Disclaimer: This article is published under the Charlatan’s satire section, the Partisan. All quotes and names have been fabricated.
Carleton University students held a campus rally June 17, calling on the university to cancel plans to build a $2 million learning lab.
The university recently announced it will renovate the fourth floor of MacOdrum Library, renaming it the Future Learning Lab. Expected to be unveiled this fall, the lab is set to provide students and instructors with research tools and innovation grants.
Monica Bunny, a fourth-year law student and high-jump athlete, organized the rally.
“Students are tired of learning. When is it gonna stop?” Bunny said. “I have 3 excruciating years of law school and a bar exam waiting for me. I do not need this.”
Simone Porky, a second year business major, said there are better ways to spend the money being used for the lab, even though she “can’t name them off the top of [her] head.”
“All I know is Carleton has been throwing away millions into buildings lately,” Porky said, “It’s giving Bob the Builder.”
Students are calling on the Carleton Academic Student Government (CASG) to communicate their demands to the university.
“CASG hasn’t even done one of those Instagram question stories to ask students what they need. It’s like everyone’s ok with this,” Bunny said.
Lory Doo, a spokesperson for CASG, told the Charlatan in an email that student government is working behind the scenes to meet with the university’s administrators.
In the meantime, students like Henry Duck are raising awareness on social media. Duck, who is in his third year of psychology, created an Instagram account named @LearningisCancelled.
“I’ve never stepped foot in the library because that’s what pirating sites are for but enough is enough,” Duck said.
Through the account, Duck has shared infographics and anonymous testimonials from students. One post from a student read, “I’m at the point where if you knock on my head, you’ll hear an echo. #NOMORELEARNING.”
Bunny urged students to keep the conversation going.
“We won’t be silenced,” Bunny said, speaking to the crowd.
Carleton University declined requests for comment.
Feature graphic by Angel Xing
