Chronicle 17-18 Issue 03

Campus chronicle.durhamcollege.ca December 19 - 25, 2017 The Chronicle 3
Chronicle file photo
Durham College President Don Lovisa says the school wants to support students who left after the strike by faculty..
DC student enrolment dips by 1,186
Tracy Wright
The Chronicle
Hundreds of Durham College students
have withdrawn from fulltime
studies due to the five-week
faculty strike.
The final number of students
who decided to dropout was released
by the college last week and
Durham has announced 1,186
full-time students withdrew.
Across the province more than
25,000 students have withdrawn
and taken advantage of a full refund.
The provincial government offered
students a full tuition refund
with a deadline to apply by Dec. 5.
Students could withdraw from
their full-time program with no
academic penalties.
The offer was given to students
after a province-wide college faculty
strike, that started Oct.16
until teachers were legislated back
to work on Nov. 20.
“Durham College, like other
colleges, was committed to supporting
students who didn’t feel
they could complete their studies
because of the duration of the
strike,” said DC president Don
Lovisa.
“Many students were looking to
return for a fresh start and we are
continuing to work with them to
help them to be successful in their
college education.”
Lovisa said about 89 per cent
of Durham’s 12,000 full-time students
elected to continue with their
studies and will face an extended
fall semester that will end Jan. 15.
“We will ensure they get a complete
education that provides them
with the professional and technical
expertise to pursue their career
goals or plans to continue their
studies,” he said.
With holiday cheer comes holiday help
Kaatje Henrick
The Chronicle
The holidays are fast approaching,
which means some people are becoming
overwhelmed with school,
family, and bills.
Durham College and UOIT are
trying to help relieve some stress at
this chaotic time.
Every year, the schools collaborate
with the Kinsmen Club of Oshawa
to raise money for struggling
students and families.
For years Kevin Dougherty, and
his wife, Pat Vale-Dougherty, ran
the Holiday Food Drive.
Dougherty, the associate dean
in the School of Interdisciplinary
studies, says he and his family volunteer
every year because they love
helping people and giving back to
their community.
“You do these things because
you want to give back to the community,”
says Dougherty
Kevin Griffin and Brad MacIsaac
are now co-chairs of the
Holiday Food Drive.
For the past couple of years they
have tried to pass on the annual
event to the students.
They want the food drive to be
completely student run, with the
help of faculty.
“We want it to be students helping
students,” says Griffin.
The Holiday Food Drive isn’t
just about donating to your local
campus and community, he says.
It is also about raising awareness
of those people in need.
MacIsaac says the two most important
parts of the food drive are
helping the students in need, and
bringing DC and UOIT faculty,
staff, and students together to make
a difference.
Last year, the Holiday Food
Drive raised $41,000 and provided
230 families in Oshawa with hampers
full of food.
A hamper consists of all the essentials
plus more: a turkey, potatoes,
carrots, and onions.
“It usually consists of a traditional
Christmas dinner,” says Griffin.
Dougherty says the food drive
continues to be successful because
of all of the people who contribute
and support it.
“We didn’t start the food drive
but through our involvement we
saw it grow at an incredible rate,”
says Dougherty.
Non-perishable items can be donated
in boxes all around campus.
Many events also take place during
the month of December to help
raise money for the food drive, including
poinsettia sales, candy cane
raffles and the annual puck toss at
Campus Ice during a Ridgebacks
hockey game.
In the past, students have also
raised money with door decorating
contests, cookie-cook offs and
bake sales.
The Holiday Food Drive packing
day takes place Dec. 17 in the
gymnasium at the Campus and
Wellness Centre.
Students, staff and faculty are
welcome to volunteer.
Has divorce left you out in the cold?
Heather
Don't let separations separate you from the holidays
Snowdon
Coping with divorce during the
holidays can be difficult, especially
when Christmas is important to
your family.
The excitement of giving and
receiving gifts, as well as eating
Christmas dinner, going caroling
and spending time with family and
friends can seem like a daunting
task for a recently divorced family.
However, cheer, merriment and
happiness can be found during the
holidays even when going through
a divorce.
Christmas is about family, not
divorce. Remember to be patient
when planning for the holidays, it’s
an entirely new adjustment for the
whole family.
Although more time may be
required when planning it is, important
to remember your family’s
time is precious no matter the circumstance.
Spending time with loved ones
may promote healing and allow for
you to enjoy Christmas. Have a forgiving
spirit, be happy and grateful
for what you have.
Giving gifts is a way of saying I
am thinking about you and a simple
dinner is a good way to spend
time with family.
The simplicity behind bringing
joy to your family during the holidays
is as easy as spending time
with them.
Letting your family know how
you feel about them can be the
greatest gift of all.
Connecting with others and being
social may benefit you during
the holidays.
It is important to be social and
go out even if you’re tired or find
it difficult. Being around people
may allow you to forget some of
the problems going on in your life.
By building strong relationships
you may find support within them.
Having social support may allow
the lighter side of life to shine on
your holiday.
Developing coping skills and
finding support through counselling
or group counselling may also
be beneficial in the healing process.
Communication allows for an
understanding of self and by communicating
with a counsellor or
other group member you may be
able to find what you need to heal.
Make time to help others. It promotes
positive behaviour and gives
us a sense of purpose.
Helping others may promote
healing and enable you to see reasons
behind the holidays.
Make time for Christmas and
your family this season. Don’t let
separation separate you from the
holidays.