The Queen's Journal, Volume 150, Year in Review

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The Journal Year In Review ­­­­——————————————————————— News

Inside Queen’s response to needle spiking incidents Asbah Ahmad Senior News Editor

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Antisemitic vandalism occurs in Albert Street Residence Skylar Soroka Assistant News Editor On Oct. 1, an incident of antisemitic vandalism occurred in Albert Street Residence in the

form of an antisemitic symbol drawn on a fridge in one of the lounges.

The University provided a statement to The Journal regarding the hate act.

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‘Make it fair’: Faculty union & Queen’s in process of collective bargaining Aimée Look Assistant News Editor

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In March 2022, the Queen’s community was gripped with headlines of students impacted by needle spiking incidents at a downtown Kingston bar, Trinity.

Needle spiking refer to instances in which perpetrators inject date-rape drugs. Documents and internal emails obtained by The Journal under a freedom of information request showcase the University’s internal response over the month of March.

Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA) is lobbying for fair employment as the union representing faculty members and other staff.

The association is currently renegotiating the 201922 Collective Agreement with the U n ive r s i t y, which expired on June 30.

Leslie Jermyn and Amy Kaufman– QUFA’s Executive Director and Queen’s Head Law

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Librarian, respectively–are the Co-Chief Negotiators.

In a statement to The Journal, QUFA said out of the 43 articles in the Collective Agreement, changes to 30 articles are being discussed, with an addition of many appendices.

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Commerce club suspended FAS considering after serious incident suspension of fine arts program

Aimée Look Assistant News Editor

Queen’s Finance Association (QFA) activities were suspended on Nov. 3 following a serious incident of non-academic misconduct.

QFA hosts Canada’s oldest u n d e r g ra d u a t e finance conference called QFAC. The 2022-23 conference has been canceled alongside other events following the serious incident of non-academic misconduct.

Each year, QFA runs panels, sends newsletters, and interviews distinguished finance professionals.

The club previously boasted its networking opportunities and interactive workshops.

The Student Conduct Office is conducting an ongoing investigation, which deals with “Category 2” cases of severe nonacademic misconduct. “[The incident] involved high-risk behavior and alcohol,”

Commerce Dean Wanda Costen said in a statement to all Commerce students.

The incident is still under review by the Student Conduct Office. Costen has been consulted throughout the process and fully supports the decision to halt QFA activities.

“The safety and well-being of Smith students is a top priority for me. I will not tolerate student behavior that jeopardizes this,” Costen said.

Asbah Ahmad Senior News Editor The Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) is initiating a consultative process to consider the temporary suspension of admissions to the Bachelor of Fine Arts/Visual Arts (BFA/VA) program.

As it stands, the program is not suspended going into the next

Cyclical Program Review (CPR) in 2023. The CPR process is a quality assurance process requiring each academic program to be reviewed once every eight years.

“The Dean of the [FAS] recently shared some information at Faculty Board that the Faculty is initiating a consultative process to consider the temporary suspension of admissions.”

News ­——————————————————————— The Journal Year In Review • 3

AMS announces new External Social Issues Commissioner Sophia Coppolino Assistant News Editor

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Racist image of AMS executive candidate made public Asbah Ahmad Senior News Editor

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Kingstonians bring holiday magic to stranded first-year student Skylar Soroka Assistant News Editor In the midst of the snowstorm that hit large parts of Ontario in late December, Emma Lucas, HealthSci ’26, from Newfoundland and Labrador, was stranded in Kingston for the holidays.

What followed for Lucas was heartfelt deliveries and support from strangers over social media when she was miles away from home.

Tammy Mason, Lucas’s mother, spoke to her experience dealing with her daughter’s absence during the holiday season. She said her daughter had been excited to travel back home for Christmas.

Lucas and her cat spent two days stranded at Pearson Airport in Toronto.

Her airline delayed her flight four times before cancelling the flight. After the cancellation, she returned to her “lonely” apartment in Kingston—stranded on Christmas Eve.

Encampment residents near ICH Kingston face impending eviction

Aimée Look & Skylar Soroka Assistant News Editors The City of Kingston is evicting an encampment of unhoused people next to the Integrated Care Hub (ICH) on March 21.

Comprised of a fire pit and a web of tarps, the encampment is located by a care hub that provides food, support, and a place to rest. The City imposed a bylaw last June to remove all encampments from the city but gave this site an extension while they built new shelters.

Resident Nancy Smith told The Journal she and her dog Remy have lived in the encampment since it first welcomed unhoused individuals approximately two

years ago. Smith was offered a space in a shelter but chose not to go, as they didn’t allow pets. “[Remy’s] like my baby, so I’m not gonna get rid of her just to have a place,” Smith said while covering her dog in a blanket.

Julia Christensen, associate professor of geography and planning at Queen’s, said in an interview with The Journal there are various reasons why unhoused people would prefer to “sleep rough,” or rest outside, to staying at a shelter.

Christensen’s area of research and knowledge is in northern housing and the homelessness sector.

She offered insight on the urban landscape in Kingston.

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At the AMS executive and undergraduate trustee debate held on Feb. 2 in Theological Hall, an incident occurred involving one of the candidates.

Several students were air-dropped a saved Snapchat image from a device called “iPhone.” The image in question was of Elisabeth McHarg, ArtSci ’23, an AMS vicepresident (operations) candidate from team ERA. The image—which The Journal has elected not to re-publish for the safety of Black students on campus—shows McHarg eating a piece of watermelon. In the photo, her skin appears several shades darker than it is currently. The image includes a caption that reads: “Just your average black [sic] girl eating some watermelown [sic].”

In a written statement to The Journal,

McHarg explained the image was from 2017 when she was 16 years old. She learned about the airdropping incident after the conclusion of the debate.

“I am not proud of my actions in the image, nor do I deny them. Regardless of the nature of the image, it was inappropriate and unbecoming then, and I undoubtedly continue to regret the remark since,” McHarg said.

“I take full accountability for the image and associated harmful messaging. I am remorseful that this image has been purposefully resurfaced, creating further negative impacts of people in equitydeserving groups.”

McHarg said becoming a member of the Queen’s community has helped her understand the nuances of racism and the world. She said her experiences in high school have informed the ways in which she can be a better leader in the future.

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The story of the first pride flag raising at Queen’s Asbah Ahmad Senior News Editor This June, the pride flag adorned campus crosswalks and buildings, and flew at the corner of Union and University. This hasn’t always been the norm.

Trustee Emeritus Bob Burge recalled the first time the pride flag was unfurled on campus in an interview with The Journal.

Burge, now the Registrar at Okanagan

College, was the Director of the JDUC from 2003-08, under the Dean of Student Affairs.

In Burge’s words, the story of the pride flag being raised at the JDUC for the first time was “simple and beautiful.”

According to Burge, the flag was raised in either 2003 or 2004, when a student heavily involved with the AMS came to Burge’s office and asked if they could raise the flag over the JDUC—making it the first pride flag to be raised on campus.

Graduate students at Queen’s rally to abolish tuition Aimée Look Assistant News Editor

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The Journal Year In Review ­­­­————————————————————— Features

For students living with disabilities, self-advocacy is key Students and faculty members discuss living with disabilities on campus

Anne Fu Features Editor

Anne Fu Features Editor ILLUSTRATION BY PHILIP PRANAJAYA

Kingston wants to become the re-birthplace of psychedelics

Anne Fu Features Editor

Kingston residents, Queen’s students, and faculty show growing interest in this promising but understudied class of drugs

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‘I’m stuck in a rut & can’t get out of it’: The Kingston housing crisis

Vineeth Jarabana Copy Editor

Unhoused people, advocates speak to housing issue PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

‘I imagine we die in the same way we live’: Investigating deathcare in Kingston Expert discusses the processes, options, and personalities of deathcare

Marijka Vernooy Contributor ILLUSTRATION BY PHILIP PRANAJAYA

Something borrowed, something red, yellow, and blue: Discovering Queen’s weddings

Suzy Leinster Features Editor

Love lingers even after graduation GRAPHIC BY CURTIS HEINZL

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The Journal Year In Review ­­­­———————————————————— Editorials

Car-centric lifestyles aren’t the way forward Vineeth Jarabana Copy Editor

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Whiskey business: new drinking guidelines are sobering Journal Editorial Board Canada’s new alcohol consumption guidelines are a rude awakening.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction published updated lowrisk drinking guidelines(link is external) this week, replacing their previous recommendations from 2012.

The organization now asserts there’s no safe amount of alcohol; more than two standard drinks per week reportedly increases cancer risk. Binge drinking is now defined as consuming four drinks for women or five for men on one occasion.

These new guidelines come as a

shock to Canadians everywhere, but the impact may be most pronounced among university students—at least those who are paying attention.

It’s shocking that having four or five drinks on a night out—a thrice-weekly occurrence for many Queen’s students—is thought of as a ‘binge.’ Even students who don’t consider themselves heavy drinkers might easily consume that amount on any given weekend evening.

While moderation isn’t in every Queen’s student’s vocabulary, many of us are frustrated with the drinking culture, including people who regularly drink themselves. Blacking out has become a rite

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Flag on the play: performative activism Journal Editorial Board

Student journalists & leaders should recognize their shared purpose Julia Harmsworth Managing Editor

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Reconnecting with your childhood superhero Sam Goodale Assistant Arts Editor

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Dear straight men: don’t hate on astrology Journal Editorial Board

Whether it’s Spider-Man slinging from web to web, Batman firing up the Batmobile, or Wonder Woman wielding the Lasso of Truth, superheroes are a defining feature of many childhood memories.

From toys to comics, superheroes are undeniably fun and allow us to explore abstract concepts of right and wrong in a safe environment. As a child donning the costume of your favourite hero, it was hard not to feel super—that you were good, that you would always do the right thing and save the day.

Yet, as we grow older, we trade Captain America for Steve Rogers, and it feels like the hero we once were has died. Things aren’t as simple as they seemed. The bad guys don’t wear weird costumes and

doing the right thing isn’t as easy as it used to be.

We’re powerless and weak, with an upcoming assignment deadline far more frightening than the Joker ever was. But heroism doesn’t disappear as we age; it changes.

Reconnecting with our childhood superheroes reminds us the hero we used to be hasn’t gone anywhere; we can overcome even our most feared foe.

Superheroes allow children a safe space to process, face, and overcome their anxieties.

As children watch Spider-Man defeat Venom, they’re reminded they can also defeat their fears and be brave, just like their favourite hero.

Superheroes are a reminder that good can triumph and that we, no matter who we are, are capable of heroic things. This reminder grows no less important as we grow older.

Even amongst the explosions and

Illustrations ­——————————————————— The Journal Year In Review • 7

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GRAPHIC BY AMNA RAFIQ

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The Journal Year In Review ­­­­————————————————————— Opinions

Poetry is a way to empower & uplift Black voices Kasai Major-Browne Contributor Social justice work was draining until I found poetry.

As a Black kid in a predominantly white high school, most of the activism that surrounded me happened during one month: February. It was either entirely performative—such as content posted on Instagram—or it was relatively educational content that teachers attempted to share with classes of students who didn’t seem to care.

The large issue at hand was the lack of

celebration. The content was depressing. It felt isolating and almost shameful to sit in a classroom full of white students and have them watch a one-sided portrayal of Black culture that only displayed suffering.

After the uprisings of 2020, performative activism was particularly pungent. All the content circling the web created a bitter bulge in my throat that felt suffocating. I would open Instagram and immediately be bombarded with videos of Black bodies being brutally mistreated by the police. It seemed like the murder of Black men and women became social media’s eye candy. It was sick and twisted; I hated it all.

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Queen’s must reconsider its leather jackets Malcolm Newton Contributor

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English literature courses need more happy stories on their syllabi Ilina Nikolovska Contributor

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Pregnancy tests should be free at pharmacies Monica Aida Lopez Contributor

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When the present is dark, look to science fiction futures Ori Cogan Contributor

There has recently been heightened media attention on the accessibility of menstrual products for women of lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

This attention has led to policy improvements and the development of new ventures to prevent “period poverty.”

This same attention, however, has not been applied to another product essential to reproductive health: pregnancy tests.

Pregnancy testing is the first step toward family planning. With the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade, it’s important to understand how socioeconomic limitations impact other aspects of reproductive health. The sooner a woman finds out she’s pregnant, the more time she has to decide how she would like to handle the pregnancy.

Pregnancy itself often causes mixed emotions regardless of a person’s circumstances, and the additional cost

of pregnancy tests can increase stress in these situations. There are many different scenarios in which the high cost of pregnancy tests could limit their use.

Whether you’re a woman from a lower socioeconomic standing or a woman repeatedly trying for a baby, the added costs of numerous pregnancy tests takes a financial toll. Testing too early can lead to false negatives and follow-up testing, so numerous tests are often required.

The price of a single in-home pregnancy test by a leading brand ranges from $13 to $15, plus tax. If you test too early or want to confirm the pregnancy, you may need two or more tests that may not have been budgeted for.

Although cheaper alternatives exist, they do not carry the same brand awareness as Clear Blue or First Response—people understandably opt for more trusted brands when dealing with possibly life-changing news. Even if you want to choose a more cost-effective option, the generic brand is

Arts ­——————————————————————— The Journal Year In Review • 9

How golden is ‘Golden Words’?

Rida Chaudhry & Sam Goodale Journal Staff

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Cinematic depictions of male emotion inform fraught masculinity Sam Goodale Assistant Arts Editor

“My vibe so raw, you’ll love me on accident,” reads the meme page of Golden Words—effectively reaching into the souls of the socially awkward bitties in need of some holiday romance.

The satirical newspaper’s longstanding legacy within the Queen’s community has fostered a cult-like following.

Its 10th issue of Volume 57 offers an array of self-reported comedies and after a string of callouts to get The Journal’s attention, we thought it was time to crack open their paper and see if it really is golden.

The Twitter layout on the front page is eerily reminiscent of The Journal’s last issue’s Talking Heads, but we can sweep that under the rug for now. The first tweet displayed reads “roses are red, violets are blue, now that I’ve c*m, I bid you adieu,” setting the tone for plentiful

jokes about orgasms that unfortunately don’t reach climax and leave you feeling unsatisfied.

Sorry, Golden Words—you shouldn’t have to write “pun intended” for your joke to land.

Editor Ryan Soth’s editorial gives readers an inside look to “Mr. Golden Words” hook-up manifesto, breaching the struggle of needing to pee after spending the night with a girl when her housemates are up and around.

The advice he gives to navigate this cringe-inducing circumstance is to sneak out like the Pink Panther and throw a rock (?) from outside to distract the housemates in order to use the bathroom undetected. It’s sufficient to say Soth’s deliberation on whether to take a pee at his sneaky link’s house tells The Journal everything we need to know about his rizz.

If anything is for sure, it’s that Golden Words’ meme spread hits the spot.

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Three-part concert takes the Mansion by storm Rida Chaudhry Senior Arts Editor Live performances cultivate a connection between audience and performer like no other. In small venues like The Mansion, there are avenues for communication that create intimacy and personality.

At last Thursday’s show on Sept. 29, The Codas, The Astros, and New Friends performed in a three-part concert well worth the commitment.

The Codas opened the show with their mix of rock and soul sounds, drawing the crowd’s attention with an intimate performance and a comforting energy.

Their newest song, “Anomaly,” brought a sultry and sweet sentiment the audience couldn’t resist.

Up next and drastically changing the pace of the night, The Astros brought the energy in pastel jumpsuits and a bassist with hair for days.

The cosmic rock band had an infectious energy and stage presence that entranced those watching into bobbing their heads to the music. Off the Rails proved to be a fan favourite—their sound

is as if the Wallows and the Smiths had an equally quirky offspring.

The four-man Kingston band is releasing a new record next month; live music lovers ought to keep an eye out for their next show.

Ending the show with a bang—and confetti, literally—was New Friends.

The London-based indie-pop band made the most of their set time by engaging with the audience and making sure they will be remembered.

They began shooting a video for their unreleased song “Waste my Time,” had beach balls being thrown, and lead singer Stephan Boulineau and guitar/keyboard player Conrad Galecki made their way into the crowd twice during their set.

Their new single “Doomed” stood out for its ability to get the crowd jumping along with the performers. The crowd clearly fell in love with the show, demanding an encore at the end of their set. New Friends happily complied, singing their first hit and coincidentally first song together, “Purple Candy.”

Stage presence is something the band prides themselves on. In an earlier interview with The Journal, Boulinaeu shouted out a recent show in Peterborough.

SUPPLIED BY FADEL MUGIZIL

What’s your medium?

Rida Chaudhry Senior Arts Editor

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The Journal Year In Review ­­­­————————————————————— Sports

Sarah Maat Senior Sports Editor Since the pandemic began in 2020, Queen’s Football has recorded an impressive 18 wins to only three losses—all at the hands of the country-best Western Mustangs.

In a tell-all interview with The Journal, Head Coach Steve Snyder unpacked Queen’s Football culture and the elements which have led to its success.

For Snyder, the pursuit of cultural and on field success follows a simple and repeatable pattern: start by bringing in the right people—from athletes to coaches and staff—and then grow from there.

“We really focused on guys who were driven to graduate, guys that were passionate about the process of football, which really just means all the preparation and work behind the scenes, and guys

that were respectful and responsible,” Snyder said.

The Queen’s football team has been focused on becoming the most respected team on campus and in the Kingston community. Although lofty, this aspiration can be broken into two more digestible parts: on field success and community impact.

“Ultimately, sure we are trying to win football games and championships, but there is much more we are trying to accomplish.

We are actually trying to enhance the experience at Queen’s for everybody here,” Snyder said.

This process starts with recruitment, where they focus on bringing in reliable players. To Queen’s Football, reliability means more than speed, power, or intelligence—they want students willing to consistently put in the work.

Stu Crawford—the ultimate Gael—celebrated at KCFF

Getting in the wheelbarrow

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Cure Cancer Classic: ‘Most electric event ever’ Lilly coote Assistant Sports Editor

Lilly Coote Assistant Sports Editor Stu Crawford is the most legendary name in Queen’s Men’s Hockey, and filmmaker Mike Downie is the latest to celebrate his legacy.

On March 5, Downie showcased three short films at the Baby Grand Theatre in

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the Kingston Canadian Film Festival. The program included an excerpt from Gord Downie’s Secret Path in Concert, his comedy short Jesus on a Fish Stick, and a premiere of Downie’s new documentary highlighting a Queen’s Men’s Hockey legend.

The 14-minute film showcases the story of Stu Crawford—a renowned figure often

often referred to as “The Ultimate Gael”—and his enormous legacy.

The film, titled A Century in the Making: The Stu Crawford Story, comes after he passed away in November 2022 at 100 years old.

In the film, Crawford reminisces about his past life as a World War II bomb aimer.

He recalls a perilous experience that almost took his life when he was only 23: jumping out of a Lancaster with only a parachute as his plane was being shot down on a mission to Hamburg.

Crawford tells his wildest stories and shares his inner-most feelings in the film, contrasting his time at war with his time as a Queen’s hockey player, drawing parallels between the teamwork required to succeed in both experiences.

Cross Country wants to ‘leave a legacy’

Sarah Maat Senior Sports Editor Queen’s Cross Country had a season to remember, but it’s the team bonds they will never forget—theirs is a story of legacy creation.

Head Coach Mark Bomba started with the team two years ago and has since anchored the program under one goal: leaving a legacy. Throughout their season, the athletes have bought into this mindset and used it to motivate themselves.

Their legacy is podium finishes and successful races, but also friendship and teamwork that will alter the culture of Queen’s Cross Country forever.

On Nov. 12, both the men’s and women’s teams travelled to Halifax, Nova Scotia to compete at the U SPORTS Championship. Gaels didn’t know it yet, but their race would be a historic one—starting with the weather conditions.

The inspiration for the film came to Mike Downie when he read about Crawford’s inspirational story in the Queen’s Alumni Review.

“Stu’s story is not just a Kingston story, it’s a Canadian story,” Downie said in a news release.

“It’s about hockey, but it’s also about resilience, and teamwork, and courage.

Being able to share his incredible story at these festivals is truly an honour.”

Mike is an award-winning filmmaker who attended Queen’s for his undergraduate degree alongside his brother Gord Downie, the celebrated lead singer of the Tragically Hip. Downie has produced many well acclaimed documentaries, including The Secret Path, Invasion of the Brain Snatchers, One Ocean, and The Hockey Nomad.

Through the coach’s eyes: Wumi Agunbiade Sarah Maat Senior Sports Editor

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In 2021, Women’s Basketball welcomed Claire Meadows and Wumi Agunbiade to the coaching staff. Since then, the team’s success has rocked the province and nation.

In an interview with The Journal, Agunbiade was quick to mention the great team they inherited. However, her own skill as a player and now coach, cannot be overlooked.

Agunbiade attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and is the only player in Duquesne history to score 1,700 points and record 900 rebounds in their career.

Lifestyle ­———————————————————— The Journal Year In Review • 11

‘The Bachelor’ winner Kaity Biggar tells all

Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be exclusive to relationships Maddie Hunt Senior Lifestyle Editor From a musician’s perspective, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Miley Cyrus’ new release, “Flowers.” It didn’t provide anything melodically or lyrically superior to her prior albums and singles.

However, it did offer an anthem of self-love, independence, and the

value of being alone—messages that should be celebrated and remembered this Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is notoriously associated with conceptions of affection and love confined to romantic relationships.

This idea is so irrefutable that those not in relationships—or even situation-ships—come to despise Feb. 14.

Julia Harmsworth Managing Editor

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This is my first Eid alone, and I’m scared

Asbah Ahmad Senior News Editor Caffeine withdrawal, some brain fog, and the feeling of just wanting to take three naps a day. It’s the month of Ramadan, and beyond the discomfort there’s so much beauty.

A lot of the student culture at Queen’s is the antithesis of the observances of Ramadan. In a

place where there’s an undeniable drinking culture and a lack of a large visible Muslim community, it’s a tough month.

Despite the hard attempted rebrand—with the inevitable statement that does nothing and addresses no one—and push for equity work from the University, observing Ramadan alone does make me spiral and question my own religious observance.

This week, Disney released the teaser trailerfor their upcoming live action remake of The Little Mermaid, set to release in May 2023 and starring Halle Bailey as Ariel.

Since Bailey’s casting was announced in 2019, angered fans have swum to the surface to argue about the choice to cast a Black woman in an originally white role.

The arguments against her casting range wide. Some claim

she simply isn’t the right fit, deftly avoiding why they think such an accomplished singer and actress wouldn’t do well in musical-based roles. Others are much plainer: the original Ariel is white, and Halle Bailey is Black.

With an amazingly powerful voice, the ability to reach Disney princess-esque high notes, previous acting experience, and the grace and style of royalty, you would think Bailey’s casting would be celebrated more than argued.

My opinion: Halle Bailey is the perfect choice for representation.

What brings you back to Kingston?

Usually when I’m between travel nursing contracts, I’ll come back and visit my family, because my mom’s here. My brother’s in the GTA area, as well as my aunt.

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Halle Bailey is the perfect Ariel

Clanny Mugabe Assistant Lifetyle Editor

Season 27 of The Bachelor concluded Monday night with a happy engagement—and the woman who took home the ring is from Kingston.

On a sunny Wednesday afternoon before the finale aired, Zach’s final pick, Kaity Biggar, sat down with me over coffee at Balzac’s to discuss her upbringing, love

for Kingston, and time on the show. Spoiler alert: she loves Tumble Tuesday.

The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

‘Reflect’ gives children the body inclusivity we never received Maddie Hunt Senior Lifetyle Editor

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Dear Disney: we’ve found comfort, joy, laughter, and sometimes even sadness in your films, but we didn’t grow up seeing the diversity, inclusivity, or representation we should’ve been consuming as kids.

Between the strictly Eurocentric princesses and the

small-figured girls destined to be rescued by a big strong man, Disney didn’t show much body inclusivity, representation of BIPOC characters, or female strength absent of a man until recently.

Frozen gave us sisterly love and female empowerment without needing to be rescued by a prince.

Soon to come is a live-action Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey.

We’re Not Really Strangers opens the door to emotional vulnerability

Maddie Hunt Senior Lifestyle Editor

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A group of emotional girls and a bottle of wine make for interesting conversations, to say the least, during We’re Not Really Strangers.

We’re Not Really Strangers

is a conversation starter card game which aims to evoke underthe-surface level feelings and conversations. With you and a friend, or even a whole house worth of friends (up to six players), you can learn more about your peers and yourself.

Oftentimes, “getting to know”

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The Journal Year In Review ­­­­———————————————————— Postscript

Reconnecting with a loss can be a blessing Sandrine Jacquot Contributor This is not a unique story.

In fact, you’ve probably heard similar ones before, but it’s always worth re-telling.

I’ve always been close to my maternal family. Being the youngest family member, I was the perfect audience for not only my grandparents’ advice and wisdom, but their stories.

As many grandparents do, they loved joking, sharing their lives, and remembering people they met along the way. While I grew up to better understand and appreciate these anecdotes, my grandparents aged, and I watched from the sidelines as they struggled with the ends of their lives in their own distinct ways.

They say you can never prepare for loss, no matter how hard you try, even if you know it’s coming.

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Where my birth control journey has led me Maia McCann Editorials Editor

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My parents’ divorce taught me family isn’t defined by blood Mikayla Wilson Copy Editor I remember the day like it was yesterday. It was 2007, and I was watching my older brother play the new Sonic the Hedgehog game on his GameCube. It was then that my parents came downstairs and told us they were separating.

“We’re no longer living together,” they said.

At the time, I didn’t understand the concept of “separation.” All I knew was I had two new chores every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

First, I packed all my things into a big, blue bag that travelled with me and my brother as we switched between my parents’ houses.

Then, I cleaned two rooms.

My experience with birth control started when I was around 16 and I went on the pill to help with my period pain.

I’d had friends who became depressed on the pill, but luckily that wasn’t a side effect I suffered. For the most part, I didn’t have much to complain about.

In my second year at Queens, after transferring my prescription to Kingston, I ended up with a different brand of pill. With

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Being a third-culture kid makes me uncertain of where I call home Clanny Mugabe Assistant Lifestyle Editor

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Roses, buds, & thorns Lilly Coote Assistant Sports Editor Going to an overnight summer camp is a rite of passage for preteens. So, a week after my eleventh birthday, I stuffed my trunk with friendship bracelet string and well-worn t-shirts before embarking on the summer experience for which I’d always longed.

I remember my first night in a cabin, laying paranoid on a top bunk, envisioning all the ways I could possibly fall off while sleeping. While other campers chit-chatted and jumped around before bed, I laid sideways facing the wall, questioning for what I’d signed myself up. As the counselor

turned off the lights, she introduced everyone to a camp ritual called ‘roses, buds, and thorns.’

She went on to explain the reflective practice of sharing. A ‘rose’ is something positive that happened, ranging from a simple joy to a significant event. A ‘thorn’ represents something difficult or challenging we encountered during the day, and a ‘bud’ is something to which we’re looking forward.

Every night for the following several summers I spent at camp, I shared my rose. bud, and thorn of my day. I looked forward to it and enjoyed hearing my other cabinmates’ daily highlights and lowlights.

this brand, I noticed more side effects and eventually decided to go off birth control for a while.

Fast forward to this summer: rather than go back on the pill, I chose to get an Intra-Uterine Device (IUD), which is a long-term form of birth control.

My mother and some of my friends encouraged me, since IUDs had worked well for them and are highly effective at preventing pregnancy.

So, I booked an appointment. and took the afternoon off from my summer job.

“So… where are you from?”

This question frustrated me growing up.

I found no answer that satisfied the people who asked it. It’s a loaded question that, depending on who you ask, really means many other things. One person might really mean “where were you born,” which breeds

an easy answer: Ottawa, the capital city of Canada.

But that’s not what most people mean when they ask.

Most people in my life ask it to mean “what’s your cultural background,” in which case I alternate between Burundi, Rwanda, or Congo, or all three. I’m BurundianRwandese-Congolese.

Then, there’s “where did you grow up?”

PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL