The Internet hasn’t made speech freer — at least not on this campus.
In theory, the connectivity of the Internet opens up dialogue between people and provides marginalized groups a chance to share their perspectives. But I don’t see this at Queen’s.
I see the opposite — a strengthening of dominant...
Waiting for things in the future or longing for things that have happened in the past can cause us to wish away the present.
One of my political studies professors reminded me of this earlier this term.
We should take full advantage of the ability to pass our university days thinking and educating...
A sexual taboo now surrounds words like “vagina” and “breasts”. My generation has trouble even saying these words aloud.
Recently, I was on an American Airlines flight watching an episode of Parks and Recreation and the aforementioned words were censored.
Censorship is a way...
“I just don’t want to die without a few scars.”
These words have resonated in my mind ever since I read Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club seven years ago.
I’ve taken it up as a sort of personal motto.
With graduation nearing, I, like many other graduates, have spent a considerable amount of time reflecting...
Fine arts, as an academic discipline, is highly misunderstood and gravely undervalued by what seems to be a large portion of the academic world.
I’m writing to tell you that the commonly associated terms like “starving artist,” “bird course” and “unemployed” are so unbelievably incorrect that they...
Paranoid conspiracy theorists have no place in the American gun rights debate.
Since the Sandy Hook shootings on Dec. 14, conspiracy theories have become more popular thanks to podcast hosts promoting unrealistic and unsubstantiated claims.
Specifically, many of these conspiracy theorists view Sandy...
Belittling a culture is never funny. Last week’s attack on Team PDA’s Vice-President of Operations candidate Craig Draeger was well called for, but it failed to deliver the appropriate message.
A Tumblr page entitled “Queen’s is better than racism” called for Draeger’s removal from the AMS elections...
University campuses should be places conducive to democratic discussion, not blatant attack campaigns.
The recent campaign urging students to optout of paying a student fee supporting Carleton University’s OPIRG chapter sets a scary precedent on university campuses.
The campus Love of Liberty group...
The omnibus Bill C-45 passed last December rushes 457 pages of controversial legislation through Parliament in the name of government efficiency. While the massive document reconciles domestic law with international norms, it also drastically reduces environmental protections and changes to the Indian...
Not everyone has to become a vegan, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t cut down on our consumption of animal by-products.
Our gluttony and excessive consumption has allowed livestock abuse to continue. It’s a problem that’s affecting us globally and physically.
The main problem lies in the way the...
The recent passing of Stan Musial, “Stan the Man,” the one described by George Vecsey of the New York Times as “the star who stood out by not standing out,” denotes the death of a much needed mentality in sports culture.
Musial was a role model for all the right reasons. He was considered by some...
In today’s society it seems that the perfect female body features the perfect pair of breasts. We carry a huge weight not on our shoulders, but on our chests.
That’s why I was shocked to learn that somebody whose claim to fame depends on having the perfect figure was willing to trade it in for a guaranteed...
Student life, in some ways, has become the party life, leaving student health in disarray.
Late nights out with friends, quick, easy, greasy food and countless drinks at the bar have become the norm for students at Queen’s. We need to take a look at what choices we as students are making in terms...
To the Queen’s community: it’s time for a change. In our increasingly technology-driven society, we need our education to reform and adapt to innovation.
The Academic Planning Task Force and the Student Experiential Learning Task Force brought together by the Senate at Queen’s are looking to spearhead...
How much would you pay for a pair of sneakers this Christmas worn by your favourite athlete? Fifty dollars? A hundred dollars? A clean conscience?
For quite some time now, North Americans have been lambasted for the materialistic attitudes that dominate our culture — a culture where professional sports...
Fox News is biased. Deal with it.
Every media outlet is going to have some sort of bias. MSNBC and CBS often reflect liberal views when it comes to their stories. In the same way, Fox News is often painted as the broadcasting station of the Republican Party.
In my opinion, Fox News is just another...
It’s just one click, but it can determine the future of many students on campus.
With the recent Fall Referendum results sealing the fate of Union Gallery, I question if groups are utilizing the referendum system most effectively.
The system as it stands now, although a unique aspect of Queen’s, leaves...
Mo bros and sistas, it’s time to rally.
Each November, men from around the world don moustaches in solidarity, eschewing general facial cleanliness in support of prostate cancer awareness and other men’s health initiatives.
Founded in Australia in 2003, the global Movember campaign has grown exponentially...
The amount of pressure that exists to select a career as early as possible is frustrating. Shouldn’t the enjoyment and experience of life be a priority over kick-starting your profession as early as possible?
There isn’t nearly enough emphasis put on the importance of taking the time to figure out...
Mental illness stigma has been at the centre of frequent and ongoing dialogue at Queen’s.
With the creation of the Principal’s Commission on Mental Health and the anti-stigma research chair position and the work of a number of student-led initiatives, it’s become a priority on our campus.
I’m grateful...
Queen’s has a celebrated school spirit, but few take time to think about its implications.
Every year, newly admitted students are thrust into the traditions of the University during Orientation Week.
Having arrived at Queen’s as a frosh, I was bombarded with Queen’s paraphernalia and up-beat cheers...
Karma is more than just a saying — for me it’s a valuable way of life.
If everyone saw some greater substance in karma, as I do, the world would be a friendlier, more functional place. While it awakens skepticism, the concept sets a good precedent for society.
Last week my mom walked past an old lady...
Felix Baumgartner’s record-breaking free-fall was a small step for man, but a giant leap for Red Bull’s corporate image.
Baumgartner plummeted to the ground at the speed of sound on Sunday, landing safely on his feet in the culmination of the Red Bull Stratos project — the latest attempted skydive...
I am what some might call a foodie, a moniker often found, rather unfortunately, sandwiched between colourful adjectives like “pretentious” and “snobby.”
I will be the first to say that I understand the negative assessment; I ashamedly admit to having once argued over the flavour profile of one oyster...
If you step into a stranger’s house, you take off your shoes at the doorway.
It’s common courtesy. You’ve never lived in that house before, and you’re not initially aware of what the rules of the house are.
If that’s true, then you wouldn’t enter someone else’s country and keep your shoes on.
You...
Sometimes a little kindness goes a long way.
Picture the scene: a flustered student running through a train station, weighed down with a backpack and two suitcases. She’s got a minute before the last train home leaves and two flights of stairs ahead of her.
It’s not looking good, and just as she’s...
Reading is my job.
Between time spent working for the Journal and finishing my English degree, I spend over 40 hours per week looking at some sort of text.
It made for a struggle when I, someone who developed eyesight problems because I ignored my mother’s pleas to “get my nose out of that book,”...
Good grades, sleep or a social life. Pick two.
It’s something students joke about, but it’s a sad reality. There’s an underlying expectation of perfection on Canadian university campuses, and it’s something few students can live up to.
Three years ago, I graduated from high school as a top student,...
Planning on buying the iPhone 5? I suggest holding onto your wallet instead.
It has already sold $2 million in the first week of pre-sales. To me, this seems a little absurd.
The price, which cashes in at around $700 without a plan, is steep, but the consumers are only paying for the label. Take a...
This month marks my year-long anniversary with Facebook. Like most relationships, ours began filled with excitement but soon regressed into an endless cycle of banality.
Facebook’s clique of oversharing new moms and attention-seeking tweens didn’t make matters any better. Despite its known shortfalls,...