Dual petitions argue for different learning directions at Western University
As education models continue to pivot towards in-person learning, Western announced its return to in-person learning on Friday, and reaction has led to two different petitions with over 2,000 signatures.
Layla Adrianovska is nearing the end of her program at Western University. Six months before COVID-19 she developed serious medical issues that make a return to class very difficult.
“I can't sit on a hard chair and focus for three hours you know with bright lights and all this noise. So just be able to be at home in my bed with my computer, comfortable. I have any kind of pain relief tools I need. It's like, literally the reason I've been able to stay in school.”
She is part of a petition that has accumulated over 2,000 signatures as of Sunday afternoon, calling on Western to allow more exemptions and a broader hybrid learning model.
“It's a matter of accessibility. You know, it's not like I'm requesting something absurd. It's literally the difference between an education or not for a lot of people, and they just don't seem to care,” says Adrianovska.
Western announced Friday the the majority of students from second year and higher will be returning to in-person learning at the end of January.
“Western is known for offering students one of the best on-campus experiences and a lot of students are missing that,” says John Doerksen, Western’s Acting Provost & Vice-President (Academic). “Obviously, we recognize people are divided in their opinion. So we're just hoping that a measured plan will see us through the academic year and ensure the best possible teaching and learning experiences for our community.”
Rosa Pashaei-Barbin, a fourth year criminology student, suffered severe injuries in a car accident in 2020 that still affect her today. She believes Western should be considering a hybrid model as well.
“It could be as simple as literally putting their phone out recording the lecture, audio and thinking, 'OK, I'll upload that.' So I think, you know, just the the issue that it does pose to a variety of students, it would be...more than ideal for Western to give the option.”
Western says there are options for people who have extenuating circumstances.
“Students can follow up with their academic counsellors with the with the Accessible Education Unit, where there are specific concerns,” Doerksen says.
One group of students who will not be able to return until the end of February is first-year students, who have launched a separate petition calling on the university to allow them to return to residence.
“Residence allows us to have places like study rooms, something that we can't get at home, any of us, and just be on campus with the library as libraries are open at Western. So it's just really hard for many of us don't live nearby,” says first-year student Chloe Vanderlugtt.
Western says in terms of congregate living situations, it wanted to limit the chance of the highly transmissible Omicron variant spreading.
“For first-year students at Western, many of them are in residence. And so we wanted to minimize the number of people in residence because we have shared rooms and washrooms and so we wanted to limit that a little bit," says Doerksen.
According to the university's update on Friday, all in-person classes from second year and up will resume on Jan. 31, while first year undergraduate programs will resume on Feb. 28.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Questlove was not happy with Drake and Kendrick Lamar's beef: 'Nobody won the war'
While some may have been excited and/or amused by the diss-track feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the man many consider to be an elder statesman of hip-hop appears less than enthused about it.
Trump heading to Jersey Shore to rally 'mega crowd' in weekend break from hush money trial
After a long week in court, Donald Trump is heading to the Jersey Shore. And his campaign says he'll be joined by "tens of thousands" of his friends.
For moms-to-be, it's possible to take maternity leave without breaking the bank
Pregnancy is often an exciting and anxious time for parents-to-be. And while painting the nursery and choosing a stroller are typically on the agenda, experts say preparing financially for a maternity leave can help reduce stress later on as well.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
Fine dining, at a new high. A Michelin-starred chef will take his cuisine to our upper atmosphere
Six guests are set to ascend aboard Spaceship Neptune to the stratosphere, where they will enjoy an immersive dining experience served up by Danish Michelin-starred chef Rasmus Munk.