Five years ago, former Vice-Principal (Academic) Suzanne Fortier was a woman of colour who was a faculty member at the University resigned from her post, a decision she said was prompted by racism she had experienced at Queen’s. Five other faculty members followed suit shortly after. The six resignations prompted Fortier to ask the Senate Educational Equity Committee to conduct a survey, in March 2001, to learn more about the experiences of Aboriginal and visible minority faculty members at Queen’s.Continue...
Professors Robert Morrison and Thomas Simko celebrated their Frank Knox Awards for Excellence in Teaching last night with wine and cheese in Wallace Hall.
A crowd of about 150 students and faculty gathered to watch Morrison, an English professor, and Simko, a mechanical engineering professor, to accept the annual award.Continue...
The Ontario provincial government has announced its plans to invest $6.2 billion in post-secondary education by 2009-10.
Following the government’s March 23 budget, Kingston and the Islands MPP John Gerretsen announced a program called Reaching Higher, a funding package which includes changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). A student who comes from a family with two children can now receive up to $75,000 instead of the previous $35,000.Continue...
It was the “grand slam” Business Professor John Pliniussen—a.k.a. The Johnald—was looking for.
John Uhren, Law ’08, rocked his way to victory ’80s style at the final Queen’s Apprentice boardroom Tuesday night. Uhren, who was named the next Queen’s Apprentice, competed against 17 other students over the course of seven weeks to earn the title.Continue...
Members of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) are questioning the provincial government’s commitment to accountability after it has delayed disclosing agreements it signed with Ontario universities and colleges five months ago.
The agreements in question are meant to increase transparency regarding how institutions spend government grants. OCUFA is interested in seeing them because of the information they contain regarding faculty hiring. However, University administrators have said they cannot release the contents of the agreements without the approval of the province.Continue...
In her first public meeting since the provincial government’s unveiling of a new tuition framework, Principal Karen Hitchcock stressed the need for a partnership between the government and students.
Hitchcock hosted forums on Tuesday and Thursday to discuss the potential tuition increases Queen’s students could face next year and the effect they will have on the University.Continue...
If a local residents’ group gets its way, some students might not only be studying history, but living in it too.
The Sydenham Ward Tenants and Ratepayer’s Association (SWTRA), is currently considering designating several areas in Kingston—including some homes in which students currently live—as historic sites. The group must bring their recommendations to city council to get the designations. As it stands, they are considering three areas for designation.Continue...
Starting next fall, students can say goodbye to cutting out coupons and fumbling for change.
The AMS has announced plans to distribute Swipe, a new card for students that is essentially a hybrid debit and coupon card. Students can add money to their card either online or at designated areas and take advantage of the built-in discounts at local stores.Continue...
During a March 14 protest organized by the SGPS and the Coalition for Accessible Education-Kingston (CAEK), a group of students stopped by Kingston and the Islands MPP John Gerretsen’s office to discuss the tuition increase, only to find that he was out of town. They left after making an appointment to meet with him a week later.Continue...
The University is negotiating to purchase property at 7 Aberdeen St. and 19 Aberdeen St., said Tom Morrow, associate vice-principal (operations and facilities). The owner selling the two properties said he didn’t want the Journal to use his name. He said he doesn’t want his other student tenants to be hesitant to rent from him out of fear he will sell his houses. He said he is not planning to sell any others at the moment.Continue...
Student leaders and University administrators spent a quiet---but far from peaceful---day while participating in a Deaf for a Day event on Wednesday.
Organized by the Queen’s Accessibility Committee (QAC), the event sought to raise awareness about the university experience of students with hearing impairments.Continue...
The extensive contributions of Jacquie Kiggundu, ArtSci ’06, to Queen’s and the greater Kingston community will leave a lasting impression for years to come.
After facing stiff competition from five other nominees, Kiggundu was announced as this year’s recipient of the Robert Sutherland Award at the AMS Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Night at Alfie’s on Tuesday.Continue...
A woman aspiring to be the next prime minister visited campus March 14 to talk about her passion for politics.
A crowd of around 20 students, mostly from the Queen’s University Liberal Association, gathered in a meeting room in the JDUC to meet Martha Hall Findlay, one of the three candidates who have so far announced their intent to run for the leadership of the federal Liberal Party.Continue...
After an unsuccessful first attempt last year, the University has appointed a new dean of student affairs.
Dr. Jason Laker, currently dean of campus life at St. John’s University in Minnesota, will begin his five-year term in July 2006.
Patrick Deane, vice-principal (academic), was chair of an Advisory Committee composed of faculty, administration and student leaders who made the appointment.Continue...
Everywhere he goes, Basil Hargrove manages to create a buzz. Last week, it was on campus.
Hargrove—more commonly known as “Buzz”—has built a reputation as the aggressive and confrontational president of the National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers’ Union of Canada (CAW - Canada). He visited Queen’s on March 16 to present a lecture entitled “The Current State and Future Prospects of Labour Relations.”Continue...
Student leaders lobbied together yesterday at a special meeting of the Senate Residence Committee’s (SRC) Budget Sub-committee, where the members unanimously reversed their position on the proposed residence fee structure beginning in the 2007-08 year.
Alexis Meyerman, Main Campus Residents’ Society (MCRS) president said she was happy with the outcome.Continue...
The Queen’s Centre is to be built in three phases and completed by 2015. The facility will also house the soon-to-be-renamed School of Physical and Health Education, athletic facilities and the services and groups currently housed in the JDUC. Phase I will include a 2,000-seat basketball court, a swimming pool, a racquetball court, student club space, retail space and the Common Ground Coffeehouse, as well as large seating areas, Hirano added. It will be located between the JDUC and Earl Street.Continue...
A chance viewing of an event listing on Facebook for a “wet” fundraiser to be held tonight by WaterCan @ Queen’s has led to the student club’s de-ratification. In early March, the AMS barred the club from holding alcohol-related events until the end of the school year, after a February fundraiser took a turn for the worse.Continue...
To avoid the heavy traffic congestion experienced by QCARD users in years past, the University has decided to implement a new preregistration system for the 2006-07 academic year using “time tickets” and staggering users’ access times. As in previous years, the preregistration period will be divided by year of study, with incoming fourth-years receiving first priority and preregistering in the first week, followed by third-years, second-years, and an open week for all studentsContinue...
ASUS Assembly voted to increase the summer salary for ASUS president and vice-president from $10 to $14 per hour at their Mar. 9 assembly meeting. The motion passed with 15 votes for, four against and no abstentions. It was introduced by current President Bradley Hammond and seconded by current Vice-President Lyndsey Hannigan. Hammond said the increase was necessary to make the job competitive and attract the best candidates for the position.Continue...
