Comments out of context in doping article
Dear Editors,
Re: “Are student-athletes using drugs?” (Journal, Feb. 5, 2008)
To clarify what was written in the Journal about a Western Football player testing positive for using illegal substances: the telephone interview I had with the Journal covered a wide range of topics linked to drug use in sport. I was asked to comment on the events at Western and answer questions about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in competitive football. I admitted in the interview I didn’t know of the player in question, and to be honest, at that very moment I couldn’t remember whether the individual had played in the OUA quarter-final against Queen’s. Subsequently, I learned that the Western player didn’t, in fact, play in the quarter-final.
I was asked whether the Queen’s football team had issues with drug use, to which I replied that we didn’t.
I was also asked to comment on some of the negatives emanating from such an incident. I related, in very general terms, that a disclosure of this sort always draws negative publicity to the team and the sport by re-enforcing a perceived stereotype existing about athletes in high levels of football. I further argued uninformed critics will wrongly perceive a single disclosure as proof of rampant drug use within a particular team or program. The reporter also asked if I thought that the athlete’s drug use had an impact on the quarter-final loss to Western. Although I said I didn’t feel the UWO athlete’s positive test had any bearing on the OUA quarter-final’s outcome, I indicated there would undoubtedly be some who may come to that conclusion. I was surprised by the writer’s assertion that I had implied anything different.
I was disappointed that the piece published in the Journal reflected an altogether different account of the interview. I was further disappointed that the reporter was quoted by a source at the London Free Press saying I had indicated a number of individuals at Queen’s felt the use of performance enhancing drugs by UWO football players was the difference in the OUA quarter-final game when this was not the case.
Pat Sheahan
Head Football Coach
Racism more than isolated events
Dear Editors,
Re: Racist vandalism reported near campus (Journal, Feb. 5, 2008)
I commend the Journal for covering the racist vandalism reported last week, as I believe making the public aware of such issues is absolutely crucial to tackling racism on and off campus. However, I must deconstruct the idea that, “This is the second racist incident to occur at the University since November.” Certainly the Nov. 14 event involving a Queen’s faculty member was deplorable and last week’s vandalism was deeply disturbing but what needs to be highlighted is that these are not the only racist incidents that have happened at Queen’s this school year. Multiple instances of overt racism have been brought to the attention of the Social Issues Commission. Examples include events in the Hub and anti-Muslim hate propaganda found in the washrooms of campus buildings in January.
Although both explicit and intentional racism are cause for alarm and deserve our attention, we must all be aware of the everyday racism that occurs on this campus and in the Kingston community. Racist jokes, assumptions, generalizations and statements beginning with “I’m not racist, but…” play a large role in enabling racism on campus. I hope the fact that more individuals are empowered to report some of these instances is a sign we’re all beginning to foster a campus that’s more willing to acknowledge and talk about these issues.
I appreciate the University administration’s appropriate response to this recent incident. I encourage members of the Queen’s community to become better educated about identities and privilege and I encourage students to use resources such as the Social Issues Commission, Human Rights Office, the Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre and Ontario Public Interest Research Group to educate themselves.
Racism isn’t restricted to certain extreme individuals, nor to certain faculties, and the issue persists everyday beyond individual isolated events.
Jeff Brown
ArtSci ’08
AMS Social Issues Commissioner
Journal’s reporting exacerbates campus racism
Dear Editors,
Re: “Out of date to segregate” (Journal, Feb. 5, 2008)
I feel the need to address recent underlying themes in the Journal’s reporting as this week’s editorial proves to be extremely hypocritical when coupled with the Talking Heads column in the opinions section.
The editorial draws the conclusion that, “establishing an Afrocentric school is counterintuitive and seems to be admitting that we’re incapable of accepting cultural coexistence.” On its own this seems like an incisive conclusion to a clearly complex issue. When combined with the Talking Heads question and the distinct lack of racial diversity amongst the people polled, the reporting becomes narrow-minded, biased and inherently flawed.
Unfortunately, it has become clear to me that this reporting style is indicative of our increasingly racist campus. The Journal should remain focused on representing the typical student and their social interests in their reporting, but they should also be promoting the right interests. For instance, the fact that the four perpetrators of Nov. 14 harassment incident have remained unnamed by the Queen’s community is unacceptable.
The special fraternity felt amongst the Engineering faculty could have been used to expose these four degenerates but instead the close-knit engineers and EngSoc council can offer only vague promises of a more racially sympathetic faculty.
To the four students who perpetrated this despicable crime: you’re cowards who don’t deserve the honour of a Queen’s diploma or the respect of any of your peers. To anyone who knows or suspects the identity of these four criminals: you’re cowards for not speaking out against them and your silence sends an equally racist message.
I don’t want to remember my fellow students as cowards; we came to Queen’s because we demand the best for our postgraduate studies and for our future. Now I ask that you demand the best from yourself and from each other. Only by standing together and speaking out against racism can we hope to change our campus community—a community that has no place for racists, racism or anyone willing to stay silent against them.
Alexandria Taylor
ArtSci ’09
Shoemaker puts ‘blame on other people’
Dear Editors,
Re: “Article an ‘attack’ on Orientation Round Table” (Journal, Feb. 5, 2008)
Mr. Shoemaker’s response on the recent article about the Orientation Round Table is no different than the actions of a CEO that has just been accused of financial fraud—put the blame on other people. Things such as a “two-month lag between the ORT Communications Officer termination and the hiring of a new officer” shouldn’t happen if Mr. Shoemaker had stayed on top of his role.
I also find it hard to believe his excuse of “construction” would cause a 60 per cent increase in Frosh Week expenses. Indeed, the Journal article did attack Orientation Round Table, and while Mr. Shoemaker may feel defensive, it did rightly so. We’re talking about students’ money here—not just commerce students, but also arts and science, engineering and computing—and undergraduate students across campus shouldn’t have to bear the extra costs caused by the financial mismanagement of one single committee.
Eddie Ho
Comm ’08
Commerce Society Vice-President (External)
Journal right to expose ‘shady accounting’
Dear Editors,
Re: “We feel so hoodwinked” (Journal, Feb. 5, 2008)
I want to commend the Journal on its fine work covering the whole Orientation Round Table mess that has been unfolding recently. The recent editorial “We feel so hoodwinked” perfectly captures a culture of corruption and questionable accountability that has existed, largely unnoticed, within student governance at Queen’s for far too long.
The editorial rightly made the point that this goes far beyond ORT. Localizing the problem to one department of the AMS is pointless. Shoemaker may be at the centre of this imbroglio, but in the grand scheme of things we may as well be blaming flatulent cattle for global warming.
Over four years at Queen’s, I’ve seen and heard stories about how money is managed within student governments here that would make your skin crawl. In my second year, thousands of dollars disappeared from the ASUS jackets budget, and the guy responsible for the money was promptly made head manager of TAPS.
The point is, the missing ORT money is just one in a series of several unsightly stains on the AMS’ financial track record.
The Journal is bang on to expose this kind of shady accounting. Students should be able to see where their money is going, and not have to think of their student union as some kind of black hole where money disappears.
Team RWS was just elected on a promise of changing business as usual in the AMS. I hope they’ll take this incident to heart by making better oversight a priority from day one.
Chris Horkins
ArtSci ’08
President of Queen’s New Democrats
Rector election aims to raise awareness
Dear Editors,
Re: “$7,000 rector-only election planned for March” (Journal, Feb. 5, 2008)
In response to students who have voiced negative sentiments regarding a late-winter election, I feel it necessary to address these concerns.
To begin, I must clarify the statement in the Feb. 5 issue of the Journal that says I “did not know about the two-week notice.” This was a miscommunication between myself and the Journal. I deliberately made the decision to resign after the winter referendum nomination period began because I feel the election of a rector must take place at a separate time from AMS elections. This is because the latter tends to overshadow the importance of the aforementioned election.
Moreover, students often aren’t aware of the rector position and how it benefits them. I believe that more attention gained from a late-winter election is a huge step in rectifying this issue.
That being said, some students have voiced concerns that an extra election would result in a financial burden. I completely understand students’ apprehension, but I would like to assure all of you that I will certainly be paying a substantial portion of the costs.
I would invite any students who are concerned about the plans of a late-winter rector election to meet with me to discuss your thoughts. I can be reached by e-mail at rector@queensu.ca or by phone at 613-533-2733.
Johsa Manzanilla
ArtSci ’07
Rector
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s)-in-Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.