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In a year when campus was truly wherever a student lived, the celebrated student perspectives from around the world. This year’s winner, Alvin (Junyi) Li, says of his photograph, “The scenery was so dreamy that the cascading waterfalls, accompanied by mist and ambient lights, created an incredible atmosphere.”

Medical school placements to jump 20 per cent

The Queen’s University School of Medicine expects to increase undergrad and residency program placements by more than 20 per cent thanks to new funding from the province.

The announcement means Queen’s will receive 20 new undergraduate seats and 30 post-graduate positions. Currently, the university enrols 108 undergraduate students (from about 5,000 applications) and 126 residency positions each year.

Dr. Jane Philpott, Dean of Queen’s Health Sciences and Director of the School of Medicine, is not sure when Queen’s can start accepting the additional students, but she hopes it will be this fall.

The move, she says, is a step toward addressing the strain on our health-care system. It’s the province, she points out, that sets the undergraduate and residency cap for each school as it predicts the needs of Ontario.

“We’re really hoping that we’re also going to see an expansion of our nursing school – we desperately need that – and, you know, ideally someday it would be great to grow the rehabilitation therapy school as well,” she says.

“It’s not just about training more doctors. It’s training more health professionals at large, and making sure that they have the resources to do their work and the support that they need… It could not be more urgent to be seeing the training of more health professionals.”

New lecture series opens access to top scholars

A new lecture series will provide alumni and the Queen’s community access to some of the leading researchers and internationally renowned visiting scholars.

The Queen’s Lecture Series will showcase knowledge from across campus and bring it directly to alumni and the university community through an ongoing series of annual lectures.

“Queen’s is known for its research leadership and a history of innovation that has helped solve some of the world’s most pressing problems,” says Queen’s Vice-Principal (Advancement) Karen Bertrand, Artsci’94. “The Queen’s Lecture Series is a wonderful opportunity to have direct access to and learn from these renowned experts.”

Queen’s researchers and experts are making an impact around the world and this lecture series aims to share their knowledge with the campus community. The series will promote lectures that have been made possible through the generosity of donors who have established endowed funds at Queen’s. The first lectures were to be held April 14 and 28, with more dates to follow.

Queen’s supports those affected by invasion of Ukraine

Queen’s University is aiding displaced persons, as well as students, academics, and others impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane issued a statement March 1 condemning Russia’s actions, and the university has taken several measures to support campus community members impacted by the crisis. Those measures have included contacting students – particularly those from Ukraine and Russia, as well as those with connections to the region – to extend assistance. As well, communications to the whole student body highlight supports available through the Office of the Registrar, Student Wellness Services, Queen’s University International Centre, Faith and Spiritual Life, and other areas of the campus community.

Currently, Queen’s has no students participating in exchange programs in Ukraine or Russia, however, university outreach continues to those in the region.

Teams are also working with international partners to explore ways to aid potential refugee students and academics from Ukraine, for whom the university has systems in place to provide financial assistance and admission pathways. The Office of the Registrar is also working with students who may have had funding affected by economic turmoil to ensure they have access to emergency bursary support.

Members of the Queen’s community also gathered March 11 for a vigil for peace in connection with the invasion.

The afternoon event, hosted at Grant Hall by Interfaith Chaplain Erin Burns, provided an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to come together, reflect, and support one another.

Ivan Shapovalov, a PhD student in cancer research from Ukraine, spoke at the event and shared his feelings of being away from his family, friends, and loved ones amid the devastation, while also holding out hope for peace.

But words of support are not enough, he added, calling on everyone to take action in their daily lives.

“Some people just find themselves in a war zone one day, but the rest of us have a privilege and perhaps an obligation to choose to fight the small wrongs. And even though war is tearing apart my Ukraine, there is a lesson and a reminder in it for a moral compass of anyone in Canada, too.”

Two Queen’s deans reappointed to new terms

Two Queen’s University deans have been reappointed to new terms. Dr. Kevin Deluzio, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, and Dr. Barbara Crow, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, have been renewed effective July 1. Dr. Deluzio will serve another five-year term, while Dr. Crow has been renewed for three years, after which she will to retire to focus on research.

Dr. Deluzio, recently named a 2022 Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada, has served as dean since June 2017. Before that, he was head of the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering from 2014 to 2017, as well as head of the Human Mobility Research Laboratory at Queen’s.

Dr. Crow has served as dean since July 2017. During her first term, the faculty developed its first strategic plan, based on the guiding principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion; excellence in teaching, research, and service; transparency, accountability, and fairness; and continuous learning, professional development, and global engagement.

Fighting Squirrels take on the Gaels

Did you hear Queen’s sports teams are rebranding their name to become the Fighting Squirrels? If you did, then you were probably looking at the Queen’s Alumni social media channels on April 1.

This year’s April Fool’s Day prank announced the university was changing the school nickname because a Gaelic translation error resulted in teams mistakenly being called the Gaels.

The post earned about 50,000 impressions but not too many people were fooled, judging by the dozens of comments from people who enjoyed the good laugh. (With apologies to the handful of alumni who said they wanted to buy Fighting Squirrel merchandise.)

There is a long history of April Fool’s pranks at Queen’s. Over the years, students have attached a giant inflatable King Kong to the Grant Hall clock tower and placed a car in a tree.

A few people fell for last year’s April 1 prank on Queen’s Alumni social media, believing the clock in the Grant Hall tower had been replaced by a digital clock.

Black Studies program gains 7 faculty members

The Faculty of Arts and Science welcomes seven new faculty members to the Black Studies program, including four Queen’s National Scholars in Black Studies.

“The Queen’s National Scholar program attracts top talent, ensuring growth and the continuation of our efforts to advance research and scholarship in Black Studies and provide an exceptional student learning experience through curricular innovation,” says Barbara Crow, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science. “These seven new faculty members provide an interdisciplinary energy and depth to our course offerings, while also supporting students who are committed to making connections between research, activism, and social change.”

Their recruitment was the result of an intensive search with a focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and scholarship that emphasizes global Black studies.

Maclean’s Power List includes 7 from Queen’s

Maclean’s Power List includes 7 from Queen’s Seven members of the Queen’s community are among 50 Canadians Maclean’s has named to its annual Power List for leading transformative change in a time of global uncertainty.

The Power List highlights the individuals, groups, and issues shaping our world. This year, Maclean’s said it focused on those helping to navigate the global pandemic, as well as those who will lead change in the future.

“Our ability to navigate these problems will rest heavily on our brightest, bravest, and most accomplished,” the magazine noted. “Remember their names, and lend them your ears.”

The following Queen’s community members were included:

• Chancellor Murray Sinclair, LLD’19 (No. 30; shared with his son, Niigaan Sinclair)
• Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem, Artsci’83 (No. 3)
• Defence Minister Anita Anand, Artsci’89 (No. 5)
• PMO Director of Policy John Brodhead, Artsci’00 (No. 8)
• Communications specialist and adviser Scott Reid, Artsci’92 (No. 26)
• Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, LLD’04 (No. 29)
• Giller Prize winner and Queen’s Department of English 2022 Winter Writer in Residence Omar El Akkad, Comp’04 (No. 43)

Ban Righ Foundation honours mature women students

On March 8, the Ban Righ Foundation celebrated 13 students for their achievements and determination. Each year, the Ban Righ Centre hosts a Spring Awards ceremony as a chance for students and their families and friends, faculty, staff, and Ban Righ Foundation donors to gather at the end of term. The awards celebrate the achievements and determination of mature Queen’s students who identify as women. This year, the awards were held in conjunction with the Ban Righ Foundation Inspiring Women awards in a combined Facebook premiere video event. Mature women students from all disciplines are eligible to apply for these annual awards.

“The awards committee was pleased to receive applications from students across many faculties and from such varied backgrounds, many of whom had not been familiar with the Ban Righ Centre previously. This was a great opportunity to introduce new students to our supports and services,” says Lisa Webb, student adviser and program planner for the Ban Righ Centre.

“I hope to serve not only children, but also their parents who wish to immigrate to Canada,” says Ka Yan Hamorn Lau, who is pursuing a graduate diploma in immigration and citizenship law and is this year’s recipient of the Marian Webb Award. “I started my journey at Queen’s, in preparation for becoming a licensed immigration consultant. I am proud to call myself a lifelong learner.”

The Mildred Blackadder/Zonta Club Bursary is awarded to a mature woman who is also an Indigenous student and this year was awarded to Candace Lloyd, who is pursuing a master’s in Education.

“Tanashi. Sharing my traditional knowledge as a Métis woman is important and assisting others to incorporate Indigenous content in schools is how I am giving back to my community. As with any new venture, being an adult returning to school has brought its own stresses and challenges,” she says. “This award provides me with the opportunity to continue my educational journey by reducing financial burdens.”