News
4 • queensjournal.ca
Friday, February 3, 2023
Team ATP elected next ASUS executive Uncontested team earns 81.3 per cent of vote Sofia Tosello Staff Writer Amaiya Walters, Preston Harrison, and Therese De Rivera were announced as the new Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) executive team in Jan. 31. Team ATP had 81.3 per cent votes in favour and 18.7 per cent voters against in a vote of confidence. Walters was elected president, Harrison was elected vice-president (society affairs), and De Rivera was elected vice-president (operations) for the upcoming 2023-24 school year. “I’m so thrilled by the outcome of our election,” De Rivera wrote in a statement to The Journal. “ATP will continue to make improvements that are in [the] best interest of Queen’s students in any way we can.” “With the strong foundation that Yara, Emma and Aloka [current ASUS executive] have set for us, I strongly believe we can only make significant, positive changes from here.”
Health and safety committee is a priority for candidate
Asbah Ahmad Senior News Editor The undergraduate trustee position is up for grabs this year, as Jaya Sharma, HealthSci ’24, and current trustee’s term comes to an end. The position will be elected along with the AMS executive on Feb. 6 and 7. Reem Al-Rawi, HealthSci ’24, is the sole candidate vying for the position in this year’s election. She is running on a platform of clarification and two-way communication. The undergraduate trustee is one of the few students who sit on the Board of Trustees, alongside the Rector and the Graduate
Aimée Look Assistant News Editor As Senate opened on Jan. 31, AMS president Eric Sikich asked questions via Zoom regarding the sessional dates surrounding Orientation Week and the University’s “competing priorities.” “There is a general consensus of a desire to change the format that has been consistent over the previous years as the weekend model,” Sikich said. He acknowledged it was “difficult” to change dates and asked how the University can
Although the team was running uncontested, receiving the vote of confidence was still an unreal moment, Harrison said in an interview with The Journal. Walters told The Journal that, upon receiving the results, all the team’s efforts were worthwhile, and all their “plans and hopes” for the Society are “finally going to come to life.” Getting different perspectives on the major problems facing the Arts and Science community was one of the challenges ATP had to overcome during the election process, Walters said. Going forward, the team plans to continue to have an “open door policy” with students. The team is excited to tackle prevalent problems facing the ASUS community. Becoming more connected with first years, strengthening ASUS’s relationship with sibling societies, and better supporting students’ financial needs are some of the issues team ATP plans to tackle. “As mentioned throughout our campaigning process, we will continue to set goals that tackle issues regarding equity, diversity and inclusion in the Queen’s community,” De Rivera said.
Reem Al-Rawi looks to work for students at the Board.
PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL
Al-Rawi runs for undergraduate trustee uncontested increase the collaboration and lines of communication with these student leaders,” Al-Rawi said. “I know this will help allocate resources and create better action plans.” Focus groups are an effective way of communicating with student leaders, Al-Rawi said. She wishes to use these groups as a pulse to inform her decision-making process and skills. Attending AMS Assemblies will be an important priority for Al-Rawi, as she can understand the concerns of student leaders. While the role is estimated to be five hours per week, according to Al-Rawi, she emphasises the role is what someone makes out of it. Anonymous online forums and advertising her contact information are essential to how Al-Rawi intends on communicating with all undergraduate constituent students.
Trustee. Members of the Board of Trustees have a fiduciary duty towards the University. “In the role, I’m really acting as a voice for students. For me, myself, I might have my own opinions, but that’s not really as important as what everyone else’s opinions are,” Al-Rawi said in an interview with Communication with The Journal. undergraduate students and Working with international Board structure students and students supporting AMS initiatives are a big part of A challenge in the role of Al-Rawi’s platform. She currently undergraduate trustee Al-Rawi works in the AMS Marketing Office identified is the fact many aspects as a graphic design staff member. of the job are confidential, and According to her, her work information can’t readily be experience from the AMS has released to students. inspired her to push for increased She wishes to act as a liaison student government engagement point for students, referring them and improve communication to resources in the University from student leaders to the system, if possible. Clarifying the Board of Trustees. structure of the position and the potential is important to Al-Rawi, Collaboration with student as she believe it allows students leaders to engage with the office to its fullest potential. “I really wanted to change and When asked about the
support students if the dates of Sessional dates Orientation Week can’t be changed. Ann Tierney, vice-provost and Principal Patrick Deane spoke dean of student affairs, noted to the “sacred” and “universal” Orientation and residence move-in purpose of reading week—which dates are not sessional dates and is to ensure students have a rest are set separately. period where they can direct “I understand the connection take care of their mental health, you’re making [...] with the Senate catch up on work, and be free of orientation review committee, we assignments, he said. have an opportunity there, as well Deane recommended an with the Deans and Designates amendment to the reading group,” Tierney said. week break, as some programs “There are a lot of complicating have different break times in factors around residents’ the academic calendar than the preparedness for move-in. I think “typical” Arts and Science dates. that [it’s] a really good idea to have “We want to allow for that these kinds of conversations.” flexibility for other programs with
specifics of the Board of Trustees structure and committee system, Al-Rawi said she would wait for student feedback. “I haven’t quite exactly decided which committee—the specific ones—that I want to sit on yet, because I know there’s so many. I think I really am able to make that decision, once I kind of get more feedback from students,” Al-Rawi said. The Board of Trustees has six standing committees, one of which the undergraduate trustee traditionally sits on: the Audit and Risk Committee. The Board’s Governance and Nominating Committee, however, has the power to review committee placements each year. In a follow-up statement to The Journal sent after the initial interview, Al-Rawi clarified she would evaluate the effectiveness of the University-wide risk management framework, while ensuring the interests of undergraduate students are considered. Policy interests
With respect to specific policies under the purview of the Board of Trustees, Al-Rawi couldn’t mention specific policies of interest in the interview. She brought up a review of the Non-Academic Misconduct (NAM) system, saying she wishes for greater student oversight and to investigative power over category two cases. “Peer conflict resolution is a valuable tool which allows students to work together to reach a mutually agreed upon solution. This method can be
more effective than traditional methods as students feel more comfortable discussing issues with their peers,” Al-Rawi said in a clarifying statement. Background on the NAM system wasn’t elaborated on in the interview. In a clarifying statement after the interview, Al-Rawi expressed interest in working on the Health and Safety policy. “One of the specific policies that the Board of Trustees oversees is the Health and Safety Policy which strives to prevent illness and injury at Queen’s University,” Al-Rawi said. Her interest in this policy stems from her experience serving on a former workplace’s health and safety committee. When discussing the triennial review of the Sexual Violence policy—which Al-Rawi said she would have to research more—she emphasized sensitive language for survivors and working with the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response (SVPR) office. Maya Morcos, HealthSci ’24, and Tiffany Li Wu, ArtSci ’23, both said they have the utmost faith in Al-Rawi if elected as the undergraduate trustee. In an interview with The Journal, Wu brought up Al-Rawi’s compassion, and the specific example of consulting her on matters related to international students. Both Morcos and Wu are confident student interests will be put first. journal_news@ams.queensu.ca
Senate Report
different session dates to still allow for periods of resting and catching up,” Deane said. The committee aims to find a solution aligned with the needs of “western academic standards” for next September, Deane said. Senate passed a motion for classes to be canceled on Oct. 2, 2023, in accordance with National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Faculty modifications
Senate approved the introduction of three combined Master’s programs with the Bachelor of Health Sciences. The three programs include a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a Master of Science in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences and a Bachelor of Health Sciences with Master of Science in Pathology. Continued online queensjournal.ca/news