In response to an outcry on campus following an Islamophobic comment made by ASUS President Jacob Mantle on a friend’s Facebook page in October, the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) is creating a new Diversity and Equity Advisor position to oversee issues relating to social justice, diversity and equity on campus.
Mantle said the position was first proposed at the Jan. 8 ASUS Assembly, and will be discussed again at the Jan. 22 ASUS Assembly.

After an inquiry into the voter eligibility of 93 ballots, TAs and TFs at Queen’s remain un-unionized after a final vote result of 398 to 359 against unionization.
TAs and TFs cast their ballots on Nov. 26 2008.

Thirteen Queen’s research projects will receive $2 million in funding thanks to the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Leaders Opportunities Fund.
Vice-Principal (Research) Kerry Rowe said CFI provides funding for research projects at universities across Canada.

The joint Board/Senate Advisory Committee is narrowing the pool of candidates to meet its spring 2009 deadline as it searches for the University’s next principal.
University Secretary Georgina Moore said she couldn’t name any of the candidates or say how many there are in order to protect their privacy, but said candidates from both Canada and abroad are being considered.

Concerns regarding academic integrity have been raised in light of inconsistent evaluation procedure in a fourth-year nursing class.
Concepts of Acute and Critical Illness, taught by professor Ann Brown, has been met by an uproar of student protest in response to the release of confidential practice test questions for the course onto the NURS 403 WebCT site.

Fabulous and full of film-savvy, Heather Christie has been a welcome addition to the A&E staff roster this year, producing sharp criticism that’s rivaled only by her ability to cause laughing fits.

As exam period begins, students will begin study sessions at libraries and in classrooms across campus. For those pulling all-nighters, safety is a concern for students studying or walking home alone.

Yesterday, students gathered to remember Comm ’09 student Baha Bekenov, who was found dead in Goodes Hall on Nov. 11. A book containing messages of condolences, stories of Bekenov and pictures of his time at Queen’s was made and will be sent to Bekenov’s parents.

Last Thursday was marked by the resignations of two high-ranking university officials. On Nov. 20, Vice-Principal (Advancement) David Mitchell and Vice-Principal (Operations and Finance) Andrew Simpson both announced they were stepping down.

The Education Students Society (ESS), representing about 700 students in the Faculty of Education, will vote in January on whether or not to secede from the AMS and join the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS). At a meeting on Nov. 19, the ESS Council passed a motion calling for a referendum on membership in the AMS.

As Queen’s prepares for a three-year budget cut, the University’s faculties and schools are making preparations to cut costs and raise revenue in hopes of balancing their budgets. In an e-mail to staff and faculty last week, Principal Tom Williams announced a 15 per cent budget cut will be applied to all faculties, schools and administrative units over the next three years, starting in the 2009-10 academic year.

Queen’s has been thrown into the spotlight not only in Canada, but by numerous media outlets in the United States as well after the initiation of the Intergroup Dialogue program by the office of the Dean of Student Affairs. A story appeared in Wednesday’s edition of the Globe and Mail, alongside an article about Principal Tom Williams’ decision to cancel fall Homecoming.

If you happened to walk past Stauffer Library last night, you would have noticed a group of close to 40 people gathered on the corner of Union Street and University Avenue.
Holding candles and forming a small circle, members of both the Queen’s and Kingston communities came together to mark the Trans Day of Remembrance, an annual day of reflection and a time to remember those killed over the year for being transgendered or transsexual.

Queen’s will be experiencing a 15 per cent budget cut over the next three academic years.
In an e-mail to faculty on Nov. 15, Principal Tom Williams announced a 15 per cent budget cut will be applied to all faculties and units of the University, including the administration, starting in the 2009-10 academic year.

Tuesday’s announcement that fall Homecoming has been replaced by a Homecoming-style “Spring Reunion” was met with both support and angry condemnations from Queen’s students and alumni.
Worry over safety issues surrounding the annual unsanctioned Aberdeen Street party and fear that the University’s reputation could be irreparably damaged prompted Principal Tom Williams’ announcement that Homecoming 2009 and 2010 would be moved from the fall term to May.