In light of the Kingston Police Force’s plan to employ Tasers as a “use of force option” if another Aberdeen Street party occurs, the Journal presents part one of a two-part series investigating the impact of Tasers. Earlier this month, Anna Mehler Paperny sat down with Dianna Andreichikov, whose son died of cardiac arrest after being Tasered by police. This is the first time Andreichikov has agreed to be interviewed about her son’s death.

Student centre officer Andy Singh is the fourth member of the AMS senior staff to resign his or her post this year.
Singh, who submitted his letter of resignation last week, said he is resigning because of personal circumstances.

Over the past six weeks of campaign chaos, the faces of the Canadian federal party leaders have been inescapable. Many of the parties’ key strategists, however, shade themselves from the limelight, all the while wholly involved in the political process. Among those behind the scenes is Tim Murphy, a man whose name and face may be unfamiliar to most. But as Prime Minister Paul Martin’s chief of staff, his invisible hands are among the most influential in shaping Liberal policy.

Students will have an additional, unexpected vote to cast during the upcoming AMS executive elections: a successor for Rector Grant Bishop, who has chosen to leave his post early. Bishop, who was elected by a majority vote in November 2004, sent an e-mail to Principal Karen Hitchcock and Chancellor Charles Baillie Jan. 2 informing them of his decision to “relinquish the rectorship” once a successor is elected in February.

Underage students hoping to socialize in campus bars will have to find a new hangout after the All Ages Access (AAA) program was suspended indefinitely on Dec. 7.
Bruce Griffiths, director of residence and hospitality services, who suspended the program, said the rising number of violations were beginning to jeopardize the University’s liquor license.

On Dec. 1, AMS President Ethan Rabidoux, AMS VP (University Affairs) Shiva Mayer, Vice-Principal (Advancement) George Hood and Dean of Student Affairs Janice Deakin signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the Queen’s Centre, the new student life centre set to break ground this May. The contract is an agreement by undergraduate students, represented by the AMS, to contribute $25.5 million towards the construction of the Queen’s Centre.

A young man was apprehended on campus in the early hours on Thursday after Campus Security was notified of a suspicious character in Mackintosh-Corry Hall.
The accused is charged with break and enter, possession of stolen property and possession of break-in tools, said Const. Neil Finn, Kingston Police spokesperson.

Responding to affidavits alleging unethical conduct by Principal Karen Hitchcock while she was president of a New York state university, the Queen’s Board of Trustees has hired a high-profile lawyer to ensure an inquiry is conducted on the matter.
The allegations first surfaced last February in an article by the New York Times. The newspaper reported that Hitchcock had allegedly offered to steer an Albany campus construction project to a developer, who in exchange would endow an academic position for her.

Anyone who thinks young Canadians are apathetic about politics should have seen the hundreds of students who crowded into Wallace Hall on Tuesday evening for the Kingston and the Islands all-candidates debate.
The 150 seats were full by 5:10 p.m. for the 5:30 debate, with dozens more students and Kingston residents standing to watch the six candidates for the Kingston and the Islands federal riding.

Undergrads, graduate students, faculty and staff packed The Grad Club Nov. 24 to collectively voice their support for the popular campus hangout.
Members of the Law Students’ Society hosted the “Save The Grad Club” party and fundraiser to show support for the campus bar and circulate a petition opposing current proposals by the Union Street Project, which calls for the demolition of whole or part of The Grad Club’s building.

A student was found guilty of violating the All Ages Access (AAA) policy when she forgot to retrieve her student card from a charity event in early November.
Last Thursday, the Judicial Committee (JComm) met to decide the matter of AMS vs. Kelsea Fitzpatrick, Sci ’09. Alvin Tedjo was the StuCon on duty at the exit door at the time Fitzpatrick left the bar.
Tedjo said at the hearing that he was not more than two or three feet from the exit door at any time.

It’s for students like Catherine Payne, Comm ’09, that a new food and entertainment facility has been proposed for the lower common room in Victoria Hall. Payne, who lives on main campus, said that although she doesn’t plan on living in residence next year when the facility is scheduled to open, she thinks it’s a neat idea. The project, slated for groundbreaking on May 1 and opening next September, is currently in the design stages.

Through the darkness, the only thing Alexandra recalls is someone shouting. When Alexandra opened her eyes around 9 a.m., she felt dizzy and disoriented. Her vision was blurred, but her eyes eventually adjusted. Six thin, silver needles protruded from the tops of her hands and the soft flesh of her wrists and inner arms. Small tubes, connected to the needles, ran up and away into plastic, fluid-filled sacks. Then Alexandra realized she wasn’t wearing her own clothes.

On Monday evening, a non-confidence motion passed in the House of Commons, officially beginning a federal election campaign. Only 17 months after the last federal election, candidates and politically-minded students alike are gearing up for the longest federal election campaign in more than two decades.
The timing of this campaign, which will span the holiday season, has been criticized by some observers.

When trying to decide on a university, Kareena Elliston, ArtSci ’06, said she was warned by her high school teachers and counsellors against choosing Queen’s. Elliston said it wasn’t long before she encountered racist attitudes during her first year. “One student told me I ‘wasn’t really black,’” she said. Elliston said one student’s recent Halloween costume is another example of racism on campus.

There is a foolproof and easy solution to the Aberdeen Street Party: simply arrange for a torrential, frigid downpour to begin at 8 p.m. on Homecoming and last until 5 a.m. the following morning.
Barring this, however, there are no simple ways of preventing a repeat of the chaos and violence that marred this year’s Homecoming. We learned this lesson last month. Despite a year of preparation and consultation between the AMS, Kingston Police and the University, despite the heavy police presence and the well-attended alternate event, our efforts failed.