Letter From the Editor
Surajreet Singh, Print Editor-in-Chief
July 22, 2020
Hello everyone, I would like to sincerely welcome you to Volume XVII.I of the Observer and to the annual installment of our Summer-in-Review issue! It has been an eventful summer to date, as the world deals with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic amid a renewed discussion on race relations following the tragic death of George Floyd. The directors of the Observer stand against racism and discrimination of all forms and support the efforts of QIAA to bring about a more inclusive environment at Queen’s University.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot in our lives and we are slowly adjusting to new realities. Following the university’s announcement that the 2020-21 fall term will be conducted online, the directors of the Observer came together to chart a course for the publication in order to ensure our work would still be available for our readers. That is why the Print branch will be posting their first articles this year on the Observer website!
We are very excited to welcome many new staff writers and editors and to showcase their excellent work. The first four articles posted cover a variety of topics. Alastair Munro provides a spotlight into one of the lesser known international conflicts raging today in Libya and the efforts of the Russian government to influence affairs in the Sahara. Vanessa Ellia covers the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector in Canada and why universities should consider reduced tuition costs. Cassandra van Drunen delves into the world of science in a piece about the ethics of CRISPR and gene editing. Caroline Kim analyzes Singapore’s treatment of migrant workers before and now during the height of the pandemic.
A special thank you goes out to our team. Especially with the circumstances of the pandemic, this issue would not have been possible without the hard work of everybody involved. If you have any remarks or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us at theobserver@qiaa.org. If you have any interest in submitting to one of our issues, you can follow us on Facebook (The Observer - Queen's University) in order to receive updates! Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Surajreet Singh
Political Studies 2022