Year in Review VOLUME 143 2015-16
ILLUSTRATION BY VINCENT LIN
2 •
THE JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW
May
June
July
JUNE 2, 2015
Professor’s academic freedom violated, report finds In April 2015 the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), a nationwide union association, published an extensive 20-page investigation into a 10-year case between Queen’s and one of its own employees, professor Morteza Shirkhanzadeh. The report concluded that the University had taken actions against Shirkhanzadeh to silence him from exposing multiple cases of research misconduct
within its Engineering Department. In August, Shirkhanzadeh was suspended for three days without pay for “workplace harassment” based on the emails he sent to various members of the University Administration following up on the allegations he made of misconduct. Shirkhanzadeh has since filed grievances against the University.
News
This year The Journal’s news section covered a variety of topics ranging from academic freedom to Bieber Fever. The following is a collection of the news highlights from the year.
“We conclude that there is a pattern of retaliation against Professor Shirkhanzadeh in response to his allegations of fraud and misconduct.”
Aug
— CAUT Report
JULY 28, 2015
Sept
Former prison inmates hope Queen’s will acknowledge past unethical experiments This summer, two brothers, both former claim to have been used as subjects for inmates of Canadian penitentiaries, scientific experiments run by Queen’s asked Queen’s University to formally University researchers and funded by the recognize its involvement in unethical Canadian government. experiments that took place roughly 40 Neither Queen’s nor Canada’s years ago. Penitentary Museum in Kingston James and Donny Hogan (pictured could provide documentation on the above), ages 58 and 65 respectively, experiments, and The Journal was
SEPT. 7, 2015
Frosh Week incidents cross criminal line
Students flooded University Ave. on thrown at their vehicle. Two nights later, consecutive nights during Frosh Week, as a Kingston resident drove through the drawing increased police attention to crowded street, a large group of students the area. Two criminal incidents were began to shake her vehicle, causing damage. reported along with alcohol related In response to the incidents, Principal tickets issued. Woolf sent all students a strongly worded On the Sunday night, as police patrolled email later that week. the area in a cruiser, a beer bottle was
“No one wants to see the tragic
alcohol-related events of 2010 repeated.” — Principal Woolf in an email to all students
following incidents in the University District
SEPT. 18, 2015 — Investigating Fowl Play Chicken sightings across the University District.
unable to find any documents relating The two met with Vice-Principal the brothers to specific experiments. (University Relations) Michael Fraser However, an investigative series who later told The Journal that the published by the Ottawa Citizen, and University needed more information to a sociological study by University of look further into the matter. Alberta professor, confirmed the existence of such experiments and Queen’s involvement.
SEPT. 13, 2015 — Grease Pole EngSoc’s grease pole, used annually as part of their Orientation Week traditions, was stolen by a group of engineering students from U of T just hours after the class of Sci ’19 completed their climb.
SEPT. 17, 2015 — Andrea Mariano Flags were lowered on campus during the first week of classes after the passing of first-year student, Andrea Mariano. Mariano’s family indicated that the cause of her death was related to an anaphylactic allergic reaction. The University has since undertaken a review of its allergy-related food policies.
SEPT. 18, 2015
NAD set for review Following an external review of NAD protocol has been the University’s non-academic implemented, with the discipline system (NAD) — also establishment of a central intake referred to as non-academic office coming as one of the misconduct — expert Harriet major changes. Lewis identified several areas in One of the longtime features of the system for improvement, in his the old NAD system is the AMS’s report released in May. involvement in student discipline. In September, the University’s In the past, the AMS’s Judicial Board of Trustees decided to Affairs Office would receive initiate an internal review of cases directly from complainants, the system, with Principal like Student Constables, Campus Woolf overseeing the review. Security and others. But in the While under review, an interim interim protocol, the AMS is only
handed cases at the discretion of the University’s central intake office. The decrease in student involvement in the process has been a concern for many student leaders. In past years AMS reported up to 78 cases received from May to October, but only three cases were delegated to the AMS this year. A final report is scheduled for publication this May.
News
THE JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW • 3
OCT. 1, 2015
School of Business renamed following $50 million donation Students, faculty and staff alike filled Goodes Hall on Oct. 1 in anticipation of a surprise announcement from Queen’s School of Business. The surprise: a historic $50 million donation to the
School of Business — the largest donation to a Canadian business school — and the renaming of the school in honour of the donor, Stephen J.R. Smith. What came as even more of a surprise to most was that Smith
never went to Queen’s School of Business. He had in fact graduated from Queen’s in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in electrical engineering. Nonetheless, the announcement generated great excitement all across campus.
OCT. 6, 2015
Queen’s professor awarded
Nobel Prize for Physics “She said, ‘gee Grandpa, I didn’t realize how smart you are!’” — Arthur McDonald, describing his granddaughter’s reaction to the news
NOV. 3, 2015
Queen’s closes theology programs After nearly 175 years in existence, Queen’s has closed the doors on its theology programs. In the 1830’s, Kingston Presbyterians presented their plans to educate ministers and youth on theology, literature and science to the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada. In 1841 a royal charter issued through Queen Victoria made their plans official, and Queen’s University was born as a Presbyterian religious institution. The decision to scrap the program was made on Nov. 3, when the University Senate voted to end
theology programs in the School of Religion, which include the Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.), Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.). The closure was primarily due to the lack of interest in the program. In 2014 enrolment into the program was suspended and only two part-time students remained in the program. Richard Ascough, the director of the School of Religion, said the history of the program will continue to be upheld.
NOV. 13, 2015
Queen’s accounts on Paris attacks “I wanted to be with only
“I couldn’t believe this
French people, because
was happening to
we all shared that grief
Paris — beautiful,
and state of shock.”
sophisticated Paris.”
— Charly Hunter, a French exchange student at Queen’s during the attacks
— Lilly Sheng, Comm ’17, on exchange at the HEC School of Management, Paris
It was a little after 5 a.m. on Oct. 6 when a can oscillate between identities while phone call from Stockholm roused Dr. Arthur traveling between the sun and the earth. In McDonald from sleep. layman’s terms, his discovery demonstrates The call was from the Nobel Committee for that neutrinos hold mass — a major Physics to inform the Queen’s professor that breakthrough that has shaken the previous he — along with Japanese scientist Takaaki Standard Model of particle physics. Kajita — was the recipient of the 2015 Nobel Since his 5 a.m. surprise call, McDonald Prize for Physics. has collected other significant awards, McDonald has been a researcher for including the 2016 Breakthrough award Queen’s since 1989 and was made a professor in Fundamental Physics and a emeritus in 2013. Companion of the Order of Canada As the Director of SNOLAB in Sudbury, — the highest level of the order. McDonald’s research has focused on Queen’s celebrated McDonald’s neutrinos — a fundamental particle that achievements on Dec. 3, just days scientists previously believed held no mass. before he was set to receive his Nobel McDonald has proven that neutrinos prize in Stockholm on Dec. 10.
Oct
NOV. 6, 2015 — Stauffer Thief It’s not unheard of that unattended items in Stauffer Library get stolen, but it’s rare that the thief is caught by a laptop webcam. While filming a short video on his computer, Daniel Hu, ArtSci ’16, stepped away from his laptop, returning to find some of his belongings were taken. Hu was able to retrieve his belongings after posting the video online.
Nov
Dec
NOV. 12, 2015
Snowden visits campus via live feed “Progress often begins as an outright challenge to the law. Progress in many cases is illegal.” — Edward Snowden to Queen’s students gathered in Grant Hall on Nov. 12
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THE JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW
News
JAN. 5, 2016 — Bieber Fever On its opening night of the winter semester, the Underground was forced to close early, citing Bieber Fever as the cause. An unprecedented crowd gathered outside the nightclub for its “I’m a Belieber” event. TAPS staff took precautionary action by shutting down the event roughly an hour after opening.
JAN. 8, 2016 — Indecent Exposure Kingston Police (KP) recorded a total of seven indecent exposure cases occurring in the University District during the 2015 calendar year. KP couldn’t say definitively whether the cases are connected but in all seven cases the male perpetrator exposed himself to one or more females.
Winter Referendum
JAN. 28, 2016
Team LWT voted AMS exec, Cam Yung voted Rector After the second round of ballot counting, Team LWT — consisting of Tyler Lively for president, David Walker for vice president (operations) and Carolyn Thompson for vice president
(university affairs) — came out victorious by 0.4 per cent, or 28 votes more than Team CSG. After the initial excitement settled, Team CSG attempted to appeal the results, claiming that the
AMS Elections Team had failed to rule fairly on violations of election policy. CSG’s appeal was denied. Cam Yung was voted in as Queen’s 35th Rector with 58.4 per cent of votes.
JAN. 29, 2016 Already one of the AMS’s toughest services to recruit for, work conditions for Student Constables (StuCons) won’t be getting much better any time soon. This winter, the service failed to secure a fee increase through a referendum vote, which was required to increase wages for StuCons.
FEB. 3, 2016
Queen’s student & medical resident rescue elderly woman from drowning “We weren’t sure really what was going
“She is looking at me like, ‘where am
on, we weren’t sure if we would be able
I, how did I get here, and who are you’
to get her out once we got there, we
but there is an understanding that I
weren’t sure if she was conscious”
am there to get her out”
Jan
— Sam Roe, Sci ’19
— Josh Tobe, a Queen’s Family Medicine resident
MARCH 4, 2016
Feb
March
April
Queen’s approves sexual violence policy Roughly 15 months after a Queen’s has finally approved an Toronto Star investigation named official policy. Queen’s among 69 other Canadian Queen’s joins Ryerson and universities that lacked a York University as three of the six comprehensive sexual assault policy, major universities the Star named in their feature story. McGill, U of T and UBC have yet to implement full policies. The new policy was implemented just days before the Ontario provincial government passed legislature that requires all Ontario post-secondary institutions to develop a standalone sexual violence policy by January 2017. The policy is just one of 34 recommendations listed in the
Queen’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Working Group’s final report, which was published this past summer. Among the listed recommendations is the creation of centrally located “Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Centre”, and hiring of a Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator. Although a great deal of progress has been made, outgoing Rector Mike Young said there’s still work to be done by the University to address sexual assault on campus.
MARCH 11, 2016 — PhysEd Queen’s will not be admitting any new students into its Physical and Health Education program starting September 2017. The decision was made at the Arts and Science Faculty Board meeting in March following brief consultation with students in October 2015. Prior to the decision, a mass email was sent to students and alumni notifying them of the proposed motion. The program will be under review while admissions are suspended.
Features
THE JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW • 5 This year’s investigations ranged from campus drug use to Queen’s sports history to vulnerable student groups and lacking resources on campus. The full stories are available online at queensjournal.ca/features
SEPT. 26, 2015
The Queen’s Centre’s forgotten promise S ebastian L eck
Editor in Chief There used to be a hockey arena on campus. It was called Jock Harty, and it resided where there’s now an empty parking lot behind the five-story Queen’s Centre building. Jock Harty was demolished in 2007 to make way for a new hockey arena — one that never arrived. Like the completed
Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC), the McLeod lived through the height of new arena was intended to be part of the construction of the Queen’s Centre multi-phase, multi-million dollar Queen’s — a project that aimed to expand student Centre project. space and athletic facilities starting in Today, most Queen’s students have never the mid-2000s. heard of the Queen’s Centre project — or “Living at the corner of Barrie and Earl the promise it held for the university. [Streets], I would often hear the dynamiting But Colin McLeod, ArtSci ’09, remembers and feel our apartment building shake at the constant hum of machinery on campus, times,” McLeod said. when noise kept students up at night and But construction went silent sooner than blocked access on roads between University expected. The project lasted from 2005-09, Ave. and Division St. when it was abruptly brought to a halt.
“The first phase was originally slated to cost $124 million. Queen’s spent $169 million. The University never made it to phase 2 or phase 3 — which were projected to cost $83 million and $24 million.” OCT. 23, 2015
Cardiac Gaels S ean S utherland Features Editor
“A historic hockey game took place on March 2, 2011, witnessed by just 312 spectators in a university rink. The Queen’s Gaels and Guelph Gryphons clashed in a battle where six overtimes were need to decide the winner. It was the second-longest contest in North America — the longest since a 1936 meeting between the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Maroons.”
NOV. 20, 2015
For almost two years, a series of dismissals, resignations and curriculum changes have rocked the Queen’s Bader International Study Centre (BISC) with scant attention from main campus.
Castle disrupted by staff cuts
victoria gibson
Assistant News Editor
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JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW
Features
Street harassment slips through the cracks
JAN. 22, 2016 A nisa R awhani Editor in Chief It’s a common enough sight. A young woman walks along the sidewalk, either alone or in a group, when suddenly a car drives by — slurs and innuendoes are yelled out an open window by a
stranger. Before anyone can fully register what’s happened, the car’s gone. Whether they’ve witnessed a drive-by catcall or public masturbation, female students at Queen’s are no strangers to street harassment in the University District. But even when an incident is classified as a criminal offence,
you’d be hard pressed to find a woman on campus who’s reported it to officials. For Nicole Ahrens, the drive-by scenario is nothing new. Like many other female students, she’s been called a “slut” and a “bitch” on the streets of the University District, with the occasional “I’m going to fuck you” thrown in.
“I felt sort of sick to my stomach ... Now I realize that was shame towards myself, thinking that it was my fault.” — Melanie Gray, ArtSci ‘16, on her sexual harassment experience aboard a city bus
FEB. 11, 2016
5 dollars, a pill and an “A”.
N ick P earce Features Editor
Graduate student issues FEB. 5, 2016
MARCH 11, 2016
“Positive working relationships with supervisors are key to graduate student success”
“Foreign graduate students often face language barriers and funding challenges” A nastasiya B oika Features Editor
Photos
JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW • 7
PHOTO BY ARWIN CHAN
PHOTO BY JESSICA SUNG
PHOTO BY MITCHELL GLEASON
The year in pictures Memories made in and around campus. PHOTO BY KENDRA PIERROZ
PHOTO BY KENDRA PIERROZ
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE NIJHUIS
PHOTO BY KENDRA PIERROZ
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE NIJHUIS
PHOTO BY VICTORIA GIBSON
8 •
THE JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW OCT. 16, 2015
Talking down doesn’t turn out voters Youth voter turnout has been declining. Consequently, the issues that most affect youth are less of a concern for campaigning politicians. But talking down to the underrepresented — implying that
This year The Journal editorialized on topics ranging from the AMS’s actions to Aboriginal issues and the lack of diversity at Queen’s. You can read the full editorials online.
SEPT. 15, 2015
ILLUSTRATION BY KIA KORTELAINEN
their laziness or lack of interest is inhibiting them from participating in our democracy — only misrepresents them further. — Journal Editorial Board
JAN. 22, 2016
Strong isn’t the new skinny If we want to celebrate strong women, we need to concern ourselves with more than how “toned” she looks. — Kate Meagher
Editorials
Kate is The Journal’s Opinions Editor. She’s a fourth-year Philosophy major.
JAN. 8, 2016
How not to talk to students: an administrator’s guide Reactive blaming and shaming without discretion was the wrong move for Principal Daniel Woolf’s PR team. Earlier this week, Queen’s students received an email from Woolf that condemned students’
behaviour during Frosh Week. While students’ conduct was highly reprehensible, several suggestions made in Woolf’s email weren’t constructive or are downright contradictory.
— Journal Editorial Board ILLUSTRATION BY KIA KORTELAINEN
NOV. 27, 2015
AMS referendum decision lacks transparency When they decided to nullify the fall referendum results, the AMS didn’t just decide the fate of the election — student input was tossed out the window as well.
Aboriginal courses are relevant to students, so make them a priority Diversity doesn’t belong on the backburner — Journal Editorial Board
MARCH 1, 2016
Forcing students to take Aboriginal topics without addressing their significance to students’ education does a disservice to the importance of that subject. The problem with mandatory
courses is that they try to force people to find a subject relevant to them, but often backfire because they’re perceived as a waste of time.
ILLUSTRATION BY KIA KORTELAINEN
Time and time again, Queen’s whiteness has been acknowledged by the University, by its students and its faculty. But we must ask — why hasn’t it changed?
— Journal Editorial Board
MARCH 24, 2016
Sexual assault policy: Are we there yet?
— Journal Editorial Board
ILLUSTRATION BY KEITH SAUNDERS
FEB. 26, 2016
Yes, I’m aware I’m Asian Here I was, expected to feel praised because, just in case I didn’t realize, I’m Asian. Not even a specific type of Asian. Just Asian. — Anna Maria Li ILLUSTRATION BY KEITH SAUNDERS
Anna is The Journal’s Video Editor. She’s a third-year Biology major.
THE JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW • 9
Illustrations
Thanks to talented illustrators and dedicated contributors, The Journal was filled with beautiful artwork this year. The following is a collection of the best illustrations featured in The Journal this year.
Education is the pathway to reconciliation
RMC refuses to open up
Know where to draw the line
The Waiting Game
School of Medicine a brave guinea pig
New resources, old barriers for Aboriginal students
Five dollars, one pill and an “A”. ILLUSTRATIONS BY KIA KORTELAINEN, VINCENT LIN AND KEITH SAUNDERS
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THE JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW
Assistance required Staff at Queens go out of their way to make up for an outdated campus
Computer Science is here to stay
“It’s no secret that Queen’s isn’t the most accessible campus, but what they lack in accessibility, they make up for in accommodation.” “When it comes to needing accommodations, I consider myself fortunate that I have an “obvious” disability. All of my professors were caring, empathetic and more than understanding.” “In some cases we tried to compromise, offering to fund the installation of a certain number of power-operated doors if the University would match it. None were completed.” “It’s because of these amazing people and in spite of the school’s campus, that I was able to proudly attend and graduate from Queen’s University — a goal that seemed unachievable to most, including me, way back in 2005 during those painfully lagging minutes trapped in that elevator with the maintenance man.”
M ax G arcia , C omp S ci ’17 “Take 10 seconds to look around you. What do you see? I bet your smartphone, tablet or laptop are within arm’s reach. Magical though they may seem, these products are not the result of the supernatural or divine. They’ve mostly originated in the last 20 years thanks to the hard work of people with a passion for innovation and programming.” “1995 was also the last time the School of Computing was allowed to hire a new group of professors using university funds. One more position was opened in 2006 and the School won half of a position through a Queen’s National Scholar competition in 2015; the professor is shared with the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences.” “Above everything, Queen’s has the highest percentage of women enrolled in a computer science program in the nation, with more than 33 per cent, while the average in other computer science programs is 20 per cent.” “Computer Science is here to stay and now is the time to support its development and the School of Computing.”
M organ C ampbell , AMS P resident 2011-12 D aniel S ahl , R ector 2000-02 A hmed K ayssi , R ector 2002-04 G rant B ishop , R ector 2004-06
Bell, let’s talk
E lisha C orbett , A rt S ci ’16
“Last Jan. 27, I was running on the treadmill in the ARC, desperately trying to burn off the few calories I’d consumed that day. As I was running, I scrolled through my Facebook newsfeed to see many of friends and family posting about Bell Let’s Talk. I felt an overwhelming sense of anger. Many of these friends and family members who were posting to support the campaign, were both unsupportive and unresponsive to me during my worst battles with anorexia. Many of these people posting to help end the stigma surrounding mental health actually contributed to the stigma that I suffer daily.”
Probation does more harm than good R oy F arrer , C omm ’14
Student self-government at risk T yler T urnbull , AMS P resident 2004-05
A look at the section’s highlights this year
It’s time to make IT happen, Queen’s
K ate C harboneau , A rt S ci ’13
M ichael L indsay , AMS P resident 2002-03
Opinions
“Non-academic discipline is of fundamental importance to the entire Queen’s community. All legal opinions concerning non-academic discipline should be publicly disclosed. For honest and collegial discussion to occur, all stakeholders should know what advice decision-makers have received.” “Principal Woolf, we call on you specifically. Alumni are watching this process unfold.
Countless alumni remember our Queen’s experience because of opportunities for leadership. We take our stewardship of our alma mater seriously. The values we shared at Queen’s inform our lives. Our experiences at Queen’s have enabled and inspired our roles in our communities beyond Queen’s. We expect the same respect for current students as for 30 generations of their predecessors.”
“I believe an institutional bias towards the Arts and Science Frosh Week is building in the AMS and on SOARB. This bias is causing decision makers to craft policy that erodes the uniqueness that makes the week special and different from faculty to faculty. I experienced this planning Frosh Week and saw it escalate as I assumed more responsibility.”
Talking Heads... the year’s best
How ’bout them Blue Jays?
Josh Bond, ArtSci ’18 “It was poetic justice.”
How many coffees do you drink per day?
Matt Chomyn, Law ’17 “This is my fifth.”
Discussing our Indigeneity:
Darian Doblej, ArtSci ’18 “It took me awhile to
convince him I wasn’t actually Vietnamese, but rather ‘First Nations’.”
How do you think Leo celebrated his Oscar win?
Monica Canario, ArtSci ’15 “Finally threw out the one he made of aluminium foil.”
How are you coping with finals?
Jesse Cirella and Lucas Sterzos, both ArtSci ’17 “Friendship.”
Arts
THE JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW • 11
Wolfe Island Music Festival 2015 Mourn the loss of this year’s festival by reviewing our coverage at www.QJWIMF.com
DEC. 3, 2015
Rembrandt comes to Queen’s
JAN. 22, 2016
Harlequin vs. hero’s journey
S tephane N ijhuis Photo Editor
On Dec. 1, Principal Daniel Woolf announced that the Agnes Etherington Art Centre has received another Rembrandt painting to add to the Bader Collection. The collection already contains two Rembrandt character studies, which had already made them the only art gallery in Canada with more than a single work by the artist. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, a 17th century Dutch painter, is renowned as one of the great European painters. During his lifetime, he produced hundreds of portraits and character studies. The painting, titled Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo (1658), was donated by Drs. Alfred and Isabel Bader.
The sexism of the literary world lies beneath reviews that brand prolific female writers like Jodi Picoult as writers of “chick lit” while loudly declaring Franzen a modern-day Dickens. — Ramna Safeer
NOV. 6, 2015
Staging MLK’s last day alive V ishmayaa J eyamoorthy Copy Editor The Mountaintop takes the glorified image of Martin Luther King Jr. and puts him on stage as a humanized and relatable man. The 95-minute, one-act play directed by Rebecca Benson, is set in the small motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where King was assassinated. King, played by the enormously talented Michael Blake, comes home from a rally to get ready for the next day. When he orders room service, he meets the maid Camae, played by Natasha Mumba. King and Camae spend the night talking about topics ranging from King’s actions as a civil rights leader to his smelly feet. The dialogue between them is inspiring, tragic, funny and touching. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece. The Mountaintop is unique in its two-person cast. Blake and Mumba, the only actors cast for the show, are both actors of colour.
DEC. 3, 2016
A new gallery on the block
L auren L uchenski Assistant Arts Editor Gallery owner David Dossett wants his new open-air gallery, Martello Alley, to be an experience his father would have loved.
Described as an “Artful Adventure” on its Facebook page, Martello Alley is Ontario’s only gallery located in an alleyway. Although the gallery officially opened in July, Dossett, the gallery’s owner, hosted a grand opening on Nov. 28.
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JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW
Artists in Review
Arts
JULY 28, 2015
Kick & Push kicks off The beginning of Kingston’s first collaborative theatre festival L auren L uchenski Journal Staff
“There is a place for female photographers portraying women the way women want to be portrayed.” Sophie Barkham, ArtSci ’16
and
R amna S afeer
The festival is a convergence of six independent and professional Kingston theatre companies — Theatre Kingston, Blue Canoe Theatrical Productions, the Cellar Door Project, Single Thread Theatre Company — and Toronto-based companies Fixt Point and Convergence Theatre. Each present their own unique shows, ranging from musical productions to plays to storytelling. The festival will feature panel discussions, skill-development workshops for people interested in professional theatre and weekday theatre camps for kids. Mike Sheppard, the artistic producer and founder of Blue Canoe Productions, said the festival was born out of a collaboration between himself, Brett Christopher of Theatre Kingston and Liam Karry of Single Thread Theatre Company. He said the three of them have been working for over a year to put on this festival.
FEB. 11, 2016
“We’re a voice for the student body, that’s it. And the student body is wide and large and diverse. [Muse’s] job is to reflect that.”
For the love of drag Students share their experiences performing as drag queens
Abigail Conners, ArtSci ’16
The art of drag is fun, glamorous and hilarious. Like all good art, it’ll bend your expectations and remove your inhibitions. — Jane Willsie
OCT. 30, 2015
Arkells take Homecoming by storm “I didn’t want to be stereotyped as just an Aboriginal artist who can only do Aboriginal plays. Yes, I’m Native, but I can do more than just that.” Kaitlin Lickers, ArtSci ’18
“It’s about seeing my art on the walls of a gallery and all that hard work becoming something real and concrete.” Caitie Annear, ArtSci ’18
L auren L uchenski Assistant Arts Editor Arkells felt right at home at Queen’s Homecoming. The AMS held its second annual ReUnion Street Festival on Saturday night, which brought food, music and dancing to students and alumni on Union St. This year, the AMS hosted Hamilton rock-band Arkells for an unforgettable performance at the festival.
The band performed at a large stage set up in the parking lot next to the Kinesiology and Heath Studies building. Their energetic show featured a lineup of upbeat singles from their most recent album, High Noon. Arkells opened the show with “Come to Light”, an upbeat sing along anthem, and closed with “Leather Jacket” — a song the band said was appropriate to play at Queen’s due to the signature faculty leather jackets sported by students and alumni.
“We’ve definitely been spoiled with the way things have been going for us,” Arkells’ lead singer and guitarist Max Kerman said. Kerman said the band enjoys playing for students, and it felt like a natural fit to play a concert in a university setting. “When we get asked to do these we’re pretty excited about it. And Queen’s is a legendary homecoming. I’ve never been to one,” Kerman said. “I love college towns. I love being around campus. I think that it keeps us young.”
Sports
THE JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW • 13 This year The Journal’s Sports section reported on topics ranging from the CIS women’s rugby national championships, to Queen’s professors’ athletic conquests to unique stories of varsity athletes. You can read the full stories online.
NOV. 15, 2015
Glory in Guelph
OCT. 18, 2015
National Championship for men’s ultimate
QUEEN’S 24 GUELPH 23 A dam L askaris Sports Editor With only a 24-23 lead against the Guelph Gryphons, the men’s rugby team gathered around their goalposts in the final moments of the OUA final, their season on the line. In the waning moments of the contest, the Gryphons registered a try, knocking down the Gaels’ lead to one point. If the Gryphons were successful in their conversion kick it would flip the script, putting the Gaels down 25-24. “It was pretty quiet in that huddle,” Queen’s flanker Alex
Colborne said. After Guelph’s attempt missed wide right, the Gaels held on for the remaining moments to capture their fourth OUA title in a row. “You can only control so much of the game,” Colborne said. “You can prepare as much as you like, and the season comes down to that one play.” A large portion of the team was made up of first-time starters, making this year’s title a special one. “We lost a lot of vets last year and needed to work hard to find the right athlete to fit the roles that would best help our team grow.”
QUEEN’S 23 GUELPH 15
OCT. 23, 2015
Gaels upset Gryphons
Head coach Gary Gilks added that the tight-knit nature of the club helped them come out on top. “The athletes really built a team attitude, and this was critical when facing endless pressure situations in the final game.” “Our coaching staff was incredible all year, constantly being innovative and intelligently adapting to many hurdles on and off the field,” he said. Despite multiple championships, Gilks hasn’t lost the joy of winning a title. “These are the years you remember the most because all of us grew together to create something special that will last a lifetime.”
“I was crying after the game with my dad,” McQuilkin said. “It meant so much to me to be able to do that for the guys now, the guys before, and send a message for the guys that are going to come in the future.” – Luke McQuilkin on the upset over Guelph
J oseph C attana Assistant Sports Editor
the nation’s top team from the University of Manitoba. In the dying embers of the game, with Manitoba driving the field, the Gaels looked to change the momentum. In a battle for the airborne disc, defensive line player Jason Duiella challenged a Manitoba player, and came down with the disc. The Gaels then drove down the field and scored, winning the National Championship.
After over a decade of falling short on the podium, the men’s ultimate team finally tasted glory, winning the Canadian University Ultimate Championship (CUUC) on Oct. 18. Through six tough games, the Gaels battled against the top competition in Canada, upsetting
QUEEN’S 1 LAURIER 0
NOV. 8, 2015
The Gaels won the OUA women’s soccer championship after winning four one-goal games in the playoffs.
NOV. 5, 2015
QUEEN’S 24 ACADIA 17
McEwen leads exciting comeback J oseph C attana Assistant Sports Editor After earning a position in the CIS championship by hosting the tournament, many likely questioned Queen’s credentials. But after their 24-17 upset of the number one seed Acadia Axewomen (after falling behind 17-0), few will doubt their abilities. After pushing the ball to the outside, the Gaels handed the ball to OUA All-Star Emma Chown, who sidestepped two of Acadia’s defenders to score
the Gaels’ second try of the game. After another successful McEwen kick, the Gaels sat up 24-17 with just over five minutes to play. On the day, Lauren McEwen scored four penalty kicks and added one conversion. For Barz, this has been a long time coming for the fifth-year captain. “Lauren has given her heart and soul to the team over five years and this year in particular she has absolutely grown as a leader and I couldn’t be more proud of her.” The Gaels finished second at the CIS National Championships.
“That’s a hell of a kick in World cup play, let alone at the university level.” — Gaels head coach Beth Barz on McEwen’s final conversion
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JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW
Sports JULY 28, 2015
Queen’s professor kayaks to victory Dr. Bob Ross and teammate Dave Hutchison win the Yukon River Quest “We had one rule really, that we would try to never stop paddling. Meaning that if either of us had to eat food, get changed, no matter the circumstance, we would never stop.” — Dr. Bob Ross SUPPLIED BY ANNE CRAIG
MARCH 24, 2016
Auf Wiedersehen (for now) J oshua F inkelstein Staff Writer
R
eturning home to Germany, Franzi Wilhelm will be leaving behind the women’s volleyball team, but she hopes it won’t be the last time she gets a chance to play for the Gaels. Wilhelm’s path from exchange student to varsity athlete was what she likes to call a “funny story”. She originally only wanted to see if she could practice with the Gaels to stay in game shape before returning to her home team. For Wilhelm, the difference between volleyball at Queen’s and in Germany was mostly the quality and organization of the team. “In Canada, I felt much more professional than in Germany, given the level that we play,” she said. “The practices here are more intense, well organized, and playing in general is more analytical.”
NOV. 27, 2015 Among the sadness of having to leave what she considers “the best seven months of my life,” Wilhelm said she’s excited to continue playing with her team in Germany.
“May it be the good or bad, all together my time here has created this amazing experience. It sounds cheesy, and it probably is even, but it’s true.”
FEB. 11, 2016
Athletes combat LGBTQ-phobia “Even though my experience in high school wasn’t awful or anything, I remember little bits and pieces and that really sucked … and I don’t want it to happen to anyone else.” — Emily Hazlett
Dakic presiding over Ontario Law student one of OUA’s best
C ameron N ewell Staff Writer After playing four years of volleyball as an undergrad at York, Marko Dakic, now a first-year law student, can only play for the Gaels for one season before his eligibility ends. But in his first year at Queen’s, Dakic has been on fire, climbing to the top spot in the OUA in both kills per set and hitting percentage. “It’s perfect timing for a new player to be ‘plugged in’ for just a year, especially when A dam L askaris Sports Editor
JAN. 8, 2016
Beyond the field Curtis Carmichael recognized with national award
A few weeks before he received the Russ Jackson Award, Queen’s receiver Curtis Carmichael received a cryptic phone call from his head coach Pat Sheahan. “He’s like, ‘What do you do outside of school? I know you do some stuff,’” Carmichael recounted. “He knew I was involved in the Kingston community, but he didn’t really know in what capacity.” Carmichael told him about the places he volunteers, his GPA and all of the things he does off of the field. “Then he’s like, ‘Okay, good luck.’ And he hung up the phone. I was so confused.” Two weeks later, Carmichael was
considering the strength of our team,” Dakic said. While he’ll only be with the Gaels for one season, Dakic said that hasn’t affected his cohesion with the team. “They’ve been incredibly receptive as teammates and friends,” he said. “I came in at a good time, joining three other starters in their graduating year.” The team has found its rhythm as of late, winning six consecutive games and sitting in second place in the OUA with a 7-1 record. named one of four finalists for the Russ Jackson Award, a prestigious award presented annually to “the player who best exemplifies the attributes of academic achievement, football skill, and citizenship.” It is named after the three-time Grey Cup Champion and member of the Canada Sports Hall of Fame. After a committee of coaches from across the province selected his name, Carmichael received the national award at the CIS Football awards banquet this past November. And even though in his fourth year with the team he led the aerial attack with 34 catches, Carmichael’s impact at the school will be remembered largely for his off-field actions and his outgoing personality.
Lifestyle
THE JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW • 15
We picked some of our best content from the Lifestyle section this year. Go to queensjournal.ca to read the full stories. JAN. 15, 2016
Rotten to the core: Donald Trump
OCT. 2, 2015
Swiping left on traditional dating
“Your housemate’s rotting groceries are an embodiment of Donald Trump in the Republican Primaries. No one is willing to touch either and we have a problem.”
OCT. 28, 2015
Grandfather & granddaughter reunite for Homecoming SEPT. 10, 2015
Coast to coast: the last father-son road trip NOV. 16, 2015
In her shoes One man’s experience dressed as a woman
B lake C anning Contributor 4,538 miles may not seem like much on paper, but things can change quickly out on the road. That’s how far my dad and I pledged to travel from one end of the United States to the other by car — a true cross-country road trip. California, Nevada, Colorado,
New Mexico and Oklahoma, then Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Georgia, before dragging our tired selves across the Florida state line. A massive trip, and an endeavour we didn’t take on lightly, for a couple of reasons. My relationship with my father had always been turbulent, to say the least. A classic case of being too similar at heart is how my
mom always put it. I suppose mirror images never do quite see eye to eye. However, I was turning 21 and preparing to move on with my life. We knew we’d see less and less of each other over the years, and we realized that this might be our last chance. With that in mind, I boarded a flight for San Francisco.
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JOURNAL YEAR IN REVIEW
Postscript
Polescript “Respect was gained, bodies were sore, and most of all, our outlooks changed.” — Joe Cattana & Arwin Chan
We tried Tommy’s Burger Challenge. It didn’t go so well. “Tuesday night, Nick and I tested our stomachs in ‘Tommy’s Ultimate Burger Challenge’ — a 3lb burger topped with three fried eggs, eight strips of bacon and four slices of Canadian cheddar, nestled between buttered Ciabatta, with a generous serving of poutine and a 20oz milkshake — all to be consumed in one hour.” — Katie King
A nonymous I can’t remember a time when mental illness wasn’t a part of my life. From a young age, depression and anxiety permeated almost every aspect of it. My play dates with friends regularly turned into crying fits; my younger sister was frequently tasked with entertaining my friends while my mom did her best to calm me down.
“I was coming back to defend the title. I already had a reputation for eating anything that isn’t kale or nailed down and this was my chance to prove it. But all those late night raids into my kitchen and general garburatorlike behaviour couldn’t prepare me for Tuesday night and the mass amount of meat I would be pushing down my throat.”
Little unexpected changes to plans would trigger a wildly emotional and disproportionate response. I was immensely anxious of social situations — even asking a server at Wendy’s for another dipping sauce was daunting. At only four years old, my mom became concerned that I was depressed. I first told my mom that I wanted to die at this age. I remember asking her if this thought was normal, if she’d considered
— Nick Pearce it before, if other people felt this way too. This broke my mom’s heart, and she spoke to a social worker about her concerns. “She’s just a kid,” the worker said. “She’s trying to manipulate you. Don’t take it too seriously.” Despite the social worker’s words, my mom knew there was more to it. She could sense my distress, and knew that I wasn’t saying this lightly. I think I already understood death as an escape from the pain I was experiencing. When I was 12 years old, I began seeing a psychiatrist at my parents’ request. Following a few months of unsuccessful therapy, the topic of medication was raised. I was absolutely horrified. I pictured asylums and patients in white gowns, strapped down to tables. I wish I were kidding. At the time, I thought for certain this meant I’d never be normal again. Throughout the years to come I’d attend therapy and take medication to manage my anxiety. my recovery, but I still had a ways to go.
A brown face in a white place V ishmayaa J eyamoorthy Copy Editor
my answer because I refused to let people categorize me based on the colour of my skin. But it was Being a woman of colour in a obvious that I stood out. One time, I caved and said I primarily white school like was from Sri Lanka. The girl I was Queen’s is incredibly daunting. When I first received my offer talking to had never heard of Sri of admission, I was ecstatic. Out of Lanka. In fact, she asked me if I all the schools I applied to, Queen’s had made a mistake because she was secretly the only one I cared was sure that Sri Lanka was a place about. When the email popped from Lord of the Rings. Everywhere I looked during into my inbox, I cried so much my mom thought I was actually crying Frosh Week, I saw a sea of white because something terrible had people. For me, this was scary happened. I thought that Queen’s as I was used to the diversity of was going to be my second home: Toronto. Naïvely, I thought all of I was ready to fall in love with my Canada was like my hometown. I school. Then I realized that wasn’t was experiencing culture shock in my own country, and it was the going to happen. Frosh Week was everything most bizarre feeling in the world. I wanted it to be, but it was When I spoke to my family underscored by a nagging about this, they asked me what I’d feeling of “I don’t belong here”. been expecting. There was a reason I was one of three people most of my minority friends didn’t of colour in my 15-person come to Queen’s, and it wasn’t the distance that was stopping them. Frosh group. I made lots of friends in first When people asked me where I was from, they weren’t satisfied year, and I loved my floor mates, with my answer of Toronto. What but it was so hard to shake off that they really wanted to know was my feeling of being “other”. I come heritage, because when they looked from a different cultural, social at my brown skin, they thought I and economic background than 90 per cent of the people I met in was different. I was stubborn. I stuck with first year.