The Union Gallery is the University’s student-run art gallery. It is the only student-run gallery of its kind in all of Canada, and it provides a polished and professional venue for students to show their work. The Union Gallery was just shy of receiving enough “yes” votes in the fall referendum to pass our request for a mandatory fee increase from $1.50 to $1.75, and [this is still the case] after the recount that took place on Monday night.

The City of Kingston’s recent bylaw enforcement in the Ghetto seems disingenuous in light of the recent Homecoming event, the years of neglect of property standards in general in the Ghetto, and the city’s blind eye to dilapidation elsewhere in its precincts, including some city-owned property.

“‘Deregulation’ is a word that bothers me,” said Principal Hitchcock in a recent Journal article. As a student who attended Queen’s during the deregulation debates of 2000-2003, and as a current grad student at York, I can honestly say that tuition deregulation does more than bother me—it scares the hell out of me. What I hope Principal Hitchcock really means is that the word “deregulation” bothers her—as well as the concept.

The recent article about Amnesty International’s opposition to the use of Tasers to break up street parties may have left the impression that Taser weapons are harmless. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Vogt Studio Series was started by and is funded partly by the Drama Department Student Council as a safe, fun and co-operative learning environment for students to experiment with and expand their theatrical skills. Oftentimes, those involved with the VSS are completely new to this type of theatre and the series acts as a stepping stool for their future careers in theatre as well as showcasing creative and innovative ideas to peers. By getting involved with VSS, students add to their repertoires while learning from the experience.

I am writing this letter to the Journal in order to express my level of disgust and disappointment with Principal Karen Hitchcock’s discussion paper entitled ‘Engaging the World.’ During her time at Queen’s, she has been so concerned with Queen’s reputation on a national and international scale that she has lost sight of the real issues that affect this beloved institution.

“So in the context of this campaign that the AMS and others are waging against Adèle Mercier, we are to understand—what? That this whole time we’ve been pursuing Adèle Mercier for discriminating by age! Well, why stop there? The whole institution is ageist! I mean, almost all the students are between the ages of 17 and 23. And have you noticed how old all of our professors are … ?”

At any point in the debate regarding the Homecoming fiasco will we move past the finger pointing? How about simply moving on in general? Was the letter Mercier wrote filled with some inappropriate choices for reference? Well yes. In general, avoidance of Hitler/Holocaust references in contemporary contexts is preferable. Was she right about the well educated youth of this fine establishment turning into rampant destructive idiots? Well, yes, that too.

“Apparently the new face of Queen’s is Karen Hitchcock, and only Karen Hitchcock? The previous website with a diversity of pictures was much more fun to log into.”