point/counterpoint Archives

Point/Counterpoint: Should fighting be allowed in the NHL?

Written on January 21, 2022. Posted in Sports.

YES In most sports, violence is distasteful. In soccer or baseball, the outbreak of a fight would result in a hefty suspension. There’s a reason why fighting in the National Hockey League (NHL) isn’t seen in this light. Since the league’s inception a century ago, fighting hasn’t been banned—and...

Point/Counterpoint: traditional vs. virtual games

Written on March 26, 2021. Posted in Columns.

Traditional games There are a lot of things that we can get on the internet, but a good, hardy laugh from in-person game nights isn’t one of them. One of my favourite in-person games is two-person charades where the charade is performed by an unknowing ‘puppet’ and a ‘puppet master.’ One time...

Point/Counterpoint: What’s the correct order to watch the MCU?

Written on March 5, 2021. Posted in Columns.

In order of release Suggesting that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is easy to follow is a stretch—it’s a lot of material to work through. The best way to optimize your enjoyment of these films is to watch them in order of year they were released, not the chronological order of events within the...

Point/Counterpoint: Do you enjoy winter weather?

Written on February 5, 2021. Posted in Columns.

Yes I can’t think of a more flavourless marriage to one’s environment than living inside a perpetual summer. Winter doesn’t come without its growing pains. The long march through November is arguably the most hellish span of the calendar year, defined by diminishing sunlight and even worse hope for...

Point/Counterpoint: What is Taylor Swift’s best album?

Written on January 15, 2021. Posted in Columns.

Folklore Though any personal favourite Taylor Swift album is valid—I will always be attached to Red, for instance—no one can deny that, objectively, her best is Folklore. Folklore was the saviour of 2020. What makes it so remarkable is that it exists becauseof 2020, not in spite of it—Swift clearly...

Point/Counterpoint: Is it too early to start celebrating Christmas?

Written on October 22, 2020. Posted in Columns.

Yes The Christmas holidays are, as the popular tune goes, a wonderful time of year. They’re full of family, bright decorations, and celebration, as well as some classic songs. However, timing is everything. Beginning our celebration three months before December—before Halloween even has a chance...

Point/Counterpoint: Is iced coffee an appropriate cold weather drink?

Written on September 25, 2020. Posted in Lifestyle, Pop Culture.

Yes Crisp autumn days will soon turn into blinding flurries of early snowstorms, and there’s one thing I’m dreading the most: the judgmental stares of onlookers as I sip on my delicious, sweet, ice-cold coffee. There are a lot of reasons why iced coffee is perceived a so-called summer drink. Consider...

Point/Counterpoint: Is Glee a clever satire?

Written on June 1, 2020. Posted in Lifestyle, Pop Culture.

Yes The first season of Glee is charming but infuriating—it’s the perfect example of how not to do satire. Quinn’s claim in season one that her teen pregnancy likens her experiences to those of racial minorities, for instance, is enough to make a person give up on the show all together. But, like...

Point/Counterpoint: Should holiday music be played year-round?

Written on November 8, 2019. Posted in Columns.

No As the clock strikes midnight on Nov. 1, my life undergoes a dramatic transformation. Pumpkins morph into evergreen trees, bags of candy turn into sacks of presents, and garish costumes change into cozy knitted sweaters. Halloween disappears, and my life becomes a winter wonderland as visions...

Point/Counterpoint: Is Common Ground better than The Brew?

Written on October 4, 2019. Posted in Columns.

Yes Call me traditional, but Common Ground (CoGro) takes the cake—literally. One of the reasons I love it so much is its cake selection, which ranges from Strawberry Chocolate Mousse to Super Caramel Crunch. After a long day at school or a workout at the gym, CoGro is always there. It’s convenient...

Point/Counterpoint: Are New Year’s resolutions overrated?

Written on January 11, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Student Life.

Yes Being fond of beginnings, I understand why the New Year can be hopeful. Resolutions naturally become a part of the feeling, and there’s nothing wrong with embarking on a journey towards self-improvement. However, it’s important to recognize that New Year’s Day is no more special than any other...

Point/Counterpoint: Is there value in openly discussing our grades?

Written on November 9, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Student Life.

YES Students being open about marks might seem like a recipe for disappointment and self-deprecation, but open dialogue can serve to help gauge your progress, alleviate doubt, and create a sense of solidarity. When I walk out of a midterm feeling dejected, there’s nothing like getting a text saying,...

Point-Counterpoint: Does cannabis have a place in sports?

Written on November 2, 2018. Posted in Sports.

Maggie Gowland, Assistant Sports Editor NO Varsity athletes are used to saying no. Save for players enjoying their offseason, there are plenty of athletes who refrain from partaking in the drinking culture at Queen’s. There’s no time for a hangover when you’re getting up at 6 a.m....

Point/Counterpoint: Do subtitles help the viewing experience?

Written on October 12, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Pop Culture.

Yes If you’ve ever watched a movie or TV show with me where I’ve been in control of the device settings, there’s a 100 per cent chance it’s been accompanied by subtitles. There’s also a 50 per cent chance you’ve groaned the second a small caption written in an...

Point/Counterpoint: What’s been the most memorable moment from the 2017-18 varsity season?

Written on April 5, 2018. Posted in Sports.

Men’s rugby — OUA Championship You’d be hard pressed to find a more memorable moment in the 2017-18 varsity season than the men’s rugby team winning the OUA Championships. Besides winning by a considerable margin — with the Gaels defeating the Guelph Gryphons 62-17 — hoisting the program’s 23rd...

Point/counterpoint: Hard shell vs soft shell tacos

Written on February 13, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle.

For soft shell tacos Not only are you making mealtime difficult when you choose hard shell tacos over soft shell, but you also make it mediocre. Put simply, soft shell tacos are practical. They contain all the ingredients you love most in your taco, wrapping them up in a delicious blanket so you don’t...

Point-counterpoint: MVP of winter varsity teams

Written on February 9, 2018. Posted in Sports.

The Journal’s sports staff trade jabs over which player matters most to their varsity team’s success. Veronika Lavergne, Women’s Basketball After transferring from the University of Albany to Queen’s in the summer of 2016, Veronika Lavergne has been the engine of the women’s basketball team that’s...

Oprah for President?

Written on January 19, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle.

As an American citizen and a politics major, my eyes rolled to the back of my head when I heard Oprah was being considered as a legitimate presidential candidate for 2020. After an inspiring speech at the Golden Globes and some past stirring about a potential candidacy, news outlets like CNN and...

Point-Counterpoint: Who’s the better nationally-ranked varsity team?

Written on January 12, 2018. Posted in Sports.

Sebastian Bron, Sports Editor No. 7 Women’s Basketball For two seasons now, the women’s basketball has been one of the most dominant teams in the country. Dating back to the 2016-17 season, the Gaels have played a total of 31 regular season games and have lost only two. Although this ridiculous stat...

Point / Counterpoint: Should privileged writers represent marginalized communities?

Written on November 24, 2017. Posted in Arts.

YES Sarina Grewal Assistant News Editor Diversity in literature is a strength: it allows for the presentation of new ideas and can educate readers about the experiences of others. For authors, tackling diversity means facing their own positionality: can a white person write about a person of...

Spotify: Music's best streaming service or overrated

Written on November 10, 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

For Spotify I’m embarrassed to admit that up until last year, I was listening to music via youtube2mp3.com. That is, until I came into contact with my one true love – Spotify. Before this discovery, I’d dedicate at least two hours each month to finding all the new music I liked on YouTube, converting...

Point/Counterpoint: The case for and against Queen’s Athletics’ team and club systems

Written on October 5, 2017. Posted in Sports.

Journal Staff go back-and-forth on whether the gap between varsity clubs and teams is unreasonably judged. Matt Scace: For the system At Queen’s, there’s a divide that exists between varsity teams and clubs, and the school has chosen to do this methodically through many years of market research...

Point/Counterpoint: Which varsity team will most impress in the 2017-18 season?

Written on September 22, 2017. Posted in Sports.

A new season signifies a fresh start, a clean slate for those who struggled and a platform to build on for those who exceled during last year’s 2016-17 varsity season. The Journal‘s sports editors found it fitting to make their picks for which varsity team will impress most by season’s...

Point-Counterpoint: Which Gaels team has impressed you most?

Written on October 6, 2016. Posted in Sports.

Men’s Rugby Sarah O’Flaherty – Assistant Sports Editor The Gaels’ men’s rugby team is undoubtedly the best varsity team that Queen’s has to offer. While they might not have a newly renovated stadium, at each match they manage to draw large crowds, play passionately and, almost...

To be or not to be

Written on September 23, 2016. Posted in Arts.

Shakespeare is irreplaceable vs. Time to shake things up Shakespeare is irreplaceable Clayton Tomlinson, Contributor William Shakespeare is the pinnacle of achievement in English drama and is widely considered to be one of the greatest writers of the English language. His plays...

Point/Counterpoint: Is the University’s drinking ban during Orientation Week effective?

Written on August 2, 2016. Posted in In Focus.

YES: Alex Green, Contributor Orientation Week is a time to introduce new students to the university, but inclusion shouldn’t depend on whether or not you’re willing to do a keg-stand. The residence ban on drinking during Orientation Week allows students coming from a variety of backgrounds to be...

Point-counterpoint: How do comic book fans respond to the new Iron Man?

Written on August 2, 2016. Posted in Opinions.

Big changes are happening for the character of Iron Man in the Marvel comics, written by Brian Michael Bendis. Earlier this month Marvel Comics announced a new development in their Invincible Iron Man series. Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, will be replaced by Riri Williams, a 15-year-old black girl, who...

Point/Counterpoint: Should Queen's sell alcohol at sporting events?

Written on March 24, 2016. Posted in Sports.

YES- Adam Laskaris, Sports Editor I once witnessed a Queen’s student getting caught for sneaking beers into a Queen’s hockey game. This sight isn’t too uncommon, but it doesn’t have to be this way. A large portion of Queen’s students like to drink on Friday and Saturday nights. A large portion of...

Affirmative action: helping hand or harmful measure?

Written on January 12, 2016. Posted in Opinions.

Not the answer to minority empowerment Kiera Liblik, ArtSci ’18 Many Canadian medical schools are implementing programs to increase the enrollment of students from minority groups (click for definition) in an attempt to over-correct a historical lack of representation. Unfortunately, this approach...

Post-Movember ’staches: grow or no?

Written on November 27, 2014. Posted in Lifestyle.

GROWAlex Watt, ArtSci ‘15 Thinking about ditching that Movember ‘stache? Before picking up the razor, consider the benefits of growing your facial fur into December and beyond. Given the lack of awareness surrounding men’s mental health and prostate cancer, coupled with the stigma associated with...

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