The Queen's Journal, Issue 8

By Catherine OwsikAssistant News Editor

An innovative new laboratory on campus will test the applications of renewable energy sources in housing. The goal is to design a practical net-zero house — meaning that will generate as much energy as it consumes.

The Queen’s Solar Education Centre (QSEC) is a 640 square-foot house designed by the Queen’s Solar Design Team (QSDT) to test applied alternative energy and green innovations in homes. It was installed on campus at the corner of Union and Division Streets on Sept. 15.

The team began designing solar vehicles in 1988 and has since shifted focus to designing affordable, net-zero homes. It consists of eight undergraduate managers with sub-teams of five to 20 students and graduate advisors.

Karl Kadwell, project manager for QSDT, said the on campus house won’t be net-zero as it’s primarily a learning tool for QSDT and Engineering students.

“Everyone on the team will use QSEC as a laboratory. We also invited professors to use the home for education in classes,” Kadwell, Sci ’13, said, adding that it’s mostly Engineering professors who will use the facility.

The house will be open to the public after its grand opening on Oct. 15. In the one open-concept room there will be displays of sustainable products and the mechanisms to track energy generation.

It will only be open by appointment due to safety concerns regarding machinery and research, Kadwell said.

The house’s energy generation and consumption will change as the team tests different simulations.

“We will be changing factors such as thermal mass, shading, windows and [heating, ventilation and air conditioning] to see how the building performs under different conditions,” Kadwell said.

QSEC uses sustainable innovations that can be applied

HealtH

Commission to survey mental healthBy katherine Fernandez-BlanCeNews Editor

Principal Daniel Woolf announced the launch of a new commission this week to assess the state of mental health at Queen’s.

“The commission is intended to do a very high-level scan of the issues of mental health on campus, certain pressures students are feeling, how our services are responding,” Woolf said.

The commission has already met twice, mainly to discuss logistical elements of how it will work. Its creation stemmed from

“a rather difficult year” on campus last year Queen’s had last year. Seven students died last year.

“The issue of student mental

health was particularly front of mind already and it had occurred to me, fairly late in the year, that we really didn’t understand [it] fully.”

Woolf said the commission won’t run on an operational level, as there are other administrative groups, like the Mental Health Working Group that concentrate on the day-to-day functions of mental health resources at Queen’s.

The working group was created in 2007. The group organizes programs and services like Mental Health First Aid sessions and mental health training in residences.

“This is more a high-level view,” Woolf said of the new commission.

The aim of the commission is to provide a forum to talk about issues of mental health, Woolf

said, adding that the information collected will be useful to other post-secondary campuses as well.

Woolf chose five members to sit on the commission, selecting faculty members, administrators and one professional student.

The commission will present a report to Woolf in April. After the presentation it will disband.

Chair of the Commission, Dr. David Walker said the commission’s only expense will be the room where the meetings take place.

“At the moment, we haven’t identified any costs that are direct other than the in-built costs of the people involved,” said Walker, a professor in emergency medicine, family medicine and policy studies.

“I don’t see this as being a costly exercise but when we make our recommendations … there will obviously have to be a cost for those things.”

The commission hasn’t been designed to provide support to individual students, Walker said.

“During this process we’re going to ensure that people who need help that bump into us have avenues open to them,” he said.

Walker said his hope is for the commission is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health on campus.

“The hypothesis is the better informed we are, the less stigma … is attached,” he said.

Student involvement will be important, Walker said, adding that the commission will encourage students to come into their

weekly Wednesday meetings. The commission hasn’t yet decided how many of these meetings will be open to the public.

“I want to hear from people first,” he said. “We’ll have a very active website. We’re communicating by a variety of means.”

The website will launch in the next few weeks. Walker said recommendations for initiatives won’t occur right away.

“I would stress that in the early weeks we will be in listening and learning mode,” he said.

Associate Vice-Principal and Dean of Student Affairs Ann Tierney sits on the commission. She said it will reach out to the AMS, the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) and Health, Counseling and Disability Services to ensure broad consultation.

“We [also] want to speak to people like residence dons and academic advisors,” she said.

The commission will have the capacity to recommend the need for more mental health resources on campus as they see fit.

“We’ve been asked to make recommendations — we are well aware some of the recommendations will be how to find funding,” Tierney said.

— With files from Terra-Ann Arnone and Jessica Fishbein

The Darker SiDe of SpongebobDialogue examines television shows’ effect on preschool children.

Page 9

gore anD beaTSAndrew W.K. talks about Matt and Kim and his tattoo.

Page 10

ouT on The WaTerSports Editor Gilbert Coyle spends a morning with the rowing team.

Page 13

STuDenTS on STagePostscript explores why Karaoke attracts so many students in Kingston.

Page 16

MOrning glOry

page 3

canDiDaTe profileS

Eric Farquharson, ArtSci ’13, trains on the Cataraqui River at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning. For full story on a morning with the Queen’s rowing team, see page 13.

Photo by Justin Chin

See Project on page 7

InsIde

Solar energy

Energy buildingGroup designs sustainable house on campus

T u e s d ay , s e p T e m b e r 2 3 , 2 0 11 — I s s u e 8

the journalQ u e e n ’ s u n i v e r s i t y — s i n c e 1 8 7 3

ProVInCIal eleCtIonS

McGuinty on educationLiberal rally held for Premier’s visit to Kingston saVOUla stylianOUAssistant News Editor

Premier Dalton McGuinty visited Kingston on Sept. 1 as part of his cross-country tour. A rally was held for him in the Liberal Party offices at 845 Princess St. In front of supporters, volunteers and students, McGuinty spoke about issues affecting Ontarians today.

“Take a look at what we’ve done in our schools. 200,000 more students enrolled in post-secondary education,” he said to the crowd.

McGuinty said if elected, he will work to create 60,000 more post-secondary spaces and three new undergraduate satellite campuses. In addition, he wants to implement a 30 per cent cut in tuition fees for low- and middle-income families.

McGuinty also talked about Liberal incumbent for Kingston and the Islands John Gerretsen.

“There are a lot of things that impress me about John,” McGuinty said at the rally. “He has always remained youthful in his outlook.”

McGuinty attributed Gerretsen’s success to his decades of experience as a politician. Gerrestsen was first elected as MPP for the riding in 1995.

“I’ve been very lucky to have him in our caucus,” McGuinty said at the rally.

Alexander Prescott, ArtSci ’14, is a member of the Queen’s Young Liberals and said Gerretsen’s campaign is the second Liberal campaign he’s volunteered with. He volunteered with MP Ted Hsu’s campaign for the May 2 federal election.

“This time around, the voting is on campus so there really is no excuse not to vote,” he said. “It’s especially important to vote at the

provincial level because these are the people who have their hand in the cookie jar. They are the ones who have a hand in the future of our education.”

As part of the Young Liberals, Prescott has been going door to door, making phone calls and putting up signs for this election.

Queen’s Young Liberals leader Chris Jackson said the number of student voters has doubled from the 2008 federal election to the 2011 federal election, according to Elections Canada.

“We had a part to play in that, but it wasn’t just us. The other political groups on campus helped as well,” Jackson, ArtSci ’12, said.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty addresses the crowd at the Liberal rally held on Tuesday.

Photo by Justin Chin

2 •queensjournal.ca Friday, september 23, 2011news

provincial elections

Candidates talk student issuesProvincial campaigns offer differing views on tuition and enrolment in post-secondary institutions

NDP candidate Mary Rita Holland has $60,000 of student debt.

“Students going to university are paying a lot for education that is being diluted by large class sizes,” the Queen’s PhD candidate said. “And the government is advocating a greater increase in enrolment.”

Ontario universities have the highest tuition fees of any province.

Holland said an Ontario NDP platform promise for a tuition freeze will help reduce the student debt burden.

“It’s irresponsible to allow the universities to access more and more funding through student fees,” she said.

Holland also cited Queen’s ongoing building projects as a detriment to quality education.

“That money should go into new hires, more professors and better teaching,” she said.

Bill 183, brought to parliament by NDP representative Rosario Marchese, is the answer to administrative accountability,

Holland said. The bill extends the role of ombudsman to include more public institutions, including universities.

“The administration at Queen’s and other universities currently has the ability to change the direction of the university according to whatever they want to see,” she said. “It doesn’t make sense to allow them to continue to make these decisions.”

Holland said she’d like to see privately-funded research axed on university campuses.

“When you have a business investing in research clearly they want to see results,” she said,

adding that the compromise to academic integrity outweighs the benefit associated with private research funding.

The NDP is campaigning to make student loans interest-free.

Holland said money for initiatives aimed at student debt reduction will come from getting rid of corporate tax cuts in Ontario.

“We believe we have choices as a government and we can invest in public services,” she said.

Freezing university tuition is a priority for NDP candidate Mary Rita Holland.

Photo By Corey LaBLans

Robert Kiley is balancing life as a ConEd student with his candidacy for Green Party MPP.

He said if elected, the Green Party wants to implement a year-long freeze on Ontario tuition fees.

After the freeze, Kiley said the Greens will increase tuition by the rate of inflation in 2013 and 2014, with hopes of balancing Ontario’s budget the following year.

“Once the budget is balanced,

we can have a discussion about keeping a cap or dropping them,” he said.

Kiley said a province-wide university endowment fund could provide periodical donations to support schools.

The fund would funnel private donations into accounts for universities.

The suggested donation would be $5,000 and anyone looking to donate could specify the university that would benefit from their money.

Each donor would receive a break on taxable income.

“I think that it makes donation more accessible,” he said. “Endowments have generally been

large financial contributions which limits the number of people who can give.

“There are more people who can give a few thousand dollars each year at retirement.”

Kiley also proposed the addition of 5,000 spots for students at Queen’s, St. Lawrence College and Royal Military College.

He said increased summer school opportunities could work to reduce the burden of additional students.

Kiley said increasing post-secondary enrolment will reduce Ontario poverty rates.

“The higher quality of education and more education one has the less likely they will be living

in poverty.”Increased enrolment rates will

require more support staff in post-secondary institutions, Kiley said.

Kiley said the Greens’ shortcomings in recent elections shouldn’t be a deterrent for voters.

“I know it’s discouraging to think that you might not have your voice heard,” he said.

“I know we don’t have a great record as far as representation by population goes, but I think that working within the system despite its flaws is the way that we can affect change.”

Robert Kiley is a ConEd student at Queen’s.


Rodger James said his experience as a local small business owner makes him a strong contender in the provincial race.

“I’m a business man and you can’t run a business or a province with money problems,” the PC said.

On issues like tuition and enrolment in Ontario universities,

James deferred to the PC Changebook — a document compiled by leader Tim Hudak, laying out the party’s platform using constituent recommendations.

James said he wasn’t sure if anything in the PC platform specifically mentioned a plan for increasing or decreasing tuition in Ontario.

“I would love to be able to lower them,” he said. “But I can’t speak on exactly how that would be done.

“We would reduce it to the maximum degree.”

The Changebook calls for

the addition of 60,000 spots for undergraduate students in Ontario post-secondary institutions.

“If we need more teachers to have smaller classes then we’ll look into it,” James said.

The PC campaign also plans to transfer the current $30-million allocation for international student scholarships to Ontario student grants.

“We want to support Ontario students as opposed to others,” James said. “We need to support ourselves first.”

During Monday’s all-candidates debate in Wallace

Hall, NDP candidate Mary Rita Holland spoke about her $60,000 student debt.

“That was concerning,” James said, adding that many of his business clients carry an alarming amount of student debt as well.

He said he hopes students will exercise their right to vote in the upcoming election.

“We need post-secondary education,” he said. “There’s no question.”

Kingston and the Islands’ 12-year incumbent John Gerretsen said he’s never seen himself as a full-time politician.

“I know what it’s like to earn a living,” Gerretsen, ArtSci ’64, said.

He said the Liberals see current tuition fees as too high.

Their platform includes a yearly tuition grant of $1,600 for university students and $730 for

college students to help students cope with the rising costs.

This return won’t apply to graduate or professional students as well as undergraduates with a family income over $160,000.

“If you make a certain amount of money, you shouldn’t benefit from this,” Gerretsen said.

The Liberals opened up 200,000 spots for students heading to university, college or trade work in Ontario over the past eight years.

According to their platform the Liberals are promising to create 60,000 more spaces if re-elected.

Gerretsen said larger class sizes may be a necessary step toward increased enrolment.

“Do we really want to limit class sizes and thereby limit the

number of qualified students that go to university?” he said. “I’m not in favour of that.”

In the past eight years, the Ontario government spending on post-secondary education has averaged $6 billion per year.

“I always got an impression that universities had it pretty good,” Gerretsen said.

The Ontario government can’t dictate how university funding is spent.

“Internal issues have to be worked out by the university,” he said. “We don’t run the university’s administration.”

In 2005, Gerretsen passed a bill to give the provincial auditor jurisdiction over universities.

In addition to new medical

schools across the province, Gerretsen said he wants to see more satellite campuses for students from less-populated municipalities in Northern Ontario.

Gerretsen said student voters should look beyond university issues and consider long-term provincial issues like the health care system.

Ontario is currently running a $14-billion deficit.

“We’re running a deficit and it has to be paid for,” he said. “If I were a young person I’d be very concerned about the province’s growing debt.”

By Terra-ann arnoneFeatures Editor

Rodger James said the PC Party Changebook is a strong point in their campaign.

John Gerretsen has represented Kingston and the Islands for 12 years.


N e w D e m o c r a t i c

P a r t y

P r o g r e s s i v e c o N s e r v a t i v e

P a r t y

g r e e N P a r t y


Friday, September 23, 2011 queenSjournal.ca • 3

Feature

L i b e r a L P a r t y

J o h n G e r r e t s e n

M a r y R i t a H o l l a n d

R o d g e r J a m e s

R o b e r t K i l e y

aCaDeMICS

Classes move to lecture and online mixFive Queen’s courses to move to blended format, mixing online and classroom learningMeaghan wrayAssistant News Editor

Lecture time for certain large first-year courses will be cut significantly in favour of online learning.

This fall, Psychology 100 and Geography 101 in the Faculty of Arts and Science are offered in the blended format, meaning they feature both classroom and online learning components.

Dean of Arts and Science Brenda Ravenscroft said both faculty and students are concerned about the difficulty of fostering student engagement in large classes.

“[Instructors] were dissatisfied with the level of student engagement in the class and not because of the students but because of the way they were teaching it,” she said. “Students were predominantly in a passive role.”

Blended learning models offer greater options for how instructors can interact with the students in their course, Ravenscroft told the Journal in an e-mail.

In lectures for example, time is used for the application of material which students have had access to online.

Financial support for this initiative comes from a one-time fund to support pedagogical initiatives, Ravenscroft said.

Ravenscroft learned of lecture dissatisfaction through a proposal put forward by the Teaching Issues Committee, a group under the direction of the AMS Academic Affairs Commission. The proposal discussed the benefits of blended learning and made a recommendation to implement it in classes.

The blended learning initiative is one way of making education more flexible and accessible for students, Ravenscroft said.

Through the use of the National Survey of Student Engagement and the Study Process Questionnaire tool, students will be able to comment on their blended learning experience.

The blended learning courses will allow for higher enrolment without adding sections and tutorials.

“It’s not a revenue-generating project,” Ravenscroft said. “It’s placing the student at the centre of learning actually, and that’s the main goal.”

Blended classes will be a collaborative effort between professors and administration, she said.

“It’s not something we want to impose upon the faculty, it has to be something that the faculty wants to participate in,” she said.

Ravenscroft said she hopes instructors will recognize the value of the blended course model and implement it in their large classes.

The faculty received 10 submissions covering a range of disciplines after a request for proposals was sent to instructors. Five were funded based on their size. The focus was on large classes ranging from 250 to1,800 students.

Courses that are offered in the

blended format are described as such on SOLUS. In the winter semester of last year, a blended format of Geography 101 was tested out and redeveloped for this year’s fall course.

There has been an enrolment increase of 15 to 20 per cent, she wrote in blended courses, Ravenscroft told the Journal in an email.

Throughout the year, Classics 205, Gender Studies 120, Math 121 and Sociology 122 will be redeveloped in the blended format and offered next fall.

Laura Gerencser, ArtSci ’14 is currently enrolled in Geography 101, but said blended learning isn’t what she expected.

“I was expecting to have times when I had to be in lecture and times that I would do readings,” she said.

The course’s evaluation includes four mandatory three-hour tutorials worth 40 per cent of the final grade, a mid-term and a December exam, Gerencser said, but the rest of the material is self-taught online.

She said the blended learning technique isn’t helping her to accurately learn the course material.

“When I’m in the lecture, I have to focus on the lecture. When I’m at home, there’s other things that I could be doing,” she said. “I’ll learn time management better but I might not learn the course as well because I might get distracted.”

“ I might not learn the course as well because I might get distracted. ”

—Laura Gerencser, ArtSci ’14

Blended classes aim to increase student participation. Photo by CoREy LAbLAns“ It’s placing the student at the centre of learning actually, and that’s the main goal.

”—Brenda Ravenscroft,

Dean of Arts and Science


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researchers up north

Three researchers in the department of geography are part of a $4 million-project to investigate sustainable development and adaptation strategies in Northern Canada.

The Arctic Development and Adaptation to Permafrost in Transition project will explore the implications of rapid environmental change, including thawing permafrost and changing snowfall. The study will cover land in Canada’s North over four years.

Funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s Frontiers initiative, 14 of Canada’s premier Arctic researchers were selected to participate in the project.

The multi-institutional team, made up of researchers from universities that also include Carleton, McGill and Laval, will examine not only the effects of environmental change on landscapes, water and wildlife, but also on the northern communities and industries that depend on natural resources.

— Sarah Witiuk

Computer design Software Startups, a new course offered by the School of Computing, is targeted towards students interested in both computer science and entrepreneurship.

The course allows small teams of students to build products combining software development with business skills.

Game Design, another new School of Computing course, provides an introduction to computer game design. The course will also cover topics such as game prototyping and game evaluation.

Both semester-long upper-year courses are offered in the Winter semester.

— Chloë Grande

NEWS IN BRIEF

Friday, Sept. 23

Queen’s Evidence Based Policy Association: Environment and Economy talk with Ted HsuJDUC, Robert Sutherland Room7 to 8 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 26

Finding Your Path: Coping with life at UniversityJDUC, Wallace Hall5 to 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 27

Queen’s Strategic Research Plan Town Hall MeetingJDUC, McLaughlin RoomNoon to 1 p.m.

Queen’s Student Alumni Association: Building Your Digital BrandKinesiology building, room 1006 to 7:30 p.m.Free with student card

Wednesday, Sept. 28

Farmer’s MarketUniversity and Union Streets9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 29

Darwin’s GardenKingston Frontenac Public Library7 p.m.Free

CAMPUS CALENDAR

Friday, september 23, 2011 queensjournal.ca • 5news


Project valued at $100,000to a net-zero house including photovoltaic solar panels that generate electrical energy and solar thermal panels that generate thermal energy.

Smart blinds, which respond to changes in temperature and light, will also be installed in the house. Kadwell said that because the blinds automatically adjust themselves, the need for indoor lighting will be decreased.

The entire project — with materials, labour and consulting — is valued at $100,000.

“We have fundraising as well as sponsorship. A lot of the features have been donated,” Kadwell said, adding that funding was co-ordinated through an advancement group and included alumni donations, notably from the class of Sci ’44.

Kadwell said the approval process to build on the lot involved meetings with Queen’s administration, Physical Plant Services and stakeholders at Queen’s. Talks regarding QSEC began in February 2011.

The design team has the location for a year as the long-term plans for the lot have not yet been finalized. The lot may eventually be used for Phase 2 of the Queen’s Centre or temporary parking.

“At the end of August 2012 we will have to move QSEC to an off-campus research site by the 401,” Kadwell said, adding that transportation would be relatively simple because the house remains a factory-built functional unit. The roof can be lowered to fit under bridges with hinges.

The team began designing the house in spring 2010 and once the design was complete they sent the plans to Alouette Homes — a company that then built the house in two halves and shipped it to campus.

It took two weeks to build. First Capital Construction and volunteer

Queen’s students will continue construction, including the building of a deck and added insulation. until the official unveiling.

“Our ultimate goal is to compete in the 2013 US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. We hope that this demo at home

will be good practice,” Kadwell said. The Solar Decathlon will take

place in September 2013 and is a world-wide collegiate-level competition for the design, construction and operation of a solar-powered house.

Kadwell said they first applied to compete

in the Decathlon in 2009 but weren’t selected; this year they are hoping QSEC gives their application an edge.

“The house will never be finished. It’s a learning tool and we will always be working on it to improve the design,” Kadwell said.

Continued from page 1

The Queen’s Solar Education Centre, installed at Union and Division Streets, will test energy generation and consumption in homes. It will open on Oct. 15.

Photo by CoREy LAbLAns

Friday, september 23, 2011 queensjournal.ca • 7news

About the JournAl

Editorial BoardEditors in Chief

Clare ClanCy Jake edmistonProduction Manager

labiba HaqueNews EditorkatHerine Fernandez-blanCeAssistant News Editors

CatHerine owsiksavoula stylianou

meagHan wrayFeatures Editor

terra-ann arnoneAssistant Features Editor

Janina enrileEditorials Editor

andrew stokesEditorial Illustrator

JangHan HongDialogue Editor

brendan monaHanArts Editor

alyssa asHtonAssistant Arts Editor

Caitlin CHoiSports Editor

gilbert CoyleAssistant Sports Editor

benJamin deansPostscript Editor

JessiCa FisHbeinPhotography Editor

Corey lablansAssistant Photo Editors

Justin CHinasad CHisHti

Copy EditorsJessiCa munsHaw

terenCe wongBlogs Editor

kelly loeperAssistant Blogs Editor

Carolyn Flanagan

Business StaffBusiness Manager

kevin imrieSales Representatives

kyle CoggerkatHerine pearCe

Staff

ContributorsCHloë grande

peter reimermark sabbagHsaraH witiukJillian wood

PhotographersJeFF peters

Friday, September 23, 2011 • Issue 8 • Volume 139

The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston.

Editorial opinions expressed in the Journal are the sole responsibility of the Queen’s Journal Editorial

Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers.

Contents © 2011 by the Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the

Journal. The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Performance Group of

Companies in Smiths Falls, Ontario. Contributions from all members of the Queen’s

and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Subscriptions are available for $120.00 per year (plus applicable taxes).

Please address complaints and grievances to the Editors in Chief. Please direct editorial, advertising

and circulation enquiries to:

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Telephone : 613-533-2800 (editorial) 613-533-6711 (advertising)

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The Journal Online: www.queensjournal.ca

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Issue 9 of Volume 139 will be published on Tuesday, September 27, 2011.

Fauxcoming

Party on the way out

“ This could be the last year when students look for an Aberdeen Street party. ”

8 •queensjournal.ca Friday, september 23, 2011

EdiToriAlSThe Journal’s PersPecTive

Benjamin Deans

Rethink week

It wasn’t until I became a FREC that I understood how Frosh

Week shaped the way I think about alcohol.

I didn’t drink in high school. Beer tasted bad and drunks seemed pathetic, so I chose to abstain.

As soon as Frosh Week started, I utterly loved my FRECs and couldn’t imagine anyone cooler than them. For the first few days, my disinterest in drinking didn’t matter.

But as the week continued, my FRECs realized that their star-struck frosh group would never complain about being uncomfortable. Given silent permission, they began to tell “apple juice” stories. They used the term as a code phrase to avoid getting in trouble for talking about alcohol with frosh.

Naturally, this made the group even more curious. Soon enough, other frosh in my group followed their FRECs’ example, relating their own “apple juice” stories from Frosh Week nights.

I didn’t drink at all during Frosh Week. Having only been in Kingston for a week, I didn’t really know anyone and had no means of obtaining alcohol. It was disappointing to hear my FRECs talk about “apple juice” as if it was more important than my Frosh Week. It made me pretty cynical for a while.

Almost a year later, I arrived in Kingston for a week of FREC training. Pre-week, as it’s dubbed, consisted of alcohol sensitivity training during the day and FREC parties at night with unbelievable quantities of Pabst Blue Ribbon and Purple Jesus.

It was like a strange distortion of Frosh Week, made worse by the fact that its participants were supposed to promote safe and inclusive drinking habits among frosh less than a week later.

The day before Frosh Week, I became aware of this giant hypocrisy and had a minor panic attack. I realized I was utterly unprepared for my frosh.

The week came and I ended up doing what felt right. I was friendly and open with my frosh. I didn’t hide behind “apple juice.” When they asked about alcohol, I never withheld an answer. But I didn’t make it the secret focus of Frosh Week either. It was about having fun first.

There’s a reason it’s not called FREC Week. Orientation leaders are entitled to their own drinking habits, but frosh, regardless of theirs, should be the number one priority during their week.

Let’s leave the bottle behind when we welcome future classes to Queen’s.

Social media

Heavy weight of wordsMany offensive slurs that are

posted online are perceived as just jokes, according to an article in the Globe and Mail on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

A poll conducted by the Associated Press and MTV showed that 71 per cent of those surveyed claimed they’re more likely to encounter slurs and derogatory remarks online when compared with face-to-face encounters.

Typed words lack tone and are received differently than spoken phrases. But the way a typed comment can make someone feel is no different than if it is said aloud.

As social media expands, we do an increasing amount of our communication through text rather than speech, but the same etiquette should apply regardless of the medium.

Words that aren’t appropriate in conversation aren’t appropriate for text either.

The frequency of hurtful

words makes people more prone to tolerate them, but it doesn’t mitigate the hurt and offense these words can inflict.

It’s an awful experience to be cursed at — one that shouldn’t be accepted, whether online or in person.

Those who say, “You can’t take a joke,” simply don’t understand the weight of their words. Thinking it’s alright to address friends with derogatory words is a problem and it needs to be discouraged.

There’s a lack of moderation on social media sites like Twitter which means that there are no official methods to rebuke someone. Offences largely go unchecked, and so the language proliferates and is tacitly accepted.

People don’t grow out of this kind of language until they’re in an environment where it’s not accepted.

It isn’t enough to assume that people leave offensive

language behind when they enter the professional world; this way of communicating should be discouraged no matter someone’s age.

Personas we create for ourselves online don’t always match who we are in real life, but what many fail to realize is that the Internet is public and permanent.

Phrases posted online can be dragged up at any point in the future. Using offensive slurs is a poor reflection of character and could affect how a prospective employer views an applicant.

It’s important that the Internet remain an open and uncensored forum where ideas can be shared frankly.

What needs to be ingrained into online culture is a sense that those we communicate with are human, and should be treated like it.

On Saturday night, the Aberdeen Street party

peaked at around 500 people. The event drew significantly fewer people than last year, which boasted between 1,500 and 2,500 people on the Student Ghetto street.

It’s a sign that the Aberdeen Street party is on its way out.

Without a home football game in late September, the traditional Fauxcoming party had no focal point to revolve around.

Revelers chose to assemble following last weekend’s football game — the last home game until Oct. 15. But having no obvious date for the party meant that it happened on a smaller scale.

Given the absence of a set date, there’s a possibility that residual street parties might occur, but last weekend’s poor showing suggests that no Aberdeen Street party this

year will reach a serious size. With the last sanctioned

Homecoming in 2008, few students can say they were present for a legitimate Homecoming. The tradition is fading from collective memory as fewer students remember the event each year.

If the trend continues, this could be the last year when students look for an Aberdeen Street party.

Damages and costs associated with the street party have been one of the biggest obstacles blocking the return of a University-sanctioned Homecoming. Its absence bodes well for the event’s future.

The cost of last year’s Fauxcoming was estimated at around $375,000 with Queen’s cutting a cheque to the city. Because the police presence on Sept. 17 was small, the accompanying cost was as well.

Kingston Police are to be

applauded for their demeanor on Saturday. Officers were amicable and helpful, and didn’t antagonize the few revelers present. This meant little tension between people on the street and the police.

Choosing to employ officers in unmarked cars was another prudent choice that helped to keep Aberdeen Street quiet.

In previous years, officers marched down the blocked-off street, clad in riot gear, while mounted units trotted around the Ghetto. This resulted in more traffic, eager to see the spectacle and more confrontations between students and police.

Fauxcoming 2011 came and went without much of a sound, hopefully indicating the swan song of the infamous and destructive street party that has for so long put a strain on Town-Gown relations.

... at Mac-CorryPhotos By Brendan Monahan

Talking Heads


DIALOGUEPersPectives from the Queen’s community

every SpongeBob SquarePants episode starts with the voice of an old sea captain shouting, “are you ready, kids?” to a chorus of children who reply “aye, aye, captain!” as wholesome and fun as this show is, though, recent research shows that younger children might not be ready for spongeBob after all.

When parents think of what makes a tV show suitable for children, they focus on content. Is there violence, vulgarity, or other inappropriate content?

these concerns connect with how we think children learn. seeing violence might encourage children to act more violently. If a lead character on a show uses rude language, is unfriendly or otherwise acts with poor manners, we worry that our own children may come to see that behavior as acceptable for themselves.

It was with these traditional concerns in mind that, some years ago, my wife and I sat down with our young children to watch an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. We saw nothing objectionable. spongeBob himself is a naive, caring, overachieving character who takes pride in his work and delights in playing with his best friend — the dimmer, underachieving Patrick.

the humour is occasionally crude, but this did not bother us, particularly given that crude humour is usually in evidence around our dinner table. In all, we found SpongeBob to be generally wholesome and fun and laughed with our kids as we watched.

thus, it was with fascination and alarm that I learned this week of a study conducted by colleagues of mine from the University of Virginia. their study showed that immediately after watching

an episode of the wholesome SpongeBob — just nine minutes long — preschool children were more impulsive, and had more difficulty following rules and making plans.

this was compared with preschoolers who watched nine minutes of another children’s show, Caillou, and preschoolers who watched no tV but drew pictures for nine minutes.

there were no differences between the Caillou group and the drawing group, which showed that poor performance was not due to watching tV generally. rather, there’s just something about watching SpongeBob that affects children’s cognitive performance.

From a scientific perspective, the study was beautifully done. Children were randomly assigned to the experimental conditions and the researchers took pains to ensure that the findings were not attributable to experimenter bias. also, the observed effects in the children were remarkably large — reminiscent of what happens to cognitive performance in adults after sleep deprivation or a few alcoholic drinks. In short, I don’t see any way to seriously debunk the scientific merit of the study.

so, why does a show as essentially wholesome as SpongeBob have such a strong acute effect on preschoolers’ immediate cognitive performance? the researchers don’t know, and their study wasn’t designed to test any specific hypotheses. however, the researchers suspect that the most likely culprit is the fast pace of the show.

Quick editing has become so commonplace in mainstream media that adults barely notice. thus, my wife and I may not have thought twice about the fact that when watching SpongeBob, there is, on average, a complete scene change every 11 seconds, compared to 34 seconds in Caillou.

From preschool children’s

perspective, this fast pace might cause problems for two reasons.

In preschool-aged children, the cognitive skills that the researchers were testing are somewhat immature and developing rapidly. It’s possible that fast-paced shows might be overly taxing given preschoolers’ weaker cognitive abilities. after watching SpongeBob, young children might be cognitively tired and then, when they are asked to do something else, the resources simply aren’t there.

If this is true, then we might not expect the acute effects of watching SpongeBob to be the same for older children who are generally more cognitively capable.

a second possibility is that seeing something new every 11 seconds causes children to develop a cognitive pattern whereby they are more stimulus-bound — tending to attend most strongly to information that is immediately at hand and less able to focus on abstract rules, longer-term plans and goals that have to be kept in mind while other things are happening.

If this explanation is correct, children of all ages might be at some risk for acute cognitive difficulties after watching fast-paced tV shows. For younger, less-able children, the consequences might be more obvious and severe.

If the researchers are right,

parents have something else to think about when figuring out whether a tV program is suitable for their children.

Besides the content, parents might also want to consider the form of the show and avoid letting children watch fast-paced shows particularly just before they have to engage in high-level cognitive activity.

obviously, school is a place in which cognitive skills, like following rules and keeping goals in mind, are critical for success. More relevant for preschoolers, many everyday activities around the house require the ability to follow rules and keep goals in mind — getting out the door in the morning is one that comes quickly to mind, and for many families can be a struggle.

Colleagues have been asking me whether I let my kids watch SpongeBob. Whereas before I would have given an enthusiastic

“aye, aye, captain!” and regaled them with the whole theme song, I am now more thoughtful. For older children, there might be a time and a place for SpongeBob, but younger children might not be truly ready to answer the captain’s call.

Mark Sabbagh is a professor in the Queen’s department of psychology.

Will you use the redesigned caf in

Mac-Corry?

“Yeah, I’ll try it out.”

Anthony QiAng, ArtSci ’12

“I have a lot of class here so it’ll be nice to have more

food options.”

turner Story, ArtSci ’15

“As long as they have gluten-free food, I’ll be there!”

geetAnjAli ArorA, ArtSci ’12

“I never saw it before so I’m looking forward to it.”

rebeccA robinSon, ArtSci ’15

“It’ll be better than all this construction.”

Vikki jin, ArtSci ’11

Have your say.Comment at

queensjournal.ca

Child PsyChology

Are you ready, kids?New study suggests television show SpongeBob SquarePants increases impulsive behaviour in preschool-aged children

Mark Sabbagh

Watching SpongeBob may cause children to have difficulty following rules and making plans, study claims.

IllustratIon by Janghan hong

“The observed effects in the children were ... reminiscent of what happens to cognitive performance in adults after sleep deprivation or a few alcoholic drinks. ”

Keep groups in Grey House

dear editors,

It is with growing concern that we, the executive committee of Queer McGill, have learned of the decision of the aMs of Queen’s University to evict certain key campus groups from the Grey house building that they presently occupy.

to deny the education on Queer Issues Project (eQuIP), the ontario Public Interest research Group (oPIrG), or the Levana Gender advocacy Centre (LGaC)

the continued use of the Grey house displays a remarkable indifference to the impact that these groups have had on campus. your decision, made as it was without allocating an adequate new space for these groups, would deny some of the most marginalized students at Queen’s their access to a supportive, non-judgmental, and confidential space, along with the resource libraries, office hours, workshops and discussions it makes possible.

Queer McGill stands in solidarity with the LGaC, oPIrG, and eQuIP in demanding a fair resolution, in which all three groups will continue operating out of the

Grey house. We note that in 1973, just one year after the founding of Gay McGill, our predecessor, the Grey house first welcomed the Queen’s homophile association, the organization that has become eQuIP. this past July, several of us joined eQuIP members and other Queen’s students for Queeriot, a queer convergence in Kingston, recollecting and re-enforcing the historical link between our communities.

For almost 40 years, our organizations have fought to create safer spaces for queer students. the recent decision of the aMs has served as a disappointing reminder that this struggle is far from over.

We urge you to consider how your actions may render you complicit in the cycles of fear, hatred and violence which continue to impact queer communities, and seek to deny queers even the most marginal space in which to speak, share or survive.

We therefore urge you to act in the best interest of the students you are mandated to serve and represent and allow these three critical organizations to keep their place in the Grey house.

The Executive Committee, Queer McGill

LETTErs TO THE EDITOr

By Jillian WoodContributor

Thirty years before the advent of Skype and Twitter, Vera Frenkel’s String Games used technology to orchestrate a game of cat’s cradle played by teams in Toronto and Montreal.

The piece, seen as the anchor work of Frenkel’s career, was originally created in 1974 through the Bell Canada Teleconferencing Studios. In String Games, Frenkel formed two groups, mostly composed of other artists, and split them between the two cities.

The point of this experiment was to have the two cities acting as the hands in a version of the string game cat’s cradle, except there was no string.

Each city had five players, with each of them bringing nine personal elements like a number or a sentence. These elements represented the string. Players would speak to each other making a web of personal connections — similar to the

complex string network made in cat’s cradle.

The process was captured in videos and pictures, currently on display at the Agnes Etherington Arts Centre. Before the performance, teams rehearsed by playing cat’s cradle with a large amount of string, to learn the mechanics of the game.

Though the players practiced beforehand, the performance was improvised. The game takes on the spontaneity of the Happenings of the 1950s and 1960s — loosely-planned performance art.

Frenkel invited players to form their own variant of the game. By letting others lead, Frenkel removed her personal ideas of the game’s potential and allowed the performance to have the chaos of improvisation. It’s the freedom that makes String Games such an exciting possibility.

The work was performance-based, so the exhibition itself was very minimal.

The walls are adorned with the rules and guidelines of the game. The collection was obtained by the Agnes Etherington four years ago, including the preparatory sketches and catalogue for the original performance.

The main focus of the exhibition is the two television screens placed next to each other. Each group is seated on one side of a long table as though for a teleconference. It’s very clear these people aren’t actors, but artists and friends, often laughing together at private jokes.

What sticks out about these videos is the lack of pretension. They’re shabby and unedited.

The exhibit illustrates a link between technology and art. It’s the 70s technology that allows the art to work. It’s the quality of the films that make them nostalgic.

Vera Frenkel’s String Games is at Agnes Etherington until Dec. 11.

By Caitlin ChoiAssistant Arts Editor

Andrew W.K. is bleeding and I can’t look away.

In the new music video, “I’m a Goner,” I watch him pull a microphone stand out of his stomach and get a little sick in my own.

The upbeat single by punk duo Matt & Kim, features W.K. and rapper Soulja Boy.

The three-way collaboration on “I’m a Goner” came after W.K. met fellow New Yorkers Matt & Kim on tour in Australia earlier this year.

W.K. said that getting asked by Matt & Kim to work with Soulja Boy was one of his dreams.

“I said, ‘This is what it’s all about, this is proof that dreams come true, this is a sign for anyone who’s ever doubted that you can hope and

wish and go for your dreams and see them come true,’ because that’s exactly what happened,” W.K. said.

The singer-songwriter has been working on his new album for a year and plans to go on a full-length tour after it’s done. He’s still recording and hasn’t chosen a title for the album and a release date for the record hasn’t been announced.

“I’ve been really just trying to get it done as soon as possible but not rushing it because you cannot rush,” W.K. said. “I’m just making the best songs I can one at a time, one moment at a time, one beat at a time, one part at a time, a verse, a chorus, a theme, a mean, a melody.”

W.K. adds that in addition to working with Soulja Boy and Matt & Kim, he’d like to be on the road with Motorhead, Josh Groban and Kesha.

“I would like to tour with anyone that brings the energy and excitement of the party and feeling enthralled,” he said.

Kesha recently gave the head banger a tattoo. The two met up in New York City after one of her concerts.

“I wanted to get another tattoo, just a simple straight line about an inch and half to two inches long,” he said, adding that he recently got a tattoo done on the TV show L.A. Ink before meeting up with the pop songstress. “Kesha said she could do it and so she did,” W.K. said.

W.K. owns a record label called Skyscraper Music Maker and a nightclub in New York City called

The exhibit shows Frenkel’s diagrams that depict possible formations in cat’s cradle.

Next issue strike a poseThis year’s Vogue executive reveals their plans for this year’s fashion show and responds to critics.

Andrew W.K. prides himself on living a diverse life that includes hosting the show Destroy Build Destroy on the Cartoon network. Graphic by JanGhan honG

IntervIew

‘The joy of not being dead’With a tattoo from Kesha and an advice column in a Japanese magazine, Andrew W.K. is full of surprises

photo by Jeff peters

Art revIew

A game of two citiesVera Frenkel’s experimental exhibit, String Games, centres on a game of cat’s cradle in two different cities

ART

S

“I would like to tour with anyone that brings the energy and excitement of the party. ”

—Andrew W.K.

See His on page 12


Mark Bragg’s third full-length album Your Kiss was released on Sept. 13.

IntervIew

Dangling carrotsMark Bragg’s new album explores the darker side of life, including unrequited love

supplied

By laBiBa haqueProduction Manager

Although Newfoundland musician Mark Bragg describes his latest album as a dance record, the atmosphere of his live shows can be subdued. He said it’s dependent on geography.

“It’s funny because on the east coast when we play a live show, it’s about dance war. People are usually there to dance to the music, so the shows are all about bringing as much raw energy as you can,” he said.

From his experience, Bragg said playing in Ontario as an unknown band is harder because the crowd tends to listen more than dance.

“It’s also nice because it allows the subtlety in your performance to come through,”

he said. “You can be more intimate in your room.”

In comparison to his previous work, the new album, Your Kiss, took a more creative route using horns and minimal editing. It was recorded in a one-room studio, as if the band was playing a live show.

“It’s really sort of a lazy record, in the sense that I didn’t play a single note on the album,” he said. “It got really heavy, intense and it was a lot of fun.”

Bragg, who traditionally plays instruments on his records, said he felt ready to make a record live in studio because he was confident in his band members’ abilities.

“It’s a leap of faith, because you don’t leave room to make a lot of fixes, so a lot of faith in the players and the album,” he said.

See Musical on page 12

Friday, september 23, 2011 queensjournal.ca • 11Arts

The current representatives of the committee are:Executive Director, Housing and Hospitality ServicesAMSSGPSQueen’s CUPE LocalQUSAQUFAQUFAJDUCMCRCJRHCVacant Member-at-Large (student)Vacant Member-at-Large (student)Vacant Member-at-Large (student)

The Queen’s University Food Committee is mandated to advise the The Queen’s University Food Committee is mandated to advise the Executive Director of Housing and Hospitality Services on matters pertaining to policies and directions of food services at Queen’s. Outlets falling under the auspices of the committee include Residence Dining Halls, Residence Convenience Stores, Mackintosh-Corry, The Sidewalk Café, Botterell Hall Bistro, Bio-Sciences Complex and the vending.

__________________________________________________________

CALL FOR MEMBERSHIPThe vacancy is for a student Member-at-Large position, to be selected bythe committee from those responding to this call for membership. Appointed members shall serve for a one-year renewable term. The committee is anxious to attain full representation. While the time commitment is not substantial (the committee generally meets once per month for about one hour at noon), it is an essential part of the stakeholder feedback and consultation. If you are interested in the stakeholder feedback and consultation. If you are interested in the student member-at-large position or if you wish further information, please contact Maureen Hamilton at 533-6000 extension 74553 by October 3, 2011.

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITYFOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE

“I had a great band and they really went with it.”

Bragg wasn’t as spontaneous when it came to the lyrics of his songs.

“As far as my evolution as a songwriter goes I’ve learned not to leave well enough alone,” he said.

The aim of the album was to create a dark narrative fiction that’s framed by a strong instrumental sound.

“Every song is kind of like a mini-movie in itself,” Bragg said. “It’s the sound of the album that kind of grooves it all together. They don’t all intermingle together all that well.”

His first single off the album, “The Kiss,” tells a story about a downtrodden guy who turns his attention to gadgets when he doesn’t

get the right kind of love from his partner. When the character’s girlfriend can’t

get his attention, Bragg said she dangles a sexual carrot.

“Here’s him realizing he’s never going to get the carrot,” he said adding that his character’s obsession with gadgets is an attempt to “fix things for good.”

Bragg played at the Mansion during the end of his last tour. He said he’s excited to be back in Kingston for a live show.

“Performing live is the whole reason I do it,” he said. “Making records, writing songs, I find that to be the real grind ... I find the process to be a lot of work and it’s not necessarily enjoyable all the time.”

Mark Bragg plays the Mansion on Tuesday Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.

Santos Party House. He writes two monthly advice columns, one for Japanese magazine Rockin’ On and another for British adult magazine Front. Despite all his endeavors, he finds time to make music and party.

“I have over the last ten years slowly rearranged and worked to fashion my life and day-to-day existence in such a way so that all I have to do is this stuff,” W.K. said. “I don’t have any work to do. I just party and all this stuff just happens.

“To me, partying is the joy of not being dead.”

The intense emotions and commercial

prominence of Andrew W.K. have led some people to assume it’s an invented persona of Andrew Wilkes-Krier, but he said that isn’t true.

“I am Andrew W.K.,” he said. “Like if Joe Johnson decided to become a firefighter. You don’t say he’s not a firefighter because his shift ended.

“It’s really a journey and an obstacle course that, combined with my own participation in it, becomes an odyssey. That’s all I can say, I enjoy being on this odyssey.”

Andrew W.K. plays the Mansion with the Fugitive Underground and Guilty Spark on Sunday at 8 p.m.



His own odyssey

Musical mini-movies

“As long as you’re not dead it means that even restrictions such as this ridiculous city sanction shut down on your party, that does not actually stop the party. And that’s a beautiful thing.”

— Andrew W.K.,on Queen’s Homecoming cancellation

QUOteD

12 •queensjournal.ca Friday, september 23, 2011Arts

By GilBert CoyleSports Editor

Just after 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, crowds of Queen’s rowers carried boats from the Kingston Rowing Club headquarters down to the docks on the shores of the Cataraqui River. They hit the water clad in toques and fleeces, using spotlights to navigate through the darkness.

“At the end of today’s row, you shouldn’t be able to move,” assistant coach Stu Robinson told rowers Wednesday morning. “You shouldn’t be able to row back to the dock.”

The rowing team moved in to the Kingston Rowing Club on Aug. 15 and will remain there until early November. Head coach John Armitage oversees a team of 112 student-athletes who row in varsity, junior varsity and novice crews. The varsity crews compete in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) competitions while the others participate in unofficial regattas.

I spent the morning in the coaches’ motorboat with Robinson, who coaches the men’s varsity eight-man lightweight and heavyweight crews. Since the OUA system awards the most points to eight-man boats during regattas, Robinson’s crews are the most important boats on the men’s team.

“You’re lucky you came today,” he told me. “It was pouring out here yesterday.”

Every Wednesday, Robinson puts his crews through time trials on a two-kilometre course to simulate OUA race conditions. Robinson said training is designed to have athletes at their physical peak at the OUA championships in late October.

“Really, we’re peaking for one week of the year.”

Before we started, Robinson made sure to guide his crews through the course with his spotlight.

“Our biggest challenge in the morning is that it’s so dark that you can’t see all the marker buoys,” he said. “We’ve broken lots of

expensive oars that way.”Last year, Rowing Canada

received additional funding from the Canadian Olympic Committee to identify potential Olympic rowers. It named the Queen’s and Kingston rowing programs as a Training Development Centre for identification and development of future rowing talent. This season, coaches who work for the national program determined which athletes would row for the men’s and women’s varsity crews.

Robinson said athletes have to devote their fall semester to

the program.“You have to actually take two

months off your life,” he said. “If you want to go have a night on the town, you’re not going to be a good rower.”

Crews will compete for the first time tomorrow on Sunday at the Head of the Rideau regatta in Ottawa. Robinson said practices are still focused on improving technical cohesion amongst crew mates.

“The biggest thing is getting that unison, that connection between all the guys in the boat,” he said. “It

takes time to get that.”Rowing differs from other team

sports because all members play the same position. Robinson, a former Queen’s rower, said the eight men who spend every morning pulling water for each other become special friends.

“It’s the morning atmosphere that does it,” he said. “It’s like a family. You spend so much time together at five in the morning, there’s no way you’re not going to be extremely close.”

It was easy to see what he

sports

By Benjamin DeansAssistant Sports Editor

The football team’s losing streak wasn’t the only thing that ended with the 58-35 win over the Laurier Golden Hawks last Saturday.

With a four-touchdown, 368-yard performance, top receiver Giovanni Aprile had his first big game after a Queen’s-imposed suspension.

Less than a week after the 2010 season ended, Aprile was involved in a fight outside Alfie’s nightclub.

The Whig-Standard reported that Aprile pled guilty to assault and escaping custody and was granted a discharge conditional upon his completion of 18 months of probation, 100 hours of community service and abstention from alcohol until 2012. If discharged, Aprile won’t have a criminal record.

“I want to put it past me,” Aprile said. “I didn’t know it, but there were a lot of people that looked up

to me here ... just walking around, looking at disappointed people. I hate that feeling.”

At 6’3 and 213 pounds, Aprile is one of the biggest receivers on the team. He’s a scoring threat with incredible speed for his size. But Aprile’s also a quiet guy, who speaks carefully and thoughtfully.

Aprile was taking an extra year of high school in Toronto

when he first met Gaels head coach Pat Sheahan. He’d been playing football for only a year. Sheahan said he remembers a young Aprile as unassuming and physically capable.

Aprile retained his eligibility in his first two years at Queen’s, barely seeing playing time during games. With his lack of experience, opportunities to play over veteran

receivers were limited. “I knew nothing when I came

to Queen’s,” he said. “But [the coaches] didn’t give up on me.”

Aprile said veteran receivers like Scott Valberg reached out to him when he was a rookie in 2008.

“My first couple years, [Valberg] was really on my case on me getting into the books, learning the plays,”

Receiver Giovanni Aprile put up four touchdowns last weekend. Photo by justin chin

See Pro on page 15

Photo by justin chiinThe men’s varsity lightweight eight-men crew trains on the Cataraqui River Wednesday morning.

See Full-time on page 15

athlete profile

Fresh start for football starReceiver Giovanni Aprile moves on from last year’s off-field incident

rowing

A morning on the riverAn inside look at what Queen’s rowers do while other students sleep

By Peter reimerContributor

Head coach Steve Boyd said he was expecting big performances from his rookies this season, but Dave Cashin’s run at the Queen’s Invitational on Saturday still came as a surprise. Cashin was Queen’s fastest runner in the inaugural five-kilometre relay event.

The men’s A team finished first in the relay event, while the men’s B team placed second and the women’s A team came in third. Teams from the University of Guelph and the University of Waterloo also came to Fort Henry to compete.

Cashin, who ran for the B team, ran the five kilometres in 15.33 minutes — the fastest on the Queen’s team and third-fastest overall.

“I didn’t put him on the A team because he didn’t look that overwhelmingly strong in workouts,” Boyd said. “But he’s a funny guy, he didn’t even time himself. He just went out and ran.”

Boyd said the team was impressed by Cashin’s mental focus in his first-ever interuniversity race.

“Some of the guys were joking that he meditates before the race,” he said. “It was a spectacular performance for a young guy.”

cross country

Rookie surpriseFirst-year posts fastest time at Fort Henry race

See He on page 15


Men’s rugby prepared for the McMaster Marauders on Wednesday.By laBiBa HaQUeProduction Manager

The men’s rugby team has faced the McMaster Marauders in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) semifinals in each of the past three seasons. The winner has always gone on to be the provincial champion. OUA rugby’s premier rivalry will be renewed in Kingston on Saturday.

The Marauders eliminated the Gaels 34-20 in last season’s playoffs en route to their sixth OUA title in 10 years. Both teams enter Saturday’s match with 2-0 records.

“This week’s been all about [McMaster], we’ve stepped up the intensity in practice,” Gaels interim coach Garry Gilks said.

In their last game against Waterloo, Gilks said the Gaels lacked communication between the forwards and the backs, adding they’ve worked to address these issuesall week.

“The focus on this is getting them to work together as 15 as opposed to one group and the other group,” he said.

Gilks said the starters have scrimmaged against their second team to get used to making plays and decisions under pressure, because nerves may be a factor on Saturday.

“I doubt many of them will be getting more than a couple hours of sleep because they will be thinking about the game,” he said. “Mac’s thinking the same way.”

Team captain Dan Moor has been part of the rivalry for three years. He said Saturday’s game will be physical.

“They have a bit more size, but we play

faster and with more creativity,” he said. Fullback David Worsley scored seven

points in last season’s semifinal loss to the Marauders. He said the Gaels will be looking for revenge this weekend.

“They ended our season last year,” he said. “We definitely want to get them back and we know that we can.”

History suggests there’s a strong chance Saturday’s match could be an OUA gold medal preview. Either Queen’s or McMaster has won the title in eight of the past 10 years.

Marauders coach Phil White said his team will be using the match to gauge their progress this season.

“We’re interested to see how we stack up against them,” he said. “We have a wonderful and historic rivalry with Queen’s

… it’s the way rugby should be.”

The Gaels and the Marauders will kick off at 1 p.m. on Tindall field on Saturday.

— With files from Gilbert Coyle

Men’s rugBy

Gaels seek revengeMen’s rugby renews their rivalry with the McMaster Marauders in a potential OUA championship preview at Tindall field on Saturday

“ We have a wonderful and historic rivalry with Queen’s ... it’s the way rugby should be. ”

—Phil White,McMaster Marauders head coach

Photo by coREy LAbLAns

14 •queenSjournal.ca FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011SPORTS

meant. Robinson’s two crews rowed side by side for almost two hours, performing four different two-kilometre races. They were panting after the first one. Many collapsed after the fourth.

“Always look at the guys when they’re done and see who’s hurting,” Robinson said. “You can look down the boat and you can tell if guys aren’t pulling.”

After inspecting the boats, Robinson said he was impressed with both crews.

“They’re hurting bad right now,” he said. “That was a good session.”

he said, adding he aspires to be an All-Canadian like Valberg.

Last year, Aprile cracked the starting lineup. A 34-reception, 599-yard, three-touchdown season earned him an invitation to the 2011 East West Bowl.

In two games this season, Aprile has tallied 11 receptions, 484 yards and four touchdowns, as well as an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athlete of the Week honour for his game against the Golden Hawks.

Sheahan said there’s no doubt

about Aprile’s chances with the Canadian Football League when he leaves Queen’s.

“If he continues to improve and get better the way he currently is, I would say a professional career is at his fingertips,” Sheahan said.

Aprile often refers to his coach as a father figure. When asked who helped him following the Alfie’s incident, he immediately named Sheahan.

“Any player who comes to play here becomes a member of the family and sometimes family members make mistakes,” Sheahan

said. “I didn’t condone his actions, but deep down, [Aprile] is a very good person and he was well worth supporting.”

Sheahan said Aprile redeemed himself in the win against the Golden Hawks.

“His performance on Saturday was a great message to send back to all the people who’ve supported him throughout the last six months,” Sheahan said.

“If [Aprile] continues to perform at the level he currently is, he’ll be right up there with the best that ever played here.”

Pro career possibilitiesContinued from page 13

‘He just went out and ran’Running for the first-place

men’s A team were Clay Patterson, Cody Beals, Ollie Hatheway, and Nick McGraw. On the women’s side, Stephanie Hulse had the third fastest leg in the competition to lead the team to a third-place finish. Veronica Allen, Alecia Kallos, and Theresa Fritz-Endres also ran for the women’s A team.

Boyd said the new Queen’s competition could have been better.

“It probably could have been more exciting if we had better teams coming in from Guelph,” he said, adding many schools didn’t send their best teams because of the high travel costs associated with preseason events.

The men’s team posted strong finishes despite the absence of key runners Maxime LeBoeuf, Jeff Costen and Jeff Archer, who missed out because of injury.

“I expect them all to be on the championship team,” Boyd said.

“They’re potentially fitter than anyone who ran, so we’re very strong and deep.”

Although the national championships are over a month away, Boyd said he’ll have competitive teams this season.

“Our guy’s team is definitely a podium threat,” he said. “The depth on both sides, men and women, is solid, so we’re going to have a difficult time picking a team for either side.”

— With files from Gilbert Coyle


Full-time commitmentContinued from page 13

Head coach Steve Boyd says he expects the men to reach the national podium this season.

Photo by coREy LAbLAns

Varsity rowers have to devote their entire fall semester to the sport, says assistant coach Stu Robinson.

Photo by justin chin

Giovanni Aprile scores one of his four touchdowns against Laurier on Saturday. Photo by justin chin

Friday, September 23, 2011 queenSjournal.ca • 15SPORTS

ACROSS1 Harmonization, for short5 Floral neckwear8 Burden12 Twosome13 Charged bit14 Competent15 Obvious17 React to yeast18 Second person19 Tabloid worker21 Necktie alternative24 Vicinity25 Bank transaction26 Hunger30 Emeril’s shout31 Figure of speech32 Extinct bird33 OK35 Weaponry36 British school37 Beginning38 Crazy one41 Have bills42 Once more, colloquially43 Sweater decoration48 “Star Wars” hero49 Miler Sebastian50 Pout51 Lecherous look52 Longing53 Fill till full

DOWN 1 Resort2 Puppy’s call3 Pinch4 Coloring stick5 Stead6 A billion years7 Crime-fi ghting group based in Lyon, France

8 Lasso9 Final notice10 As well11 Antelope’s playmate16 Deteriorate20 Consider21 Actress Jessica22 Laundry need23 Bivouac24 Pertaining to bees26 Support of a cause27 Don of radio28 Color quality29 Right on the map?31 Tittle34 “A Few Good Men” director35 Layered rock37 Hooter38 Shoppers’ mecca39 Chills and fever40 “Swoosh” company41 Tournament format44 “The Raven” writer45 Sine — non46 Last (Abbr.)47 — out a living

LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS

By Jessica FishBeinPostscript Editor

Whether you’re into Journey, the Spice Girls or blink-182, karaoke gives everyone the chance to belt out a favourite tune without shame.

Amateur singers no longer need to hide their vocal talents in the confines of the shower or car — many students are turning to karaoke at night instead of going to a nightclub or bar.

Robbie Barnett-Kemper, ConEd ’14, has frequented Thursday nights at Tir Nan Og since he started at Queen’s last fall.

“I’ve been to every single Thursday except one or two,” he said, adding that he’s seen attendance at the bar grow.

“Before it was easy to get in,” he said, “now there’s a line up out the door.”

Barnett-Kemper sings karaoke with two other friends.

“We do a song every week and put on a show,” he said, adding that he also does solo performances.

While there’s no doubt that Barnett-Kemper is a regular at the Tir Nan Og, he said the bar’s popularity makes it difficult to sing often.

“When you have 150 people in a bar and everyone wants to do a song, you don’t have that much time,” he said.

The karaoke song selection process is simple. You choose a song from the selection list and submit a request slip.

Once called up on stage however, some karaoke enthusiasts overstay their welcome, Barnett-Kemper said.

“By 1 a.m, everyone won’t get off the stage because they’re too drunk. That can get fun but for others it’s like ‘get off the stage,’ ” he said.

Certain songs garner more excitement from the crowd, while others breed communal disappointment.

“No one wants to hear Journey near the end since it’s been played

so much,” he said.While Barnett-Kemper tends

to choose rock songs, a crowd’s familiarity with lyrics is absolutely crucial for a good performance.

“Parts of blink-182 have talking parts and it gets interesting. You have to choose songs that aren’t [by] the Clash. Not everyone knows the words to that,” he said.

According to Barnett-Kemper, karaoke bars are a hybrid melding the bar and the nightclub.

“You can dance and sing along, or just sit and have a beer and a conversation in the back. It mends the two elements,” he said.

“Everyone’s guards are down.”Many people might be petrified

to sing in public, but Tir Nan Og and other karaoke bars don’t have an intimidating atmosphere, Barnett-Kemper said.

“You assume most of the crowd is boozed up and it’s dark enough that you can just disappear after,” he said.

Though crowds can be ruthless to mediocre performers, Barnett-Kemper said.

“The crowd’s really supportive,” he said. “They can also be mean. I’ve seen people get booed by Queen’s students and I’ve seen people have their name chanted.”

Jesse Lawller has worked at Tir Nan Og, located on Ontario Street, for five years.

“We are the longest running karaoke bar in the city,” he said.

Tir Nan Og has offered karaoke for the past 10 years, starting at around 9:30 p.m.

“We get a couple hundred people,” Lawller said, adding that Thursdays attract a steady stream of regulars.

“We have a few people that take it seriously but for most people it’s just a drunken fun time,” he said.

“It’s as serious as you want it to be.”While Tir Nan Og attracts a

mass of karaoke enthusiasts, there’s rarely intense competition.

There aren’t prizes, Lawller said.“But there are drink specials,”

he said. “Some people you

wouldn’t expect are usually really good ... sometimes you need liquid courage.”

For Kenett Ng, ArtSci ’13, karaoke in Kingston isn’t authentic.

“White culture karaoke is mostly in a bar with a screen and two mikes hanging off the side,” he said. “To an Asian person, it’s in a secluded room with only people you know.”

Ng said his love of karaoke stems from his childhood.

“It’s been instilled in me as a pastime,” he said. “Me and my mom go do karaoke when we have nothing to do and don’t want to go see a movie.”

According to Ng, Japanese karaoke involves more than just singing.

“In Japan when you go to karaoke they have instruments, tambarines and moroccas so people can make noise,” he said.

“It’s essentially like a party.”While karaoke is an

undeniably fun outing, Ng said it’s lost its original purpose at many establishments.

“Karaoke was originally invented and modeled to bring families closer together and be semi-private, but it’s expanded to this phenomenon where people sing in front of other people,” he said.

“It should be called open-mike night instead of karaoke night. When it’s paced in an open setting, you’re still with friends to have a good time, but it takes away from what it was originally supposed to do.”

Ng used to go to the sushi restaurant Asha on Princess Street every Tuesday night to do karaoke.

Asha closed last year.The Sly Fox is the only

other venue in Kingston that offers karaoke.

“I go to Tir Nan Og sometimes but there are so many people so it takes like three hours for a song to come on,” he said.

No matter the venue though, Ng said Kingston karaoke crowds are always supportive.

“I have never heard a single boo,” he said. “The Kingston community can turn anything into positive feedback — if people are just screaming people will say, ‘They’re just having a good time.’

“It’s karaoke, no one’s going to judge you,” he said.

Crowd favourites are sometimes surprising, Ng said.

“If you’re at Tir Nan Og and ‘Wannabe’ [by the Spice Girls] comes on, everyone sings along,” he said. “You see some tough trucker dude singing it and you because he’s so drunk and knows all the words — he doesn’t need to look at the screen.”

Still, there are certain songs Ng personally hates to hear.

“‘Don’t Stop Believing’ is technically a one-person song but everyone does this arm sway and it becomes a bad Oil-Thigh moment,”

he said.According to Ng, country and

Motown are popular genres that can come up in karaoke.

“Apparently in the Kingston community ‘Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy’ is a popular song … I think the reason why is because everyone can sing to it. It’s a fun song to sing,” he said.

“I love ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ actually. I love it because yes, everyone knows it, but there are two people singing in it and no one will take your moment.”

So why don’t people just get together to sing at home?

“It becomes a social event,” Ng said. “It’s when people get together in a room to sing loud and obnoxiously just because they like a song.”

While some people find alcohol and karaoke go hand in hand, Ng said this isn’t the case for him.

“I definitely don’t need to be drunk to enjoy screaming into a mike,” he said, adding that his go-to karaoke song is Alicia Keys’ ‘Fallin’.

“I’m not worried to perform in front of people but I’d personally rather be drunk because of how bad some people sound.”

Robbie Barnett-Kemper, ConEd ‘14, sings karaoke with students from Queen’s, St. Lawrence and Royal Military College at Tir Nan Og on Thursday nights.

Postscript spoke to Tir Nan Og karaoke host Blaine Hopkins to find out what’s popular on Thursday nights.

1. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey2. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen3. “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot4. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond5. “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi6. “Ain’t no Mountain High Enough” by the Temptations7. “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls8. “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks9. “Hey Jude” by the Beatles10. “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele

“Karaoke was originally invented and modeled to bring families closer together. ”

— Kenett Ng, ArtSci ’13

Photo by corey lablans

Top 10 karaoke songs


postscript

student life

Shameless singers take on classicsPatrons of all vocal ranges tackle karaoke at Tir Nan Og on Thursday nights

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The Queen's Journal, Issue 8