June 29, 2020

Social services must continue improving post-pandemic

During the pandemic, social services are more important than ever. As we adjust to our new ‘normal,’ we shouldn’t forget that. The pandemic has thrown everyone for a loop, to put it mildly. Those who were once financially stable are now relying on stimulus checks. Mentally, many of us are feeling…

June 17, 2020

Queen’s new anti-racism initiatives are reactive, not proactive

Queen’s committed to three anti-racism initiatives on June 10 in response to student calls to action. This response, The Journal Editorial Board feels, is only a reaction to pressure from students,…

June 8, 2020

Editors' Note: Our commitment to BIPOC students

The Journal stands in solidarity with the protests against anti-Black racism and police brutality. We are committed to amplifying the voices of Queen’s students. If you would like a platform to spe…

June 1, 2020

Students shouldn’t shoulder the financial burden of remote learning

As a result of COVID-19, students are facing cancelled internships and lost jobs. Now, they must shoulder the burden of regular tuition fees in the fall—despite classes going online. At a Board of …

The pandemic is forcing us to reconsider how we care for our elderly. We’re better off for it.

June 1, 2020

As COVID-19 continues to rock old-age homes, it’s time we roll back the clock and re-evaluate the value—and potential inevitability—of the multigenerational family. In Dr. Atul Gawande’s Being Mo…

Special constables have the potential to make students feel less safe, not more

June 1, 2020

Introducing special constables to university campuses has become increasingly popular in recent years but fails to acknowledge the negative impact this might have on students. Ryerson University re…

Darts & laurels 2019-20

March 27, 2020

Darts COVID-19 updates: The majority of Queen’s academic operations transitioned online in March as students were encouraged to head home early for the summer due to public health concerns over n…

News outlets spread information about the coronavirus, not fear

March 27, 2020

Contrary to popular belief, North American journalism about COVID-19 and its impacts isn’t sensationalism or fearmongering. It shows that reporters are doing their jobs to share information and ac…

Stop the narrative that the COVID-19 pandemic is benefiting the environment

March 27, 2020

Perpetuating the false narrative that the coronavirus pandemic is saving the environment is one of countless examples where misinformation is shared across the Internet because it makes readers fee…

Local journalism shows its value during COVID-19 pandemic

March 20, 2020

The value of local journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic is its ability to pursue stories of human kindness. Large publications, like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Globe and…

Celebrating women one day a year isn’t enough

March 20, 2020

International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 gives the global community a chance to acknowledge women, past and present, who have made political, economic, social, and cultural strides toward gender …

Professors shouldn’t face discrimination for their accents

March 13, 2020

Some professors are better lecturers than others, but whether or not they speak with an accent shouldn’t be a determining factor in that assessment. A recent article in The Eyeopener explored the d…

Coronavirus doesn't justify racist aggression

March 13, 2020

The conversation around coronavirus is intimidating, but by standing in solidarity with Chinese students at Queen’s, we can combat the effects of the virus more effectively. Since the outbreak of C…

Communicating about COVID-19 can ease student stress

March 13, 2020

As universities prepare for community spread of COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus, students must be kept in the loop so that they too can do their part in reducing the spread of the virus. …

Queen’s should let go of the castle

March 10, 2020

The Bader International Study Centre (BISC) at Herstmonceux Castle in England costs Queen’s more than it’s worth to students’ experience. It’s time for the University to consider investing its mone…

Let the sun set on Daylight Savings Time

March 10, 2020

Daylight Savings Time (DST) has more drawbacks than benefits. It’s time we stick to keeping clocks the same year-round. Last Sunday, the Toronto Star’s Editorial Board stated its support for the …

Trans-exclusionary feminism isn’t true feminism

March 6, 2020

Feminism is for all women, not just cisgender women. In 2017, the Canadian government passed Bill C-16, which introduced human rights protections for transgender Canadians. This was a landmark d…

Subscribers don’t have to pick mainstream over local journalism

March 6, 2020

For mainstream journalism, the digital subscriber model seems to be the way of the future. But this model isn’t as feasible for smaller publications—and it may be forcing them into obsolescence. …

It’s time to start decolonizing methods of mental wellness

March 6, 2020

Mental wellness isn’t a one-method-fits-all system—especially for people of colour (POC). It’s essential for the university mental wellness system to move away from painting everyone seeking sup…

Online mental health resources aren’t the sole solution to student needs

March 6, 2020

Mental health apps are a great resource for university students to supplement their mental health care journey, but they’re not a stand-in for on-campus professional help. With an ever-increasing…

Whitewashing climate activism limits its success

March 3, 2020

Young climate activists represent the future of environmentalism in Canada and around the world. This activism must represent the diversity of those impacted by the climate crisis, not just a handf…

Sexual violence survey delay has delayed productive action

March 3, 2020

This editorial discusses sexual assault and may be triggering for some readers. The Journal uses “survivor” to refer to those who have experienced sexual assault. We acknowledge this term is not un…

‘Credit mills’ stack the odds against hard-working high-schoolers

February 28, 2020

A student’s high school transcript should speak to their academic abilities, not their ability to buy their grades. Inflated marks from certain private schools dubbed ‘credit mills’ have made it i…

Why uncontested elections are a problem for democracy at Queen’s

February 28, 2020

A fundamental problem at Queen’s has received limited attention and even less action: our lack of engagement in student politics. This year, the AMS executive election for the most visible and high…

Last names should be about preference, not gender politics

February 28, 2020

Gendered traditions shouldn’t influence how married partners decide on their last names. Despite feminist strides made in other areas, a 2018 Atlantic article discussed the phenomenon of heterosexu…

Hold the phone on accepting Bell Let’s Talk at face value

February 13, 2020

If a company touts its success starting conversations about mental health, it should ensure its other, quieter initiatives don’t simultaneously undo that good work. This is the case with Bell Can…

Too much technology use hurts our capacities to connect

February 13, 2020

A great deal of university life relies on exposure to technology despite its negative effects—and it’s up to our schools to provide opportunities to limit that exposure. Earlier this year, after …

Unpaid internships support an imbalanced employment system

February 12, 2020

School credit doesn’t pay the bills. Student interns deserve compensation for their work. For students, some of our best opportunities for advancement in our desired career fields are internship…

Students should be on board with Wet’suwet’en solidarity protests

February 11, 2020

Protests are meant to make a difference, not in spite of but because of the disruption they cause to the rest of the world. In the case of the protests blocking trains in solidarity with the Wet’su…

Free public transportation could get cities further

February 11, 2020

In order to make public transportation a truly public service, cities across North America should eliminate rider fare. A recent New York Times article explored the conversation happening in seve…