On Nov. 9, Carleton University students were informed that the school’s administration was seeking to add more online options for the winter 2022 semester. This led many students to expect an equal presence of online and in-person course options—they were sorely mistaken.
Carleton’s choice to allow flexibility in course delivery by providing minimal in-person courses for the winter 2022 term demonstrates the necessity of student leaders’ advocacy.
The result of further “flexibility” provided students with minimal in-person courses. Many students were shocked at how, overnight, their timetables switched from a majority of in-person classes to now a majority of online classes. This change affects students in many ways. Not only have students’ mental health suffered but also their wallets; all for a sub-par education delivered—in many cases—through pre-recorded video lectures.
This issue affects every corner of our student leadership: the Senate has jurisdiction over academic concerns regarding the availability of in-person courses; the Board of Governors (BoG) is responsible for financial matters; the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) and Carleton Academic Student Government (CASG) are responsible for advocating these concerns on behalf of students.
President of CASG, Jennifer Ramnarine, did take initiative on this issue. She posted on CASG’s Instagram story asking for students’ feedback on the changes. At the emergency meeting of CUSA Council on Nov. 17, I did raise this concern with council and its guests. The following day, CUSA and CASG held an Instagram Live to get feedback from students and discuss the issue publicly. My hope is that this conversation can continue to be productive and yield pragmatic results.
Student leaders are given unique positions and platforms to advocate on behalf of the students they represent. This is the initiative students should expect from their student leaders. Many leaders have stood up against the changes and shared their public dismay. Despite these leaders’ statements, students are left lost and with no hope for resolution of the issues that matter to them.
Student leaders (or representatives) are given a seat at the table and a voice, backed by, in some cases, over 27,000 students. It is time that students see their leaders using this privilege to seek pragmatic action from their leaders. The university’s administration listens to them when they speak and, mostly, values their opinions.
However, many departments have yet to make any formal comment on the matter. Student leaders are lost. Students are lost. There is no clear path to solving these issues. That is why cooperation between the various branches of leadership is crucial in these circumstances.
Student leaders from all sectors of Carleton’s student leaders need to participate in discussions on the issues facing students, such as course delivery in the Winter 2022 semester; divestment and climate action; gender-based violence; mental health services; and accessibility disasters on Carleton’s campus.
Our Student Leaders should combine their efforts and deliberate on the possible courses of action, work together and lobby for the changes the students are demanding.
Despite serving different purposes, student leaders from all governing organizations represent students, in some shape or form, and should work collectively with the university’s administration to see a representation of student voices and justifiable compromise on the issue.
One would hope, for students’ sake, that our student leaders rise to the occasion and represent the interests of the Carleton student body in a productive and meaningful way.
Featured image by Spencer Colby.
