Ps. While these are all extremely cute (and will hopefully let you relax for a couple mins) all Queen’s students should be aware of the many mental health & support services available to you. You can check them out here.

1. This otter and this goat

Queen’s <3′s goats!

2.  These pandas

3. Babysitting

4. This kitty

5. Dog eating breakfast

6. Puckering giraffe

7. This overall-wearing Orangutan! (thank you Keelin Claffey for the correction!)

8. This cat getting stuck

9. This puppy learning to go down stairs…

10. This cat, trying *really* hard…

11. Yawning baby sloth

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12. Baby elephants!

13. This hedgehog

14. Baby bear with his bear

15. Puppy, on a skateboard

16. Pandas helping each other out!

17. Teacup pigs beside a teacup

18. Cats in love

via Wesam Aleyadeh

19. Red panda relaxing

20. This Dik Dik

21. Chewbacca dog

Bonus: Check out the AMS’ exam-season 8tracks playlist!

Listen, Relax and Study: a Queen’s mix from queensAMS on 8tracks Radio.

We couldn’t bear this news…

“It is a crying shame really. I’ve always thought he was just a really friendly bear – like Winnie the Pooh or Ted” said Arts and Appliances student Michael McNair, “this is just heart breaking. What’s next – is someone going to tell me the Easter Bunny isn’t real?”

Passed-over Nominees

Queen’s reviewed countless nominees for the new mascot. These are just a few of them:

The Kingston Squirrel

via overheard at Queen’s

via Overheard at Queen’s

Reason against: ultimately, if you wanted to encounter something hairy and foaming at the mouth you would just visit the spot on a Tuesday night.

The Canada Goose

Reason against: let’s be honest, there are already far too many of these on campus.

A Mustang

Hahahahahahahahahah… oh man… hahahaha

Reason against: uh, no.

The New MASCOT!

Eventually the winner appeared right in front of the selection committee as they strolled down Union street in a snowstorm. Yes, these are your new mascots:

The Overheard at Queen’s Goats. Woo!!

“Ultimately we feel the perseverance of those goats, to exercise in such an incredible snowstorm, shows the true spirit of initiative that embodies our school,” claimed Principal Daniel Woolf. “The goat is truly a faithful, loyal, fluffy and trustworthy animal, and we feel it accurately represents the traditions of Queen’s University.”

The goats’ nomination was further fortified by its rendition of the Queen’s battle hymn ‘the Oil Thigh’ seen here.

These goats will replace Boohoo “the Fraud” on April never.

Happy April fools, Queen’s – and don’t forget to check out ‘Critters on Campus’, happening all week in the JDUC!

Ps. yes we know that’s a sheep in the video, not a goat.

If nothing else, do it for One Direction!!

Keep in mind the following advice when planning any St Patty’s Day festivities, and you’ll have no trouble claiming that title:

 Waste

• Reuse your plastic cups! They’re as easy to wash as any other cup, and this will not only keep them out of landfills but will save you $$$.
• If you’re unable to reuse your plastic cups, don’t just leave them all over your lawn! Littering causes serious damage to the environment, and bylaw fines can cost you upwards of $100. Make use of SMART’s Red Cup Clean-Up and save the environment as well as your cash!
• Help your guests recycle! You can pick up FREE blue and grey bins at City Hall from 9-5 on weekdays, and can easily learn how to properly recycle via the city’s waste sorting look-up tool. Create big, bright signs over your recycling and organics bins so guests know where to toss their waste, saving you the trouble of having to sort your trash the next day to meet the one garbage bag limit. Remember: you can recycle and compost as much as you want.

 Food & Drinks

• Starting your day off with some delicious pancakes and fruit? Try buying your ingredients from local suppliers and use seasonal ingredients (apples and rhubarb are in season and lend a deliciously acidic bite to your breakfast)! Grab lunch or dinner at a campus or downtown restaurant that serves local food – some great examples are Common Ground, the Canadian Grilling Company, Windmill’s and Harper’s.
• Staying hydrated throughout the day is key. Instead of buying plastic water or juice bottles and running out during the day, bring your own reusable bottle and fill it with free tap water wherever you go!
• If you choose to drink alcohol, consider trying out some local craft beers or ciders! Ontario is home to a number of quality microbreweries and cideries with some great products to choose from. Personal favourites include Beau’s Lug Tread Lagered Ale from the Ottawa Valley, Waupoos County Cider from Prince Edward County, and Steamwhistle Pilsner from Toronto.

 General Tips

• Keep the lights off! Open your blinds and let the beautiful pre-spring sun join your party. Make sure all your lights are off if you’re leaving the house for the day, and turn off power bars to prevent larger appliances from leaching electricity when not in use.
• Reuse old outfits, props and decorations from St. Patty’s Days past. If you’re really not feeling that mini leprechaun hat this year, try trading with a friend and rock their green Mardi Gras beads instead. Mixing & matching is what St. Patrick’s Day is all about!

Kermit the Frog once said: “It’s not easy being green.” But let’s be honest, he ran the Muppets’ holiday show into the ground and clearly cannot be trusted. Anybody can be green, and it’s really not that difficult. Take this guide to heart, and you too could win St Patrick’s Day. Please green responsibly!

Fellow students,

We wanted to address some regrettable incidents that have taken place in the past 24 hours, the past week, and throughout the past year. The challenge before us is to ensure that discussions and debates on this campus are conducted in a civilized, respectful and intellectually-driven manner that will at no time threaten the physical and psychological well-being of any student. Upon reflection of the last year, this has not been the case. We, as a community and as a student body, have lost our way in a number of debates.

Over the past year, we have seen some absolutely horrendous comments and personal attacks made about students at this University. At times, this has escalated into calculated slander and defamation of character. Hatred, bullying and exclusivity are not welcome at Queen’s. Furthermore, such actions are no less harmful when conducted over social media, and it is troubling that our sense of community and civility are seemingly discarded as soon as one is behind a keyboard. Freedom of speech is important – as is disagreeing candidly and constructively – but so are compassion and empathy. It doesn’t matter what medium is being used.

Credit: Yearbook & Design Services

When we lose respect for each other and debate issues without genuinely listening to one another; when we make decisions based not on the merits of ideas but rather on who is saying them or their assumed motives, then we ultimately make ourselves irrelevant to the student community and the administration. We risk engendering cynicism and contempt throughout not only our student body but across the broader university community.

The cost of this is incredibly high. Why? Because even the most basic look at the history of Queen’s University reveals that students have not merely been consumers of an education but rather builders and shapers of the university itself.  That we have been successful in doing so is because at our best, we never lose sight of our fundamental belief that student involvement and initiative can be transformative, and that together we can better this University. But we cannot do so if we lose the same trust and respect of students that we have, at times this year, lost for ourselves.

We are young, we are growing, and we are programmed to make mistakes. It is from our greatest mistakes that we can learn the most. At all times, we must strive to be our best, and remember to “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

Divided, absent respect for the inherent dignity that lives in each of us, and rife with unwarranted personal attacks, we risk damaging the legacy of our predecessors and sacrificing the opportunities of the students who will follow.

We must work together, to push this University, and to make it a better place for all. Generations of students before us have accomplished this, and we owe it to them, ourselves, and to future students to maintain that tradition.

Cha gheill.

Doug Johnson, AMS President
Mira Dineen, Vice-President (University Affairs)
Tristan Lee, Vice-President (Operations)

Ps. All week long, the Peer Support Centre is running #QueensTALKS – an event promoting healthy discussion of mental health, and giving advice on how you can talk to your friends about these sensitive issues. Check out the Peer Support Centre’s Facebook or Twitter for more info!

This Sunday, our Executive team for the coming year was made complete, with Nicola Plummer graciously accepting the nomination for Vice-President Operations. Nicola has been humbled by the responsibility and trust placed in her, and all three of us appreciate the outpouring of support from students. This being said, we wanted to take a minute to address some very understandable questions about the future of our team, our platform, and the work we have been doing so far.

Our Team

One of the most important aspects of our approach to the AMS has been that of diversity, and representation. Nicola’s addition to our team has echoed and amplified this approach. As someone who has never worked for the AMS, yet has a strong record of student leadership and financial management, Nicola brings an external voice, from an underrepresented faculty. Most importantly, she shares our desire to learn, our passion for serving students, and our dedication to making Queen’s a better place for all. Combined with Eril’s experience in a smaller faculty, and T.K.’s contributions and involvement within the AMS, our team brings a variety of different perspectives – something we prioritize and continue to see value in.

Our Platform & Our Work So Far

We have already begun working on several initiatives to ensure that by May 1st, we can start implementing our platform. Here are some of the things we have been working on in the past month:

• We have been approaching a number of key stakeholders about making innovation a pillar of the Academic Plan (the University’s overarching academic strategy)
• We have finished writing the policy for the Student Mental Health Advisory Board and will be presenting it to AMS Assembly this Thursday for approval.
• After carefully evaluating student feedback, we have identified a third area between main and west campus to install Blue Lights. When meeting with the City of Kingston and the University, this will be worked into our plan to increase student safety both on and off campus.
• Meetings are in progress with Queen’s IT Services and the Chief Information Officer, Bo Wandschneider. There has been progress towards the implementation of Wi-fi in the University District.
• We are currently identifying the aspects of our platform which can be jointly undertaken in partnership with Career Services (specifically, those revolving around employment and career opportunities).
• We have been in contact with the president of the Queen’s University Alumni Association to foster a strong relationship and ensure a successful plan for Homecoming this fall.
• In two weeks we will be meeting with the representatives of Student Care – the insurance plan provider for the AMS Health and Dental Plan. This will allow us to begin the conversation in regards to how we can maximize the value our plan provides our students.
• As per our platform, we are working on a plan for broad student consultation regarding the JDUC revitalization fund. This will most likely take the form of a student-wide survey, allowing students to express a preference for certain ideas as well as suggest their own.

Aside from our platform, we continue to undertake all of the annual tasks involved in transition. We will ensure that we are ready to assume office on May 1^st, and we are eager to learn all the details of our positions.

In the next few days we will notify students of a time and place where we will be publicly available to receive feedback. We want to give students the opportunity to ask questions, express any concerns, and tell us what they want from the coming year.

We are excited about the work that lies ahead of us, and we will tackle it with an understanding that we must work tirelessly not only to fulfill our platform, but to make every student proud. We truly appreciate your feedback and your thoughts, as our team remains committed to serving the diverse student body that we are privileged to represent. Feel free to send us an email, or comment below!

Cha Gheill,

Eril Berkok (Incoming President) – Email: newpres@ams.queensu.ca

T.K. Pritchard (Incoming Vice-President, University Affairs) - Email: newvpua@ams.queensu.ca

Nicola Plummer (Incoming Vice-President, Operations) - Email: newvpops@ams.queensu.ca

Q: What happens when a member of the Executive resigns?
The AMS Constitution outlines policy surrounding the AMS Executive. According to Section 2.02.03, in the case of a resignation, the remaining Executive members are charged with nominating a candidate. The nominated candidate is subject to the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of AMS Assembly. If the nominee is rejected, AMS Assembly may appoint a candidate or task the remaining Executive members with proposing alternative nominees.

Q: Section 2 does not explicitly refer to the “Incoming Executive”. What does that mean?
While the AMS Constitution does not specifically use the term ‘Incoming Executive’, Section 2 still provides a strong framework for how an Executive member can be replaced. The resignation of an Executive member is unprecedented, but it is the opinion of the current and incoming AMS Executive that the spirit and intent of this Constitutional provision is transferable. It is an established practice that when an issue is not specifically addressed by AMS policy, that the spirit of policy existing policy be interpreted and applied. There is no other provision that speaks to this issue, but the spirit of the policy is that a new election to replace a single executive member is not preferable, and that the elected members of Assembly may act to approve a new candidate to fill the vacant Executive office.

This being said, it is the role of AMS Assembly to act in good faith and in the spirit of the Constitution, and members of AMS Assembly will be tasked with voting on this matter.

Q: What would another election look like?
This is difficult to answer, as there is no policy surrounding a new Executive election, especially one in the spring. The following policy constraints would need to be considered, assuming the election would follow all existing election guides and time-lines as laid out in Policy Manual 1:

• The nomination period would have to last at 10 days
• A campaign period of 11 days would follow
• Two voting days would follow

This would result in a completely new hiring period. If a new election were called immediately, the election would likely conclude at the very end of this semester. This would leave 7 non-exam days to interview approximately 150 people for 40 full-time positions.  Part-time hiring for the next academic year would most likely have be conducted during exams. There would also be less than one month to transition all staff, many of whom having highly technical positions.

Q: What is a ‘special Assembly’?
A special Assembly is a meeting of Assembly convened to deal with issues deemed urgent and important to the Society and its members. It can be called by the President or through 10 signatures of AMS Assembly members. The agenda for a special Assembly must be sent out 48 hours before the meeting is scheduled to start.

Q: Who can be nominated to fill an vacant spot on the Executive?
Any member of the Alma Mater Society, in good standing (has paid all student fees and is currently enrolled at Queen’s), can be nominated by the remaining Executive members or AMS Assembly.

Q: Who has the Incoming Executive nominated to be the 2013-14 Vice-President, Operations?
Eril Berkok, President-Elect, has submitted a motion to this Sunday’s special Assembly to ratify Nicola Plummer as the 2013-14 Vice-President Operations. Ms. Plummer is the current President of the Commerce Society and was a VP Operations candidate in the 2013 AMS winter election. The motion will be seconded by incoming Vice-President, University Affairs, T.K. Pritchard. In a statement released by the incoming Executive, they stated that:

“Nicola Plummer has shown dedication and integrity in her time as a student and as President of the Commerce Society. Having stood in the AMS Executive election in January and placed second, she is the obvious, most qualified, publicly-vetted candidate for this position.”- Eril Berkok, President-Elect

Q: Will there be any effect on positions where hiring has already concluded?
The incoming Executive has expressed its utmost confidence in the Commissioners, Directors and Officers who were hired in in the weeks following their election. Hiring decisions in the AMS are made collectively through a hiring panel comprised of the incoming Executive as well as permanent staff. Incoming Commissioners and Directors are also subject to AMS ratification, and were approved by AMS Assembly and the Board of Directors respectively.

These are all fun and good, but remember to have a fun but safe valentines day, no matter what you are doing.

(for some sexual-health resources/advice, check out the SHRC’s column series!)

And finally, this…

Last night when you heard there might be a snow day

 Dreaming about today

Waking up this morning and just staring out the window

Then you look at Twitter/Facebook, and school is not cancelled.

So people who have class look like this…

And feel like this…

And people who don’t have class are like…

But it is all okay, because campus ends up looking like this…

Safe travels and a good weekend, everyone.

Don’t forget – AMS full-time job applications are now open!

AMS History of OUSA

Thus, the AMS became a founding member of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), making significant contributions to the writing of its constitution and policies. A referendum vote held in fall 1993 students approved AMS membership in OUSA and subsequently OUSA officially incorporated in 1994. The AMS chose to leave the organization in 1995 over financial concerns but remained entirely supportive of OUSA policies and lobbying efforts. Over the next few years the AMS reconsidered its external alignment and rejoined OUSA in 2001 as a non-voting member, and regaining full membership in 2004.

Your student fees + OUSA

As a member of OUSA, the AMS approved a membership fee, via the referendum process, for each undergraduate student – a fee that currently costs $2.85. This fee, which was normally subject to the triennial review process by referendum, was reclassified by the AMS Assembly in 2010. Due to the unique nature of the fee,  the critical importance of maintaining external alignment, and the enormous expenditure of resources by the Academic Affairs Commission in conducting a referendum every third year, the  Assembly voted that the OUSA fee should no longer be required to go to referendum every three years. Rather, AMS Assembly established a special committee on external alignment tasked with submitting a report each year “for each external body with which the AMS is affiliated.” Essentially in our current context, the committee would be struck to audit the work of OUSA and report its findings to the assembly no later than the Assembly’s second last scheduled meeting in the winter term.

About this committee

This committee, officially known as the Special Committee on External Alignment, is charged with reviewing the operations of all groups of which the AMS is externally affiliated with, in this case OUSA. It will review OUSA’s operations and specifically its membership structure, yearly activities, policies and financial statements. As part of its mandate, the committee will actively seek to solicit feedback from students on the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance and the importance of external alignment. In so doing, it will utilize this blog, an online survey, and discussions to be held at faculty society assemblies.

Have your say

The process of reviewing OUSA began in December and as Chair of the committee, I strongly encourage everyone to educate themselves on what OUSA does and to consider why it is important to be a member of an externally affiliated group at a time when Ontario universities are facing serious financial resource challenges. The committee will carefully review all of the feedback it receives and will meet weekly throughout the winter semester to prepare a written report for AMS assembly.

If you want to give the committee your views, fill out this quick (and fairly straightforward) survey!

Thank you for your participation in this process. External lobbying is important, but remaining accountable to Queen’s students is always our #1 priority.

Doug Johnson
AMS President & CEO and Chair,
Special Committee on External Alignment

Here are some past campaign promises & AMS initiatives that have made a difference on this campus.

This Monday and Tuesday, make sure to vote!