This past November, The Journal formed its first BIPOC Advisory Board. An idea first suggested by Aysha Tabassum, incoming co-Editor in Chief and current Features Editor, the Board will bring much needed representation from Queen’s BIPOC community to The Journal’s editorial board.

After taking applications in November, The Journal welcomed Meena Waseem, Audrey Henry, and Aisling Martins-Ezeifeaku to represent the first iteration of the Advisory Board.

Currently, the Advisory Board is reviewing Journal policy to make it more equitable, as many areas of our policy fail to reflect the needs of vulnerable communities. In collaboration with the Editor in Chief and Managing Editor, they will be presenting their thoughts and ideas in the near future, which we hope to implement before the end of Volume 148 on May 1. These policy initiatives will include looking at interview practices, anonymity policy, and ethical coverage of vulnerable communities.

As well, the Advisory Board will be reviewing The Journal’s reporting on an ongoing basis to ensure it maintains equitable practices, which we hope will alleviate the burden from BIPOC staff members who have historically undertaken the burden of pointing out their editors’ shortcomings. This will take shape in confidentially reviewing sensitive stories before they are released.

We also recognize The Journal has historically failed to be a safe space for people of colour, both internally and externally. We and the incoming Editors in Chief are highly aware that The Journal’s masthead must represent the student body it covers; while a first step, we hope the Advisory Board provides students with representation our readership feels understands and reflects their experiences–something The Journal’s upper leadership has overwhelmingly lacked in years past.

Beginning next academic year, the BIPOC Advisory Board will officially shift to an honorarium position to properly compensate the three members who make up the Board. The hiring period for the 2021-22 iteration of the Board is currently open and closes on March 12 at midnight; applicants for the position will be interviewed and selected by the current members of the Advisory Board.

The BIPOC Advisory Board can be reached at journalbipoc_advisory@ams.queensu.ca

Sincerely,

Raechel Huizinga & Matt Scace

Editor in Chief and Managing Editor

journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca