Pierre Poilievre hosts ‘Canada
First’ rally in Kingston
Conservative leader was met with resistance as community members protested outside
M egh R ig M ilkon
Senior News Editor
Pierre Poilievre’s “Canada First” campaign made a stop in Kingston this week.
While the April 2 rally drew over 3,000 supporters, outside the venue at 1259 Centennial Dr., vocal protesters expressed strong opposition to the Opposition leader and the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC). Poilievre visited Kingston to garner support for Mayor Bryan Paterson, the Kingston and the Islands Member of Parliament (MP) candidate in the upcoming federal election on April 28.
The “Canada First” campaign is Poilievre’s platform, promising a Conservative leadership that prioritizes Canada, cutting taxes, fostering provincial cooperation to reduce trade barriers, and reducing reliance on the American economy.
Poilievre was introduced by his wife, Anaida Poilievre, who spoke about his upbringing and criticized the current Liberal government’s failure to deliver the promise of Canadian prosperity.
“My family and I, truly understand what’s going on and that’s why we stand united in this fight. This is why I’m by my husband’s side every single day—I’m not just a prop guys,” she said. “Life wasn’t like that [referencing housing unaffordability] before [Justin] Trudeau and [Mark] Carney, and it doesn’t have to be this way, there’s hope on the way.”
While cheers of approval tore through the stadium, cries of disapproval echoed outside. Protestors held signs with phrases like, “Don’t get played: Pierre doesn’t care about you!” and chanted “Bigots are bad leaders.”
“Over the last two years, Poilievre has shown us [Canadians] who he really is. He’s trying to dial down on the rhetoric right now, but we know who he is
and it’s just not for Canada,” Karen Shepard, a protestor, said in an interview with The Journal Poilievre began his speech by telling the Kingston crowd they might be one of the largest rallies he’s seen yet, urging them to vote for Paterson to bring his “Canada First” plan to life.
“I need your help. If you believe that we need a change in putting Canada first, then I need you to elect the great Bryan Paterson as the next MP for Kingston,” Poilievre said.
Controversy surrounding Paterson and his past membership at Third Day Worship Centre has recently resurfaced on social media, as reported by The Whig The Kingston church practiced
conversion therapy until the practice was banned in 2021. Although Paterson distanced himself from the church in 2020, Ben Rodgers—who accused Paterson of involvement in his 2004 conversion therapy—renewed criticism, calling the practice “torture.”
In an interview with The Whig, Paterson stated his belief in the separation of church and state. He affirmed his support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community at the time and denounced conversion therapy as “plain wrong.”
Continuing the rally on the same theme of “Canada First,” Poilievre spoke to economic challenges, criticizing Liberal leadership for eroding the “Canadian Promise” and vowed to rebuild Canada’s economic independence.
He argued the “Canadian
Promise,” one where hard work guarantees a good life, has been ruined by Liberal leadership. He pledged to restore this promise by strengthening Canada’s economy and destroying its reliance on the United States.
“Canada must end its era of over-independence and weakness,” Poilievre told the crowd. “We must become an economic fortress that can defend itself. We will push hard to put an end to these tariffs with a fair deal that protects our sovereignty and knocks down all the tariffs and allows us to rebuild our military so we can be a true sovereign nation.”
In line with his “Canada First” theme, Poilievre outlined several policies he would implement if elected, including a 15 per cent cut to income
QUEEN’S TOP FIVE EARNERS OF 2024 RAKE IN JUST UNDER $2.5 MILLION COMBINED
Dr. Jane Philpott remains the University’s top-earning faculty member on Ontario’s Sunshine List
J onathan R eilly & l au R en n icol Assistant News Editors
Queen’s five highest-paid employees banked over $2 million cumulatively through salaries in 2024.
Published on March 28, the Ontario Sunshine List ranked all Queen’s employees’ salaries over $100,000 last year. Annually, the list releases the salaries of all public sector employees in Ontario making over the six-figure threshold. In 2024, a total of 1,476 Queen’s employees made the list, an increase of 61 from 2023, with an average salary of $172,756. The Journal compiled a list of the top five highest-paid employees for the 2024 calendar year.
which he claims will save the average worker up to $1,800 annually. He also proposes “axing” the sales tax on new homes, saying it’ll save home buyers $65,000 on homes sold for up to $1.3 million.
Funding trades is another policy area on Poilievre’s agenda.
While Poilievre agreed that a university education is valuable, he argued for the need for more trade workers and promised training funding to 350,000 workers over five years as part of his “More boots, less suits” plan, aligning with his push for a more self-reliant Canadian economy.
Poilievre concluded the evening, emphasizing Canada needs to remain independent.
“Don’t give up hope, change is on the way. Under our proud flag, Canada first. Let’s bring it home.”
The Rally took place on April 2.
PHOTOS BY MEGHRIG MILKON
‘I have lived experiences, and I’m so much more than just a statistic,’ student says
Meghrig Milkon Senior News Editor
This article discusses mental illness and suicide and may be triggering for some readers. The Canadian Mental Health Association Crisis Line can be reached at 1-800-875-6213.
After being removed from their role on QMIND, a former executive is speaking out, citing their mental health concerns as the reason for their termination.
In late January, a former executive member of QMIND, an AMS-ratified club, was removed from their position after the club’s main three executives allegedly learned about the individual’s history with bipolar disorder and past suicide attempts. QMIND is Canada’s largest artificial intelligence organization, guiding over 250 students across 30 teams each year to tackle real-world problems for industry clients.
“The same day they found out, I was removed from all relevant accounts—signed out from the Gmail account, kicked off of our club’s communication platform, Discord, and removed from my
QMIND executive alleges being removed from club after disclosing mental health concerns
position,” the student said in an interview with The Journal. “I was also prohibited from going on a club trip to San Francisco.”
According to the student, they reached out to the AMS for advice but were encouraged to file a complaint with the University’s Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO), which would have resulted in a more prolonged process and having to recount their story multiple times, with little reassurance that any meaningful action would follow.
The student also said they were given the option to submit an anonymous complaint, which would only be used for statistical purposes by the HREO.
Ultimately, the student chose to go through the AMS’s Judicial System, which includes the Judicial Committee (JCOMM). JCOMM is an adjudicative body made up of nine undergraduate students from different faculties, led by a Chair.
According to the student, the process—which has included eight weeks of meetings and hearings and is still ongoing—resulted in a decision obtained by The Journal. The decision stated the student shouldn’t have been removed from their position, citing the lack of progressive
discipline and ordering that all privileges taken away be reinstated. Additionally, the student receive an apology letter from the current QMIND executive team for the improper procedures and lack of communication.
The Journal reached out to the AMS to confirm whether these decisions have been enforced.
AMS Secretariat Sylvie Garabedian cited Judicial Policy in a statement to The Journal, stating closed hearings remain private unless parties authorize disclosure or the JCOMM Chair deems it in the public interest. In such cases, a redacted notice may be sent to The Journal
“At this point in time, there has been no such directive or decision made in the Judicial System. As such, the Judicial Affairs Office cannot comment on any matters. The Judicial System takes compliance with proceedings seriously, and matters are addressed by the Case Officer and/or escalated to the Judicial Committee,” Garabedian said in a statement to The Journal
*Anonymity given due to safety concerns Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca
P rayer r oom in L aw bui L ding sees two incidents of vanda L ism
QMLSA raises concerns about campus safety
and Islamophobia
Meghrig Milkon Senior News Editor
One member of The Journal’s Masthead holds a position in QMLSA. They weren’t involved in the editing and reporting process of this story.
Queen’s Muslim Law Students Association (QMLSA) successfully advocated for a multi-faith room three years ago—now, they’re dealing with incidents of vandalism.
Two incidents on the building’s ground floor multi-faith room, also known as the Prayer Room, took place on Jan. 24 and another on March 7. According to QMLSA’s Co-President Iman Ahmed, Law ’25, the incidents raise concerns about campus safety and the broader cultural climate at the university.
The Prayer Room is open to all students but is predominately used by law students as a quiet space for prayer and spiritual meditation, Ahmed said in an interview with The Journal
The first incident occurred when a member of QMLSA noticed a poster promoting past events—such as an Exam Hangout, Law School 101 Panel, and Iftar Dinner—had gone missing from its original spot on a shelf in the Prayer Room. When the poster was later found, there was a message written on the back in red and green markers that read, “Praise the devil, all hail Satan,” accompanied by drawings of devil horns.
“It felt very targeted at Muslim law students, especially because it was on our poster. […]There are a lot of weird types of Islamophobias that exist out there one is
where people like to say that Muslims are devil worshipers. So, this [the first incident that] immediately made us think of that,” Ahmed said.
While QMLSA was still going back and forth with the Faculty of Law administration about what to do regarding the first incident, another one occurred on March 7.
While using the Prayer Room, a group of first-year law students found someone had erased the message on a whiteboard in the room, which read, “Please pray for the people of Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Syria,” and replaced it with “Long live Israel,” written in Hebrew. For Ahmed, the message was a call for solidarity with Muslims suffering in conflict zones around the world, replaced with what she described as antiPalestinian racism and Islamophobia.
“To be perfectly honest, I didn’t think what we had written was controversial at all, and I thought erasing it was a little bit mean-spirited at the least, and hateful and anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia at the most,” Ahmed added.
For Ahmed, the incidents are reflective of a broader issue. She believes vandalizing the Prayer Room, a space for everyone, sends a troubling message about the university’s inclusivity and acceptance to other members of the community.
“When we allow things like this [incidents of vandalism] to happen and we don’t acknowledge it and recognize what it is, we’re saying that some people’s feelings, beliefs, and values, don’t matter. Some people’s humanity doesn’t matter,” Ahmed said.
After continuous advocacy from QMLSA, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Colleen Flood sent an e-mail to all law students on March 13, acknowledging the incidents taking place and re-iterating the intolerance of “such behaviour,” especially when directed at a room intended for prayer and spiritual reflection.
In a statement to The Journal, theFaculty
toP five high roLLers
Continued from front page....
5. Patrick Deane, Principal: $418,609
In 2024, Principal Patrick Deane ranked as the University’s fifth-highest earner, with a salary of $418,609—marking the second consecutive year without a pay increase. This placed him one spot lower than his position as the fourth-highest earner in 2023.
Deane’s salary is lower than some other Ontario University presidents, including Western President and vice-chancellor Alan Shepard who made $484,000, and University of Toronto President Meric Gertler who chequed $555,450 last year.
4. Wanda Costen, former Dean of the Smith School of Business: $438,605
The previous Dean of the Smith School of Business Wanda Costen comes in next making $438,605—an 8.5 per cent decrease from her 2023 salary of $479,578. She joined Queen’s in 2021 and stepped down from her role this past December. Similar to Deane, Costen dropped one position in the University’s top earners, moving from third to fourth.
3. Shai Dubey, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Smith School of Business: $475,107
Shai Dubey, a Queen’s employee since 2010, had a salary of $475,107 in 2024, a 29 per cent increase from 2023 where he made
of Law reiterated its commitment to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment for all members of the law community. The statement said that potential safety measures are currently being evaluated but didn’t expand on what this means.
$368,407. He’s a professor in both the Smith School of Business and Queen’s Faculty of Law, teaching negotiation and international business law.
2. Tina Dacin, Professor and Smith Chair of Strategy & Organizational Behaviour, Smith School of Business: $520,254
Tina Dacin raked in a salary of $520,255 in 2024, an increase of about 72 per cent from 2023. She also acts as the Principal Investigator for the Community Revitalization Research Program at Smith Business. According to her Smith Business profile, she’s on leave until June 2026.
1. Jane Philpott, former Director of the School of Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Health Science: $552,435
Remaining the top earner, Dr. Jane Philpott received a salary of $552,435 in 2024, an increase of just over one per cent from her 2023 earnings.
Jane Philpott acted as the Director of the School of Medicine and the Dean of the Faculty of Health Science at Queen’s from July of 2020 until November of 2024. Philpott stepped down from these roles to begin her new position in the Ontario government as chair for the primary care action team, an initiative that aims to ensure every Ontarian has access to a primary care provider within five years. Despite resigning from her two leadership positions, Philpott is still a professor of family medicine at the University.
Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca
“The faculty is evaluating appropriate steps, including potential security measures, to ensure that this space remains welcoming and conducive to its intended purpose. We urge all members of our community to use the Multifaith Room in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding,” the University said.
Looking ahead, Ahmed expressed hope progress. She believes the key to moving forward lies in community engagement, solidarity, and ensuring all students feel their rights and safety are respected.
AMS Year in Review: Team OAR wraps up term after an ‘excitingly adaptable’ year
Promised a term in the JDUC, Team OAR will leave without ever stepping foot in the building Meghrig Milkon Senior News Editor
With 26 days left on the job, President Owen Rocchi, Vice-President (University Affairs) Ruth Osunde, and Vice-President (Operations) Ayan Chowdhury sat down with The Journal to reflect on their year.
Although they weren’t the executive team to lead the AMS back into the JDUC, Team OAR shared their highlights, challenges, and key take aways. Proud of all they’ve accomplished, the firstever de-slated team is ready to pass on their insights and experiences to their successors.
JDUC revitalization
Rocchi was promised a term in the JDUC, but is ending his tenure on the outside looking in. He cited the AMS remaining without a move-in date to ongoing delays and inconsistent communication from project stakeholders.
“It’s been a hard year,” Rocchi said. “With such inconsistent information and such late changes in information, we can’t even try to communicate any of that [information about moving] to our members.”
Rocchi clarified the delays aren’t solely the University’s responsibility, but stem from a complicated chain of communication among multiple stakeholders, including the JDUC Steering Committee that oversees the entirety of the project.
“A lot of the delays don’t come from Queen’s themselves,” Rocchi explained. “It’s very difficult because there’s a lot of middlemen. It’s people telling people to tell people. So, I don’t even think there’s any bad actors here. It’s just a bad system.”
A Jan. 14 joint statement from the AMS and the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) announced they would stop providing tentative move-in dates to avoid raising false expectations. With every delay, it became harder on the team to justify giving more dates to the student body just for it to be altered again.
As the AMS prepares to transition leadership to a new executive team, Rocchi advised the incoming President, Jana Amer, HealthSci ’26, to be transparent and adaptable.
“The biggest takeaway is to be adaptable with whatever comes our way, whether that’s with the building, with teams,” Rocchi said.
“These are such crazy roles, just take it in stride.”
For Chowdhury, the Queen’s Pub (QP) was the most anticipated project and one that took the most time. While the QP didn’t open this year due to the ongoing construction, an incoming head manager has already been hired for the 2025-26 year.
“Like any AMS employees, the incoming QP team is expected to undergo a thorough orientation to the AMS, preparing them for their term beginning May 1. The QP management team monitors the daily progress of the JDUC project and anxiously looks ahead to a grand opening date we can share,” Chowdhury said.
Student experience and leadership
Reflecting on the role of leadership within the AMS, Team OAR emphasized inclusivity and collaboration.
They highlighted one of their major successes this year as
Orientation Roundtable Coordinator speaks to 2025-26 budget
The budget’s $218,560 decrease is mainly attributed to transferring the Mystery Concert to the Campus Affairs Commission
Jonathan
Reilly Assistant News Editor
The Orientation Roundtable (ORT) budget sees a $200,000 decrease from last year.
ORT is responsible for organizing and running all faculty society orientations. The commission, run in the AMS’s University Affairs portfolio, brought their budget for 2025-26 to Assembly on March 24 for approval, with ORT Coordinator Ali Haider, HealthSci ’26, at the
helm. ORT’s has undergone structural changes for next year, including the removal of the ORT Mystery Concert to the Campus Affairs Commission.
Last year, the total budgeted expenses for orientation totaled $629,060, with this years budgeted expenses decreasing by $218,560 to $410,500. This year’s budget decrease can largely be attributed to the removal of the ORT Mystery Concert, which contributed $242,100 in revenue and expenses last year.
In an interview with The Journal, Haider outlined ORT’s primary sources of revenue, divided into three categories. These include $240,000 from fees incoming studentschoosetopaytoparticipate in Orientation—roughly $40 per student—$138,000 from Assembly, paid through student fees, and $32,500 from sponsors,
which are typically local business like Amey’s Taxi and Poparide, totaling $410,500 in projected revenue.
On the expense side, uniforms represent the largest cost, totaling $100,000. Other notable expenses include $109,600 for salaries and wages, and $55,000 for fundraising and event services, which saw a budget increase of over $50,000 from last year.
According to Haider, this $55,000 change was made to fall in line with what actually happened in last year’s Orientation. Although ORT initially budgeted only $4,760 for events and services—covering items like kit bags and water bottles—they ended up spending $53,000. To prevent a repeat of this issue, Haider has based this year’s budget largely on last year’s actual spending rather than the original
“My portfolio, I don’t think, has looked this different in recent years. My role no longer sits on the Steering Committee at OUSA because it just isn’t sustainable for me to be back and forth all the time,” Osunde said in an interview with The Journal.
In addition to leaving her role on the Steering Committee, the restructuring of the Social Issues, Campus Affairs, and Clubs Commissions under the Vice-President (University Affairs) portfolio was implemented to improve the efficiency of the organization.
Looking ahead, the team hopes future student leaders will build on this year’s progress and use their learned lessons as tools during their term.
Working culture of the AMS
strengthening collaboration among student leaders and introducing Assembly themes, including Truth and Reconciliation in September, Black History and Futures Month in February, and Women’s History Month in March.
“In an effort to engage with and amplify voices of equity-deserving students on-campus, and proactively build a stronger relationship, each Assembly was dedicated in recognition of a different equity-deserving group on-campus,” Team OAR elaborated in a later statement to The Journal.
Osunde discussed the shift in her portfolios, noting she no longer sits on the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) Steering Committee, due to the long travel times to Toronto. While the Commissioner of External Affairs remains on the committee, Osunde emphasized her role is now more focused and efficient in managing her direct portfolios.
budgeted figures.
“What I focused on was the actual amounts they spent on each of the categories last year […] I tried to keep it in line with what actually happened [last year],” Haider said.
This rationale also accounts for a $10,000 budget increase for room rentals used to host events this year compared to last year, as the former team budgeted $35,000 but ended up spending $45,000.
OAR described AMS’s internal working culture as highly collaborative and team driven.
Osunde highlighted there are a multitude of reasons people leave their roles at the AMS behind, ones that the team was unable to elaborate on due to HR concerns.
“The first thing I’ll say is that we don’t hire with the intent to see people leave. I think when we hire our teams, we expect that everyone will see it through the year, and there are a multitude of reasons why people might not end up ending the year with us, and those are all reasonable reasons,” Osunde said.
The team highlighted the importance of permanent staff in maintaining operational continuity during transitions While turnover can affect short-term operations, OAR emphasized permanent staff ensure the organization’s infrastructure remains intact, minimizing disruption to student support services.
“There’s a lot of last-minute room bookings with Orientation. Something happens to a room, some booking gets canceled, and you need to pay money to be able to get a new location,” Haider said.
For Haider, Orientation, isn’t just for first years, it’s for the entire community.
“If we’re able to make sure that training runs well and we have great supplies and great staff supporting us, it makes Orientation better for everyone.”
Team OAR (left to right): Ruth Osunde, Ayan Chowdhury, Owen Rocchi.
PHOTO BY MEGHRIG MILKON
The budget was approved on March 24.
PHOTO BY JONATHAN REILLY
Reports of harassment and drinking culture surface in ASUS Orientation
Orientation Leaders say culture discouraged reporting and enabled discomfort
Allie Moustakis & Skylar Soroka Editors in Chief
One member of The Journal’s Editorial Board holds a position with ASUS. They were not involved with the editing or reporting process of this story.
Stepping into the role of a Gael felt as natural to Billy* as breathing.
Like in the case of many first-years, Billy’s first breath of Kingston air consisted of flash mob dance parties, Gaelic cheers, and the odor of acrylic paint staining their coveralls—all moments that made campus feel like home. For Billy, whose name was changed due to safety concerns, that feeling meant everything.
When hiring opened in their first year, applying to give nearly two dozen students the same experience was a no-brainer.
Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) Orientation Week (O-Week), led by upper-year students, is designed to help first-years “feel at home” in their first introduction to Queen’s, and typically takes place over the first two weekends of September after move-in.
Running ASUS O-Week is no small feat. As the largest faculty society at Queen’s, the production line begins with around 250 “Gaels,” upper-year students who lead each first-year group, around 40 Orientation Coordinators (OC), and five Orientation Chairs, including the Head Gael.
After already being a Gael once, Billy decided to apply to be an OC in their third year. After making it to the final round of interviews, they didn’t make the cut. They attribute this to not speaking up enough in the final group interview, recognizing that in a group setting their quiet nature would be a barrier to getting the role. In lieu, Billy applied to be a Gael again, securing the position.
Having built courage as a Gael for two years, Billy decided to apply to be an OC a second time, and was rejected from the position again. This time, they didn’t make it past the written portion of the application.
In January 2024, Billy attended the “Wanna Be a Gael” event, marketed as an opportunity for interested students to learn about the expectations of becoming an ASUS Orientation Leader.
“I had already had the experience, so I was excited to meet new people [and] see how Orientation is going to be the same and different,” Billy said.
When they arrived at Ellis Auditorium, Billy felt the weight of hostile stares from OCs they’d never met.
“That’s not a big part of the story, that’s just kind of where it started.”
Though Orientation Leaders don’t welcome students until September, their job starts long before.
With OCs and Gaels being hired in November and January of the previous year, they undergo training during the school year and in August before O-Week officially kicks off. These sessions cover everything from accessibility and human rights to sexual violence prevention and inclusive leadership. But it’s not always business.
During the last week of August, Orientation Leaders go on their annual “Winnipeg trip,” taking place in none other than Ottawa and Gatineau, Que. The trip, which takes place before O-Week, is sanctioned by both ASUS and the AMS. While it typically includes an overnight stay, last year, it was reduced to a day trip to mitigate safety concerns, ASUS said in a statement to The Journal
While it’s made clear drinking isn’t expected, ASUS said, Billy feels like the container of cat litter on the bus says otherwise.
During the day, Orientation Leaders participated in various activities including a stop at an indoor adult playground and dinner. They’re also given free time to explore the city.
According to Billy, the five Orientation Chairs took all Orientation Leaders to a nightclub.
“They just sent off the groups of OCs and their Gaels to do whatever around the city until the nightclub would let us in,” Billy said.
According to Billy, once the club was ready for the hundreds of Orientation Leaders, the Chairs brought their Gaels back before giving everyone a simple directive: “Go drink.” Not everyone took part, but most did, Billy said.
“A lot of people did get very drunk. There were people throwing up. There were people that needed to be piled up by their friends,” Billy said. “They were kind of just drinking a lot, and the Orientation Chairs were prepared for this,” they added, claiming the Chairs didn’t tell anyone to pace themselves.
“Instead, they brought containers of cat litter and told everyone, if you’re sick on the bus, we have cat litter for you to throw up,” they said. “Basically, they’re encouraging drinking to the point of throwing up, that they brought cat litter with them in each of the buses.”
When asked to confirm if the bins of cat litter were brought intentionally as part of preparation for the trip, 2024 Head Gael Emma Capstick didn’t comment. However, in a statement to The Journal, she said, “If individuals wished to engage in drinking activities this was voluntary and consensual.”
Capstick also confirmed all members of ASUS Orientation had access to her, as well as ORT Coordinators, phone numbers in case of emergency.
For Capstick, the trip is an opportunity for leaders to explore new places and bond with their peers. But for Orientation Leaders like Billy and Aubrey* who don’t drink, the night out felt alienating.
Like Billy, Aubrey—whose name was changed for safety—was a second-year Gael in 2022-23. After applying to be an OC, they secured a position for the following year. During the Winter Term of the 2023-24 year, Aubrey attended weekly OC meetings. They also participated in informal bi-monthly socials, where their decision not to drink left them feeling excluded from
the rest of the group.
Because Aubrey chose to stay sober while their peers drank, they often found themselves in uncomfortable situations, describing how fellow OCs would sometimes become inappropriately touchy without their consent.
When attending a social for Orientation Leaders, a fellow OC. who Aubrey says was clearly intoxicated, grabbed their face with two hands, trying to pull them closer. Another time, someone touched Aubrey’s posterior without permission.
Aubrey tried to laugh these moments off, but felt a sense of deep discomfort. Leading into the actual Orientation period, Aubrey battled how to navigate dealing with pent up frustration and incidents of harassment.
Aubrey felt that reaching out for help would have just made the environment worse for them.
“During orientation, I didn’t want to bring up any of my issues to my Chair at the time, or even go ahead and go to the Head Gael, just because if I did bring up certain things that I was feeling at the time, I didn’t want it to ruin the environment I was in,”
Aubrey said in an interview with The Journal. “I didn’t want it to be more awkward.”
Although Aubrey knew support was available during the harassment they experienced, reaching out felt riskier than staying silent. They feared speaking up—especially to their Chair—would either lead to their concerns being brushed aside or passed along to the very people involved, making an already tense environment that much more unbearable. The idea of enduring 10- to 12-hour shifts, sometimes longer, surrounded by a tightknit team that included several of those responsible for the mistreatment, made the thought of reporting feel not only futile, but potentially damaging.
“I felt as though if I were to reach out and try and kind of get some kind of clearance or clarity on the situation, it just would have made things so much worse that it wouldn’t have even been worth it,” Aubrey said.
After Orientation wrapped up and their Chair failed to respond to messages about the issues
they faced, Aubrey decided to contact ASUS President Cole Olidis, explaining what they’d experienced before, during, and after O-Week and the influence it had on them.
“I had a little talk about [with him about] things that I had to experience, the environment of Orientation, things like that,” Aubrey said. “Essentially, there’s not really much he can do, except to see how the environment changes for this upcoming Orientation, if the drinking culture is too much, what he thinks on it.”
According to ASUS, they became aware of Aubrey’s claims on Jan. 10 which dated back to the 2023-24 academic year and September 2024 Orientation period. The claims, written in a report by Aubrey and sent to Olidis, obtained by The Journal, follow themes of harassment, bias, and retaliatory behaviour in Orientation leadership. The report outlined the sexual harassment Aubrey experienced, including “unwelcome touching,” “sexually explicit pictures,” “unnecessary familiarity, such as deliberately brushing up against a person,” “staring or leering,” among others.
After Olidis and Aubrey met, all concerns were brought to the Human Rights and Equity Office and further directed to the University’s Sexual Violence and Response Prevention Services (SVPRS), with all concerns shared with SVPRS on Jan. 20. According to ASUS, on Jan. 30, Aubrey was contacted as a follow up and given the recommendation to bring the concern to SVPRS. For SVPRS to move forward with a formal investigation, complaints have to be brought forward by the individual.
Following the two parties’ meeting, ASUS implemented the following measure: All Orientation volunteers this year have to complete a positive disclosure of any findings under the University’s policies for the Student Code of Conduct, Sexual Violence Policy, the Interim Sexual Misconduct Policy, and the Harassment & Discrimination Policy.
PHOTO BY NELSON CHEN
ASUS Orientation is organized by student leaders each fall to welcome incoming first-years.
City of Kingston declares food insecurity an emergency: On Jan. 14, the Kingston City Council reported one in three households struggle to put food on the table. This number shows food insecurity isn’t a far-fetched circumstance that students are immune to, but a close reality and internal to the university. The emergency of affording groceries is the wake-up call for Queen’s and Kingston to increase their support.
AMS assembly fails its own transparency test: The fall AMS Special Assembly in Stirling Hall auditorium left Queen’s students and many first-time attendees with a lackluster impression of how student governance operates. A lengthy night of back-and-forth on how to run Assembly, voting mishaps, and frustrated communications from leaders to students undermined the AMS’s championed mission of transparency.
2,000 graduate student workers walk off the job: Beginning March 10, Graduate Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, and Teaching Fellows, represented by Public Service Alliance Canada 901, Unit 1, took to University Ave. and Union St. to demand wage increases from the University. As graduate workers keep fighting for their livelihoods, a mass ripple effect of uncertainty about grading and final exams transfers to undergraduate students and their studies, marking a historic time at Queen’s.
Two Queen’s students acquitted of sexual assault charges in Mexico: Over
DARTS LAURELS
Students vote in favour of editorial autonomy at AMS Special General Assembly: Last semester’s AMS Special General Assembly saw historic student attendance, where members mobilized by The Journal and countless peer supporters came together to show heartwarming resilience for student journalism. Maintaining The Journal’s editorial autonomy was a bittersweet victory. Advocacy for journalistic freedom can and should never stop.
‘History is on your side’: Faculty stand in solidarity with striking graduate students: When no tentative agreement was reached between the University and PSAC 901, graduate workers continued to strike for fair wages, and professors stood with them. During a self-organized “Faculty Day of Action,” professors marched to criticize the University’s poor treatment of graduate student labour and how it misaligns with their proposed bicentennial vision. Amid campus divisions, solidarity from professors is monumental in mobilizing change at Queen’s.
First ever Black orientation aims to foster a lasting sense of community: Queen’s debuted its first ever Black orientation last September, which offers a month of tailored events organized by Black student clubs. Transitioning to university is challenging enough, leaving customs behind shouldn’t be another worry that Black students face. This initiative signals a better future of
Winter Reading Week, two Queen’s students were arrested and detained in Mexico on sexual assault charges before being acquitted and returning to Canada. While the legal process concluded abroad, the incident contributed to ongoing conversations about consent, accountability, and the realities of sexual violence within and beyond university communities.
Queen’s rules against divestment: Amidst the chaos of graduate worker strikes, the University announced its decision against divesting from companies doing business in or with the State of Israel. To promote healthy and productive dialogue on campus, administrative decisions must be clearly communicated to students. Queen’s missed a vital opportunity to be transparent with its students, which will reap consequences on student advocacy, campus relationships, and political divisions moving forward.
Former AMS clubs commissioner resigned due to burnout, harassment, and discrimination: Before her term ended, Stephanie Sahadeo stepped down from her role as the AMS’s Clubs Commissioner, citing burnout and the overwhelming amount of criticism she faced from holding a public-facing position. Roles in student leadership must shift to value accountability, transparency, and privacy—changes that shouldn’t take a mental toll on students to happen. It’s a test to see how such situations will be addressed in the future.
Queen’s medical school professor under investigation after complaints of anti-Palestinian racism: Students
student orientations experiences for students to come.
Men’s Volleyball wins Forsyth Cup: The Men’s Volleyball team did their coaches, teammates, and Queen’s proud bringing home the Forsyth Cup. This win marks the only provincial championship Queen’s has won all year and the first gold medal for many on the team. The team’s success speaks to team dynamics that go into forging champions in high-level sports, but also the lasting friendships that come out of it. With another year to go, we hope to see the team continue their success.
Graduate students score victory as the University halts cuts: Graduate students breathed a sigh of relief after proposed cuts to the Queen’s Graduate Award were halted, following intense advocacy from student groups. Graduate funding now awaits review, which is led by Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Matthew Evans. The past year has been a tumultuous one between administration and the graduate student body. Yet, efforts like this are only possible when we make room to value open dialogue and conversations that critically evaluations our institution.
’Journal’ alumni recognized for excellence in student journalism: The Journal was nominated for four awards at the John H. MacDonald Awards for Excellence in Student Journalism, including Student Publication of the Year. Former Senior News Editor Sophia Coppolino,
expressed concern that a professor’s actions toward another student promoted anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic views. The University is a place of diversity and inclusivity to all students—any notions breaching these values, especially from those in teaching positions—are unwelcome. This incident incites more open conversations about the importance of holding faculty accountable for their behaviours.
AMS and SGPS voice frustration over JDUC delays: Following a series of announcements further delaying JDUC openings and move-in dates, the AMS and SGPS decided against future updates. While this was the fairest course of action, it’s not enough to stall frustrations from students—many of which will never get to experience long-awaited resources from the JDUC. The building’s revitalization began in 2019, and was set to be completed last August before being pushed to January. Now, all we can do is stand by and wait for the JDUC to open.
America needs to wake up to Trump’s policies: A viral TikTok from actress Hunter Schafer, showing her new passport stamped with a male gender marker, solidifies the unsettling yet tangible reality of Trump’s new policies. Political issues don’t need to happen on campus to concern students.
Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca
ArtSci ’24, was named Student Journalist of the Year by the Canadian University Press. Her recognition is a testament to the level of dedication, integrity, and professionalism student journalists bring to their work at The Journal. These honours reflect not only individual achievements, but also the collaborative spirit and commitment to high-quality journalism that define our newsroom.
SGPS lands $15 thousand to tackle rising graduate food insecurity: Advocacy from student leaders successfully secured funding and University support to combat rising rates of food insecurity among the graduate community. At times when professional students are choosing between education and feeding themselves, the programming provides additional support. It’s not easy being vulnerable about struggles, yet securing this financial support is one step closer to long-term solutions to relieve food insecurity.
Ramadan means finding home through a shared Iftar meal: Thanks to the 30-night Ramadan program run by the Queen’s University Muslim Student’s Association, Muslim students and their friends could enjoy an Iftar dinner at their home away from home. Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca
ILLUSTRATION BY ELLA THOMAS
Queen's education needs a lesson in empathy
When it comes to empathy and respect, the Faculty of Education needs to practice what it preaches
JC Correia Contributor
Practicums: What every education student looks forward to—a chance to put into practice everything we’ve learned in our classes, make professional and personal connections, and create valuable relationships with our students. All while receiving no support whatsoever from the University’s Practicum Office or the Faculty of Education.
The practicums we all look forward to during our month-long stretches of class on West Campus can quickly become a nightmarish experience, due entirely to the actions, or inaction, of the Faculty and Practicum Office. Something needs to change—both across the Faculty of Education and especially in how the Practicum Office operates. Something has to give if this experience is ever going to become manageable, let alone meaningful, for teacher candidates at Queen’s.
The reality of being a student in Queen’s Faculty of Education looks a lot like unpaid forty-hour work weeks, spending hundreds of dollars in gas money to commute to schools, and a complete lack of classroom management preparation from any of our education classes taken during the year. Many of us education students feel completely stranded and on our own when sent out into a school board without adequate support from our institution—the opposite of what the Faculty preaches.
Littered on the Faculty of Education website are countless resources for student wellbeing, from counselors, to therapy, and even student-led groups and resources. We attend workshops on how to avoid burnout. We’re told mental health matters. We’re taught to build compassionate, equitable classrooms for our future students. And yet, those values don’t seem to apply when it comes to how the Faculty, and the Practicum Office more specifically, treat us.
The Practicum Office is the centre of this. They’re the ones in charge of finding placements for every teacher candidate in the program, placing each education student with a host teacher at a public school in one of four school boards chosen by the student.
We as teacher candidates are all sympathetic to how challenging the job must be. With over 20 weeks of practicum in five separate placements, there are lots of moving parts to setting up each individual's practicum. But the practicum office isn’t sympathetic to us. Instead of offering flexibility,
or even empathy, they assign teacher candidates in schools far away and then act like it’s our fault when we can’t make it work. When students speak up about their financial pressure, we’re met with blank stares, empty apologies—or worse, outright dismissal. Many of my classmates, and myself, can't afford to pay for the gas to commute an hour to our placement schools. They don’t care many of us are in severe debt due to the fact the program is costing us thousands of dollars in silent practicum fees, whether that be in paying for rent in multiple cities or on the cost of transportation.
Last fall, I was placed at a school more than an hour away from my given address. My car had just been totalled and I couldn’t afford the $150 in gas a week. I pleaded with the Practicum Office, tearfully asking for some kind of consideration, whether that meant I had to find my own placement, or if I could switch with another education student at a closer school. I was met with the least empathetic conversation I’ve ever had in my life. As I gave my laundry list of reasons why this placement was financially and mentally impossible for me to do, someone from the office looked me in my eyes and said “That isn't my problem. I don’t care.”
The sentiment that these people “don’t care” echoed in my head as I left the office utterly destroyed. It echoed on the hour drive to my school every day. It echoed every time I filled up my gas tank, which ended up being three times a week. It echoed in my head when I had to work a 4 to 9 p.m. shift after my unpaid 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. placement at the school.
The same faculty that tells us to feed our students if they come to school hungry, warn us about teacher burnout, and preach best equitable practices in education, “don't care” about their own students struggling to afford the price of groceries and feeling exhausted by long commutes.
Linked in some of my OnQ courses, most importantly, our mandatory Psychology Foundations of Education class, are websites to services like Empower Me, Good2Talk, and mental health helplines for teacher candidates in need. These are resources given to us, which are undoubtedly
helpful, but are only band-aid fixes for the larger issues created by the Faculty itself.
These are the questions that me, as well as my fifth year candidates, have been struggling with since our fall practicum placement. I have never heard of positive, considerate, or empathetic interactions with the majority of the Faculty. We aren't being given the respect we deserve, the respect we have earned, or the respect we're paying for.
Things need to change. The Faculty needs to change. The Practicum Office needs to change. Drastically. Quickly. Immediately. University employees shouldn’t lack the basic sympathy to even fake a simple “I’m sorry for your situation.”
A complete overhaul sounds big, but it’s necessary. The entire Faculty should engage in mandatory professional development courses in empathy. The University offers courses like “Fostering Inclusivity in Workplaces” and “Cultivating Well Being in Workplaces,” online to do on your own time, to graduate and other students. The goal is to build both empathy and relationships with the people you encounter every day. There should be programs like this for all areas of University staff to ensure students are treated equitably and respectfully.
This isn’t an outrageous request. They’re not suggestions. They need to be requirements.
As education students we’re told to study our own teaching and are part of Professional Learning Cohorts to ensure our practice of teaching is professional and appropriate. This should be adopted by the University staff as well, especially in the Faculty of Education. We, the students, are being directly affected by the lack of empathy demonstrated by the Practicum Office and largely, the Faculty. They’re preaching empathetic actions but practicing the complete opposite. We don’t feel supported, heard, or recognized for our hard work. We feel alone.
I’m pleading, along with the rest of my cohorts, for reform. The Practicum Office in particular needs it drastically.
We need empathy in this profession, it’s what drives our passion for education, and to have it so severely lacking isn’t only upsetting, it’s hypocritical.
Talking heads...
What will you miss most about The Journal?
"Being a part of The Journal taught me more about the world, campus culture, and work ethic than I could ever imagine. I’ll miss hearing all the interesting things people have to say at Ed Board and layout each week, and just being surrounded by the coolest people ever!"
- Katharine Sung, Editorials Editor
"What I’ll miss most about The Journal is having a purpose for my drawings and seeing them find a home in articles each week. It gave me the space to be consistently creative, helping me refine my style, which is something I hope to carry forward throughout my artistic endeavours. I’ll also miss the way The Journal pushed me to conduct interviews, write with confidence, and ask more questions, showing me that I had a voice all along."
- Ella Thomas, Editorials Illustrator
"Being a part of The Journal has made me feel a strong tie to the Kingston and Queen's community. Being part of the process of platforming student opinions connects me to different perspectives seen on campus."
- Sarah Eklove, Opinions Editor
"Though it’ll be nice to have my Thursday nights back, there’s a lot I’ll miss about The Journal. Though I was a bit of a latecomer to the masthead, it’s totally changed my life. I’ll miss the community the most, both the incredible people I’ve met within The Journal staff, and all the wonderful, interesting, passionate individuals I’ve met while on the job. I’m sad to leave, but grateful for the impressive toolkit it’s given me for the rest of my career."
- Madison Taylor, Senior Arts & Culture Editor
"One thing I'll miss about The Journal is the driven atmosphere. I have been privileged to work with such passionate people at The Journal and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I also really appreciated the support and team work. It truly made my years here a worthwhile experience."
- Simi Oluwole, Business, Science, & Technology Editor
"Without a doubt, the thing I'm going to miss most is attending the sports games. From Nixon all the way over to Richardson, TheJournal gave me the motivation to hone my love for sports in a new way, and I'm forever grateful."
-AidanMichaelov, SportsEditor
"I’ll miss being able to travel and photograph everything under the sun. Also the chokehold that it had over my Thursdays, now I’ll need to find something else to spend my nights on."
- Herbert Wang, Assistant Sports Editor
"Even though I sometimes dreaded the long hours that came with press nights, I’ll definitely miss working press nights. These nights made me really feel like I was working in a newsroom, and that feeling made all the long hours worth it."
- Yamna Asim, Copy Editor
"My favourite part of working at The Journal has been being able to write creatively and being surrounded by such talented, passionate people."
- Uyanda Mntambo, QTBIPOC Advisory Board Member
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What’s at stake in the upcoming federal election?
Political studies expert speaks to key issues and factors at play
Jonathan reilly Assistant News Editor
Canadian democracy faces a choice on April 28—and plenty of factors are at play.
With a federal election approaching, Canada’s future remains uncertain with both the Conservative and Liberal parties aiming at governmental control. Current Leader of the Opposition and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre will face off against Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal party Mark Carney in an election that has a couple defining themes.
According to Holly Garnett, professor of political science at the Royal Military College and cross-appointed to Queen’s Department of Political Studies and School of Policy Studies, one of the biggest players in this upcoming election in Canada isn’t even Canadian.
“[Donald] Trump’s policies and rhetoric towards Canada have influenced, to a large degree, how the leaders are talking about election issues, about some of the major things that are in Canadians’ minds, notably tariffs,” Garnett said in an interview with The Journal
As Trump and the United States have become defining factors in this election,
the question of who is better equipped to address these issues has been a source of contention in some voters.
Garnett explained there’s plausible arguments for both candidates’ abilities to handle Trump, saying Poilievre might be better embedded into the Conservative movement and therefore more aligned with Trump—making it easier “to speak the language that Trump might be able to understand.”
On the other hand, Carney’s experience in business and his lack of political baggage could help him meet Trump eye to eye, Garnett said. She referenced Trump recently speaking positively about Carney and poorly about Poilievre in the past, which could be indicative of their relationships if elected.
On other issues, Garnett detailed while both parties haven’t released their full platforms, it’s “not like the breadcrumbs [about their policies] that we’ve gotten so far are dramatically different.”
Both parties have promoted the idea of tax cuts and removing GST from home sales, with only smaller disagreements such as Carney’s proposition of only removing the GST off homes valued at less than $1 million whereas Poilievre’s policy would apply to homes under $1.3 million.
Aside from defining election issues, Garnett went over threats to Canadian democracy as an institution in general, explaining that “when we talk about cyber threats to democracy, there are the process-based threats and
Last weekend’s ice storm points directly to climate change
‘Nature is slow to pardon our mistakes,’ expert says
Jaya SigurdSon Business, Science, & Technology Editor
The blanket of ice that covered Kingston this past weekend is a signal of larger forces at play.
Over the weekend of March 29 and 30, a freezing rainstorm left a trail of destruction, coating trees and power lines with heavy ice, triggering widespread power outages, and creating dangerous driving conditions. The weight of the ice also caused branches and utility lines to break. While the storm encouraged the community to stay indoors, it serves as a reminder that climate change is intensifying extreme weather.
Though Kingston’s geography makes it especially vulnerable to storms like these, experts have also been warning that worsening temperatures and meteorological
patterns could induce higher severity of storms. Given these risks, the City of Kingston is currently working on a Climate Change Adaptation Plan. John Smol, a distinguished professor in the Department of Biology and 2023 recipient of the Vega Medal, says action must be taken now to mitigate future damage.
Smol says that ice storms occur under very specific conditions, a fact which makes them difficult for experts to predict, and nature to produce.
“A few degrees colder and it’s snow, a few degrees warmer and it’s rain,” Smol wrote in a statement to The Journal
Low-lying areas such as the St. Lawrence Valley—in which Kingston is situated—are more susceptible to ice storms because they’re a meeting ground for cold air from the Arctic, and warm air from the Atlantic. In conjunction, the confluence of air creates near perfect conditions for ice storms to breed.
Some may assume that the presence of an ice storm in Kingston is evidence against
information-based threats.”
Process-based threats relate to the technical backend administration of the election through voting, registration, and more. She explained in Canada’s federal election, we use paper ballots and hand count them which makes us relatively safe to these kinds of issues.
Despite our relative protection from process-based threats, Garnett said we’re still not immune, outlining one way we’re susceptible.
“We have online registration systems. People tend to look up where they’re going to vote online so some sort of a denial-of-service issue with the Election Canada website could wreak some havoc,” Garnett said.
Gartnett sees information-based threats including ideas—like misinformation—as something Canada could be vulnerable to.
“This isn’t really anything new, but the reality is that it [misinformation] can spread so quickly, and it can spread in parts of the internet that not everyone
greenhouse warming, but Smol says this is a common misconception.
“I still often hear in Kingston, after a major snowstorm ‘what happened to so-called greenhouse warming?’ People tend to associate snow with cold […] but in fact you only need the winter temperature to be -1 or -2°C to get snow,” Smol said.
Smol said Kingston’s climate is changing—a claim which is backed up by mountains of scientific evidence.
“It’s getting warmer and to some extent less wind. We’re seeing more episodic events, like major summer storms, with important consequences,” Smol said.
Beyond ice storms, climate change poses other environmental risks. With most of the data focused on rain and snow events, there is ample evidence for an increased risk of flooding. If cities like Kingston don’t act fast enough, Smol indicates increased flooding could become an exponentially larger issue.
“We don’t have the infrastructure in cities to remove water fast enough when, for example, in a few hours you get the amount of rain you normally would expect to get in a month,” Smol said.
The City of Kingston is in the process of developing a Climate Change Adaptation Plan to address these ever-growing concerns. According to the City, this proposed plan will focus on how climate change impacts Kingston’s infrastructure, society, economy, and environment.
Smol says the problem of climate change is “here and now.” Students can contribute to climate adaptation efforts in Kingston, both on campus and in the wider community.
“Be aware and informed and act […] and support progressive initiatives,” Smol advised.
“Climate change is the biggest issue we face today—it’ll affect everything and everyone, not just the environment, but the economy, health, international affairs, everything […] We have waited far too long to act and are sleepwalking to disaster.”
is accessing, which causes, essentially, our deliberative aspects of the campaign to be really thwarted,” Garnett said.
Garnett explained one major downside of this was that conversations surrounding politics should be at the national level, but these subsections of groups fragment that national conversation and discourage a balanced position.
“We’re not all reading the same thing, we’re not all getting our information from similar sources, and we’re not talking about the same issues, and even political parties can target individuals based on what they think they’re going to most likely to respond to,” Garnett said.
Garnett also outlined the importance of Canadians checking their electoral districts as the boundaries were redrawn for this election, explaining they can be found easily through the Elections Canada website by inputting one’s postal code.
The rules that we made up 50 years ago for grad schools don’t work anymore,’ Teaching Fellow says
Florella Pang First Year Intern
As PSAC 901’s strike action continues, graduate student workers are raising concerns about financial precarity and unaffordable living costs.
Just under two months after the City of Kingston declared food insecurity a municipal emergency, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) 901, Unit 1 went on strike. The current state of food insecurity and housing crises is raising questions on the picket line about how the University financially supports its Teaching Assistants (TAs), Research Assistants (RAs), and Teaching Fellows (TFs).
Two graduate students spoke to The Journal about their expenses and earnings. Emma Bock, MA ’25, a TA in the Department of History, says she earns around $1,000 to $1,100 a month and averages about 12 hours of work per week.
“TA roles are pretty dynamic at Queen’s, but generally speaking, mostly grading [assignments], office hours with students, and helping with assignments,” Bock said. “I really try to make myself as available as possible for feedback.”
Story continued online at queensjournal.ca
The federal election will take place on April 28
GRAPHIC BY NATALIE VIEBROCK
An ice storm swept through Kingston on March 29 and 30.
PHOTO BY NELSON CHEN
SPORTS SPO TS
Gaels showcase talents at 2025 CFL Combine
Three players from Queen’s Football travelled to Regina to showcase their talents ahead of CFL draft
Herbert Wang Assistant Sports Editor
In preparation for the upcoming Canadian Football League (CFL) draft, the 2025 CFL National Combine was hosted in Regina, Sask. from March 21 to 23.
The invite-only event gives prospects one last opportunity to showcase their ability to CFL scouts. In attendance were three Queen’s Football players, Darien Newell, ArtSci ’25, Silas Hubert, ArtSci ’25, and Ashton Miller-Melancon, ArtSci ’25.
The trio have been standouts from an established Queen’s program, dominating opponents on the defensive line and in the secondary. This combine marks one of the last stops in the group’s scouting cycle, having already travelled south to Fort Worth, Texas to participate in the College Gridiron Showcase earlier this January.
Miller-Melancon began his career as a defensive back being named to the OUA Football All-Rookie team during the 2021 season. In his second year, he was named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian and finished the season as a Top Eight Academic All-Canadian.
Throughout his career, he’s recorded 150 total tackles, with 16 interceptions and 27 pass deflections.
The pair of Newell and Hubert have combined to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines. Hubert also earned U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian honours in his second year with the squad. This past season, he received an OUA Second Team All-Star honours, recording 34 tackles, including eight for loss and four sacks.
Newell is perhaps the most highly touted prospect, projecting as one of the most “pro-ready” player in the class.
At the College Gridiron Showcase, he drew an interview from the New England Patriots and was one of a half-dozen Canadians to participate in the University of Buffalo pro day in front of 25 CFL and NFL scouts.
In the latest CFL Scouting Bureau prospect ranking, Newell ranks 13th.
His impressive size and production have earned him U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian honours in 2022, and U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian honours in the previous two seasons. In Newell’s four years, he has 92 total tackles, with 27.5 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks.
At the combine, prospects participate in drills and a testing phase, listing measurables in the 225-pound bench press, 40-yard dash,
vertical leap, broad jump, shuttle-run, and three-cone drill.
Newell tested impressively with a 9’ 11 3/4” broad jump on the second day of the combine, the second highest of all defensive linemen. However, a personal emergency left him unable to complete the rest of the drills on the final day of testing.
Miller-Melancon posted 12 reps on the bench press, 4.75 second 40-yard dash, 34-inch vertical leap, 9’ 9 3/4” broad jump, 7.2 second shuttle run, and 4.39 second three-cone drill.
Hubert tested very similarly with 20 reps on the bench press, 4.76 second 40-yard dash, 30-inch vertical leap, 9’ 9 3/4” broad jump, 7.28 second shuttle run, and 4.40 second three-cone drill.
An impressive feat considering his position as a defensive lineman, and a performance that would highlight Hubert as a standout performer on the final day of the combine.
After showcasing their abilities in front of scouts from all nine CFL teams, the trio will have to wait until the 2025 CFL draft on Apr. 29 to see if their efforts were enough to be earn a spot on a professional roster.
Quotes of the Year: 2024-25
A year of Queen’s sports as told by coaches and players
Aidan Michaelov Senior Sports Editor
The 2024-25 season was filled with sweet victories and bitter defeats. Fortunately, The Journal was there to capture them all.
First up is OUA Player of the Year and First Team AllCanadian volleyball player Hannah Duchesneau, ArtSci ’25, who reminds us of the duality of being a student-athlete.
“Yeah, I don’t like exams. So, I’m ready to be done with exams. But I definitely know that in the first couple of months going to play pro, I’m going to get bored of not really using my brain too much.”
—Women’s Volleyball Hannah Duchesneau after her last season as a Gael.
“The biggest thing we’ve talked about over the last little bit as a program is learning what joy can do for your program.”
—Women’s Basketball Head Coach Claire Meadows when asked about the lessons learned from a season riddled with injuries and off-court challenges.
“Uh, if we did, we wouldn’t tell ya.”
—Men’s Basketball Head Coach Steph Barrie who kept it short and blunt when asked if he had any tricks up his sleeve.
“Might have been our best game of the season from an analytical point of view. We were 1-3-1, but unfortunately, that’s why the game is played on ice.”
—Men’s Hockey head Coach Brett Gibson after failing to advance to the OUA Finals.
“It wasn’t so much that you frame them as an insurmountable task to get your boys fired up; it was more so they’re beatable. Everybody bleeds. Let’s make them bleed.”
—Men’s Rugby Head Coach John Lavery after the Gaels defeated the Guelph Gryphons, 38-28, in the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championships.
“I’d like to say that we push each other to be better as a group,” Wheeler-Dee said sarcastically. “He would like to say that, wouldn’t he,” Mironov added jokingly. “But when I get to the workout and this guy’s [Mironov] standing right beside me and we got like a 20-minute session, I’m trying to drop ‘em as hard as I can,” Wheeler-Dee concluded.
—Cross Country’s Jude WheelerDee, ConEd ’26, and Roman Mironov, Comm ’25, bantering about their practice relationship.
“Belief is incredibly important, right? If the road isn’t challenging, then I don’t think you’re learning the lessons that you need to learn to be ready for whatever the next challenge is.”
—Women’s Rugby Head Coach Dan Valley on the importance of contrasting undefeated seasons, 100+ point wins, and comeback victories like their 31-24 win against the Guelph Gryphons Sep. 21.
“One thing that sticks out to me is servant leadership and putting the players at the centre of everything we do. My coaching philosophy is very player-centric and very people-centric.”
—Men’s Soccer Head Coach Kasy Kiarash when asked about his coaching philosophy as he entered his first year behind the wheel of Queen’s Men’s Soccer.
Then of course we have the greatest quote in the history of The Journal coming from Head Coach of the Men’s Hockey team, Brett Gibson.
“Hey Aidan, hold up for a second. I’ve been here, you know, 20 plus years. I thought you did a fantastic job this year. I think the questions you gave to me, I thought they were well thought out and you know that’s not always the case. So, I wish you all the best in what you do moving forward, man.”
—Gibson after his last interview of the 2024-25 season.
The Gaels have a way with their words.
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
Three Gaels attended the 2025 CFL National Combine from March 21 to 23. JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
‘Journal’
staff weigh in on Athletes of the Year.
‘The Journal’ staff crown this year’s top varsity athletes
Rookies and vets headline a year of standout performances
Aidan Michaelov Senior Sports Editor
In honour of the 89th annual Colour Awards taking place from April 1 to 2, The Journal completed its annual Staff Picks for Varsity Athlete of the Year.
Ollie Engen, Kin ’28, was the unanimous choice for Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. As a rookie, Engen led all U SPORTS rookies in points scored, and spearheaded the Gaels offensive scheme this season.
Completing the rookie sweep in Queen’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball’s rookie Brooke Hussey, Kin ’28, was voted Women’s Basketball Player
of the Year by The Journal Hussey, who assumed the role of starting point guard only a couple of games into the season, was an absolute hustler for the Gaels offensively.
Nolan Hutcheson, ArtSci ’25, was voted Men’s Hockey Player of the Year after recording an OUA-high 20 goals and notching seven game-winning goals for the Gaels this season. Hutcheson also helped lead team Canada to a FISU World University games gold medal in Torino, Italy, earlier this year.
While the Women’s Hockey team struggled this year, goaltender Emma Tennant, ArtSci ’26, was a diamond in the rough and the most consistent player on the ice for the Gaels. Recording a save percentage of .930, Tennant was one of the best goaltenders in the OUA, and will be a force to reckon with on the Gaels’ team for years to come.
Darien Newell, ArtSci ’25, was
unanimously voted Football Player of the Year by The Journal’s staffers. Newell, who is eligible for the CFL draft this season, recorded 18.5 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 5.5 tackles for a loss this season, and was named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian for the second straight season.
Jude Wheeler-Dee, ArtSci ’26, had a monumental season for the Cross-Country team at Queen’s. Leading the Gaels to a national Championship, Wheeler-Dee also broke a 47-year-old record in the 1500-metre, crossing the line at 3:42.53, eight full seconds shorter than the record set by Bob McCormack, MD ’79.
Marcus D’Acre, ArtSci ’26, was named the Men’s Rugby Player of the Year. On top of leading the Gaels to a second-place finish at the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championships, D’Acre also helped lead the U23 Canadian Men’s team to a victory at The Tropical Sevens in Florida at the
end of last season.
Siobhan Sheerin, ArtSci ’25, was voted Women’s Rugby Player of the Year after leading the Women’s Rugby team to another undefeated season, and a second-place finish at the OUA Championships.
Zig Licis, ArtSci ’25, was named Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year this season. Having also been named to the U SPORTS All-Canadian Second-Team, an OUA First-Team All-Star, and leading the Gaels to a Forsyth Cup victory, Licis has more than earned The Journal’s votes.
Hannah Duchesneau, ArtSci ’25, won her second straight OUA Player of the Year award this season after recording 221 kills on a .297 hitting percentage. Duchesneau was named a U SPORTS All-Canadian and unanimously won The Journal’s Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year award.
Josh Crete, ArtSci ’28, was
selected as Men’s Soccer Player of the Year after appearing in all 12 games for the Gaels this season and tallying a goal as a defender. Crete was named an OUA Second Team All-Star and will be training with Atletico Ottawa of the Canadian Premier League.
Mattson Strickler, ConEd ’26, was voted Women’s Soccer Player of the Year by The Journal after leading the Gaels in goals, with 10, and finishing the season fourth overall in points, with 13 in just 12 games played. Strickler was also recognized as an OUA First-Team All-Star this season.
Ceilidh MacDonald, Sci ’25, was voted Queen’s Rowing Athlete of the Year due to both her international and national success this season. MacDonald secured a bronze for Team Canada at the FISU World University Rowing Championships earlier this year, and helped the Gaels clinch their second straight OUA Championship.
Men’s Volleyball unable to repeat provincial success at national level
Head Coach Gabe deGroot sits down with ‘The Journal’ to reflect on championship season
Aidan
Michaelov Senior Sports Editor
After a phenomenal regular season, culminating in the Gaels securing a Forsyth Cup, the Men’s Volleyball team was unable to reach the same heights at the national level.
Travelling to Brandon, Man., for the U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Championship, the Gaels fell 1–3 in their quarterfinal matchup against the Saskatchewan Huskies on March 21.
Although Queen’s won the opening set 25–20, they couldn’t keep up with the Huskies’ adjustments, dropping the next three sets and ending their run for the U SPORTS Championship.
Defensive dominance defined the early stages of the match for the Gaels, who out-blocked the Huskies 16 to three.
However, that wouldn’t be enough to carry them through the game. In the second set, Saskatchewan made timely changes to counter Queen’s strong blocking strategy.
Despite keeping each set close—losing 19–25, 27–29, and 23–25—narrow margins don’t earn points on the scoreboard.
Head Coach Gabe deGroot spoke with The Journal following the loss, emphasizing the razor-thin margins at the national level.
“To just look at the bottom line of the fact that we lost two matches doesn’t put the whole picture in perspective. The fact of the matter is, at this level, when you’re this close to doing what the team wanted to achieve in winning a national championship, the margins are super small,” deGroot said in an interview.
The Gaels were led by
themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard, falling 2–3 to the Winnipeg Wesmen in the consolation semifinal.
Similar to their previous match, Queen’s started strong—winning the first two sets 26–24 and 25–23—but couldn’t maintain momentum, dropping the final three sets 14–25, 25–27, and 19–21.
Venning delivered another standout performance, finishing with 18 kills and 10 digs. Licis followed close behind with 17 kills, two aces, seven blocks, one assist, and nine digs.
Reflecting on the tournament, deGroot shared what the experience meant for the team.
“I think we tried to take as many moments as we could as a group to be grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “We had to be grateful for the accomplishments that we’ve had throughout the year that led us to being in Brandon, and I think as a result each member of the team will cherish that.”
While players like Licis may have just had their last shot at a U SPORTS banner, deGroot is extremely excited for the future of Queen’s Men’s Volleyball. The team’s foundation is built on veteran players passing down their drive and passion for winning to the next generation. According to deGroot, that spirit is now influencing recruitment.
“The work that these guys that are graduating put in laid the foundation for the thirdyear guys to come and to want to be part of this program now. The foundation that those guys are laying has already done wonders regarding our recruiting. We’re very close to already committing to our 2026-27 class,” deGroot said.
After a strong provincial season and national campaign, the Men’s Volleyball team is poised to continue building for years to come.
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
ARTS & CULTURE
‘Carnelian: Alive at Ale’ premiered on March 29 on YouTube.
‘Carnelian: Alive at Ale’ captures one of the band’s biggest shows
Documentary gives memorable night a lasting legacy
Cloey Aconley
Assistant Arts & Culture Editor
Carnelian’s January show at The Ale House wasn’t just a concert, it was a farewell gesture. Now, it’s a documentary.
Carnelian: Alive at Ale, which premiered March 29 on YouTube, tells the story of the student band Carnelian as they headlined Ales n’ Amps on
Sound CheCk: I gueSS thIS IS goodbye
JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
Signing off with some final selections
Madison Taylor
Senior Arts & Culture Editor
They say time flies when you’re having fun.
What began as a chance to share new music with The Journal’s readership and my friends has turned into one of the highlights of my month.
Putting my thoughts and feelings about music into words hasn’t always been easy when it’s something that feels so physical and personal to me. But this music time capsule is one that’s accurately represented
Jan. 22 in their biggest self-organized show yet.
Produced, edited, and directed by Patrick Mitchell, ArtSci ’25, and co-produced by Rue Mathur, CompSci ’25, and Joshua Kowal, ArtSci ’25, the documentary is an appreciation for live music here in Kingston.
As most of the band is graduating, the documentary is a unique look at the group’s last performance together as students.
Friends previously, Mitchell was eager to work with the band, and tell the story of their success as student musicians.
“They’re very funny guys, and I knew that if I pointed a camera
the amazing new tracks of this school year.
So, for my final Sound Check, I’ve decided to zoom out a bit.
While there’s no ignoring the one new song I haven’t been able to turn off, these picks reflect my top selections of the whole year, and the musical memories of my time at The Journal. It’s been a pleasure listening with you.
Song: “Sally (When the Wine Runs Out),” ROLE MODEL
ROLE MODEL owes my housemates a huge apology. Or rather, I do.
This song has been played at max volume in my room, in the shower, blasted throughout the kitchen, and even sung a capella without realizing. It’s reverberated throughout the bones of our crumbling student house, and for that, I’m sorry.
The latest release from ROLE MODEL’s deluxe version of Kansas Anymore “Sally (When the Wine Runs Out)” encapsulates the feeling of non-committal freedom that comes with the final weeks of university.
The end is so desperately near in sight, and this fun, catchy, carefree track is reminding me of warmer, freer days to come.
It’s more than just the 10 second clip that’s been doing the rounds on TikTok—it starts off slow and
captures the city’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic and its reconnection with local performance art. The final cut weaves together a mix of candid interviews with the four members, and dynamic concert footage from their unforgettable performance at The Ale House. Carefully ordered clips tell a story behind each song, giving viewers a comprehensive understanding of the show, and the moments leading up to it.
One of the standout elements of the completed documentary—and something that resonated with Mitchell while telling Carnelian’s story—was the collaborative nature of the band. This is especially evident in some of the most engaging scenes, where you can clearly tell the band is in the same room, chiming in and playfully interrupting each other’s interviews.
When explaining how they met, Ross jokes about never hanging out much in their second year—prompting off-camera banter as from the rest of the band as they piece together the story of their formation.
said. Ales n’ Amps speaks to a broader musical culture in Kingston, consisting of students and locals coming together to enjoy live music.
Carnelian is back, alongside Clay Pigeons, and Jinx, for the second Ales N’ Amps of the school year on April 3.
For Mitchell, who’s also graduating this year, having the opportunity to attend the show was one of the highlights of his time at Queen’s.
“Just being there and being surrounded by music and being surrounded by people who want to hear great music, and being in such a great venue, was an absolute highlight of my university experience,” Mitchell said.
An ode to live music, local art, and student filmmaking Carnelian: Alive at Ale is an impressive time capsule of a band’s last performance as students.
“It’s something that because it’s so locked into a specific time in the Queen’s culture, […] it’s going to become a very interesting time capsule,” Mitchell said.
at them and I asked them a couple questions that related to their artistry or their performances or their popularity, or the growth of the band, then there’s going to be something compelling there,” Mitchell shared in an interview with The Journal.
Consisting of Greyson Martyn, Sci ’25, Duncan MacLaren, Sci ’25, Ryan Ross, Comm ’25, and Angus Carter, BMus ’25, the members of Carnelian met in their first year and formed the band the summer after third year.
Offering a unique look at the live music scene in Kingston, the documentary
builds from strength to strength, with just enough twang and storytelling to walk the line of pop and country. Not to mention ROLE MODEL might be the internet’s newest crush. I think I can see the appeal.
Go Tucker—or should I say, @SaintLaurentCowboy.
Album: Two Star & the Dream Police, Mk.gee
I loved this album when it came out, and it’s somehow still up there at the top of my “on repeat” playlist all these months later.
When I first heard Two Star & The Dream Police in 2024, it marked something new from what I’d heard before. It felt so eclectic, and unique, yet so whole.
It’s an album that improves with each listen, and my favourite song continuously rotates. Some days I’m into the resigned confusion of “Are You Looking Up,” but others I’m ready for the emotional turmoil that “Alesis” brings. Most of the time though, “Candy” is my tried and true.
When Eric Clapton compared Mk.gee to Prince, I scoffed at the comparison. But now, almost a year later, I can see why.
Artist: The Tragically Hip
This year, I’ve had the joy of being
“They’re all very close friends, and they’ve had this rise together, and they do have a real camaraderie,” Mitchell said.
One of the major challenges in bringing the documentary together was cutting over 10 hours of footage into a 47-minute documentary, leaving the viewer wondering what was left on the cutting room floor. “There’s so much great footage, you can make another documentary with everything you cut,” Mitchell said.
Ultimately, the editing challenge was well worth the experience of attending the show and having the opportunity to highlight the Kingston music scene, Mitchell
more immersed in Kingston’s music scene than ever before.
Growing up with The Hip’s Road Apples (1991) album on in my household in New Zealand, I knew I liked their music. But it wasn’t until moving to Kingston, and seeing the unique music scene here, and in Canada more generally that I really understood it.
The Hip are woven into the fabric of this town and nailed Kingston onto the map as a music destination—not just a place to pass through.
Whether it was finally understanding Bobcaygeon’s “checkerboard floors,” after seeing The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, realizing the layers of tragedy behind“Fiddler’sGreen,”discovering “I’m a Werewolf Baby” deep in the archives of CFRC, or hearing student bands cover “New Orleans is Sinking” and “Little Bones,” proving The Hip is engrained in the musical memory of a whole new generation.
Having one foot in Kingston’s musical past has helped me understand its present, something I’ll always be grateful for.
From the vault: Monkey Business, Black Eyed Peas
Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca
‘drag Queen’S on trIal’ balanCeS Camp
and Comedy
In CaptIvatIng Courtroom drama
Queen’s Theatre Troupe delivers a bold and comedic take on social persecution and identity
Cloey Aconley
Assistant Arts & Culture Editor
Drag Queen’s On Trial puts society’s prejudices on the witness stand.
Produced by the Queen’s Theatre Troupe (QTT) and Adele Liao, HealthSci ’28, and directed by Linden Imeson Jorna, ArtSci ’25, Drag Queen’s On Trial: A Courtroom Melodrama runs from April 2 to 5 in Convocation Hall. Written by Canadian playwright Sky Gilbert in 1985, QTT is putting its own spin on the story—satirizing the social persecution of drag queens and exploring themes of non-conformity and the social stigma towards gay men during the AIDS crisis.
The 1980s were a time of great social and political upheaval in Canada, including an expansion of feminism and 2SGBTQ+ movements. QTT’s performance inspires consideration of some of these themes and their continued relevancy.
Opening night featured all the flair of a student production. From a cheering audience filled with classmates, to the occasional slip-up adding to the colour and spontaneity of the night’s performance.
Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca
GRAPHIC BY NATALIE VIEBROCK
Ancient history is humanity’s first draft
Studying abroad in Turkey has
changed the way I think about history.
Eva Sheahan Assistant Arts & Culture Editor
Studying abroad in Turkey has changed the way I think about history.
The vibrant city I live in, Istanbul, was once Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The city contains so much life and culture from all the ancient civilizations it’s been home to such as the Thracians, the Ancient Greeks, the Persians, and more. These stories and memories are preserved because of their inherent value in our contemporary world. Yet, it seems Queen’s has forgotten the importance of the rich ancient world amid prioritization of STEM fields and programs they believe ensure monetary success.
Over the last few years, Queen’s has been implementing drastic budget cuts to the arts programs, placing an emphasis on the University’s STEM programs over the humanities as seen through their hopes for the “Bicentennial Vision.” Among many valuable arts programs fading into extinction at Queen’s is the Department of Classics and Archeology, the study of the Ancient Greek and Roman worlds including mythology, theatre, philosophy, and Latin.
I was introduced to Classics at a young age. My mom studied Ancient Greek and Roman studies receiving her MA from Queen’s in 2004. As pretentious as it sounds, she used to read me story books in Latin. By preserving the languages and stories now written off as dead, she taught me to never discount stories from the past.
Human stories have remained the same through history built upon the powerful ideas of love, grief, and the struggles of life.
For example, the profound impact mothers and daughters have on one another isn’t something new. In Ancient Greece, there’s a myth that follows Demeter, the goddess of grain and agriculture, and her daughter, Persephone. Persephone is abducted by Hades, the God of the underworld, and Demeter is completely devastated by the loss of her daughter, and refuses to allow the crops to grow until Persephone returns.
Eventually a compromise was reached between the Gods—Persephone would spend half the year with Hades, and Demeter’s grief would cause
autumn and winter, and the other half of the year, Persephone would be back with Demeter, marking spring and summer as the earth flourished again. Beyond solely explaining the seasons, the myth is deeply human, marked by Demeter’s grief and love for her child.
It seems human nature really hasn’t changed much over all these years—we still love, fight, cry, struggle for power and succumb to social hierarchies.
When discussing the relevance of ancient stories on modern assessments of humanity, nobody from the Ancient World nails human nature the way Homer does. He was an ancient Greek poet whose eighth century BCE poems—the Iliad and the Odyssey—continue to be two of the most influential literary works of all time. Homer’s writing helped to create the “epic”—the ultimate hero’s journey where the main character battles between good and evil and faces moral dilemmas.
This year, esteemed filmmaker Christopher Nolan has taken on the task of bringing the Odyssey to life on screen. Adapting the epic following the warrior, Odysseus’s decade-long journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War will be no easy feat. Only one shot of the film has been released but Nolan is already being criticized by history fanatics for the lack of historical accuracy.
Simultaneously, the Universal Executive claims Nolan’s Odyssey is a masterpiece and Homer himself would be proud.
Homer is known for his skill in capturing hubris—excessive pride or arrogance in one’s own abilities. Homer’s work is a commentary on the tragedy of hubris, specifically how pride can lead to one’s downfall, as it does for Achilles, the warrior, in the Iliad.
But the point isn’t whether the film gets every detail right—it’s that these ancient stories are still being told, reimagined, and debated. Homer’s themes of hubris, identity, and moral conflict continue to shape how we understand ourselves. The fact that filmmakers still return to these myths speaks to their relevance today.
If we remain curious enough to reconstruct our cultural and political narratives, we’ll find that the stories of the past live on.
It seems when all is said and done, art is what is preserved and passed on through time. To all at Queen’s who snub the arts, remember that to preserve art is to preserve humanity itself.
By discarding the arts, we risk losing our humanity along with it.
What’s ‘iPhone face’ and why do I care?
Exploring the phenomena that’s rocking period pieces
Natalie Viebrock Postscript Editor
We’ve all thought it—some actors are just too symmetrical to be in a period piece.
Following the release of Daisy Jones & The Six (2023), the highly anticipated rock band drama, the internet was up in arms over the cast’s accuracy—or lack thereof. While all undeniably attractive and rocking fabulous ’70s hair, many fans found the actors too modern-looking.
Camila Morrone, who plays Camila Alvarez in the series, was one of the main targets. One X user summed up the sentiment: “She looks like she knows what Venmo is.”
Though humorous, the X comment taps into a broader unease about how modern beauty standards can clash with historical settings in period films, colloquially known as “iPhone face.”
The Daisy Jones & The Six cast isn’t the first instance of so-called iPhone face accusations. The term—though technically applicable to any smartphone—has become shorthand for the ultra-symmetrical, hyper-groomed, and distinctly modern features that some actors bring to period dramas.
Dakota Johnson in Persuasion (2022), Timothée Chalamet in The King (2019), and Halle Bailey in The Colour Purple (2023), among many, have also found themselves in the hot seat for looking a little too 2025.
At its core, iPhone face refers to the polished, symmetrical, and often cosmetically enhanced features that have grown more common due to the rise of social media, filters, and beauty technology. Skincare advancements, Botox, fillers, and even the most subtle cosmetic tweaks have shifted beauty standards, making certain facial features—like fuller lips, higher cheekbones, ultra-smooth skin, and sparkling white teeth—the new norm.
For many period pieces,and the loyal fans who defend them, these modern features feel out of place, and historically inaccurate.
Staff pICkS: ‘Journal’ Staff Share exam horror StorIeS
With finals season on the horizon, here’s what not to do
Journal Staff
As the libraries fill up, final exams loom, and uncertainty hangs heavy in the air around grading and graduation, this April exam season is bringing back bad memories for some Journal staff.
***
In second year, I was taking a history exam for a class that I took with my class crush. Before the exam, we met up and he asked for half my bagel while we were studying. I said yes, but he didn’t know that the bagel was my dinner.
Later on, during the exam, I
ended up running out of the gym to throw up and pass out because I hadn’t eaten all day. I did very poorly on the test. That boy is now my boyfriend.
—Sarah Eklove, Opinions Editor
My first university exam was for SOCY 122. I never studied much in high school, but I worked pretty hard for this exam, and I felt confident I’d do well.
After the exam I sent a Snapchat to someone saying, “first uni exam ever. predicting a 90 i’m LIKE that.” Upon receiving my grade, I was not satisfied with my B-. I still did alright in the class though.
—Jonathan Reilly, Assistant News Editor Continued online at www.queensjournal.ca
Even actors who haven’t undergone procedures may still exhibit these “modern” facial features due to better nutrition, orthodontics, and skincare than people had in past centuries. Add in the fact that we’re used to seeing highly curated, filtered faces on Instagram and TikTok, and suddenly, anyone who doesn’t look like they’ve just stepped off a time machine set feels anachronistic.
Interestingly, there’s actual science behind why modern faces look different.
Studies suggest that frequent exposure to front-facing cameras and filters is subtly reshaping our perception of beauty. The Snapchat-bred dysmorphia has led to an increase in cosmetic procedures designed to mimic the polished, idealized versions of ourselves we see on screen, their faces smoothed, contoured, and enhanced to match a digital standard that doesn’t actually exist.
On the surface, it may seem like a strange complaint—the perfection of an actor’s appearance in a movie may feel insignificant. But part of what makes period dramas compelling is their ability to transport audiences into another time. So, when an actor’s face (or veneers) scream “21st century,” it breaks that immersion. Some actors seem to sidestep this critique. Florence Pugh in Little Women (2019), Anya Taylor-Joy in Last Night in Soho (2021), and Barry Keoghan in Dunkirk (2017), for example, are often praised for their ability to blend seamlessly into both historical settings and contemporary films. Their features boast a certain timelessness that doesn’t subscribe to the over-plumped, over-chiselled, filtered beauty standards of today—perhaps making them feel more at-home in period pieces.
While iPhone face is more of a social media gripe than a scientific term, it does highlight real shifts in beauty standards and relationships with authenticity in storytelling. Whether it’s a passing internet complaint or a genuine issue for filmmakers, one thing is clear. Some faces just feel too modern for depictions of the past.
Social media filters are disrupting historical accuracy in film.
GRAPHIC BY NATALIE VIEBROCK
The past is worth looking at. GRAPHIC BY NATALIE VIEBROCK
Last Words
Allie and Skylar say goodbye to The Journal
Allie Moustakis Editor in Chief
There’s something about being in the confines of 190 University Ave. that makes it feel like the outside world doesn’t exist. Maybe it’s just my office, the fact I can’t remember the last time I drank water, or the fluorescent lights, but every hour feels like 2 a.m.
Whatever it is, reality bends in this house—until something forces it to snap back.
Until a student sits across from you, voice shaking, asking if you’ll keep their name off the record because they’re afraid of what might happen if you don’t. Until a family member calls—not to thank you, but to threaten you over a story they didn’t want to see published.
Until you remember what this job really is.
It’s the people who write those stories—who chase them down, sit with the weight and mess of it—and still come back the next day to do it again.
This is what snaps it back for me.
This year was arduous. I won’t pretend otherwise. There were days, weeks, and months where it felt like the news never stopped.
When the encampment went up 10 days into our term, we were there. When grad students walked off the job, we listened. When protests erupted over the war in the Middle East, we did our best to cover them with care. When the threat of funding cuts loomed, when a snap provincial election was called, and then—because apparently one wasn’t enough—a federal election followed, we rolled with it.
When AMS nonsense landed in our laps in the middle of a print press day and our editorial autonomy was tested, we pushed back. More than I ever could’ve imagined. And when two senior editor positions needed to be filled in the second week of the semester, nobody flinched.
That was you, my dear Volume 152. Eight-hundred words isn’t nearly enough to capture what you pulled off this year.
We did more than just publish a newspaper every week. We held space—for grief, for discomfort, for questions without easy answers. We didn’t always get it right, and for that I’m truly sorry. All I can say is we tried our best because this paper, and the people it serves, deserve nothing less. Because the people who came before us did the same. And we owe it to the ones who’ll come next.
To the over-worked, underappreciated staff of Volume 152—I hate to say goodbye. Thank you for trading any semblance of a normal university experience for late nights, cold pizza in the couch room, and the kind of work most people will never understand. Thank you for trusting me—I’m in awe of all of you.
Wardah—you’re the reason why the fluorescent lights stayed on. Literally. Madison and Herbert—in five, 10, 20 years from now, when I think about The Journal, I know I’ll think of you.
Asbah and Cassidy—words cannot describe how grateful I am for the two of you. This paper is built on the people, not the pages—thank you for letting me be one of them. Asbah, your love for The Journal is contagious. Cassidy, I hope I was half the editor you were. Thank you for showing me the ropes.
Our goal was never to reinvent the wheel—you’d already built something strong, steady, and worth protecting. We just did our best to keep it rolling. I hope we made you proud.
Mom, Dad, and Julian—I don’t know where I would be without you. Love you, even when you forgot it was press night.
To my friends and housemates—thank you for caring, and for not caring. Thank you for listening to me talk about work, for not making too much noise on Friday mornings because you knew I was sleeping, and for keeping me sane. I owe you all countless hours I’ll never
get back and even more I’ll never be able to repay.
Skylar—I can’t believe it’s over. I won’t miss dealing with the craziness that came with the job, but I will miss doing it with you. You brought me down to earth and always led with grace, sometimes for the both of us. I will always be your biggest fan, in this newsroom and wherever you go next.
There’s no one else who can make me simultaneously laugh and cry at 5 a.m. while exporting. No one else I’d rather sit with in my office. No one I’d rather eat ramen with and vent to when it felt like the world was ending—and no one better to look across the hall at and know, with absolute certainty, that we were going to be okay.
The first Journal story I ever read had your name on it. I’m glad my last one does too.
To Volume 153 and whoever comes next—take care of it. Take care of each other. Let this place challenge you, teach you, frustrate you, and shape you. I know I did. Good luck, Sarah and Meg, with the year ahead.
The outside world is waiting. But for a little while longer, I’ll stay here in this house—because leaving is harder than I thought.
Allie is (almost) ready for one last post-press picture at the blue box.
Skylar Soroka Editor in Chief
After 339 days, this job showed me my own resilience.
Since high school, I knew whichever university I attended, I’d go out for the paper. On Oct. 21, 2021, I did—and I haven’t looked back.
For 339 days, I watched the clock, restless to escape Kingston and the weight of my own name. My only regret is not fully appreciating the opportunity of a lifetime.
It was another incredibly challenging year for news, and stories were raw to the touch: another year of conflict in the Middle East, religious and sexual-based violence, and graduate students grappling with food insecurity and fighting for fair pay.
Somewhere in between was an AMS-led campaign—found all too familiar by alumni—where student leaders claimed to know The Journal better than those who had dedicated their entire undergrad to it.
When my friends would ask me what news was breaking, I’d half-jokingly tell them to pick up a copy of The Journal and read it for themselves. I was cowardly—I avoided talking about a job I was consumed by to escape the work I was doing. I’m an emotional person. I’m also Jewish, and like many students and community members, I was deeply affected by what was happening globally and right here on campus. Eventually, I’ll let the tears slip.
But my struggles pale in comparison to the pain and suffering faced by those caught in the crossfire of global conflicts this year, those whose lives were upended by natural disasters that tore through the world, or graduate students—some unhoused and relying on the University, for the basic dignity they deserve. While I know bigger issues don’t erase my daily unease, I did the best I could. Allie, we made mistakes, but we learned from them.
To the Masthead of Volume 152—thank you for trusting Allie and I with your very being. The work you poured into this place matters. If it were easy, anyone could do it. But it wasn’t, and you did.
Herbert and Madison—you made the all-nighters worth it. Herb, my day-one photographer. Yung Gravy secured our bond, and it never faltered. Madison, you took a new section by storm and emerged a seasoned journalist. I can’t wait to welcome you to Toronto.
Sam, Jenny, Claire, Emma, and Rylie—when the weeks felt endless, you were my anchor. Your patience kept me afloat, listening to every story, no matter how niche it was or how much I knew you didn’t care, even though I could never tell. Just knowing you were there kept me going.
To my parents, thank you for reminding me that every problem was just a grain of rice. You may not have fully grasped the weight of what we carried,
but you listened anyway, knowing each time another grain fell.
Ben and Julia, thank you for taking a chance on a first year—and for patiently waiting while I sprinted to campus after my WiFi failed mid-interview. Asbah, my first mentor here, because of you, I drank the blue Kool-Aid. Cassidy, you were the editor of my dreams. With every issue this year, you both were the pillars of compassion and intellect I strived to emulate. You elevated this paper, leaving a legacy every future staffer should be grateful for. Wardah, you were always two steps ahead. In a time where print is fading, your foresight ensured our words never ran out of pages to land on.
Meg, never think your willingness to step up and lead the News section at the drop of a hat went unnoticed. You and Sarah have all the tools at your disposal to be strong leaders. I can’t wait to see you both continue the fight for this paper and its legacy. And Allie. You’re the strongest, most adaptable person I know. I know comparison is the thief of joy but your ability to make tough calls with steadfast confidence is a quality I envy. You’re magic. A born journalist. Through every choice we made, you reminded me why this job matters. Through every lukewarm, half-drank Coke can I left on your desk, know I only left it there because I wanted to be with you in your office. No wonder you got into an Ivy League—have the couch made-up when I make my way down to the Big Apple.
With 339 days behind us and every issue out, our last 26 days will be spent wishing time would stretch just a little longer. Now, more than anything, I want to feel the 7 a.m. sun after 26 sleepless hours, to watch the light fade through my east-facing window at 190 University Ave.—just once more.
As Trooper sang in 1977, “We’re Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time).” Things weren’t always good, but what a terribly good time it was.
Skylar is ready to order one last ramen.
PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG
Left to right: bad cop, good cop.