The Queen's Journal, Vol. 153, Issue 5

Sarah Adams & Meghrig Milkon

the journal

Editor’s Note: ‘The Journal’ moves

and with that, On August 15, the move became official: The Journal relocated to its new home on the third floor of the Queen’s Centre, in rooms A620 and A616. The decision came after multiple efforts to hold onto the house, but ultimately it was determined that continuing operations from the new space was in The Journal’s best interest.

Since 1873, The Journal has provided Queen’s and Kingston with independent, student driven journalism. Our mandate has always been to inform, challenge, and amplify the voices of our campus.

The walls were covered with mastheads and alumni photos. Bound volumes lined the shelves.

You could feel 152 years of student journalism humming through the floors. We weren’t just putting out a paper—we were part of something larger than ourselves.

But here’s what we’ve come to learn: The Journal isn’t defined by a building. It’s defined by the people who make it.

From this new home, we’re committed to continuing to build the trust and

relationships that have sustained us. As a new semester starts and the news cycle carries on, we hope you’ll stay engaged with us. Drop off a note when you visit Cogro, send us a letter, or keep up to date with us online.

As always, our coverage will continue each week—just as it has for the past 150 years.

Yours truly,

Meghrig Milkon & Sarah Adams Editors in Chief

While transitioning into our roles as Editors in Chief of The Journal, we were warned that our first day on the job would come with the looming threat of losing 190 University Ave. the house that had sustained The Journal’s operations for nearly 20 of its 153 years.

While this move may come as a shock to some, it has been part of conversations for many years. And though the outcome isn’t what anyone hoped for, the change is far from terrible

Faculty files grievance against University

Faculty association raises privacy concerns as security software takes effect

Jonathan Reilly

Senior News Editor

Faculty, librarians and archivists across campus have filed a grievance following security concernswiththeirdevices.

Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA), a union representing Faculty, Librarians, and Archivists at the University, filed a grievance against the University over complaints from faculty around a new software calledEndpointProtection. While the date that the grievance was filed hasn’t been disclosed, QUFA announced the grievance in their monthlydigestinJune.

In a statement to The Journal, the University was unable to comment on the nature of the grievance,citingthatthecomplaint isongoing.However,theUniversity did discuss Endpoint and what it seekstodoatQueen’s.

“Endpoint Protection (EP) is a cybersecurity practice

that safeguards end-user devices–including desktops, laptops, and mobile

The Journal House was never just a place we went to write stories or meet deadlines. It wasn’t just an office. It became a place where we grew up, learned hard lessons, changed,andeventuallyfeltathome. We know you’re not supposed to call your workplace “home,” but the Journal House was a rare exception—it’s where many editors found themselves.

risk of vulnerabilities or data compromise,” the University wrote.

QUFA president, Karen Rudie, also told The Journal she couldn’t discuss the specific reasons behind the ongoing grievance. She did, however, address the broader issues the union is currently facing with the software system.

“The crux of the dispute

devices–from unauthorized access and malicious activity. The purpose of EP at Queen’s is to ensure that only secure, compliant devices connect to university systems, thereby reducing the

is about whether Endpoint Protection’s requirements strike a reasonable balance between the legitimate needs of Queen’s as an organization and as the employer of faculty members, and the privacy

interests of faculty members,” Rudie said.

In January, Catherine Stinson, an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy and the School of Computing, told The Journal she shared the union’s concerns about the software, questioning whether it gave the university access to personal content on employees’ phones that was often unrelated to Queen’s.

While still not able to speak to the grievance specifically, Rudie parroted the concerns that were raised to her by QUFA members before they filed the grievance.

“Various faculty members in different departments have been concerned about privacy, because Endpoint allows, potentially, the administration to go into our devices, including personal devices like my cell phone,” she said.

“It’s a balancing act between the universities needing to carry out their duties and protect us through cybersecurity protection, but also our rights.”

Before a grievance is filed, Rudie explained they always prioritize informal conversations first—with most concerns being

addressed this way. She outlined that while they attempted to resolve this informally, an agreement wasn’t met, leading to the official grievance.

“We really tried. We really tried to get our concerns satisfied informally over many, many months. In fact, the university’s original date, when they wanted Endpoint to be imposed, was shifting in response to our concerns. But then ultimately, they said, ‘this is the final date.’”

According to Rudie, the University initially aimed to launch the software in November 2021, but after the union r aised concerns, the date was delayed. It has since gone live this year on June 2. She said the implementation moved forward despite QUFA’s request for more time to address their concerns.

In their statement, the University explained that the matter has been referred to arbitration, where a neutral third party will make a decision on the issue after considering both parties arguments, which is expected to be heard later this fall.

Queen’s University Faculty Association office. PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA

Memories from the Journal House. GRAPHIC BY JULIA LUDDEN

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

The rebranding was made to highlight student leadership

Kaliyha Dennis Assistant News Editor

After 16 years as the Tricolour Outlet, the student-run clothing shop has officially rebranded as Society 58.

Tricolour Outlet has gone through its second rebranding since March. Following a minor change on March 6 to their logo, on Aug. 15, a larger rebrand was announced on their Instagram, changing their name to Society 58, to reflect the founding year of the AMS, 1858, “Society” being taken from Alma Mater Society.

In an interview with The Journal, Society 58 Head Manager Tatyana Grandmaitre-Saint-Pierre explained the reasoning behind these changes.

According to Grandmaitre, this

Tricolour Outlet rebrands as Society 58

symbolizes a direct connection to the history and legacy of the student governance structure, adding that the name is meant to reinforce Society 58’s role as a student-run AMS service.

Grandmaitre emphasized that this move is in line with broader trends of rebranding student servicestofostergreaterconsistency, visibility, and independence within the AMS.

“This rebranding is about

reflecting who we are today, an organization that isn’t just tied to one university but is a flexible, student-run service that is evolving with the needs of students.”

Grandmaitre further explained why they underwent a second branding change after March’s logo switch. She explained the logo rebrand was part of the previous team’s effort to give the Tricolour brand a more

professional image. However, with a new management team came new priorities, and a focus on bigger changes.

“The nature of student roles is that projects are constantly being picked up, put down, and passed along to future teams,”

Grandmaitre said. “The full rebrand to Society 58 was a separate project that had been discussed for a couple of years, but was put into full swing with the ultimate move of the AMS back to the JDUC and the effort to be more consistent across the AMS for services branding, which is why these projects weren’t launched concurrently.”

Grandmaitre cited three reasons for the larger rebrand. Firstly, she explained they moved away from the “Tricolour” name because of its association with the University itself. In this, the change is supposed to broaden its appeal to a wider student body, not just those affiliated with the University’s historic identity.

Aside from the appeal aspect, “Tricolour” is trademarked by the University, which could limit Society 58’s ability to engage with students and grow as an independent service, an issue that has been raised and discussed previously in the AMS Assembly. Grandmaitre noted that the new name provides greater flexibility and autonomy, as it eliminates concerns related to trademark restrictions.

When asked whether the change was driven by pressure from Queen’s, Grandmaitre denied the claim—something Queen’s confirmed in a statement to The Journal when the University wrote they had “no trademark infringement concerns with the Tricolour logo, name, or colour palette.”

Conitinued online at www.queensjounal.ca

Engineering team rocketed to the podium at Launch Canada 2025

A student-built rocket reached fifteen thousand feet, and neared the speed of sound

Yael Rusonik Assistant News Editor

The Queen’s Rocket Engineering Team (QRET) blasted past the competition at Launch Canada 2025.

For the third year in a row, QRET has claimed a spot on the podium at Launch Canada, the country’s largest annual student rocketry competition, held from Aug. 16 to 22 in Timmins, Ontario. The students constructed a high-powered rocket that reached an altitude of 15,000 feet and a speed of Mach 0.9, almost the speed of sound.

As one of the Engineering Society’s eighteen design teams, QRET focuses on giving students hands-on experience in space and aerospace industries. QSET boasts ten different subteams, including the rocket school—a team dedicated to teaching interested students the basics of rocketry, and launching low-powered rockets. 50 per cent of QRET’s annual $38,000 budget is covered by alumni donations, with the remainder coming from the Dean’s budget.

This year, the teams took second place in both the Basic Rocket Category, which tests complete rocket launches, and the Technology Development Challenge, which evaluates individual rocket components.

The most recent rocket, which the team had worked on for the entire 2024-2025 school year, was the first that QRET had

ever flown twice. It first flew in June at the Spaceport America Cup, a Texas -based intercollegiate rocket engineering competition that the team has been competing in since 2015. Then, two months later, it took its second flight at Launch Canada. Unlike previous rockets,

which were often lost in the desert, this one had already proven itself, giving the team confidence and experience that contributed to its success at the national competition, according to Emma Fraser, QRET vice-president.

“Historically, we’ve lost a lot of rockets to the desert, either parts or full rockets,” Fraser said in an

UDSI ticket count drops 21 per cent from 2024

Open alcohol still dominates UDSI charges, accounting for 96.8 per cent of tickets

Yael Rusonik Assistant News Editor

The number of tickets issued during the first weekend of orientation has hit a three-year low.

The tickets were issued during the University District Safety Initiative (UDSI) period, a program led by the Kingston Police, the City of Kingston, and the University. Activated during times of heightened disruption on campus,

the UDSI enables the issuing of Administrative Monetary Penalties for by-law violations. The UDSI went into effect on Aug. 28 and will continue until Sept. 7.

Last weekend, the Kingston Police handed out 94 tickets, 91 for open alcohol, two for underage drinking, and one for stunt driving. This marks a 21 per cent drop from 2024, when 119 tickets were issued, and a 78.8 per cent drop from 2023, when 444 tickets were handed out.

Open alcohol violations accounted for a larger proportion of tickets handed out this year, making up 96.8 per cent of the total. In comparison, these charges only made up 91.3 per cent of tickets issued in 2024, and 66.4 per cent of tickets issued in 2023, with underage drinking,

noise-based violations, and partyrelated charges accounting for larger shares.

In a statement to The Journal, the Kingston Police said that the weekend “in general, was positive.” They didn’t report any major incidents as having occurred, with “Friday and Saturday [seeing] a busy bar district.”

One issue the Police noted as particularly prevalent this year was students refusal to identify themselves after being found in alleged violation of the Liquor License and Control Act. The concern expressed by the Police is that, without identification, in the event of a medical emergency, no one would be able to identify the student or know who to contact.

Despite the drop in tickets this

year, some students still criticize the UDSI, calling the increased police presence and fines unreasonable.

Samantha Ruffo, ArtSci ‘27, shared her concerns in an interview with The Journal

“I know people who have received $500 fines for open alcohol during the UDSI, when the Liquor License and Control Act set the fine at only $100,” Ruffo said.

“We’re students. Some of us can barely afford groceries. There is no justification for increasing a fine so dramatically for such a financially vulnerable population regarding what’s a relatively harmless crime.”

On Saturday, the Police engaged in a takeover of a street party on University Ave. between Union St. and William St. The gathering started at 10:30 p.m., being declared a nuisance party at 12:30 a.m., and was lifted at 1:15 a.m.

The UDSI will be in effect until Sept. 7 and is often reinstated during homecoming.

interview with The Journal. “Then it’s a whole endeavour of what do we do now for Launch Canada? So, we’re very lucky that this rocket had actually flown before, and we knew it worked.”

Fraser also spoke to the factors behind the team’s success, including how they built every component of the rocket from scratch, except for the motor.

“We design all of our electronics,” Fraser said. “We log flight data and make sure we can actually retrieve the rocket successfully. We eject our parachutes and make sure those deploy. We build our own GPS, which is more accurate than the GPS you buy off the market, which is pretty impressive.”

The past year wasn’t without challenges, as the team faced lastminute issues with its parachute system. “Every parachute has a main charge and a backup charge, and they’re on separate altimeters,” they said. “If one is broken, you have another one somewhat later that fires another charge, but ours was super delayed. The judges said it was way too much time, so we had to take the whole rocket just to change one line of code to fix that.”

In the Technology Development Challenge, QRET demonstrated its motor-focused skills by testing a rocket motor as an isolated component. The team conducted a “hot fire” test, collecting data to refine the motor for this year’s rocket, and the judges praised the results.

This coming year, QRET plans to build its own student-designed hybrid rocket motor. In turn, the team will be launching two rockets: a solid-propellant and a hybrid.

Fraser encourages any interested first-years or upper years to consider joining the team.

“It’s a great place to learn and grow skills for anyone in any faculty,” Fraser said. “We have a lot of fun on the team. We do cool stuff, and we’re cool people, and we really want to make it an environment for everyone.”

QRET team members at Launch Canada.

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY QRET

The second rebranding was on Aug. 15.

PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA

Queen’s Relectric Team is switching gears and taking on the racetrack

After electrifying a Jeep, Relectric is switching gears and building a new race-kart

Lilly Meechan Assistant News Editor

Queen’s Relectric Team is building on what they learned from the super-kart and Jeep TJ conversion to create a new EV race-kart built to compete.

Relectric, a student-run EngSoc design team founded in 2021, aims to promote sustainable EV conversions. They launched with the 1997 Jeep TJ conversion project, where the team guts, restores, and retrofits a gas-powered Jeep with

an all-electric drivetrain.

This year, the team is changing their project by building a smaller-scale race kart that will compete in the Purdue evGrandPrix—a collegiate electric kart race held annually in April on Purdue campus’s Grand Prix track, located in Indiana.

To qualify, the team will need to build an electric race kart capable of withstanding 51 laps of the track, which is just over 400 meters long, alongside a formal design report, technical and performance evaluations, and an energy efficiency score.

This effort builds directly on their work from last year with an electric super kart—an in-house electric go-kart prototype.

According to one of the Co-Captains of Relectric Victoria Knight, Sci ’27,

the new race-kart builds directly on data collection and lessons from last year’s super cart.

“The one we did last year was a fantastic proof of concept to put us towards this competition. The specifications for what is needed for the race are slightly different, so we will be creating a new system, but we’ll be reusing many parts,” Knight said in an interview with The Journal

This year’s design includes contributions from Relectric’s four technical teams: mechanical, electrical, interior, and assembly, as well as three business teams focused on finance, marketing, and logistics. Knight highlighted that the team is also responsible for compiling a three thousand to four thousand word design report, which accounts for

Queen’s welcomes four Loran Scholars

Incoming students are welcomed to Kingston with a $100,000 scholarship in hand

Lilly Meechan Assistant News Editor

Over six thousand students apply each year for the prestigious Loran Scholarship, yet only 36 are selected. Queen’s is welcoming four of those 2025 winners.

The Loran Scholarship, one of Canada’s prestigious scholarship awards, offers high school students to attend a post-secondary institution at a reduced cost by offering up to $100,000 to fund their University education and activities.

Candidates advance from written applications to online interviews, with finalists meeting in Toronto for in-person evaluations. Beyond the 36 scholars chosen each year, Loran also awards more than $400,000 annually to standout applicants at national and semi-final stages.

The Journal sat down with the four scholars attending Queen’s this fall to learn about their stories and ambitions.

Shay Parreira, Comm ’29

Coming from Burlington, Shay Parreira’s decision to attend Queen’s for commerce came down to the need to find community and his drive to learn and the desire to make change; qualities he says have been evident since he arrived on campus.

“Everyone I met told me the people and friends I make at Queen’s would be life-changing, and even after just a few days, I can already feel that,” Parreira said in an interview with The Journal

In high school, Parreira was a member of the Ontario U23 Wheelchair Basketball Team and the Ontario Wheelchair Racing Team. Throughout his four years, Parreira was trying to balance elite-level athletics while trying to take on meaningful leadership

and advocacy.

Outside of sports, Parreira co-founded a bowling league for students with cognitive disabilities, an initiative inspired by his brother. He also served on his high school’s accessibility committee, helping lead efforts to make his school more inclusive.

As an ambassador for the Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports Association’s Be Boundless campaign, Parreira aims to support young athletes and their families who are new to parasport.

Parreira hopes to get involved in accessibility initiatives and expand parasport awareness at Queen’s, and join the wheelchair basketball team at Queen’s.

Charlotte Bolduc, HealthSci ’29

Charlotte Bolduc chose Queen’s for its health sciences program and the University’s community values, which align with her commitment to service and reconciliation. She said the sense of community at Queen’s, inclusive of all students, was one of her biggest deciding factors.

“I really love the sense of community Queen’s has, not just for Indigenous students, but for everyone,” Bolduc said in an interview with The Journal.

As a member of Fort William First Nation in Thunder Bay, Bolduc has been involved in reconciliation work since 2017, through the program Hockey Cares, an initiative that connects Indigenous and nonIndigenous youth through hockey and cultural exchanges. As an education and cultural engagement ambassador for Hockey Cares, she helped organize trips between Oakville and fly-in communities like Attawapiskat, allowing students new experiences and to compete in both Oakville and on reserves.

Bolduc also served as head of the student leadership team, where she managed a breakfast program that served more than 600 students each day. When it comes to involvement at Queen’s, Bolduc explained that while she’s interested in many clubs, she’s especially interested in the Queen’s Native Student Association.

30 per cent of the team’s competition score.

The team’s decision to pivot this year was largely influenced by the success and lessons of the super kart project, which inspired them to enter the Purdue competition. As well, Khaled Rajan Sci ’27, another Relectric co-captain, pointed to practicality reasons.

“Working on such a large project takes not only a lot of time, but it’s also difficult with the transition of captains and executives every single year,” Rajan said in an interview with The Journal

“Now that we’ve made many mistakes on previous projects, we’ve been taking note of everything that worked, that didn’t work, and then applied that into this year and into the new kart.”

With the new race kart, the team is aiming to complete all testing, documentation, and fabrication within eight months.

Despite the shift to karting, third Co-captain Adam King, Sci ’27, added that the team remains committed to electric vehicle conversions and hopes to return to full-size projects in the future.

“Once the next space allocation opens up with EngSoc, we’re hoping to apply for a larger space to store a new car. Then in the future, we’ll hopefully start another project,” King said in an interview with The Journal

For now, though, the goal is to finish the kart, compete in the spring, and lay the groundwork for future student innovation in electric mobility.

Rocky Sloan, HealthSci ’29

In Nanaimo, B.C, Rocky Sloan served as student council president, helped lead his school’s French club, and founded a non-profit organization called ‘Students for Seniors’, where students helped local elderly, residents live independently through volunteer support. Sloan said his work with seniors helped guide him toward Health Sciences and a future in family medicine

“Before Students for Seniors, I didn’t know I needed a long-term connection with people in my career. That experience helped me realize that’s what I really want.”

Sloan chose Queen’s for its Health Sciences program and its reputation for a supportive student culture, noting that the program’s flipped classroom structure aligns well with how he learns.

At Queen’s, Sloan hopes to explore research opportunities, join clubs, and get involved in community-based volunteer work, while also looking forward to growing and learning.

“I want to evolve, change, and become someone that I’ll be happy with.”

JoyGold Goodluck, ArtSci ’29

JoyGold Goodluck plans to bring her passion for advocacy and community-building from Toronto to Queen’s, where she hopes to grow her network, join the student government, volunteer locally, and work toward her goal of becoming a doctor.

“I’m super proud to share my knowledge and my skills with the City of Kingston,” Goodluck said in her interview with The Journal. “I really cannot wait to get myself more involved with things that are going on here.”

In high school, Goodluck was a student trustee for the Toronto Catholic District School Board, representing over 90,000 students. Goodluck also co-founded an organization called Project GIA that helped empower women at her school. As well, she co-chaired the Catholic Student Leadership

Impact Team–a group of Toronto students who share their voices with the Toronto Catholic District School Board to help implement changes and engage student voices.

For Goodluck, winning the Loran Award means more than just financial support.

“Everything I did had to have an impact on somebody, whether it was a smile or inspiration; it was truly important to me.”

“It allows me to focus on what I want to be, who I want to be, and how I want to impact the world,” she said.

AMS SuMMer in review:

TeAM

JeA geArS up for The yeAr

Team JEA speaks to summer accomplishments and future goals

Jonathan Reilly & Kaliyha Dennis Journal Staff

As the class of 2029 takes their first steps on campus, AMS President Jana Amer, Vice-President (Operations) Elena Nurzynski, and Vice-President (University Affairs) Alyssa Perisa, sat down with The Journal to reflect on their summer term and plans for the fall semester.

The move to the JDUC has been a large part of their summer, and came with its own set of challenges, according to Amer.

“Moving into the JDUC was

no easy feat, no building is, but I think that that’s been one huge accomplishment that I think the entire team is really proud of,” Amer said.

This sentiment was echoed by Nurzynski, explaining how it has been especially beneficial for collaboration.

“Moving to the JDUC, compared to the previous building we were in LaSalle, has had a huge shift in how people interact with us [as a team], how they interact with the AMS [more generally], and how our senior managers interact with each other. I feel like there’s so much collaboration happening and there’s so much team building, which has been really exciting to see,” Nurzynski said.

Conitinued online at www.queensjounal.ca

Sloan, Bolduc, Parreira, and Goodluck.

PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA

FEATURES

Genuinely Green or Green washinG? unpackinG waste manaGement durinG move-in week at a top ‘Green’ university

AMS Commissioner of Environmental Sustainability says better communication before move-in could cut unnecessary waste

Eva ShEahan & LaurEn nicoL Features Editors

Move-in week at Queen’s brings cardboard, mini-fridges—and questions about where it all ends up.

Boxes tumbled from cars, bins overflowed, and signs for compost, recycling, and landfill dotted the parking lots during move-in weekend at Queen’s.

AMS Commissioner of Environmental Sustainability, Brooke Schmidt, the display raised a familiar concern that while visible, the University’s efforts still fall shortof what’s needed.

In recent years, ‘sustainability’ has become a buzzword for institutions and corporations alike, including Queen’s, which often highlights its ‘first in Canada’ ranking on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

For Queen’s, committing to sustainability means striking a balance between environmental responsibility and financial practicality. The UN World Commission on Environment and Development defines this as meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs—a standard that raises questions about how effectively Queen’s lives up to its own green promises.

Properly managing and sorting the waste the University accumulates is one of the University’s undertakings to honour their commitment to sustainability. These environmental initiatives are becoming increasingly relevant, as students move back into Kingston, bringing heaps of cardboard and trash along with them.

The Queen’s Waste and Recycling Services webpage states that, “minimizing landfill waste is a crucial aspect of maintaining a sustainable campus. To prioritize waste management, Facilities has made repurposing and recycling

integral components of our operations here on campus.”

The task takes on particular urgency during move-in, when students arrive in Kingston with carloads of belongings that come wrapped within wasteful packaging.

In a statement to The Journal, the University pointed to committees and advisory groups as evidence of its planning around waste management. These initiatives include Wipe Out Waste, organized events on campus committed to raising awareness on food waste reduction and mindful consumption, and PEACH (Providing Equal Access, Changing Hunger) Market, a space on campus in the new Medical Building that distributes untouched food from Queen’s Hospitality Services to people in need. “Sustainabilityis a topic of conversation as part of Residence move-in and moveoutcommittees,” the Universitywrote in a statement to The Journal. “Additionally, Housing & Ancillary Services (H&A) has a Sustainability Advisory Committee with representation from different campus stakeholders to discuss efforts to mitigate waste during move-in and move-out, as well as throughout the year.”

In regard to handling how H&A handles the volume of waste generated, the University stated that they don’t have “specifically related” information, but stated that they encourage students to consider a wasteless move-in.

“Our Residence Facilities team works with the Energy and Waste Management Team in Central Facilities to manage the waste (mostly cardboard) that is disposed of during move-in weekend,” the University wrote. Lastly, the University noted how “H&A demonstrates their commitment to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals with the annual publication of the H&A Sustainability Framework.”

While the University highlights its waste management partnerships and sustainability frameworks, student leaders see gaps in how these efforts translate to move-in realities. Schmidt, feels there should be increased discussion prior to move-in about what appliances will be supplied by the University in common areas so students don’t waste their money on appliances they

will already have access to.

“I think a huge thing to improve in residences is just better facilitation of people contacting not just people that they’re sharing a room with, but their entire floor,” Schmidt said in an interview with The Journal.

“How many people need to bring their own kettle? There’s a huge over consumption.”

Schmidt said she hopes to give students more guidance in making sustainablechoices during move-in but lacks the necessary support from the University. “We need designated avenues of communication so that we can get support on these because as it is, [being the sustainability commissioner is]really kind of feels like a very isolating thing to do,” Schmidt explained.

In the meantime, she pointed to AMS programs like the Second-Hand Shuffle and the Collective Closet, which give students access to used clothing and appliances as alternatives to buying new.

Beyond move-in and student life programs, questions of sustainability extend into daily routines on campus—most visibly in the dining halls.

“To mitigate waste, we practice small batch cooking that is informed by historical data for food production at each station and during every meal period,”

the University wrote.“Reviewing historical participation, by meal period and station, from previous years (i.e., guest count, food volume consumed), allows for a project an estimated of required number of food portions per station.”

The University explained that as the year progresses, currentparticipationdata continuesto inform sustainable menu production.

“In the Fall of 2023, both main campus dining halls transitioned to a trayless dining model, following in the footsteps of Jean Royce dining hall, which had been trayless for years prior,” the University wrote. “Trayless dining was documented to show a reduction in food waste, based on changes to student behaviour, as well as a reduction in water and energy consumption.”

However, some first-years say the change hasn’t curbed waste as intended, noting that many students still pile their plates with more food than

they finish.

“There is quite a bit of food waste [in dining halls], which is pretty bad, but I don’t know how you can fix that since people always take more than they can eat,” first-year student Jose Manuel Sanchez Szauer, Eng. ’29, said in a statement to The Journal. In 2023-24, in efforts to reduce food waste from dining halls, 29,089 lbs of food was donated to a local pig farmer and 42,068 pounds of food was donated to local food banks and community shelters.

“In the Fall of 2024, Sustainability Ambassadors directed their attention to support Wipe Out Waste events in the dining halls,” the University wrote.

Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca

PHOTO BY SARAH ADAMS

Trash continues to pile up during move-in week despite sustainability efforts.

Profit before people: AI’s grind culture produces harmful consequences

Journal Editorial Board

This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation, which may be distressing for some readers. If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis or has suicide-related concerns, please call 1-833-456-4566 or dial 9-8-8 for immediate support.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots are unregulated, unempathetic, and unsafe.

In the fall of 2024, Adam Raine asked ChatGPT why he felt “perpetual boredom anxiety and loss.” That spring, after months of similar conversations with the chatbot, Raine took his own life. Raine’s family is now suing OpenAI for wrongful death, a case that points to a lack of government regulation regarding AI, funding for mental health resources, and a shortage of empathy from large tech corporations.

In a rush to release GPT-40, OpenAI overlooked training the model to respond to users experiencing mental health crises. Beyond softening its tone with empathetic language, the chatbot offers no resources and doesn’t warn authorities if a user is in severe mental distress—a dangerous omission as Gen Z faces a mounting mental health epidemic.

The “profit before people” culture in the tech industry has pushed users’ health to the background, prioritizing release dates over health and safety. In the lead-up

DisneylanD of the Rockies: Banff has faileD its mission as a national paRk

Sarah Adams Editor in Chief

Banff has traded wilderness for spectacle, selling its soul to tourism and capitalism—and in the process, abandoned its mission as a National Park.

As an Albertan, my advice to out-of-province visitors is simple: if you’re heading West to see the Rockies, do yourself a favour and skip Banff. Unless you’re wanting to see what not to do with a National Park, in which case, Banff is the perfect cautionary tale.

Founded as the first national park in Canada, it’s safe to say Banff is no longer a national park; it’s a glorified outdoor amusement park with some mountains in the background. The parks meaning has been swallowed whole by overcrowding and commercialization.

continued online at www.queensjournal.ca

to the GPT-04 launch, several prominent executives resigned, stating safety had taken a backseat to “shiny products.”

while over five million Canadians suffer from mental health-related issues.

Unregulated, a simple request

AI may serve as a powerful tool, it must be deployed with empathy and caution to mitigate harmful consequences. Yet the tech industry’s hustle culture—where profit consistently eclipses human well-being—leaves little space for such safeguards. Twisted to its extreme, this culture creates a dystopia where a robot can help a teenager take their own life.

Before the release, OpenAI should’ve considered that users with mental health concerns would have a tendency to self-isolate, turning to a chatbot for help. With a lack of funding for mental health resources and a predisposition to self isolate, a chatbot might be the first point of contact for a person in mental distress. In Canada, therapy can cost between 90 and 300 dollars per hour,

for homework help can spiral into questions of life, death, and meaning—subjects far beyond ChatGPT’s capacity to currently handle responsibly. Once users turn to it for guidance, the tool often reinforces their assumptions, echoing back exactly what they want to hear. Unlike social media echo chambers, which reflect the perspectives of real people, AI chatbots amplify biases without the grounding of human experience, making the effect even more insidious.

Beyond regulation, the use of ChatGPT and AI chatbots for mental health questions underscores the need for increased mental health resources.

It’s frightening to live in a world where people can’t get the help they need and turn to ill-equipped computers to deal

with the real human emotions they’re experiencing. Yet a solution to the problem isn’t straightforward: even if Raine was redirected to a suicide hotline, he would risk wait times and only receive one-time help instead of the continued care he needed.

What started as a tool has, for some, moved into a parasocial relationship, with some users feeling emotionally attached to the technology, which can encourage suicidal ideation. AI tools can be helpful, but the creators and regulators of this new technology haven’t given enough care to how it’ll used by every party.

Raine’s suit should come as an indication of the need for increased digital literacy surounding as they become increasingly implemented in educational and workplace settings. This case is a tragedy and a reminder that the culture in the technology industry can breed real human consequences. While AI offers new opportunities, companies, policy makers, and users need to be aware of its repercussions.

Ensuring AI serves humans and doesn’t endanger them requires an important combination of stronger regulation, accessible mental health care, and a better commitment to design technology with empathy and care.

Alberta’s ban on books is a ban on critical thinking

Journal

Editorial Board

Danielle Smith and the UCP’s book ban is censorship, poorly dressed as concern.

On July 4th, Alberta’s Education Minister, Demetrios Nicolaides, signed an order to remove all “materials containing explicit sexual content” from school libraries. As a result, many modern classics were removed from school shelves, including Margaret Atwods’s The Handmaid’s Tale (1985), George Orwell’s 1984 (1949), and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1932).

Atwood responded to the order, publishing a satirical short story criticizing Alberta’s Premier, Danielle Smith.

The order was paused on Sept 2, Nicolaides citing concerns over specificity. However, Smith says the pause will be short-lived.

Restricting access to books in schools signals troubling government overreach and a direct assault on education.

Seventeen-year-old high school students don’t need a sanitized version of reality; a meaningful

and well-rounded education demands exposure to issues like patriarchy, authoritarianism, and women’s reproductive rights—all central themes in The Handmaid’s Tale.

Atwood underscores this point in her satirical short story shared on social media, using exaggeratedly “perfect” children to reveal the dangers of shielding teens from life’s realities.

The short story featured two “very, very good children” who “never picked their noses or had bowel movements or zits,” a satirical reminder that imperfection is central to being human. Shielding teens

from reality prevents them from fostering a multifaceted world view, and from critical lessons on authoritarianism, rebellion, and sexual health, only breeds ignorance and fuels unsafe practices.

Voted by the United Conservative Party of Alberta in 2022 to replace former Premier, Jason Kenny, Smith is the perfect example of what happens when democracy breaks down.

continued online at www.queensjournal.ca

ILLUSTRATION BY CLAIRE BAK

ILLUSTRATION BY CLAIRE BAK

Shining a light on animal welfare in Kingston

BY

Animal welfare starts

Shelters and students help local animals

Maya Luke Contributor

As students walk around campus on their first week back in classes, the hustling and bustling can take away from the many day-to-day moments around campus. And when they make their first trip to Downtown Kingston, they might see unhoused people with animals or stray cats and dogs yet give it little thought.

Animal welfare is defined by the quality of life of an animal, including their physical and emotional well-being. This includes proper nutrition, healthcare, and the absence of fear or stress. Animals need both physical enrichment, such as exercise, and emotional enrichment from their owners, and when these needs aren’t met, their health and well-being start to decline.

The truth is that many students are unaware of animal welfare issues in Kingston and the urgent need for more resources. Currently, the main welfare issue facing Kingston is the overpopulation of domesticated animals such as dogs and cats

at the city’s only humane society, the Kingston Humane Society (KHS). Many of the animals that end up in the KHS are strays or abandoned, and some puppies and kittens are sold illegally by unlicensed backyard breeders despite licensing requirements.

Another factor contributing to the overpopulation of animals is unaltered pets, those that haven’t been spayed or neutered, and are therefore still able to reproduce. Across Ontario, spaying and neutering rates are often prohibitively expensive, with costs at veterinary clinics ranging between $300-$1200. For many people, this expense is simply not feasible. As a result, animals, most often outdoor cats, can become pregnant and have litters of kittens.

Several cats coming into the KHS are feral, meaning they aren’t domesticated, making them harder to adopt out to families who are ready to adopt a pet.

But abandoning animals isn’t the only animal welfare issue in Kingston. There have been several instances of animal cruelty as well. On May 20, an article was released in The Kingstonist regarding charges associated with bestiality and endangerment to an animal. According to the Kingston Police Special Services Unit, videos were extracted

during a seize from a previous drug-related investigation. Both individuals were arrested on May 16th regarding these charges.

Additionally, about a month ago, The Kingstonist released an article regarding the removal of 33 Boston Terriers from a home in Kingston. Animal Welfare removed these animals after an investigation in November of 2024 declared the conditions as hazardous and neglectful. Further, this March of 2025, the Ontario Animal Care Review Board denied the individual’s appeal of the removal.

These two cases demonstrate the severe need for more animal welfare support in Kingston and show the severity and extremism of the cruelty happening.

Another large issue with animal welfare in Kingston's the lack of funding for programs set up to help animals. The KHS takes in record numbers of animals and receives no government funding to assist with its animal population. Since 2022, they’ve had no less than 230 animals in their care, with the building capacity being 144.

While KHS receives funding for pound services, such as caring for and feeding the animals, this is recognized as a contractual service and not a donation. KHS also takes in stray animals from 10 different municipalities, including

the City of Kingston, Loyalist, Stone Mills, Central, South and North Frontenac, Napanee, and Gananoque, and it's the only open shelter in the region for these municipalities. KHS is supported mainly via donations and sponsorships, and without the help from these platforms, it wouldn’t be able to care for the many animals it houses.

There are several organizations within the city that help increase animal welfare practices. An important program worth mentioning is Community Veterinary Outreach, a charity that provides veterinary care to unhoused persons and vulnerably housed communities. They evaluate and treat animals who need healthcare without removing them from their owners, all while lowering the number of animals entering the shelter. Volunteers of this program offer clinics for vaccinations, treatment of parasites, microchip implants, and advice on behaviour and other assessments.

It's also extremely important to highlight the involvement of student clubs on Campus, and how students can make an impact on animal welfare. Including Queen’s 4 PAWS club fundraises money in support of Kingston 4 PAWS Service

Dogs, a platform that provides trained service dogs to physically and emotionally challenged individuals. Another club that looks to protect animal welfare in Kingston is the Queen’s Protecting Animal Welfare Society, which raises funds and awareness for animal welfare. Both these clubs make a huge difference within animal welfare in Kingston, whether it be through awareness and support, or fundraising money to support the care of animals and the people that need them. Animal welfare looks different depending on who you ask, but one thing is clear: animals are needed in society for various reasons. Most students who come to Queen’s leave their pets at home and miss them terribly. Other students get involved right away to make an impact in their community through fostering with the KHS or volunteering.

Remember, as Daphne Sheldrick said, “it’s not enough to love animals; we must actively protect and preserve them. It’s our duty and responsibility as custodians of this planet.”

Maya Luke is a third-year biology student.

PHOTO

JASHAN DUA

with student awareness.

Phones shape student life—for better or worse

Despite the downsides, students can’t imagine life without their phones

Katarina

KrivoKapic

Business, Science & Technology Editor

Phones double as alarm clocks, classrooms, and social centres. They’re often the first thing checked in the morning, and the last thing seen at night.

In 2020, Statistics Canada reported that smartphones had become nearly universal among young people:

96.3 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 24 owned one. 70.6 per cent said they checked their phones every half hour, 75.4 per cent used them before bed, and 20.9percent went on their phones during dinner with other people.

In an interview with

The Journal, two Queen’s students, Anneka Tracey, Comm ’27, and Rachel Heaney, ArtSci ’26, echoed these habits.

Tracey shared that she starts the day with Instagram or Reddit, scanning updates she finds useful, but often scrolling longer than intended.

“I usually get either the best notifications or the most update-worthy information in the morning,” she said. “But in most cases, I’m looking at my phone when I’m supposed to be doing something else.”

Tracey described her phone use as distracting but manageable.

“I’m completely aware of and in control of my usage,” she said.

“Even though sometimes I get distracted, I can always rein it back. It doesn’t feel like it’s running my life.”

Despite the distraction, Tracey explained that her phone usage hasn’t negatively impacted her student experience or finances. In some cases, she said, it has been practical.

“[Apps like] Uber Eats are convenient but

For some students, restaurant jobs provide not just income but lessons in teamwork, discipline, and community

Katarina KrivoKapic Business, Science & Technology Editor

For some students, the most useful

lessons come from restaurant jobs. In kitchens and pubs, they learn time management, discipline, and how to work with others.

For Ethan Hewison, ArtSci ’29, the kitchen has been as much a classroom as a workplace. When he arrived at Queen’s in 2022, he struggled with the familiar first-year challenges of procrastination and a lack of routine. It wasn’t coursework that forced him to hone those skills, but the kitchen at Olivea, an independent

ArtSci ‘84

Ted Hsu

expensive, and others save you money. If you’re using the Metro [coupon] app, for example, you can find deals,” she said. “Overall, I haven’t found that my phone makes a difference one way or the other.”

For instance, according to Media in Canada, data reveals that students are the most frequent users of food delivery apps, with 26 per cent relying on them. In 2019, Canadians spent $4.7 billion on online food orders, though 64 per cent reported the cost was too high. For Heaney, the phone’s tied more to responsibility than leisure. After a summer working full-time in a lab, she said Slack became unavoidable. “Every single one of my clubs and jobs is on there,” she said. “When I get a Slack notification, admittedly, I get a bit nervous—it feels like [work] follows me around wherever I go. It’s hard to separate work and downtime when your phone is constantly buzzing.”

A scoping review of 23 studies across nine countries found that 83 per cent reported a significant link between increased smartphone use for work outside job hours and higher levels of work-life conflict, defined as the clash between demands from home and work that are perceived to be incompatible, making her experience far from unusual.

Beyond Slack, Heaney also relies on Outlook for e-mail, Instagram to stay in touch with friends, and Facebook Marketplace to stretch her budget. “Facebook Marketplace is one of my favourite ways to buy things,” she said. “It helps me find things I could never afford new—like furniture, art, even clothes. There’s a sense of community there too, since you’re

buying directly from other people in Kingston, including other students.”

At the same time, Heaney acknowledged the drawbacks of social media.

“On Instagram, you’re constantly comparing yourself to everyone,” she said. “Even if you know it’s part of the app algorithm, it’s hard not to measure yourself against it. It can be really discouraging and wear on your self-esteem.”

For both students, phones remain inseparable from how they manage school, work, and daily life. They admit the devices can be distracting but say it’s impossible to give up. “My phone is necessary in so many aspects of my life,” Tracey said. Heaney put it more bluntly: “It’s 100 percent negative—but I couldn’t survive without it.”

Students find lessons in restaurant work

Italian restaurant in Kingston, where he began working as a line cook.

At Olivea, Hewison worked the garde-manger station, preparing salads,desserts,andcoldappetizers. On a busy night, that meant shucking more than a hundred oysters by hand. According to him, the pace of the kitchen demanded a kind of discipline he hadn’t yet learned at Queen’s.

“The kitchen is organized chaos, and communication is the biggest thing,” Hewison said in an interview with The Journal. “Being thrown into such a chaotic environment forced me to be disciplined.”

Olivea also left room for experimentation. Each night, cooks contributed specials, and Hewison often came up with variations of bruschetta, which gave him a measure of creative freedom alongside the repetition. Precision, however, mattered as much as creativity. “If you put up

a salad too early, the dressing seeps in and makes it soggy,” he explained. “Timing is everything, and that applies just as much to assignments and meetings as it does to food.”

The dining room gave Hewison a new perspective on Kingston, too. “Our customer base was really diverse,” he said. “You’d see students on first dates, families celebrating milestones, and older couples. It reflected Kingston as a community, Queen’s wouldn’t be Queen’s without Kingston, and Kingston wouldn’t be Kingston without Queen’s. It’s a symbiotic relationship.”

Now, three years after beginning his degree, Hewison is returning to Queen’s in a new program while taking on a leadership role at Bobby Pecorino’s Italian Wine Bar. “Working in a restaurant has made me a much more disciplined person,” he said. “I think that will really carry into my studies.”

For Kimberly Ramsay, ArtSci ’26, employment at a restaurant has looked a little different. After spending the summer in a chemistry lab, she recently landed a position at Queen’s Pub, the AMS-run restaurant and bar, where she hopes to build connections not typically found in lab jobs, despite their financial benefits.

“Having money is nice, but I also figured it’s a great way to meet people you wouldn’t usually meet and to make friends,” Ramsay said in an interview with The Journal

Though new to the role, she’s already noticed how her on-campus job differs from other work. “You’re working alongside a lot more of your peers, people your own age,” she said. “That changes the dynamic compared to many off-campus jobs.”

Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca

Students recognize the roles of phones in daily life. PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA

Working students say jobs teach skills out of the restau- PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA

Gaels soccer teams open season with back-to-back wins

‘It was a great test for our guys,’ says men’s Head Coach

Taahaa Lone

Senior Sports Editor

Queen’s soccer hit the ground running, stacking wins in their season openers.

Last weekend, the men’s and women’s teams opened their OUA campaigns with two wins each against Laurentian University and Royal Military College. The women’s side opened dominantly this year, dismantling Laurentian 5-0 before rolling past RMC 5-1.

Just five minutes into the game against Laurentian, defender Erin Hedgcock, Comm ’26, notched her first goal as a Gael. Veteran forward Mattson Strickler, ConEd ’26, scored her first of the year just 25 minutes into the game, quickly followed by Seema Sakran, Kin ’26, just ten minutes later. Kendra Couto, Sci ’26, opened the scoring for the second half 83 minutes into the game, and first-year Victoria Hawkins, Kin ’29, quickly followed up two minutes later with her first goal as a Gael.

The game against RMC saw the emergence of many young players. Peyton Wynn,

Sci ’28, notched her first as a Gael just ten minutes into the game, and first-year Beatrice Siniscalco, Kin ’29, scored in her first start at Queen’s five minutes before the end of the first half. Hawkins scored her second goal in as many games as a Gael eleven minutes into the second half, before Couto and Sakran added their seconds of the season. Tatiana Kayrouz, Comm ’27, three assists in two games earned her the nod as one of Queen’s StudentAthletes of the Week.

Women’s Head Coach Dave McDowell, ArtSci/PheKin ’86, ConEd ’87, explains despite missing several of his regular players due to injuries, he was encouraged by how seamlessly the group adapted.

“We were probably missing five or six players who would have played for us this weekend,”

McDowell said in an interview with The Journal. “There’s been this tremendous ability to be able to play younger players and for other players to kind of step up and get some early experience in different positions. They’ve done really well.”

Against RMC, the Gaels missed early chances but regrouped at halftime and dominated the second half.

“They came out and fixed some of the things that had gotten disjointed before halftime,” McDowell said. “It was a tough place to play on their small grass field on a Sunday night, but overall, I have been quite excited by what we have done.”

McDowell praised a large first-year group and pointed to veterans setting standards.

“Our first-year class coming in has been really good,” he said. “We’ve got some tremendous fourth- and fifth-year players… that group has really set the tone in terms of culture, set the tone in terms of leadership and are setting the tone on the field as well. They’re the heart and soul of our group.”

***

On the men’s side, Gaels Men’s Head Coach, Kasy Kiarash, guided Queen’s to a flawless start, beating Laurentian 2–1 in the opener before cruising past RMC 5–0.

Against Laurentian, Liam Pender, Comm ’26, opened the scoring before Andrea Gortana, MBA ’26, doubled the lead in the 84th minute. Laurentian converted a late penalty, but the Gaels held on for a statement win against a team that finished three points ahead of them last season.

The RMC match turned into a showcase of Queen’s depth. Gortana struck twice, with both goals coming in the first half. The second half featured

goals exclusively from Kiarash’s new recruits. 57 minutes into the game, Matteo Galati, ArtSci ’29, cashed in with his first as a Gael. At minute 69, Jacob Ball, ArtSci ’29, notched his first, quickly followed by a goal from Kenan Hodzic, ArtSci ’29, just two minutes later. Nathan Baker, ArtSci ’29, provided three assists in the 5–0 rout.

For Kiarash, the results were encouraging, but secondary to the bigger project of shaping a new group.

“We knew that if we had playoff aspirations, this was a must-win,” Kiarash said in an interview with The Journal, referring to the Laurentian game. “It was a great test for our guys and a chance for this new group to start building their identity.”

With 14 new players on the roster, he’s stressing patience and perspective.

“I think it’s really about not getting

ahead of ourselves and just focusing on what’s in front of us,” Kiarash said. ***

Both programs now turn their focus to the weeks ahead. McDowell wants his women’s team to be braver in attacking duels and sharper in front of the goal, while Kiarash stressed three pillars for the men. “Effort, humility and togetherness… we live those words every single day,” Kiarash said.

Gaels can catch the women’s team as they face off against the TMU Bold at Richardson Stadium on Sept 5 at noon, before they head to Toronto to face off against the Varsity Blues on Sept 7 at 1 pm. The men already completed their match against the Bold on Thursday night, drawing the game 1-1, but will also face the Varsity Blues in Toronto on Sept 7, taking the field right after the women at 3:15 pm.

The teams faced off against Laurentian and RMC last week.

PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA

Semi-professional soccer team kicking off in Kingston

‘This is only step one,’ owner says

Taahaa Lone Senior Sports Editor

Next year, Kingston will have a brand-new addition to its sporting landscape.

On Sept 2, League1 Ontario announced the Kingston Sentinels as one of its newest expansion clubs set to join the league’s third-tier League2 division in 2026. The Sentinels will field both men’s and women’s teams, adding semi-professional soccer to a city better known for its hockey rinks and university athletics.

For Kingston, the announcement represents an opportunity to grow the game locally. The Sentinels could offer hometown players a chance to stay in the city while competing at a higher

Queen’s Football earns decisive win over mcmaster

Head coach says team did a ‘good job finishing tackles’ and ‘leveraging ball back’

The Queen’s Gaels Football team came out of Week Two with a huge bounce-back win over the McMaster Marauders.

The Gaels travelled to Hamilton, on Aug. 30th hoping to regroup against the Marauders after a tough loss the week before. The game started slow with a long five-minute Queen’s drive highlighted by a 59-yard bomb thrown by Alex Vreeken, Kin ’26, to Jack Ashby-Jacobs, ArtSci ’27, that only resulted in a field goal. The Gaels opened the game wide open in the second quarter, though, scoring three touchdowns, with Vreeken again showing off his strong arm for a 61-yard touchdown caught by Nathan Falconi, ArtSci ’26. Defence was also stellar for the Gaels, allowing zero points as McMaster’s points only came from safeties. Justin Pace, ArtSci ‘26 led the way with a game-high eight solo tackles and four assists. Jacob Baldwin, ArtSci 28, also shined with four solo tackles and one sack, as well as Keegan Vanek, ArtSci 26, who recorded an interception.

Queen’s totalled over 525 yards of offense to McMaster’s 151. Vreeken led the way with 280 yards combined in the air and on the ground. Falconi finished with 122 yds receiving and Jared Chisari, MSc ’26, totalled 115 yds on 14 attempts.

Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca

level and provide young athletes from community clubs a professional pathway without leaving home.

Paul Barbeau is the managing partner at Victory Ground Ventures, the group behind the push for professional soccer in Kingston.

In an interview with The Journal, Barbeau expressed his belief in Kingston as a city with the potential to be a top Canadian soccer fanbase.

“There’s a growing group of soccer fans in this region,” Barbeau said. “Year over year, you have more growth in soccer than in any other sport.”

Barbeau anticipates the league’s schedule will plug a key gap in Kingston’s sports scene, with an April season start ensuring fans won’t have to miss their beloved Frontenacs or Gaels in action. “People want to support a local soccer team… in the summer, people have nobody to support,” he said. “That creates a void we can fill.”

The team aims to revive a local soccer presence absent

since the Kingston Clippers withdrew from League1 Ontario in 2016, following the dissolution of Kingston FC. Barbeau says Kingston is “just the right spot,” citing both its passionate soccer fanbase and the wealth of local talent that can sustain the team’s future.

The future’s a central focus for Barbeau’s Sentinels. The ownership group aims to position Kingston as a high-performance soccer hub, with plans to climb the ranks and compete in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) and Northern Super League (NSL)—the top tiers of men’s and women’s soccer

in Canada—by 2027. Barbeau and his group have previously drawn attention for their attempts to build a multi-use soccer stadium in Kingston, though plans for a site at the Kingston Memorial Centre fell through.

While they find a more permanent home, the Sentinels will begin suitable play at CaraCo Home Field beside the INVISTA Centre.

Although fan-based support will be crucial for the success of the team, Barbeau also highlighted the talent pool in Kingston that previously lacked a space for athletes to go. “Right now, there’s great talent

playing in Kingston, but what happens is they hit an age like under-17, and they either have to move away or they stop playing,” Barbeau said. “Now they’ll have somewhere local where they can keep pushing.”

While the League2 team is sure to excite locals, the Sentinels’ ambitions remain at the forefront.

“We need to be able to show that Kingston is a market that is willing to support soccer,” Barbeau added. “That will allow me to go to the CPL and say, look, we have bums in seats,” he said, referring to the CPL’s expansion model that should one day allow Barbeau’s group to enter a team in the highest level of Canadian soccer.

For now, though, the Sentinels’ sights will be set on achieving back-to-back promotions over the next two years to reach League1 Premier—the highest level of regional soccer in Canada, and the furthest the Sentinels can reach before Barbeau’s group prepares its pitch to the CPL.

Early action sharpens Gaels men’s rugby ahead of season

Preseason game ‘affords team real pressure’ and ‘learning curve’ says Head Coach

If preseason is meant to ease teams back into gruelling schedules, Queen’s Men’s Rugby clearly missed the memo choosing the reigning National Champions as their so-called warmup opponent.

Last Saturday, the Gaels traveled to Montreal to face the ETS Piranhas— the same team that defeated them in last year’s national championship. The exhibition game was played in heavy rain on a muddy grass pitch— conditions that gave the matchup an extra layer of difficulty.“Every collision was like a slide after,” Head Coach of Men’s Rugby, John Lavery said in an interview with The Journal. “Most of our guys aren’t used to that anymore. Ithought they responded super well,” referring to the team’sadjustment from Nixon Field’s artificial turf to the muddy grass in Montreal.

more experienced lineup, with most players coming from France and many already at the graduate level. For Lavery, that challenge made the matchup especially valuable preparation.

Ottawa’s youth team, while a “bubble” group held their own against Ottawa’s top side—early signs that theGaels had the depth needed to take on a powerhouse like ETS, giving the coaching staff plenty to think about.

just skill and fitness. He stressed that leadership and culture remain central to how the program approaches growth.

“It afforded us the opportunity to put them under real pressure and see how they go,” he said. “They play a nice brand of rugby, super physical, super skillful. For a lot of our guys, that’s the learning curve.”

Adding to the difficulty, ETS fielded an older and

Before heading to Montreal, Queen’s tested its depth in a pair of games against Ottawa. The developmental group of mostly first- and second-years rolled past

“Rugby isn’t really a sport where you can recruit a champion team—we’re late specialization,” Lavery said. “The collisions decide the game, and a 17-year-old against a 23-year-old is not the same level of physicality, and we have to grow our own. Our young guys are fit, fast, strong, and they showed it.”

For Lavery, that developmental process is about more than

“The values of the game are what make it special,” he said. “We work really hard at that. The talent is great, but the assumption that kids actually understand how to be an adult is not realistic. We do a lot of work empowering the senior leadership to be a positive influence. It is part of their job.”

Despite the loss to ETS, Lavery called the experience encouraging. He said facing elite competition, even in exhibition play, gives his team a better sense of what is required to return to the national stage.

“If you lose a game and you let that ruin the game for you, then all that happened is you had a bad day,” he said. “If you can’t lose and learn or love the game even when it doesn’t give you what you wanted, that is selfish. That isn’t what rugby is about.”

The Kingston Sentinels are gearing up to play at CaraCo Home Field starting in 2026.

PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA

PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA

noah Cyr Assistant Sports Editor

Taahaa Lone Senior Sports Editor

Rugby team faced off against ETS on Aug. 30.

PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA

ARTS & CULTURE

Margaret Atwood’s work inspires theme for Kingston WritersFest ‘25

‘A Word After a Word After a Word is Power,’ comes from Atwood’s poem ‘Spelling’

Marijka Vernooy Senior Arts & Culture Editor

There’s power in the way humans stand behind their beliefs in writing, and Kingston WritersFest ’25 is putting this power in the spotlight.

On Aug. 24, award-winning Canadian author Margaret Atwood kicked off the festival with a discussion featuring acclaimed Canadian poet and author Ian Williams. They discussed what makes a good conversation and silence’s place as a powerful tool.

WritersFest ’25’s theme, “A Word After a Word After a Word is Power,” is taken from Atwood’s poem, “Spelling,” published in the ’81 collection True Stories.

Sarah Tsiang, WritersFest Programming coordinator, explained in an interview with The Journal that “Spelling” is about Atwood’s daughter learning to communicate.

“How a child finds words is from listening—they understand so much more when they begin to speak than they can [express] themselves. [It’s] that building of power,” Tsiang said. Tsiang teaches poetry and creative writing at Queen’s, and will

host WritersFest’s “Play With Poetry” event on Sept. 19 as well as the “Poetry 2 Go” event on Sept. 20. She emphasized the significance of this year’s theme being chosen from Atwood’s poetry.

“Poetry was [humanity’s] first language,” she says, citing popular children’s author Dr. Seuss as an example. “We understand [poetry] when these are our first words and then we come away from it.” Through poetry, writing is a powerful form of expression relevant to the current moment.

“We’re living in politically uncertain times. I think a lot of people are feeling there’s not much [they] can do,” Tsiang said. “The theme really speaks to the basics: that we do have power, and that power lies in the ways that we express ourselves with the written word.”

This year’s theme is especially important for young writers learning to express themselves, Tsiang explained. Feeling powerless in the face of modern politics can limit young people’s involvement.

By exploring power in writing, WritersFest puts the “focus of control back on the individual,” examining “the basics of, ‘What can we do? How can we be active?’” Tsiang said.

Last week, Alberta’s education ministry moved to ban a number of books containing “sexually explicit material.” They’ve since paused this order, which included Atwood’s 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale. Tsiang argues book banning is “the ultimate acknowledgement of the power of writing.”

“Governments don’t get scared of things that aren’t going to affect the populace. They know that knowledge and literature [affect] the way people think [and] behave,” she said.

Atwood responded to Alberta’s ban with a satirical

short story on social media, a unique expression of resistance through writing. “Satire has been used to speak truth to power, historically,” Tsiang said.

“The people who are currently in power want so badly to be taken seriously, but they’re not seriouspeople. Pointing out the hilarious ridiculousness of their ideas wounds them more deeply than saying,‘Oh, your ideas have legitimacy. Let’s debate them,’” she said.

On Sept. 19, WritersFest will host an event on the topic of book banning, “You Can’t Read That!”. Tsiang recommends it for

SUPPLIED BY GARRETT ELLIOTT

anyone interested in learning more about censorship in literature. “I think we can get complacent about our freedoms,” Tsiang says. “We live in Canada, we have this idea that we’re so different from [America]. But we’re not, really.” For her, Alberta’s proposed ban is a reminder that governments and citizens aren’t “alwaysreflecting the same desires. Our power as citizens is in standing up,” Tsiang said.

The benefits of party culture: Hitting the bars at Queen’s might be healthier than you think Students shouldn’t be ashamed to put on their dancing shoes

Nadia Garcia Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

Partying culture may seem frivolous, but it often doubles as a vital outlet for connection and relief. Queen’s has long carried

the reputation of being one of Ontario’s top party schools—a label often perceived as negative.

Students have faced criticism from both the public and the University for

excessive partying, which has strained Kingston’s public healthsystems, including yearly spikes in alcohol-related emergency room visits.

While the partying at Queen’s has drawn criticismfor its risks, it also plays a crucialrole in fostering social connection for students navigating isolation and loneliness.

In recent years, many university-aged Canadians have faced rising loneliness, fuelled by social media dependence and weakening community ties.

At Queen’s, however, “party culture” revolves around social connection through house parties, pre-games, and nights out at local bars—which can offerameaningful antidote to social isolation.

Queen’spartyculturecanexclude some introverted students, who often find connectionthrough other activities.

While excessive partying does have its drawbacks, its benefits shouldn’t be ignored.

Past generations, like Millennials, often treated barsas third places—publicspacesto relax in outside of one’s workplace or household where friends could meet, destress, and have fun.

Today, social media trends promoting clean eating, fitness, and strict sleep routines have been linked to increased social isolation. Like partying, an overemphasisonwellness comes with trade-offs—students risk missing out on opportunities to connect

and create lasting memories. This tension between wellness culture and social life is especially visible at Queen’s, where partying remains a central outlet for connection.

It’s often joked that Queen’s unofficial motto is: “Work hard, play harder.” Kingston’s thriving nightlife scene gives students several opportunities to party: Brass Pub on Sunday, the Ale House’s Tumble Tuesday, Stage Rage Thursdays, and Trinity Social’s Dollar Beers on Saturday—repeated week after week, these nights on the town add up.

Learning to maintain a solid work-life balance is an important part of the university experience. In moderation, carefree nights out with friends are a form of caring for oneself socially.

Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca

Margaret Atwood and Ian Williams spoke at the festival’s kickoff event on Aug. 24.

I went to Hell and back for ‘Katabasis,’ and for what?

R.F. Kuang’s new novel is an ode to the student struggle

Eva Sheahan Features Editor

Katabasis is made for academia lovers, but not for love-birds.

Best-selling fantasy author, R.F. Kuang, returns with Katabasis, a darkly academic epic in the vein of her hit novel, Babel.

This time, the story follows Alice and Peter—academic rivals and “magick” students at Cambridge—on a perilous journey to Hell to recover their advisor’s soul (and, crucially, their recommendation letters). Along the way, romance simmers, but whether they end up kissing or killing each other is anyone’s guess.

If this romance aspect is enticing, don’t fall for it. While Alice and Peter had a lot in common, their romantic relationship didn’t

feel very believable. Through the premise of Alice and Peter’s competitive relationship, Katabasis teases a compelling slow burn that eventually falls flat, lacking subtlety. Despite elements of romance, the story is at its core an entertaining fantasy that satirizes academia. Katabasis is the first explicitly romantic novel that Kuang’s written, yet, romance is the element of the story that feels the least developed. Where Kuang’s earlier fantasies leaned on the“found family” trope—mutual support—Katabasis marks her first foray into overt romance. Yet the love story lacks the depth of her previous relational dynamics, with the novel’s strongest moments instead rooted in

The Union Gallery features Indigenous art for the fourth year in

a row with ‘Waabanjigaazo’

‘Any visitor seeing exhibition takes actionable step in the Truth part of Reconciliation,’ curator says

Daniel Gill Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

Cultural history takes center stage at the Union Gallery this September in Waabanjigaazo, the gallery’s fourth annual Indigenous art exhibition. Running from Sept. 2 to Oct. 11, the show features artists from the Katarokwi region in a celebration of Indigenous culture and storytelling. Run by the Union Gallery in partnership with the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, the exhibit is part of a larger series of campus events leading up to the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.

Van Tassel was invited by Alicia Boutlier, chief curator of Canadian historical art at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, to serve as the Indigenous exhibition series’ first guest

its sharp portrayal of academia. In Katabasis, Hell takes a different form for each character; for Alice and Peter, it appears as a university campus of ivy-clad towers reminiscent of Queen’s. From students reserving study rooms in Hell just to cry, to pompous scholars who refuse submissions unless they’re self-cited, Kuang cleverly satirizes the vanity and pretension of academic culture.

However, Katabasis can’t seem

acrylic paintings on canvas, such as the paintings like Mother and Child, Animikii, and Nookomis from artist Chayse Davey, to intricate beadwork, like the sculpture Biskaabiiyang (‘returning to ourselves’) by Carleigh Candice Mignonne Millburn.

The diversity of styles and mediums on display highlighted not only the artists’ technical skill but also the personal and cultural narratives behind each piece. Van Tassel explains how she worked closely with the artists to shape how their stories are presented, including information about how their own journeys inspired their works within each label of the artworks.

Waabanjigaazo’s title translates from Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) to “s/he or it is seen.” For curator Ojibwe and Cree Ph.D candidate, Paige Van Tassel, ArtSci ’25, the word carries weight.

“Waabanjigaazo has a double meaning for visitors,” Van Tassel said in a statement to The Journal. “It asks them to reflect on Indigenous representation on campus, as well as consider past, present, and future actions by themselves and others to further the good work of Truth and Reconciliation.”

curator. For Van Tassel, this is a vital addition. Guest curators allow “for future opportunity, and [are a] great experience for Indigenous students who are interested in storytelling through curation and engagement with Indigenous artists,” Van Tassel said.

This year’s exhibition includes work by Cheyan Athanasiou, Jada Beck, Shannon Bee, Jamaica Cass, Chayse Davey, Monique Gingras, Nitānis Greyeyes-Brant Barker, Candice Martin, Carleigh Candice Mignonne Milburn, Jaya Pardy, Emily Shostal, Niiostoséra:ah Thompson, Samantha Trask, and Shelley Young.

The gallery contained a wealth of different artistic styles and mediums—from

Visibility is important for Indigenous artwork like Waabanjigaazo In the exhibition’s first panel, Van Tassel writes, “Seeing is the first step in any learning journey, especially in coming to understand the truth. Once it is seen, we know of it, then we learn about it, and lastly come to understand it.”

By featuring Indigenous artists and their stories, Waabanjigaazo invites the Kingston community to reflect on Indigenous presence and futures. “Any visitor that sees the exhibition is taking an actionable step in the truth part of reconciliation,” Van Tassel wrote.

to decide who it wants to be.

On the one hand, Kuang’s portrayal of Hell is engrossing and creative—with walls made of bone, rivers that make you forget who you are, and dungeons of drugs and sex. Meanwhile, the romance between Peter and Alice feels stale, leaning on tired BookTok tropes—like the clichéd one-bed scenario in Hell without offering anything new. Though undeniablypopular,the trope feels like low-hanging fruit for an author who,

before Katabasis, crafted ambiguous, cursed love affairs with far greater complexity. Here, the romance is too straightforward, missing the slow-burn anguish that once made her relationships so haunting.

Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca

In defense of the yard sale

Things I learned from hosting a classic community event

Marijka Vernooy Senior Arts & Culture Editor

One person’s trash is another’s treasure—and I’ve a lot of trash. Well, not trash exactly, but plenty of stuff I want to sustainably get rid of.

Or, at least, I did—before my friends and I hosted a yard sale outside our apartment on Sept. 1. Capitalizing on the long weekend’s foot traffic, we woke up bright and early to lay old clothes, books, and trinkets out on the sidewalk for the Queen’s community’s consideration.

As a thrifty member of Gen Z, I’ve an appreciation for other people’s used stuff. My friends and I were banking on the fact that other Queen’s students felt the same—and given our modest sales—we’re somewhat right.

But what I learned from my end-of-summercleaningwasn’thow to sharpen my business acumen, but rather how to sharpen my people skills.

Common critiques of the modern yard sale point out it can be difficult to part with items in the moment, and that the return on investment is higher when you sell things on secondhand websites like Mercari and eBay. If you’re in it for the money, these arguments have some merit: I stood in the hot sun for nearly six hours, and only made about $100.

However, during the first weekend back on campus, hosting a yard sale was an excellent way to catch up with old friends who stopped by, and to meet new people with the same taste in fashion and media as myself. I’m not alwaysgood at small talk, but trying tobalance casual conversation

with sales pitches for my used items was a helpful exercise.

Small talk is great for relationships and builds community. However, in the digital age, easy conversationcan be difficult face-to-face—causingmany members of Gen Z to withdraw, despite craving closeness. I’m often tempted to put my headphones on as Iwalkacross campus to avoid “distracting” conversationswith people I pass, failing to consider my constant need for stimulation is itself a distraction.

At the yard sale, my friends and I engaged in direct, one-on-one conversations with members of a community we love. Shockingly, we all feltenergized and content at the end of the day, despite hours of constant chatter.; a feeling explained by how small talk boosts satisfaction.

Of course, as someone who hates clutter, I can’t ignorethe other obvious benefit of the yard sale: clearing out junk. While donatingtolocal charities is a great option, secondhand goodsdon’t always end up in the hands of those who need them most. And, admittedly, I do believe I’ve some great style pieces—ones I would love to see end up with other fashion-focused students

Hosting a yard sale helped me make room in my closet for warmer fall clothes in a way that felt right for me. Coupled with the benefit of feeling more connected to the Queen’s community, I would highly recommend the experience to anyone with a little free time on the weekend and a lot of trash for someone else to treasure.

The next time you see a “yard sale” sign around campus, follow the arrows. You never know what you might find.

New York Times best-selling author, R.F. Kuang’s ‘Katabasis’ released on Aug. 26

PHOTO BY EVA SHEAHAN

The exhibit opened on Sept. 2.

PHOTO BY DANIEL GILL

50 rules for navigating your undergrad

Lessons I learned the hard way, so you don’t have to

Natalie Viebrock Social Media Coordinator

I remember my very first move-in at Queen’s so clearly.

My parents and I shuffled into Gord Brock, dragging mini fridges and overstuffed suitcases up four relentless flights of stairs. After my posters were hung and my twin XL bed was made, I revelled in my new found independence. That first weekend glowed with the sunny, slightly naïve optimism of a nervous first year in a brand-new city.

Now, as I return for my fifth and final year of the Con-Ed program, I can’t help but feel old. From my apartment, I watch the familiar scenes play out in the student area: front-yard beer pong tables, car loads of students hauling duffel bags and Facebook Marketplace couches, and gaggles of excited friends heading down to the pier. I was in their shoes once too, moving into my first house in my second year, buzzing with the thrill of reunions after a summer apart.

It’s funny how quickly the roles have shifted–from wide-eyed freshman to seasoned graduate, watching the cycle repeat itself.

“It’s funny how quickly the roles have shifted from wide-eyed freshman to seasoned graduate, watching the cycle repeat itself

So, as Volume 153’s self-appointed “super senior,”

I’ve decided to leave behind a little wisdom, and maybe a few cautionary tales. Here’s my list of 50 rules for surviving and enjoying your undergrad at Queen’s:

1. The Tea Room bagels are undefeated, but CoGro’s drinks will always take the crown.

2. It’s never too late to join a new club. Seriously, show up even in your fourth year. You never know what kind of new connections you could create.

3. Not all student houses are gross, but, unfortunately, most are. Don’t sign the lease on the first one you tour hold out for one that doesn’t scream health hazard.

4. Go to office hours, even if you don’t have questions. It’s important to establish relationships with professors and Teacher Assistants.

5. Say yes to random opportunities. For example guest lectures, art classes, the Geo vs. Mining Engineering hockey game.

6. Remember to press ‘save’ on your documents. Microsoft Word is known to sneak attack with an update, wreaking havoc on those who didn’t save.

7. Find your study spots early. Personally, I was keen on the Douglas basement or CRAVE downtown.

8. University’s more than just academics. Ensure you schedule time for friends, walks, and downtime.

9. A “just one coffee” habit adds up quicker than you think.

10. Don’t compare your path to others. Everyone’s undergrad looks different, and that’s okay!

11. Orientation week energy fades, so if you are dreading the noisy nights in residence, don’t fret, it’ll go away.

12. Always have a go-to “easy dinner” recipe for particularly gruelling days. Cereal for dinner doesn’t count.

13. Don’t rush to the bookstore to buy every textbook your syllabus mentions. Half of them will be available online.

14. Take advantage of the Student Wellness services you’re paying for them anyway.

15. If you think you’re going to fall asleep in class, walk out. Nothing is more embarrassing than being woken up by a professor.

16. Don’t rely on a grace period treat it as a “for emergencies only” fallback.

17. Group projects will test your patience. Breathe.

18. Support student theatre, music, dance, and art shows!

19. On most weekends, every bar will have at least a small lineup. They occasionally move fast, but bring a jacket in the winter months!

20. Never underestimate the healing properties of a walk down by the pier.

21. If you want to avoid a hangover, stick to one type of alcohol. Your Sunday morning will thank me.

22. The ARC is quietest really early in the morning perfect if you actually want to get a workout in without waiting ages for equipment.

23. Keep your Queen’s ID on you. You’ll need it more often than you think.

24. Try exploring buildings you’ve never set foot in—you can find some cool secret study spots if you really hunt.

25. Downtown Kingston is full of shopping gems–Montreal Street Collective is a crowd favourite.

26. Write thank-you emails. People remember them.

27. Call your parents once in a while. They’ll appreciate it.

28. You don’t need to be friends with your whole program. A handful is enough.

29. Go to the farmers’ market at least once.

30. Take at least one class because it sounds fun. Some of my favourite classes have been electives I picked just because I thought they looked cool.

31. There’s no unspoken class dress code I’ve seen everything from a suit and briefcase to pyjamas and slippers.

32. If you find yourself needing to head to West Campus, learn to love the walk! It builds character.

33. Don’t fear asking “stupid” questions. Chances are that half the class is confused, too.

34. Celebrate small wins a finished essay, survived a midterm, or even cleaned your room.

35. Skipping class occasionally is not a crime just try not to make it a habit.

36. Don’t underestimate how fast Kingston’s weather changes. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve gotten stuck in a downpour with no jacket.

37. Even if crowds or day-drinking aren’t your thing, I promise you can find ways to have fun on Homecoming or St. Patrick’s Day.

38. Find a professor who inspires you and take more than one of their classes.

“Find a professor who inspires you and take more than one of their classes

39. Talk to your TAs. They’ll often shape your grade more than you think.

40. Don’t take a class with an 8:30 if you’re not a morning person. You won’t go.

41. Treat all assignments and tests with the same attention. Don’t undermine assignments just because they seem insignificant. Small marks can add up and make a difference.

42. Accept that all your Tupperware will disappear in your student house. You’ll probably find it when you eventually move out!

43. If you can make it, it’s worth going to convocation. Even if it’s a bit lengthy and boring, it’s nice to celebrate your accomplishment.

44. Put in the effort to explore the Kingston area beyond downtown and campus. Wolfe Island is always worth a visit.

45. Keep old essays. It’s interesting to read them back and see how far you’ve come.

46. Apply for jobs and internships even if you think you’re underqualified.

“Apply for jobs and internships even if you think you’re underqualified

47. If you can, opt to take in-person classes. Even though asynchronous can feel tempting, I promise that in-person delivery will be more engaging.

48. Take a cheesy selfie on the first and last day of each school year.

49. University doesn’t last forever make the most of it!

50. And finally: You don’t have to have it all figured out by graduation. Most of us don’t.

Want to write a postscript? Email journal_postscript@ams.queensu.ca

Natalie imparts wisdom she acquired over the past four years.

PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA