The Queen's Journal, Volume 150, Issue 23

Prime Minister Trudeau and President of European Commission stop in Kingston

Von der Leyen and Trudeau talk war in Ukraine and clean energy

Aimée Look & Skylar Soroka Asistant News Editors

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen visited Kingston’s Canadian Forces Base (CFB) on March 7.

During her two-day visit to Canada, she was hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and they both attended the CFB for a joint press conference.

“It is a real pleasure to welcome President von der Leyen to Canada,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

Von der Leyen and Trudeau discussed shared priorities such as responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fighting climate change, promoting sustainable economic growth, and women economic empowerment.

During the visit, Trudeau and von der Leyen praised Canada’s support for Ukraine in their fight against the Russian invasion. The event began with a welcoming ceremony at the CFB’s Forde building before moving to another location on the base for the conference.

Trudeau said the visit took place at the

CFB to meet Canadian military personnel involved in training Premium Security Forces, Canadians deployed in Poland to support Ukrainian refugees, and those in Latvia supporting NATO.

“There can be no doubt, just as the result of our brave women and men in uniform is unwavering, so too is the bond between Canada and Europe,” Trudeau said.

Canada has provided military support to Ukraine and put in place sanctions and punitive economic measures against the Russian regime, Trudeau said.

“Together President von der Leyen and I also co-hosted an international pledging event for Ukrainians who have been forced from their homes, many of whom have become refugees.”

“For as long as it takes, we will stand shoulder to shoulder together with our European partners.”

Trudeau proceeded to announce Canada extending Operation Unifier until the fall while deploying Canadian Air Forces (CAF) medical trainers to help Ukrainian forces with combat medical skills.

Canada is one of the EU’s most trusted partners who share the same vision of the world and democratic values, von der Leyen said.

She further expressed her admiration for the Canadian troops who traveled from bases in Kingston and Edmonton to Poland in April of last year.

See News on page 4

External panel completes review of Queen’s sexual violence policy

21 recommendations made, AMS not involved in policy writing

Asbah Ahmad

Senior News Editor

21 recommendations have been made on the Queen’s sexual violence policy going into its triennial review.

The University hired the Canadian Centre for Legal Innovation in Sexual Assault Response (CCLISAR) to perform an independent review of the Queen’s policy on sexual violence involving students. The findings were released on March 7, and will inform the triennial review process.

“Focusing on being trauma informed and survivor centric, and then getting student feedback [...] was the main focus of the policy review,” Kerry Roe, ArtSci ’24, and ASUS sexual violence prevention and response director, said in an interview with The Journal The policy review was designed to take an intersectional lens into the issues survivors face on campus. The report highlighted current challenges around

ableism, colonialism, and marginalisation of BIPOC students.

The investigation and adjudication process exist to determine breaches of the Sexual Violence policy. The panel in-charge of the review recommend Queen’s Sexual Violence Policy be amended to remove the adjudication stage.

“They’re moving away from an adjudicated or hearing model. Now, it’s going to be an investigator, they do a full investigation, they give the case—likely—to someone in student affairs. That person will make a decision based on was the policy violated, then moving forward with measures,” Roe said.

Survivors often face the trauma of having to recount their stories multiple times. Roe believes this change will help limit the amount of times someone has to share their story. Further, she believes the recommended changes will speed up the process of investigations.

“We heard from students and others who have supported complainants or respondents, that the perception is that investigations take too long,” the CCLISAR report said.

Story continued online

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Women’s Volleyball is going to the Quigley Cup page 12

Lifestyle

Taking a look at Queen’s archetypes

page 15

The two came to the Canadian Forces base.

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

André Picard gives talk about health care at Queen’s

country that doesn’t have a health care system [...] We have to start comparing ourselves to countries in Europe and Scandinavia, that do have universal health care, and much better than us.”

Countries like Denmark or the Netherlands have more extensive coverage and prioritize the health of older people. He said Canada should learn from these countries rather than copy them.

“COVID-19 brutally exposed long-standing weaknesses, particularly in the eldercare field,” Picard said.

One fifth of Canadians not having a family doctor, people being triaged in parking lots, and eight-hour waits for an ambulance are some of the issues the system faces.

Lack of supportive housing and home care for elders is also an issue, Picard said. Costs are increasing as access diminishes and despite technological advances, hospitals still use fax machines.

“The problems we have are largely systemic. Let’s fix the damn system.”

He wants Canadian politicians to make changes by being specific—ensuring Canadians get care at the right place and time, equitably, and by promoting a high-quality life.

Aimée

Look

Assistant News Editor

“Welcome, boomers. Let’s talk about health care,” is how award-winning journalist André Picard started his lecture, “Medicare 2050: Rebuilding the Health System for an Aging Society” on March 2 at Ellis Hall.

Picard has been a health reporter and columnist at The Globe and Mail for almost 36 years. He was brought on the health beat early in the HIV/AIDS epidemic after covering similar stories for his student paper, The Fulcrum

His reporting for The Globe has been nominated for the National Newspaper Awards eight times and won the Michener Award for Meritorious Public Service Journalism.

“I’m not a medical reporter. I don’t write about medicine except peripherally. I write about health—the politics of health and health policy,” Picard told The Journal in an interview.

Queen’s invited Picard to speak at an annual lecture series funded by Roland Mitchener’s family. Michener was a former Governor General of Canada and Chancellor at Queen’s.

In his talk, Picard addressed the past, present, and future of Canadian health care. It aligns closely with the content of his fifth book, Neglected No More

“By 2050, there’ll be 50 per cent more seniors than children—12 million versus eight million. That’s what we mean by an aging society,” Picard said.

Canada’s “deeply held” belief that health care should be free stems from its religious roots, according to Picard.

“We see health care as an act of charity, not a business transaction, as is the case in most of the world,” he told the audience at his lecture.

The Canadian military also shaped our health care system. Created for veterans of WWI, Canada’s first state-funded insurance program accelerated talks of universal health care. The result was an administrative structure “militaristic in nature,” he said.

Queen’s and Kingston support survivors of human trafficking

Sophia Coppolino Assistant News Editor

Kingston and its community partners unveiled a new protocol to address human trafficking in Kingston and surrounding areas on March 7 at City Hall.

The protocol document aims to increase collaboration between community resources and serves as a “roadmap” for survivors

looking to access support, according to Lana Saunders, chair of the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) anti-human trafficking working group.

“[Survivors] suffer from a lot of complex traumas, and in order to meet all their needs we need to work in a group, not in silos and we need to ensure that we’re offering the best available

The system was built in the 1950s and 60s for the acute care of patients and hasn’t changed very much since. Canada’s demographics and medicine have changed significantly; the average age jumped from 27 to 47, according to Picard.

“What’s wrong with Canadian health care today in a nutshell is that we’re trying to

deliver 21st century care with the 1950s.”

Canada’s health care system isn’t inequitable like the U.S.’s, Picard said. He said comparing Canada’s health care system to its southern neighbors is a “waste of time.”

“We have to stop playing this pathetic little game of comparing ourselves to the U.S. The U.S. is a

“Here’s my pithy recipe for successful health care reform. Let’s start by scaling up all our successes, and let’s stop perpetuating our failures.”

Continued online queensjournal.ca/news journal_news@ams.queensu.ca

supports for them,” Saunders said in an interview with The Journal.

Kingston’s location between Toronto and Montreal, and proximity to Highway 401, make the city a potential target for traffickers.

“For the most part the victims are our own girls,” Saunders said. “The misconception is that somebody is brought from another city. It doesn’t always work that way. Often times people can be trafficked within the same city, at night or on the weekends.”

The protocol is specific to Kingston because all the partners are local agencies, including Queen’s.

“The goal of participating in the community conversation is to make sure that we’re starting to work towards students being aware that there are services and supports available if they find themselves in [a trafficking] situation,” Barb Lotan, sexual violence prevention and response coordinator, said in an interview with The Journal

“We’re also trying to make our community partners aware that way we can work better together and have way more collaboration.”

For students wanting to disclose concerns related to trafficking, Lotan

emphasized the best place is wherever the student feels safest.

“There are some potentially very important safety concerns and anybody who’s coming forward to talk about their experience needs to feel safe,” Lotan said.

International students, individuals with substance dependencies, Indigenous students, and racialized students are at a greater risk of being trafficked, according to the protocol.

Continued online queensjournal.ca/news

‘Let’s fix the damn system’

Picard discussed Canada’s health system in his lecture.

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

Lana Saunders shared the human trafficking protocol.

PHOTO BY SOPHIA COPPOLINO

Survey uses rigorous research methodology to get results

Skylar Soroka Assistant News Editor

The U-Flourish Student Mental Health Research program is composed of researchers at Queen’s seeking to understand how to support students’ mental health and well-being.

U-Flourish started in 2018 with a $30,000 grant, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry Anne Duffy said in an interview with The Journal. Duffy is a clinical psychiatric consultant and the acting head of the division of student mental health at Queen’s Student Wellness Services (SWS).

“The importance of the U-Flourish survey, as opposed to all the other surveys that you might have seen as a student, is that this is actually using rigorous research methodology,” Duffy said.

The program employs a student engagement team, capturing current and incoming university students by tracking their opinions using biannual surveys. The survey looks at the impact of mental health on timely circumstances, such as the pandemic, Duffy noted.

“For 25 years, I’ve been the lead investigator in a study that longitudinally followed children at family risk for developing serious mood disorders,” Duffy said. “These children have parents with bipolar disorder, and they were at high risk for major depression or bipolar disorder themselves.”

When Duffy came to Queen’s in 2018, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Richard Reznick asked if she would get involved because of her interest in youth mental health.

Duffy and Stephen McNevin, assistant professor and founding director of the division of student mental health worked together to begin U-Flourish’s research work.

Considering the children at high risk of developing their

structure where everyone benefits at the base and as you go up the tier, less and less students would need these resources, Duffy said.

“Then we would have a digital well-being platform that would be a student facing app that students could use to monitor their well-being.”

Duffy explained the team created a course in collaboration with the course development unit in the Faculty of Health Sciences. The course, IDIS 199, is a digitally integrated, inclusive, mental health literacy class.

“We’re hoping that the tool will again improve emotional self-awareness, facilitate transitions to support when needed, and provide education about supporting one’s own wellbeing,” Duffy said.

PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL

U-Flourish research works to support student mental health

parents’ disorders, the study was originally branded as “Flourish,” according to Duffy.

“The reason for that was because even though these children were at higher risk for developing serious mental illness, most of these children did really well.”

“We were also looking at not only what were the early indicators of problems, but we were looking at what we could do to augment well-being and protect those children and reduce the risk,”

Duffy said.

After that, Duffy took the brand and made it “U-Flourish” to look at the same kinds of mental health issues within university student populations. The survey began with questions crafted to be straightforward.

“At the beginning, it was [asking] what is the scope of need? Can we use rigorous methodology to measure what sorts of well-being and mental health concerns students have? Can we look at the evidence and measure theoretically important risk and protective factors? What’s driving some of this need?”

Among other related questions, the survey was designed as a “digital conversation” with students to tell SWS faculty about their mental health to translate student needs into evidence-based resources.

Duffy said U-Flourish was able to secure a second round of funding before receiving interest

from the Rossy Family Foundation to invest in the survey.

Thanks to a philanthropic gift from the Mach-Gaensslen Foundation, U-Flourish has expanded and introduced additional initiatives to enhance student well-being and mental health.

According to Duffy, the Mach-Gaensslen Foundation came to the team and expressed their interest in the research. Based on the survey data, the foundation asked them to translate the findings into real resources to help students today.

After looking at the evidence, Duffy wrote a proposal to take a stepped-care model that would benefit everyone. The model follows a

The evidence-based course focuses on the true meaning of mental health and well-being, as well as asking questions about what we know about the developing brain, what happens when we overuse alcohol, and differentiating between distress symptoms and illness.

According to Duffy, the six-module course is very popular among students. She spoke to the stigma and barriers of accessible mental health at Queen’s.

“We do measure reuse validated measures of all these constructs.”

Explaining the concept further, she said the program uses the stigma subscale of the barriers to care evaluation, looking at three levels of stigma: stigma, attitudinal barriers, and practical barriers.

“Stigma is still present, but lower than you might expect amongst the student body, what is high, is the personal attitudes about one’s own mental health that become barriers.”

“You’re going to feel stressed, and that’s normal,” Duffy said. “If you get early help with distress, you can mitigate and prevent more serious problems, like school dropout, depression, and significant anxiety.”

With files from Asbah Ahmad

Female leaders on breaking glass ceiling

Sofia Tosello

Staff Writer

Successful women at Queen’s gathered virtually on International Women’s Day on March 9 to discuss how they broke the glass ceiling and how other women can, too.

Panellists Wanda Costen, dean of the Smith School of Business; Jane Philpott, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences; and Kim Fulton, a leadership consultant, spoke to students and faculty about how women can build confidence and their careers.

They discussed barriers they faced in their careers as women and, more specifically, when they realised their gender played a role in how their fellow colleagues judged and perceived their abilities.

Philpott only discovered her gender was a “problem” when she served as a Federal Minister of Health later in her professional career.

“There were times that my divergent views were not necessarily helpful [in my career],” Philpott said. Having lived in one of the poorest countries in West Africa, Niger, Philpott realized while the hierarchical concept of gender in Canada and beyond was problematic, there were a plethora of other inequities people had to deal with in Niger. She said intersectionality impacts women differently.

Costen shared the impact that intersectionality has had on her.

During a meeting with fellow staff members, one of her superiors

told Costen her passionate energy was being perceived as anger.

“[They were feeding into] the angry Black women narrative,” Costen said. “How would [this perception] had been different if it was said by a white woman?”

Something that helped each of the panellists knock down barriers and build their careers was acquiring a sponsor or mentor.

“I have had the opportunity to have a lot of great mentors throughout my career,” Fulton said.

She said these leaders offered different outlooks on her career and helped create opportunities for her that didn’t always exist.

When the audience asked how they should go about finding a mentor, Fulton said working with different people is the key to having people respond to one’s abilities

and the feedback they give you.

In terms of building your leadership skills, Philpott talked about asserting yourself and jumping on opportunities to grow your career.

Understanding who gets to make the rules and how you can get into a position where it’s possible to change those rules is key to making the workplace a more equitable place for women, Philpott said.

Costen agreed women having the courage to step up and take on leadership roles inside and outside the workplace is important. She said women are hesitant to apply to jobs because they think they are not qualified.

The panellists discussed self-doubt and building confidence

in the workplace. Society can blame women’s lack of confidence on the woman rather than the environment that she’s in, Fulton said.

To tackle this barrier, Fulton suggested the audience should write down a list of why they might be qualified to take on a task or apply for a job and then just go for it.

In the final few minutes of the seminar, panellists were asked what advice they would give their younger selves and audiences.

“Follow your purpose,” Philpott said.

“Invest way more time getting to know who you are and stop thinking about what other people care about,” Fulton said.

“Be you,” Costen said. “You are enough.”

U-flourish uses logitudinal studies in research.

Canada and EU joint efforts

...Continued from front

“We’re both setting up our support to Ukraine, including our military support, because Ukrainians have all the necessary grit and spirit—but what they need is weapons,” she added.

Noting the EU has already delivered 12 billion euros worth of military equipment so far, von der Leyen said Europe aims to train 30,000 troops by the end of the year.

“I very much welcome [Trudeau’s] intention to deliver generators to Ukraine. [They’re] very much needed in these times, where Putin is strategically destroying the energy infrastructure and civil infrastructure in Ukraine.”

“We have also strongly aligned our successive packages of sanctions against Russia, together with our G7 partners. Sanctions are biting deep and hard—from going after Putin’s cronies and propagandists to draining the resources he needs to wage his war,” she added.

Von der Leyen welcomed Canada’s readiness to join forces with the EU to support mining in Ukraine.

Clean energy deals

Both leaders are prioritizing growth in clean tech, which according to Trudeau, will create jobs and a supply of “critical minerals” for the world.

Von der Leyen said critical minerals—those vital for technology such as batteries, electric vehicles, or wind turbines—are the “lifeblood” of the economy.

The minerals required to reach the EU’s goals of decarbonizing the economy are in limited supply, according to Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy.

“The European Union’s focus is very strong on the resilience of our supply chains,” von der Leyen said.

Europe is currently reliant on China for 98 per cent of its rare earth minerals. Von der Leyen said Europe wants to work with Canada going forward, as they have all the required materials for lithium-ion battery production and vast experience in mining critical minerals.

“We know the importance you attach the labor rights to environmental protection and to the respect for local communities,” von der Leyen said.

Trudeau and von der Leyen visited Li Cycle, a

Kingston-based company which recycles lithium-ion batteries.

“Li Cycle is not only creating jobs and building up our critical mineral supply in Canada, they’re opening plants in Europe too,” Trudeau said.

The company is undergoing a European expansion, expected in late 2023. Li Cycle is opening a new Spoke—which produces energy storage and electric vehicle (EV) batteries—at a facility in Germany. According to a Li Cycle press release, a growing customer base in the European markets requires access to clean renewable energy.

“We believe that Prime Minister Trudeau’s and President von der Leyen’s visit further reinforces Li-Cycle’s exceptional value proposition for Canada’s and Europe’s burgeoning battery supply chain,” Li-Cycle Co-founder Tim Johnston said in the release.

By 2030, the EU plans to produce 10 million tons of hydrogen. The two leaders aim to develop a reliable hydrogen supply chains between Canada and the EU.

“An enhanced action plan on hydrogen will mobilize investment, support businesses, share expertise and get clean Canadian hydrogen to Europe,” Trudeau said.

The plan will standardize hydrogen exchange in trade and help both sides take a ubiquitous approach, according to a press release.

“We have to pave a path for the future, and our future will be renewables,” von der Leyen said. “The vast majority of energy will be renewables and hydrogen.”

Canada will continue to export natural gas and oil but recognize the shift toward renewables is essential, Trudeau said.

“We are there to support trusted partners, as the world is discovering that Russia and other authoritarian states are not trusted partners upon which to build strong economic growth for our citizens or for our countries,” he continued.

Joint efforts between Canada and the EU will set them up to be global leaders, according to von der Leyen.

“Together we can rally the international community behind net-zero by 2050.”

stuck in a rut and can’t get out of it’: The Kingston housing crisis

Vineeth Jarabana Copy Editor

Kingston resident Brian Geddes “has not had a locked door behind [him]” for the past three years.

In an interview with The Journal, Geddes described his struggles with securing a lease despite “having perfect rent records [...] and references.” He cited a lack of effective resources for unhoused people like himself for the reason why he cannot secure a lease.

“I was on a housing list for the Kingston community for seven months [and] they lost my file,” he said.

Until recently, Geddes received support from the Integrated Care Hub, but because of the cold, he said it’s no longer an option to live outside of the hub.

He described the unhoused experience as one of constant trials and tribulations, and said his situation is representative of the broader homelessness crisis in Kingston.

“I’m subject to theft, drug abuse, violence, the works. Domestic violence even as a homeless person. It sounds ironic, but it’s all prevalent in my life,” Geddes said. “I’m stuck in a rut and can’t get out of it.”

In a report, United Way Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington found there were 207 unhoused people in Kingston in 2021, as compared to 152 in 2018. Out of the unhoused people surveyed, 67 per cent were adults and 26 per cent were youth aged between 16 and 24 years.

A Global News report from last April found many shelters in Kingston were operating at levels nearing or at full capacity.

Jane Bailey, operations administrator at Ryandale Transitional Housing, told The Journal in an interview residents “share congregate living space” and “have their own lockable rooms.”

Ryandale offers stable housing to male-identifying people for up to a year. While not a shelter, Ryandale is at full capacity like many shelters in Kingston.

Bailey said Ryandale has “a high number of people who are homeless” and a “very low availability of apartments.” Ryandale currently has a waitlist for those who are interested in transitional housing.

During the interview Bailey’s phone rang with a call from a person inquiring about Ryandale’s services. Despite wanting to offer the caller good news, Bailey informed the caller Ryandale is unable to take anyone right now and put them on the waitlist.

Phone calls like these are a common occurrence for Bailey.

“We get many, many, many phone calls, especially this time of year with people looking for accommodation. And because we do have housing available for up to a year, we don’t often have vacancies that open up,” Bailey said.

Justyna Szewczyk-El Jassem, PhD ’24, currently serves as the vice-president of community Relations at PSAC 901, the labour union representing graduate teaching assistants and fellows at Queen’s. Szewczyk-El Jassem represents PSAC 901 at meetings

FEATURES

Homelessness is a current crisis in Kingston.

organized by the Kingston and District Labour Council.

“I don’t think [the Kingston housing crisis] is a homelessness problem. I think it’s a problem with housing and there are many unhoused people in Kingston,” Szewcyzk-El Jassem said in an interview with The Journal.

Speaking to why there isn’t “enough good quality, affordable housing” in Kingston, Szewczyk-El Jassem said Queen’s is exacerbating housing unaffordability by increasing enrollment every year and consequently overburdening an already saturated housing market.

In January 2021, The Journal reported Queen’s enrolled 26,309 students in the 2020-21 academic year compared to the 25,260 students enrolled in the 2019-20 academic year, representing an increase of over four per cent.

“Nightmare” is among the first words Szewcyzk-El Jassem uses when describing Kingston’s housing situation for graduate students during the pandemic.

“I can tell you that trying to move to Kingston in the middle of the pandemic was a nightmare. I’m lucky to live in community housing, but I know from friends that the prices have gone up [during the pandemic].”

Jay Nowak, former program supervisor at Home Base Housing and current executive director at the Kingston Youth Shelter, said he spent most of his time at Home Base Housing “being out on the street,” trying to support unhoused people.

His work with Home Base Housing allowed him to connect people without shelter to refuge in a safe and affordable environment.

Nowadays, at the Kingston Youth Shelter, Nowak does more behind-the-scenes work, like securing financial support by organizing fundraisers and applying for grants.

Well-versed in the nuances of homelessness among both adults and youth, Nowak underlined how the pandemic impacted both unhoused youth and adults.

According to Nowak, the pandemic-era stay-at-home orders

“forced a lot of families to have to deal with some of their issues in house if the kids were not in school.” As a result, the pandemic led to greater homelessness among youth, he said.

A 2022 literature review found the global COVID-19 restrictions exacerbated risk factors for family violence—a key contributor to homelessness among youth.

Restrictions such as social distancing requirements and room capacity limits impacted the number of beds available to people in need, Nowak added.

“Unfortunately, because of restrictions, the number [of beds at the Home Base Housing] dropped all the way down [from 25] to 16.”

In other words, shelters like Home Base Housing had no choice but to scale back their intake of unhoused adults. Nowak also said pandemic-era rules like the indoor mask mandates resulted in many unhoused adults refusing to enter Home Base Housing’s shelter.

At Ryandale, COVID-19 restrictions transformed the social environment. Many residents used the community meal programs at shelters and charities like St. George’s Cathedral, Martha’s Table, and St. Vincent de Paul Society of Kingston.

Throughout the height of the pandemic, these organizations went from offering dine-in to takeout-only services, which eliminated a key opportunity for social interaction. The lack of connection and communication with others increased the feeling of isolation and loneliness among Ryandale’s residents, Bailey said.

“The effects of this isolation have led to a big increase in depression in my residents. And a lot of pessimism, so we’re still dealing with the fallout of that, and finding other ways for people to engage and be social is difficult.”

Ivan Stoiljkovic, general secretary of the Katarokwi Union of Tenants and a former Kingston mayoral candidate in the 2022 municipal elections, believes the pandemic actually prevented homelessness among many adults.

“[The] pandemic may have fended off some of the worst effects of the inflationary forces because

more likely to overdose and die in isolation.”

Mental health and drug use are a central feature of everyday life for many unhoused people and their isolation from a community shelter, such as Home Base Housing, is more likely to lead to an overdose, Bailey said.

Furthermore, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported in December most deaths due to illicit drug use are linked to fentanyl.

An aging unhoused population has also presented new challenges to institutions like Ryandale. In 1990, approximately 11 per cent of the unhoused population was older than 50 years. Today, that number is 50 percent. With an aging unhoused population comes more health issues, from drug addiction to alcoholism, that unhoused people disproportionately face.

Ryandale is also facing staffing shortages that Bailey characterizes as an “endemic problem across the sector.” Bailey attributes burnout among unhoused service providers as a contributing factor to the staffing shortages.

there was a moratorium on evictions,” he said in an interview with The Journal. ***

Nowak noted a rise in acuity levels—defined as a measure of the severity of one’s medical condition(s) or illness(es)—among unhoused people in Kingston.

In his experience, Nowak has found shelters like Home Base Housing are seeing “more people with unmedicated mental health issues who are through [their] doors.”

Recently, he said, the people using Home Base Housing’s services are “dabbling in harder illicit drugs than normal.” Compared to soft drugs like marijuana, hard drugs like fentanyl are rising at a rapid rate among the house’s residents.

Nowak has also observed a greater use of fentanyl at the Kingston Youth Shelter. The two main factors behind the higher rate are more awareness about the Kingston Youth Shelter and more youth “who have dabbled into the street life,” he said.

Specifically, youths have begun to view “street life” with more appeal because they believe it provides them with more freedom than staying at home with their guardians.

Greater rates of substance use among unhoused people relative to the general population have heightened the homelessness crisis, according to Nowak.

“When you are having difficulty realizing reality, because you’re under, you know, druginduced psychosis, it’s very hard to have a conversation with those individuals about housing because they’re fixated on their addiction, unfortunately. And that takes up the majority of their time.”

Bailey’s assessment of illicit drug use among unhoused people was in line with Nowak’s observation.

“Fentanyl has really changed the face of homelessness in Ontario, across Canada,” she said.

When specifying fentanyl’s impact, Bailey said fentanyl has high misuse potential, so those using fentanyl “are much

A November 2020 online survey conducted by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, which polled unhoused service providers, found that 59.7 per cent of participants were experiencing “moderate levels of burnout.”

In April 2019, the federal government launched “Reaching Home,” a community-based program that funds and coordinates homelessness prevention and reduction efforts across the country.

According to Bailey, Ryandale has greatly benefitted from the funding. She appreciates governments have recognized homelessness as a problem, but believes they must acknowledge that “mental health and addictions are fuelling a large aspect of homelessness in Canada.”

Nowak echoed this sentiment and wants to see more funding for housing specifically intended for “individuals who have mental health or addictions issues.”

In April 2022, the Ontario government announced new funding that will help construct 1,200 new supporting housing units across the province. Supportive housing units are generally operated by non-profits, and are staffed by people trained in social work and rehabilitation.

Szewczyk-El Jassem believes Queen’s should take a more proactive role in addressing homelessness in Kingston by prioritizing Community Housing, the entity that manages Queen’sowned student rental properties. He said the organization should be improved upon and made more accessible to students with addiction and mental health problems.

Furthermore, Szewczyk-El Jassem noted that by building more residences that predominantly house first-years, Queen’s is actually “pushing out more people to the [housing] market later on.”

“At some point, those people will have to find housing,” she said.

Szewczyk-El Jassem believes Queen’s should explore more efficient uses of its funds in addressing the housing shortage rather than build more single room units.

journal_features@ams.queensu.ca

‘I’m

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

Unhoused people, advocates speak to local issue

Not all homework is created equal

Homework can do a lot of good, but it can do just as much harm with the wrong approach.

It’s not a new debate. We’ve being weighing the pros and cons of sending kids home from school with homework for decades. Since digital tools have been integrated into the education system, homework has continually amplified society’s existing inequities.

For many students, at-home practice is essential to retain new concepts taught in class. Assigning things like readings for at-home completion allows teachers to use finite classroom time as efficiently as possible, but there is such thing as effective and ineffective homework.

For example, when homework is assigned for the sake of having something to grade, it can lead students to disengage with their education. No one likes to feel their time is being wasted—and kids are no exception. Assigning pointless busy work to check boxes isn’t educating.

It’s also important to consider students need and deserve time to decompress after spending a full day at school. For students taking part in extracurricular activities, there’s even less free time available after factoring in homework.

The traditional approach to homework, particularly at the high-school level, is classist. Some students can afford to pay tutors to guide them through assignments after school while others must work as much as possible to help support their families.

For homework to be an effective learning tool, we need to solve the barriers making it inaccessible. If homework depends on access to

a stable internet connection outside of school or it’s assigned without considering neurodivergent students, it’s not supporting everyone’s learning.

Most homework assignments assume neurotypicality and don’t leave room for flexibility for

for more accommodating practices, even when teachers want to implement them.

Unfortunately, the ideal homework approach requires resources and manpower most schools lack. Educators are underpaid and underappreciated, which limits the quality of education they’re able to provide. Investing in education means providing schools with the resources necessary to make the changes It’s hard to learn anything without practice, and the reality is there isn’t enough time in the school day to devote to it. That’s where completion grades and general feedback

Correcting and providing feedback on homework that doesn’t impact their grades is valuable for students of all ages. For younger children, this approach could positively impact their self-esteem, while older students will feel encouraged to take responsibility for

ILLUSTRATION BY KATHARINE SUNG

with different learning styles. Accessible homework, on the other hand, is adaptable to whatever resources each individual student has available to them, is not technology dependent, and acknowledges neurodivergence.

All the issues homework suffers from are symptoms of greater social issues like generalized ableism and income inequality. The classroom structure is rigid and doesn’t allow

Perhaps what makes homework so valuable is its effectiveness as a tool for learning time management and self-motivation. Learning how to learn and how to support your own learning is an essential skill—unlike being able to label a cell diagram.

Kids need reinforcement to stay engaged, and homework can provide positive reinforcement opportunities if executed the right way. But sometimes real learning falls through the cracks when we focus too closely on going through the motions.

Eliminating homework is a non-solution. We need better homework.

—Journal Editorial Board

We should work to live, not live to work

than any other part of life, and plenty of government policies reflect this view. Italy has mandated 20 paid vacation days a year on top of 10 national holidays for employees, and France has a law giving workers the right to disconnect after working hours.

A four-day workweek trial in the United Kingdom recently concluded that workers maintained a better work-life balance, were happier, and less stressed. In the meantime, the 61 companies that participated saw revenue stay the same or even grow.

We shouldn’t have to feel like we must constantly be working to live well. Still, this thinking is privileged as an ever-growing number of people can’t afford to work less than all the time. But it shouldn’t have to be this way.

Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions. The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston. Situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. The Journal’s Editorial Board acknowledges the traditional territories our newspaper is situated on have allowed us to pursue our mandate. We recognize our responsibility to understand the truth of our history.

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. 190 University Ave., Kingston, ON, K7L 3P4

Editorial Office: 613-533-2800

Business Office: 613-533-6711

It’s no secret we need money to live, but centring our entire lives around work is problematic for our mental health and our overall well-being, too.

From the moment we start school we’re asked the all-important question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” While it seems harmless to ask a four-year-old this, the need to define ourselves based on a career becomes more urgent and stress-inducing as we get older.

Academic competitiveness and university hustle culture prepare us to enter a work environment where we’re constantly pushed to be as productive as possible, extend our working hours for no extra pay, and complete more work with fewer resources.

It’s time to question this narrative and

mindset we’re conditioned to internalize. Why is this lifestyle the default? Are we really benefitting from being hyper-productive?

What used to be achievable through moderate work is becoming unattainable for the majority. Affording a home or even buying a car are becoming unrealistic goals for young generations.

On top of its effect on individuals, the environmental impacts of this hustle lifestyle are severe. Studies illustrate how high income and wealth correlate to greater consumption levels and greenhouse gas emissions. Living a mass-consumption and high-emitting lifestyle based on the perceived need to endlessly increase our productivity is unsustainable, unhealthy, and frankly, sad.

Living to work isn’t the default everywhere. In many European countries, work is not perceived as more important

We need a living wage and social security for all. We desperately need more mental health resources for workers, and we need to start taking workplace Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility seriously.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to work a lot or dedicating your life to a career, but it shouldn’t be the ideal or default lifestyle. Owning a home or a car shouldn’t be a benchmark of success—this ‘grindset’ makes it easy to lose sight of our passions and the vibrant world around us.

We should work fulfilling jobs that bring joy and stability to our lives. These jobs should support us and give us the freedom to enjoy everything life has to offer.

It’s time to re-evaluate our toxic relationship with work.

Fax: 613-533-6728

Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca

Please address complaints and grievances to the Editor in Chief and/or Managing Editor.

The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Metroland Media in Toronto, Ontario.

Contents © 2021 by The Queen’s

Sandrine is a fourth-year Global Development Studies student and The Journal’s Opinions Editor.

Sandrine Jacquot Opinions Editor

PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL

Queen’s needs to better advertise its research opportunities

Talking Heads...

What faculty do you think uses ChatGPT the most to cheat on assignments?

Leo believes Queen’s should promote and celebrate undergraduate research.

Research benefits both Queen’s and undergraduates

Leo Yang Contributor

The role of research in shaping the future of the academic world and university cannot be overemphasized. Research contributes to the advancement of knowledge and helps students apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world problems.

Undergraduate students are often the most enthusiastic learners, eager to explore new ideas and test their hypotheses. Universities have a responsibility to effectively encourage and promote research among students and need to take innovative steps to reach out to students and promote opportunities that will help them develop their research skills and passions.

research among their undergraduate population. This is further supported by the increased seats in Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship (USURF), on-going program development across faculties, and a section of discussion on undergraduate research.

Research offices and different faculties at Queen’s offer their own programs and initiatives students should be aware of when planning to conduct research.

For example, the faculty of Arts and Science has the Art & Science Undergraduate Research Fund (ASURF), thesis courses, research-based courses, and research assistant opportunities. Commerce, although not a research-focused faculty, is working to introduce new research courses and programs to increase undergraduate students' awareness of opportunities, such as a new initiative named SERA. Engineering also offers many lab-based research opportunities under faculty supervision, which usually involve a background in the field.

Yet, for all of this, many undergraduate students are still not aware of the plethora of research programs offered by the university and their faculty. Queen’s must find unique and effective strategies to educate the student community on these opportunities.

student researchers could answer questions and provide firsthand information about the opportunities available to students. A fair such as this would also attract student-run journals and publications where students can showcase their writing skills and have their work recognized by their peers and faculty members.

"Your research doesn't have to be ground-breaking nor life-changing, as even a small-yet-unique observation can contribute tremendously to an academic field.

Encouraging interdisciplinary research would foster cross-faculty collaboration, bringing students together to work on a single research topic. The University should consider interdisciplinary team research seats on USURF.

For example, research on how inflation affects customer behavior could bring students and faculty members from economics, psychology, marketing, and sometimes even other faculties that are not closely related into a potential study.

"CompSci or Engineering because ChatGPT codes pretty well."

A recent annual Senate and Board of Trustee retreat focusing on research discussed the potential mutual actions of both the two highest governing bodies to work towards promoting research activities and strategies to adopt collaboratively.

While this was not a decision-making event, the retreat still demonstrates the commitment—or at least willingness—of the University administration to promote

Hosting an annual student-run research fair supported by the research office would be a great way to showcase the innovative research Queen’s students are conducting while encouraging others to follow in their footsteps. The fair could feature various faculty and department booths, showcasing their research programs and current research projects.

Faculty members, graduate students, or even undergraduate

This can be achieved by establishing an internal university communication channel to match students who have ideas and people who are experienced. Such collaboration would help broaden students' perspectives and create new insights in their respective fields.

A ceremony celebrating students’ hard work would be another way to acknowledge and reward the hard work and dedication of undergraduate researchers.

Recognizing students who have excelled in research outside of existing programs such as USURF

would incentivize more students to engage in it. A ceremony would give researchers a sense of accomplishment and recognition for their time and effort, motivating them to continue pursuing their academic and professional goals.

This event could serve as a networking opportunity, providing students the chance to meet and connect with other peer researchers, faculty members, and professionals, potentially leading to new collaborations and career advancements. Students could receive reference letters from faculty for graduate school applications, and faculty members could use this event to find students for research assistant roles.

The process to select who can conduct research still needs to remain competitive, rewarding students willing to put in the consistent effort and passion into their work. They should get support from the university to create a polished and valuable research paper.

Your research doesn't have to be ground-breaking nor life-changing, as even a smallyet-unique observation can contribute tremendously to an academic field.

Ultimately, writing a research paper should not be treated as a mere graduate school application and resume booster, but as an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to create real-world impact in a practical way.

Not every student may want to do research, but if Queen’s wants to maintain its reputation as a leader in research and innovation, more students need to be made aware of the opportunities available to them and their merits.

"I was a TA last semester, so probably Engineers or Biology majors when they're taking electives."

"Computer Science because it's pretty good at making code. I'm in math and it can't do math too well."

"It's all CompSci and Eng. They spread the word, it's nice that they're telling us about their new technology."

"I've heard a lot of people in Econ are using it."

PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL

"Yet, for all of this, many undergraduate students are still not aware of the plethora of research programs offered by the university and their faculty.

Leo Yang is a second-year politics, philosophy, and economics student.

Sahana Dharan, ArtSci '26

Hunter Hopkins, MPL '24

Aidan Shimizu, Sci '23

Cora Baccardax, Kin '24

Daniel Li, Kin '24

ARTS

Rida Chaudhry Senior Arts Editor

Creative projects that stem from visual creation—in this case painting and screen printing—allow for works to be produced where there was nothing before, taking an idea from one’s imagination and translating it onto a canvas to be observed by the masses.

For this week’s column exploring artistic mediums through the eyes of their creators, The Journal had the opportunity to chat with Jude Samman, BFA ’23, and Jay Wallace, BFA ’23, about their respective works and experiences within the fine art program at Queen’s.

“I’ve always loved art,” Samman told The Journal.

“Art was my favourite class, and my mom was the one who brought that down to me. I love to work with meaning and storytelling.”

How art captures history and moments in time intrigues Samman, who is Syrian by heritage and Jordanian through nationality. Their high school work was largely activism focused.

“I was able to send a message and tell a story through paint […] capturing a moment that people see and make them pay attention to the aspects of it that go unnoticed.”

“I feel like it’s important for me to speak on behalf of people who aren’t able to speak for themselves—especially with the privilege of being an artist—[by] creating these images and displaying them in galleries here in Canada.”

Activism will always have a place in her work, Samman told The Journal, though more recently she’s been trying to find herself as an artist.

“I find it so interesting when artists create things that don’t really exist through painting; you can creature your own world

What’s your medium?

Fine art through the eyes of BFA students

how people say writing stuff down helps you work through your emotions, he feels the same way for art to understand negative experiences or memories. Experimenting with colour and how they coincide with sentiments intrigues Wallace, who takes time to consider the hues and saturation he uses while trying to illicit certain emotions.

“It allows me to give into the creation and fully express on paper what’s going on in my mind.”

“For example, a light orange-sh yellow is a nostalgic colour for me; the warmth radiates fun and innocence.”

His latest project is the one he feels most proud of: Wallace drew a photo of himself and played around with abstract imagery on the drawing to bring out different aspects of it.

Country star’s long-awaited third album does not disappoint

Zain Pasquarella

Contributor

Morgan Wallen made a strong return with the highly anticipated One Thing At A Time two years after his Billboard Top Country Album, Dangerous: The Double Album. His previous work set enormous expectations for

[where] whatever you want comes to life.”

“That’s what pushed me to explore surrealism and finding myself. I’m trying to understand why I gravitate towards, for example, portraying topics so close to home and identity […] why do these certain motifs attract me? What type of memories do I have associated with certain things? And what is home? Is it a place or a series of moments?”

The theme of self exploration through memory and nostalgia has heavily piqued Jude’s interest in her recent projects.

Jasmine flowers and pomegranates can be found in her “world” she’s created through her art. The aroma of jasmine is unique to the garden in her home in Jordan and pomegranates remind Samman of her grandparents who sprinkle the fruit’s seeds over their food.

“I’ve been creating a world where all of these things exist with one another, it’s sort of a form of resistance to being so far away

from home […] somewhere I can escape and find comfort.”

Samman describes herself as someone who can be entranced by painting despite lacking the attention span to focus on anything else with such ferocity.

“Focusing on colour and colour theory, noticing things that don’t initially meet the eye, or looking at an image for so long makes me see things differently—I really like the way it challenges how I see things and from then on watch something come to life.”

She chose Queen’s as the school to pursue fine art because of the small program and its tight-knit community. However, the consistent underfunding of the program ultimately cut into the quality of education she received.

Though Samman loves her professors, advisors, and peers, the lack of support from the administration was evident and a large portion of the learning was self-taught. She expressed her disappointment at the recent decision to suspend the program.

“It’s very sad I have to say, there are other solutions than suspending the program. This is the second time it’s been done, [it’s] crazy they weren’t able

to fix their problems from the first time […] it’s very frustrating,” Samman said.

“The process of suspension uncovered so many ugly things about the bureaucratic education system. They made it seem like we had say on some things though they really didn’t care about our opinion even though the students know the most about the program.”

Samman hopes that the administration will finally take things seriously and take the time to better the program because the potential is endless.

This weekend, Samman’s work titled “What Music Feels Like” will be featured at the Union Gallery with the opening preview debuting on Saturday, March 11 at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, Wallace always had an inclination for the arts and because he found himself excelling at them and figured it was the route he would pursue.

“I started off with landscapes which was really nice to build technical skills though nowadays I focus more on personal artwork, dealing with my past, my upbringing, family and experiences,” he said in an interview with The Journal.

Wallace said that like

“For the first one I modified it to by adding more drawings, then modified it on a stone, then [most recently] used screen painting to layer different colours. The theme I wanted to explore was metamorphosis: changing our work over time and what that looks like.”

Having experimented with screen printing throughout his undergrad, Wallace has found his place in the program especially over the last two years.

He referenced Andre Derain as an early inspiration, though now finds himself exploring how house music makes him feel and how to translate it into his work.

Similar to Samman’s sentiments on the suspension of the BFA program, Wallace feels like more effort could have been put into revitalizing the program without suspension being necessary. He hopes this will be a wake-up call for the future of fine art at the university.

The act of creating an entire world from one’s imagination into a visual representation is one that takes skill, will, and focus.

To observe a work from the external perspective is to bear witness to the intricacies of an artist’s mind being translated to a canvas. This valuable experience transgresses monetary bounds to provide connection, knowledge, and retribution between creator and watcher.

his new music, both in its genre-traversing appeal and the sheer volume of songs. Despite the quantity, Wallen has taken no shortcuts as the quality of each song remains top tier.

On brand with Wallen’s previous albums, this track list has no skips. Some personal favourites include “Man Made A Bar,” ‘’98 Braves,” “Keith Whitley,” “Thought You Should Know,” “I Deserve A Drink,”

“Days That End In Why,”

“Money On Me,” “Had It,” and

“Good Girl Gone Missin.”

‘‘98 Braves” is the first time Wallen has incorporated baseball into one of his songs

and is a nostalgic tribute to the 1998 Atlanta Braves. The team lost the World Series to the San Diego Padres, and he contrasts this with a past failed relationship. The play on words is exceptionally creative, and the instrumental is entrancing.

“Thought You Should Know” is yet another tribute, this time to his mother. Wallen thanks her for her prayers that “finally came through” as he describes his current lifestyle and poor choices while remaining grateful for everything she has done for him. It shows the vulnerable side of Wallen, veering away from the typical heartbreak and alcohol themes.

The country anthem of the summer is also found on this album with “Ain’t That Some.”

“In The Bible” with HARDY

is a melodic tune reflecting on “if being country was in the Bible,” contrasting Christianity and a country lifestyle Meanwhile, “Cowgirls” with ERNEST has a completely different vibe, with hip-hop-style 808 drums.

“Outlook” is one of the deepest and most meaningful songs in the album, where Wallen describes how his perspective of life has changed over time, realizing alcohol is not the answer to his problems. The harmonies with his sister Ashlyne add another dimension to the track.

Apart from the obvious themes of love, heartbreak, drinking, and religion, there is no apparent storyline in the ordering of the track list. However, Wallen did state “Born With A Beer In My Hand” and “Dying Man” were respectively placed at the

beginning and end of the album on purpose.

While often drawing criticism from classic country fans, the crossover appeal of Wallen’s music is a gateway into country music for those who enjoy hip hop tunes.

On “180 (Lifestyle),” Wallen interpolates rapper Young Thug’s 2014 track “Lifestyle,” reperforming original melodies and lyrics from Thug’s nostalgic classic. This all comes after rapper Lil Durk featured Wallen on his hit “Broadway Girls,” one of the first hip-hop and country crossovers.

Overall, this album has a song for everyone, from classic country fans to hip-hop fans who want a taste of country.

journal_ae@ams.queensu.ca

SUPPLIED BY JUDE SAMMAN AND JAY WALLACE

Jude Samman’s work, right, and Jay Wallace’s work, left.

Morgan Wallen amazes yet again on ‘One Thing At A Time’

Artificial Intelligence hits the Kingston Canadian Film Festival

‘Den Mother Crimson’ was filmed entirely in Kingston

Rida Chaudhry Senior Arts Editor

The vibrant film community of Kingston had five days filled with cinema over the weekend hosted by the Kingston Canadian Film Festival. Last Friday, Den Mother Crimson premiered at the Kingston Grand Theatre where the cast and production team walked the red carpet.

The Journal had the opportunity to chat with stars Saad Siddiqui and Daniel Kash, as well as director Siluck Saysanasy and Branded to Film (B2F) founders J. Joly and George Assimakoupolous about film in Kingston, AI, and what sets this film apart.

“[Den Mother Crimson] shifted my perspective [on Artificial Intelligence] in a slightly more paranoid way; the questions and concerns we need to answer about this technology are endless,” Kash said in an interview with The Journal.

Having worked on the remake of Robocop, Kash valued Den Mother Crimson’s commitment to challenging the normative views of Artificial Intelligence in contrast to the dilution of the subject matter in other sci-fi movies.

The film follows three scientists who have been brought onto a project without knowing what it truly is—what brings them in is a “handsome” payment. As the project unravels, the researchers are confronted with sentient of artificial intelligence.

“The shortest scene in this film is eight or nine pages,” Saysanasy said.

“When working it out with the cast, it was approached almost in the sense that it was a play. For [the production team], we treated it more as a choreography—the camera was part of the scene rather than directing it.”

As the three leading characters get to know each other and the project, it becomes clear something more sinister is at play. This feature is the first of its kind to be entirely shot in Kingston by local production company B2F.

Two longtime friends, Joly and Assimakoupolous, came together to fill a hole in the city with a vibrant creative and film scene when they started B2F.

“Twenty-two years ago, we used to get together when we were juniors on film sets and talk about how to make movies with private investment,” Assimakoupolous said.

“I went off to become an assistant director in Toronto and [Joly]—like the entrepreneurial spirit he is—ran off and created a path for private investments in film.”

Joly is a Queen’s alum who ventured across Canada to work on film sets before ultimately finding himself back in Kingston, the city that got its hooks in him during his undergrad. Twenty years later, the two got together during the pandemic and knew it was the right time to start Branded to Film and explore high-concept genre movies.

“I’ve shot movies in Toronto, Vancouver, Saskatchewan, Northern Ontario, but I’ve always thought that Kingston is the next great hub for Canadian film,” Joly told The Journal.

“There’s a lot of young creative people, central location, and a love for film. Kingston is the absolute perfect spot for domestic film production in the future.”

Review: ‘The Sleeping Car Porter’

Suzette Mayr’s award-winning book arrives right on time

Sam Goodale Assistant Arts Editor

Trains, queerness, and dentistry don’t seem like they should go together, but in Suzette Mayr’s Giller Prize-awarded novel The Sleeping Car Porter, the seemingly divergent converge.

The Sleeping Car Porter recounts the story of a queer Black train porter, Baxter, who works in a sleeping car to fund his dream of attending dentistry school. It’s a book centred around the abject and the revelation of what is supposed to remain unseen. Yet, after winning the largest literary award in Canada, the novel and its themes have skyrocketed into visibility.

A journey across 1929 Canada ensues, filled with an eclectic cast of characters, romance, and much talk about pre-first molars. It’s wild, weird, and makes the reader feel that they, like Baxter, are suffering from a terrible lack of sleep.

The novel’s prose is sparse. Its brevity starkly contrasts Baxter’s endless days and nights. There’s a ceaseless wandering, a weird stationary motion, as Baxter remains inert on “the fastest train in the country,” hurtling across the Canadian landscape.

Mayr’s style and writing are effective at communicating The Sleeping Car Porter’s themes. She leaves

lines just as they should, revealing more from what she doesn’t say than what she does. The novel paints beautiful portraits that speak for themselves. The novel meditates on how Baxter is rendered completely marginal as

a train car porter, restraining his appetites—sexually and for food—to endlessly fulfill the needs of others. It’s a fascinating exploration of who’s allowed to be visible and who must be invisible.

And then there are teeth. Teeth are very weird. They’re tools of consumption that just exist in our mouths. Mayr’s use of them in the story is wonderfully done, showing us how they provide a sanctuary for Baxter, giving him a goal to pursue and a means to reclaim some agency as he examines and makes judgements on people’s teeth. They’re both gross and fascinating, revealing details about characters that they may otherwise wish to conceal.

However, amongst the musings on teeth and the endlessly chugging train, the novel’s plot tends to meander along. The Sleeping Car Porter is an incredibly sleepy book: you will feel as Baxter feels. Maybe that’s the point, but it’s hard to focus on the book’s substance when it’s putting you to sleep.

The novel is experimental, and how well its experiments work will likely depend on the reader. It’s engaging to feel how Baxter feels, but it can seem a little tiresome.

The Sleeping Car Porter is technically brilliant. It’s wonderfully written, and its characters pop and burst with life. It’s experimental and weird, and there are things here that will capture and move readers. It threatens to become directionless like the train Baxter is on, but it’s ultimately pulled forward beautifully by its characters and its incredible affective power.

Suzette Mayr is coming to Queen’s for the Queen’s Giller Prize event on March 23.

Branded to Film founders J. Joly, left, and George Assimakoupolous, right.

PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL

SPORTS

Cure Cancer Classic: ‘Most electric event ever’

Commerce shutout Engineering in annual inter-faculty hockey game

Lilly Coote

Assistant Sports Editor

One of the year’s most anticipated—and rowdy—hockey games took to the ice this weekend.

On March 2, Cure Cancer Classic (CCC) put on the annual Commerce vs. Engineering (Com-Eng) rivalry hockey game at the Leon’s Centre. The CCC is a student-run, not-forprofit initiative that’s raised over $1 million for cancer research over the past 17 years.

The Cure Cancer Classic initiative, created in the Smith School of Business COMM 351: Leadership and Organisational Behaviour class, dates back to 2005. Since then, the club has created multiple different fundraising events to raise money for cancer research. This fall, the team put on a golf tournament open to all students, faculty, and alumni where they fundraised $50,000.

In 2019, the Canadian Cancer Society helped Cure Cancer Classic partner up with Annie Huang’s Brain Cancer Research Lab at Sick Kids Hospital. The club also secured a government grant to match each one of the CCC’s yearly donations, effectively doubling their impact.

The CCC team is composed of 33 Engineering and Commerce students who have worked tirelessly all year to put on this highly anticipated event. Within a week of the Com-Eng game ticket release, the game sold out.

As the big day drew closer, a sense of panic began to set in among those who hadn’t secured their ticket in time, with some students frantically searching for anyone who might have a spare to sell.

“There was so much hype built around the game this year,” Ben Schwartz, Comm ’25, a member of the CCC executive team, said in an interview with The Journal.

On Monday, Feb. 27, the Cure Cancer Classic hosted a press conference at Goodes Hall, where both teams engaged in some friendly jabs and teasing, all in the name of the good old fashioned inter-faculty rivalry. Additionally, the CCC promoted pre-game festivities at The Canteen and The Mansion for both Engineering and Commerce fans.

By 7 p.m., the Leon’s Centre was packed to the brim with purple Eng jackets and Smith School of Business crewnecks. Alumni were spotted repping their vintage Queen’s faculty jackets in the booths overlooking the rink.

Despite their different areas of studies, everyone was united with their love for Queen’s, a desire to see their team come out on top, and the CCC’s mission.

“The packed stadium gives a feeling like none other; it’s goosebumps every time,” Schwartz said

“Even if it’s filled with people who are chanting they don’t like my program very much, it doesn’t matter. It’s just so surreal to know every single person in the seat is making a difference.”

The first period started off at a leisurely pace, but the Under-7 Kingston hockey “Timbits” revved things up during an intermission performance before the second

period. The pint-sized players put on a show for the crowd as members of the Kingston Frontenacs joined them.

Commerce opened the scoring with a goal during the second period. Before Engineering could catch their breath, Josh Kudo scored another goal for Commerce. With each passing minute, Commerce tightened their grip on the lead, ultimately pulling ahead with another goal to make it 3-0. Team Engineering visibly struggled to keep up with their opposition’s relentless pace.

The highlight of the game came right at the end of the third period when Ben Fitzpatrick made a bold move and slammed the puck into the net, scoring a goal for Commerce with only one second left on the clock.

As Engineers shuffled out of the stadium quickly with their heads held high, the Commerce side roared with excitement at the 4-0 scoreboard. The game, filled with twists, turns, and witty chants from both sides of the crowd, will be one to remember. For the Commerce team, it was a sweet taste of success

they will undoubtedly savour for a long time.

“I think after my birth, this is probably the second largest lifedefining moment,” player Connell Cusinato, Comm ’25, told The Journal in a post-game interview.

After their

ice, the Commerce team soaked up every last drop of the glory that came along with winning the title. The team had a glamorous photoshoot in which each player posed with the trophy, grinning from ear-to-ear while the camera clicked away. Ryan Kidd, Comm ’26, has experience playing in provincial Junior hockey leagues, but told The Journal the Commerce vs. Engineering game was easily his favourite game yet.

“That was the most electric event I have ever been to. Just such a great crowd, such a great event, cheers to all the people that made this happen at the CCC.”

Regardless of outcome, everyone knows the event is really about coming together to raise money and awareness about a cause that has touched so many lives.

“We raised over $450,000 [for] the Canadian Cancer Society […] and we’ve surpassed any annual donation total that CCC has raised in previous years,” CCC Co-Chair Amy Janes told The Journal.

“It’s really a testament to how hard the team worked this year. So, I’m proud of everyone that’s been a Janes worked alongside Co-Chair Robert Hume to organize the Com-Eng game. Earlier in the night, they presented the $450,000 check to the ever-gracious Canadian Cancer Society.

“As much as we’re having an incredible game, and it’s really fun, it’s for a great cause and a cause that affects us all,” Janes said.

This year, the Cure Cancer Classic broke its fundraising record with $450,000 in donations.

Men’s Basketball gets wild card to U SPORTS nationals

Sarah Maat Senior Sports Editor

The news came in on Sunday: Queen’s Men’s Basketball snagged the last spot in the U SPORTS Final 8 Basketball Championships in Nova Scotia.

Each year, the top two teams in each provincial division earn a ticket to nationals. That makes up six of the eight teams, then the seventh spot is given to the host school, and the eighth is left as a wild card or at-large berth spot.

The team awarded the at-large berth spot must qualify by the 10 criteria outlined by U SPORTS. Teams eligible for the at-large berth spot have statistics such as their record, top 10 rankings, and playoff performance compared by U SPORTS officials who determine who deserves the spot.

For Queen’s, the wild card spot means everything—it’s a second chance.

The Gaels, however, must prove they’re worthy of this redemption. They go into the tournament this weekend as the fifth seed and will have their first match against fourth-seeded St. Francis Xavier University.

Queen’s is joined in Nova Scotia by two other OUA teams:

third-seeded Carleton and secondseeded uOttawa. The Gaels split their two matchups with each this season. Although they must expect tough competition, they also need to remember winning gold isn’t impossible.

Last year’s champions— the Carleton Ravens—found themselves in an eerily similar situation after being awarded the at-large berth spot in the U SPORTS Final 8 following their loss to the Gaels in the OUA semifinals. Playing as the wild card team, the Ravens shook up the seeding to win the entire tournament, going from OUA semifinals losers to U SPORTS champions.

Right now, Queen’s is lined up to do the exact same thing the Ravens did last year.

Many of the players injured in the regular season are ready to play again, and their head coach, Stephen Barrie, earned OUA Coach of the Year for a reason. Even if this year’s playoff circumstance seems only coincidently—and not prophetically—related to what happened last year for the Ravens, Queen’s deserves this second chance.

Queen’s Women’s Volleyball advances to Quigley Cup

Gaels upset thirdranked Warriors in three sets

Claire

Chow Contributor

Women’s Volleyball did it again: another playoff sweep. This weekend, the Gaels upset yet another team in the Women’s Volleyball OUA playoffs. After beating the Western Mustangs last week 3-0, they managed a repeat phenomenon with a sweep over the Waterloo Warriors to punch their ticket to the Quigley Cup.

With the odds and their regular season record stacked against them, the Gaels went to battle on Waterloo’s home court. Queen’s, however, refused to let the analytics dictate the outcome.

After a slow start in the first set, the Gaels gained some unstoppable momentum. Their outstanding passing allowed the front court to take full advantage of each play, leading to a 25-22 win.

Queen’s teamwork was consistent throughout the entire match. They stacked 45 assists against the Warrior’s measly 20 and showed how an in-sync team makes all the difference.

Individual excellence only elevated the team’s cohesive performance. Arielle Palermo had an outstanding game on the left side with five of her fifteen kills coming in the first set.

In the second set, the Warriors got out to a three-point lead, but the Gaels fought back with two six-point runs. Their diligent reaction kept Waterloo at 18-points in the set, with many of their points a result of Queen’s mistakes rather than productive offensive action.

Queen’s maintained their momentum into the third set as they closed the gap between them and a spot in the final. Elimination looming, the Warriors responded with some great adjustments and newfound energy to pull ahead 12-10.

The Gaels responded. Rachael Meilikhan led the charge with excellent serves, Shea Baker set up the attacks with precise passing, and Palermo

finished things off with kill after kill. After a 12-point run for Queen’s, this trio was finally stopped, but it was too late as Waterloo had to score 13 points with Queen’s only needing three more.

The Gaels ultimately won the set 25-13, recording their second playoff sweep in a row.

The Gael’s performance this weekend should not be taken lightly. Only two weeks earlier—on Feb. 17 and 18—Queen’s suffered two regular season losses at the hands of Waterloo.

Queen’s actually entered the post season with a five-game losing streak, but refuses to be defined by their regular season rollercoaster. Instead, they have started telling a different story of unstoppable playoff dominance.

The Gaels continue the battle not only for the OUA championship at the Quigley Cup, but also a spot at nationals. Only one team from the OUA—either Queen’s or Brock—will move on to compete at the U SPORTS championship. A banner would be Queen’s first since 2012.

The game will be played at Brock and is available to stream at OUA. tv on March 11, starting at 6 p.m.

journal_sports@ams.queensu.ca

Gaels celebrate their sweep.

Queen’s Women’s Basketball falls to Carleton in Critelli Cup game

After silver OUA finish, U SPORTS gold is on the horizon

Sarah Maat Senior Sports Editor

Women’s Basketball is keeping their heads held high as they take off for nationals.

The Gaels lost to the Carleton Ravens 70-57 in Saturday’s Critelli Cup OUA Championship game. Although it wasn’t the result they wanted, Queen’s fought hard in front of the 2,000 fans who came out to support them at the ARC.

“The energy in the gym was phenomenal,” Head Coach Claire Meadows said in an interview with The Journal.

“We’ve been generating a

great crowd at our games, and this was by far the best.”

It was standing room only as students and Kingstonians showed up to support. Even the gym windows overlooking the court were filled with peering faces eager to get a glimpse of action.

However, it wasn’t just their physical presence—Queen’s fans made sure they were heard as well as seen. Students packed in behind the Carleton bench armed with pots and pans making so much noise the Ravens could barely hear their coaches during timeouts.

“This is bigger than basketball and I really feel like we are having a great impact on the community and we’re creating something special, and it was felt tonight in the gym,” Meadows said.

Even though the game didn’t end in Queen’s favour, the attention it gathered demonstrated how Kingston will follow the

Gaels on their quest for the championship in Nova Scotia.

“Moving forward is using this game to fuel us,” Meadows said.

“We obviously had a goal tonight that we didn’t accomplish, but our season’s not over and we have some very important games in front of us so it’s about regrouping and fuelling us for what’s ahead.”

Though devastating, the Gaels should still be proud of their performance Saturday night. In fact, they must take what they learned in this championship with them as they move to the next one.

“We have to feel it. We have to work through some of those emotions, and then we have to wake up tomorrow and we have to be ready to go because we are going to Cape Breton, and we have some big goals there,” Meadows said.

Bridget Mulholland, a Queen’s veteran player, also spoke about having a what’s next mentality.

“I think in big games, close games, games when you’re down, the only thing you can focus on is the next game. Myself, and other upper-year athletes on the team, we’ve had a lot of experience with that. I’ve had about seven years of it—on and off the court—other people five, six, and so we just try and lean on that,” she said.

Queen’s maintains a simillar mindset while on the court.

“We look towards the next play,

make some on the fly changes, talk about what we are seeing, and then we just kind of ground ourselves in that, and it’s something we will lean on going forward into nationals,” Mulholland said.

Throughout her entire time at Queen’s, Mulholland has kept up this positive, forward looking outlook. It’s what earned her the Tracy McLeod Award for unwavering determination and spirit.

“I think [this award] really is reflective of numerous people and the support that I’ve received over the years,” she said.

“I’m not here today without the support of a ton of coaches, most of the healthcare system in Kingston, and elsewhere in Ontario, my teammates,

my parents, my family. So as much as it might be an award for me, it’s really an award for them and the support they’ve given me over the years.”

Since Saturday’s game, the Gaels haven’t stopped. They left on Monday morning for Nova Scotia, and their preparations for nationals have begun.

“We just have to get ready; we can feel bad for ourselves for a little bit because we obviously wanted to win that game, and wanted to win an OUA gold medal, [but] we have some big things ahead of us to look forward to and we’ve got to refocus and regroup and look forward to the national championships,” Laura Donovan, Queen’s top scorer on Saturday, said.

Stu Crawford—the ultimate Gael—celebrated at KCFF

The legacy of Queen’s star hockey player Stu Crawford lives on through film

Lilly Coote

Assistant Sports Editor

Stu Crawford is the most legendary name in Queen’s Men’s Hockey, and filmmaker Mike Downie is the latest to celebrate his legacy.

On March 5, Downie showcased three short films at the Baby Grand Theatre in the Kingston Canadian Film Festival. The program included an excerpt from Gord Downie’s Secret Path in Concert, his comedy short Jesus on a Fish Stick, and a premiere of Downie’s new documentary highlighting a Queen’s Men’s Hockey legend.

The 14-minute film showcases the story of Stu Crawford—a renowned figure often referred to as “The Ultimate Gael”—and his enormous legacy. The film, titled A Century in the Making: The Stu Crawford Story, comes after he passed away in November 2022 at 100 years old.

In the film, Crawford reminisces about his past life as a World War II bomb aimer. He recalls a perilous experience that almost took his life when he was only 23: jumping out of a Lancaster with only a parachute as his plane was

being shot down on a mission to Hamburg.

Crawford tells his wildest stories and shares his inner-most feelings in the film, contrasting his time at war with his time as a Queen’s hockey player, drawing parallels between the teamwork required to succeed in both experiences.

The inspiration for the film came to Mike Downie when he read about Crawford’s inspirational story in the Queen’s Alumni Review.

“Stu’s story is not just a Kingston story, it’s a Canadian story,” Downie said in a news release.

“It’s about hockey, but it’s also about resilience, and teamwork, and courage. Being able to share his incredible story at these festivals is truly an honour.”

Mike is an award-winning filmmaker who attended Queen’s for his undergraduate degree alongside his brother Gord Downie, the celebrated lead singer of the Tragically Hip. Downie has

produced many well acclaimed documentaries, including The Secret Path, Invasion of the Brain Snatchers, One Ocean, and The Hockey Nomad.

For the Stu Crawford film, Downie worked alongside many Queen’s Alumni, including Mickayla Pyke, ArtSci ’26, Jacob Akman, ArtSci ’20, and Kalin Moon, ArtSci ’07.

“I really thought we should put together a team of Queen’s people,” Downie said in a Q&A panel after the showing.

“We’re a team of filmmakers, some are kind of old, some are really young.”

The documentary beautifully portrayed Crawford’s gentle and unassuming character while also cementing his enormous legacy as a Gael. As a celebration of his remarkable contributions to the program, the men’s team room in the Memorial Centre was officially named “The Stu Crawford Team Room” on his 100th birthday last March.

“This is a permanent testament to the character of Stu Crawford, and a constant reminder for the players to look to when they enter the room of what it means to be a Gael,” Men’s Hockey Head Coach Brett Gibson said in a press release.

Stu Crawford’s two contrasting life experiences as a Second World War hero and a Queen’s hockey legend create a beautiful and inspirational storyline, jam-packed with history. A Century in the Making: The Stu Crawford Story was played in Mitchell Hall during Homecoming Weekend this fall, eliciting laughs, tears, and smiles from the audience.

The documentary is a must-watch—catch it at the Belleville Downtown Docfest in early March.

PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL

The Ravens celebrate their win.

Stu Crawford was a player, World War II Veteran, and Queen’s Men’s Hockey Coach. ILLUSTRATION BY KATHERINE SUNG

Students banged pots by the Raven’s bench.

PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL

Choosing the best period tracking app

Apps have bad reputations of selling private data

Hannah

Robinson

Contributor

If you’re a menstruator under the age of 40, there’s a good chance you use an app to track your period. Beyond knowing which day of the month you’ll need a tampon, your period is one of the best indicators of female health.

Period tracking apps store information on any changes within your cycle, taking the burden off your memory and populating your data into trends. The top apps allow you to input information on everything from bleeding, ovulation, pain, and PMS, to sex life, cravings, exercise, and even hair or skin quality.

To be an informed consumer, picking the right app is important.

From a user perspective, the multitude of tracking features equates to reliability and convenience. On the flipside, more features lead to higher chances of mass data collection and subsequent privacy concerns.

Issues with data privacy on

period tracking apps are not new.

In 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that Flo, used by over 25 million people at the time, started selling their data to Facebook. The ‘anonymized’ data being sold was determined to be reversable, easily identifying users through metadata.

I tried out the top apps on the market, combed through their privacy policies, and researched into any data scandals they’ve had to rank which app is best for design, inclusivity, and privacy.

Clue: Winner!

Clue, a German app, is the best across the board. The app is subject to strict EU digital information regulations and publicizes a strong stance on not supplying user data to US authorities. They don’t store your name or email and their privacy policy is easy to comprehend. They anonymize then encrypt user data, which is used for scientific collaborations in reproductive research.

In short, they use your data, but it’s generally protected and utilized for science. It falls short in providing contraceptive reminders but offers a wide range of tracking features, uses a simple design, and is inclusive to all ages and genders.

Flo: Second place, but questionable

After clearing up its shady data deals with Facebook, Flo now uses only one partner for data analysis. The app also has a relatively clear privacy policy. In a new, surprisingly positive update, the company allows for an ‘anonymous mode’ feature in light of Roe v. Wade being overturned in the United States.

This move comes at a time when suspected abortions have the potential to be uncovered should the case make it to court and the apps be compelled to hand over their data. Just this week, Facebook and Google handed over data from a user accused of having an abortion to support the prosecution’s case. Now more than ever, it’s imperative to protect your personal data at a time of advanced technological use.

Flo is the first of its kind to implement this level of privacy. However, it prompts users to connect with Apple Health which has a host of its own data privacy

issues. Compared to Clue, Flo is riskier, has less features, and, arguably, some design flaws.

Eve by Glow: Alarm bells are ringing

A sister app to Glow, Eve lacks gender-inclusive language and is geared toward heterosexual women. It’s hyper-focused on sex and how it relates to one’s period. It also hides many of the outputs from the tracking features until users pay for a premium subscription.

Their privacy policy also contradicts their privacy claims on the Google Play store, causing a big issue back in 2020 over misleading consumers. It also tracks and stores your precise location, health care providers’ names, medications, spouses’ names, and highly detailed sexual activities.

Ovia Fertility: Not for periods

This app is best used for fertility over period tracking. It has a very confusing privacy policy with an especially concerning section

that says they share personal data for marketing purposes through social media or other third parties.

The most notable partner? Facebook. So, Facebook can personalize advertisements to you despite you never logging on. Sounds sketchy to me.

Keeping track of your menstruation is difficult, with or without an app. While the tracking apps are helpful, they also pose serious risks to your privacy. I implore you to consider the value of your intimate data and reflect on whether these apps are protecting your data appropriately.

It’s imperative to understand that in the wrong apps’ hands, your data is traceable, shared, and sold in our fast-paced digital world. Doing a few Google searches can help you navigate the big world of tech and determine what the best and most private option for you and your data is. Your privacy is worth the effort.

Ben Wrixon Editor in Chief

Your order is served: the abolishment of the celebrity fast food meals.

You’ve surely seen them. The McDonald’s Travis Scott meal that was just a Big Mac with bacon and a cup of Sprite with extra ice. The Timbiebs at Tim Horton’s—known among satanists and masochists as ‘Bieber Balls’—that were an excuse to sell hats and tote bags. The Pusha T sandwich at Arby’s, which was the roast beef hut’s take on a fried fish sandwich. Ew.

Most recently, McDonald’s

introduced the Cardi B and Offset Meal during a Super Bowl LVII commercial. Their new signature order includes one cheeseburger with barbecue sauce, a quarter pounder with cheese, two drinks, fries, and an apple pie.

The meal itself is fine—it’s McDonald’s food. The barbecue sauce on the cheeseburger is kind of weird, but still not as weird as relish, at least. The problem with this meal and all the ones like it is how cringe it is to use rappers and singers to sell cheeseburgers.

Who’s rushing out to McDonald’s for a cheeseburger because the couple who brought

you “WAP” and “Bad and Boujee” apparently ‘like’ it? Is anyone that much of a sucker?

We probably have the hysteria around the Travis Scott meal to blame.

Even years later, it’s fair to wonder whether McDonald’s drive-thru workers have recovered from the dredges of pre-pubescent teenagers who blasted “Sicko Mode” while claiming La Flame sent them. Now—be it through enlisting Cardi B, Saweetie, or Justin Bieber—McDonald’s

and their contemporaries are desperately trying to replicate that lightning-in-a-bottle moment, and it’s not working.

Once the novelty of the Travis Scott meal wore off, everybody saw it for what it was: a soulless cash grab by a giant corporation. Seeing the BTS boys scarfing down McNuggets elicits the same eye roll reaction as Jennifer Aniston claiming to stay ageless and wrinkle-free by using Aveeno cream.

Travis Scott, Cardi B, Offset, and all the others are worth millions of dollars and live in mansions in the Hamptons with butlers and personal chefs. If you actually believe they’re ordering off the dollar menu like us normal people instead of enjoying filet mignon in silk pajamas, you might want to look up because it says gullible on your ceiling. Don’t buy this silly corporate fantasy.

Also, while it can be great for business in the short term, companies aligning themselves with celebrities and their questionable morals might not always be a great idea. This is especially true for companies like McDonald’s that

supposedly cultivate a familyfriendly image.

Pusha T—whose signature fish sandwich appropriately came out last year alongside a diss track aimed at the Filet-O-Fish—has made a living writing some of the meanest rap songs around. The self-proclaimed ‘Cocaine Dr. Seuss’ is a great rapper, but not exactly a great role model for kids.

Then there’s Cardi B, who admitted in 2019 she used to drug and rob men when she worked as a stripper—avoiding any drink with her name on it might be a good idea. Surely McDonald’s can find a more FDA-approved spokesperson to sell us their McMeals.

If fast food joints want to sell more of their stuff, they should probably put more money into increasing the quality of their offerings. Or, better yet, continue to sell their food at affordable prices to combat the inflation we’re seeing in grocery stores. Anything but more celebrity-branded meals that are little more than one weird topping on an old favourite.

Lord help us all if God’s plan includes a Drake meal.

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

ILLUSTRATION BY RIDA CHAUDHRY

Unpacking Queen’s archetypes

Which one are you?

Rida Chaudhry Senior Arts Editor

Our beloved campus is filled with all kinds of characters. As I venture to and from classes, I often find myself people watching and observing the masses, mentally categorizing them based on the interactions I’ve had with similarly dressed folks over my four years of undergrad.

Granted, a certain piece of clothing is not necessarily telling of what kind of person whoever donning it is, though in my experience, I’m rarely far off.

The first archetype to unpack is known to all of us. You either hate them or love them—and by them, I mean the North Face puffer wearing gym bros. These men recycle a bland chicken and rice recipe for most of their meals in hopes of getting all the gains.

If any of y’all are reading this, please invest in seasonings. “Let’s go” is grossly overused in their vocabulary, but most of them are great friends to have all the same.

For the second, we’re swinging the pendulum to the tote-wielding, often queer, Common Ground regulars. These folks love an oat milk latte to start off their study session at the campus café, though study is a loose term that often results in socializing with their friends who frequent the spot. Indie music flows through their headphones and they prefer The Mansion over the hub. Their fits are thrifted and they own at least one pair of docs. It’s me—I am them.

The political studies archetype wears a pea coat everywhere—yes, even to 8 a.m. lectures. This person speaks for the sake of talking and lengthens words to a point of error to feign intelligence on a subject matter. Some comments toe the line of colonial sympathy and this person loves playing

Showcasing humour and personality helps make matches

Skylar Soroka

Assistant News Editor

In the world of online dating, it’s a delight to stumble upon profiles that ignite the spark of laughter, the warmth of joy, and leave the heart longing for more.

Last night, my housemates and I gathered around one of their phones, mindlessly swiping left and right through their Tinder account. Thanks to the wonders of app, our Sunday night was filled with an endless waterfall of laughter.

It’s all in good fun, though. These characters take a creative approach to crafting their profiles, infusing humor and personality into their bios to attract potential matches—and it works.

GRAPHIC BY CURTIS HEINZL

Here are some of the most creative Tinder profiles we stumbled across.

*Mateo, 20

First up, we have Mateo, who describes himself as an “outgoing guy.” His profile picture is him motioning to a skeleton of some ancient creature—at a museum, I presume.

While his bio boasts a job as an electronic technician and emphasizes his love for camping, he also adds a quirky request for potential matches: “99 per cent of the time you will be shorter than me and I will be happy to tell you how the weather is from up here.”

Mateo, I wish you luck in your search for true love.

*Cole, 22

Cole’s profile is perfectly simple. His bio reads: “almost cool.”

The caption—paired with his first photo showing off a pair of snazzy dress socks—doesn’t prepare you for the cherry on top of the sundae: him posing with the current Principal and

devils advocate. If that doesn’t convince you to steer clear, I’m not sure what else will.

If you see someone wearing their GPAs (Engineering jackets) casually, you can bet their program is a cornerstone of their identity. They spend their Fridays at Ritual and dream of being a Frek. The commitment to the faculty spirit is applaudable, but they’re the reason people think Engineering is a cult.

My Longchamp ladies are either the kindest or least approachable souls at Queen’s and there’s rarely an in-between. Most likely in some sort of STEM or business program, these accessories mark what many consider the typical Queen’s student. Longchamp ladies wake up at 7 a.m. everyday and find time to hit the gym on their hardest days. Let’s be real: we all want their stamina.

Connoisseurs of the gorpcore—an outdoor fashion aesthetic—look like they fiend the outdoors, but in reality, they usually live in big cities and are rarely battling the terrain that Arc’teryx was designed for. These are the fashion bros and hoes gone granola for the vibes and I can’t lie, they pull it off.

To end off the series, it’s necessary to address the elephant in the room: the students you see lined up for the bars in crop tops and t-shirts despite -40-degree weather. There’s little more that signifies a frosh than braving winter Stage Rage with no jacket. Many of us used to be them; perhaps it’s an initiation of the student experience, though I don’t know how frostbite isn’t more of a problem.

These seven are only the tip of the iceberg of what you can find at Queen’s, though most characters are indistinguishable by their physical appearance alone. Next time you find yourself on campus, observe the people around you.

You may find yourself spotting the North Face puffer gym bros from a mile away or standing behind a Longchamp lady in the Tim Hortons line. Or maybe you’ll look in the mirror and realize you yourself are one of these archetypes.

If that’s the case, no shame there: we can all visually fit a trope or another in our lives. All these are in the name of good fun; there’s more to everyone than meets the eye.

The best—and the funniest—of men’s Tinder profiles

Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s Patrick Deane. Enough said.

*Timmy, 19

Everyone, say hello to Timmy. His primary profile picture shows him doing a star-fish leap while skiing, holding his groin in the air.

Timmy’s interests include but by no means are limited to smoking while drinking and being an avid astrology fan. Don’t worry—he’s a dog lover.

*Rowan, 23

Rowan’s profile is quite wholesome. Showing off his Canadian Armed Forces look, he put his Snapchat username in his bio just in case you were looking to mingle with him through another Gen Z dominated app.

The best and my favourite part about Rowan is what he lists as his biggest turn-on. It’s red flags—his biggest turn-on is red flags.

I guess red is the colour of love after all.

*Arwin, 21

Arwin’s profile may throw you for a curveball. It exhibits him within two centimeters from a deer, staring endearingly into its eyes. Even better, his profile reads: “credit score of 800 ladies.”

If you’re looking for the full package—money and a deer lover—then Arwin may be your perfect match.

*Kai, 20

Last but not least, we have Kai. In his profile picture, he has his arms wrapped around his best buds. His bio claims he’s 4’11 in heels and I kind of love that—I love a short king as much as the next girl.

Ladies, if you happen to stumble upon Kai, let’s just say if the heel fits, wear it. ***

Whether it’s a love for cocktails or a willingness to cosplay at the drop of a hat, showcasing your unique interests and humour is a surefire way to attract potential matches while making the dating process a little more fun.

Infusing personality into dating profiles is good. If your personality oozes off the screen and into the hearts of swipers, you’ve made yourself stand out in an ocean of bland average profiles.

Next time you’re swiping through Tinder, don’t be afraid to let your true colours shine through. Who knows, you might just find your perfect match—or not.

*Names changed for anonymity

Tinder profiles can bring tears of laughter.

Some aesthetics are the Longchamp, North Face puffer, peacoat, and tote bag.

Strength is a team sport women play together

Sohpia Coppolino Assistant News Editor

I come from a line of strong women, something my mom never fails to remind me of on calls home.

My grandmama emigrated to Canada from Sicily, raising five kids in a country she didn’t understand. She only spoke English when it was convenient for her.

Equipped with a primary school education, she bartered her way to success. She grew her own vegetables, flipped homes, and ran her household with the help of a wooden spoon. By all accounts, she was a matriarch.

GB, my other grandmother, never takes no for an answer. Having passion for genetic research when it wasn’t accessible to women, she graduated with two university degrees and prioritized investing in her family’s education.

vacations on points she collected travelling for work. She never lets a ball drop; she’s on time to doctor appointments and five minutes early for client interviews. Recently, my mom planned a conference where Magic Johnson was the guest speaker; in the picture she texted me, he held the microphone for her.

I come from a line of strong women, and growing up, I was not appreciative.

“ I thought to be a strong women, you needed to do it all alone.

I resented the women who came before me. My resentment stemmed from a fear of failure. In chasing their ambitions, I feared they’d pushed my glass ceiling higher. How could I be a stronger woman, accomplishing more, more easily than those who’d come before me?

me on a pedestal, I ignored the hands reaching out to lift me up.

When I arrived at university, I quickly learned building strength is a team sport, and other women were on my team. You couldn’t do it all alone—doing so would be the path of greatest resistance.

“ My dad called them the ‘sisterhood,’ a title we still use to refer to ourselves today.

During my first bad break-up, women I’d known for mere weeks from Orientation took down pictures, dragged me out of bed, and lent me tops, pants, an empathetic ear—whatever it was I needed to pick myself back up.

My dad called them the ‘sisterhood,’ a title we still use to refer to ourselves today.

I’m happier because of them.

only to say something to senior management, but to expect action and to not settle for less.

I didn’t have to work with that boss for the rest of the season.

As an undergraduate student eager for experience, a professor in my department took me and other young women looking to learn under her wing. Weekly, she shares how to balance personal and professional goals while navigating an evolving job market as a woman.

Every week, I’m challenged by the obstacles my peers are overcoming. I leave grateful for the women that have my back and eager to learn how to support other women in need of someone to lean on.

“ From my mom, I learned hard work is a combination of grit and resilience.

GB’s critical. She sends letters to representatives in Parliament and mails me newspaper clippings with notes in the margins. She shows love by pushing everyone to do better. I’ve never seen her bake a pie.

My mom is a stiletto-andhigh-rise work-on-the-weekends type mom. We took family

I knew I was privileged to have role models who advocated for themselves. I knew I was reaping the rewards of the seeds they—and the women before them—sowed, but I couldn’t understand how I was supposed to do the same.

I thought to be a strong woman, you needed to do it all alone. As far as I was concerned, being ‘self-made’ meant relying on only yourself. In putting the women before

“ Having access to a community of strong women if something I’m extremely grateful for now.

When my boss at a summer job made inappropriate comments about me to clients, it was my coworkers-turned-friends who stood up for me. This group of women encouraged me not

Having access to a community of strong women is something I’m extremely grateful for now. It’s an immense privilege to have a network of others who hear you and see you despite not sharing your experiences.

The truth is I didn’t recognize the strength of the support among the women I’d grown up with. My mom or my grandmothers did not expect me to do it alone; they’d been teaching me lessons they’d learned since day one.

From my grandmama, I learned the value of taking risks and having faith in your ability to persevere. From GB, I learned how to stand my ground. From my mom, I learned hard work is a combination of grit and resilience.

I come from a line of strong women, and their strength is not solely derived from individual qualities or skills, but the connections they’ve built with each other. My grandmothers, mother, and all the other women I’ve been lucky to call friends are on my team.

“ Strength is speaking your mind and leaning on others when you don’t have the answers.

Together, we’re all forming a line of even stronger women. We’re learning from each other and building what I hope to be a larger and more inclusive community of strength.

Strength is both pursuing your ambitions and raising up the women around you. Strength is speaking your mind and leaning on others when you don’t have the answers. Strength from a community of women is imperative in times when you feel you may not have any.

I come from a line of strong women, and in my wake, I’m building a network of strength.

Sophia’s mother, grandmama, and GB taught her empowerment.

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

“ I come from a line of strong women, and growing up, I was not appreciative.

Learning the power of women from the generations who came before me