No fall reading week for RRC yet
DJ SAWCHUK, CONTRIBUTOR
Students studying in the cafeteria at Red River College’s Roblin Centre. THE PROJECTOR/SAWCHUK
Red River College students’ reactions are mixed to whether they want a fall reading week.
“It would be awesome. There’s more time to think about your studies, and much less pressure,” said Renie Jarin, a student in the business information technology program. “It should be one of their [Students’ Association] priorities. It would give students a week off that will take some pressure off and focus on what is important on life, while still working on your studies.”
Fall reading weeks are a recent trend in post-secondary schools across the country. Both the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba will introduce fall reading weeks in 2016. RRC will not be adding a fall reading week — at least not yet.
Red River College Students’ Association (RRCSA) President Benjamin McDonald said the students’ association has started looking into the possibility of a reading week, but hasn’t decided how to move forward yet.
“It’s a conversation we have started. We don’t have a policy on it — it’s in the development stage,” said McDonald. “However, it is something we will discuss with the administration at our next meeting.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” said Alina Wilson, a University of Winnipeg, a faculty education student.
“I mean, the fall semester isn’t any less stressful than the winter semester, and especially if you’re a first-year student, you’re coming into university and it’s an adjustment and it’s nice to catch up on work in a mental health way.”
But some students say that the extra week wouldn’t help them.
I’m a student – and I hate to say this – but there are no reading weeks in the “real world.”
Not a winter one, not a fall one – nada.
Unlike those universities, Red River College is about applied learning. Half of what you learn at RRC is how to be a professional – and that means showing up for school every day, on time, and grinding through the exhaustion.
It’s what working people do every day.
Let the university students have their “reading” (cough, boozing) weeks. We will have jobs, because employers know we are reliable and hard-working.