The Queen's Journal, Volume 151, Issue 28

the journal Queen’s University

Queen’s distributes 120,000 glasses for April 8 total solar eclipse M ikella S chuettler Assistant News Editor Queen’s is helping everyone get ready for the solar eclipse.

For the first time since 1349, Kingston will experience a total solar eclipse on April 8 from 3:22 to 3:25 p.m. In collaboration with the City of Kingston, Queen’s is preparing students and local residents to safely experience the eclipse by distributing eclipse-safe glasses and holding in-person educational events.

The Queen’s Eclipse Task Force began preparing for this moment over two years ago.

“I think this is right on the mandate of what Queen’s needs to be as a University, not just educating our students, but educating and protecting the whole public,” Robert Knobel, head of the department of physics engineering and physics astronomy, said in an interview with The Journal.

Kingston is expecting 500,000 visitors to experience the phenomenon. Knobel predicts people will go “bonkers.”

“It’s like the Queen’s basketball team getting that buzzer-beater,” Knobel said, referencing the recent Gaels basketball win. “That’s [the effect] I’m hoping we will have, but for astronomy.”

Hundreds of Queen’s volunteers hosted eclipse educational sessions in schools and distributed 120,000 certified eclipse glasses to students and Kingston residents, relying on financial support from the Principal’s Office. Kingston residents flocked to public libraries to pick up a pair of glasses, Knobel said.

On Monday, volunteers will be stationed across the city at viewing locations to hand out extra glasses

Queen’s top five earners of 2023: a countdown S ophia C oppolino Senior News Editor Queen’s top paid employees raked in six-figure salaries last year, with highest earners seeing a half million dollars in compensation.

Published March 28, the Ontario Sunshine List ranks all Queen’s employees’ salaries over $100,000 in 2023, with an average 8.5 per cent raise across the University. Across the board, Queen’s University Faculty EDITORIALS — PAGE 5

Darts & Laurels: The Journal ranks the best and worst moments of the year queensjournal.ca

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Vol. 151, Issue 28

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

Since 1873

Buyouts begin as KINGSTON EXPECTING ArtSci gives staff 500,000 ECLIPSE TOURISTS incentive to leave Program to ease faculty’s $37.4 million operating budget deficit M eghrig M ilkon Assistant News Editor

Catch the total solar eclipse on April 8 from 3:22 to 3:25 p.m.

and ensure the community is safe.

Knobel warns looking directly into the sun’s rays, even when it appears covered during the eclipse, can permanently damage eyes. Looking through cameras, even with eclipse glasses on, concentrates the sun’s rays and can cause injury.

For Knobel, the eclipse is an opportunity for Queen’s to engage with the Kingston community in a way which benefits everyone.

“There’s lots of cool things about the eclipse, but one of the cool

things is that you don’t need a fancy telescope, you don’t need a fancy camera [to enjoy it],” Knobel said.

The task force distributed glasses to community organizations for unhoused individuals, residents in retirement homes, and to reach people with mental and physical disabilities. Apps to make the eclipse accessible for blind and low-vision communities are listed on the Queen’s eclipse website. The apps translate the visual experience of the eclipse into sounds and phone

Association (QUFA) faculty bargained three per cent salary increases for all members beginning in 2023.

According to the list, 1,415 employees made the six-figure cutoff, averaging $172,344.

Here’s The Journal’s countdown of Queen’s top five earners of 2023.

Queen’s lecturer of all time. Lagging Hamilton by $33,477 is Smith School of Business Professor Shai Dubey, the second highest paid lecturer.

5. Jim Hamilton, Director (Graduate Diploma in Business); $401,884 Ranking fifth, Hamilton earned $401,884 in 2023, almost a 14 per cent raise from 2022.

Hamilton, a lecturer at the Smith School of Business, teaches marketing strategy and sales management for undergraduate and graduate students.

Hamilton is the highest paid OPINIONS — PAGE 6

Leo Yang: It’s crucial for AMS Assembly to break free of the political bubble @queensjournal

4. Patrick Deane, Principal; $418,577 There was no raise for Queen’s top public facing officer, Principal Deane. After his appointment in 2019 and a 100 per cent salary increase in 2020, Deane’s salary has plateaued at $418,577.

Deane’s Western counterpart, Alan Shepard, earned $484,000 in 2023, coming in fourth for Western’s top five earners.

3. Wanda Costen, Dean (Smith School of Business); $479,578 Dean of Queen’s business school, SPORTS — PAGE 9

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

vibrations to create an experience for those who can’t see it happen.

The City is offering free public transport on the day of the eclipse so residents and visitors can attend designated viewing areas. Tourism Kingston is promoting local activities, such as walking and bike tours, while the City is holding an event in Grass Creek Park with food and entertainment.

Knobel hopes to see the Queen’s community enjoying the eclipse together on Tindall field Monday afternoon.

Costen ranked third in earnings last year, and second amongst deans.

Costen received a 19.9 per cent raise from 2022.

2. Elspeth Murray, Director (Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Social Impact); $512,348 Coming in second is Murray, the founder and director of Smith School of Business’ Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Social Impact (CEISI). Created this year, the CEISI merged two centres at Smith.

Previously, Murray was the Associate Dean (MBA and Master’s Programs) at Smith, which was ranked first in Canada by the Financial Times Global MBA ranking.

Staff can now apply for a buyout to leave their positions at Queen’s.

Queen’s University announced its Voluntary Exit Incentive (VEI) on March 26, allowing staff in the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) to exit their roles in exchange for a lump sum payment. FAS staff who’ve been employed for a minimum of six months at the University and haven’t submitted a notice of resignation or retirement are eligible for VEI. The program isn’t available to FAS faculty and staff in research, grant, or contract roles.

VEI is more generous than the University’s severance packages, which are negotiated under union collective agreements.

Under the VEI, FAS staff who have worked for more than 13 years will be given a payout equal to the severance payment—negotiated under the 2010 United Steelworker collective agreement with the University—which would be given to employees with over 25 years of service.

Like severance packages, the payment staff receive from VEI is dependent on years of service.

The University is offering staff the equivalent of four weeks of regular salary for each year worked at Queen’s. The minimum payment will be for eight weeks and a maximum of 52 weeks, which includes unused paid vacation days.

See Buyout on page 3 1. Jane Philpott, Dean (Faculty of Health Sciences); $546,053 Dean Philpott topped the charts as Queen’s highest earner, receiving a $546,053 paycheque from the University. Coming to Queen’s in 2020, Philpott has consistently been in Queen’s top five salaried employees.

Philpott has a background in federal politics, is a medical doctor, and serves as CEO of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization (SEAMO).

POSTSCRIPT — PAGE 12

Quotes of the year: 12 of the most memorable—and funny—utterings

Last Words: Vol. 151 Editors Asbah and Cassidy bid farewell to The Journal

@queensjournal

@queensjournal

@thequeensjournal

News

2 • QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

AMS Year in Review: Team KMV wraps up the JDUC move and de-slating

NEWS

The AMS has been surveying students’ opinions on de-slating the executive elections.

They have a survey up on their Instagram account and met with current and incoming student leaders to discuss the potential change.

The AMS will bring the amended constitution at the next General Assembly for a vote on April 9.

Homecoming and St. Patrick’s Day

Team KMV, left to right: Victoria Mills, Kate McCuaig, and Michelle Hudson.

$5 fee go to referendum.

Vice-President (Operations) Hudson is transitioning The Queen’s Pub and The Brew—two AMS services which have been out of commission for four years—into the JDUC. She’s ensuring the services are fully equipped for the upcoming year.

For The Brew, Hudson has focused on training new employees and assisting Common Ground Coffeehouse Head Manager Phallon Melmer with rebranding the product line.

are

still negotiating rent prices for JDUC spaces with their landlord Queen’s University. With the Student Life Centre (SLC) fee failing at winter referendum, it remains unclear how the AMS will afford the move home.

McCuaig is confident negotiations will end in the AMS’s favour because no party wants the JDUC to sit empty.

“It is in the best interest of the University for the AMS to occupy and to come [into the JDUC], and to not have an empty building on campus,” McCuaig said in an interview with The Journal.

According to McCuaig, promoting the importance of the SLC fee was a “tremendous” undertaking for many divisions of the AMS. “The goal wasn’t to necessarily pass the [SLC] fee but to educate students on the building.

That part was successful,” McCuaig said in an interview with The Journal.

The team said the University suggested a higher SLC fee wasn’t reflective of student’s wants and needs.

They opted to have a

Three years after acquiring the building, it remains unclear what Queen’s is doing with Kingston Collegiate & Vocational Institute (KCVI).

Donna Janiec, vice-principal

(finance and administration), was unable to give The Journal a cost estimate for renovations or confirm the building’s future use.

The University couldn’t provide its renovation plan for the building.

The KCVI project wasn’t listed under the major capital projects section in the University’s 2023-24 budget report.

The Board of Trustees won’t approve capital projects if they’re not fully funded, and KCVI needs to be fully renovated, Janiec said during a presentation to Senate at March. The building is currently being used for storage.

Construction vehicles and

equipment currently parked outside are for crews working on the JDUC, Janiec said.

While details of the project are unclear, Smith Engineering students in a fourth-year civil engineering class, CIVL 460, are working to provide a structural review of the building while suggesting roof replacement options. Students’ involvement in the transformation of KCVI is part of their capstone projects, Nathan Splinter, manager of energy suitability at Queen’s said in a statement to The Journal.

The University purchased the former KCVI building at 235 Frontenac St. from the Limestone

Negotiations with University continue as AMS plans move into JDUC Meghrig Milkon & Mikella Schuettler Assistant News Editors With the school year coming to a close, AMS President Kate McCuaig, Vice-President (Operations) Michelle Hudson, and Vice-President (University Affairs) Victoria Mills sat down with The Journal to reflect on their time in office.

After a whirlwind AMS election, Team KMV is ready to pass the torch to the incoming executive team. The team talked JDUC negotiations with the University, responding to on-campus protests, and changes to AMS services.

Redefining spaces: JDUC revitalization project

The

AMS

executives

KMV’s top priority: student safety on campus

Countless protests led by students affected by the conflict in the Middle East, Queen’s Students versus Cuts, and PSAC 901 swept campus this year. The AMS was publicly questioned for not reaching out to Jewish groups on campus after antisemitic incidents.

Mills said the executive met with senior administrators to amplify students’ voices.

The executive took over

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

communication surrounding protests about the war in the Middle East. According to Mills, the Social Issues Commissioners were involved every step of the way.

“Our first and foremost priority has been, and will always be, to ensure students are safe and supported on campus,” Mills said.

Democracy in action: AMS election season

At the last AMS Assembly, faculty societies proposed a motion to amend section 2.2.2 of the AMS constitutiontode-slatetheexecutive elections. This amendment would allow candidates to run for AMS executive as individuals rather than as a team.

The AMS had 12 days to amend the constitution, a task McCuaig describes as “daunting.” Despite this, she’s ready to buckle down and get it done.

“We’re here to make that happen and figure it out and put the hard work in. […]

We will bring forth a policy next Assembly that de-slates elections […] If students vote for it,” McCuaig said.

KCVI in limbo as storage facility

Dollar amount behind KCVI acquisition and renovation undisclosed Sofia Tosello Assistant News Editor

District School Board (LDSB) in June 2021 at an undisclosed price.

Previously, Janiec said the building was going to be transformed into teaching and learning spaces.

The University embarked on nine major capital projects over the past year, including the JDUC revitalization and expansion of Leonard Dining Hall, totaling $234 million.

The Agnes Etherington Art Centre is set to be reimagined with the project estimated to cost around $100 million, primarily funded through alumni donations from the Bader family.

For Mills, Homecoming and St. Patrick’s Day were major milestones.

With the University District Safety Initiative (UDSI) in full force, Mills was proud of the Know Your Rights Campaign, spearheaded by the Social Issues Commission, as a major success in harm reduction.

“We wanted to get creative with harm reduction this year,” Mills said.

The AMS sent a delegation to the Police Services Board to advocate for students’ rights under the UDSI, which Mills said can seem “adversarial” towards students.

The executive said they encouraged Kingston Police and the University to be clearer in their messaging to students.

There were no major injuries to students or police officers this year on either weekend, Mills said. From handing out Gatorade and coupons on St. Patrick’s Day to condoms and snacks on Homecoming, the AMS helped students stay safe and satisfied during major weekends.

According to Mills, the AMS fostered a positive relationship with the City of Kingston this year. The AMS partnered with the City of Kingston to encourage students to attend St. Patrick’s Day events in the downtown core, supporting local businesses.

CORRECTIONS — The untapped economic potential of eldest daughters A previous version of this article incorrectly spelled Adam Felts’ last name.

— Renovated dining hall features new omelet station and improved sustainability A previous version of this article incorrectly reported the name of the Indigenous chef.

— COMPSA executive election results are in A previous version of this story incorrectly spelled Olivia Stewart’s last name.

— Incorrect information appeared in the March 22 issue of The Queen’s Journal. The Journal regrets the errors.

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

QUEENSJOURNAL.CA • 3

Exceptional isn’t optional for students in competitive Bachelor of Health Sciences culture Five years after its inception, program expanding on campus Sophia Coppolino Senior News Editor In her firstyear, Sarah Chapman, HealthSci ’24, muted her program’s group chat after receiving over 1,000 messages per day about schoolwork and assignments. In some cases, her peers were discussing assignments with due dates months in the future.

In September, 370 freshly minted Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) students will come to Queen’s for their first year of undergrad.

Five years since its inception, the cohort all have high school averages over 90 per cent and impressive cocurricular records.

For Chapman, the first week of first year was nerve-wracking. When she started in 2020, students arrived for the first day of classes having completed assignments posted to OnQ. Since then, the faculty has closed OnQ courses until classes officially begin.

Health Sciences students have a reputation on campus as being heavily involved in academics and extracurriculars—and for many students, the stereotype isn’t baseless.

Chapman herself is a varsity women’s water polo player, President of Queen’s Save the Mothers chapter, a member of Queen’s Friends of Doctors Without Borders chapter and Queen’s University Children’s Health Association, all while conducting research and working part-time at a local coffee shop.

Between extracurriculars, work, and school, Chapman had 80 hours of commitments per week, which she recognized as being unsustainable.

“I think the idea that Health Sciences students are able to do it all and be involved in everything does sometimes get some people into situations in which they do feel overwhelmed, but it’s so normalized to be that busy and overwhelmed,” Chapman said in an interview with The Journal.

To capture students’ personal development through extracurricular activities, Jennifer Carpenter, lead for the BHSc global health and population track, is piloting the Advocacy, Allyship, and Community Engagement (AACE) passport in her class of over 100 students.

The AACE passport is intended to help students reflect on how they’re giving back to their community.

The passport was created

Two Health Sciences study for exams.

in part to help students focus on the value they’re adding in one or two clubs without overcommitting. “[Health Sciences students overcommitting themselves] actually did in a way inform the creation of the AACE passport program,” Carpenter said in an interview with The Journal.

In interviews, students in the BHSc program unanimously reported they, and most of their peers, were applying to professional or Master’s programs. Applications for law school and medical school in Ontario have 32 spaces for students to list their extracurricular activities.

“If I were on an admissions committee, I would want to hear what you learned from a few [extracurricular activities] rather than seeing you have a list of 20 things,” Carpenter said.

Andrew Dam, HealthSci ’24, had to go straight from volunteering to class and then to his clarinet rehearsals, sacrificing sleep and home cooked meals in the process.

He didn’t expect for this to be his lifestyle.

“I think being in HealthSci surrounded by all these people who are doing so many things outside of school, they have a lot on their resume, and you sort of feel the need to be doing these things,” Dam said in an interview with The Journal.

The BHSc program is built on a flipped classroom model, where students work through course content individually and class time is dedicated to discussions, presentations, and applications of what they learned. The model allows students to build their own schedule, factoring in their extracurricular activities.

Genuinely interested in his extracurriculars, Dam leverages the flipped model to squeeze as much as he can into his day, but still struggles with feeling like he’s

not doing enough compared to his peers.

“I feel the need to be doing more, even though I physically probably can’t do more,” Dam said.

The program has built a reputation as being competitive and difficult to get into.

With almost 6,000 applications, spots are in high demand, Michael Adams, associate dean, undergraduate studies (life sciences, biochemistry, BHSc), said.

Adams supports medical and other professional schools changing their admissions processes to omit first year marks so a 17- and 18-year-old can live a life and make a mistake or two before it impacts their career decisions.

Administrators are consistently monitoring BHSc students’ academic performance, and across both their core and elective classes, they achieve high marks Adams said.

In grade distributions of 17 mandatory classes for students, all showed over a third achieved an A plus grade.

“It means that if you bring in high quality students they do extremely well in other courses,” Adams said.

For Adams, the program is meant to support students in finding their passion, not feed them into a specific professional school. Students in BHSc are highly qualified and motivated, he said, and he hopes the structure pushes them to achieve to their fullest potential, while learning the life lessons which come along with attending university.

In second and third year, Calder Bryson, HealthSci ’24, heard of peers in clubs, so she got involved with student government; if someone was doing two clubs, she did three.

Heart set on law school, Bryson still felt the pressure of competing with her peers despite avoiding the drama of medical school applications.

“I think we attract a certain type of person, a certain type of mindset. You’re competitive

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

and driven and smart, and so you put all these people together, it’s basically lighting a fuse,” Bryson said in an interview with The Journal.

The program taught Bryson professional skills, and the science and humanity dimensions of health, while working hard in both academic and extracurricular spheres.

Bryson resented the reputation other students associated with Health Sciences students.

Other students had the impression she wasn’t interested in social activities because she was in Health Sciences.

“I don’t want someone to have this idea that I’m a shut-in and all I care about is school.

I don’t think that’s a very Queen’s-forward mindset at all,” Bryson said. “Part of the reason I chose the school is because of the balance of academics, extracurriculars, and social activities.”

Health Sciences Society (HSS) President Sara Pollanen said students have been overstretched and report feeling imposter syndrome.

The program is unique because so many students are heavily involved, she said. To alleviate stress, Pollanen and her team have planned socials to bring students together.

This year, the HSS planned a formal, plant potting night, bracelet making, around-theworld potluck, and an art gallery night. “[The Art Gallery event] allowed students to simply show their artistic talents and converse with other artists in our program. We hope by initiating such events it would help bridge connections in our BHSc community,” she said in a statement to The Journal.

More opportunities to come together in a social, non-academic setting is key for building a better culture in BHSc, Mariane Ratsimor, HealthSci ’24, said in an interview with

The Journal. As a member of the COVID-19 cohort, she developed a sense of community with her peers over time, leaning on one another to get through the transition to in-person school.

Choosing between grades, extracurricular activities, and sleep, Ratsimor found herself leaving sleep for later. She said the “pre-med toxicity” is worse amongst the lower years of the program.

As Queen’s admits larger cohorts, students’ sense of community could be reduced.

Collaboration in classes can be a source of conflict for students, needing other ways to connect.

Chapman, Dam, Bryson, and Ratismor all told The Journal spending more time with BHSc students in social settings without performance expectations is important.

They’ve been able to find their communities despite the program’s competitive culture, not because of it.

“Having [more] opportunities to sit next to one another and see this is a peer, not a competitor,” Ratismor said.

Big ArtSci Buyout ...Continued from front page According to the FAS webpage, the faculty is hoping enough employee choose the VEI program and leave their positions voluntarily to minimize potential layoffs. If a FAS employee gets laid off, they aren’t eligible for VEI and will receive benefits outlined in their job contract or union agreement. Staff don’t need permission from their managers to apply for VEI. The program was launched to address the faculty’s $37.4 million operating budget deficit, this revised number was confirmed at the Senate special meeting on Jan. 17.

Recipients of VEI retire by May 31 of this year, unless the University’s operational needs require them to stay in their position for longer.

VEI applications will be approved basedontheUniversity’soperational needs. Once applications are submitted, they can’t be withdrawn.

Successful applicants are eligible for re-employment with the University three years after their resignation date. Applications close on April 30.

If the program contributes to balancing FAS’s budget, the University may expand it to other faculties.

“Should the pilot program effectively achieve cost savings, while minimizing impacts on people, the University will consider expanding the initiative to other parts of the University, if necessary,” Queen’s University said in a statement to The Journal.

Features

4 • QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

FEATURES Medical school admission requires diverse experiences Queen’s medical students share their experience Vineeth Jarabana Features Editor Sabina Shah, Meds ’25, always had medicine in the back of her mind whenever she considered potential career options.

Shah completed a four year undergraduate education in psychology at Queen’s, where she entertained several different career paths in the early years of her degree.

“In my first year, I did just general sciences and then I ended up doing a double major in biology and psychology and then I majored in just psychology because it was a subject that I really enjoyed.

Whether I did medicine or something else I wanted to spend my four years doing something that I was really interested in,” Shah said in an interview with The Journal.

Shah is one of the approximately 140 people out of the more than 5,000 applicants, an extremely competitive acceptance rate, who was able to gain acceptance to Queen’s University’s School of Medicine.

According to admissions statistics for this year’s first year class at Queen’s University’s School of Medicine, medical students enter their studies from a diverse range of ages and educational backgrounds.

In the class of 2027, the ages of students ranged from 19 to 41. Sixty-three percent of the class only has an undergraduate education while 35 percent have Master’s degrees, and two per cent have PhDs.

From cultivating the perfect resume chock full of diverse extracurriculars to maintaining immaculate transcripts, hopeful medical students face several pressures when vying for some of Canada’s most highly sought after postsecondary programs.

To learn more about the various pathways into the School of Medicine, The Journal spoke with three students about their experiences.

Shahbelievesherundergraduate education prepared her well when it came to communication in the medical profession and in her interviews.

However, she experienced significant learning curves in areas like the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) an examination she chose to write twice.

“For my MCAT, I had to self-teach a lot of things because I wasn’t from a medical sciences background. I never took organic chemistry, I never took anatomy,” she said.

Shah mentioned not having many friends who were applying for medical schools, which is something she attributes to her not taking the traditional “pre-med” courses.

As a consequence, she didn’t have many peers with whom she could exchange ideas or prepare for interviews.

At the same time, she experienced much less stress when applying to medical schools because she had fewer peers applying as well.

In terms of the transition from undergrad to medical school, Shah appreciates the ability to stay in Kingston.

“I absolutely loved my undergrad at Queen’s and I was actually nervous about studying [at Queen’s] for med as well because I didn’t know what the experience

was going to be like. I didn’t want medicine-oriented undergraduate to compare the two much or programs like health sci at Mac, feel like I was replacing my or health sciences here. So, I undergrad experience. It feels already had the experiences that separate enough, the undergrad would lend themselves quite experience and the med useful in the experience, that I feel like I had two QuARMS application.” different, but positive in their own Alex remembers the application way, experiences.” process being quite lengthy—they From an academic perspective, received an interview invitation she’s enjoyed the greater in the winter with their final offer focus on learning the coming in mid-spring. material—rather than just getting Prior to entering QuARMS, high grades—in medical school as they had no expectations for compared to undergrad. what the program would look Over the summer between like. Nonetheless, they were the end of undergrad and the surprised by the diversity of life start of med school, Shah took the experiences among the students. opportunity to relax.

“The QuARMs students that As for the advice she has they put together, each and every for students who may be coming student is incredibly different from a similar background from the other nine. The as her, Shah advises them personalities and attributes in to prioritize their passions when each of the 10 eventual medical joining extracurriculars. She students really goes to show believes this approach will lead that there isn’t one perfect to greater personal satisfaction pre-med student or one and stronger medical school perfect physician.” interview performances.

Due to the program’s Alex* is currently in the first two competitive admissions, they years of the Queen’s Accelerated advise applicants to differentiate Route to Medical School themselves as much as they can.

(QuARMS) program—a six-year “Everyone will have the same program that allows 10 high school base accomplishments. They’ll graduates each year to enrol in a be the president of whatever compressed two-year undergrad pre-med club, they’ll have the paired with four years of marks, they have done some medical school. work with some nonprofit and have They started considering done lots of volunteering work.

QuARMS in grade 11 after it was Everyone has them so in order brought to their attention by a to make your application guidance counselor. memorable, you need a Alex noted that they hadn’t ‘spike’—some sort of attribute or shaped their time in high school activity that is unique.” around applying to QuARMS. Gilmar Gutierrez, Meds ’22, is “I had already been doing originally from Ecuador and came extracurriculars, research, and to Canada in 2013. various competitions that you Since he lacked Canadian would expect from a pre-med permanent residency status student for any pathway,” they said or citizenship when he first in an interview with The Journal. applied to medical schools, “I was already looking at he was considered an the other not pre-med, but international student.

Gutierrez mentioned the paucity of spots for international medical students in Canada—something that posed a significant challenge for him when he was applying.

“I had to work quite hard in order to have the grades, make sure that I got the right score for the MCAT then of course figure out which schools actually accept international medical students because there is a total of between five and 10 international medical student spots in Canada,” Gutierrez said in an interview with The Journal.

Finances were also another significant barrier for Gutierrez—the cost for international medical students can be up to triple the cost for domestic medical students.

Gutierrez felt fortunate he received financial support from his family and friends as well as through loans.

Without permanent residency status or citizenship, he had to account for an additional consideration in all his long-term planning: immigration.

He eventually received permanent residency after working for two years following his graduation from medical school, allowing him to recently be matched to a residency program.

As for advice for medical school applicants in a similar situation as his, Gutierrez recommends getting familiar with all the steps involved in both applying to medical school and immigration.

He also recommends getting comfortable with taking risks. *Name changed to protect source’s identity.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

The Journal’s Perspective

Editorials

EDITORIALS

QUEENSJOURNAL.CA • 5

THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL Volume 151, Issue 28 www.queensjournal.ca @queensjournal Publishing since 1873

Editorial Board Editors in Chief

Asbah Ahmad Cassidy McMackon Curtis Heinzl

Production Manager

Sophia Coppolino

News Editor

Meghrig Milkon

Assistant News Editors

Mikella Schuettler Sofia Tosello Vineeth Jarabana

Features Editors

Skylar Soroka Cassandra Pao

Editorials Editor

Arden Mason-Ourique

Editorial Illustrator

Aimée Look

Business, Science & Technology Editors

Violetta Zeitlinger Fontana Rory Stinson

Sports Editor

Queen’s community impacted by war in the Middle East: On Oct. 7, a missile attack on Israel orchestrated by Hamas, combined with ground offensive taking hundreds of Israeli citizens hostage, brought the decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine to the consciousness of many. The result has been broad and sharp polarization of universities and the communities beyond their campus grounds. Queen’s saw increased violence against groups of students supporting both sides, yet notably, existing groups and resources were sparse when supporting the organization of Palestinian students.

Antisemitic incidents occur on and off Queen’s campus: Across Queen’s campus and Kingston, acts of antisemitism sprung up, the war in Gaza likely having aggravated existing prejudice. Every week saw the hateful removal of Mezuzahs—symbolic parchments inscribed with Hebrew verses from the Torah—from Leggett Hall Residence. Perhaps even more disturbing is how many incidents of antisemitic hate must go undocumented as those who experience them are silenced or understandably afraid to come forward.

‘Queen’s could cease to exist if we don’t deal with this issue:’ faculty and staff remain skeptical: Provost Matthew Evans and Arts and Science Dean Barbara Crow announced the University expects to exhaust its reserve funds by 2025-26, with the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) running out as early as next year without possible cuts. A significant contributor to Queen’s massive budget deficit is the Ontario government’s lack of support for post-secondary education.

In-person voting revived for upcoming AMS election season: This year’s AMS election season was conducted in-person as well as online. The addition led to higher voter turnout by making it possible for students to stumble across the election traversing campus. Integrating elections into the everyday, walking lives of students is a beneficial approach to increasing students’ engagement with politics.

Smith Engineering is transforming engineering education at Queen’s: We all heard about Stephen Smith, Sci ’72, and his $100 million donation to the newly renamed J.R. Smith School of Engineering.

Aside from new resources to the University’s engineering faculty, Smith’s donation sparked fun chatter on campus and very amusing lore by giving two rival faculties—engineering and commerce—the same name. Smith’s investment in his alma mater conveys Queen’s space in his heart.

Queen’s hosts first ever Vanier Cup: The Vanier Cup is the national championship game for Canada’s university football teams.

Queen’s hosting the game is a positive step towards re-igniting Queen’s spirit around its sports events. Spirited attendance at sports games is a fun experience for current students, an open invitation to alumni, and an enjoyable diversion from harmful traditions.

Black poetic voices take centre stage highlighting themes of joy and pain: In its

DARTS Lobby groups representing post-secondary institutions cite concerns Ontario’s failure to prioritize post-secondary education will impact the quality of education, teachers, and professors for generations.

Matthew Evans pulls out of AMS Assembly: Following news of the budget crisis, Evans pulled out at the last minute from attending AMS Assembly. Evans’ last-minute cancellation implies his disrespect for the AMS. Whatever the cause of that disrespect be, its display is concerning and will hopefully be reversed soon. Evans justified his cancellation with fears Assembly wouldn’t house productive dialogue, speaking to the often disrespectful and immobile activism some students exhibited online this year.

JNN is out, what happens now?: The disbandment of Team JNN—initially the only candidates to present themselves in the AMS executive election this year—left Queen’s with no incoming executives for the very first time.

The result was a breakdown of democracy, which denied students the opportunity to vote and allowed AMS Assembly members to pick next year’s team unilaterally. Worse, JNN’s collapse emblematizes the increasing incompetence in the previous few AMS elections and teams and encourages the misperception of Queen’s students as disinterested and incapable.

31.5 per cent increase to Community Housing rent over next three years: Queen’s announced community housing rent

LAURELS

Black History Month (BHM) issue this volume, The Journal spotlighted three Black artists, D.M. Bradford, Britta B, and J-Marsh. Joy is a powerful emotion and worthy motivator.

Although BHM has only been celebrated in recent volumes of The Journal, we’re proud of the progress made in our representation of the Black community and we look forward to bolstering diverse voices on campus.

Team STD most popular AMS executive ‘candidates’: AMS executive “candidates” Team STD amassed hundreds of followers on social media based on platform pillars of alcohol affordability, access to contraception, and resolving Queen’s budget deficit. Their satiric campaign contributed some muchneeded levity to this year’s unprecedentedly confusing and alarming AMS executive election. The team’s popularity online fostered togetherness among students, united by a campus-wide inside joke. Team STD directed the curiosity of many students towards AMS proceedings, hopefully encouraging them to educate themselves in earnest for future elections.

The mastermind behind QBarLive speaks on inception and termination: During its life, QBarLive live streamed footage of popular bar lineups in Kingston every

ILLUSTRATION BY ARDEN MASON-OURIQUE

will increase by more than four times the legal provincial guidelines. This increase is unspeakably devastating to Queen’s graduate student community, leaving some to question whether they’ll be able to finish their degrees.

Despite priding itself on its research, the bulk of which wouldn’t be possible without graduate students, the University uniformly mistreats its graduate students, as evidenced by their low pay, long hours, and pervasive food insecurity.

Seven per cent drop in international students, report says: Though the seven per cent drop isn’t too substantial and is attributable to other causes including COVID-19 and universally rising costs of living, it’s a reminder the University’s rankings have dropped. For many students, Queen’s lacks a unique selling point. Recent policies capping international students will usher in an even greater decline.

What’s the deal with the JDUC?: The JDUC’s current renovations proceed from a long history of debating its suitability and potential uses. Today, the JDUC renovation is one of the AMS’s greatest failures—a 20-year project now $23 million dollars over budget and potentially not destined to house AMS offices and commissions. Most current Queen’s students have paid for the JDUC renovation for years and won’t get to use it. The continued obscurity of details about the JDUC is the cherry on top of the lack of transparency at Queen’s this year.

Continued online at queensjournal.ca/ editorials

night to help inform users as to whether going out would be a worthy endeavour that night. Its founder, Lucas Gordon, Comm and Comp ’24, paid for all the necessary equipment and software himself, going as far as paying students living in other buildings to install cameras outside their residences to expand the site’s coverage.

Queen’s Men’s Basketball win OUA Championships: With 13 seconds left on the clock, Queen’s Men’s Basketball team secured the Wilson Cup against the Brock Badgers.

This game showcases the power of sports rallying communities, unifying fans in rooting for a team together, and celebrating their constituents after a big win.

‘The Journal’ secures double win for excellence in student journalism: The Journal’s Senior News Editor Sophia Coppolino, ArtSci ’23, Assistant News Editor Sofia Tosello, ArtSci ’25, and Assistant Photo Editor Joseph Mariathasan, ArtSci ’24, were recognized at the John H. MacDonald (JHM) Awards for Excellence in Student Journalism.

Staff at The Journal dedicate significant time and efforts to produce high quality work, in addition to pursuing their degrees in a variety of often unrelated disciplines. The awards are a heartening and well-deserved recognition of our staff’s talent and devotion.

Continued online at queensjournal.ca/ editorials

Assistant Sports Editor

Aidan Michaelov

Lifestyle Editor

Allie Moustakis Herbert Wang

Photo Editor Assistant Photo Editor

Joseph Mariathasan Miriam Slessor

Video Editor

Jamie Weiler

Assistant Video Editor

Ali Safadi

Graphics Editor

Norah Kierulf

Copy Editors

Kenzie O’Day Anne Fu

BIPOC Advisory Board Members

Malaieka Khan

Oluwamisimi Oluwole

First-Year Interns

Rishab Chakraborty

Lauren Nicol

Yael Rusonik

Staff Illustrator Staff Writers

Elizabeth Provost

Natalie Viebrock

Leo Yang

Contributors

Business Staff Manal Shah

Business Manager

Irina Tran

Sales Representatives

Madeleine Smith Fundraising Representative Margaret Cavanagh-Wall Social Media Coordinator

Ana Coelho

Want to contribute?

For information visit: www.queensjournal.ca/contribute or email the Editor in Chief at journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions.

The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston.

Situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. The Journal’s Editorial Board acknowledges the traditional territories our newspaper is situated on have allowed us to pursue our mandate.

We recognize our responsibility to understand the truth of our history.

Editorial opinions expressed in The Journal are the sole responsibility of The Queen’s Journal Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers.

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

journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca

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

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Contents © 2024 by The Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of The Journal.

6 • QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

Opinions

OPINIONS

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

Your Perspective

Leo makes some suggestions for how the AMS can improve in the future.

JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

To drive engagement, the AMS must reform The AMS doesn’t have to be far removed from its constituents Leo Yang Contributor Once hailed as the vanguard of student governance and representation, the AMS finds itself at a crossroads.

In recent years, the AMS has grappled with a myriad of challenges , which hindered its ability to effectively represent and serve the student body.

From marketing inefficiencies and leadership deficits, to engagement and inclusivity problems, the hurdles facing the AMS are emblematic of broader systemic issues of low youth engagement across the generation.

As someone who’s been involved with the AMS over the past three years, I’ve witnessed firsthand the disconnect between the AMS and the student population—its social media followers have barely increased in that time.

Despite commendable efforts in content creation and campaigns launched by the exceptional 2022-23 AMS marketing team, like the "AMS Asks U about Queen’s" series, the AMS remains confined within its internal circles, failing to engage the wider student body. This insularity has rendered the AMS irrelevant to many students.

Furthermore, the AMS's failure to address the diverse needs of students highlights a critical deficiency in its advocacy efforts,

which is particularly evident in the lack of communication with the student body during the University’s budget crisis. Rather than proactively representing student interests, the AMS has often been reactive these years, with external student groups like Students vs Cuts filling the void to advocate for student concerns.

In response to these challenges, it’s imperative for the incoming AMS leadership to strive towards inclusive reform to better align with the evolving needs and expectations of the student population.

First and foremost, the AMS must prioritize enhancing its marketing efficiency. While past initiatives have demonstrated creativity and innovation, they’ve fallen short in reaching most current students. The AMS must adopt a more targeted approach to outreach and collaborate with the University and faculty societies, leveraging platforms and strategies that resonate with students beyond already engaged members.

When addressing the persistent issue of low engagement, student leaders should first examine why the AMS deserves students’ attention when attempting to convey that its decisions are relevant to students' lives.

It’s no secret students feel powerless and alienated from their student government. To combat this, the AMS must strive to bridge the gap and demonstrate to students their voices matter and that the AMS is actively working to represent them positively.

In addition to communication

reforms, the AMS must dismantle the entrenched slate structure that perpetuates exclusivity and hinders diversity in leadership.

By disbanding the existing three-executive structure and adding additional roles to divide the workloads, the AMS could accommodate more portfolios with lesser time commitment each to attract more talent.

This change could help attract more students from other faculties as well, which would be a much-needed change from the current system. With uncompetitive salaries and long working hours, most students from faculties like Commerce and Engineering are unwilling to apply for positions in the AMS, leading to unpreventable nepotism, faculty monopolies, and political dynasties.

To represent all students on campus, the AMS must ensure more voices are heard and represented by breaking itself down to diversify its participation.

Transparency and communication are paramount in fostering trust and engagement within the student body. The AMS must prioritize open dialogue and regular updates on its activities and decisions, providing students with opportunities and a platform to voice their opinions and concerns. This can be as easy as providing progress and new plans.

This must come from having an efficient communication process, such as creating centralized class accounts that can reach more students, especially those in lower years. By bridging the communication gap, the AMS can rebuild trust and legitimacy as the true voice

of the student body.

It's crucial for AMS Assembly to break free from the political bubble of not consistently talking with students outside the circle of governance, which often surrounds politics. Most students will never be motivated to participate in AMS Assembly, hence the need for regular discussion groups with specific topics or referendums on student issues.

Good practices have already been demonstrated by the Engineering Society for years during their Council meetings.

Instead of making grandiose and abstract promises, student leaders should focus on setting tangible long-term goals.

The JDUC revitalization project, for instance, didn't materialize overnight; it was the result of years of effort and planning by multiple successive AMS executives. By adopting a similar approach and implementing five-year plans for key projects and initiatives, the AMS can restore a legacy of progress and long-term positive change with future executive teams.

Finally, the AMS must empower student engagement by becoming visibleandaccessibleacrosscampus.

This can involve its leadership members actively participating in student-run events, soliciting direct feedback from students, and creating opportunities for meaningful involvement in decision-making processes.

By fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration, the AMS can harness the collective power of the student body to drive positive change.

The challenges facing the AMS are undeniably daunting, but represent a pivotal

opportunity for transformation.

By embracing inclusive reform, the AMS can reassert itself as a trailblazer in student advocacy and empowerment.

Moreover, it's essential to acknowledge the systemic issues at play within the AMS. The current system may be flawed and prone to corruption, but it continues to function and sustain itself. However, there’s immense potential for improvement to create a more efficient and effective organization that truly serves the best interests of the student body. It's crucial to recognize the shortcomings of the system aren’t the fault of any individual student leader.

Throughout my interactions with generations of student leaders, almost all of them assume their roles excited to hit the ground running. Most work beyond expected hours, but often encounter the harsh reality of limited impact one can make within their short term.

This realization often leads to feelings of disillusionment and frustration. By acknowledging these challenges, setting specific, realistic long-term plans during the summer to target the class of 2028, and committing to meaningful reform, the AMS can pave the way for a brighter future where student governance is truly representative and impactful.

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

Want to write an op-ed? Email journal_letters@ams.queensu.ca for more details.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

Business, Science, & Technology

<BIZ-SCI-TECH>

Kingston solar enthusiasts: beware the counterfeit eclipse glasses

Fake eclipse glasses sold through online Kingston marketplaces, Queen’s says Aimee Look Business, Science, & Technology Editor Counterfeit solar eclipse glasses are being sold in Kingston, posing a threat to users who wish to look directly into the sun.

Kingston is directly in the path of the total solar eclipse, which is set to take place on April 8 at 3:22 p.m. The City has been preparing to host 500,000 visitors for the eclipse, officials say.

Queen’s University purchased 120,000 glasses for the eclipse, distributing them on campus and at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library. Tourism Kingston is selling eclipse glasses, too.

But online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay are selling counterfeit solar eclipse glasses, according to supply chain

experts. Queen’s warned of such counterfeit eclipse glasses being sold on online marketplaces in Kingston.

“These [counterfeit] glasses do NOT stop enough sunlight to be safe,” the University said.

“You can tell by looking at household lights—if you can see the lights easily, these [glasses] should be DISCARDED.” It’s difficult to discern between fake and protective eclipse glasses because many are designed to look like they’re officially recognized by Solar Eclipse International Canada (SEIC), according to a Queen’s University 2024 Eclipse tweet posted on March 26.

These fake glasses usually fraudulently print the logo and name of a legitimate manufacturer and can be sold with a lower price tag, according to a press release from the American Astronomical Society (AAS). They’re polluting the marketplace, the AAS said.

“Any company worthy of your business should have established itself well before last October's annular solar eclipse across the

Americas, let alone well before this coming April's eclipse,” the AAS said in a press release.

Counterfeit glasses could have the ISO mark, but “almost always” lack manufacturing labeling, according to Ralph Chou, professor emeritus of optometry and vision science at the University of Waterloo. Chou is the Vice-Chair of the Canadian Standards Association Technical Committee on Industrial Eye Protection.

“We saw similar knock-off products in 2017 and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the future,” Chou said in an email to

QUEENSJOURNAL.CA • 7

print the name and address of the manufacturer and testing agency, provide instructions and warnings, and an expiry date.

“A product that meets the requirements of the standard and has these labels can then have the ISO and CE logos on it if the manufacturer or distributor has paid to have the compliance testing done and pays the licensing fee for use of the marks,” he added.

If scenery is visible through the glasses, they are likely counterfeit and letting in too much light, Chou said.

Viewing the eclipse without proper eyewear can have long-term consequences.

to look at it through a phone, camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope—even while wearing eclipse glasses—unless the equipment is properly outfitted with a filter.

During the moments of “totality,” where the moon completely covers the sun, it is safe to remove glasses to peek at the eclipse.

The solar eclipse glasses are in high demand across Eastern Canada, with organizations like the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) selling over 70,000 pairs so far, a company

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

The Journal. “As a solar eclipse approaches and public interest increases, the opportunity to make a quick buck is just too tempting.”

Legitimate solar eclipse glasses will state that they comply with the ISO 12312-2: 2015 standard,

“Generally, you should not be able to see anything through the filters in the solar eclipse glasses except for the sun.”

Viewing the eclipse without solar protection can lead to vision loss or damage, according to KFL&A Public Health. It’s unsafe

spokesperson said in an email to The Journal. But the society could have ordered twice that and sold them all, the RASC said.

Some vendors of legitimate solar glasses have sold out, but many still have them in stock, according to the RASC.

the need for volunteers to navigate traffic on their way to the station and enable a quicker response from KFR. While the eclipse may be a rarity for Kingston, Brad Joyce, commissioner of infrastructure, transportation, and emergency services for the City of Kingston, said the City learned from regions

Highway 401 is a key route for Frontenac Paramedics serving Kingston’s surrounding areas.

Joyce said a single northbound and southbound lane on Sir John A. Macdonald Blvd., and King St. W. will be closed from Mowat Ave. to Barrie St. to allow emergency vehicles a direct route from the 401 to the KGH emergency room.

deferred and clinic appointments were cancelled.

Viewing the solar eclipse without proper protection can put people at risk of serious eye damage, including partial or complete loss of eyesight—KHSC is prepared for the possibility of an influx of ophthalmologic injuries. A special post-eclipse eye clinic is planned on April 9, by referral only.

What is more concerning is the increase in day-to-day emergencies.

“Kingston’s a relatively small city. Add 50,000 people, that’s going to be enough of a challenge, but add 500,000 people, all the normal things that happen in any given day will just be amplified,” Ilse said in an interview with The Journal.

KHSC hospitals are preparing for the possibility of increased trauma-related issues on the water. Many people are expected to be viewing the eclipse on Lake Ontario. If they’re looking at the eclipse and not at the water, there could be boating accidents.

The City and Kingston’s emergency services are urging people to avoid unnecessary travel and to choose public transport, cycling, or walking whenever possible. Those travelling to the region should come prepared and anticipate delays.

“Pack your patience. This is one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ events that are better enjoyed if everybody’s just really nice to each other,” Ilse said.

Kingston’s emergency services gear up for the solar eclipse

‘We prepare for the worst and hope for the best’ Violetta Zeitlinger Fontana Business, Science, & Technology Editor As up to half a million tourists flock to Kingston this weekend in preparation for the total solar eclipse on April 8, the City is turning its attention to emergency preparations.

Because Kingston is in the eclipse’s path of totality, visitors are expected from across Ontario to view the rare celestial event.

This influx is anticipated to create severe traffic congestion in the region. The City of Kingston has been working with community partners and emergency services for months in preparation.

“There are a lot of unknowns in this one,” Greg Sands, an inspector with Kingston Police, said in an interview with The Journal. “We prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

The department will be spreading their officers out across the city to be able to effectively respond to service calls. Because the eclipse will be easily viewed from across Kingston, Sands encourages people to avoid unnecessary trips to the downtown area.

Frontenac Paramedics Chief of Operations Dean Popov worries traffic congestion could delay paramedics from reaching critically ill patients.

Both Kingston Police and Frontenac Paramedics are upstaffing on April 8, with extra paramedics being assigned to locations in Kingston where high

The eclipse will happen April 8.

volumes of visitors are expected.

Popov urges people to keep clear of emergency vehicles running emergency lights, whether driving or parked.

Kingston Fire & Rescue (KFR) is staffing both of their volunteer stations in Kingston’s east end.

The hope is this will eliminate

across the US that experienced a similar total eclipse in 2017.

Some cities experienced traffic gridlock for between four and 12 hours.

One of the largest risks severe traffic brings is the inability for ambulances to access Kingston General Hospital (KGH).

JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Both the emergency room at KGH and the Urgent Care Centre (UCC) at Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) will have increased staffing on April 8.

According to Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) Chief Operating Officer Renate Ilse, elective surgeries on April 8 were

Sports

8 • QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

SPORTS

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

PHOTO BY JOSEPH MARIATHASAN

The Pom Team at the Tricolour Classic.

A look at the Commerce team’s bench during the Cure Cancer Classic.

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG Queen’s hosts U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Championships. PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

Photos of the Year

Sam Davenport jumps up to catch contested ball.

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

Queen’s Men’s Football Quarterback Anthony Lio attempts a throw.

Cole Syllas sinks a basket for the buzzer-beater win of the OUA Championships.

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

Sports

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

Quotes of the Year The thoughts behind the sports moments

RORY STINSON Senior Sports Editor The Queen’s Gaels saw many successes and some failures this 2023-24 season. The Journal was there to capture those moments, and the thoughts behind them.

For anyone wondering what it takes to put up points at the collegiate level, these Gaels have the answer.

“Pretty much my motto is just hit the ball.”

—Men’s Volleyball player Reed Venning, ArtSci ’26, on how he puts up so many points.

“Good passes, get it to me, [then I] put it in the net.”

—Men’s Lacrosse player Reed Allen, Comm ’26, on the formula to scoring goals.

“Every time you play RMC, you just have to match their work ethic and I thought we slept-walked through the first two periods.”

—Men’s Hockey Head Coach Brett Gibson after a 5-1 home win against the Royal Military College (RMC) Paladins.

“It’s not like it was surprising to me what has happened, because like, literally, that’s our DNA.” —Men’s Basketball Head Coach Steph Barrie on playing from a point deficit in the OUA Championship game.

“The tears will probably come once the crowd’s gone, but it feels really awesome that we got to keep it at Nixon field.”

—Women’s Rugby player Lizzie Gibson, ArtSci ’24, after winning OUA Gold at home in her last season with the Gaels.

“It’s not just inspiring to 10-yearolds. This is inspiring to the 22-yearolds that are coming to the end of their hockey career, or maybe just beginning that kind of path.”

—Women’s Hockey player Scout Watkins Southward, ArtSci ’24, on the inauguration of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).

“Over 20 years, we’ve been on [the court at] the same time, more often than not. It’s pretty magical, you know, when we have the ball, we know what the other ones doing, and we’re able to move off each other. It’s the best thing I’m able to play with him for so long.”

—Men’s Basketball player Luka Syllas, ConEd ’24, on playing with brother Cole Syllas, Sci ’24.

“Just in that moment, jumping up, catching the ball and then coming down with [the ball] for the touchdown, it just felt amazing to bring it down for the teammates.”

—Queen’s Football Receiver Nathan Falconi, ArtSci ’24, following the first touchdown of the Gaels season.

‘The Journal’ lists top picks for varsity athletes Purboo and Duchesneau win unanimously vote RORY STINSON Senior Sports Editor The votes are in for The Journal’s favourite varsity team student-athletes.

Following last week’s Colour Awards, The Journal staff voted for the top performers on April 4 and the results were compiled to award the QJ Players of the Year from their respective teams.

Sharing a family name, Cole Syllas, Sci ’24 and Luka Syllas, ConEd ’24, were split between staffers, tying for the QJ Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. Luka Syllas put up 505 points this year, while brother Cole Syllas had 381 points, including the OUA Championship buzzer-beater on March 2.

On the women’s side of basketball, Julia Chadwick, MIR ’24, had the most votes after smashing points records, securing her 1,000th point, and capturing 506 points this season. Chadwick is The Journal’s pick for Women’s Basketball Player of the Year.

For Men’s Cross-Country, Miles Brakenbury, ConEd ’24, got this year’s QJ Men’s Cross-Country Athlete of the Year award, putting up impressive performances all season long, including a win at the Capital City XC Challenge in September 2023.

The Journal’s Women’s Cross-Country Athlete of the Year

award goes to Madelyn Bullock, ArtSci ’24, for her striking efforts and leadership. Bullock was last year’s Team Captain, and this year was awarded Academic All-Star Honours by Queen’s Athletics and Recreation (A&R).

Jared Chisari, MSc ’25, was voted the QJ Men’s Football Player of the Year after breaking records including single-season rushing yards and single-game touchdowns.

Chisari’s performance all season was a force to be reckoned with, not going unnoticed by The Journal.

With a unanimous vote, Men’s Hockey goaltender Christian Purboo, ArtSci ’25, is awarded the Men’s Hockey Player of the Year award. In his first season starting for the Gaels, Purboo was the glue that held his team together.

He was named U SPORTS Men’s Hockey Player of the Week multiple times this season, but The Journal celebrates him all year.

From Women’s Hockey, Captain Scout Watkins Southward, ArtSci ’24, touched the heart of many QJ staffers with her interview on the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Paired with a 19-point season, The Journal has awarded the Women’s Hockey Player of the Year.

On Men’s and Women’s Rowing, Lucas Celia, Sci ’24, and Claire Ellison, Sci ’24, are awarded the QJ Men’s and Women’s Rowing Athlete of the Year. Celia and Ellison

QUEENSJOURNAL.CA • 9

AIDAN’S ANGLE

“We’ve proven we can play with anyone in the conference, it’s kind of just us versus us. If we play our best football, we’re going to have the chance to do some special things.”

—Queen’s Football Quarterback Alex Vreeken, Kin ’25, following the Gaels vs Western Mustangs home game.

“I love when the RMC student section was getting going and they get chanting, I think it’s kind of fun being the bad guy.”

—Men’s Hockey player Dalton Duhart, ArtSci ’26, following the 6-0 Carr-Harris Cup win at the Slush Who we should expect to succeed, and who we should be patient with.

Puppie Place.

“I looked him in the eyes, and I could tell that he was nervous. I was confident I was going to save it. I was calmer than him.”

—Men’s Soccer Goaltender Connor Adams, ArtSci ’25, after a penalty shot save against the TMU Bold.

“When I wake up in the morning, it’s Angus. When I go to bed, it’s Angus.”

—Ethan Rashid-Cocker, Comm ’27, referencing cross-country teammate Angus Skinner, ConEd ’28, who also happens to be his roommate.

“I definitely encourage students to come out and just to push us through because we’re going to need it. If we can get the students out again next week, it will make a difference in the game, I can promise you that.”

—Queen’s Football Head Coach Steve Snyder after Queen’s Homecoming game win over the uOttawa Gee-Gees. sat down with The Journal prior to competing in the U23 World Rowing Championship in July 2023.

Jacob Merkur, ArtSci ’25, was voted QJ Men’s Rugby Player of the Year as a standout player for the Gaels. He’s returning next season to continue his prospective success.

The Journal’s Women’s Rugby Player of the Year saw staffers split between two recipients: Lizzie Gibson, ArtSci ’24, and Maggie Banks, Nurs ’24. Both players had phenomenal seasons, leading the Gaels to OUA Championship victory and a national bronze medal.

From Men’s Soccer, Pablo Hempelmann-Perez, Comm ’26, was the standout player for Journal staff and was awarded QJ Men’s Soccer Player of the Year after a total of 24 points in 11 games during the 2023-24 season.

On the Women’s side, Mattson Strickler, ConEd ’26, is the 2023-24 recipient of The Journal’s Women’s Soccer Player of the Year, amassing 26 points in 14 games played.

The Journal’s Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year recipient is Erik Siksna, Comm ’24, with 263 kills and 51 service aces.

QJ Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year was unanimously voted to Hannah Duchesneau, ArtSci ’24, for her 213 kills and overall top-notch performance.

JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Is Queen’s in a ‘mass-rebuild?’

The star losses and fresh faces of the Queen’s Gaels

AIDAN MICHAELOV Assistant Sports Editor

Each year, graduating players say goodbye to the programs they’ve dedicated themselves to, and with that, those same programs must both mourn and replace the losses of their veteran student-athletes.

During this volume’s last edition of Aidan’s Angle, I’m going to hypothesize on whether the Queen’s Gaels, as a whole, can be expected to win as much as they did this past academic year.

To determine this, I’m going to look at which teams have several graduating players, especially those who make significant contributions towards their teams’ triumphs, and which teams are set to showcase familiar faces come next season.

Perhaps Queen’s most prominent and followed sport is rugby. Going into the next season, both the Men’s and Women’s teams find themselves in very different positions.

For one, the Women’s team has six graduating players, each starting consistently throughout the season. These rugby veterans played major roles in the Gaels’ success: Captain and U SPORTS All-Canadian Lizzy Gibson, ArtSci ’24, all-star Maggie Banks, Nurs ’24, Canadian National player Taylor Perry, ArtSci ’24, U SPORTS All-Canadian Carmen Izyk, Nurs ’24, flanker Siobhan Sheerin, ArtSci ’24, and fullback Jaden Walker, ArtSci ’24.

With over a third of their starting roster moving on­ —and taking their talent with them—the Women’s team has a lot of work to do next season if they hope to replicate this year’s success.

In terms of the Men’s Rugby team, OUA First Team All-Star and Captain Eric Godden, Sci ’24, OUA First Team All-Star Connor Hay, ArtSci ’25, and OUA Second Team All-Stars Daniel Svoboda, Kin ’24, and Adam Doyle, Kin ’25, are all returning next season to sport their tricolour.

While both Gaels Rugby teams have a fair number of graduating

players, the Men’s team is retaining its prominent players. They should be expected to retain their form, if not improving on this year’s finish.

The Men’s Hockey team is an example of a Queen’s team finding themselves in quite a peculiar situation.

With OUA All-Stars such as Jacob Paquette, ArtSci ’24, and Jonathan Yantsis, ArtSci ’24, moving on to play professional hockey elsewhere, the Gaels must rely on returning talent, such as OUA East First Team All-Star Dalton Duhart, ArtSci ’26, and OUA All-Rookie East’s Derek Hamilton, ArtSci ’27, to take on a bigger workload next season.

The Gaels seem to have their goaltending situation figured out with Christian Purboo, ArtSci ’25, who posted a 1.94 goals against average (GAA) this season.

He’s been a strong figure for the Gaels, as in many situations it’s up to the goaltender to determine how high their team climbs or falls in the standings.

Two more teams absorbing blows to their roster next season will be the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams.

The Gaels will be losing key figures Cole Syllas, Sci ’24, and Julia Chadwick, MIR ’24, both of whom were critical to the Gaels’ success throughout the season and during their playoff pushes.

While losing student-athletes is tough, their losses are met with opportunity for growth.

In the context of basketball, the loss of Syllas and Chadwick provides the opportunity for fresh meat to get their shot at cementing themselves in the Gaels glory books.

I believe each of the Gaels teams has been built to adapt to ever-changing rosters. There’s a lot of hope moving into the next season, with young prospects such as Rugby players, Jacob Merkur, LifeSci ’25, and Rachel Cullum, ArtSci ’26, ready to explode, or Basketball players Michael Kelvin II, ArtSci ’25, and Mikayla Mcfarlane, Kin ’25, who are ready to take on larger roles in the face of their veteran’s absence.

Diversions

10 • QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

Horoscopes: What the signs learned this year T he P sychic S cholar Staff Writer With the school year coming to an end, there’s no better time than the present to reflect on how far we’ve all come. Whether you’re finishing up your first year of undergrad or handing your thesis off to your supervisor, it’s time to take a trip down memory lane and see what this year has taught the signs.

Aries (March 21 – April 19) If this year has taught you anything, Aries, it’s that you have nothing to worry about when it comes to your love life. You spent part of this year single, and absolutely slayed your healing era. Whenever you wanted to find a hookup, you literally had people lining up in your DMs. Now that you’re happily in a relationship, you’re totally thriving. When it comes to love, you’re all set.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20) Patience is a virtue, Taurus, be glad you learned it now. This year passed you by in a rush, and while that’s to be expected of someone with big goals, know it’s okay to stop and smell the roses sometimes. As you move into the future, whatever it may bring, take a breath and have a bit more faith that everything will be okay.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20) This has been a tough year for you personally, Gemini. If this year has taught you anything, it’s that you’re not as well-liked as you think you are. Don’t fret, your time’s not up—there’s still one month to fix your image. Think long and hard about who you want to be—once you enter adulthood, there’s little room left for tinkering.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22) This year has been filled with ups and downs, Cancer, but you’ve learned not to take life too seriously. From no longer stressing about perfecting your Instagram carousels, to ‘doing it for the plot,’ you’ve totally embraced the happygo-lucky lifestyle. While your newfound light-heartedness is a beautiful thing, don’t forget the importance of balance. After all, there are some things—like your flopalicous grades—you have to take seriously.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22) I hope you’ve learned from your mistakes, Leo, because lord knows you’ve made a lot of them this year. It’s fine, we’re over them and honestly aren’t paying too much attention to you anymore; but don’t mistake our indifference for apathy.

Our advice: use this summer to focus on your growth and maybe reinvent yourself. We may never forgive you, but perhaps this selfimprovement will make sure you aren’t the laughingstock of our group chat forever.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22) You’ve been stabbed in the back enough times this year, Virgo. For your own sake, we hope you’ve learned who your true friends are.

You deserve people who will tell you there’s spinach stuck in your teeth, but also people that don’t talk shit behind your back. The end of the semester is the perfect opportunity for a clean slate—take advantage of it and get rid of the fake friends.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22) You’ve learned nothing this year, Libra. You’re still the same old person making the same old mistakes. Let’s hope you’re using this summer to better yourself, because there’s no way the people around you will able to stand you for much longer. And no, bettering yourself does NOT include sleeping with your ex. Much like yourself, they’re never going to change…

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) We hope this year has taught you the world doesn’t revolve around you, Scorpio. Life exists even when you’re not there. It’s understandable you’re primed to feel betrayed whenever your name drops from the conversation, but it’s about time you learn staying in with one or two friends is more fulfilling than begging for attention on the dancefloor.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21) You’ve learned the valuable lesson of when to speak up, Sagittarius. Whether it’s working up the courage to raise your hand in class, ask your coffee shop crush out, or simply tell your housemates to wash their dishes, your voice has the power to make positive changes in your life and others.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) You’re motivated by duty, Capricorn, but thanks to your shenanigans this year, you now know when to take a detour off the beaten path and break from protocol. Being a rebel made this year one for the books—keep up the lawless energy! Believe it or not, your life can be fun when you break from your routine and ignore a few rules, and not all hell will break loose.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb 18) Keep doing you, Aquarius. So, what if school’s not your thing? At least you found out now rather than

later. You’ve learned being true to yourself is the most important thing.

People pleasing got you nothing but the feeling of being utterly lost. Now that you’re no longer adrift, use this summer to find a passion, one you truly enjoy!

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20) You’ve learned the importance of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer, Pisces. There’s only so many people in this world you can trust—sorry you had to find out the hard way. You’re a sensitive soul, and this year, you’ve had too much betrayal. Keep an eye on your opps this summer, but never let them know you’re watching.

Need a place to write down your thoughts? journal_lifestyle@ams.queensu.ca

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

LIFESTYLE

Lifestyle

QUEENSJOURNAL.CA • 11

From Liz, With Love: Advice on when not to give advice How to support your friend without losing your sanity

Country music is going back to its roots.

GRAPHIC BY HERBERT WANG

Beyoncé continues the legacy of Black artists in country music

Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ pays homage to those who came before her Allie Moustakis Senior Lifestyle Editor

Beyoncé’s bringing country back to its roots with the release of her new album, Cowboy Carter.

Twenty-one years after the release of her first album—Dangerously in Love—Beyoncé deviated from her usual sound and has entered the realm of country music.

For decades, country music has been dominated and culturally espoused by white, Southern, upper-middle class men.

Beyoncé’s new album isn’t just a departure from her usual sound—it’s a bold declaration of reclaiming a genre that has been historically whitewashed.

Country music has long been inspired by Black culture, with its roots tracing back to African American folk traditions and storytelling. Yet, as the genre gained popularity in the in the late 1950s and early 60s, Black artists were overshadowed and left behind.

The origins of country music in Black culture trace back to Allie Moustakis Senior Lifestyle Editor

After three years at university, I can finally say I’ve found my people.

The day my parents dropped me off was one of the scariest days of life. I remember sobbing when my mom left me in my dusty, small room in Gord-Brock.

I was terrified of failing my classes and living alone.

Not wanting to do my own laundry, my worst nightmare was accidentally shrinking all my clothes.

Most of all, I was terrified I wouldn’t make any friends.

I came to university as a quiet, shy, and reserved 18-year-old girl who was, as my dad liked to say, “afraid of her own shadow.”

My first day on campus I met two kind girls, one of whom, for lack of better words, took me in. While our friendship was short lived, she introduced me to someone who undoubtedly changed my life—something I will forever be grateful for.

This new friend and I became inseparable to the point I think

Lesley Riddle, an African American musician and songwriter who heavily influenced the Carter family—also known as the “First Family of Country Music.”

After losing part of his right leg in a cement plant accident, Riddle took up the guitar and mandolin. While working in a hotel in Bristol, Tennessee in the 1920s, Riddle met A.P. Carter. Recognizing Riddle’s talent and intimate knowledge of traditional folksongs, they became travelling companion and collaborators.

Together, the two traversed the Appalachian region, collecting and preserving a vast repertoire of folk songs that would become cornerstones of the country music genre.

Riddle’s contributions to the Carter Family’s recordings were invaluable, as his distinctive guitar playing and soulful vocals added depth and authenticity to their sound. While he couldn’t capitalize on his musical talents the same way the Carters did, he served as a bridge between Black and white musicians, helping to shape country music as we know it today.

Around the same time, Deford Bailey, another African American musician, made his mark on

the country music scene. Bailey’s breakthrough came in 1927 during the Jim Crow-era when he became the first African American to perform on the Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville.

Despite facing discrimination and prejudice as a Black artist in a predominately white industry, Bailey made a name for himself, becoming one of the Opry’s most beloved performers.

His influence can be heard in the music of countless artists who followed in his footsteps, from Charley Pride to Hootie & The Blowfish’s Darius Rucker.

Since paving the way for Black artists in the genre, other Black artists—such as Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Ludacris, Nelly, and Snoop Dogg—have dabbled in country music, each bringing their own unique flair and perspective to the genre.

In recent years, there’s been a handful of newer artists making significant strides in breaking down barriers and reshaping the country music landscape.

Kane Brown, a biracial artist, has achieved unprecedented success in the genre, becoming one of the most prominent contemporary Black country artists. His blend of R&B with traditional country sounds

It’s never too late to find your people A love letter to my best friends

The right people will always stay.

it started to annoy the people around us, but we didn’t care.

We shared things about ourselves we never had the guts to say out loud before. We loved each other in a way that differed from the way we loved anyone else in our lives.

She was my first heartbreak.

People always say you won’t

ILLUSTRATION BY SKYLAR SOROKA

stay friends with the people you were friends with in first year.

While this may be true in my case, I’ll always have a place in my heart for the people who took me in, taught me what it was to love, and how it feels to be loved. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here writing about how I’ve finally found my people.

earned him widespread acclaim and a devoted fanbase.

Similarly, Lil Nas X made history with his viral “Old Town Road,” which fused elements of country and hip-hop to create a genre-defying anthem that topped the charts and shattered records. Despite facing backlash from some quarters of the country music industry, Lil Nas X’s success served as a powerful testament to the genre’s ability to evolve and embrace diversity.

With Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé is building upon this legacy, using her platform to amplify the voices of Black artists and reclaim country music as a space for all people.

While she may not be the first to toss her cowboy hat into the country music genre, she’s certainly one of the most influential, representing a significant moment in the genre’s history. By bringing her unparalleled talent and artistry to the table, Beyoncé isn’t only paying homage to the genre’s Black roots but is pushing its boundaries in exciting new directions.

She’s not just bringing country back to its roots—she’s planting seeds for a more inclusive and brighter future for the genre.

Funny enough, the two girls I met on my first day on campus also introduced me to my best friends, my people, Cordy and Layla.

Layla’s by far the funniest and kindest person I’ve ever met.

She refers to herself as a “local jester” and keeps my life fun and light. When work, school, and life become stressful, she reminds me to take a second to breathe and to never take anything too seriously.

She feeds me whenever I “accidentally” forget to eat and lets me be my silliest self without any judgement. Even though I give her crap for not caring enough about things, I know she cares about me and that’s way more than I could ever ask from a person.

I don’t think I have the time, space, or words to describe Cordy, but I’ll try my best. While we both agree neither of us are funnier than Layla, Cordy is on of the wittiest people I’ve ever met and never fails to me laugh.

Continued online at queensjournal.ca/lifestyle

Elizabeth Provost Staff Writer Dear Liz, I hate my best friend’s boyfriend!

He’s not a terrible person—just a bad boyfriend. She loves him—and their relationship isn’t all bad—but I can see his actions—or sometimes lack thereof—affect her much more than she lets on. Whenever I bring up his wrongdoings, she gets defensive even though she’s the one who told me all this stuff about their relationship in the first place. How do I tell her I no longer want to hear about her relationship if she’s not going to take my advice?

Signed, Tired hater Dear Tired hater,

It’s incredibly tough to navigate this situation when you genuinely care about your friend’s happiness but find yourself at odds with their partner. It’s clear you’re coming from a place of concern, which speaks volumes about the strength of your friendship and your care for her.

It’s crucial to remember while you may not approve of your friend’s boyfriend, her relationship is her decision. As frustrating as it may be to witness someone you care about endure mistreatment, pushing too hard or being overly critical of her partner could strain your friendship.

That’s why I always tend to sway on the side of caution and not give advice. It’s healthier, as a friend, to create a comfortable space for discussion and ranting, but hold back from telling our friends what’s best for them.

I think it’s time for you to establish boundaries. It’s the fact you’ve given advice that hasn’t been followed that’s making listening and witnessing her relationship struggles emotionally taxing. I wouldn’t shut the door for her to talk about her boyfriend, and would instead just seize from giving advice. You can tell someone something isn’t right a million times but it’s up to them to make the choice to leave. It’s only until they figure it out for themselves they will.

Until that time comes, as her friend, it’s your job to be there for her no matter what—even if it means having the same conversation for the millionth time.

Continued online at queensjournal.ca/lifestyle

Postscript

12 • QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

Last Words Asbah and Cassidy are still hopeful about journalism Asbah Ahmad, Editor in Chief

For the last few years of my life, watching the sunrise on early Friday mornings has become a ritual.

Complete with all the trappings of fatigue, stress, and an overall sense of pride, these mornings provided a few solitary hours of silence.

On one of those chilly mornings, I remember getting a call from a source who thanked The Journal for “being bold.”

Aside from the lack of bold typeface used in print or online, my definition of boldness changed—it now correlates with time. With the months flying by this year, The Journal wrestled internally on deciding the best ways to cover contentious items occurring on campus.

It was a hard year to be at Queen’s: budget cuts, an affordability crisis, bureaucracy, racialized and religious violence, interwoven behind the backdrop of a dogmatic war, left many feeling uncertain.

The Journal didn’t have the luxury of time or hindsight—our work was incumbent on local and world events happening in the present, occupying space in campus discourse. Capturing the noise and movement governing everyday life at Queen’s was the responsibility of the beautiful people at The Journal.

These people put their lives and year on hold to provide the Queen’s, local, and even national community a snapshot of life here. They did this silently, with little demand for praise, and sacrificed social lives and GPAs to bring you the news.

Volume 151, I’m teary-eyed writing this. It was the honour of a lifetime working with each of you. Thank you for your grace, compassion, and belief in something greater than yourselves. Thank you for pushing yourselves to be better, thank you for putting everything on the line.

Listening to the unique f o o t s t e p s passing by my office door, I love joking with staff that the world needs more Journal kids. I think it’s true.

In due time, each of you will be leaders and visionaries.

I can’t wait to follow along in your journeys—whatever they might be—as you make the world a better place.

Vol. 151, your ability to weather the many storms of the year was admirable—remember to invite me to your weddings.

On difficult days, I conjured up an alternate reality where

I never worked at The Journal and lived a normal life. In fact, that almost happened.

Aysha, thank you for convincing me to say yes to working here. Your leadership and dedication to people who look like us is why I’m here. A generation of QTBIPOC staff at The Journal have you and Shelby to thank for your labour.

Shelby, thank you for giving me kindness and listening to a few of my moments of panic these past few years. I thought about both of you a lot this year.

You might be squirming while you read this, but I owe my love for The Journal to you, Sydney. As an only child, I didn’t know you would become akin to an older sibling, a true role model and leader. Your commitment to pedagogy and the truth is beautiful. With every story I wrote, I thought of you.

Thank you for giving me wings and believing in my sometimes abnormal ideas, Ben. Your commitment to the future of The Journal was admirable. Julia, I loved every minute working with you.

Your patience and support kept me afloat, thank you.

Raechel and Matt, thank you for giving an impressionable first-year a seat on J-Board.

You infected me with The Journal virus, and no antivirals have shaken the effects yet.

Monica, Max, Angela, Paige, Bella, and Ali, I don’t have enough words to thank each of you. Just know I’m not leaving your lives anytime soon. You guys deserve the world.

Cassidy, wow, we did it, huh? You were the best part of the year. Every day, I knew we were entering battle t o g e t h e r, a n d that’s t h e only

reason I didn’t run away m i d - y e a r.

Your ability to lead from the front is why I have no d o u b t

journalism is in safe hands.

I can’t wait to see all of your success, I will be bothering you on a regular basis.

I will miss my regular Dairy Queen buddy, but life is long, and our paths will continue to cross.

Dear reader, every time I saw you reading a copy of The Journal or browsing our website, I would look over your shoulder, trying to understand what resonated.

Please continue engaging with us.

Like any press day, time is ticking, and the sun is setting on my time here. Allie and Skylar, this is your moment to shine. Both of you have every skill in the book to lead this paper. You will make it a better, more efficient, and autonomous entity. Remember why you did this in the first place. The Journal is more than just the house or the print paper, it’s the brutal turnover of people who love and nurture this essential service.

I’m not ready for the silence of being away from The Journal.

My heart unflinchingly aches.

I’ve read many Last Words during my time here. Maybe for someone reading this, it’s your push to take bold action—take a risk and don’t look back. I know I did.

Our staff always did—never settle for mediocrity.

Asbah is ready to walk into the bright sunrise, degree in hand, pointing towards the next adventure.

Cassidy McMackon, Editor in Chief

It’s Friday afternoon after another all-night press night and I’m sitting on the ledge of the shower when my casual scroll through Twitter takes a turn for the worse.

What’s meant to be nothing more than a quick glance at analytics quickly spirals into a doomscroll through anguished tweets after Metroland announced it would immediately

shutter 71 newsrooms and terminate over 600 jobs.

Looking back on the last several Last Words from my predecessors alone, it’s no surprise the state of journalism has been bleak for a long time.

I, after all, first stumbled into The Journal’s office the year a pandemic ravaged the globe and sent most people home, the ink still wet on the decision that quashed a provincial policy designed to hamstring its funding.

However, from Meta banning news links on their platforms, to dwindling budgets and the endless news of jobs being cut across North America, this year for journalism has seemed as dark as ever before.

I’d be lying if I said my confidence in the future never wavered this year. But you, my dear Vol. 151, restored my optimism each week.

This year’s team pivoted between their own papers and lab reports to this whirlwind of a job to keep the community up to date. From right out the gate into the heat of the volume, this group of overworked and underpaid reporters, photographers, illustrators, and copy editors rolled with every single punch that was thrown their way.

When the scourge of U of T’s Psychology Department celebrated hateful rhetoric on an engineering exam question, they sourced community input on what counts in education.

When devastation swept campus as a war broke out halfway across the world, they soldiered on to showcase its impact. When the budget crisis broke national news on a random Thursday afternoon, they kept their nose to the grindstone to keep tabs on the fallout.

Vol. 151—the pleasure was mine. You proved time and time again that journalism isn’t only worthwhile, but will be okay in the end.

To my dad—thanks for doing your best to keep up with me during the frenzy of it all. Your quiet support was a constant in a year of ebbs and lows, ups and downs. Tell Eleanor and Sadie I’ll be home soon.

Raechel and Matt—I never told

y o u h o w much I’m inspired b y

your grit and talent, but now seems as good a time as ever.

You both

inspired the unrelenting love I have for this little newspaper, and your words of encouragement and support means more to me than you’ll ever know. I felt your absence at 190 University the second Vol. 148 wrapped, but your warmth has radiated since you left.

Aysha and Shelby—you were the pillars of strength I aspired to be with each passing issue. You both handled some of the most important stories I’ve told in my time here and afforded me grace and compassion I’ll never forget. I’ll forever be grateful for running into you, Aysha, in my Beer Store uniform that day in August when you told me I should come back.

You both made this place infinitely better, and we are all lucky you left your mark here.

Asbah—you once said working at a newspaper was like getting a front row seat to history, and my god what a show we had this year.

From the moment I met you, I’ve been inspired by your curiosity, your diligence, and your intelligence. You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and you were the anchor that kept me from getting lost in the current at countless points this year.

It breaks my heart to know our days of rotting in your office are winding down, brown noise barely drowning out the surrounding chatter in the house around us.

As we part on our respective journeys, I’ll still be a persistent presence in your life, getting ready to return the favour.

You can always count on me to pick up the phone.

Allie and Skylar—from the moment I met you both I knew you had bright futures, at The Journal and beyond. Like the volumes before yours, there are countless challenges ahead of you and dozens of mistakes to be made, but they’ll all make you even better than you are now.

Remember—putting the news out is a marathon and not a sprint, and when it feels like the ceiling is caving in on you, you’ll have each other to pull you out from the rubble.

For most of my time here, Queen’s always felt like some place I kind of just ended up, rather than somewhere I was destined to be. The Journal has been the most thankless job of my life, but I’m endlessly grateful it helped me carve out a home.

Cassidy is ready to pass on the torch.