 |
|||
|
HOLLAND
COLLEGE • November 1, 2001
|
|||
|
|
INSIDE |
COLLEGE
|
|
|
--------------------- |
|||
| {Student
council wants changes to school storm day policy Steve Fanning xsfanning@hotmail.com Student council wants to ensure what happened to students during a storm in early February doesn't happen again. A Feb. 11 blizzard buried Charlottetown in less than an hour and trapped people inside the city when police barricaded the streets. Much the same happened at Holland College. The college closed at 2 p.m. Some students were outraged at the College for not allowing students to stay in the building. "When we have a rare event like Monday the 11th we should keep one section of the school open Ñ whether itÕs the gym or the resource area Ñ and allow students who don't feel comfortable walking or driving to stay," said Lorne Hughes, activities co-ordinator. "They have the right to stay." The students raised their concerns at the next student council meeting and sent a formal letter to Frank Morrison, the guidance counsellor at the college. The letter asked for changes to the policy and expressed outrage at the college for forcing students into the storm. Morrison was unavailable for comment as he was away for several days. But he sent a letter to student council president Tracy Muise saying he spoke with the registrar of the college, Sylvia Poirer, and they decided council should work with Hughes and make a list of recommendations. Muise plans to recommend the college stay open until 5 p.m. when it cancels classes during the day. She says this will offer a place for students to arrange accommodations or make travel plans in the event of a bad storm. Hughes agrees with the idea, saying, "I'm sure something like that can be worked out so students aren't forced onto the street." Many of Holland College's students walk to school everyday and many have long drives to the college so something needs to be done to ensure their safety, said Hughes. He is confident changes will be made and said cases like the one on Feb. 11 are rare. STEVE FANNING PHOTO Weathering the latest blizzard, activities co-ordinator Lorne Hughes hopes to see a better storm policy come out of discussions with student council. } |
|||