no one will probably ever know,” he said, blaming a lack of formal record-keeping.

The cemetery was closed in 1864 after reaching capacity.

After the closure, there was no maintenance on the site and the area fell into disrepair. Livestock grazed on the grounds and locals vandalized gravestones.

According to Bray, there were rumours of grave-robbing. He said Queen’s medical students were often accused.

In the late 1880s, a growing residential area surrounding the old cemetery pressured the city into action. Officials decided to build a park on top of the cemetery.

“The various denominations [who had buried their dead on the grounds] started removing bodies but it became a very futile process,” Bray said, adding that exhumation was a grotesque process.

“Many of the bodies hadn’t decomposed.”

Kingston has shallow soil with

a layer of bedrock beneath it, Bray said, so bodies were buried closer to the surface because of it.

The ground’s high level of water retention also prevented bodies from decaying properly.

Cholera, diphtheria and typhus were rampant in the early 1800s and the diseases are the suspected cause of death for many buried in Skeleton Park.

Community members feared the viruses were contagious when the bodies were dug up.

They also didn’t want to disturb the graves, Bray said. “[The city] realized at the time that there was no way they could

properly reinter the bodies,” he said. “They would essentially just have to leave it as a mass grave.”

That mass grave is now the base of Skeleton Park.

“Gravestones will work their way to the surface,” Bray said, adding that two unreadable gravestones will often emerge on the west side of the park during spring thaw.

Rumours about the park have become a part of the neighbourhood folklore, he said.

“There are pretty apocryphal stories in the north end about people finding bones popping up through the surface,” Bray said.

— Janina Enrile (with files from Terra-Ann Arnone)

Radio reaches out to Kingston prisoners Jan. 12, 2012 “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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.”

— Terra-Ann Arnone

Canadian schools pilot semester-less system Jan. 19, 2012 This fall, 25 students at Algoma University will take their classes in a 19th-century school house in St. Thomas, Ont. They’ll be part of the University’s pilot program testing out block education within its Arts and Science faculty.

In the block structure, students take one course over the span of three weeks — they go to the same three-hour class five times a week and write the final exam before moving onto another subject.

Each three-week course translates into a half credit in a traditional education plan.

Algoma University President Richard Myers said he has high hopes for the pilot program, which will run at the same time as the University of Northern British Columbia’s block learning test drive next year.

According to Myers, the block

plan allows professors free time to conduct research after they’ve finished a three-week course.

“There’s a great deal of flexibility,” he said.

Professor Robert Loevy said block learning originated at Colorado College in 1970.

“A major characteristic of the block plan is students can’t hide anymore,” said Loevy, who started at the College in 1968. “The block plan tries, and I think majorly succeeded, in delivering on what a small liberal arts college is supposed to be about.”

The College of 2,000 students continues to only offer block courses. Students are given a four-day break in between blocks.

Unlike Canadian versions of the plan, Loevy said professors can begin and end classes whenever they’d like. There’s no quota for time spent in the classroom during a block.

“If class is going well and students are participating, why in

the middle of a discussion should it end if the bell rings?” he said. “So it doesn’t.

“On the other hand, if things aren’t working right, the professor can end the class early and tell the students to go back and do more reading.”

Cornell College in Iowa, Tusculum College in Tennessee and Quest University in B.C. also run courses in block format.

Nova Scotia’s Acadia University first tried out the block plan in fall 2005 with their biology department. They ran the program again in fall 2006 and one last time in winter 2009.

Acadia Vice-President of Academics Tom Herman said while the block program garnered positive feedback from professors and students, it posed bigger logistical challenges which proved insurmountable.

“Even brief absences due to illness or other commitments can be problematic because of

the intensive coverage,” he told the Journal via email, adding that students struggled with significant reading requirements.

“The greatest challenge is cultural — convincing an entire institution to re-think its approach to course delivery is a daunting task.” “[Block learning] is not for the faint-hearted,” he said, adding that Acadia has maintained one semester of block learning in a fourth-year arts course.

Erica Newton was a biology student at Acadia in fall 2005, during their first pilot of the block program.

“That was by far the best semester that I had at Acadia, both in terms of social experiences and learning,” Newton, now a master’s student at Trent University, said.

“We did so much during that block and I was able to put it on my applications to grad school and resumé.”

Newton said what the

program lacked in theoretical learning, it made up for in hands-on experience.

“The class was so small that we were able to learn how biology was actually done,” she said. “We were really asked to use our brains in a completely different way, and I don’t think that universities focus on that enough.”

According to Queen’s Provost Alan Harrison, the University has no plans to adopt block learning in the near future.

“The critical thing is there’s nothing sacrificed by the normal university term,” he said. “I think the majority of teaching will continue to follow the standard schedule because that’s the schedule that works well for most of those involved.”

— Terra-Ann Arnone

Editorials

Journal Year in reVieW • 7

Not ready for new name Sept. 20, 2011

O

n Sept.

15, AMS Assembly passed a motion to rebrand the Student Ghetto as the University District.

The motion, put forward by the Municipal Affairs Commission, was passed alongside an attendant motion that approved the establishment of the Student Maintenance and Resource Team.

This team of hired students

will clean up garbage, organize recycling, cut grass and even apply fresh coats of paint to houses in the Student Ghetto.

The AMS has launched an advertising campaign for the new name without making any noticeable changes in the housing region around campus. The MAC’s proposed changes should have come before the rebranding.

Ghetto is a word steeped in a dark history, with ties to Jewish segregation in Renaissance Italy

and the Second World War. It’s also used in North America to refer to impoverished urban areas.

Our nomenclature is inappropriate. The Student Ghetto isn’t comparable to historical ghettos, but the term’s common acceptance at Queen’s will prevent the renaming from taking root.

The AMS hasn’t explained to the student body why University District is a preferable name and has instead tried to institute a new vernacular without communicating

with students.

The first step in the renaming process shouldn’t be rebranding.

Instead, the AMS should start by improving housing standards in the area. The student body will be more willing to see the Student Ghetto as the University District if change occurs beneath the surface.

The term Student Ghetto has stuck because of the nature of housing in the area. Houses are rundown, unclean and many landlords treat students unfairly.

Rebranding the region requires a multi-faceted change. Landlords need to treat students like first-time homeowners and less like

destructive transients.

Students also need to rise to the occasion. Any attempts to rebrand the Student Ghetto will hinge on student support. Otherwise, the area will remain unchanged.

Changing the Student Ghetto’s name is the recycling of an old idea that didn’t work. For the results to be different this time, the name change needs to be backed up with substantial action.

Until we see change, the new name simply won’t stick.

Bands suspension justified CFRC needs a lift Nov. 25, 2011

into account the seriousness of the situation. The suspension of Bands he suspension of Queen’s isn’t an example of the politically Bands on Nov. 17 was a correct run amok — the recourse necessary decision made by the taken by the University was justified.

We don’t want to be represented University administration and the AMS. Bands is prevented from by the Bands’ songs and traditions performing for the remainder of if they are offensive.

This isn’t to say that every Bands the fall term after controversial material, circulated amongst Bands member is equally accountable for members, was brought to the circulated materials. As a group, attention of the University and Bands is composed of dedicated and talented individuals who shouldn’t the AMS. The Bands songbook features be painted as insensitive, sexist or vulgar and sexist songs and issues racist. Being in Bands requires a of the “The Banner” were rife large amount of work. While we with offensive material. Past front respect Bands members for their page titles from the past three enthusiasm and performances, years of this Bands-published the apparent subculture is simply pamphlet include “Mouth raping not okay. your little sister since 1905” and The administration’s openness “Perpetuating racial stereotypes when handling the ban was the since 1905.” right choice. Though the decision Calling something a joke doesn’t garnered national media attention make it harmless or acceptable. and cast Queen’s in an unfavourable Rape is a topic that’s never light, it’s preferable to keeping the appropriate to joke about; just as story under wraps.

The Bands executive’s decision making light of racial stereotypes is never okay. Arguing “The Banner” to decline comment to the media was all in good fun fails to take has left a gap in the story — one that

T

can’t be laid to rest until both sides are told. Until then, speculation will continue. The short statement issued through the Queen’s news centre and AMS website does little to explain the situation from a Bands perspective.

A balanced perspective can’t be provided until they have a chance to explain themselves. Bands needs to openly admit their mistakes and state how they will endeavor to make changes.

Queen’s and the Bands’ reputation has been momentarily tarnished, but both will recover from the bad publicity. The organization will bounce back if they reform their ways.

The imposed measures won’t destroy the group, they will improve it. This suspension provides Bands the chance to emerge stronger and more inclusive.

As long as Bands is affiliated with this sort of behaviour, they shouldn’t be allowed to represent Queen’s. It’s the same standard set for every group — it’s a standard for a reason.

Oct. 28, 2011

enough funding.

The Queen’s Accessibility volunteer Louise Bark has been unable access Committee referred Bark to the radio station’s space, in the Accessibility Queen’s, an AMS basement of Carruthers Hall. group, after the University Bark uses a wheelchair and decided funding was unavailable. previously entered the offices with This decision signals a deflection help from her colleagues, who of responsibility that shouldn’t would carry her down the stairs in have happened.

Volunteers make significant a manual wheelchair.

In Nov. 2010, CFRC spoke to contributions to the University and Queen’s Accessibility Committee to CFRC in particular. They need about the building’s lack of to be appreciated for their service accessibility and Bark was told that and accommodations should be her method of entering Carruthers made as needed.

Given the historic nature of Hall was a liability. Bark was told a mechanical lift would be installed, many campus buildings it’s likely and even tested the device this that accessibility is an issue in spring, but the project has been places other than the basement of Carruthers Hall. The University delayed indefinitely.

The University’s failure to should conduct an audit of campus provide an accessible entrance to buildings and proactively alter any the CFRC offices is shameful and spaces that are inaccessible for community members. should be remedied immediately.

Accessibility is an issue that’s The proposed lift costs approximately $16,000, often championed, yet in this case but Ann Browne, associate it was ignored. vice-principal of facilities, told the Journal via email that there isn’t

C

FRC

Administration botched BFA decision Dec. 1, 2011

Q

ueen’s decision to suspend admissions to the Bachelor of Fine Arts program has left a significant number of questions unanswered. Students deserve a thorough explanation that includes the administration’s plan for the program’s future.

Students weren’t consulted on the suspension. An email appeared in their webmail inboxes on Nov. 9. It’s inexcusable.

Suspending admissions to an established program warrants an in-person meeting to effectively field questions and concerns.

The administration mismanaged the situation, perpetuating student frustration by issuing vague statements.

While the suspension was set for one year, there’s been no guarantee from the administration that the program will be brought back in its current form. If the intent is to transition into the program’s cancellation, the administration needs to be upfront.

With the University’s financial woes, the future of Fine Arts is uncertain.

It’s unfair and inaccurate to say the administration is targeting Fine

Arts. More should have been done to seek the program’s preservation.

Donations should have been aggressively pursued to try to keep the program functioning.

Cutting costs is a necessary step when there’s a deficit, but it makes more sense to eliminate costs from the processes of the University rather than the product students pay for.

Given the highly creative and

personal nature of the program, Arts, comprised of ASUS executive, students are an excellent resource AMS executive and the Queen’s to one another, trading tips rector. They need to do more. and techniques.

While the committee brought The current class of first years an initiative to Senate on Nov. 22 will be short-changed because that sought to create guidelines for new students won’t be enrolling, the future suspension of programs, meaning fewer students to share it’s done little to deal with the clear collected wisdom. problem at hand.

AMS assembly struck a Senate stalled the initiative, committee on Nov. 10 to stating that there wasn’t enough investigate the suspension of Fine time to discuss it. This was

unacceptable. For an issue that directly affects 107 Fine Arts students as well as the campus population as a whole, time needs to be made.

Fine Arts students were the most recent victims of University budget cuts. The least they should be able to expect is a little transparency.

Students need answers on Phases 2 and 3 Jan. 27, 2012

S

ince 2005, Queen’s students have paid a mandatory annual student fee of $70.50 towards for the construction of the Queen’s Centre Phases 1, 2 and 3.

That student fee doubled in 2009. Construction on Phases 2 and 3 has been stalled since the 2009 opening of the ARC. On Jan. 19, AMS Assembly passed a motion in reaction to the uncompleted phases.

Initially, the AMS had promised a capital contribution of $25.5 million from the student body but

now will contribute only $10.6 wasteland that was once destined million to Phase 1 alone. to become a field house and The AMS decision to cancel the an arena. mandatory student fee saves each They owe it to their investors student from funneling $141 per and students to outline a plan year into a non-existent project. — or at least be honest if there It’s the administration’s turn to isn’t one. be vocal.

Walking around campus, it’s Cancelling further construction obvious that construction was was a wise decision considering brought to a halt. There’s a vacant the University’s current financial lot and a chain-link fence at Union troubles. Queen’s hasn’t released and Division Streets, and the PEC a formal a public statement is empty. regarding the future of Phases 2 We deserve a comprehensive and 3 since claiming they were explanation detailing why Phases postponed indefinitely in 2009. A 2 and 3 aren’t financially viable. lot of questions have arisen in two It’s still unclear how Phase 1 of the years surrounding the Union Street Queen’s Centre construction came

in $41 million over budget.

The promise of newly-constructed facilities was used as a lure for prospective students, but now amounts to false advertising.

If the project was mismanaged, there needs to be horizontal accountability for whoever made the errors.

Changes need to be made, whether through parameters of internal accountability, or through the hiring of an external management firm to oversee construction.

8 •

Journal Year in reVieW

Editorial illustrations

By Janghan hong

This illustration ran alongside the editorial “Bands suspension justified” on Nov. 25, 2011.

This illustration ran alongside the editorial “Day finally over” on Sept. 9, 2011.

This illustration ran alongside the editorial “Free to friend profs” on Oct. 21, 2011.

This illustration ran alongside the editorial “Not ready for new name” on Sept. 20, 2011.

This illustration ran alongside the editorial “Mental health still a priority” on March 16, 2012.

This illustration ran alongside the editorial “AMS video commendable” on Sept. 16, 2011.

This illustration ran alongside the editorial “CFRC needs a lift” on Oct. 28, 2011.

Dialogue

JournaL year in review • 9

Stand-off on labour talks

July 27, 2011

B oB S ilverman t hen -P rovost and v ice -P rinciPal academic Earlier this month, negotiations between the University and two of its employee groups — the members of the three Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) locals on campus and the members of the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA) — entered a new phase. Both of these groups held votes to determine their willingness to support a strike.

There are many benefits to reaching agreements before September. First and most apparently, concluding agreements before the fall term will ensure the least potential disruption. The second and less obvious benefit is financial.

The Queen’s Pension Plan (QPP) is in bad financial shape and the plan will continue to deteriorate the longer it takes to reach agreements on required changes.

The plan is in much worse shape

than it was at the time of the last valuation in 2008. Without reform, the payments we will be required to make as an institution could become crippling — potentially consuming $70-million per year, or about a sixth of the University’s total operating budget.

In order to preserve adequate retirement benefits, individual employees will have to contribute more and the institution will need to pay more too. The goal is to keep those increases manageable and in line with best practices. The changes that have been proposed are well within those guidelines.

Making good decisions in tight fiscal circumstances is not simple.

Negotiating them can be even more difficult. It will not be easy but, ultimately, we will succeed.

Until then, I encourage you to stay informed. Encourage your fellow members of the Queen’s community to do the same.

Bob Silverman was succeeded as Provost by Alan Harrison in August, 2011

P aul Young P resident , Q ueen’s u niversity Faculty a ssociation Our Provost, Bob Silverman, in one of his recent missives suggests that engagement in the issues is key: “We feel strongly that the more people participate in the process, the more likely it becomes that negotiations will reach a meaningful and satisfactory outcome.” I agree. However, the administration still doesn’t engage with us.

The Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA) held a general meeting of our membership on July 13. The purpose of the meeting was to seek a strike mandate. Overall 78 per cent of our membership voted; 72 per cent of the votes cast were in favour of the strike mandate.

Given the high participation rate, this is an extraordinary result. Bob, are we engaged?

The reality is that the student to faculty ratio at Queen’s has been steadily increasing for decades. Queen’s, along with

other Ontario universities, now has one of the worst ratios in the country. The faculty want a voice through negotiation.

Silverman, on the issue of pension reform, notes “it’s a big challenge, but solutions are available.” So true. It’s only one of many issues and there are many solutions, but the administration will only accept one, theirs, which hasn’t been discussed with QUFA or other unions and doesn’t include any input from employees.

No one on the faculty side desires this outcome, as we all care very much about the University and the students. If faculty are forced to strike, it will be to protect the quality of Queen’s University.

The pending crisis is driven by an unrealistic budgetary straitjacket imposed by the Board of Trustees and an uncompromising attitude permeating the upper administration. With a little good will, both of these can change and a fair settlement will be reached.

Nov. 25, 2011 more reasonable.

The second bill brought in by the Conservative government would make it clear that any vacancy, in any province, could be filled by holding a provincial election where Canadian voters would get to choose their own senators.

The Prime Minister, under the existing constitutional provisions, would still appoint the winner of the election so his constitutional power isn’t diminished or changed.

On three occasions (October, 2007; November, 2008; and March, 2009) I brought a resolution to the Senate floor for a referendum where Canadians could choose to reform the Senate, keep it the same or abolish it.

On the basis of such a Canada-wide vote (wherein the people are being consulted before the backroom negotiations begin, as opposed to after — quite a radical idea!), negotiations between the provinces and Ottawa could begin to be driven by the decision Canadians reach in the ballot box.

Present Senate reform ideas are rational and fair. They deserve every opportunity to be passed and tried before we face the issue of abolition — the likely next stage

should the opposition parties coalesce to delay these bills, through whatever procedural tactics are available.

Prime Minister Harper has advocated Senate reform for more than 15 years.

It’s a position I took when seeking the national Progressive Conservative leadership in 1998, and it’s one being echoed now as we continue to debate the issue.

— Senator Hugh Segal

A law student’s take on the Shafia trial Jan. 27, 2012 When I visited Kingston’s Frontenac County courthouse earlier this month, the first thing I noticed was that the courtroom was at maximum capacity. People are there for a show.

When court adjourns, the public streams out of the room and begins to gossip.

Shafia and his family require representation by a legal team dedicated to ensuring they receive a fair trial in the face of extensive resources assembled by the government to prosecute them.

The media, telling us the family

... the year’s best What do you think about the Queen’s barbell thief?

“I wanna know if he’s single.”

JaMie levoN, artsci ’12

What’s the most important issue you’d like to address if elected as Rector?

“The needs of students are so diverse that I don’t think there’s one issue that ranks higher.”

Nick FraNcis, artsci ’13

The case for senate reform Put yourself in the shoes of the recently elected (with loads of help from Queen’s) MP for Kingston and the Islands, Ted Hsu. Hsu worked hard to get elected.

He won a tough campaign in which his party came third nationally.

But when he arrives in Ottawa he finds out the local senator for Kingston-Frontenac-Leeds has the same legislative power he has — even though the Senator wasn’t elected to Ottawa by local voters.

This is undemocratic and this is why I support Senate reform.

The approach put forward by the Government of Canada, which I strongly support, consists of two bills that do two important things.

The first bill limits how long a person can sit in the Senate. Before Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson in the 1960s, Senators could serve until they died. Pearson brought in a law to limit the age of service to 75.

Pearson’s term limit was a step in the right direction, but it still meant that a senator appointed at the age of 32 could serve 43 years. The Canadian government’s proposal that the term be limited to eight years seems far

Talking heads

acted upon archaic social traditions, has convinced an already-biased public of their guilt.

But if we question the importance of a rigorous legal defence team, we are failing to understand how our justice system works.

If the accused are found guilty in this case, defence lawyers won’t have played a role in inhibiting justice. In fact, they’ll have helped facilitate it.

— Chris Tooley, JD ’14

Are you growing a moustache for Movember?

“Yes, but I’ve got to shave soon for my grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary.”

PrestoN steiNke, kiN ’11

What would you like to see Queen’s do in 2012?

“Bring back Fine Arts.”

JilliaN Pike, artsci ’15

What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?

LeTTers To The ediTors — year in review Queen’s Bands suspension “The main fault I find in the response of the AMS and the administration was the universality with which they acted.”

that current members unfamiliar with.”

were

— Anne Johnson, M.Ed ’09

Fine Arts admissions suspension

— Anthony Wong, ArtSci ’14 “Bachelor of Fine Arts students are open to change, but we don’t “The Journal has done a massive want to see the quality of our disservice to members of the Bands program sacrificed as a result. The by referring to material from ‘The Queen’s BFA program is unique Banner,’ a defunct publication within Canada and therefore is

deserving of preservation. Leaving the program in its current state of suspension creates irreversible damages, even if admissions are reopened in the future.”

— Kaisa Moran, BFA ’12

SHRC not laughing at condom hoax “We’d like to express our disappointment with the decision to publish an article about a fictional

recall of defective condoms sold at the SHRC [in Golden Words’ parody issue of the Journal, Feb. 28]. So, to Golden Words, we ask: do the benefits of a few laughs that came from this article really outweigh the discomfort and worry experienced by our clients who believed the article’s claims?

We don’t think it’s fair to mess with people’s sexual health like this — it’s just not funny.”

— Leigh Turner, SHRC director

“Sperm research for my PhD.” MarviN Ferrer, PhD ’14

Have your say.

Comment at queensjournal.ca

10 •

Journal Year in reVieW

Arts

Footloose: film or musical Nov. 11, 2011

Fighting for fat

supplied

June 28, 2011 Queen’s film student Margaret perceived it.

Donahoe wanted to make a “When I was nine years old I documentary that dismantled quit [dance] because I didn’t want the negative connotation of the to wear the leotard anymore,” she word “fat.” said. “It was not my body that “My whole life growing kept me from dancing, but it was up I’ve been taught to dislike society’s perception of my body my body,” says Donahoe, that kept me from dancing. And ArtSci ’11, in the opening scene of that’s not okay.” her documentary. Fat was screened In Fat, Donahoe asks at the Toronto International friends, “Do you think I’m fat?”

Film Festival’s Student Showcase Most reponses start with an last month. awkward pause.

Donahoe said she was young One friend questions why calling when she became self-conscious someone fat can’t be a compliment. of her body and how others Another friend says Donahoe is

“fat in a way that is removed of the kinds of awful connotations that come from that word in the society we live in.”

“I started questioning ... the assumptions that had always seemed natural and normal to me,” Donahoe told the Journal.

“I wanted the audience to start questioning the truths that they held.”

She said she hopes Fat will challenge societal norms about the typical body.

— Alyssa Ashton

Alyssa Ashton LIFE-LONG FAN

Caitlin Choi FIRST-TIME FAN

By the time I was 13 I had seen Footloose over 20 times and embarrassingly performed the final dance sequence at family functions. To say I was excited to see the Kinsmen Club of Kingston’s musical version of the 1984 film is an understatement. But the most iconic moments of Footloose are lost in the stage format.

The film is scandalous with its gyrating hips and incredibly loose main character, Ariel — but the 1998 stage version of Footloose tames all these dirty moments. The characters don’t even kiss, settling for innocent hugs instead.

Due to the constraints of the stage, many scenes from the film that defined characters are missing.

In the film, Ariel shows her anger at her father by acting out — throwing herself in front of an on-coming train and standing between two moving cars. These scenes don’t occur in the musical. Emily Fennel does her best with the material given, rocking Ariel’s red boots. But she can’t truly portray Ariel without these moments.

The film is all about the freedom that comes from dancing, which the characters finally experience when they travel to a nearby club.

The club scene in the musical Footloose doesn’t fully define this freedom — it’s reminiscent of an awkward elementary school dance with the actors two-stepping, not getting down and dirty.

Forgive me Reverend, for I have danced.

Having never seen the 1984 classic film Footloose, starring bad boy Kevin Bacon, I was surprised to find my shoulders bopping and knees pumping during the Kinsmen Club of Kingston’s musical rendition at the Grand Theatre.

Undeniably catchy 80s tunes, like Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” and Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose,” leave you unreasonably giddy after the show. Quirky jazz, tap and break dancing interludes by a solid supporting cast had me jealous of their moves.

The plot is a no-brainer — girl falls for misunderstood boy and father doesn’t approve. Reverend Moore, the head of the Bomont Council, has laid down the law against dancing. Ren McCormack, a smart-mouthed city boy from Chicago, shakes up the stifled community, leading the fight to bring back rock and roll.

John MacPherson, as lead heartthrob Ren, channels a casual attitude with well-rounded vocals.

He’s much more clean-cut than I imagine the notoriously sleek Bacon would be, but MacPherson’s harmless swagger and boy-band charm make for a vulnerable and endearing performance.

Unfortunately, dancing isn’t his strong suit, but he manages to pull at some heartstrings with his singing and easy stage presence.

Arkells pack Ale photo by justin chin

Jan. 31, 2012 The Arkells frontman hadn’t forgotten.

“We played this song in Kingston and our PA went out.

You guys carried us through it,” lead singer Max Kerman told the sold-out crowd at Ale House on Friday night, referencing a Zappas Lounge appearance last year.

The Hamilton band uses their

Kingston concerts to map progress.

It started with a humble 2008 Clark Hall show, on a tour to promote their debut album Jackson Square.

In 2010, they opened for Metric at the K-Rock Centre. This year they headlined Queen’s Frosh Week concert and recorded their new album at the Tragically Hip’s Bathhouse Studios.

But the most notable is still that Zappas show, when the microphones went dead during “The Ballad of Hugo Chavez” and the crowd kept singing.

“At every stage of the way you can feel a growth, especially in Kingston,” guitarist Mike DeAngelis said in Ale House’s basement ahead of Friday’s show.

The Kingston date was the first stop to sell out after the tour schedule was announced.

Arkells management avoids booking interviews after their concerts — the post-show schedule is reserved for the band to interact with fans. After Friday’s show, the band hovered around their merchandise table,

talking with fans and posing for pictures.

“After every show we go out to the merch table and meet as many people as we can,” DeAngelis said.

“It has become, not a tradition, but a habit.”

— Jake Edmiston

Arts

Journal Year in reVieW • 11

Finding freedom

photo by justin chin

Part 1 of 3 of the vogue series Feb. 14, 2012 All she wanted was a caesar on the beach.

“It was in the middle of the summer, I was doing a course and I was working a full-time job and just like in that moment I couldn’t, I didn’t have the time to go sit on a patio deck and have a drink with a bunch of friends,” the fourth-year designer Brittany Brewster said of her collection for this year’s Vogue charity fashion show. “[In] some weird way it expressed itself in the line. In just how your life can end up so structured and how do you find your own freedom.”

Finding your freedom became the message of Brewster’s line, perfectly aligning with this year’s Vogue theme, VS. — What’s your fight?

“My fight is kind of a conflict in my own self-control and my own freedom and where they meet and how they push each other back and forth,” Brewster said.

Brewster will express her fight through a transformative collection that starts off rigid and ends flowing.

“The whole line starts out really corsetry and a lot of nudes and blacks and very, very muted

tones,” she said. “Then as the line progresses these really dark, bold lines and very structured garments fade into really flowy pieces, lots and lots of colours and almost patterns that clash quite a bit.”

Brewster headed to a fabric store after our Sunday afternoon interview, looking for more material for her men’s and women’s collections. She said she’ll finish most of her pieces before reading week — excluding final fittings.

“I will start sewing at 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. because no one’s around,” she said. “No one can distract you and you just kind of go, that’s when I get the most work done when it’s the middle of the night.”

While the designer is a self-described “coffee fiend,” she said stimulants aren’t what keep her going for all hours of the night.

“You are watching progress happen,” she said. “Every step of the way you’re getting closer to a finished project, it’s visible so you have a desire to keep going.”

Brewster designed swimwear lines for Vogue in 2009 and 2010.

Shades of humour Feb. 14, 2012

And this is why art matters.

I was having a down day — one of those days drowning in self-pity — before going to see the Agnes Etherington Art Centre’s Discontinued Colours. Layered with radical political activism and complex social commentary, the collection is a blip of contemporary art genius.

But looking at the works of the six artists, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Upon entering the gallery, the curator’s blurb for artist Myfanwy MacLeod explains a lot. Macleod’s large fibreglass frog is a hybrid of the work of Hieronymus Bosch — a 15th-century Dutch painter — and the violent images produced by mass media. The frog is symbolic of the “degradation of nature” and the bullet holes that spew water translate “radical disenchantment with social ideals.”

But, amphibian semiotics aside, the piece is undeniably kitschy and funny. The artist’s humour is brought to life through her ironically warped use of animation.

Luis Jacob’s Anarchist Free — Alyssa Ashton School Minutes is a standout piece

in the show. The artist draws the viewer into a “reading station,” complete with a chair in the shape of a hand and a small table.

I hesitated for several minutes, wondering whether I was supposed to sit in the open palm. Go figure, the piece is about anarchy, and I’m worried about gallery decorum.

On the table is an assortment of pamphlets supporting causes with “flexible social principles” — titles like SWAG: Sex Worker Action Group of Kingston and the Surrounding Area and What to do When You’ve Been Called Out: A Brief Guide set the tone of the work.

A small sign on the table reads, “Please browse the anarchist literature at this reading station and remove items that are of interest to you.” I grabbed If I Can’t Dance

Is It Still My Revolution? and Exposing the Lie. Jacob delves into issues of accessibility and sexuality, among other typically stigmatized subjects.

If I Can’t Dance Is It Still My Revolution? cites activist Krystalline Kraus’ call to disabled people saying, “They say: ‘Stay Home.’

You say: ‘Fuck off!’”

Jacob, a renowned contemporary artist, helped found the Anarchist Free School in Toronto, which applies DIY-style learning. Inspired by unconventional education, his hyperbolic humour extends beyond just headlines — some of the pamphlets are over 20 pages of text.

— Caitlin Choi

‘I was not expecting to get in’ Part 2 of 3 of the charlie brown theatre series March 16, 2012 It’s not easy channelling a six-year-old boy who’s obsessed with Beethoven. Try being an 18-year-old girl and doing it.

First-year student Mariah Horner sings, dances and acts as the Peanuts character Schroeder in the upcoming production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The former HBO actor — she played Kate Unger in two seasons of the television series Living in Your Car — snagged the role of the piano-playing youngster at Blue Canoe’s auditions in December.

“It’s funny because in almost every production, they always cast a gospel-y man [to play Schroeder],” said Horner. “Like in the Broadway cast, it’s this big black guy with this

beautiful voice and I’m like, ‘What the heck? I can’t do that!’”

After auditioning with director Alysha Bernstein and her team, Horner was sure she didn’t get the part. Her first-round audition went well — she sang “I Know It’s Today” from the musical Shrek — but during the call back, she was asked to read for the role of Snoopy, which didn’t quite fit.

“The monologue they gave me, it was like ‘pretend you’re an airplane and run around the stage for a minute and half,’” she said, admitting she was nervous going into it. “There were no other first years in the room, I don’t know any of these people and I’m like ‘oh no, why’d you have to give me

this one.’ So I’m pretty sure my audition was terrible … I was not expecting to get in at all.”

Luckily they ended up letting her read for Schroeder. She’s been studying the part ever since.

“My Schroeder character, I keep him pretty much to the comic, like he’s a very eyebrows-down kind of guy,” Horner said, scrunching her forehead into a scowl. “I think out of all of them, he is probably the hardest one to pull from the comics.”

Bernstein encouraged the all-female cast members to develop a six-year-old girl character to incorporate into their performances — shifting in and out of their male personas as they

supplied by chris miner

interact casually between scenes.

Embracing the fact that they’re females rather than hiding it allows the audience to forget that half are pretending to be boys.

“I haven’t even passed

DRAM 100 yet, so working with both characters is difficult but it’s a lot of fun, a totally new experience.”

— Caitlin Choi

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Journal Year in reVieW

Photos

Justin Chin

Corey LabLans

CaitLin Choi

asad Chishti

simona markovik

Justin Chin

Justin Chin

SportS

Journal Year in reVieW • 13

Fresh Head injuries go to House of Commons start for O . 17, 2011 football star ct

S ept . 23, 2011

Angela Sullivan took an elbow to the head in August. The midfielder for the women’s soccer team still can’t focus in class, gets headaches while doing readings and can’t handle loud noises.

She doesn’t know when her concussion will heal.

Queen’s Athletics Therapy Services reported 48 concussions last season, an increase from the 28 reported in the 2009-10 season. Officials from the therapy centre say the rise in diagnosed concussions could be attributed to a raise in awareness.

The issue of concussions in amateur sport made it to Parliament Hill on Oct. 4, with a proposed bill that would make it illegal for coaches to allow athletes

The football team’s losing streak wasn’t the only thing that ended with the 58-35 win over the Laurier Golden Hawks last Saturday.

With a four-touchdown, 368-yard performance, top receiver Giovanni Aprile had his first big game after a Queen’s-imposed suspension.

Less than a week after the 2010 season ended, Aprile was involved in a fight outside Alfie’s nightclub.

The Whig-Standard reported that Aprile pled guilty to assault and escaping custody and was granted a discharge conditional upon his completion of 18 N Ov. 18, 2011 months of probation, 100 hours of community service and This year’s women’s soccer abstention from alcohol until team proved themselves as 2012. If discharged, Aprile won’t one of the best varsity teams in have a criminal record.

Queen’s history.

“I didn’t know it, but there were After Sunday’s shootout win in a lot of people that looked up to Montreal, the team joins the 1984 me here,” Aprile said. “Walking and 1985 men’s cross country team around, looking at disappointed as the only Gaels squads to ever people. I hate that feeling.” win back-to-back national titles.

At 6’3 and 213 pounds, Aprile In the OUA final on Nov. 6, the is one of the biggest receivers on Gaels went into overtime against the team. He’s a scoring threat with incredible speed for his size.

But Aprile’s also a quiet guy, who speaks carefully and thoughtfully.

Aprile was taking an extra year of high school in Toronto when he first met Gaels head coach Pat Sheahan. He’d been playing football for only a year.

Sheahan said he remembers a young Aprile as unassuming and physically capable.

Aprile retained his eligibility in his first two years at Queen’s, barely seeing playing time during games. With his lack of experience, opportunities to play over veteran receivers were limited.

“I knew nothing when I came to Queen’s,” he said. “But [the coaches] didn’t give up on me.”

Aprile said veteran receivers like Scott Valberg reached out to him when he was a rookie in 2008.

“My first couple years, [Valberg] was really on my case on me getting into the books, learning the plays,” he said.

D ec . 1, 2011 Last year, Aprile cracked the starting lineup. A 34-reception, Last weekend, men’s hockey 599-yard, three-touchdown head coach Brett Gibson tweeted, season earned him an invitation “Whole month to stew over last night’s debacle! Recruiting starts to the 2011 East West Bowl.

Sheahan said there’s no doubt today … to find guys that want about Aprile’s chances with the to compete.”

Gibson’s tweet on Sunday Canadian Football League when he leaves Queen’s, adding that followed the Gaels’ 10-1 loss Aprile redeemed himself in the to the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières Patriotes on Saturday win against the Golden Hawks.

“His performance on Saturday night at the Memorial Centre. was a great message to send The blowout loss capped off a back to all the people who’ve disastrous November that saw supported him throughout the last the Gaels go 1-5-1. Backup goalie Steele De Fazio quit the team and six months,” Sheahan said.

“If [Aprile] continues to perform the number of players on Queen’s at the level he currently is, he’ll be injury list rose to nine.

At the halfway point of the right up there with the best that OUA regular season, the Gaels are ever played here.”

— Benjamin Deans ninth-place in the Eastern conference with a 6-7-1 record,

to return to play without meeting post-concussion criteria.

NDP MP Glenn Thibeault proposed Bill C-319 — National Strategy for Serious Injury Reduction in Amateur Sport Act — to the House of Commons earlier this month after receiving endorsements from medical groups, health organizations and numerous sporting organizations.

Bill C-319 calls for the federal government to assemble a conference involving provincial health ministers and members of the athletic, medical and health communities.

These delegates would then implement a strategy to create a national program to collect data on concussions to amateur athletes,

A new dynasty

to establish training and education guidelines on concussions for amateur coaches and to implement incentivized funding to put these protocols in place.

This season student trainers for Gaels varsity teams carried out baseline testing on all athletes. The testing involves a series of examinations that develop profiles of each athlete’s normal condition to ensure the therapy centre can prepare for a possible concussion.

Queen’s Athletics Therapy co-ordinator Vicky Wiltshire said it’s important to promote concussion education. She said the higher number of reported concussions among Queen’s athletes might have to do with an increased awareness about the dangers of head injuries, adding that coaches don’t say “it’s just a bell-ringer” anymore.

Wiltshire said most athletes recover within a week but some

have suffered long-term effects.

“We have a very small number of athletes who, weeks later, can’t sit through a lecture without getting a headache,” she said. “It can be scary and really debilitating … sometimes you don’t recover from it.”

Sullivan is one of those athletes.

“I’ve been seeing lots of doctors and they say there’s not much they can do for me,” she said.

Sullivan’s had injuries before — but she said this one’s different because there’s no clear recovery process.

“It’s frustrating because there have been times where I’ve felt really good … and then it’s almost like I’m taking a step back and I start to feel my symptoms again,” she said. “It’s such a day-to-day injury and it’s irrelevant what I do.”

— Gilbert Coyle

the defending champions, the host Chamberlain scored the last penalty They both joined the team in 2007.

After that 2007 season, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, kick in the final. in Waterloo without captain Chantal Marson, Jackie Tessier, McDowell proceeded to overhaul Kelli Chamberlain and top scorer Riley Filion and Brienna Shaw the team, bringing in 14 rookies Jackie Tessier — who were both were all named CIS championship and naming second-year defender sidelined with injuries. The Gaels all-stars while Marson was also Sara Buckham as captain.

In 2008, he brought in an won anyway. named tournament MVP. When those two returned at In the regular season, Filion was impressive rookie class that nationals, the team rallied around named OUA East MVP, rookie included Shaw, Summer Rybicki them. Tessier was named to the Jesse De Boer received OUA East and Angela Sullivan.

In 2009, he added Tessier, tournament all-star team while Rookie of the Year honours, Tessier was the OUA’s leading scorer for Filion, Alexis McKinty, Chantal the second year in a row and six McFetridge and Mikyla Kay, all of players earned OUA all-star status. whom started in Sunday’s final.

The 2009 Gaels won an OUA In a university system where turnover is a fact of life, the Gaels silver medal and were minutes have been consistent. In the past away from an appearance in the three seasons, they’ve won an CIS final before blowing a late OUA championship, two CIS gold lead and settling for fourth place. medals, have made three straight But that failure fuelled the team’s national tournament appearances success over the next two seasons.

The strong relationship and have won three straight OUA between the veterans and younger East regular-season titles.

All this success is no players means this team still has a accident — it’s been nearly five bright future. Several players will years in the making, with head graduate but the Gaels are more coach Dave McDowell tweaking than capable of defending their the roster each season to build this title next season.

The current team might be the season’s championship team.

Chamberlain and Marson best in Queen’s history — and they — the team’s only fifth-year still have time to add to their legacy. players — said they remember their photo by justin chin — Emily Lowe first two seasons as disappointing.

Nine-goal loss caps off month to forget ahead of only the Royal Military adding that defenceman Keenan College Paladins. According to Murray is currently playing Gibson, the team is struggling to on a forward line with captain overcome injuries.

Jon Lawrance.

“It’s not my grinders or The goaltending position has third-liners who are injured, it’s also seen major changes from last my top players,” Gibson told season. Even though both goalies the Journal. returned, Gibson recruited Riley The Gaels’ top 10-point scorers Whitlock — a first-year law student from last season are all on this year’s who played junior hockey in the roster — but five are currently out Quebec Major Junior Hockey of the lineup.

League. Whitlock also played with Forwards Jordan Mirwaldt, the Ottawa Gee-Gees for the past Payton Liske, Jordan Soquila, Brock three seasons.

Ouellet and Joey Derochie are Whitlock has started 13 of 14 missing while defencemen Robert games this season, recording a Stellick and Patrick McEachen are .907 save percentage, a 3.43 goals also injured. against average and one shutout.

“We have guys playing positions “[Whitlock]’s given us stability they probably shouldn’t even be back there,” Lawrance said. “We’ve playing right now,” Gibson said, hung him out to dry a couple times,

but he’s been good, and whenever we’ve had to call on David Aime, he’s been great too.”

Whitlock was pulled after allowing five goals in the first two periods of a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Gee-Gees last Friday. Aime recorded a scoreless third period.

But when Whitlock allowed five goals against the Patriotes the next day, Aime let in five more when he came in.

The Gaels have over a month until their next game. When they play the Paladins on Jan. 3, up to five injured players should be back in the lineup. Gibson said his team won’t have any more excuses at that point.

— Peter Morrow

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Journal Year in reVieW

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Ontario champs M arch 2, 2012 Fourth-year outside hitter With her team only one point away contenders,” Billings said. “But from victory during the fifth set this isn’t a fluke … we’ve acted Natalie Gray — recipient of the CIS 2011-12 Thérèse Quigley of an OUA semifinal last Saturday, like champions all year.”

Before the season, head coach Award for volleyball, academics women’s volleyball captain Becky community service Billings called her teammates in for Joely Christian-Macfarlane said and the goal was simply for her team — dominated the OUA final four a huddle.

Billings had just watched to compete every night. The Gaels weekend, recording 28 points them blow a two-set lead to the finished third in the OUA with against the Varsity Blues and University of Toronto Varsity a 13-5 record and won three 19 more against the Gee-Gees.

Blues. She said she brought the straight playoff games to clinch Christian-Macfarlane said Gray and Billings have been the team’s players together to make sure they the provincial title. wouldn’t lose focus again.

The Gaels had played the most important figures all season.

“It’s hard to be the graduating The Gaels earned the point Gee-Gees twice before, losing in especially when to beat the Varsity Blues 3-2 Ottawa on Oct. 27 before beating players, and advance to the OUA final. them 3-2 at the ARC on Jan. 27. there are only two of you,” The next day, they defeated the Even though the gold medal game Christian-Macfarlane said. “But Ottawa Gee-Gees 3-1 to win their was in Ottawa, Billings said she they’ve led the team on and off the court.” first-ever provincial title and secure wasn’t nervous.

“It was their home gym, all the a berth at the national tournament.

— Gilbert Coyle “No one expected us to be pressure was on them.”

End of an era M arch 9, 2012 For Joren Zeeman, there’s no spot in the CIS final four.

But the Gaels lost to the solace in a fourth-place finish.

The men’s volleyball team first-seeded Trinity Western is trying to come to terms with Spartans in front of 1,994 fans the outcome of last weekend’s on Saturday and fell to the CIS championship at the second-seeded Manitoba Bisons ARC — an event the Gaels had in Sunday’s third-place match.

The fourth-place finish means been anticipating for five years.

“I’m obviously proud to say we eight Queen’s players are ending did the best the Queen’s men’s their university careers with team has ever done,” Zeeman, a back-to-back losses and a missed fifth-year All-Canadian, said, “but shot at a CIS medal.

Zeeman was part of the team’s going into the season, going into our career, the goal all along was five-person 2007 recruiting class that was supposed to contend for to get a medal.”

Queen’s hosted the eight-team, the 2012 national championship 11-game CIS men’s volleyball in their fifth-year.

This season, three of the championship at the ARC last weekend. The Gaels were seeded fifth-years — Zeeman, captain fifth and upset the fourth-seeded Niko Rukavina and middle hitter University of Alberta Golden Bears Mike Amoroso — earned OUA in their quarter-final on Friday all-star honours. But outside hitter night, securing Queen’s first-ever Bryan Fautley and setter Dan

Rosenbaum missed the season with long-term injuries.

Head coach Brenda Willis said those injuries threw off her plans.

“Every time you change your roster, you don’t have the same trust,” Willis said. “If I make a substitution, you’re hesitating. ‘Is he going to take that [ball] or am I?’” Willis said she was proud of the team’s season. The Gaels started the OUA regular season at 1-3 and went 5-4 in their first nine games.

But they won seven of their last nine games and earned their first top-10 national ranking in the last week of the regular season.

Willis, who’s in her 25th year with the team, said she was proud of her eight graduating players.

“We had a lot of very gifted athletes and I think some of them had great careers,” she said, verging on tears. “[They] definitely pushed my coaching strategies to the next level … I’m going to miss them.”

— Benjamin Deans

Organizers pleased with hosting debut M arch 9, 2012

Queen’s Athletics had to turn said she thinks they will be “within fans away from the men’s hundreds of dollars of the figure.

According to Dal Cin, the volleyball team’s CIS semifinal on tournament was particularly Saturday night.

“We were sold out,” Athletics smooth because the organizing Director Leslie Dal Cin said. “We committee got to carry out a haven’t ever had to turn people practice run in October, when Queen’s hosted the Coast-to-Coast away from an event before.”

A total of 1,994 people packed Classic, a pre-season tournament the ARC to watch the Gaels fall that featured men’s volleyball to the eventual champions — the teams from across the country.

Spartans coach Ben Josephson Trinity Western Spartans — on Saturday night. It was the largest said he was impressed by the crowd.

“That was awesome,” Josephson crowd of the three-day, 11-game tournament that saw over 6,100 said after watching Queen’s beat the Alberta Golden Bears on Friday fans in the stands.

The CIS championship was the night. “This crowd was as good as the ARC’s first major tournament our crowd was last year [when the since the $230-million facility Spartans hosted the tournament], if opened in December 2009. The not better.”

But not everybody loved the Spartans beat the Laval Rouge et Or in the final match to take gold crowd — Alberta outside hitter and Ontario native Taylor Hunt, a at the tournament.

“We have had so many positive target of the home crowd’s abuse reactions about it being a first-class on Friday night, was surprised when he stepped up to serve against event,” Dal Cin said.

Queen’s officially won hosting the Gaels.

“I looked over and saw my rights to the tournament in June 2009. Before the tournament, high school friends chanting Dal Cin said Athletics needed ‘Taylor sucks,’” he said. “Kind of $60,000 in ticket revenue to unfortunate.” break even — budget details won’t — Gilbert Coyle be released for two weeks, but she

Coming out on the court M arch 23, 2012 After Bryan Fautley quit the men’s volleyball team in April 2010, head coach Brenda Willis told his teammates why.

Fautley had already revealed to family and friends that he was gay. But he hadn’t come out to the team.

“It was not an inclusive environment for a gay guy to really feel comfortable, especially to come out,” he said.

Fautley was miserable on the court. He wanted out, and he wasn’t planning to return.

Joren Zeeman was the first to find out that casual homophobic slurs had driven Fautley to quit the team. The two players met up to chat — the first in a series of interactions that would catalyze a change in the team’s culture.

Earlier this month, Fautley concluded a five-year Gaels career with a fourth-place national finish. *** Fautley knew he was gay at 16 years old, but feelings of confusion and self-doubt were amplified because he was an elite athlete.

“I’m an athlete and I’m gay?

photo by justin chin

This can’t exist,’” he said.

Fautley came to Kingston determined to stay in the closet for his university career.

But by his third season, the casual homophobic language that his teammates used made volleyball nearly unbearable.

“I still remember team huddles where [players] would say ‘Let’s beat these faggots up,’” Fautley said.

Fautley had started to come out in December 2008. In January 2010, he decided to tell his parents he was gay — but he still wasn’t prepared to tell his teammates.

“I was finally so content and relieved with every other aspect of my life that volleyball just became that nuisance, that burden, that chore that I had to go and do,” he said.

Fautley was going through the motions in practice and playing poorly in games. He was fed up. *** Head coach Brenda Willis suspected something was wrong.

She knew her player wasn’t happy.

The two finally sat down for

a meeting. After 90 minutes, the secret was out.

Willis encouraged Fautley to come out to his teammates — she was certain that openness would smooth over the problems.

“But in my head, that wasn’t the case,” Fautley said.

That season, Fautley helped the Gaels to an OUA gold medal and a national championship appearance, earning a spot on the national tournament all-star team for his play. But he still quit the team at the end of the season.

Willis suggested that he should at least tell his teammates why.

Eventually, the two agreed that the coach would tell certain players.

Willis first told Joren Zeeman. “[He said] ‘I’m just so happy that you’re at a point in your life where you feel comfortable enough to express this and I’m so sorry if I said or did anything that would make you feel that I don’t support or respect that,’” Fautley said.

“That type of incident happened with almost every single guy on the team, once they were told.”

Fautley still wasn’t planning

on returning to the Gaels, but a combination of events helped sway him. First, he attended the Canadian national tryouts with some Gaels teammates.

“It was like, oh, we’re all of a sudden friends,” he said. “The curtain’s been drawn, now I actually have this ability to form a friendship with these people because there isn’t that elephant in the room that they didn’t know about.”

Other than the national team tryout, Fautley didn’t play volleyball all summer. He missed it. *** In September 2010, Fautley returned to a completely different culture.

“A 180-degree change doesn’t even describe it … not only were homophobic slurs not being used, but guys were engaging in conversation with me about it,” he said. “It was a matter of ‘oh, Fautley’s gay and we’re interested in knowing how his life is different than ours.’”

Willis said that even though the team cleaned up their language,

the real change came from Fautley himself.

“His reality [during his first three years] was that he felt unwelcome … his perception was ‘I don’t belong here,’” she said. “But it became ‘I do belong here, I’m a valuable member of this team.’” *** Fautley calls the sports world one “of the last frontiers in terms of the acceptance of sexual diversity.

“It’s the culture of team sport, period,” he said.

Fautley said his teammates weren’t ever homophobic — they were simply products of an environment they had been part of for their entire athletic careers.

Even though Fautley was sidelined with a back injury for much of his final two seasons, he said they were still the most memorable ones with the team.

“It’s a better culture,” he said.

“I would hope that I catalyzed a change in culture that will stay forever.”

— Gilbert Coyle

PostscriPt

Journal Year in reVieW • 15

Full-contact feminism SEPT. 13, 2011 If I ever met an Emily Carr Crash, Scarlett O’Hurtya or Whore Crux on the street, I’d probably run the other way.

In reality though, the members of the Kingston Roller Derby Girls League are nothing like their alter egos suggest.

Kate Archibald-Cross, who plays with the Derby Girls under the pseudonym Skate at Home Mom, said the sport has had a profound impact on her life.

“It doesn’t matter what you look like or what your job is,” Archibald-Cross said. “People have a different persona on the track. It’s a full-contact sport that

celebrates femininity. It’s exciting and empowering.”

The Kingston league was officially founded in 2010.

The league has two teams: the designated home team, Sinderollas, and designated away team, the Disloyalists.

Initially, volunteer paramedics were on hand for every practice but now that the team is more experienced, there’s an assigned first aid skater to deal with any injuries.

While the league only needed 20 girls to form a team, 66 joined.

Roller derby demands an intense time commitment of its

participants, who range from stay-at-home moms to nurses and teachers. Two-hour practices run twice a week between March and September.

“My family is very understanding and supportive,” Archibald-Cross said. “It’s like my third child.”

The Derby Girls use referees to closely monitor any action on the rink.

Violent actions like tripping and elbowing result in players being sent to the penalty box.

“You can’t just punch someone in the face,” she said. “You’ll be penalized or kicked out.”

Roller derby has origins tracing back to the 1930s and has since became a globally-recognized sport.

“Earlier it was more of a spectacle.

It wasn’t as regulated,” ArchibaldCross said, adding this meant it was dangerous but exciting.

Today, roller derby

participants play under the rules set by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.

A 66 year-old skater — who Archibald-Cross said is the oldest player in Canada — continues to play with the Derby Girls.

Hearing that roller derby is a full-contact sport alarmed me.

Clearly not yet ready for the ruthless competition of a game, I decided to participate in a practice with roller derby enthusiasts at the Memorial Centre.

In order to join a practice, I was required to sign a waiver that explicitly warned me of the serious impacts the sport could have on my physical and mental health. But really, who’d let the risk of serious injury or death get in the way of adventure?

Violence is banned but sass and aggression are not only condoned, they’re encouraged. I was surprised

that when I looked around me at the women with multi-coloured mouth guards and helmets, I felt an undeniable sense of community.

I didn’t know these women.

But Skate at Home Mom enthusiastically lent me a player’s gear who was on maternity leave — helmet, kneepads, elbow pads and immediately taught me how to fall properly to avoid injury.

I was told that learning how to stop isn’t critical. All you need to do is skate into a wall.

Zipping around the roller derby track uplifts your mood like nothing else. I can only imagine the surefire stress relief I’d have in a real game, taking any built-up rage out on the first Whore Crux that got in my way.

— Jessica Fishbein

Home-grown Thanksgiving OCT. 6, 2011 For many the Thanksgiving season is synonymous with a road trip to grandma’s house and coma-inducing feasts, but the downside of the holiday is that it can put a strain on the environment.

It might seem daunting to join the 100-mile challenge and make a Thanksgiving feast from local ingredients.

But finding delicious ingredients within 160 kilometres of your home isn’t as difficult as you might think. Turkey will traditionally dominate dinner tables this holiday weekend, but there are alternatives that are environmentally-friendly.

Julia Segal, the owner and founder of Kingston by Fork food tour, said Pykeview Meadows Farms on Wolfe Island specializes in naturally-raised bison.

The 100-mile challenge is difficult because the reality is food imports are now a large part of modern food culture. Limiting sacrifices to one meal, like Thanksgiving dinner, might yield more success.

Honey-glazed pork chops with harvest stuffing Pork chops instead of traditional turkey is a great way to change things up and reduce food miles.

Ingredients • 4 pork loin chops (bone-in for maximum flavor)

• 3 tbsp honey • 1/2 cup butter • 3 cup flourless cornbread, roughly broken up • 1 large carrot, diced • 2 medium onions, diced • 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced • 2 medium beets, roasted with butter at 175 C (350 F) and cubed • 4 stalks of celery, chopped • 3 tbsp garlic powder • 2 cups water Serves 4 Directions For stuffing, sauté diced carrots, onions, apples, beets and celery with a generous amount of butter in a pan over medium high heat.

Crumble in cornbread with garlic powder for flavor.

Reduce heat and gradually mix in two cups of water and one tbsp of honey. Set aside.

Cut a pocket into the side of each pork chop with a sharp knife and fill with stuffing.

Over high heat, sear with butter in oven-safe pan for two to three minutes on each side.

Turn down to medium high and brush chops with honey. Cover pan with a lid and heat until cooked through (about eight minutes).

— Megan Cui

photo by MEGAn cui

photo by justin chin

Rise of the flash mob JAN. 24, 2012 Imagine hurrying through Grand Central Station, amidst the busy hustle of Manhattan, when you bump into the person in front of you. You turn to apologize when you realize he’s standing still, midstep. Confused, you look around to see more than 200 people scattered through the station, frozen in place. Then suddenly they unfreeze and disperse as if nothing happened, leaving onlookers puzzled and amused.

This is a flash mob — a large group of people who perform a premeditated action, often a brief dance, and immediately disperse.

Rector Nick Francis chose to use flash mobs instead of an election video as part of his successful campaign last fall.

“You could feel the positive energy, it was such a rush,” Francis, ArtSci ’13, said. “It’s an unbelievable feeling being a part of something like that.”

Choreographers borrowed moves from various Frosh Week dances to ensure simplicity, Francis said.

Flash mobs have become vehicles for advertising, and corporations like Ford have even used flash mobs to push products, like the Ford Fusion.

But flash mobs weren’t created

with a serious purpose in mind.

Bill Wasik, the senior editor of Wired Magazine and former senior editor of Harper’s Magazine, is widely credited as the inventor of flash mobs.

In 2003, Wasik sent an email to 60 friends and acquaintances, requesting that they forward it to others. The emails instructed participants to meet at four different bars on June 3, where they received slips of paper telling them to go to the Macy’s rug department in Manhattan.

From there, 200 people gathered around a particular carpet in the back corner of the store, telling the salespeople that they lived in a Long Island City commune and were looking for a “love rug.”

Wasik only publicly revealed himself as the inventor of the flash mob in 2006. In an 2006 interview with Harper’s Magazine, Wasik said flash mobs were “just a bunch of people doing something nonsensical for no real reason.”

According to Queen’s Sociology Professor Vincent Sacco, flash mob success is due to effectively engaging the masses.

“Sites like YouTube are not only the forum for group expression, but also the medium

which continues to popularize the whole idea of the flash mob.”

Though social media is an effective organizational tool, it can contribute to the darker side of flash mobs.

In March 2010, the New York Times reported on criminal offences during flash mobs. At least four violent flash mobs in 2009-10 broke out in Philadelphia, leading to injuries, property damage and at least three arrests. Onlookers described one such mob as chaotic and a “tsunami of kids.”

Flash mobs can also create mass inconvenience. In 2009, the BBC reported that the British Transport Police discouraged the implementation of flash mobs in busy public places, after Liverpool Station was closed when nearly 12,000 revelers assembled to dance.

Regardless of their effect, flash mobs appeal to the masses.

“They allow anyone to take part in a public drama or public entertainment, which others can watch or react to,” Sacco said.

— Kiran Rana (with files from Jessica Fishbein)

16 •

Journal Year in reVieW

campus cooking

Blogs

HealtH & Fitness

A new Princess Street favourite Feb. 14, 2012 Already a veteran of the flavor. Next up was the interesting dessert-café game, Spin Dessert “On the Floor:” pistachio ice cream found a new home on 260 on waffles might be intimidating Princess St. for the delicious fare to some, but it was something I and urban chic aesthetics of its needed to try.

It was unconventionally savory original Toronto venue. A little different from its neighbor’s and I commend Spin Dessert traditional design scheme, Spin’s for venturing outside of the box. most attractive feature is its open Pistachio ice cream is great for concept design. The first level is having a salty bite that can pull split up by demi-stairs into levels. ice cream’s usual sweetness into a The elevated section in the back new direction. Unfortunately, Spin has a smattering of Parisian café Dessert’s rendition fell a little short tables that’s a nice alternative to and offered an ice cream that didn’t the plushier, banquette seating taste too different from a traditional arrangement at the front of the store. vanilla-based ice cream. It was a Take another look and you’ll notice little nuttier and still creamy with N ov. 3, 2011 there’s an entire basement level generous chunks of pistachio nuts.

I have mixed emotions about Many first-year students learn the that’s visible from above through a transparent balcony. Exposed Spin Dessert. The ingredients are hard way that the “Freshman 15” pipes cap off an atmosphere of amazing so all the waffles, ice isn’t just a myth. With a meal plan creams and crepes taste flawless, yet that presents unlimited junk food cozy sophistication.

I set my mind to eating the there’s something left to be desired options, it’s no surprise the healthy biggest, baddest thing on in terms of originality and diversity eating habits of home fall by the menu and thought my of flavors to keep me coming back. the wayside. larger-than-life appetite could It would be more exciting to see Public Health Dietician Heather handle it. We ordered “Baby It’s less traditional desserts to match McMillan accompanied me to Cold Outside,” which is one of Spin’s modern aesthetic.

Leonard Cafeteria to assess what The portions are a bit excessive was on the menu. many tempting options amongst the January Red Velvet promotion. so I recommend going to Spin “Always take a look all around It’s a red velvet cake smothered Dessert with lots of company, a the caf and see what you really in red velvet ice cream, white big appetite and a sweet tooth. want to eat instead of sampling,” chocolate shavings and whipped For a moderate dessert lover like McMillan said. cream. I was worried the cake myself, it was a great day for new Not only does this prevent would drown in the ruby sea experiences, but I’ll definitely overconsumption, but it also avoids of liquid velvet but it held its prepare my stomach before my food waste. own — super moist and second visit.

Students should aim to cover — Megan Cui three out of the four food groups unbelievably rich in cream cheese with each meal and use the Canada Food Guide to balance their plates, McMillan said.

Half a plate should be portioned for vegetables and fruit, one quarter for grains and one quarter for meat and alternatives.

photo by asad chishti

Exploring the healthy side of Leonard cafeteria “The salad bar looked really good,” McMillan said. “If the salad is your meal, add one of the lean proteins.” At Leonard, tofu, kidney beans and chick peas are offered at the salad bar. Opt for the vinaigrette-based dressings as the creamy ones usually contain more fat.

McMillan also recommended the grain salads, like the Mediterranean couscous salad.

They contain vegetables and are a convenient way to cover two food groups.

“Burgers are not something you want to be eating every day,” McMillan said at the grill section.

If you are going to eat there, always ask for a whole wheat bun and add veggies from the salad bar to your burger.

“Veggie burgers can also be a lower-fat alternative,” McMillan said.

When choosing a hot meal option, go for the meal with

the most vegetables. I chose a vegetarian chilli that had lean proteins and a couple of servings of vegetables in the meal alone.

McMillan also recommended stir fries. They cover three food groups and include vegetables and lean proteins.

“Sandwiches are also great.

There were whole wheat breads and pitas available,” she said.

“I would suggest choosing one of the leaner meats, such as the turkey or tuna instead of the salami.

Add vegetables to the sandwich, or round your meal out with a salad or a piece of fruit.”

For desserts, keep the portion sizes small. McMillan recommended the milk-based pudding as a good option.

Though fruit juices often count as a serving of fruit, only take a small cup and dilute with water.

— Carolyn Flanagan

stYle

photo by megan cui

Vintage Kingston N ov. 4, 2011 Princess Street is lined with charming, unique boutiques boasting fabulous merchandise.

But many students target the same stores and it’s not unusual to see multiple ladies on campus wearing your latest purchase. One way to avoid it is to go vintage.

Downtown Kingston boasts two stores dedicated to vintage clothing.

“Shopping vintage, you get something unique. It’s not like shopping at Urban Outfitters where everyone will have the same thing,” said Jo-Anne Brulé, manager of Starling Vintage Lovelies at 316

photo by asad chishti

Princess St. Starling buys most of its merchandise in Toronto.

“People like to shop vintage because it’s a fun way to shop, a fun business to work in,” Brulé said.

Brulé identifies a purple, 50’s-style velvet and silk cocktail dress with cuffs as her favourite item.

She features floor-length dresses, jackets, coats, blouses, shoes, purses, clutches, lingerie, knits and scarves, to name a few. I have had much luck in the past with their hats and costume jewellery.

Guys looking to try something

vintage will find ties, suspenders, “Clothing was better made a cuff links and plaid shirts. long time ago. Everything was Shoes go from $15 to $45, very tailored and structured. I dresses from $20 to $60, costume look for natural fibres and wool,” jewellery is $5 each and boots from Strong said. $25 to $50.

My favourite item was a fur What’ll I Wear, located a evening stole hanging next to an few stores down is downtown equally exciting sequined bolero.

Kingston’s other vintage trove.

The coat selection is incredible.

Owner Janet Strong searches Prices range from $1 items in for her merchandise in estate sales their loonie bin to $100 for more and thrift shops in the small towns one-of-a-kind pieces. outside of Kingston.

During the weeks leading Strong has been in the vintage up to Halloween, the store has business for 30 years and attributes been packed. the appeal of these clothes to “You can barely move in the their quality. store,” Stong said. “It’s great for

the creative Halloweener.”

What’ll I Wear is celebrating 16 years at its current location. Picker’s World Market at 1473 Princess Street also has vintage clothes along with their antiques. Alley Cat Antiques at 207B Wellington Street is worth checking out as well.

Vintage shopping is fun even if you’re not quite ready to buy an antique. But a little patience is required. There’s a lot to go through and sometimes sizes are small. However, chances are you’ll walk out surprised at what you found.

— Carolyn Flanagan