A killer way to end the semester

This review was published in The Queens Journal

The dark and daring comical musical, Assassins, put on by the Queen’s Musical Theatre, aims to capture the fallacy of the American dream, and the culture of violence that pervades society.

Based on the idea by Charles Gilbert Jr., music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and the book by John Weidman, Assassins is a stunning musical performance that exposes the lives of nine individuals who assassinated or attempted to assassinate the President of the United States.

The dress rehearsal on the evening of November 26, was passionate and dynamic, filling the theatre with raw energy.

Performed in the Rotunda Theatre of Theological Hall, the location was ideal as the old building set the mood for taking the audience back in time to witness the assassination attempts of some of the most significant and memorable leaders of the United States.

Directed by Dylan On and produced by Tessa Burnside, the musical opened with a spectacular performance by the gun salesman who provides the characters with their weapons at the beginning of the show.

The performance was filled with vivacious enthusiasm and bold musical numbers that stay with you long after you leave the theatre.

The talented cast included a memorable performance by Luke Brown as the Proprietor with his cunning looks and the gargantuan moustache to go with it. John Wilkes Booth and Sam Byck were two of the most strikingly vivid characters with their animated performances.

Musical highlights were the soul saddening “Unworthy of Your Love,” and the vividly performed “Something Just Broke.” Filled with innuendo, “The Ballad of Guiteau,” was performed remarkably well by the character Charles Guiteau.

Dylan On’s unique directing is definitely worth mentioning, and there are certainly tremendous messages that are implicit underneath the quirky and passionate musical numbers.

The harsh reality that we live in a world of deep inequality and despair, which is hidden by the false illusion of freedom and democracy, especially resonates throughout the musical.

Themes of violence in the world, and the motives behind people’s violent acts committed in moments of despair, angst and frustration are also some other messages that the musical brings out beautifully.

Anarchist Emma Goldman’s brief appearance is memorable wherein she lectures the character Leon Czolgosz on the hypocrisy of governments with her remarkable quote, “They make us servants, Leon. We do not make servants of each other.”

“The Gun Song” is another remarkable number with powerful lyrics, and a coarse tone that reminds you of the hard labouring of the average working class man. “Everybody’s Got the Right,” is another song that captures the core themes of the show, reminding each person of the false promises of freedom made by American presidents.

A particularly comic scene depicts the witty and talented performances of the actors who play Squeaky Fromme and Sara Jane Moore as they quibble with each other, and Moore accidently spills her gun’s bullets upon encountering President Ford.

In short, Assassins beautifully seams together the disparate forces of comedic entertainment with political commentary, easing the tension between the two with witty musical numbers that reverberate with social satire.

A musical with a political message can never be easy to produce, and the entire production team and cast must be lauded in their efforts to bring forth such a strong and evocative performance.

Photo Credit: Sophie Barkham

The changing look of love

Queen’s brings hearts together, even after graduation.

For Martin Gerwin, ArtSci ’62, and his wife, Judith Rutledge, ArtSci ’62, a letter of condolence was the tool that allowed them to revive their old friendship.

“I knew Judith during my undergraduate years at Queen’s as we were both taking honours philosophy. Class sizes at that time were so small that it wasn’t hard to get to know each person quite well,” Gerwin said.

After graduating, they both ended up marrying different people and moving on with their lives, leaving Queen’s behind.

“My wife passed away later, and Judith got divorced. Judith’s sister … unintentionally brought the two of us together,” he said. “She heard about my wife passing away, and urged Judith to write a letter of condolence to me.”

The letter led to more communication, and to a reunion of the class of ’62 in August 2002, which Gerwin fondly recalls as his first date with Judith. In the spring of 2003, they were both married.

They agree that their Queen’s connection played a huge role in bringing them together, as they were both aware of each other’s personality due to the small class sizes.

As class sizes at Queen’s have expanded, online dating has replaced letters as a means of communication for romantic relationships.

For Ingrid Gagnon, ArtSci ’99, MA ’02, and her husband Edward Thomas, Sci ’06, MASc ’12, if it hadn’t been for online dating, they would probably have never met. They first met in 2007 through the online dating website eHarmony.

Gagnon didn’t know Thomas during her undergraduate years at Queen’s. Since she had pursued her undergraduate degree at the age of 24, she mostly spent time with graduate students who were her age, and was focused on her studies. Dating was the last thing on her mind.

It was after she pursued two degrees from Queen’s and was working on campus that she met Thomas. 

“eHarmony really does match you up with someone you’re compatible with to a large extent, at least in my case. After our second date, both Edward and I felt that we had a lot in common and that we didn’t want to see other people.” Gagnon and Thomas were both in their mid-30s and were looking for a meaningful relationship. At a canoeing trip in 2009, Thomas proposed to Gagnon on a cliff overlooking the sunset, and they married in later that year.

They were married at the University Club, located on campus on Stuart St.

“It seemed like the perfect place to get married because of our shared Queen’s connection,” Gagnon said.

Twenty-eight per cent of U.S. marriages began as relationships in college, according to a new Facebook study. And, the landscape of student romance is digitizing from what it once was.

For Gagnon, Queen’s has a special place in her heart as she met so many of her friends there, many of whom also chose to get married at Queen’s.

“Thinking about all of this really makes me believe that online dating worked out perfectly for us,” she said.

Gagnon and her friends aren’t the only ones with emotional attachments towards Queen’s, according to Queen’s Event Services Manager Jennifer Pete.

“Many Queen’s alumni have fond memories connected with Queen’s University which is a place where they studied for so long and met so many of their friends. As a result, many of them choose to get married on Queen’s campus,” she said.

It’s not only alumni who wish to solidify their marriages at Queen’s. Many staff and faculty, along with friends and family of alumni, choose campus as their location for tying the knot.

“For staff and faculty, it’s mostly pride in their employment at such a prestigious university … Of course, the fact that Queen’s is located amidst a gorgeous backdrop in picturesque Kingston definitely helps,” Pete said.

The most popular wedding venues on Queen’s campus include the University Club and the Donald Gordon Conference Centre near West Campus. Both hold wedding receptions throughout the year.

“For the venues that fall under the jurisdiction of Queen’s Events, the Ban Righ Dining Hall and Grant Hall are the most popular,” Pete added. “We also have a partnership with the Agnes Etherington Art Centre for wedding receptions, as well as Wallace Hall [in the JDUC], which we share with the Student Life Centre.” 

There have been quite a few creative weddings held on campus, Pete said. One in particular was a reception based on dragons and unicorns, with the bride and groom enjoying thrones as their seating.

It’s unclear, however, if the current generation shares this same passion for finding a meaningful relationship while studying at Queen’s.

The prevalence of hookup culture at most postsecondary institutions might suggest otherwise.

Shanlea Gordon, ArtSci ’11 and MA ’13, began pursuing qualitative research on hookup culture at Queen’s, which ultimately became her master’s thesis. After writing an undergraduate paper on dating violence and changes in courtship, she wanted to understand the changing dating rules and norms.

“There were dating rules and specific courtship behaviours in the early 19th century. It seems we don’t have many rules when it comes to pursuing romantic relationships anymore,” she said.

She stressed that even though most relationships on university campuses involve hookups, there’s ambiguity in literature regarding what “hookup culture” really is.

“In general, hookup culture can be defined as a heterosexual male and female engaging in drinking, meeting up at a party or a bar and engaging in sexual behaviour after. That can range from making out to sexual intercourse, to anything in between,” Gordon said.

According to her, some scholars believe that hookup culture became prevalent around the mid-1980s after the second feminist movement, but there hasn’t been much academic research done on it.

“I think it’s so prevalent because of the split gender ratio,” she said. “We have more females coming into undergraduate programs on campus as opposed to males,” she said. “If you look at it from an evolutionary perspective, some scholars would claim that because of this divide, females feel the need to engage in sexual activities in order to get the limited resource — which is the male.”

She also emphasized that even though most literature dealing with hookup culture and relationships focuses on heterosexual couples,LGBT communities also participate in hookup culture.

Hookup culture doesn’t always mean casual and meaningless relationships, said Gordon. Some of the people who indulge in hookup culture are actually hoping to find something meaningful.

“When we are talking about online dating, and Tinder in particular, there is this notion that Tinder is the new heterosexual app for hookups,” she said. “But, Tinder also gives one a chance to get to talk to another person while sober, and really get to know them.”

Tinder is a new dating app that matches users with people based on location, leaving them to select pictures of those who catch their eye. If both people “like” each other, it’s a match and they can start chatting.

Gordon noted that whatever your relationship status, we all need social interaction and intimacy. “You get more sex and better sex from a meaningful relationship rather than a casual hookup, and it ultimately boils down to how most people crave the emotional intimacy along with the physical intimacy,” she said. 

Gordon agreed that online dating and communication is something today’s generation is more comfortable with, and doesn’t discount it in any form.

“Tinder for example, really bridges the gap between meaningful relationships and hook-up culture,” she said.

The student population seems to have their own opinions about hookup culture and hot topic dating apps.

Hasina Daya, ArtSci ’14, believes that hookup culture at universities stems from people’s desire for instant gratification.

“My advice to people is to take their time and to not rush into any relationship impulsively. It’s also important to love yourself before you can love anybody else,” she said.

Efficiency is what’s driving students to search online for their significant others, according to Amal Nawal, ArtSci ’14.

“I think online dating sites are an excellent way to meet someone casually,” he said.

“People are resorting to it because it’s just so much easier.”

This article originally appeared here

Infographic by: Jonah Eisen

The little brown house on Bader lane

When Sangeeta Shakrawar arrived at Queen’s in 2010, she never anticipated that her life would change so drastically. Already apprehensive after leaving behind family and friends at home in India, Shakrawar felt lost and isolated.

Two years into her MSc, she had exhausted her money and found herself pregnant. Curiosity led her inside the brownbrick house on Bader Lane that’s home to the Ban Righ Centre (BRC). It was there that she encountered the understanding and help she needed, and it helped change her entire outlook on life.“I don’t have words to describe the kind of love, care and emotional support that I received at the BRC,” Shakrawar says.

On top of that, within 10 days she had qualified for enough bursary money to continue her studies. “Amidst the vibrant and diverse culture at the BRC, I felt like I finally belonged,” Shakrawar says. “The women there motivated and inspired me every day to strive, and to achieve my goals.”

Shakrawar, who last year earned her MSc in Mechanical and Materials Engineering, is one of the many women who have benefited from the vital services and programs offered at the BRC.

Female students coping with the special problems of being older than classmates and often starting or re-starting university studies while juggling family responsibilities, time, and money, find the support, motivation, and inspiration needed to excel in their lives. That’s why this unique campus facility is gearing up to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special event.

Carole Morrison, the BRC’s director, says that Board members are keen to honour the women who have worked so hard to make the Centre a special place, and to celebrate those who have overcome barriers and achieved their educational goals.

“We’re excited to be marking the Centre’s 40th anniversary,” she says. “It will be a celebration of the community of women at Queen’s. We hope everyone – present and past staff and directors, current students, successful grads, and our faithful donors – will come together to celebrate and to help us ensure that the BRC is still operating 40 years from now.”

The anniversary event, built around the Centre’s annual gathering, will be held in Grant Hall on Saturday, May 3. Morrison explains that this year’s event will have a garden party theme and a new cookbook, Soups for Every Season will be sold. Morrison describes the book as a “treasured collection of seasonal soup recipes.” It also contains the unique stories of students from various backgrounds, recounting their challenging journeys.

Soup recipes hold an important symbolic value for women with ties to the BRC, where a free soup lunch is served every day while women gather to chat and enjoy the meal. “This creates a sense of kinship, support, and community,” says Morrison. “It also makes for a vibrant atmosphere when the women talk about their academic work, different cultures, and their families.”

On campus since 1870, women first won the right to take a few arts courses at Queen’s College. In 1880, four female students were accepted into the BA program. Around 1920, with about 250 women now enrolled, some alumnae (notably Charlotte Whitton, BA 1917, LLD’41), and faculty wives petitioned the Trustees for permission to raise money for a women’s residence. Ban Righ Hall welcomed its first occupants in 1925. Adelaide, Chown, and Victoria Halls followed, all four managed by the Ban Righ Board (BRB).

In the early 1970s, with the first co-ed residence on the horizon, the University merged the administration of male and female residences. What should be done with the BRB’s money? When Helen Anderson, Arts’46, envisioned the Ban Righ Centre as a place of support for women returning to school, then-University Secretary Margaret Hooey, LLD’02, and former-Registrar Jean Royce, BA’30, LLD’68, managed the transactions with meticulous care. They were just a few of the women at Queen’s who would strive to make the Ban Righ Centre vision a reality. Preserving the Gaelic name Ban Righ (“Hall of the Queen”), appropriating the one-time home of Vice-Principal W.E. McNeill (1930-47) and his wife Caroline, who was the first Dean of Women (1918-25), and appointing Helen Mathers as Director, were wise decisions that helped the BRC become an inclusive communal centre

The BRC’s “graduates” over those first 40 years have been determined to change their own world through education, and now they are generously helping others to change their worlds.

This article originally appeared here

Photo credit: Greg Black