Friday, January 12, 2007
Stranded on the mountain
On Wednesday, Jan 10th hundreds of students were stranded at SFU because the heavy snowfall prevented Translink buses from running up and down the hill. The university's slow decision making skills resulted in absolute chaos on campus. By 4:30 pm all buses travelling up and down the mountain were put on stand by for safety reasons. The university did not issue a statement to outline there was a shut down until 5:00 pm so many students were left waiting outside in the freezing, cold temperatures while Translink buses were parked to one side of the road.
When I left campus, the last 135 Bus just pulled away and I ended up with the crowd of other students looking creative ways to get to the bottom of the mountain. My two friends and I decided to call a taxi, but after making reservations and waiting for 45 minutes outside for a taxi, we decided to head indoors for some warmth. The word out on the street was that the pub was open and still operating while all other food service establishments shut down.
When we arrived at the pub, the place was packed with students! I have never seen the school pub so full before.
I eventually got of the mountain, but it was a terrible experience for many students. I decided to trek down the mountain with my friend and halfway down a generous staff member offered to give us a lift down to my car.
The following day I heard that SFU Residence offered to rent rooms out to students for $10 and many jumped at the chance.
SFU's department responsible for making school closers should amend their policies to allow for a more adequate amount of time for students to leave campus. On Wednesday, the university did not issue a closure notice until Translink bus drivers refused to drive any students of or on the hill. The official notice uneffectively communicated the situation students would be facing due to the snow storm. University officials should have made this decision earlier on in the day instead of waiting until it was too late for students to find any means to leave campus.
It is estimated close to 300 students were stuck on campus that night due to the weather. Almost all of the regular buses resumed their schedules with huge delays by around 9:30 pm.
Many individuals, just like me, were almost force to camp out over night at our office until the following morning when transit services were sure to be up and running by then.
When I left campus, the last 135 Bus just pulled away and I ended up with the crowd of other students looking creative ways to get to the bottom of the mountain. My two friends and I decided to call a taxi, but after making reservations and waiting for 45 minutes outside for a taxi, we decided to head indoors for some warmth. The word out on the street was that the pub was open and still operating while all other food service establishments shut down.
When we arrived at the pub, the place was packed with students! I have never seen the school pub so full before.
I eventually got of the mountain, but it was a terrible experience for many students. I decided to trek down the mountain with my friend and halfway down a generous staff member offered to give us a lift down to my car.
The following day I heard that SFU Residence offered to rent rooms out to students for $10 and many jumped at the chance.
SFU's department responsible for making school closers should amend their policies to allow for a more adequate amount of time for students to leave campus. On Wednesday, the university did not issue a closure notice until Translink bus drivers refused to drive any students of or on the hill. The official notice uneffectively communicated the situation students would be facing due to the snow storm. University officials should have made this decision earlier on in the day instead of waiting until it was too late for students to find any means to leave campus.
It is estimated close to 300 students were stuck on campus that night due to the weather. Almost all of the regular buses resumed their schedules with huge delays by around 9:30 pm.
Many individuals, just like me, were almost force to camp out over night at our office until the following morning when transit services were sure to be up and running by then.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Annoying Sales People!
I went into the downtown Vancouver Sport Check- Coast Mountain store to spend my holiday gift card. I was planning to purchase a new jacket for myself. As I browsed the shelves and racks of jackets several sales reps greeted me. One or two of them were helpful. But, I started to get irritated with the agressive and annoying sales employees, when I started to try on a couple of jackets, half a dozen different salespersons would approach me and say,"Can I help you?"
I replied, "Thank - you, but someone is already taking care of me."
Two mintues later after a sales associate walked away from me to reshelve a jacket that was too big for me. I was approached again by another Sport Check employee who said, "Hi, Are you finding everything you need?"
I answered," Yes, I'm fine."
By the time, my original sales person returned to check up on me at least three different employees came to ask me if I needed help finding or looking at something.
What was really irritating is that before I could actually take a good look at a jacket or even try it on to see how it fit a zillion sales representatives would pop out of nowhere and interject with their well scripted company greeting.
After spending 20 minutes in the store, I think I had 7 different Sales associates come to ask me if I needed help. I finally left the store empty handed and irritated at the annoying sales tactic used by Sport Check employees. I did not like being constantly asked by employees, if I required assistance. When I need you, I will go and fetch you, otherwise just leave me alone !
I replied, "Thank - you, but someone is already taking care of me."
Two mintues later after a sales associate walked away from me to reshelve a jacket that was too big for me. I was approached again by another Sport Check employee who said, "Hi, Are you finding everything you need?"
I answered," Yes, I'm fine."
By the time, my original sales person returned to check up on me at least three different employees came to ask me if I needed help finding or looking at something.
What was really irritating is that before I could actually take a good look at a jacket or even try it on to see how it fit a zillion sales representatives would pop out of nowhere and interject with their well scripted company greeting.
After spending 20 minutes in the store, I think I had 7 different Sales associates come to ask me if I needed help. I finally left the store empty handed and irritated at the annoying sales tactic used by Sport Check employees. I did not like being constantly asked by employees, if I required assistance. When I need you, I will go and fetch you, otherwise just leave me alone !
