Queen’s Reads brings the student voice to the foreground in its second event of 2018-19 – a panel that will discuss what it means to be a Queen’s student.

This year’s Queen’s Reads novel, Scarborough, by Catherine Hernandez, grapples with the concept of identity within a culturally diverse Scarborough neighbourhood. The event on Jan. 31 will provide students with an opportunity to discuss this theme and apply it to their own experiences at Queen’s.

The student panelists are:

• Anderson Albert, teacher candidate, Education
• Alex da Silva, University Rector
• Clarissa de Leon, PhD student, Education
• Darian Doblej, Law student
• Tharziha Ganeshamoorthy, ASUS Equity Commissioner

“My hope is that conversations like the one we will have at our panel, will help wake us up to the diversity of experiences that make up our Queen's community,” says Ms. de Leon. “We need to begin questioning norms and seek out the stories we don't hear as often.”

Students, faculty members, and staff are invited to participate on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7 pm in Wallace Hall in the John Deutsch University Centre. There will be a reflection activity, followed by the panel discussion and a question-and-answer period.

“It’s important that we give students space to discuss their experiences and learn from one another,” says Sara Ali, Coordinator, Student Development in the Student Experience Office of the Division of Student Affairs. “This discussion will centre the student voice by using core concepts from Scarborough to create a relevant dialogue within the wider Queen’s community.”

Free copies of the novel are available for all Queen’s students. Everyone is welcome to attend, even if they haven’t read the book.

Learn more about Queen’s Reads and upcoming events, including an Empathetic Imagining workshop being held in March.