PSAC 901 protest against over-policing across campuses
More than 15 people from Queen’s travelled to Toronto to protest over-policing after Toronto Police arrested a York University worker at a strike on March 4. PSAC 901, the labour union representing Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, Teaching Fellows, and Postdoctoral Scholars at Queen’s, organized for members to bus to Toronto for the protest.
“The Toronto Police violated the rights of our fellow CUPE 3903 members by arresting a picket captain and assaulting several other workers,” PSAC 901 President Justyna Szewczyk-El Jassem said in a statement to The Journal.
The incident launched a cross-campus solidarity march against policing. At Queen’s, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) and Queen’s Students vs Cuts (QSVC), reposted advertisements for the protest.
PSAC 901 referenced the University’s collaboration with Kingston Police after a Palestinian flag was raised above Grant Hall, and the University District Safety Initiative as examples of over-policing on Queen’s campus.
Starbucks in Goodes Hall closing
The Goodes Hall Starbucks will shut its doors in May. The closure comes after Queen’s reviewed its “operational and capital requirements” with Starbucks, the University said.
It hopes to fill the vacancy with a locally owned business for September.
“It became clear during this [review] process Queen’s would be unable to accommodate Starbucks’ [operational and capital] requirements and we will not renew our franchise agreement with them in Goodes Hall,” Patrick Legresley, Smith’s executive director (finance), said in an email to Smith staff.
The Starbucks in Mitchell Hall is unaffected.
Goodes Starbucks staff are employed by Aramark, the food and facilities provider at Queen’s, and will be employed at the location for the new business—whatever it may be—next year.
Queen’s Hospitality Services is in discussion with Juniper Café and Dream Come True Kitchen to include parts of their menus in the new space, according to Legresley. Two Indigenous-owned coffee companies have been contacted to possibly integrate their products in the new menu.
In April, Smith will seek input from stakeholders on the proposed space before it reopens on Sept. 4.
Donation transforms Agnes Etherington Art Centre
A $75 million donation from the Bader family will support the redevelopment of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, sitting in the heart of Queen’s campus. With construction beginning in May, the museum will be three stories tall, making the building the largest university-affiliated museum in Canada.
Queen’s plans to turn the third floor into art teaching labs for students in the Art History and Art Conservation programs. It will feature an outdoor medicine garden and Indigenous self-determination spaces, some of which will be designed around ancestors’ needs.
The gallery will include a collection of Rembrandt van Rijn and accompanying artists, donated by the Bader family.
The current Centre will close on March 29 to begin renovations.
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Agnes Etherington Art Centre, News in Brief, PSAC 901, Starbucks
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