Sabrina Elliott has had to wait up to 30 minutes to drive onto the Lakehead University campus in the last few weeks because of the striking Northern Ontario School of Medicine workers.
“People are sick and tired of waiting in these lines. I understand the strike mandate that these med school staff have, but unfortunately their matter is not getting resolved,” said the frustrated nursing student. “I’m sure there are frustrations on both sides of it. However, nothing seems to be being done about it.”
Elliot is organizing a rally for LU students Friday at 1 p.m. at the campus’ Balmoral Street entrance to express their frustrations on the issue and also ask for a tuition rebate for missed class time due to the long wait times at the university’s entrances.
She said she understands the plight of the pickets and hopes they get their issues resolved, but as a student she shouldn’t have to wait in the lines every day.
“Students who have kids can’t get (home to) get their kids off the bus on time,” she said. “There’s a whole bunch of issues. Ontario is the highest tuition in the whole country and when you’re paying for a good education and you have the right to your education and you’re missing classes and late for classes, that is more of a burden on us. I would like that solved."
She said the onus falls on administration to fix the problem, but vice president of administration and finance Michael Pawlowski said there is nothing they can do.
“The right to strike is a democratic right in our country and they have the right to impart information and that’s what they’re dong,” he said.
“Unfortunately it’s inconvenient for all of us. It’s not only inconvenient for students, but faculty and admin are in the same boat. Some of us just take a little extra time and leave home earlier to make sure we make our appointments and get to the place we want to be when we want to be.”
He added it’s virtually impossible for students to get a tuition rebate and the responsibility for resolving the strike lies with the medical school and their staff.
“People are sick and tired of waiting in these lines. I understand the strike mandate that these med school staff have, but unfortunately their matter is not getting resolved,” said the frustrated nursing student. “I’m sure there are frustrations on both sides of it. However, nothing seems to be being done about it.”
Elliot is organizing a rally for LU students Friday at 1 p.m. at the campus’ Balmoral Street entrance to express their frustrations on the issue and also ask for a tuition rebate for missed class time due to the long wait times at the university’s entrances.
She said she understands the plight of the pickets and hopes they get their issues resolved, but as a student she shouldn’t have to wait in the lines every day.
“Students who have kids can’t get (home to) get their kids off the bus on time,” she said. “There’s a whole bunch of issues. Ontario is the highest tuition in the whole country and when you’re paying for a good education and you have the right to your education and you’re missing classes and late for classes, that is more of a burden on us. I would like that solved."
She said the onus falls on administration to fix the problem, but vice president of administration and finance Michael Pawlowski said there is nothing they can do.
“The right to strike is a democratic right in our country and they have the right to impart information and that’s what they’re dong,” he said.
“Unfortunately it’s inconvenient for all of us. It’s not only inconvenient for students, but faculty and admin are in the same boat. Some of us just take a little extra time and leave home earlier to make sure we make our appointments and get to the place we want to be when we want to be.”
He added it’s virtually impossible for students to get a tuition rebate and the responsibility for resolving the strike lies with the medical school and their staff.
