the journal
Queen’s University
Vol. 143, Issue 29
T h u r s day , M a r c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 6
since
1873
AMS SERVICES
Studio Q, one year later
Year in Review
Gains and losses visible one year after amalgamation of three campus services
Our annual insert looks back at the biggest stories of the year
J ordana G oldman Assistant News Editor Studio Q’s first year on campus “was a year for learning,” said Lauren Abramsky, the service’s head manager. She’s spent the past year overseeing the amalgamation of Queen’s TV (QTV), Yearbook & Design Services (YDS) and Convocation Services under its new name, Studio Q. The services were amalgamated late last year due to the overlap between YDS and QTV. Since then, staff members have expressed both concern due to cuts to QTV’s news content and optimism about the direction of the service in the future. Emma Fuller, ArtSci ’16, last year’s executive producer for QTV and the AMS’ current Media Services Director, was part of the team that spearheaded the merger. Fuller says they intended to create more content by combining two creative services under one roof. Convocation Services’ operating expenses already included advertising services from QTV, so it also became part of the amalgamated service. One of the largest changes that came out of the merger was the removal of mandated news content and broadcasting that QTV had previously offered. Prior to the amalgamation, QTV had four to five mandated news segments per week, according to Fuller. “Videos take way more effort, so instead of weekly mandated content, the volunteers kind of got to choose what they wanted to focus on,” Abramsky said. She said this year’s documentary on Queen’s triathlon was an example of the new projects that have come out of the freedom offered to volunteers. The 13-minute film, a joint effort of volunteers, staff and management, took months to film and produce. It went on to be screened at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival in February 2016. Prior to the amalgamation, QTV had a team of six managers responsible for the production of videos under their specialized sections. QTV produced around 58 videos last year. This year, Studio Q has produced between 10 and 15 videos. “That’s a drastic number difference but See QTV on page 4
ILLUSTRATIONS BY VINCENT LIN
ABORIGINAL STUDENTS
Scholarship created for Indigenous law students Queen’s Law Students’ Society comes to consensus on surplus M organ D odson Contributor On March 24, the Queen’s Law Students’ Society (LSS) announced the creation of a new Aboriginal Entrance Scholarship for aspiring Indigenous lawyers. The annual scholarship is intended to address the underrepresentation of Indigenous students in Canadian law schools. It also serves as a response to the Calls to Action contained in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report. The scholarship will provide between $2,000 and $3,000 and will be awarded to one incoming Indigenous
Queen’s law student who demonstrates financial need and academic achievement. Funds for the scholarship were made available by a $25,000 LSS budget surplus, which will be transferred to a joint endowed fund created in partnership with the Queen’s Faulty of Law. Dean of Law Bill Flanagan has offered to match the LSS’s commitment with $25,000 of the faculty’s funds, although the faculty’s contribution is still waiting for the approval of the Provost. The endowed fund will be invested with an expected annual SUPPLIED BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
return of approximately four per cent to ensure that funds for the scholarship are available for years to come. When the surplus was discovered, a number of proposals were brought to the table by members of the LSS. An established committee first narrowed the list of proposals down before the chosen proposals were brought before Queen’s law students in the form of an online survey. Students voted in the survey from March 23 to 24. The Aboriginal Entrance Scholarship won 60 per cent of the vote. 65 per cent of the total law student population voted. The scholarship will “support students financially and encourage law students who want to stay true to their Indigenous culture,” according to LSS Student Senator Ian Moore, JD ’16. Moore was the formal mover of the scholarship proposal. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission — which is funded by the federal government — looks into the history See Less than on page 4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
FEATURES
EDITORIALS
ARTS
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
How the first Black student saved Queen’s
The highs and lows of the 2015-16 school year
Drama students, open yourselves up to criticism
Three top athletes reflect on their time at Queen’s
We asked, you voted: Best of Kingston survey results
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page 5
page 7
page 9
page 11
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