The future of graduate students remains in the dark. 

In a letter addressed to the University on Sept. 19, the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) expressed concern over the Senior Leadership Team’s (SLT) recent decision to cut the Queen’s Graduate Award (QGA) for incoming Master’s students starting next fall. 

Queen’s University held a commemoration on Monday, Sept. 16 marking two years since the death of Mahsa Amini on Sept. 16, 2022. 

Changes come to AMS assembly for the 2024-25 year as the AMS increases the number of seats for some faculties, but not all.

Building on an award-winning year, AMS club Extra Awesome is looking to be exactly what its name is.

Gathered at the gazebo by Lake Ontario Park, surrounded by images of Israeli hostages still in Gaza, participants took part in a weekly run or walk in their honour.

A pro-Palestine walkout adopted the slogan “No Back to School,” drawing a parallel between the ongoing Israel-Gaza war and students returning to campus for the fall term.

Following suit from the past two years, the annual Consent Awareness Week takes place in the third week of the fall semester.

A used book drive was hosted by the History Department Student Council (DSC) in the ARC on Sept. 3 to 5. Students donated or purchased textbooks and novels at a discounted rate. 

With the new school year starting, AMS President Owen Rocchi, Vice-President (Operations) Ayan Chowdhury, and Vice-President (University Affairs) Ruth Osunde spoke to The Journal about their summer initiatives and plans for the fall semester. 

After the JDUC project ran $23 million over budget, the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) gave up office space, leaving a former SGPS Vice-President dissatisfied.

The Recognition Policy, implemented in September 2023, was designed to compensate students who volunteer their time consulting the AMS and requires participants to sign NDAs.

On Aug. 7, ASUS opened their Community Cabinet, an on-campus initiative where students from all faculties can drop off or pick up essential goods like canned food, toiletries, and period products.

The JDUC, a centre of student life at Queen’s, will move forward with a phased occupancy plan in mid-September after experiencing “schedule slippage.”

The AMS and local organizations, including 350 Kingston, and SCAN! Kingston are petitioning the City to pass a by-law which would mandate landlords to maintain rental unit temperatures below 26 degrees Celsius without imposing additional charges on tenants.

QP is a restaurant, bar, and on-campus spot where students and Kingston residents can sit back and enjoy food, alcohol, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Seven AMS head managers sat down with The Journal to discuss what they have in store for the upcoming year.

This year, the AMS is adding a Chief Returning Officer (CRO), a waged employee who will help the CEO co-chair the election team.

Maddie Ronan, orientation roundtable (ORT) coordinator, wants orientation to be financially accessible, safe, and enjoyable for all participants.

While Dayforce was set to go live on June 24, all Senior and Assistant Managers at the AMS received an email on June 14 from Ian Trew, AMS human resources officer, that the launch was delayed.

It remains unclear whether the cost of the two permanent staff members will come out of the QP’s budget or if they will be paid from the AMS central budget.