April 6, 2006
Vol. 133, Issue 40

Making good on a campaign promise

AMS executive members fulfilled their pledge to donate five per cent of their salaries to Martha’s Table if they didn’t fulfill all their campaign promises. (Ian Babbit)

Faculty report ‘systemic racism’

Five years ago, former Vice-Principal (Academic) Suzanne Fortier was a woman of colour who was a faculty member at the University resigned from her post, a decision she said was prompted by racism she had experienced at Queen’s. Five other faculty members followed suit shortly after. The six resignations prompted Fortier to ask the Senate Educational Equity Committee to conduct a survey, in March 2001, to learn more about the experiences of Aboriginal and visible minority faculty members at Queen’s.

MCRC loans under scrutiny

After a short internal investigation into a $5,000 loan granted by the Main Campus Residents’ Council executive board to its outgoing president, concerns have been raised about whether student money should be used for personal loans to MCRC staff.

JComm tri-pub ban ruled unfair

Citing unfair treatment by the AMS Judicial Committee (JComm), the University Student Appeal Board (USAB) has overturned a tri-pub ban imposed on Kelsea Fitzpatrick, ArtSci ’09, in late November. Fitzpatrick, who had originally received the ban for violating the All Ages Access (AAA) program when she did not retrieve her student card from StuCons at Alfie’s, said she was ecstatic about the appeal board’s decision.

AMS services will post loss overall

In a year during which the AMS revamped and reincarnated several of its services, the books reflected the financial downswing: altogether, the services are predicted to post a net loss of $30,000 to $40,000 for the year. One of the year’s biggest success stories, however, is a somewhat new service: Destinations, which took over the sale of Tricolour bus and event tickets from the former UBS, currently stands to gain $10,000 more than had been projected.

New department, role for Student Patrol

Campus Security’s Student Patrol staff may find themselves working fewer shifts, in different uniforms and under a new name next year, depending on regulations arising from the recently passed Bill 159. On March 23, Campus Security Director David Patterson met with all Student Patrol staff, emergency response operators and supervisors to inform them of changes that may arise due to the provincial bill which was passed on Dec. 15 2005.

Tricolour awarded to spirited students

Passion for social issues, student leadership and diplomacy have landed three more students in the Tricolour Society. Jennifer Holub, ArtSci ’06, Ahmed Kayssi, Meds ’09, and Dave Thomas, PhD ’06, have been recognized for their distinguished service to the University as this year’s recipients of the Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award.

A look back at ‘crack the clique’

"We had concerns about the referendum versus the AGM process, and those were genuine concerns. But by the time we got into office, you have to realize, the AMS had been heading down this path for two years, so us coming in and saying ‘Nope, we’re not going to do this, we’re going to work against the AGM process,’ would be like a car going 180 mph towards a brick wall and slamming on the brakes three feet before you hit the wall."

Community relations projects receive funding

Thanks to $13,600 in funds from the University, four groups of students are gearing up to improve student-community relations. A radio documentary, a student symposium, Ghetto landscaping and publicizing student pride are all on the agenda.

University proposes performing arts complex

$190,000 approved for accessibility plans

Darts and laurels 2005/06

This year revealed a gross lack of student leadership, from the ASUS jackets fiasco, Louis Plamondon’s resignation (and CAC’s ice rink debacle) along with the four other AMS senior staff resignations and the ongoing poor judgement and irresponsibility of the MCRC executive.

Engaging the World Model UN in Beijing

Unlike most graduating fourth-year students who were frantically trying to complete papers and year projects last week, my friend Dave Grant, Sci ’06, and I opted to spend the week of March 25 to 31 in Beijing, China to attend the fifteenth annual World Model United Nations (MUN) Conference.

The Journal presents ... the best of Kingston

For the past three weeks, the Journal’s website has featured an online survey that allowed you to vote for your favourite things to do on campus and in Kingston. Today, we present to you what you had to say.

A fashionably charitable show

An excited buzz filled the air outside of Grant Hall this past weekend as people began to line up for this year’s thirteenth annual Vogue Charity Fashion Show. The show brought a full house, and some of those waiting in line were aptly wearing their most fashionable attire, while others seemed to have come straight from studying.

McFarlane retires from Queen’s

After 29 years at Queen’s, John McFarlane announced his retirement as Chair of Athletics and Recreation on Tuesday. His last day on the job will be Aug. 31.

How to make cool money this summer

I spent last summer in the trenches. These trenches happened to be long, rubber-lined ponds of varying depths, filled with hundreds—and by the end of the summer, thousands—of water lilies. Not exactly World War I standards, but working in greenhouses in the middle of an Ontario summer and finding mud in your ears at the end of the day definitely starts to lose its appeal—usually around mid-May.

Last Words

In all honesty, I hope you find the following to be the least interesting article you’ve read in the Journal this year.

Issue in photos

View all images from vol. 133, issue 40.