When discussing healthcare, many Canadians give themselves a pat on the back for having a “free” system compared to those neighbours of ours down south. Spending a couple of hours in a waiting room seems hardly a burden when the care is free. As fortunate as we Canadians are to not have to pay thousands of dollars to visit a doctor, I still often find myself complaining about some aspects of our healthcare system.
Nowadays, it seems as if there’s a ritual to campus debate surrounding highly controversial issues.Typically, the students most affected by an issue voice their outrage, confusion and displeasure. They demand action from their university’s s and push to educate the less informed. Then, an opposing force of equally-affected students emerges and the issue gets disassembled, argued from different angles and sometimes demonstrations are held.
“Long hours in Goodes,” Julie Todaro Comm’19. “Yeah, not much really,” Eric Randall Chemical Eng’19. “I just go over past exams I can find,” Adrian Gimon Mechanical Eng’19.
Being a millennial looking in this job-market is tough. As a graduate student at Queen’s University, my peers and supervisors have told me time and time again to start planning for a career outside of academia. They say there are too many competitors for such a shrinking pool of decent jobs. While it’s true that precarious work on college and university campuses is on the rise, it’s also true that working people are fighting back.
“Calling my mom and getting soul food with friends,” Sierra Gaudreault LifeSci’19.”It’s going, it’s not the best but it’s going,” Connor Dougherty Commerce’18.
A couple of weeks ago, Quebec ed Bill 62 which bars Muslim people from wearing burqas and niqabs when accessing or offering public services. Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about the local mosque I grew up attending.I’ve been mainly thinking about the women there — the ones who wear full-length niqabs that trail the ground, hijabs and those who only veil while praying. These women and their generous hands shaped my faith and it’s this faith that shapes the advocacy work I dedicate a lot of my time to.
You step out of the bus shelter as the 702 approaches, fumbling for your student card in your wallet. You flash your 2018 AMS sticker and get on the bus. A woman in Montreal steps out of the bus shelter, not unlike yourself. She fumbles for change in her pocket; $3.25 for a one-way ride. As the bus door opens, the driver notices who wants to get on and denies her service.
“People are getting weed no matter what, but they do want to use it without feeling like the cops are coming,” Tam Fadhil LifeSci ’19.”I think it’s good that it’ll be government regulated, people will be safer and no more lacing,” Lexi Koster ArtSci ’20.
Bill 62 isn’t only disheartening, but paradoxical. Instead of addressing any existing situation, it contributes to the alienation and marginalization of a minority community in Quebec.
Looking back at my term as Vice President (Operations) last year, there were countless times where I sat at my desk in the AMS offices and wondered if I was actually bettering anyone’s student experience. This wasn’t because I didn’t believe in the magnitude of influence students can have on each other, but more, the kind of influence I was having.
By now, we’ve most likely all seen the coming and going of the latest viral campaign. For the past few days, #MeToo has flooded Facebook feeds and taken over Twitter s’ timelines. Almost a week later, since the campaign’s revitalization most of the posts have been overwhelmed by other stories and thoughts. As a result, the momentum surrounding an incredibly important topic seems to have slowed considerably.
Sexual assault and harassment has a way of making one feel completely helpless and on their own. Thanks to the “#MeToo” campaign, people are beginning to come together, and seeing others share their experiences made me recall my own sexual assault this past summer.
For many girls and boys out there, the inspiring #MeToo trend has spread a positive message across the world of social media. It’s created a sense of togetherness and community amongst victims and survivors of sexual assault or inappropriate sexual behaviour.
Another homecoming to make us proud: students vomiting in the streets and in the ambulance, clogging up the hospital with their alcohol-poisoned friends.
“Just accepting it and trying to make it a valuable university experience,” Jacob Neufang Commerce ’20.”In a constant state of emotional distress and inquiring how to become a stripper,” Nina Li Commerce ’20.
As an Indigenous law student and former Deputy Commissioner of Indigenous Affairs for the AMS, I would like to speak to the overall silencing of Indigenous voices by governing bodies at Queen’s.
As it’s widely known by now, a majority of NFL athletes have decided to kneel in protest during the American national anthem. While some NHL and MLB players have ed their NFL counterparts, these protests have predominantly come from NFL athletes.
“My out of town friend’s coming to visit,” Calum Cook ArtSci ‘19. “In the semester everyone’s off doing their own thing, but homecoming brings us all together,” Nick Scholey LifeSci ‘20.
