It is one thing for a public school, whose funding comes entirely from the government, to strike; however, when the students are racking up debt in order to attend and work towards future careers, it becomes a very different situation.
Coming back from an extended two-week break for the Canada Winter Games, our curriculum is already shortened, and is now at risk of further shrinkage. The students have been told that the administration is in a position of power where they could extend our semester into the summer if this strike lasts for a significant amount of time.
However, many students such as myself rely on the summer in order to earn the funds required to pay for our next semester of tuition and books. This strike does not seem to be taking the effects that this will have on the student body into consideration. For students living on campus this is especially disturbing, since we are told not to go home during the strike considering it could end at any time. Without a school open to keep us busy, students are basically expected to sit around twiddling their thumbs until classes resume.
On the other hand, if the semester is not extended into the summer, and curriculum is cut, then it is only fair that students are reimbursed partially for the tuition they paid for during this semester.
Hopefully this strike is resolved soon, because not only will it push away future prospects, but it is has the highest impact on the current students.
Cal Sample
Prince George
