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University leaders hold community forums
Photograph by Sam Charles.
Senior University administrators were in the Theatre of the Arts yesterday to hear concerns from students, faculty and staff and begin a conversation about how to move the institution forward following the June 28 hate-motivated attack.
President and Vice-Chancellor Vivek Goel, Vice-President, Academic and Provost Jim Rush, and Vice-President, Administration and Finance Jacinda Reitsma took the stage at two community forums on Monday. Associate Vice-President, Marketing and Brand Strategy Michael Dorr hosted the event and moderated the lengthy Q&A sessions that followed the opening remarks.
More than 200 employees attended the morning forum at 9:30 a.m., with 800 watching online, and at the student-focused forum at 2:30 p.m., there were 80 in-person attendees with another 170 watching the livestream online.
"The horrific events of June 28th have changed the lives of the three individuals who directly experienced the violence, and those of the entire Philosophy 202/Gender and Social Justice 222 class," President Goel said in his introductory remarks. "What happened on June 28th has changed our campus forever. We are an academic institution dedicated to teaching, learning, open inquiry and free expression. Our values and very identity were attacked when members of our community were targeted for violence because of what they were studying. They were exploring issues related to gender and gender identity. That this happened, too, at the end of Pride Month is all the more painful."
"I have been heartened to see the solidarity of our University community in the wake of the attack, and the outpouring of support from across our wider community in the region, across the country and alumni and friends around the world," President Goel continued. "The day after the attack we came together as a community to stand against all forms of hatred, discrimination and violence — and we must continue to do so. But I know there is much work to do, and a long road ahead to healing. For many people, the journey to healing has not yet begun."
During the Q&A sections of the two forums, moderator Michael Dorr noted that more than 200 questions had been submitted in advance, and the discussion led off with a few of those questions sent in during the registration process. Microphone runners moved about the Theatre of the Arts so that attendees in the audience could ask their questions and voice their concerns, while still more online attendees submitted questions via Teams chat.
Questions at the morning employee forum included how to support faculty members who are concerned for their safety in lecture halls and classrooms, how the University's culture might need to change in the wake of the attack, how the University is supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ students, faculty and staff, and what channels were used to send communications in the immediate aftermath of the events on June 28.
Questions at the afternoon student forum included counselling supports for students, how the University is consulting with the 2SLGBTQIA+ student community on campus, how to balance academic freedom and freedom of expression with rights to safety and happiness, and the usability of WatSAFE and other communications channels.
The video recordings of the morning and afternoon forums will be made available on the President's website in short order, with a Q&A document that contains answers to questions asked during the events, as well as responses to the myriad questions that were asked during the forums. Stay tuned for more details that will appear in the Daily Bulletin.
United at 60: United College celebrates milestone anniversary
Current United College students enjoy cotton candy. Not pictured: face painting and bouncy castle.
By Rebecca Wagner.
Happy 60th anniversary United College!
Sixty years after United College welcomed its first cohort of students in 1963, the college once again opened its doors and invited guests to back campus to celebrate 60 years of academic excellence and community at a special summer BBQ on Saturday, July 15, 2023.
Anniversaries are an opportunity to build bridges between the old and the new, to reflect and appreciate how the past has shaped the present, and to experience how an institution has evolved over time.
The United College External Relations team (Reid McRob, Rebecca Wagner, Rubin Kataki) sign the official 60th anniversary poster, kicking off the celebrations.
Friends from United College past and present came together from across Southwestern Ontario to re-live favourite memories and experience how the college has grown over the years. Guests included current students, alumni, and friends from across the generations, many of whom have engaged with the college in its many iterations: St. Paul’s United College, St. Paul’s University College, and United College.
An alumnus who lived at United College from 1970 to 1973 laughingly recalled winning a “door prize” at a formal college event. When he went up to accept his award, he was surprised to see that the door of his dorm room had been removed and was presented to him on stage. Not to worry though, as two frosh stood guard at his residence room to make sure nothing was stolen!
Bringing people together is what United College does best, forging meaningful connections across the generations and building that important bridge between current students and alumni.
United College alumni from the 1970’s appreciate a walk down memory lane.
In a literal walk down memory lane, alumni explored their residence floors and tried to spot their old rooms. “This looks identical! It’s like nothing’s changed.” “There was no air conditioning in residence decades ago, meaning there were many hot summer nights at St. Paul’s!”
A 60th anniversary display was unveiled featuring unique memorabilia from decades past, including a “Service of Thanksgiving” bulletin from 1963 to officially dedicate the first St. Paul’s building, photos of the “chapel” being constructed in 1983, yearbook editions of “The Toast Chronicles” from the 1990’s, and an original, rich, royal blue with gold trim St. Paul's Principal's robe and accompanying hat from 1985.
To bridge the old and the new, United College officially launched merchandise bearing its recently re-branded name and logo, an integration of the college’s rich history with a re-commitment to its central values of inclusion, togetherness, and unity.
As the college continues its milestone 60th anniversary celebrations throughout the year, it looks forward to the re-creation of the iconic United College 50th anniversary image this fall, where friends of past and present will come together to bridge the decades once again.