People who want to try something different than their regular courses now have some new and interesting options. Starting this year, the Alma Mater Society is running Q-College, a program designed to run non-academic courses in a range of activities. Massage therapy, mixology, web design and American Sign Language are the courses the AMS is planning to offer for the 2000-2001 year, with more courses to be added over time. All courses are taught by qualified Queen’s students, except the American Sign Language which is being taught by an outside agency in order to allow participants to receive valid certification.

Johnson Street, between the blocks of University and Division streets, will remain closed until September 20 in order to complete sewer, watermain and road reconstruction. During construction, this area will be closed to through traffic. City Hall has advised motorists to follow posted detour signs.

Lines have been drawn across Ontario following the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities’ announcement that it intends to allow private universities to be established in the province. In a move which has been toted as the single largest change since the expansion of the post-secondary system in the 1960’s, the plans would allow the establishment of privately-funded degree granting institutions in the province as well as permit Ontario community colleges to offer applied degrees on a pilot project basis.

Effective February 28, students who have a government loan will skip their usual visit to the local bank and deal directly with government service bureaus that are currently being developed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development (HRDC), the federal ministry that operates the national loans program.