Queen's Journal, Volume 147, Issue 3

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Become a contribu tor : Wr i t e , e d i t, photograph.

the Queen’s University

journal Volume 147, issue 3

Monday, July 29, 2019

Situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples.

since 1873

In internal emails, administration called Student Choice Initiative a “significant risk” Emails obtained by The Journal detail University administration’s response to policy’s rollout, AMS fees I ain S herriff -S cott Managing Editor

Members of the University’s senior administration expressed marked concerns about the Student Choice Initiative and its potential impact on Queen’s, according to dozens of emails obtained by The Journal through a freedom of information request. In an internal draft presentation prepared on Jan. 23—five days after the province announced the Student Choice Initiative

(SCI)—Tom Harris, interim provost and vice-principal (Academic), wrote the policy poses a “significant risk for Queen’s.” “Results in Australia and New Zealand where fees are opt-in and not opt-out have shown a dramatic decrease in student clubs,” Harris wrote. “An important component of the student experience is defined through their experience through clubs, conferences.” The SCI will make most post-secondary

student fees non-essential and give students the choice to opt out of them. A narrow slate of fees the province deems “essential” would remain mandatory. Several fees at Queen’s, which previously had mandatory status, and which were established through democratic referenda and support an array of student-led services, See student fees on page 3

Bursary applications surge after OSAP cuts University sees a 34 per cent increase in bursary admission for the 2019-20 year Sydney Ko Assistant News Editor

Professor Adèle Mercier sits in her office in Watson Hall on July 22.

PHOTO BY RAECHEL HUIZINGA

Feature: Professor wins legal fight. It took six years.

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Court summons now permanent for students ticketed during street parties A version of this article first appeared online on July 10. City Council voted on July 9 to make the University District Safety Initiative (UDSI) permanent. The vote passed 11-1 in favour, with Councillor Peter Stroud, Sydenham District, casting the only dissenting vote.

During Orientation Week, Homecoming weekend, and St. Patrick’s Day weekend, individuals, whether students or not, who are ticketed by police are required to appear in front of a judge at the Montreal St. courthouse. Under the initiative, fines can’t be paid online or by mail. One year ago, the City of Kingston, in

partnership with Queen’s University, introduced the UDSI as a pilot project in an attempt to combat unsanctioned street parties. For the 2018-19 academic year, a total of 429 matters were heard at court, and more than $70,000 in fines were issued. —Raechel Huizinga

By the end of February this year, Queen’s had received more bursary applications from incoming students than it had in the entire admissions cycle the year before. A month earlier, the province announced it would cut $670 million from the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). In an email dated March 1 and obtained by The Journal through a freedom of information request, Ann Tierney, vice-provost and dean of student affairs, wrote the Student Awards office had informed her of the increase. In the same email, Tierney wrote she had reviewed the University’s bursary program and what the school was doing to “look at our bursary funds for the ‘most in need’ students.” She added that two weeks prior, the University sent postcards to all applicants to Queen’s detailing the admissions bursary program and how they could apply as incoming students. In a written statement to The Journal, the University said the postcards were intended to “raise awareness among prospective students and their family members about the Queen’s financial aid available.” In addition to the postcards, Queen’s said it also emailed information about the bursary program to incoming students. According to the statement, the Student Awards office received 835 more bursary applications than it had in the 2018-19 year. Queen’s received 3,436 bursary applications for 2019-20 academic year, an increase from 2,601 for the 2018-19 year, See bursaries on page 3

IN THIS ISSUE: Lack of accountability costs university academics, p. 6, Queen’s alum films doc, p. 9, Former Gaels quarterback tries on Europe, p. 10, Journal staff share their ideal campus spots. p. 12. queensjournal.ca

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