THE CORD The tie that bin ds Wilfrid Laurier Un ivers ity s in ce 1926
Volume 52, Issue 11
thecord.ca
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Many messages, one movement
In Depth, page 10
Changes debated Students petition against proposal to start classes on Thursday of O-Week MARISSA EVANS CORD NEWS
Women’s soccer team drops from best in the country to fifth after suffering their first two losses of the season Sports, page 20
MIRIAM SMIT STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A whirlwind of opinions has been traversing the Wilfrid Laurier University campus since Oct. 3, when a proposal to introduce fall study days – which may result in classes beginning on the Thursday after Labour Day – was approved by the senate academic planning committee. The proposal will be presented at the senate and board meeting on Wednesday by registrar and commissioner of oaths Ray Darling who took on the role of managing the project. In the time in between, WLU students on social networking sites have been grappling with the implications of the proposal and are forming their own contrasting opinions. “It sounds like there are people who are supportive of the proposal, some who are not and some who are concerned about the impact on orientation week,” explained Darling, who has received a few phone calls in reference to the proposal. The intent of the proposal is, as Darling puts it, to “help students in
Inside Steve Aoki works Beta
Kitchener, occupied
Listening to the people
Statue unveiled
The world famous DJ played to a packed house this past Saturday at the club in Waterloo
Approximately 20 people showed up to take part in the Occupy movement at Kitchener City Hall
Shaun Fitl discusses the benefits of reaching the population online in order to raise their voices
Prominent structure of university’s namesake revealed in Quad
Arts, page 16
Local, page 7
Opinion, page 14
News, page 3
the fall term, particularly first year students.” To accomplish this, a two day reading break will be added to the end of October, in turn making it necessary for the school year to start on the Thursday after Labour Day. This has left many WLU students feeling like they are choosing between orientation week (O-Week) or a reading break that will help them catch up. Third-year business student and 2011 O-Week ice breaker Kaitlin Johnson is undecided on whether she supports the proposal. “I’m still on the fence,” she said. “Because I think it’s a great idea, but then I also think that given a break, the majority of students will be partying more than actually getting things done.” She is also concerned about what the proposal means for O-Week, and whether shortening it will impact it negatively. Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union (WLUSU) president and CEO Nick Gibson recognizes the reality of this apprehension. “There is a lot of concern and anxiety around the orientation Campus, page 4