The Queen's Journal, Volume 151, Issue 3

CROSSWORD

Better get that brain working before classes start

A new prospect joins the Gaels football squad

SPORTS

OPINIONS

NEWSLETTER

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OUTER SPACE, OLYMPICS, AND APOCALYPSE

Members of Queen’s gender studies receive hateful e-mail

Queen’s Players is open for new talent

Message came two days after University of Waterloo stabbing

Suzy Leinster Assistant Arts Editor

Sofia Tosello Assistant News Editor The Queen’s Gender Studies Department was shaken by a “disturbing” e-mail received in the wake of the hate-motivated stabbing in a gender studies classroom at the University of Waterloo.

Eight members of the department received an e-mail from a Kingston local claiming “toxic femininity” and “powerful women” destroyed his life on June 30. The individual requested the gender studies department contact him directly to discuss the matter.

“I reported the e-mail to campus security and [the gender studies department] felt security’s response was inadequate and they didn’t understand the complexity of the situation,” said Sailaja Krishnamurti, gender studies department head in an interview with The Journal.

The Journal was unable to obtain a copy of the e-mails sent to the gender studies department.

A supervisor from campus security notified Kingston Police of the situation and contacted Krishnamurti claiming the police were going to speak to the e-mail’s sender.

“The gender studies department responded to campus security by saying the police aren’t always the best strategy in a situation like this. We need to focus on de-escalation,” Krishnamutri said.

This wasn’t the first time the individual sent e-mails aimed at the gender studies department.

Members of the department received similar messages on multiple occasions over the past two years.

Krishnamutri suggested campus security start a discussion with faculty about de-escalation and harm reduction approaches to gender-based violence. When someone in a mental health crisis is approached by police, the individual’s emotions may intensify leading them to become more upset, explained Krishnmautri.

Employing mental health counselors or social workers queensjournal.ca

alongside the police or campus security to handle situations involving individuals who are under mental duress and approaching them in a noncombative, non-threatening manner can help de-escale a tense situation. Krishnamutri said these de-escalation approaches can be learned by all members of the Queen’s community.

According to her, campus security was unable to have conversations about de-escalation and the University has not offered any de-escalation training to faculty or staff.

Formed in November 2022, the Hate Crime Steering Committee was tasked with addressing the rising number of hate crimes occurring on Queen’s campus. The committee hasn’t had any further conversations since releasing a statement in May, explained Krishnamutri.

The Steering Committee is @queensjournal

PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL AND HERBERT WANG

JDUC blueprints unaccounted for SEE JDUC ON PAGE 4 expected to formally begin its work in the fall, said Kim Murphy, executive director (risk and safety services), in a statement to The Journal.

Students in the gender studies department speculated hate-motivated stabbings at the University of Waterloo spurred the e-mail at Queen’s.

“I’m not shocked […] this individual took the time to do this when [hate-motivated violence] was already a focus in the media,” said Melanie Murdock, a PhD student in the gender studies department, in an interview with The Journal. /queensjournal

In the wake of the incident, Queen’s University published a statement condemning gender-based violence on June 29.

“I wasn’t aware of this statement.

A statement is only meaningful as long as people hear about it,” Murdock said.

Murdock voiced concerns the University’s approach to hatebased assaults is reactive rather than proactive.

“The University should be talking with the queer community, radicalized folk, and students and faculty at Queen’s to determine what security and safety looks like for equity-deserving groups,” @queensjournal

The summer shred is heating up as Queen’s Players launched us into the meteor-world of the summer Olympics.

The show runs a new cast every semester, and they never miss a summer season. This time, audiences got a glimpse into “A Space Olympocalypse,” a “See You Next Tuesday” cabaret focusing on the Olympics with a mix of apocalypse. The sold-out event ran from July 19 to 22 at The Mansion.

“One of the traditions of the summer show is that it’s really chaotic, so I wanted to throw in the apocalyptic curveball, and it turned out to be really fun,” Director Olivia Orsi, ArtSci ’23, said in an interview with The Journal.

Running for over 100 years, all the shows’ proceeds are donated to charitable organizations in Kingston and Canada.

Full of racy jokes and laughter, Orsi said Players is a great club for people who express themselves and find community through theatre.

“I realized a lot about myself and was able to come out of my shell a bit more. I joined in fourth year, and it’s never too late to get started.”

Her role as a director dealt with administrative work such as scheduling vocal and choreography rehearsals, writing the script, and choosing the production’s songs.

Players is an extensive team with various moving parts, according to Orsi. This allowed for a diverse range of people to join the team.

Stage lovers and script writers alike can join Players so long as they nail their audition.

Vocal directors help members learn their harmonies, choreography directors create dances, and the production team makes promotional content for social media. First time cast members have the opportunity to advance into leadership positions after the initial show.

The team reserves spots for new members to join the club, but Orsi said every director must be a Player’s alumnus as it allows them to teach rookies how to perform.

See Players on page 9 @thequeensjournal

News

2 • queensjournal.ca

NEWS

Report shows 50 per cent of Queen’s students don’t use sexual protection

61 per cent of students reported sex satisfaction Sophia Coppolino Senior News Editor

The wellness survey responses shed light on students’ sexual heath practices and alcohol consumption.

Student Wellness Services (SWS) published the results of the two wellness surveys, the National College Health Assessment, and the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey, in February. The surveys were conducted over the winter 2022 semester, while COVID-19 restrictions were in place.

Overall, 13 per cent of students responded to the survey with 70 per cent of respondents being undergraduate students.

The results provided SWS a broad snapshot of student wellness at Queen’s.

“The survey results show the health and wellbeing of Queen’s students is similar to their peers at other Canadian post-secondary institutions,” SWS Executive Director Cynthia Gibney said in a statement to The Journal.

Sexual Health Queen’s students had more sex than the Canadian population.

Sixty-eight per cent of respondents reported having engaged in sexual activity—the Canadian average is 52 per cent. Protective barriers were used “always or almost always” by 44 per cent of students.

SWS increased access to STI testing, including running STI Quick Test Clinics. “[SWS has] a continued focus on programming, resources, and community building for equitydeserving students continues across campus including the creation of a TransCare team and increased equity education for SWS staff, and expanded sex-positive programming,” Gibney said.

Peer-to-peer education is a longstanding part of SWS’ sexual health promotion, including a blog where students can submit

Students given extra TAMs Sofia Tosello Assistant News Editor Leonard dining hall is getting a face lift.

The dining hall’s kitchen, which feeds up to 700 students daily, is being upgraded during the fall term and is expected to be running at full capacity for January.

Leonard will no longer be all-you-can-eat and will operate for daily lunch and dinner. Leonard’s kitchen will be closed as cooking stations and dishwashers are upgraded and replaced. Food served at Leonard will be made in trailers located outside the dining

Monday, July 31, 2023

New Dean of Law: Colleen Flood ‘It has always been a dream of mine’

Meghrig Milkon Assistant News Editor

anonymous questions about sex.

Colleen Flood has a vision for Queen’s Law, and she’s Substance Use committed to making it a reality.

Substance use at Queen’s was Appointed as the Dean slightly higher than the Canadian of the Faculty of Law for a population in 2022, except five-year term effective July 1, when it comes to binge drinking. Flood is committed to increasing More than a quarter of students research opportunities for reported binge drinking one law students, eliminating or more times per week. Student inefficiencies, and promoting athletes were more likely opportunities for graduates. to binge drink than other Flood sees her role as preparing student subgroups. students for the future, whatever Thirty-five per cent of students it might entail. reported one or more negative “I want to help students see consequence of using alcohol over that a Queen’s Law degree is an the past year, with 44 per cent investment in their future that will reporting memory loss. pay off,” Flood said in an interview “Concern remains amid student with The Journal. reports of binge drinking; alcohol “I see my role as Dean to really harm reduction will remain a accelerate and support excellence priority area of focus across in teaching, in research, and in student services,” Gibney said. service. So that’s my job—to make During high-risk party times, all of that happen.” such as Homecoming, Queen’s A long-term goal of Flood’s is to plans to extend substance related provide law students with more services beyond the longstanding research opportunities.

Campus Observation Room (COR).

“When I look at our strategic Initiatives include Big Breakfasts plan and our organizational chart, in residence, food and water giveaways, ongoing safe drinking being lonely. education, and Party Goer and “Social and personal identities Party Thrower Safety Kit giveaway influence many aspects events, Gibney explained. of wellbeing, highlighting the Forty-one per cent of students continued need for specific, indicated using cannabis targeted resources that support over the last year, with half of students with intersectional cannabis-using students indicating identities,” Gibney added. high or moderate risk use. Seventy Gibney told The Journal per cent of students with C or D SWS is collaborating with other grades reported risky cannabis use. University offices, including Athletics & Recreation. SWS Mental Health created a TransCare team, Students’ top sources of stress increased equity education for were procrastination, personal SWS staff, and expanded appearance, and academics. sex-positive programming.

Overall, 66 per cent of respondents In terms of new programming, indicated average or high mental the School of Kinesiology and wellbeing in the two weeks Health Studies is launching a pilot preceding the survey with 47 program this fall called First-Year per cent reporting good abilities Learning Communities. managing their stress.

“The program aims to support This wasn’t the case for student transition to university all students on campus. The life, support academic skill majority—71 per cent—of gender building, enhance students’ sense non-conforming or trans students of belonging [...], and connect reported severe mental distress, students with supportive resources and 65 per cent of students on campus,” Gibney said. identifying as LGBTQ+ reported

Flood began her five-year term on July 1.

we don’t have enough resources staff talk about their work, and devoted towards the research part the faculty talk about their of the mission, which in turn, would work, then we don’t live in give a lot more opportunities for these two separate oceans that both undergrad and graduate sometimes exchange.” students to work on research.

Flood encouraged people We plan to accelerate that a lot,” of different backgrounds to Flood said. get involved with Queen’s Law. While settling in as dean, Flood An exemption from the hiring will continue her own research freeze was made to hire a focusing on governance of Queen’s National Scholar artificial intelligence in healthcare. for Indigenous law this Having previously collaborated upcoming year. with the Dean of the Faculty of “We want to encourage all Health Sciences Jane Philpott the potential scholars out there on a book about COVID-19, in Indigenous law to apply Flood expressed eagerness and start to build this community to collaborate on research of scholars engaged on opportunities across faculties.

Indigenous issues and the Truth “We can definitely be more and Reconciliation goals that we together, we’re more than the sum have. It’s a very exciting time of our parts,” Flood added. in that space,” Flood said.

Flood spent time getting to Flood was raised in rural know Queen’s through meeting New Zealand and was the first professors and staff one-on-one. in her family to attend university.

Eliminating inefficiencies is a She has been practising law since priority, even though it may sound the age of 21. like a small task.

After receiving her doctorate “We’re working to really at University of Toronto, Flood elevate everybody. That’s the was a professor and Canada secret. I think I’m someone Research Chair at the University of who sets very clear objectives, Toronto for 14 years, specializing and then I go for it. But I’m someone in health law and policy. who will listen to what people have She is the founder of the to say,” Flood said.

Centre for Health Law, Policy, Bringing people together and Ethics at University is important to Flood; of Ottawa. joy is one of her core values.

“It has always been a dream She emphasized wanting to get of mine to be the Dean of Law at to know faculty and staff working Queen’s,” Flood said. within the faculty.

—With files from Sophia “I am planning events with Coppolino staff and faculty where the

Queen’s largest dining hall under renovations

hall, and other foods items will be transported from the Ban Righ Dining Hall.

“For the fall 2023-2024 term, Leonard Dining Hall—including most of the seating area—will remain open for students in residence on meal plans, and will offer a variety of menu stations, featuring a rotation of students favourites,” said Jennifer Pete, director of business development and communications (Housing and Ancillary Services), in a statement to The Journal.

For one dinner meal swipe, students will receive one tray of

food, consisting of a choice for a main dish, a side dish, a drink, and a dessert.

To compensate for the renovations, residence meal plans will be increased from 19 to 21 meals per week, and students will receive 50 additional trade-a-meals (TAMs).

Ban Righ dining hall, Lazy Scholar, and Location 21 are extending their hours of operation. Ban Righ and Jean Royce will continue to offer all-you-can-eat meals and provide options for students with dietary needs.

“Ban Righ will now be the main

SUPPLIED BY LIS GRAHAM

dining hall for residents,” President of the Residence Society (ResSoc) Nathan Beckner-Stetson, MSc ’24, said in an e-mail to The Journal.

“More food stations are being added [to Ban Righ] and more seating is being added in some of the spare rooms surrounding the dining hall.”

Beckner-Stetson—in his capacity as the president for the student government representing those living in residence—is in close contact with Housing and Ancillary Services and gave suggestions on how to improve students’ dining experience during the renovations.

CORRECTIONS — Gael Tanner Big Canoe wins RBC Indigenous Youth Scholarship Big Canoe is not the Captain of the Queen’s Golf Team as stated previously.

— Kingston and Queen’s celebrate National Indigenous People’s Day The article incorrectly stated the opening date for Tipi Moza Transitional Housing and incorrectly spelled the name of Aaron St. Pierre.

— Incorrect information appeared in the June 26 issue of The Queen’s Journal. The Journal regrets the error.

Monday, July 31, 2023

News

queensjournal.ca • 3

Queen’s residence not guaranteed after April 2024 Ontario Housing Minister promises student support at Queen’s Park Mikella Schuettler Assistant News Editor First-year to doctoral students are scrambling to find housing as Kingston’s supply struggles to keep up with demand.

First-year students accepted after April 2024 won’t be guaranteed residence for the 2024-25 academic year, while graduate students struggle to focus on academics amid rising costs and stagnant salaries.

“The university will continue to offer a residence commitment to most first-year students in the coming years,” the University wrote in a statement to The Journal.

Queen’s said the ongoing JDUC construction and Gordon-Brockington House renovations, which will temporarily decrease total available beds, The University District is close to downtown. and the shift from guaranteed residence.

Off-Campus Community. to be shut down.

First-year students accepted This year the application For SGPS President after April will be entered into a portal for the Queen’s community Devin Fowlie, the University lottery for the remaining residence housing, An Clachan and John Orr is worsening the housing beds. Queen’s supports off-campus Tower, totaling 383 rooms, was crisis by increasing its enrollment students through the First Year overwhelmed by demand and had intake targets.

is such a wealthy and renowned institution,” Oliver said.

Queen’s, the City of Kingston, and the Ontario government all claim to be stepping in.

Queen’s Off Campus Living Advisor Adam King provides advice and resources to Queen’s students navigating the housing market.

Queen’s recently hired Christopher Akol to join King’s office.

He will focus on talking to graduate students with families, about housing possibilities.

“Students come to me feeling anxious about finding accommodations and then walk away from our meeting confident,” King said in a statement to The Journal.

The University brought 334 new residence beds online last year with the building of the Endaayaan–Tkanónsote PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG residence. The residence—new last “If [Queen’s] wants to bring more year—temporarily compensates students in, they have to consider for the beds lost to the JDUC what the implications are on the renovation which is set to re-open housing market,” Fowlie said in an next year. interview with The Journal.

“Housing affordability is not Graduate students living in an issue that can be resolved Queen’s community housing overnight. It takes collaboration tend to stay for multiple years, among Queen’s campus colleagues, meaning few rooms go ‘on the as well as with the City of Kingston market’ each year, explained Fowlie. and the Province of Ontario,” Many graduate students have King said. families and can’t realistically live Queen’s Rector Owen in multi-student homes.

Crawford-Lem thinks solutions “I don’t think Queen’s can on the housing shortage lie at the continue to be a top tier hands of the City of Kingston and research institution, if it’s the Ontario government. students are constantly “There are a lot of legislative under mental stress from these and policy [tools] that could be sorts of—housing—pressures,” done to protect students,” Fowlie said.

Crawford-Lem said in an interview Kingston rent prices ranked with The Journal. the eighth highest in Canada, Last year Crawford-Lem, according to a 2023 Kijiji study. along with student consultancy “We’ve heard from some group CREO solutions, students who’ve had to leave their collected informal data on student’s programs because of financial housing experiences at Queens, pressures,” Fowlie said. to inform future action. For Base funding for PhD Crawford-Lem, the data showed programs is $20,000 a year the living conditions of housing in compensation from the are just as important University, intended to cover their as affordability. cost of living and their tuition.

“There are always concerns with Packages have not increased housing affordability […] what with inflation. The packages we’re really looking into at Queen’s were last increased by $2,000 is the condition of the houses, in 2018. The Tri-Council Graduate and what can be done to Scholarships, awarded by the hold landlords accountable,” federal government, haven’t Crawford-Lem said. increased since 2003.

At the provincial level “Students are being forced to Ontario Minister of Housing and choose between putting food on Municipal Affairs Steve Clark, the table and having […] a roof capped the Ontario rent increase over their head,” Fowlie said. guideline at 2.5 per cent for Lori Oliver, a political studies 2024, which is below the rate PhD candidate, published a report of inflation. on the housing crisis in her Students who found role as chair of PSAC 901’s housing before the onset of rent Affordable Housing Working Group inflation, and reside at the same in June. The report cited over 90 address, will benefit the most per cent of graduate students from the cap. Students entering spend more than 30 per cent the market now, or who move of their monthly earnings often, remain vulnerable to soaring on housing. rent prices.

“It really has been a struggle to “We are putting students first get the University to realize the by keeping tuition frozen […] and difficulty that grad students are getting shovels in the ground facing,” Oliver said in an interview to build affordable housing,” with The Journal.

Clark said in a statement to From Oliver’s perspective, The Journal.

Queen’s hasn’t taken action to “We are committed to making alleviate the pressures of an housing more accessible for unaffordable housing market. hardworking Ontarians and “It’s not a good feeling to live so addressing the supply crisis.” precariously when the university

News

4 • queensjournal.ca

AMS declined to release blueprints

New JDUC funded by student dollars Cassidy McMackon Editor in Chief With approximately one year left of construction, the University and AMS are withholding blueprints for the new JDUC building.

The Journal contacted the

AMS requesting blueprints for proposed student spaces in the JDUC new build. In an e-mail, AMS Communications Director Mikayla Crawford wrote the AMS didn’t have access to blueprints, despite the AMS providing The Journal with blueprints to the proposed new space for the Queen’s Pub in March.

The University declined The Journal’s request for documents, citing club space allocation is the

Monday, July 31, 2023 responsibility of the AMS. Funding for the JDUC redevelopment project was passed in a campus-wide referendum in 2019, when 52.3 per cent of voters casted a ballot in favour of implementing a student fee to fund the project. The referendum passed with just 210 votes.

According to the JDUC redevelopment website, the JDUC is meant to house student

COMPSA wants $14,700 from ASUS

government offices, allocate space for over 100 student clubs, and include a discrete wellness space.

CoGro, Tricolour Outlet, and QP will have larger spaces in the new JDUC.

Queen’s Budget Update

Low survey turnout creates discrepancies between ASUS records and COMPSA survey results

Hiring freeze, 1.5 per cent reduction in computing students. spending across “In the 2022-23 academic year, 30 computing students asked for facilities is jacket reimbursement according to underway our data. Jacket reimbursements

Rebate requested to boost event capacity.

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

Akash Singh explained.

Last years’ large event turnout motivated the COMPSA executives to increase orientation and The Computing Student Association school-year events’ capacity (COMPSA) is asking for a $14,800 but found themselves facing rebate of computing students’ budgetary restraints. COMPSA mandatory ASUS fee to increase executives launched an orientation funding.

Instagram survey to investigate COMPSA asked on June 26 for the extent computing students the ASUS executives to transfer utilized ASUS services in June. $14,700 in computing students’ The survey received around mandatory ASUS fees. ASUS will 150 responses. make its decision in mid-August.

“What we expected to see [from COMPSA plans to allocate $3,500 the survey results] is what we saw. towards computing orientation Overall, the computing student week; $8,750 will help support body is not engaging too much computing clubs, professional within ASUS services,” Singh said in development ventures, equity and an interview with The Journal. academic support initiatives, and Singh told The Journal 97 per internal affairs. The rest of the funds cent of surveyed students didn’t will be used for various events that use the ASUS jacket subsidy and COMPSA plans to host in the fall only one respondent volunteered and winter, COMPSA President for ASUS. Sofia Tosello Assistant News Editor

After reviewing the survey results and COMPSA’s anticipated budget for upcoming events and programs, Singh decided on a rebate amount of $14,700 would be needed to expand events. are around $500 each. COMPSA’s Singh explained how COMPSA [survey] data does not reflect this,” Meghrig Milkon would use the rebate amount to Walters said.

Assistant News Editor ASUS executives during the budget Walters attributed the presentation on June 26. discrepancies in the survey to the “Any extra revenue coming back low student sample size. Of 1,100 Queen’s announced new risk into COMPSA is going to ensure computing students, only around mitigation measures to balance the that students who in the past have 150 students completed the survey. University’s budget on July 6. not seen much value in COMPSA or Low participation in the survey The Queen’s Board of Trustees have not engaged with us have a means ASUS can’t depend solely projected the University will run reason to do so,” Singh said. on the survey data to decide on a $62.8 million deficit for the If granted, the rebate will be a issuing a rebate amount. Walters upcoming year. Queen’s is drawing one-time payment. will consider the information which from its reserves to cover this COMPSA has the lowest ASUS has in their database. year’s shortfall. mandatory faculty society fee, “If COMPSA has enough funds “Funds from these budget sitting at $1.13 per student. to run orientation now, then we reduction may also be used to To relieve the budgetary strain can continue to talk with COMPSA support initiatives to identify for future executives, Singh plans about some better data collection efficiencies, generate revenue, or to propose an additional student to see how computing students support projects key to moving the fee for computing orientation are using ASUS services. We can University forward in achieving its or increase the current computing then give them a rebate later in strategic goals,” the University said student fee during referendum the fall semester to run events and in a statement to The Journal. in February. programs,” Walters said.

Queen’s is imposing a hiring In an interview with The next step is for ASUS freeze on full-time positions which The Journal, ASUS President to evaluate if the proposed are currently vacant, and a 1.5 per Amaiya Walters noticed there were rebate COMPSA suggested cent reduction in funding allocation discrepancies between the ASUS aligns fairly with their budget for for all University budgets for the database and the data gathered orientation week. following two academic years. during the COMPSA survey. The All faculties must reduce their largest discrepancies were the journal_news@ams.queensu.ca operating deficits to five per cent of amount of jacket subsidies used by their operating budget according to a press release.

Mitigation measures will ensure the academic and research mission is not jeopardized. The University expects to balance its books for the 2025-26 school year.

Queen’s annual evaluation by external crediting agencies, Morningstar DBRS, and Standard and Poor’s, determined Queen’s remains in strong credit standing.

Morningstar DBRS issued an AA rating, and Standard and Poors issued an AA+ rating.

“The student demands, effective management practices, and strong academic profile are cited as strengths of a strong balance sheet,” the University said.

The University accumulated Renderings of the hospice.

SUPPLIED BY PROVIDENCE CARE more than $618 million surplus volunteers with local seniors in work from the province in such a between 2013 and 2021, according long-term care homes. way that we’d be able to pay staff to to Queen’s University Faculty “Grandfriends works to level the provide community-based services,” Association’s 2022 budget and field to make everyone feel there is Wells Pearce said. financing review. someone there to support them in “We receive our funding solely The longstanding tuition what they need support for. I think for our staff and [right now] I’ve got freeze, imposed by the provincial a lot of the things that we do would a staff of 2.25 people,” Wells Pearce government in 2019, remains in be applicable in [the hospice] added. “The volunteers are the effect. This costs the University setting as well,” Penry said in an people who go and actually interact $179.4 million in lost revenue. interview with The Journal. with the clients, they’re the ones Inflationary costs and the Providence Care is looking to providing the support.” decline in international student expand their partnership with Once open, the residence will rely enrollment have further put a Queen’s students and the Faculty heavily on community fundraising strain on the budget. of Health Sciences to grow their and a limited envelope of provincial Queen’s attributed its confidence number of volunteers. funding to grow their full-time in restoring the budget to its “If we didn’t have our volunteers, staff. The provincial government strong academic profile. The we wouldn’t be providing is currently contributing $1.75 University reported receiving over community services because we’re million to the new hospice.

55,000 applications for about not funded to. The funding doesn’t 5,000 first-year positions.

Kingston’s first hospice to open in 2024

10-suite residence to be accompanied by a $13 million price tag Allie Moustakis Copy Editor Kingston embraces its first hospice residence with 24-hour end-of-life care.

The 10-suite hospice residence is set to open in mid-2024 and will provide support services in a home-like setting to people in the final stage of their life. The 13,000 square foot residence is currently under construction at 1200 Princess St. and will cost $13 million.

Hospice Kingston has offered in-home visiting, wellness services, and grief and bereavement support groups for clients and caregivers in the community for 38 years. After a decade of planning, they voluntarily merged with Providence Care in 2022 to create the community’s first residence.

“From a hospice service perspective, this has been the missing piece […] to support a continuum of palliative care in Kingston,” said Krista Wells Pearce, vice-president of corporate services and executive director, Hospice

Kingston at Providence Care, in an interview with The Journal.

The residence will be run primarily by community volunteers with staff on-call to assist.

Volunteers go through general orientation and are required to complete over 30 hours of self-directed training provided to them by Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO).

Volunteers are then matched with clients to provide one-on-one support for mental and physical health. With the mental health side being the most intense part of the job for all involved, explained Wells Pearce “The physical stuff is textbook, you know how to manage pain and make sure that people aren’t getting pressure ulcers and their nutrition is modified; but the spiritual, social, and emotional side of all services is important—especially at end-oflife,” Wells Pearce said.

One of the major issues Ava Penry, MSc ’24, observed among seniors in Kingston is loneliness and isolation. Penry is the co-chair of Queen’s Grandfriends, a club that

Features

Monday, July 31, 2023

queensjournal.ca • 5

Data across the board suggests increased food bank usership

The AMS Food Bank managment staff during a shift.

Food banks a band-aid solution to food insecurity Cassidy McMackon Editor in Chief Early July saw the hallowed limestone buildings on campus going without the usual hustle and bustle of students milling to and from classes. For Rianna Murchison, AMS Food Bank head manager, the quiet campus meant nothing for the operations of the AMS Food Bank, which she’s preparing to open for service.

On an average summer day, Murchison arrives at Rideau Hall at 2:30 p.m. alongside the AMS Food Bank’s Marketing and Outreach Assistant Manager Jessica Rogers in a taxi full of groceries. The duo quickly fills a wagon with canned goods and lugs boxes of vegetables, dairy products, meat, and other pantry items into room 105.

After all items are accounted for, Murchison darts across the small concrete room, shelving groceries item by item. Tucked beside a fridge, Rogers separates meat into portions before gently placing them into a freezer. Once all groceries are shelved, Murchison turns her attention towards special orders from patrons, filling boxes with family necessities such as diapers, baby formula, and shampoo.

Another box holds Napa, a Chinese cabbage, which Murchison says is an ingredient requested frequently by one regular patron of the Food Bank.

It’s hot—the garage door at the building’s side rests slightly open, but without a breeze the afternoon air is sweltering. Despite the heat, Murchison remains poised and organized. She prepares to welcome patrons to the Food Bank.

Post-pandemic inflation caused basic living expenses to skyrocket, sparking conversations about food insecurity on university campuses.

While Statistics Canada recently reported the annual inflation rate fell to 2.8 per cent in June, grocery prices continue to soar with an average increase of 9.1 per cent increase in the last year.

In 2022, 18.4 per cent of Canadian households across ten provinces experienced food insecurity. At Queen’s, 29 per cent of students indicated they experienced food insecurity in the same time frame.

Increase in Food Bank usage Ever since opening its doors in 1997, the AMS Food Bank has provided non-judgmental and confidential services to Queen’s students who need assistance accessing groceries.

The service is currently open from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on

Mondays and Wednesdays, and 11 a.m. to 12:30PM on Thursdays.

To fill the shelves for its patrons, Murchison places weekly grocery orders with Grant’s No Frills on Sunday evening. This process involves restocking regular food bank stock and filling special orders.

She repeats the process on Tuesday evening for restock and service on Wednesday and Thursday.

Routinely stocked items include bread, milk, eggs, butter, cheese, cereal, soup, tomato sauce, pasta, crackers, green beans, and canned goods such as tuna, fruits, and vegetables. The service offers fresh produce including apples, bananas, Roma tomatoes, cucumbers, and romaine lettuce, as well as meat and protein-rich meat alternatives.

To ensure there’s enough stock, Murchison said the food bank limits the amount patrons can take of certain products, with meat and dairy products considered to be especially expensive commodities.

Patrons are limited to taking either a pack of ground beef, one chicken breast, two drumsticks, or a portion of tofu. Eggs aren’t to be taken by the dozen and are instead separated into cartons of four.

Murchison currently spends roughly $1,500 on groceries each week. This coming year, the service has budgeted $50,940 for food purchasing, marking a 30 per cent increase from last year’s budget, where the food bank spent a total of $35,784 on groceries.

Though the summer streets of campus run vacant in comparison to the academic year, the number of patrons at the Food Bank this summer alone have notably increased from last year. Murchison serves roughly 30 to 35 patrons each restock shift, with patrons lining up for food an hour before opening. Last year, approximately 10 to 15 patrons would access the service each shift.

“That’s obviously a really huge increase, which is a great thing that the service has been brought aware of, but also with such a low budget, it is hard to maintain access for all patrons that do come,” Murchison said in an interview with The Journal.

Despite a mandatory student activity fee of $4 from both undergraduate and graduate students to fund the bulk of food bank spending, a higher demand for groceries from a larger volume of students creates a central issue—more pressure on the service’s ability to support students.

To mitigate this demand, the Food Bank has set a fundraising goal of $13,750 for the 2023-24 year.

The ever-increasing demand for groceries isn’t unique to the

Queen’s AMS Food Bank. The student-run food bank operated by the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) AMS is also facing a strain as demand for food support services rises.

UBC’s AMS Food Bank is funded largely by student dollars, receiving additional support from the University alongside private donors.

According to Senior Manager of Student Services Kathleen Simpson, UBC’s AMS Food Bank spent $250,000 on groceries alone in the 2022-23 academic year. This number is expected to increase to $400,000 in the upcoming year.

The projected cost for the 2023-24 academic year accounts for two things: a data proven increase in students accessing food bank services and inflation.

“Our user numbers have either doubled or tripled every year for the past three years, and we expect a doubling in the number of students who are accessing the Food Bank this year. That’s kind of what that projection is based off,” Simpson told The Journal in an interview.

“You’re not just accounting for the number of students that you have coming to theFood Bank and the user costs, but also the increase in food pricing for inflation. That kind of estimate takes into account both of those factors,” she said.

Simpson shared that in the 2020-21 year, UBC’s AMS Food Bank had 2,317 user interactions, with 7,496 interactions the following year. In 2022-23, the service interacted with hungry patrons a total of 16,253 times.

With current projections of the volume of students doubling over the year, the Food Bank expects approximately 20,000 user interactions in the coming year.

Strains caused by inflation on food banks present twofold challenges. When the rising cost of living drains students’ bank accounts, more students are driven to food banks as the purchasing parity of groceries becomes scarce. Food banks, in turn, must balance an increase in usership

while keeping food purchasing costs low.

Though the UBC AMS Food Bank has existing partnerships with some grocers to reduce food costs, the price of some products has increased as much as 20 per cent in a span of four months.

Simpson said balancing the increasing demand for food bank services with increasing grocery costs involves making several difficult decisions.

This past April, the Ubyssey reported UBC’s AMS announced a policy change to the AMS Food Bank that rendered the University’s staffers ineligible for the food bank’s services. According to Simpson, this decision was necessary if the AMS Food Bank wanted to provide the same quality of services to students in the coming year.

“It’s not that we’re currently giving students more than we did last year, it’s just that we’re able to maintain that same level of service that we did from last year through to this year, knowing that our user numbers are going to grow and the cost of some of our food items are growing quite substantially,” Simpson said.

Simpson added projected costs of food purchasing to support UBC staff using the Food Bank would equal $300,000 for the full year in addition to the $400,000 projected cost of supporting students.

“For that reason, we felt that as a student society, funded by student fees, we ultimately had to make the difficult decision to prioritize students in what we’re offering.”

The food banks at both Queen’s and UBC see similar demographics accessing services. Murchison said most of the patrons at Queen’s are graduate students, international students, and students with familial responsibilities. At UBC, international students make up 72 per cent of all students referring to the service, and 52 per cent of all students are graduate students.

Graduate students struggling Food banks aren’t the only institution currently struggling to provide food resources under the strain of inflation.

Labour unions on campus have started looking to better mitigate food insecurity among their members.

With graduate student workers being one demographic experiencing a particularly significant strain, PSAC 901 launched

PHOTO BY JOSEPH MARIATHASAN

its Emergency Food Support Fund to aid graduate student workers.

First implemented this past January, funds for the program have been exhausted twice.

PSAC 901 President Justyna Szewczyk El Jassem said the most recent launch of the fund points to immense strains on graduate student budgets.

The second implementation of the Emergency Food Support Fund was opened this past month. In a press release, PSAC 901 reported receiving 205 applications for aid in the program’s first week.

“We received 205 applications just when we opened the program,” El Jassem told The Journal in an interview. “To put [that] into perspective, we had over 400 applications in the previous round, which was 15 weeks long.”

El Jassem credits the increase of support-seeking students in the summer launch of the Emergency Food Support Fund to scarce employment for graduate students during the summer-time. Where all graduate students within their funding periods are guaranteed either teaching or research assistant positions in the regular academic year, these positions become sparse during summer.

While El Jassem mentioned some students might seek employment elsewhere, she noted the need to work in the summer takes away from these students’ valuable research time.

“Let’s be honest, summer is the time when we can do our other work, which is research because [with] teaching obligations, it’s very difficult to fully focus on research,” she said. “A lot of people just do their research work over the summer and are not able to take other employment options.”

PSAC 901 launched the Emergency Food Support Fund with over $20,000 to offer PSAC members. The union secured funding through a GoFundMe page and donations from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1302, and the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA). The bursary was funded through money set aside from an emergency hardship grant the labour union set aside at the beginning of its current collective agreement as a temporary aid to students.

Since the last bargaining period, graduate student workers only received a one per cent wage increase due to Bill 124 still being active law at the time of bargaining. The hardship bursary was implemented to aid students struggling to stay afloat due to minimal wage increases and rapidly increasing cost of living expenses.

6 • queensjournal.ca

Students who accessed support A Band-Aid solution from the Emergency Food Support In 1981, the first Canadian Fund successfully received food bank opened in Edmonton. grocery gift cards to give maximum The idea behind food banks at the autonomy to members. time was to provide a temporary Despite providing support for charitable relief as Canadians some members, El Jassem said struggled through a recession.

PSAC 901 isn’t equipped to cover Forty-two years later, economic all its members’ needs. crises still reinforce food banks PSAC 901 is involved with as community fixtures of Unity Council, an amalgamation dependence in need of donations of all unions representing Queen’s and volunteers. staff. Unity Council puts pressure At the Partners in Mission on the University to provide better Foodbank on Hickson Ave., wages for its workers.

Executive Director Dan Irwin “This labour union is not an credits the continued success of institution that can solve [food the organization to the generosity insecurity]. We’re just trying of the Kingston community, to help the most food insecure despite breaking records of patrons members that we know of” she said. served each year.

“Food banks and food programs are Partners in Mission supplies 80 only patches.” to 85 food hampers to individuals From a student government and families struggling to put food perspective, Society of Graduate on the table. While the organization and Professional Students (SGPS) budgeted $425,000 for food President Devin Fowlie said purchasing this year, Irwin expects food insecurity is among one of a total of $2.6 million in food to be the more vocalized problems distributed within the community. for students. He agreed with Despite being one of these El Jassem that low graduate community fixtures, Irwin funding packages are particularly stressed food banks are not to blame for graduate student the solution to food insecurity. food insecurity.

They’re a band-aid solution.

“With rising rent costs, [and] “We’re not here to solve food relatively stagnant funding insecurity. That’s not what for the last while for graduate food banks do. Food banks are students, it’s had a huge impact a very necessary band aid to on food insecurity,” Fowlie said in keep people going and get them an interview with The Journal. “We through the month,” he said. know that food bank [use] has gone “Feeding hungry people’s what we up dramatically for graduate and do. Food insecurity is about income.” professional students—which is a Irwin noted the implementation large component of the financial of the Canadian Emergency instability piece.”

Response Benefit (CERB) “We cannot expect to claim in March 2020 as a direct that we are a high-performing example of how livable incomes research institute if we achieve provides better access to food. that through having food insecure While the number of patrons graduate students.” at Partners in Mission set new

Features

Monday, July 31, 2023

records each year in the four years say that this is not about food, and live up to its Sustainable Irwin has been at the that this is a problem of income.”

Development Goals. organization, 2020 is a Power explained the “I like to think of universities lone exception. erasure of experiences of food as centres of critical thinking, of “To be honest, CERB saved us,” he insecurity at the postsecondary actually thinking about these said. “2020 was the first dip in total level is dangerous. While issues and in a real way that users for many years.” postsecondary education used not just like superficial marketing, “In Kingston, if you had two to promise a pathway to upward devices to kind of cover up,” people who were laid off and were social mobility for students so long she said. collecting $2,000, each with our cost as they worked hard, it’s getting “It’s the place of the of living in 2020 that’s sustainable. increasingly difficult to succeed university to say no, this isn’t They could go buy groceries.” in university settings without good enough to hold up.”

Like Irwin, Elaine Power, adequate food supply. professor in the school of Food insecure students *** Kinesiology and Health are more likely to take on Despite hoping for better Studies at Queen’s, expressed additional work during school, systemic change at the institutional how food insecurity is a problem of taking valuable time away from level, both Murchison and Irwin income. She also noted food banks their studies. both agree the best way to wrongfully promote the stigma “If you’re food insecure, support people experiencing associated with food insecurity. you’re less likely to succeed at food insecurity is by donating to This stigma in Canada stems university. You’re more likely food banks. Whether through largely from a neoliberal political to drop out, you’re more likely food donations, volunteering, climate where people without to take longer, you’re going to or simply sharing the food bank’s access to food internalize accumulate more debt,” Power said. message, any form of support helps blame for not being able to feed “That doesn’t even count the people these organizations stay afloat. themselves independently of who don’t even bother to come Murchison thinks it’s social supports. because they know they’re not especially important to improve Being food insecure at going to be able to afford it and awareness of food insecurity a wealthy institution like they can’t count on families to help among Queen’s students.

Queen’s amplifies this stigma them out,” she said.

“Because Queen’s is such a exponentially for students.

Students without family wealthy institution, I think a lot “Because we live in this kind assistance are particularly of people don’t think about the of neoliberal society where vulnerable to becoming effects that food insecurity has on we’re expected to look after food insecure. its students. But it is important to ourselves, the expectation is that “One of the things that struck me be educated and understand that [being food insecure] is your fault, during the research is how much not everybody is as privileged and you should be able to manage,” we assume that parents [and] as others,” Murchison said.

Power said in an interview with families are in a position to be able “As someone who has dealt with food The Journal. to help [their] kids. That’s true for a insecurity and food vulnerability, “No one wants to be poor, lot of people, but not all.” this service is something I would especially in the society that we live For Power, it’s ultimately have really benefited from if I in, where consumption is a marker a university’s responsibility knew about it at the time, so I’m of status. Using the food bank to provide better structural very grateful to be able to work for most people, not just students, changes to solve food insecurity in such an important service is kind of a sign they hit the bottom.” among students. She mentioned now and educate people on the “[Food banks] give us the though Queen’s advertises a importance of it.” illusion that we’re looking handful of services to low-income after the problem,” she said. “We students, the University needs to have a ton of evidence now to move beyond mere marketing

Editorials

Monday, July 31, 2023

The Journal’s Perspective

EDITORIALS

Universities: stop reactive responses to hate We must learn from the attack at University of Waterloo.

In June, a former student of the University of Waterloo walked into a Gender Studies classroom and stabbed a professor and two students, sending all three to the hospital with serious injuries.

The assault has been confirmed to be hate-motivated.

Hate crimes don’t come out of nowhere.

They result from hateful rhetoric, and the current tendency of ignoring the pipeline from menacing words to menacing behaviour is quickly becoming more dangerous.

Two days after the attack at Waterloo, the Queen’s Gender Studies department received threatening emails from a male member of the Kingston community. He blamed female empowerment for destroying his life and demanded a response from the department.

In response to this and previous emails, the department’s head, Sailaja Krishnamurti, appealed to the University and campus security to implement de-escalation training and harm reduction on multiple occasions, but without success.

It’s no secret Queen’s sees multiple hate motivated incidents every year.

Last school year, The Journal reported on numerous antisemitic acts of hate on campus,

queensjournal.ca • 7

which mirrored the heinous antisemitism being endorsed by public figures across many forms of media at the same time.

Observing the prevailing attitudes towards marginalized groups across media could allow institutions to predict and prevent hate crimes—an opportunity Queen’s didn’t

ILLUSTRATION BY ARDEN MASON-OURIQUE

take advantage of then and continues to neglect now.

Universities’ promise of academic freedom enables the circulation of diverse opinions on their grounds.

Academic dissonance—like which of two physics theories best explains a given phenomenon—doesn’t routinely escalate to violence.

Perpetrators of hate crimes can rationalize their violence with dehumanizing, demonizing portrayals of marginalized groups, such as people who are gender non-conforming.

Queen’s should be looking inwards to see how they’re contributing to anti-queer sentiments. There need to be conversations with professors in response to incidents like the intolerant exam question included on an engineering exam by Professor Colin MacDougall.

Professors being allowed to belittle the queer community constitutes institutional validation of anti-queer sentiments at best and incites violence at worst.

For the preservation of free speech and academic freedom, opinions can’t be allowed to intensify to the point of infringing upon the expressions or safety of others.

In addition to curbing hateful commentary in class, Queen’s must implement proactive measures like the training in de-escalation and harm reduction advocated by Krishnamurti.

Queen’s released an official statement in response to the stabbing at Waterloo, yet even that promoted reactive rather than proactive measures, instructing students in need of immediate assistance to contact the Emergency Report Centre.

It isn’t sufficient to punish perpetrators of hate crimes as they arise.

As politics and rhetoric become further radically polarized, hate crimes will continue to multiply boundlessly unless inclusion of and respect for different ways of being can be promoted.

To protect all those on campus and to avoid contributing to the societal intolerance of marginalized groups, Queen’s must condemn hateful attitudes and stop dismissing the threats they pose.

—Journal Editorial Board

Volume 151 Issue 3 www.queensjournal.ca @queensjournal Publishing since 1873

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Want to contribute?

Cassandra Pao Editorials Editor

Worrying about the feelings of privileged groups undermines advocacy.

When a social project gains mainstream attention, the dialogue around it often shifts.

Suddenly the focus is no longer the aim of the activists, but how their actions affect the privileged majority.

Such intolerance for marginalized groups consolidating their own identity, rather than existing as peripheral to the majority, is complacent at best, and prejudiced at worst.

“Because I am a Girl” was a global campaign developed by Plan International, with the goal of denouncing and redressing gender-based discrimination.

Despite all it accomplished for young women—like influencing laws prohibiting child marriage and promoting equal access to education in 17 countries—the initiative was accused of villainizing and ostracizing boys.

Securing fundamental rights for girls was less of a priority than continuing to stroke the global male ego.

There was a “Because I am a Girl” club at my high school. It was well attended, but almost exclusively by girls, which troubled my school’s administration.

Like other critics, administrators at my high school worried the club was making male students feel unwelcome or demonized.

Surely that was why the teenage boys weren’t joining the club to empower women.

The school changed the name of the club to “Champions of Change” the following year, losing all but a couple of its female members and failing to recruit male students.

How surprising.

THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL

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.

Advocacy shouldn’t pander Forcing social projects to accommodate the perspectives they’re trying to escape understandably demotivates people from engaging with them. Similar discouragement could result from criticism of critical race theory (CRT).

CRT acknowledges discrimination as existing not only between individuals but being systemically ingrained in North American sociopolitical frameworks.

Republican lawmakers accuse the theory of making white students feel bad and have banned it in several U.S. states.

This move is obviously not a humanitarian attempt at protecting everyone’s feelings.

Both racialized and non-racialized students will be disadvantaged by the lost encouragement to discover and dismantle their biases.

Disallowing critical race theory signals a disregard for the emotional and longterm well-being of racialized students, as well as a disinterest in de-popularizing discriminatory biases.

PHOTO BY JOSEPH MARIATHASAN

“Because I am a Girl” never excluded or villainized boys, nor does critical race theory target white people.

Men and non-racialized people are unharmed by the advocacy implemented by both.

A club about female empowerment doesn’t have to appeal to men for one reason—the club isn’t about them.

Some white students could feel uncomfortable learning about inherited privilege, but that discomfort shouldn’t be avoided over reducing the generational and continually revived trauma experienced by racialized students.

Advocacy should never aim to alienate members of the majority, but their participation isn’t the priority.

Coddling the majority reinforces existing value systems. Being challenging or unappealing to some is crucial to informing and mobilizing others.

We should all accept discomfort in the name of advocacy and education. Nobody benefits from pandering.

Cassandra is a fourth-year English student and The Journal’s Editorials Editor.

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.

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Contents © 2023 by The Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of The Journal.

Opinions

8 • queensjournal.ca

OPINIONS

Monday, July 31, 2023

Your Perspective

Silence from Queen’s administration lets rape culture prosper

Former professor’s dismissal another example of Queen’s shying away from conversations about sexual violence

suggests Queen’s priorities lie in protecting their reputation more than the safety of their students and staff.

By allegedly firing the professor, Queen’s abdicates any responsibility in the matter , and protects its reputation. In ignoring Rocklein’s claims of Caroline Law violence, the University suggests Contributor it doesn’t care about instances of sexual violence in the Queen’s This article discusses sexual assault community—putting its students and may be triggering for some and staff in further jeopardy. readers. While The Journal uses Rocklein’s alleged “survivor” to refer to those who discrimination comes in a have experienced sexual assault, post-pandemic era where students the author uses the word “victim.” are regaining social freedom. This We acknowledge neither term is results in increased engagement universal. The Kingston Sexual in party culture, and by extension, Assault Centre’s 24-hour crisis and a heightened threat of support phone line can be reached sexual assault. at 613-544-6424 / 1-877-544-6424.

While some might view Kingston bars as hunting grounds At surface level, Queen’s presents for predators, date-rape drugs can as a vibrant and welcoming be found within residence halls institution—but underneath lies and house parties. This poses an consistent efforts to forget its urgent risk to students within darker secrets. This is particularly the comfort of their own homes, evident in the University’s and at the hands of their peers. attempts to conceal the problem of Sexual assault has become a sexual violence. common experience at universities.

Despite purveying a vigilant One in four postsecondary women approach to tackling sexual assault, have experienced rape or been the datasets, policies, and survivor’s victim of an attempted assault. stories suggest Queen’s has been Queen’s might not officially negligent in solving this issue. affiliate itself with the downtown A recent example is the bar scene and party culture, but University’s handling of Professor it’s clear the Kingston community Kate Rocklein’s situation. depends on students to keep Rocklein was fired from her businesses afloat. administrative role last September As such, the University has a duty and suspended from teaching to protect students in environments in November. Administration where there’s risk of sexual violence. explained she was let go for poor Academic institutions should hold performance, but Rocklein alleged perpetrators accountable with a in interviews this decision was zero-tolerance policy. likely the outcome of her teaching The effects of sexual assault on students about the prevalence of health and wellbeing are numerous. sexual assault on campus.

They include but aren’t limited to Earlier that semester, Rocklein psychological distress, addiction, said she was admitted to KGH and chronic health conditions, after being drugged and knocked all of which hinder students’ unconscious after a staff function. ability to flourish in demanding Rocklein’s suspicious dismissal university settings.

While Queen’s provides high quality education, it must also protect its students and foster an environment where they can excel while feeling safe.

After a long week of studying and late library nights, it’s a necessary source of relief for many students to go out with friends to blow off steam. This fun is too often tainted by the threat and occurrence of sexual violence.

Students are more likely to find themselves victims of sexual violence in environments with alcohol, where the intoxication and diminished self-control increases their vulnerability.

The issue of rape within party culture is prevalent across Ontario universities. In September 2021, approximately 30 women were drugged and assaulted at the University of Western Ontario during orientation week.

Extensive research has proven that in all postsecondary contexts, there’s an inextricable link between substance use, party situations, and sexual assault.

The danger of assault could be avoided if students refrained from partying.

However, not only do many enjoy this social aspect of university, there is also mounting social pressure to engage in party life. Many feel their self-worth and social standing is bound to these events.

It simply isn’t fair to ask students

to choose between safety or having regular fun—not to mention that incidents of sexual assault aren’t confined to social gatherings.

Though Rocklein’s reported assault didn’t occur in an academic hall, by neglecting claims that don’t appear school-related, Queen’s perpetuates an ongoing rape culture that indicates it values its reputation over its students.

A 2018 research survey on sexual violence in Ontario universities found Queen’s has the fourth highest rate of sexual assault, with 30.8 per cent of student respondents indicating they experienced sexual assault in the 2017-18 academic year.

The inability to prevent recurring and escalating rates of assault reflects poorly on the University.

Perhaps Queen’s doesn’t want to draw attention to elevating numbers of assault complaints.

Nonetheless, the University needs to get over its embarrassment and do right by its community.

Queen’s is already equipped with a Sexual Violence and Prevention Policy (SVPR), which claims to “prohibit sexual violence, and provides non-judgmental safety planning and support.”

While the policy informs students of resources available to them both on and off campus, it still raises concerns.

One significant concern centres around the procedure for anonymous complaints. The SVPP indicates the standard investigation methods for complaints are not applicable to anonymous reports. These reports are instead referred to Campus Security and Emergency Services for assessment and response.

Many victims feel uncomfortable revealing their identity—it’s inconceivable the only listed solution for anonymity is to pass the responsibility onto another service.

Change doesn’t happen overnight. Ideally, institutions must strive towards addressing toxic masculinity —a root cause of rape culture and violence against women.

They must also wholeheartedly believe and support survivors.

In the meantime, smaller tangible policy changes can create substantial improvement.

There are many ways Queen’s can end the culture of silence around sexual violence on campus and become proactive in its efforts to prevent this in the future.

Improving policies to reduce the barriers and stigma of reporting sexual violence is a vital first step.

Website updates are imperative in improving seamless accessibility to support services. The site is extremely difficult to navigate, uses lengthy jargon, and focuses primarily on legal resources instead of mental health support.

Simplifying the website’s information will increase accessibility and allow survivors to access urgent help without obstacles.

First-years and other incoming students are especially vulnerable. To ensure their safety, the University should implement mandatory orientation courses on safe participation in party culture.

By providing neutral thirdparty support, the University can eradicate the shame that silences survivors and allows rape culture to prosper. Only then focus can shift towards the process of justice and healing.

Most importantly, Queen’s needs to get comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations. This means engaging in the tough conversations that can dismantle long-entrenched rape culture that hinders student success and violates the sexual integrity and freedom of far too many.

Caroline is a third-year sociology student.

Arts

Monday, July 31, 2023

Players’ performs at The Mansion ...Continued from front.

Orsi said board members look to hire a director who will support cast members—especially first time performers—while lifting other people up.

Central to being a director is acting as support to all cast members, with an emphasis on welcoming the rookies, Orsi said.

“I think directors are someone the board feels members can look up to,” Orsi said.

Orsi explained that directors are the main leads for the cast, and it’s ultimately their job to create a safe environment where people can feel comfortable being their most creative and funny self.

“I just want people to have a good time. It sounds cliché, but I think all I want is a really funny show.

I just hope [the audience] laugh and have fun with the music.”

If you ever thought to stop by The Mansion on a breezy summer night, you would have heard Rasputin being yelled into a microphone as Caesar Flickerman opened the Olympocaluypse Games.

The cast members filled the stage with colourful wigs and gaudy jokes as they brought their audience to their feet. Eccentric, hectic, and full of boozy fun, the audience joined in on the 2012 classic “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen, and watched Dobby talk about his flaccid penis.

Even more awe-inspiring was the appearance of the dearly departed Marilyn Monroe as she sang “Happy Birthday” to Players president, Stephanie Swindell, on opening night.

Players is looking to expand their cast to bring new members to the team. If you’re looking to sing like Amy Winehouse, dance like you’re in the reruns of Glee, and star in a Saturday Night Live-esq set, Players might be right for you.

September will see auditions open for Players’ fall semester cast.

queensjournal.ca • 9

Ranking ORT Mystery Concert headliners

Maddie Hunt Senior Arts Editor

The Orientation Roundtable (ORT) Mystery Concert is scheduled for September, and it’s time to reminisce.

Orientation week is one of the most exciting parts of joining the Queen’s community, where students partake in various events filled with excitement. Each year the ORT chooses an artist to headline a concert that first- year students attend in the Miller Hall parking lot.

Here’s a ranking of some fan-favourite past performers and their concerts.

3. Yung Gravy After three years without a mystery concert due to COVID-19 restrictions, our concert drought was saved by gravy—Yung Gravy.

This brought hysteria and excitement to not only the class of ’26, but to the second- and third-year students who never got to experience a mystery concert.

Gravy achieved his fame through TikTok videos and his relationship with TikTok celebrity Addison Rae’s

mother. Unfortunately, without his online status and speaking to his music alone, I would argue there may have been be much less interest in Gravy as a performer.

Gravy’s setlist was hip-hop and rap music—a genre past mystery concert performers had yet to play.

This offered a fresh performance for students.

2. Yukon Blonde & Tokyo Police Club The Journal dubbed the 2012 mystery lineup a hit for the class of ’16’s students, and I must agree.

Yukon Blonde and Tokyo Police Club (TPC) took the stage in 2012. I don’t know either band well, but after a quick Apple Music search, their talent, strong vocals, and positive melodies spoke for themselves. I have no doubt these bands hyped up the crowd of first year students.

Songs like “Bambi” by Tokyo Police Club offered upbeat indie melodies paired with strong rock-styled vocals from lead singer Dave Monks. Yukon Blonde added cheerful instrumental compositions in songs like

Art opportunities at Queen’s Maddie Hunt Senior Arts Editor Kingston’s vibrant art scene offers multiple avenues for those interested in the arts to become a part of the creative tapestry that colours the Queen’s community.

Head of the Queen’s Department of Art History and Art Conservation, Norman Vorano provided insight to incoming students on how they can get involved in the Queen’s art community, along with the

importance of student engagement with the arts.

“Like most people who get into the arts […] there’s a fundamental belief in the power of art [and] the way in which it shapes and transforms our lives,” he said in an interview with The Journal.

Prior to his involvement at Queen’s, Vorano worked as a curator at the Canadian Museum of History. Vorano said this role helped him understand the importance of how art and cultural collections

ARTS ORT hosts mystery concert each year.

“Stairway,” complimented by lead singer Jeff Innes’ alternative vocals.

In 2023, this lineup of bands would be a flop due to their lack of relevance, but it’s no doubt in their prime year, Tokyo Police Club and Yukon Blonde would be fan favorites for the student body.

1.Marianas Trench I hope my envy doesn’t seep into this ranking too much, but the 2018 Queen’s Mystery Concert welcomed Marianas Trench to the stage, and they didn’t disappoint.

Unsurprisingly, lead singer Josh Ramsay brought the energy to Miller Hall, performing hit songs such as “Desperate Measures,” “Cross My Heart,” and “Shake Tramp.”

Each song offered rock guitar shape our individual identities.

Opportunities exist for students in the art history program and for those who explore art as a hobby according to Vorano. He encourages students to subscribe to the art history department’s newsletter where the department shares events, activities, and opportunities to connect within the department and across the university. This includes learning from alumni.

“In the past, we’ve had our own alumni come back […] to give workshops to students.

We’ve had people come back who talk about digital media

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

tunes and pop melodies that would make anyone jump up and down, with lyrics you couldn’t help but sing along to—as explicit as they were.

Having grown up listening to much of their music on pop radio, many of us have a deeprooted familiarity with the popular Vancouver band. I wish I could experience the level of nostalgia throughout the crowd that night.

The bar is high for future Mystery Concert artists after Ramsay’s performance. *** While the headliners for the 2023 Mystery Concert may not be your favourite artist, it’s still a great opportunity to be out with preservation, come back.”

different

queensjournal.ca/arts

artists

CORRECTIONS — ‘Just to Please You’ is a love letter to the Skeleton Park neighbourhood Matt Rogalsky’s named was spelled incorrectly.

— Incorrect information appeared in the June 26 issue of The Queen’s Journal. The Journal regrets the error.

10 • queensjournal.ca

Business, Science, & Technology

Monday, July 31, 2023

‘More than a store’: Alphabet Mafia builds queer joy in Kingston Store serves as a resource to queer community in Kingston Violetta Zeitlinger Fontana Business, Science, & Technology Editor First opened as a storefront in the spring of 2022, Alphabet Mafia, is now a bustling resource hub and safe space for the queer community.

Located at 342 Princess St. in downtown Kingston, Alphabet Mafia sells queer-centric merchandise, while focusing on queer education, sharing local resources, and building community.

“There was an opportunity for a space to get folks together, have a place to be able to give back to the community, and find things that represent them,” said Rae Loggie, ArtSci ’21, and Alphabet Mafia team leader, in an interview with The Journal.

Alphabet Mafia was born as a joint effort after its founders were looking to create a space for themselves to feel comfortable, Loggie said.

Since then, Alphabet Mafia has grown to hold space for many others, including queer folks, allies, and “soon-to-be allies,” a term Loggie uses to refer to people who may not be very knowledgeable about queer issues, but are willing to askquestions and learn.

“We get a lot of folks who are in the area who are questioning their identity, or maybe their placement in the queer community,” Loggie said.

While this is something many queer spaces expect when opening their doors, Loggie shared the community engagement has been incredible.

“Besides just being in the storefront, we do a lot of resource work behind the scenes,” Loggie said. “It’s really powerful to have a space where people can come in and talk to allies, or queer folk themselves, and ask questions about proper language and queer spaces.”

Given their platform, Loggie and their team frequently refer community members to established resources in the Queen’s and Kingston communities. For many, accessing resources without this guidance can be a challenge, particularly when considering the need for intersectionality.

From trans healthcare, to support groups, Loggie mentioned often referring community members to the Trans Joy Club, Trellis, The Yellow House, and the Sexual Health and Resource Centre (SHRC).

“Being intersectional means constantly [being] in a position of learning. Not only educating yourself but realizing your own bias.”

From the international student body at Queen’s to the bustling tourist scene the summer season brings to Kingston, Loggie commented on the unity celebrating Pride brings.

“The pure joy on a lot of their faces—that’s not tangible in a business sense, but I think those things are far more important.”

In their journey as a small business, Loggie says the support from the City of Kingston has been important when

Law Newbie democratizes answers to legal queries

Queen’s law grad supported research and development Asbah Ahmad Editor in Chief

Technology is changing the legal landscape, and Lawyer Jordan Donich is working to streamline answers to basic legal questions.

Though it isn’t legal advice or substitute for a lawyer, Law Newbie is a legal chatbox software that Donich developed by licensing the underlying chatbox software and making changes to the user interface. Law Newbie is designed to democratize access to basic criminal and civil legal questions that might be asked by a client looking to connect with a lawyer.

During the development process of Law Newbie, Donich hired Sarah MacDonald, Law ’20, as a summer research student.

She worked extensively with other law students at the time to train the chatbot with researched information.

“There’s not a lot of innovation [in the legal profession]. It’s scary as a lawyer because you don’t want to get sued. You’re taking a risk,” Donich said in an interview with The Journal. “[Law Newbie] is bridging the gap between people who don’t have a lawyer and people who need a lawyer. It’s a lot of answers to questions. That doesn’t require as much of an analysis,” MacDonald said in an interview with The Journal.

Most technology in the legal profession is currently aimed at allowing lawyers to efficiently practice law. Donich’s site works to create an interface for clients who are

looking for guidance on which questions to ask a legal professional.

Accessibility in law is important for those who might not be able to afford legal services and need direction, explained MacDonald. Having access to accurate and reliable information also allows people to save precious time when dealing with legal problems.

“I worked at a legal clinic when I was at Queen’s. We were able to help people with those questions. But there’s a certain income cap where you’re able to qualify for those services,” MacDonald said.

Future development of legal chatboxes means the potential for development across many areas of law. This would help broaden the scope of the types of issues clients can receive support for.

“The way I see it, is that it could encourage other law firms who have different practice areas to develop similar tools. If you need advice about a will, an estate matter, or corporate issue [...] other types of firms could utilize it,” MacDonald said.

As it stands, Donich remains involved with the programming of Law Newbie. He still works to program the chatbot to answer new and evolving queries. He said the most common query is asking for legal advice, which he shuts down.

With changing technology, legislation and regulations are catching up. Now well out of law school, MacDonald said her experience in a technology law club at Queen’s was important, along with the case studies related to technology taught in courses.

This is part of a broader trend at better integrating technology and legal education across the board according to Donich.

Alphabet Mafia is located at 342 Princess St.

discussing intersectional queer issues. This is especially critical when considering Kingston’s colonial past.

“The City has been so welcoming, not only listening to our recommendations for better general spaces, but things such as the inclusion of more gender neutral bathrooms, or keeping the [Pride-themed] crosswalks in place all year round.”

Alphabet Mafia faced some challenges, with a few instances of people entering the store and spewing hurtful remarks or defacing store property with harmful symbols.

Despite this, Loggie remains extremely positive and grateful for the Alphabet Mafia community, sharing the outpour of love the store receives following difficult instances such as these.

“Even when we do have those little incidents of hate or misinformation, it’s always received back with 20 times more love, and a willingness to learn more,” Loggie said.

ILLUSTRATION BY VIOLETTA ZEITLINGER FONTANA

The store is hoping to host more community events, such as craft events and story times. Loggie hopes for the events to be family-oriented, where people can come together and listen to different queer voices.

Alphabet Mafia is hoping to collaborate with local businesses, clubs, and organizations to host, sponsor, or promote these events in the future.

As a Queen’s history grad, Loggie holds Kingston close to their heart and hopes the community honours Kingston’s diverse history as they continue to implement initiatives in the future.

“It’s really powerful to have a space like Alphabet Mafia where people who aren’t even sure if they’re a part of our rainbow community yet can hang out and enjoy different aspects of queer culture. I think it’s so beautiful.”

Loggie encourages anyone interested in connecting with Alphabet Mafia to do so via email, social media, or in-person at the store.

Kingston invests in young entrepreneurs

Kingston providing up to $3,000 for student entrepreneurs Nay Chi Htwe Contributor

Government funding is enabling student entrepreneurs to innovate in diverse fields.

Since 2001, the City of Kingston has provided young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29 with grants up to $3,000 with funding from the Ontario government. Besides funding, the program provides mentorship opportunities, enabling participants to work closely with local entrepreneurs.

This year, four of the 10 participants are Queen’s University students: Eric Colonna, Mason Rice, Roman Mironov, and Owen McDowell. The Journal had the opportunity to sit down for interviews with the four participants.

Eric Colonna, Comm ’23, is the founder of Pick 6 Athletics, a business he started in the summer of 2020. Colonna first generated a following by posting workout drills and football tips on Instagram.

Using his experience as a defensive back on the Queen’s football team, Colonna hopes to make high-level coaching accessible to young defensive backs.

Besides content creation, another way Colonna utilized business technology was through Wix, a website provider he used to create a site and mobile application which offers additional workout resources.

A piece of advice he would give to future entrepreneurs is to avoid paralysis by analysis and to start their business as soon

as possible. Colonna emphasized the importance of a supportive environment, reflecting on the times his family and peers helped him film content.

Mason Rice, Sci ’27, started Rice Photography, which reflects his passion for tinkering with video and film production and specializes in creating short films.

As part of the program, Rice hopes to expand his business under the mentorship of local social media marketing company, James Media.

As an incoming first-year student, Rice looks forward to meeting new people and hopes to take Instagram pictures for first years during special events like Homecoming.

Rice identified consistency as a key trait entrepreneurs should strive for. Despite his upcoming engineering course load, he’s still going to try to find free time to keep filming videos.

Once in university, Rice hopes to shoot videos for sports teams, like football and rugby. As of now, Rice has shot an advertisement for the Kingston Yacht Club, as well as for Roman Mironov, Comm ’25, a fellow participant of the 2023 Summer Company Program.

Mironov founded 199 Media, a consulting company specializing in digital advertising for businesses.

Mironov’s marketing experience started early—he helped his mother’s e-commerce business by making posters on Canva before branching out into social media advertising.

To read the full story, visit queensjournal.ca/

Monday, July 31, 2023

Business, Science, & Technology

queensjournal.ca • 11

12 • queensjournal.ca

SPORTS

Sports

Monday, July 31, 2023

‘It was unreal’: Ethan Miedema selected in NHL Draft Miedema selected in the NHL Draft

RORY STINSON Senior Sports Editor

Ashton Watson has committed to Gaels Men’s Footbsll as a wide receiver.

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

A New Hope for Gaels football

Ashton Watson joins the Gaels

A new prospect joins the Gaels football squad. Ashton Watson—a wide receiver from Newmarket, Ontario—looks to bring a wealth of experience, talent, and dedication to success to the Gaels roster .

Watson’s football career began at the age of six where he played two seasons for the Newmarket Bucks. When he switched to the Metro Toronto Wildcats two years later, he met Coach Marcello Lio, a figure Watson cited as having a profound impact on his football career.

“I had a bit of an ego; he changed my whole mindset.

He made me a team player. My work ethic got way better when I was getting coached by him,” Watson said in an interview with The Journal.

Having played running back for almost the entirety of his football

career, Watson saw the change to wide receiver in his Grade 12 season to best utilize his skillset.

“I like helping, blocking, and making big plays for my other teammates, but I couldn’t really do that as a running back. So, I kind of like receiver a lot,” Watson said. “I’m also in the open field already, and that’s where I excel at for sure.”

Even before his recruitment to Queen’s, Watson was recognized on a national level. From scoring touchdowns in the Canadian Football Chat prospect team to competing on Team Ontario for the Canada Cup, he never struggled to succeed at any level of his playing career.

Watson displayed immense excitement and commitment about joining the Gaels. When asked about his motivations behind choosing Queen’s, he said the attraction of a good football program that values academic growth of their student-athletes was the selling point.

“They care about building

RORY STINSON Senior Sports Editor

Fair is heading to Morocco for the U21 sailing world championships

AIDAN MICHAELOV Assistant Sports Editor

each player on their team,” he said. “Resumes for businesses, mock interviews, all that little stuff matters to me, like they don’t just care about football. They care about their player. They’re not just a roster number.”

Coming from an all-boys boarding school of about 600 students, Watson voiced his worries about the number of students at Queen’s. He emphasized the pressure he’s put on himself to be accountable as he won’t have anyone watching over him anymore.

Watson will be living on campus this year where he’s excited to play video games and watch Star Wars with friends.

Watson will face off against the Laurier Golden Hawks in the Gaels home opener at Richardson Stadium on Aug. 26. He’ll be going up against his brother, Mason Watson, a solid Defensive End for the Golden Hawks.

Hockey players each year dream of making it to the big leagues.

This year, Ethan Miedema was one of the successful few when the Frontenacs’ forward and Ontarionative was selected 109th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2023 NHL Selection Draft.

At 6’4” and weighing in at just over 200lbs, Miedema’s hockey IQ and dedication to becoming a well-rounded player has been something reporters have talked about.

Miedema joined the Frontenacs mid-way through last season when the Windsor Spitfires traded him for Shane Wright. Between the Frontenacs and the Spitfires, Miedema posted 52 points in 68 games in the 2022-23 season .

“I’m still really happy to be in Kingston as a Frontenac and looking forward to the upcoming season,” Miedema said in an interview with The Journal. “The coaches care a lot and really want us to do well individually and as a group…When you combine coaches who care and all the extra stuff you do, it puts you in a position to be successful.”

Finding the success that many hockey players work so hard to have, Miedema described

hearing his name called in the draft as “unreal.”

“It’s something you dream of as a kid,” he said. “To hear your name called, that’s something that you get chills about…It’s a dream come true for not only myself, but everyone who’s supported me.”

Originally from Cobourg, ON, Buffalo is one of the closest cities to home for Miedema.

“I lucked out with that,” he said.

“I literally drove to development camp, whereas a lot of guys got to fly across the country or fly through another state or province.”

Having recently attended development camp for the Sabres, Miedema recounted what a typical day with them looked like.

“The way they treat us is top notch,” he said. “The NHL’s the real deal.”

Miedema said practicing on NHL ice was a particularly heartfelt moment for him.

“I know it’s only a practice jersey, but wearing that jersey for the first time—like I said earlier about getting drafted—you get chills.” “[It’s] something you dream about as a kid, wearing an NHL jersey for real, not just one of someone you look up to,” he said. “It’s your own jersey and this might sound pretty cliché, but it’s truly one of the best feelings in the world.”

The Frontenacs’ forward discusses being selected in the NHL Draft

From Kingston to Morocco, James Fair is headed to new waters

James Fair , will be sailing through the formidable waters of Morocco this fall when he represents Canada at the U21 Sailing World Championships.

Morocco is known to be challenging for even the most experienced of sailors, but Fair expressed his excitement for the challenge.

Though Kingston is said to have smaller waves than most sailing locations, Fair explained how he built his affinity for sailing in rougher water.

“One of the things I always loved growing up was just going out for three hours at a time,” Fair told The Journal in an interview. “My coach would take me [out] as far we could go and then we’d just surf the waves all the way back down to the club.”

“That was always what I loved most,” Fair said. “When I finally got to travel and do competitions

elsewhere, anytime I got the chance to surf the waves in the boat and do that kind of racing, I think just because I enjoyed it so much, I just really started to excel at it.”

As a second year engineering student at Queen’s, Fair said there’s an intimate link between his sport and academics.

“Sailing is super focused on physics I’ve been doing vectors and stuff like that since I was literally 12 years old,” he said. “Eventually I’d like to maybe focus on designing foils or something to do with sailing through engineering.”

Growing up in Kingston, Fair expressed gratitude for support he received from the both the local and Queen’s communities.

“More than anything I’d say my parents are my biggest supporters.

Beyond that the Kingston Yacht Club has supported me my entire career so far,” he said.

“There’s been a lot of people

across Canada, but through Queen’s I’ve also had a lot of support from some of the professors and the Dean of Engineering actually are sailors themselves.”

Fair further explained what sort of effect growing up in Kingston has had on his success in the sport.

“Kingston is known as the fresh water sailing capital of the world, so I’ve been very fortunate to grow up in a place that is amazing to sail a good portion of the year,” said Fair.

Fair shared the names of Olympic athletes from Kingston who have helped him on his way, including Ali ten Hove and Dannie Boyd.

He credited those not directly involved with his training as a significant help.

“Sailing as a sport takes a lot of support, so its definitely takes a lot of community and I’ve had a lot of help along the way, through Queen’s, through everybody, but

I’m always looking for support from anybody that can help me out,” he said.

While this championship will be Fair’s fourth world sailing championship, it will be his first one competing in the men’s Olympic single-handed class.

“It’s a very, very competitive fleet,” Fair said.

Preparing for the upcoming championship, Fair said a lot of the training is about being productive without pushing your body too hard and facing potential injury.

“A lot of the prep work at this stage is making sure you’re kind of mentally in the right mindset to know when you need to push for it, when you need to go for it.”

For Fair, the key to success in sailing is making sure you’re always having fun and not putting too much pressure on yourself.

“Getting to a world level

PHOTO BY JOSEPH MARIATHASAN

or getting to an Olympic level is a long waiting game,” he said.

“Understanding that [if] you’re not where you need to be or where you want to be right now, in a year’s time everything can change and if you just stay with it. You’ll get there eventually.”

CORRECTIONS — U Sports commits to Safe Sport

It was incorrectly reported that Queen’s University didn’t publicly address Hillary’s letter.

Additionally, the LGBT YouthLine phone number ran at the start of the article was incorrect.

— Incorrect information appeared in the June 26 issue of The Queen’s Journal. The Journal regrets the error.

Monday, July 31, 2023

Sports

queensjournal.ca • 13

The beginner’s guide to sports at Queen’s

From playing sports to watching games, this is your guide to athletics at Queen’s AIDAN MICHAELOV & RORY STINSON Journal Staff

Whether you’re a first-year student hoping to explore Queen’s athletics, or a seasoned student looking for something new this school year, Queen’s has everything you’ll need to stay active.

One of the focal points for Queen’s students and athletes is their rich athletic and recreational facilities, which hosts several programs for all students. For incoming students, here’s a guide to athletics and recreation What you can do to get in on sports action. at Queen’s. sports, intramurals to drop-in The hub for all athletics and gymnasium times. recreational programs available at Queen’s maintains many Queen’s is the ARC. It’s home to facilities which are often open basketball gyms, pickleball courts, for public use. Tindall Field is and various private rooms which frequently riddled with Spikeball house a variety of clubs. nets, pickup soccer, frisbee and Athletics & Recreation (A&R) football games, whereas Nixon offers a range of programs Field is commonly home to club from competitive to club

sports.

Aside from the facilities on campus, there are several parks in City of Kingston for physical activity.

The Gord Edgar Downie Pier is a major attraction for swimming in the summer months and Lake Ontario is an attraction for skating in the winter. Victoria Park is a great

New Gael to ‘Cap’ off men’s hockey roster Dharan Cap joins Queen’s Men’s Hockey

AIDAN MICHAELOV Assistant Sports Editor

A new recruit will hit the ice this season as the Gael Men’s Hockey team add another player to their roster. Originally from Vancouver, Dharan Cap is a strong forward with top-tier goal-scoring ability, a great forecheck and backcheck, and an unrivalled physicality on the ice.

Cap’s love for hockey ignited at a young age. He cites his older brother Ethan as his biggest influence.

“He’s playing pro and I’ve looked up to him ever since I was little and following in his footsteps Cap brings a physicality and two-way here,” said Cap in an interview with play style to Gaels as a new forward The Journal.

SUPPLIED BY A&R Cap made his way through totaling 68 points the AAA circuit playing for the in 55 games.

Vancouver North West Hawks, where he stood out for his defensive When asked about where he sees and physical capabilities. himself making an impact on the Most recently, Cap played for Gaels roster this upcoming season, the Soo Thunderbirds in Sault Cap emphasized his ambition to Ste. Marie for the Northern win is built on commitment to Ontario Junior Hockey League his team.

(NOJHL). There, he won the “I know Coach Gibson was NOJHL championship in the talking a lot about how they missed 2021-22 season, and was awarded playoffs last year, and they want the NOJHL’s Top Defensive to make a run for it this year,” Forward award.

Cap said. “I’m hoping to bring my Cap highlighted his devotion experience of a team first mentality towards the physical aspect and having a great connection of the sport as one of his most with the guys and making it to valuable skills. the championship.”

“I like creating Faced with the challenge of turnovers and being a living away from home and without two-way player. I can lock it down a billet family for the first time since in the [defensive] zone and make his departure from junior hockey, plays in the offensive zone.”

Cap joked that cooking for himself With each season playing for the will definitely be an adjustment. He Soo Thunderbirds, Cap improved sees opportunity for disaster living his offensive game. Last season, Cap in a house with six other Gael’s posted 30 goals and 38 assists, hockey players.

RORY STINSON Senior Sports Editor Four members of the Queen’s Rowing teams took to Bulgarian waters this summer as part of the U23 World Rowing Championship.

Bob Bryden, Lucas Celia, and Andrew Hubbard of the Men’s Rowing team, and Claire Ellison from the Women’s Rowing team faced off against international competitors in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from July 19 to 23.

The tournament ended with mixed finishes for the Queen’s athletes.

Ellison finished third in the U23 Women’s Eight Final race, Bryden finished fifth in the U23 Men’s Pair Final B race, Celia finished third in the U23 Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls Final race, and Hubbard finished fourth in the U23 Men’s Double Sculls Final C race.

As one of the closest races of the tournament, Ellison’s team was decided by a photo finish. Her team finished a mere 0.06 seconds ahead of Great Britain to secure the bronze medal. Germany won silver and U.S.A. won Gold.

Celia won bronze, with a third place finish 6.31 seconds ahead of U.S.A. in the Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls Final—a goal he mentioned in an interview with The Journal. He finished “We’ve got a house of seven hockey guys, that’s gonna get messy. On top of engineering. It’ll be a good time though.”

While it will be Cap’s first time living in a student house, he has no plans to shy away from the opportunity to meet

with consistency, routine and social connections.

Intramurals are a great way for first-year students to play sports in a competitive environment, without the time commitment of varsity and club sports.

Many students at Queen’s find that playing various sports and going to the gym helps them succeed in all aspects of their university life. Staying active benefits not only their mental and physical health, but also provides the opportunity to continue to participate in sports they’re passionate about.

Students also love to watch varsity sports for the great action, passion and energy everyone PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG brings to every game. place to go for walks or play some Some upcoming games this pickup sports with friends. fall are the Queen’s Football Karley Salsbury, who is the Homecoming Game, the current Manager of Intramurals Vanier Cup, U Sports Women’s and Recreation Clubs at A&R, Soccer Championship, and the mentioned the importance of Engineering vs. Commerce staying active during the transition Basketball Game. to postsecondary. To Salsbury, staying active provides students

Four Gaels are rowing in championship Lucas Celia and Claire Ellison travel to Bulgaria beyond Germany and Italy.

“It was awesome that I hit that stepping stone, but the finish line is yet to come,” he said .

Both Ellison and Celia discussed preparation for the championship prior to the race.

“At the beginning of spring, we were training two to three times a day, six days a week some days— sometimes even seven days in a row,” said Celia in an interview with The Journal.

Ellison detailed what training sessions looked like for her.

“We do a lot of on-water training, when we’re in season,” she said. “Putting in some really good technical work in the fall is sort of the first building block and then we’re inside for most of the winter and we’re doing training on IR’s [Indoor Rowers] and lots of time spent on stationary bikes, in the weight room.”

“Coming towards spring, I kind of headed out west right when the training camp opened at the start of May,” said Ellison. “We had about a month to prepare for when we started doing selection against a bunch of other athletes from across Canada.”

In terms of mental preparation,

new people and connect with his future teammates.“I’m hungry,” he said. “I’ve already lived far away from home and had to make new friends.

And I already know a few guys on the team next year, a few people going to Queens, I don’t think the social aspect will be

Celia said it’s important to start cool, calm, and collected.

“After a race we [say]: light, loose, and lit,” he said.

Both athletes shared what they are most looking forward to before the race.

“My thing I want to get the most out of this is to go fast with a bunch of my best friends,” Ellison said.

“Rowing on these teams is a unique experience because [I had] to come together with a bunch of people I didn’t know that well beforehand, and figure out what makes you go fast.”

For those wanting to get involved in the excitement of rowing, Ellison mentioned novice programs provide participants with the chance to train with the team and race at the end of the season.

“It’s never too late to join and it’s a late entry sport,” she said.

“I’d encourage anyone who’s ever thought about rowing to give it a try.”

Celia encouraged hopeful future rowers.

“Just give it the best you can on that day, each day give 100 per cent of what you can, and you will succeed,” said Celia.

too difficult .”

Cap and the rest of the Gaels Men’s Hockey team will face off against the UOttawa GeeGees on Oct. 13 in their home opener. journal_sports@ams.queensu.ca

14 • queensjournal.ca

LIFESTYLE

Lifestyle

Monday, July 31, 2023

Recipes for surviving residence dorm life

Easy, cheap, and nutritious meals for students away from home Sam Kimball Contributor Moving into Queen’s residence is a difficult adjustment for most, and not being able to cook whatever you want can make homesickness hit harder.

Though meal plans are a staple part of the experience and included in residence fees, living in a dorm room can entails situations where accessing—or enjoying—food on campus is challenging.

When hunger strikes outside dining hall hours, or you simply don’t feel like trekking through a snowstorm to eat, there are many easy, cheap, and nutritious meals you can make from the comfort of your shared floor kitchen—if you have one.

Breakfast While breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, it’s the meal you’re most likely to skip. The early hours and need to leave your room can make eating a Noah Lee Contributor

Bill C-18 will require big digital news intermediaries such as search engines or social media platforms to compensate news outlets for their journalistic work.

Though the bill itself is vague, we now know from an exchange between Senator Paula Simons and Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez that Bill C-18 will target Meta and Google. Both tech giants are

nutritious morning meal difficult to prioritize. When TAMS run out and you can’t grab a late morning snack, you’ll need to get creative.

Since residence allows students to have some sort of mini-fridge, there’s plenty of options for breakfasts. One of my favorite easy meals is a homemade parfait. For me it involves purchasing a tub of yogurt, granola, and diligently searching for berries on sale at Metro.

If you’re looking for a warm breakfast, meal prepping muffin egg bites is a great move. Simply add your preferred ingredients, throw them together in your common room, and voila! You now have a great meal you can reheat on mornings you’re running too late for breakfast at the dining halls.

Lunch Because the dining halls are usually open for lunch, packing a midday meal doesn’t always seem necessary. On the rare occasion you find yourself in your room, there’s plenty of options beyond ramen and protein shakes. These meals lack essential vitamins, and the scurvy epidemic is best left in the 16th century.

If you’re too far from your

currently set on blocking Canadian news content before the end of 2023.

As the largest search and social media platforms, Meta and Google dominate the distribution of world news. From 2019 to 2023, Meta and its subsidiaries captured a 69 per cent average user share of Canadians using social networks for weekly news content. In March 2023, Google dominated search engine use by

Making good meals in residence is easier than you think.

sketchy dorm microwave, you’ll need a lunch that tastes good cold.

For this, I suggest salads. Think beyond vegetables and consider pasta, potato, or chicken salad.

These versatile options can easily be customized to meet your specific nutrition requirements.

Since I just badmouthed ramen, I’ll suggest homemade soup as an alternative. It’s comforting, warm, and requires minimal effort to prepare. Combine your preferred protein, veggies, and carbs, and you’ll have a simple meal ready to thaw when the inevitable first year flu strikes.

Dinner When making dinner in residence, it’s best to cook with friends. For dinners with variety, it’s helpful to assign different aspects

91 per cent of Canadians.

It’s clear a large portion of Canadians rely heavily on these two platforms to stay informed on current affairs. Giving that much responsibility to any source of information is illadvised—if both Meta and Google’s services ceased to exist, many Canadians would lose their primary source of news.

This situation should be a wake-up call for people who rely on Meta and Google to get their news.

of the meal to different people.

This not only makes cooking more affordable, but reduces the waste of preparing individual meals for one night.

If you’re alone, stir-fry is always a reliable option. Most recipes incorporate a combination of veggies, carbs, and proteins which can be customized by you.

Cooking together is a wonderful bonding activity, especially with the new floormates. Plus, you’ll quickly discover who among them has never cleaned a dish in their life.

Dessert In first year, I discovered any dessert I wanted could be made in a mug. Whether it was cookies, or another sweet treat, I could whip up a single serving in a few minutes.

Luckily, even if Meta and Google go ahead with their plans, there are other ways to go about staying informed.

News flash—there are other search engines out there apart from Google.

While it’s true these other search engines are often considered irrelevant by popular media, they are truly functional alternatives to Google.

One example of a totally

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

If you’re looking to make friends, make dessert to share. It’s the best way to earn some brownie points among your floormates.

While you should use the meal plan to get the most out of your residence fees, it’s important to know some basic recipes if you can’t access campus food when you need it. Hopefully this knowledge will help you navigate first year dining arrangements when campus food is limited.

Bill C-18 should be a wake-up call

functional alternative is Bing, Microsoft’ssearchengine.Microsoft Canada said they would abide by any regulations on their products.

On the other side of the coin is Yahoo Search, which makes use of Bing’s search engine to fuel results. queensjournal.ca/lifestyle

Lifestyle

Monday, July 31, 2023

queensjournal.ca • 15

Dear first-years: Here’s what your TA wished you knew

Working as a TA comes with many demands.

TAs face heavy workload and low pay—but we’re still here for our students CASSIDY MCMACKON Editor in Chief

The social network showdown: Twitter vs Threads New app threatens Twitter’s place in public discourse Twitter seems to be growing more archaic by the second, making space for a similar looking competitor, Threads, to rise.

The most obvious difference between the two apps is that for Threads, you can sign up using your Instagram account. You also have the option to manually follow the same accounts you followed on Instagram if they’ve also created a Threads accounts. This offers some continuity in retaining your followers from Instagram to Threads.

When it comes to the look and feel of the apps, Threads feels slightly less cluttered. Meta opted out of including the number of likes, reposts, and views at the bottom of every post, presenting users with a sleeker version of Twitter without the need to quantify everything.

Image quality is where Twitter overtakes Threads.

Twitter lets users load and view images in 4K. Threads doesn’t offer such an option, and the image and video quality is more or less the same as Instagram.

If viewing images in 4K is important to you, then you can choose to keep Twitter as an occasional source of high-quality wallpapers and premium photo browsing.

According to the privacy policy of Threads, the app can access to your location, cameras, photos, IP information, and device signals that includeWi-Fiaccesspoints.Metahas a poor history of protecting private data. Last May, Meta was fined by the EU for violating EU privacy laws, meaning Threads’ user data may not be in the safest hands.

Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter, the site has seen rapid changes that concern many users— such as the loss of two executives overlooking data privacy and two-factor authentication being

GRAPHIC BY NAY CHI HWTE

hidden under Twitter’s premium subscription service.

On other platforms, like Instagram and Threads, users don’t need to pay for two-factor authentication. Because Twitter hid this essential security feature behind a paywall, Twitter users who haven’t opted into Twitter Blue are more vulnerable to cybercriminals.

There was a time when Twitter offered the possibility of having meaningful conversations and generating greater empathy and understanding amongst users.

This time has come to an end, and Twitter has since become a breeding ground for division and toxicity.

While Facebook and Instagram are no better, with the emergence of Threads comes the possibility for users to have a break from the chaos that has become all too prominent on Twitter.

These reasons make me a firm believer that Threads is the better app compared to Twitter.

I spent most of my first year scared of my teaching assistants (TAs).

The moment I set foot in Ellis Hall for the first session of Human Geography, I was intimidated by the people seated at the front of the classroom. While I didn’t count on being especially memorable to my course instructors, I felt enormous pressure to impress the professor-adjacent figures I thought expected brilliance every week in tutorial.

Years later, I now know I had nothing to be afraid of. Now I’m writing my master’s thesis, and don’t think I would’ve made it to where I am without the support of my past TAs. As someone who has now been on both sides of the student-teaching assistant relationship, I’ve had ample time to re-evaluate the way this relationship should be approached.

For the most part, my time as a TA in the philosophy department has been rewarding. In the last two years, I was assigned to some of my favourite classes from my undergrad and worked under supportive professors.

I watched students get excited about philosophy for the first time—a feeling I remember from my first year.

That said, working in this capacity isn’t without challenges.

As a woman in academia, I’ve had male students question my competence in my role. Though it’s normal for students to come to office hours with questions about their grades, it’s unacceptable for second-year men to berate women in TA positions about their grades when they can’t even bother to spell a philosopher’s name right.

It’s quite invasive when male students overstep the boundaries of student/TA relationships. Though I’m happy to say hello to students if I see them out and about, I have no interest in listening to them trauma dump during my morning visit to a coffee shop.

It’s also true that we’re overworked and underpaid.

Though TA positions are available to upper-year undergrads in some programs, most TAs are students completing master’s or doctoral degrees. These positions

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

are offered to grad students to facilitate access to the full slate of funding promised when we get accepted to Queen’s.

Funding varies by department, but TAs are paid around $1,200 each month. We’re contracted for 120 working hours each semester and balance our teaching duties on top of our course work and research.

It’s ultimately graduate student labour that keeps courses running smoothly. We run labs and tutorials, as well as mark assignments. We’re expected to work approximately 10 hours a week, responding to student emails, holding office hours, revisiting course readings, and grading.

In my most recent contract, I ran tutorials. Though each session was only an hour long, I often spent 12 hours preparing my talking points alone.

During midterm and finals season, we often exceed our allotted working hours marking final assignments. I had to choose between losing sleep and falling behind on my own research during these weeks.

Queen’s is a particularly wealthy institution, and most undergrads will avoid working in the academic year if they can. Unfortunately, this isn’t feasible for many grad students.

We often come to these programs with debt, which usually increases by the time we leave due to our dismal funding packages.

I balanced my TA work with not only my academic responsibilities, but another part-time job to supplement the cost of groceries.

I know I’m not the only one who’s had to make these choices.

Pursuing a major academic project while facilitating an undergraduate course is demanding enough. Relying on retail work to break even because your employer won’t pay you a livable wage spreads us even more thin.

This past year, I cheered for students who showed a concerted effort to improve with each passing assignment. When the semester ended, I got excited when students told me they wanted to take more philosophy classes in the future. I hope they come to love the discipline as much as I do.

While I hope the class of 2027 arrives on campus excited to start fostering academic relationships with professors and teaching assistants alike, I hope they do so while understanding the strain their TAs are under.

Lifestyle

16 • queensjournal.ca

Monday, July 31, 2023

Niki reflects on life lessons leanred through classes, extracurriculars, and jobs.

PHOTO BY JOSEPH MARIATHASAN

Four things I learned from four years at Queen’s Important takeaways from a grateful graduate

NIKI BOYTCHUK-HALE Contributor When I walked onto the cobble stone campus to complete a degree in Fine Arts and Education, I didn’t know that the most important lessons I would learn would come from outside the classroom.

I always cared about my grades, and credit this to my genuine love of learning. As the first in my family to attend university, I never took my access to education for granted.

I told myself I wouldn’t do anything beyond academic courses in my first year to ensure I could manage my studies.

Somewhere along the way, my priorities shifted.

When I became a Con-Ed orientation leader and took a campus job at Studio Q—the student-run digital media service at the AMS—I realized there were more authentic learning opportunities outside the classroom.

In my extracurriculars, I could apply what I learned in my classes to the real world.

Studio Q allowed me to take a classroom lesson in colour theory and create transformative logos for a client’s new business.

There’s a trade-off with taking on a job during your degree. Sometimes it feels like your peers are getting ahead of you academically—especially when the balancing act between work and school becomes more delicate.

As a Fine Art student, there were many times I walked into the studio to see that while my peers had pulled another all-nighter, I was struggling to find time to even begin executing

my plans in-between jobs.

The constant display of other people’s work feeds into a special type of internal comparison game—exacerbated by being a working student—inherent to being a visual art student.

In my case, it wasn’t that I lacked the dedication of my peers, but I had the reality of needing to work a full-time job to help fund my education.

Having additional responsibilities didn’t negatively affect my experience at Queen’s.

As I progressed through my undergrad, I naturally slimmed down my class and extracurricular schedule as I learned what I valued most.

“The constant display of other people’s work feeds into a special type of internal comparison game inherent to being a visual art student.

I wasn’t spending less time as an active community member, but learned to focus my attention on the areas that were most important to me. This empowered me to find meaningful work while ensuring I wasn’t sacrificing my personal life and academic success.

When assignments and work deadlines piled up, having friends by my side made my Queen’s experience exciting.

My university experience was full of different groups of friends that served distinct purposes.

We all have our own capacities and intentions when it comes to relationships, and its key to have the right expectations.

I have very close friends that

I don’t depend on for emotional support, because I know that isn’t something they can provide.

Sometimes other friendships get much less time because we don’t place importance on the small day-to-day interactions, but the bond we have is strong and will last a lifetime.

You know you’ve struck gold when your day-to-day friend is the same friend you share all your hopes and dreams with.

It might take time to meet the people who will uplift, inspire, and ground you, but when you find your people, it will be worth the wait. Friends at university will push you to attend classes or persuade you to go out for karaoke—bringing a sense of balance and pushing you out of the daily monotony of life.

At the end of my third year, I continued to challenge my perspective on friendship and community when I took a job at the AMS. Originally, I had my heart set on one specific position at the AMS. When I was offered a different position in the marketing office, I almost said no. I heard how hard the government side was and didn’t know what the community would be like in the offices.

Turns out, taking the risk and accepting the marketing job was transformative.

Though I thought graphic design was my dream job, my new role expanded my world.

I realized my time at Studio Q prepared me for this next step. If I rejected the new challenge, I would’ve missed the opportunity to do exceptional work.

Although being the Director of Marketing for a multi-million-dollar organization wasn’t a simple job, I never wanted to take a day off because I was passionate about the work.

I was proud to honour the AMS executive’s mandate to support the interests of 20,000 students.

“Turns out, taking the risk and accepting the marketing job was transformative.

My overall fear of losing community faded when I realized I was only expanding my circle.

I always thought by leaving the services side of the AMS, I would have to say goodbye to connections with staff and fun moments with managers.

There was more emotional labour involved in governance, but I established a new community.

My office was a revolving door for anyone and everyone to brainstorm their next big project, work through their problems, or have a taco break.

The opportunities I had in my undergrad didn’t happen because I was the most talented artist, designer, marketer, or manager. Instead, I credit my success to my work ethic and the endless Adobe tutorials.

There were times I almost passed up projects because I couldn’t imagine executing them perfectly with my limited experience. In second year, I scrolled past an Instagram post looking for proposals for a campus mural. At first, I rejected the idea I had something to

contribute because I thought it was beyond my capabilities.

Days later, a friend sent the same post to my direct messages encouraging me to apply. I called my mom to get her opinion and to her, it was obvious that I should submit a proposal.

After applying, I was selected to create a community building artwork depicting consent culture.

I used insight from students to land on the concept for my painting, which I titled A Love that Clings.

Two years after installation, I still get an overwhelming amount of feedback from our community.

I realized people care about how the mural makes them feel when they walk past Harrison-LeCaine Hall—not the proportionality of my lines.

The support I received from this mural gave me the confidence to continue making art about social issues, and eventually led to my thesis on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

I’m happy to report there’s nothing I regret about my undergrad at Queen’s because each challenge and mistake led to personal growth.

I was hyperaware my undergrad would fly by and used that perspective to fuel my work ethic and social life. While there were many obstacles—global pandemic included—my time at Queen’s shaped me into the person I’ve become.

I firmly believe if you enjoy what you do, the rest will fall into place when you realize success isn’t determined by conventional skills.

Welcome to the best four, five, or six years of your life, class of 2027.