Jean-Sebastien Marier is a second-year master’s student in Carleton's journalism school. He and his classmates were finishing the final year of their undergrad when the three-month-long York strike interrupted their studies. Here is what they had to say:
"There was no way to limit the work, we just had to complete the same amount of work in a shorter period of time. It turned into a race to complete the work on time rather than worrying about substance so much. It was insanity."
-Stephanie Langton, fourth-year international studies
"I was able to compete in and win National Novel Writing Month. I hated the strike and what it's meant to my career, but I'll never regret how I chose to use it."
-Laura Winberg, fifth-year English and geography
"It ruined my last year. Ruined a potential trip to Africa. I'm still bitter about it, but try and look past it and remember all the good times."
-Talia Storm, fourth-year international development and African studies
"Lack of quality of work, profs who aren't really in the mood to teach anymore, deep-seated despise [sic] for union politics, rejected from two MA programmes because my marks didn't make it in on time which left me at York for an MA which I ended up leaving. I got the whole ripple effect, and while I'm slightly annoyed, I think it, in a very twisted way worked for the better for me."
-Hani El-Masry, fourth-year international studies
"It didn't affect me as much; I had a trip planned for winter break which had to be changed because I wasn't sure when classes are going to be resumed, but I applied for financial assistance offered by York for those affected by the strike and got $1,300."
-Iftikhar Syed, fourth-year international studies