Hikado

This month, I managed to pull together the Undergraduate Journal of World History. This long overdue project was made possible with the help of my executive committee. After a one year delay, we still managed to get the publication completed despite some of the hurdles, we experienced during the process. It is great to see the final print version!
On top of that the processing department of the SFU Library will also be adding The Atlas and The Undergraduate Journal of World History to their permanent collection. It is a great joy to hear about this wonderful news. Students from cross disciplinary studies will be able to access this publication as a research tool. I know all of the students featured in this journal will be thrilled to see this magnificent project being housed in the library's permanent collection.

Two months ago, I attended a forum meeting where we had a university representative come to make a presentation on changes the university would like to make. One of the changes proposed is to look into whether SFU should rent their graduation gear? SFU currently owns and maintains their own galleria, however, the sixty year old set is starting to become a high maintenance chore for the convocation staff members. Some of the gowns need to be sent out to be re-stitched due to wear and tear. Other gowns have holes in them. According to our speaker, the gown fabric for these graduation gowns is no longer being manufacturer, so there is no way to replace poorly damaged pieces in the collection.
The most shocking and traumatizing detail of the presentation is that our speaker revealed how all of the caps and gowns are stored in a room infested with silver fish. All of the gowns are sent to the dry cleaners to be cleaned and washed before the June Convocation ceremonies, but items such as, the caps can not be cleaned. Upon hearing this detail, I could not help but squirm in disgust.
Our university chancellor is not in favour of renting gowns because, he pointed out that the cost associated with renting gowns will most likely drive up the graduation fee thus making it difficult for some students to swallow the lavish bill. Furthermore, the Chancellor's other concern is how the university has been reusing these gowns for over sixty years. It has become a tradition to pull out those dusty, insect infested gowns out of that dark warm room for years.
While, I can understand the Chancellors thoughts on the cost factor, renting gowns can affect the cost associated with graduating. I believe it is important for students to have gowns and caps that are clean for this special occasion in their academic career. Many students will be walking across the stage for their family members or parents who may of helped contribute funds towards their education. Paying a extra bit of money would not matter when, their own child will be walking across the stage.
My major concern is how the university continues to engage in practices that are not hygienic for students to be using clothing items that could pose a bacterial or allergic risk for graduands.
The already existing galleria as stated by a university representative, can not be used for much longer. Evident tearing and the thinning of fabric are just a few of the many problems associated with maintaining these historical gowns.
Many students have been emotionally upset with the lack of cap sizes available for students to wear on the day of their ceremonies. Some graduants have been broke down into tears because, they were forced to wear an incorrect cap size during their ceremonies due to the incomplete galleria set owned by the university.
I recently visited a friend of mine who had graduated from SFU and she echoed the same concerns I have brought forward hear. She pulled out her graduation photos to show me how her head looked like a pyramid. After looking at her photos, I felt ashamed to be associated with SFU because, graduation is a one time event that students will have the opportunity to celebrate their success with their friends and family, when they walk across the stage to symbolize a right of passage from school into the workplace. Mishap such as not having the proper size cap and gowns for graduants will only intensify the anxiety and frustration students have on this special occasion while they celebrate with their family, friends, and classmate. The least they could do is make an effort to ensure this event will go smoothly for students by making sure their are clean gowns and caps with the proper sizes available for students to use.

This weekend, I watched a documentary about the corporate marketing trend spreading into into Canadian classrooms. Schools are increasingly being tempted to allow these big box corporations into their schools in exchange for some desperately needed funding.
It was evident that the state is failing to provide the essential money schools need to teach their students. Several American school districts have found them selves in such dire financial circumstances that they have allowed corporations to air their 10 minute commercials in classrooms and students are forced to subject their minds to these news segments everyday. A very, sad, but true fact as illustrated by the documentary.
The most shocking example was focused on an elementary school in Surrey, BC where the school agreed to allow McDonald's and the 2010 Olympics to sponsor a fitness event, and in exchange this school would receive $200 dollars to replace old inadequate fitness equipment in their school gymnasium. At first it appears to be a nice corporate gesture, but when you realize how the company is actually manipulating the minds of young children not quite old enough to challenge this notion it is troubling. The documentary never mentioned whether parents and faculty members got a chance to discuss this project ahead of time. Because a through forum would have revealed that this project could have some repercussions afterwards for the school.
Personally, I would not mind if a corporation wanted to make a contribution to my school and maybe have a plaque or name put on the wall for their donation, but I think the line has to be drawn when there is aggressive marketing involved in the scheme to push their corporate slogans into the faces of students. Students have the right not to deny companies access into their classrooms. Elementary school children especially should be protected from the corporate marketing in their school environment since most of the students are not old enough to understand the possible implications associated with this issue.
http://www.canada.com/globaltv/globalshows/globalcurrents/Corps_Classrooms/index.html