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For Algonquin College students, a faculty strike now entering its fifth week has affected job prospects, their ability to earn part-time money, and even their holiday plans.
But students have also learned some lessons. Among them: how to budget when part-time work is uncertain, how to make plans on the fly and the true meaning of self-directed learning.
Some students have turned a disaster into an opportunity to learn on their own. But for others, the strike has meant a life in limbo, cut off from planned job placements and frustrated by a lack of information about when they will get back to class, what will happen when they do get back and how they will be compensated for the in-class time they missed.
Sarah Suhr, 18, left Ottawa on Monday.
Name: Sarah Suhr
Age: 18
Program: Journalism, first year
Hometown: Keswick
“I’m leaving Ottawa today (Monday). I had until today to decide if I was going to drop out. I was hoping to drop the program and restart in January. But the program didn’t have that option. I live in residence, but there were fees to leave residence. I would have to pay a cancellation fee of $1,800 if I wanted to leave today. It’s kind of like a lease. I would have to pay to get out of the lease.
“I was thinking about going back to work, then re-applying. But then I would have to pay $1,800 and I wouldn’t get my meal plan money back unless I went to Algonquin.
“I love to write and I love the professors here. But for me, I’m not going to get the information I missed. The strike is changing everyone’s lives. The strike is making people rethink their careers, rethink how they are going to get to the point where they want to be in their lives.”
Brittany Westlake sits amid a wall of empty chairs at the campus café where she works.
Name: Britanny Westlake
Age: 23
Program: Pre-health sciences, one-year-program
Hometown: Peterborough
“There’s a lot of stress. I’m still paying for my rent — my share is $672 — and my groceries. This is my second time in college. I went to Georgian College in Barrie for message therapy for three years, then I hurt my wrists and I can’t do it. I’m interested in medical radiation technology or nursing. I worked for two years to save up money for tuition. I paid my tuition outright. I’m working in food services on campus. I pay my rent with that. I’m working regular hours, about 16 hours a week, but it has been slow. They haven’t cut my hours yet.
“I’m not sure if we can finish the year. Our program is very heavy. There are no breaks. I’m not sure if they can get in all the material I would need for future programs. This whole strike has been very frustrating. I understand both sides. I’m stuck in the middle and suffering for it.”
Algonquin student Olivia Désormeaux makes her way across the glass walkway that crosses Woodroffe Avenue.
Name: Olivia Désormeaux
Age: 25
Program: Business marketing, second year
Hometown: Ottawa
“I’ve had the better end of the deal. My program doesn’t have a formal placement. Professors have given us work to do on our own during the strike. There’s enough to last us until the strike is over. But there’s only so far we can go. I might be doing all this work for nothing. If I’m not doing it properly, I might still be behind. Next semester we’ll be working on a major project to produce a marketing research plan for a real industry client.
“I live at home, so I’m really fortunate. But I know a lot of people who have already booked flights for the holidays. I’m going to Alberta. If school starts on Jan. 2, I’ll miss two days of school. I have to see if there is a group presentation. I’m a little concerned about how that would work.
Shane Plumb-Saumure found an opportunity writing for the Algonquin Timeless, a website, but struggled with the skills he needed.
Name: Shane Plumb-Saumure
Age: 29
Program: Journalism, first year
“It’s affected me positively in some ways. I’ve been contributing to the Algonquin Timeless. (The college’s student-run newspaper, the Algonquin Times, was shut down for the duration of the strike, but a handful of student writers and editors have continued to publish an online edition.)
“I’ve met some journalists I wouldn’t have gotten to know otherwise. I’ve built a rapport with them. I wouldn’t have had that opportunity if I was just in class.
“But it would have been better if I had another year of class. I felt like a bird thrown out of the nest. I would prefer to be able to consult with my professors. I’ve had an assignment I didn’t know how to formulate. It’s been challenging. I need the direction of a teacher. But most of it has been positive. I did pay to be in school, but I didn’t want to feel I’d wasting my time playing YouTube games.”
Cory Smith, 24 (right), who is in his third year of the game development program at Algonquin, met up with classmates Joseph Mayberry (centre) and Cody Chartrand at the college Monday.
Name: Cory Smith
Age: 24
Program: Game Development, third year
Hometown: Ottawa
“The program teaches us the programming and art side of game development, and the third-year students work in groups on a giant project where we make a game — to simulate the real world, almost like we’re our own company developing a game. So with the strike the groups are still coming in to work on the projects as much as we can. Without the classes, there’s still some stuff we don’t know how to do yet, but we try. When we run into obstacles, we talk to the other students, and of course, Google.
“One of the guys on my project is frustrated because (the college) is planning to extend the year, and that’s not going to work for him. Then there’s the students who had plans to go home for the holidays, and they’re frustrated because they had to cancel travel plans.
“I’m fine, because I live here and I work during school. But I know a lot of us are talking and there is a worry if we go past April because that’s when a lot of people start hiring and we’re still going to be in school. Two members of the game development group, Joseph Mayberry, and Cody Chartrand, have already signed a provincewide petition on change.org demanding refunds for every missed day of classes.”
Heather Maranta, 24, is in her second year of the animation program.
Name: Heather Maranta
Age: 24
Program: Animation, second year
Hometown: Ottawa
“I’ve been very passionate about this, and there seems to be this idea that students don’t really care how the strike ends, and that’s not my experience at all.
“Many of us are in full support of the faculty over the administration. We want the professors to get what they need so they can better teach us.
“They need academic freedom, they need employee benefits so they’re not stressed out. It’s been frustrating for us, but I’m sure it’s been frustrating for the teachers as well.
“We’re lucky in animation that we can still go into the labs and do our work, but we’re working without the guidance of the professors, so we’re working on supporting each other. We’re doing our best in there.
“We’ve had no contact with our professors, but even before the strike they were telling us to go to class every day, because it’s a program where we can keep working. But it’s been difficult without the feedback and guidance of the teachers who have been professionals in the industry.
“I know some of my classmates already found jobs. Some won’t be coming back once the strike is over.”
Kate Jenkins has already been through one strike.
Name: Kate Jenkins
Age: 22
Program: Journalism, first year
Hometown: Riverview, N.B.
“It’s frustrating for me because as of last year I was at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, and in my first year in 2014 they had a strike there. I’ve been through three weeks of strike already, this is my second experience with a strike and I did not expect it to last this long.
“We’re already into our fifth week and it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh I’ve already been through this once before, I can’t believe this is happening again.’ And I can’t believe it has lasted this long.
“Now they’re shortening our Christmas break, which is especially upsetting for me because I’m from out of province. I expected to have three weeks off with my family and friends — and I’ve been in Ottawa since early May, so I haven’t seen the majority of them in seven months — and we were just told Dec. 22 is our last day of class, and we’ll be returning to class on Jan. 2.
“So I had planned for about three weeks at home and now I only have about ten days.
Coming from university, I know that a lot of our learning (in college) is pretty hands-on, so I don’t even know how it would be possible to make up for all the weeks of hands-on experience we’ve missed so far.”
查看原文...
But students have also learned some lessons. Among them: how to budget when part-time work is uncertain, how to make plans on the fly and the true meaning of self-directed learning.
Some students have turned a disaster into an opportunity to learn on their own. But for others, the strike has meant a life in limbo, cut off from planned job placements and frustrated by a lack of information about when they will get back to class, what will happen when they do get back and how they will be compensated for the in-class time they missed.
Sarah Suhr, 18, left Ottawa on Monday.
Name: Sarah Suhr
Age: 18
Program: Journalism, first year
Hometown: Keswick
“I’m leaving Ottawa today (Monday). I had until today to decide if I was going to drop out. I was hoping to drop the program and restart in January. But the program didn’t have that option. I live in residence, but there were fees to leave residence. I would have to pay a cancellation fee of $1,800 if I wanted to leave today. It’s kind of like a lease. I would have to pay to get out of the lease.
“I was thinking about going back to work, then re-applying. But then I would have to pay $1,800 and I wouldn’t get my meal plan money back unless I went to Algonquin.
“I love to write and I love the professors here. But for me, I’m not going to get the information I missed. The strike is changing everyone’s lives. The strike is making people rethink their careers, rethink how they are going to get to the point where they want to be in their lives.”
Brittany Westlake sits amid a wall of empty chairs at the campus café where she works.
Name: Britanny Westlake
Age: 23
Program: Pre-health sciences, one-year-program
Hometown: Peterborough
“There’s a lot of stress. I’m still paying for my rent — my share is $672 — and my groceries. This is my second time in college. I went to Georgian College in Barrie for message therapy for three years, then I hurt my wrists and I can’t do it. I’m interested in medical radiation technology or nursing. I worked for two years to save up money for tuition. I paid my tuition outright. I’m working in food services on campus. I pay my rent with that. I’m working regular hours, about 16 hours a week, but it has been slow. They haven’t cut my hours yet.
“I’m not sure if we can finish the year. Our program is very heavy. There are no breaks. I’m not sure if they can get in all the material I would need for future programs. This whole strike has been very frustrating. I understand both sides. I’m stuck in the middle and suffering for it.”
Algonquin student Olivia Désormeaux makes her way across the glass walkway that crosses Woodroffe Avenue.
Name: Olivia Désormeaux
Age: 25
Program: Business marketing, second year
Hometown: Ottawa
“I’ve had the better end of the deal. My program doesn’t have a formal placement. Professors have given us work to do on our own during the strike. There’s enough to last us until the strike is over. But there’s only so far we can go. I might be doing all this work for nothing. If I’m not doing it properly, I might still be behind. Next semester we’ll be working on a major project to produce a marketing research plan for a real industry client.
“I live at home, so I’m really fortunate. But I know a lot of people who have already booked flights for the holidays. I’m going to Alberta. If school starts on Jan. 2, I’ll miss two days of school. I have to see if there is a group presentation. I’m a little concerned about how that would work.
Shane Plumb-Saumure found an opportunity writing for the Algonquin Timeless, a website, but struggled with the skills he needed.
Name: Shane Plumb-Saumure
Age: 29
Program: Journalism, first year
“It’s affected me positively in some ways. I’ve been contributing to the Algonquin Timeless. (The college’s student-run newspaper, the Algonquin Times, was shut down for the duration of the strike, but a handful of student writers and editors have continued to publish an online edition.)
“I’ve met some journalists I wouldn’t have gotten to know otherwise. I’ve built a rapport with them. I wouldn’t have had that opportunity if I was just in class.
“But it would have been better if I had another year of class. I felt like a bird thrown out of the nest. I would prefer to be able to consult with my professors. I’ve had an assignment I didn’t know how to formulate. It’s been challenging. I need the direction of a teacher. But most of it has been positive. I did pay to be in school, but I didn’t want to feel I’d wasting my time playing YouTube games.”
Cory Smith, 24 (right), who is in his third year of the game development program at Algonquin, met up with classmates Joseph Mayberry (centre) and Cody Chartrand at the college Monday.
Name: Cory Smith
Age: 24
Program: Game Development, third year
Hometown: Ottawa
“The program teaches us the programming and art side of game development, and the third-year students work in groups on a giant project where we make a game — to simulate the real world, almost like we’re our own company developing a game. So with the strike the groups are still coming in to work on the projects as much as we can. Without the classes, there’s still some stuff we don’t know how to do yet, but we try. When we run into obstacles, we talk to the other students, and of course, Google.
“One of the guys on my project is frustrated because (the college) is planning to extend the year, and that’s not going to work for him. Then there’s the students who had plans to go home for the holidays, and they’re frustrated because they had to cancel travel plans.
“I’m fine, because I live here and I work during school. But I know a lot of us are talking and there is a worry if we go past April because that’s when a lot of people start hiring and we’re still going to be in school. Two members of the game development group, Joseph Mayberry, and Cody Chartrand, have already signed a provincewide petition on change.org demanding refunds for every missed day of classes.”
Heather Maranta, 24, is in her second year of the animation program.
Name: Heather Maranta
Age: 24
Program: Animation, second year
Hometown: Ottawa
“I’ve been very passionate about this, and there seems to be this idea that students don’t really care how the strike ends, and that’s not my experience at all.
“Many of us are in full support of the faculty over the administration. We want the professors to get what they need so they can better teach us.
“They need academic freedom, they need employee benefits so they’re not stressed out. It’s been frustrating for us, but I’m sure it’s been frustrating for the teachers as well.
“We’re lucky in animation that we can still go into the labs and do our work, but we’re working without the guidance of the professors, so we’re working on supporting each other. We’re doing our best in there.
“We’ve had no contact with our professors, but even before the strike they were telling us to go to class every day, because it’s a program where we can keep working. But it’s been difficult without the feedback and guidance of the teachers who have been professionals in the industry.
“I know some of my classmates already found jobs. Some won’t be coming back once the strike is over.”
Kate Jenkins has already been through one strike.
Name: Kate Jenkins
Age: 22
Program: Journalism, first year
Hometown: Riverview, N.B.
“It’s frustrating for me because as of last year I was at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, and in my first year in 2014 they had a strike there. I’ve been through three weeks of strike already, this is my second experience with a strike and I did not expect it to last this long.
“We’re already into our fifth week and it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh I’ve already been through this once before, I can’t believe this is happening again.’ And I can’t believe it has lasted this long.
“Now they’re shortening our Christmas break, which is especially upsetting for me because I’m from out of province. I expected to have three weeks off with my family and friends — and I’ve been in Ottawa since early May, so I haven’t seen the majority of them in seven months — and we were just told Dec. 22 is our last day of class, and we’ll be returning to class on Jan. 2.
“So I had planned for about three weeks at home and now I only have about ten days.
Coming from university, I know that a lot of our learning (in college) is pretty hands-on, so I don’t even know how it would be possible to make up for all the weeks of hands-on experience we’ve missed so far.”
查看原文...
