Cosmetic lawn pesticides will have to leave Kingston for greener pastures—they’re no longer welcome here.
City Council voted last month to ban cosmetic pesticides starting October 2008.
Cosmetic pesticides are chemical or biological substances used to destroy insects, plants and fungi, in order to maintain the appearance of a lawn or garden.

In November, Macleans reported that last year one in three Canadian students relied on a federal student loan or line of credit issued by a major financial institution to help fund their education.
With over 350,000 students relying on financial assistance worth over $1.9 billion, defaulting on loans is a grim reality when it comes to the repayment process.
Defaulting means being unable to make payments on a student loan, line of credit, grant or bursary in the designated time frame.

Some of Clark Hall Pub’s former staff are disappointed with an Engineering Society report on the pub’s future.
The report, written by EngSoc Vice-President (Operations) Rob Macnamara, lists recommendations for better accountability, permanent staff, standardization of contracts and training and new marketing strategies.
2006-07 Clark Hall Pub Manager Chris Hannon, Sci ’06 and MSc ’08, said he questions the report’s effectiveness.

Queen’s Centre construction is on schedule and on budget, said Ann Browne, associate vice-principal (facilities). “We’re still looking towards all of our dates as they were,” Browne said. Phase One of the Queen’s Centre project is projected to be completed in September 2009. For the construction work currently underway, Browne said, the project is ontrack.
“Right now we’re still basically in a situation where weather could be against us. But overall we’re working to our schedule of September ’09,” she said.

On Sunday morning, six second-year students trudged up the steps of a potential house only to be faced with an all-too-familiar disappointment.
With low ceilings, unkempt carpets—which, the landlord eagerly pointed out, will soon be tiled—and a lingering smell of marijuana, the girls couldn’t leave the Brock Street residence quickly enough. Once outside, the frustrated group discussed their impressions.

Thirty-three Queen’s students were charged with violating the Liquor Licence Act during Homecoming weekend this year.
Charges include unlawfully keeping liquor for sale, unlawfully offering liquor for sale and unlawfully selling liquor.

The AMS prosecutor’s office received 105 complaints related to incidents that happened over Homecoming weekend.
AMS Director of Judicial Affairs Jeff Warshafsky said they’re able to pursue 93 of the cases. Of those, 57 are still pending and 36 have been passed through the Judicial Committee (JComm) through closed hearings.

At an AMS Annual General Meeting in March 2005, undergraduate students agreed to contribute $25.5 million dollars to the construction of the new Queen’s Centre.
At the AGM, 545 students voted in favour of contributing to the Queen’s Centre and 212 voted against. The decision to institute the fee drew controversy because it didn’t go to a student-wide referendum.
For the past three years, full-time students have paid a mandatory $71 student fee to go towards the Queen’s Centre.

The Grinch paid a visit to Kingston over the Christmas holidays.
Catherine Flint and Adar Charlton, both ArtSci ’09, arrived in Kingston to find their belongings had vanished last Sunday night—the house was empty. She said police said the house, located near Princess Street on University Avenue, was one of more than 100 broken into over the break.

A group of faculty members is calling on the University to take a stronger stance on racial issues and diversity on campus in response to a racist incident on campus in November.
The Queen’s Coalition of Anti-Racist Faculty submitted a letter in December to Principal Karen Hitchcock asking the administration to create a better response plan in the event of future incidents.

It’s imperative Queen’s students develop an international outlook because they will have to function in a global environment for their entire lives, said Principal Karen Hitchcock. In 2005, Hitchcock released a vision for Queen’s titled, “Engaging the World.” The paper outlined a desire to make Queen’s an international institution.
Hitchcock said there are two sides to international opportunities—sending students abroad, and welcoming international students to Queen’s.

Almost 80 stakeholders—made up of Queen’s administration, city councillors, downtown business groups, professors, the AMS, landlords, high school students and residents—gathered at the Ambassador’s Hotel Tuesday to discuss options for the future of the Aberdeen Street party.
The event was organized by Venicio Rebelo, a community member who started the “Red Hat Volunteers” program during Homecoming 2006.