Rhonda's Corner: The Little Things That Make Our Campus a Community
We talk a lot about the big projects and events taking place on campus—the renovations to our iconic buildings, our new Centre for Creativity, the new principal of Victoria College and our record enrolment at Emmanuel College, to name a few.
But sometimes it is the little things we do that have the most impact on students, staff, faculty and librarians.
If you have been on campus recently, you may have seen (or heard) a new basketball hoop and net in Lower Burwash Court. With the glorious weather this fall, students made good use of the court well into what would usually be hockey season.
It is one of several ways we are trying to make better use of both our outdoor and indoor spaces, including the Margaret Addison Field. Wouldn’t that be a great location for outdoor classes or seminars, weather permitting? Maybe move in a few Muskoka chairs to encourage them?
We held two yoga and meditation sessions on the field in October to promote wellness and highlight that it can already be booked for outdoor games, outdoor movie nights and drop-in sports.
We need fuel for all that outdoor activity! Kudos to Ajay Sharma, associate director of hospitality services, for introducing kosher food at Ned’s Café in response to student feedback. The addition of a small selection of kosher “grab and go” soup, sandwich and entrée options has received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Ajay also helped us celebrate World Vegetarian Day on October 1 by serving only vegetarian entrees at Burwash and Ned’s. The rajmah masala and karahi paneer got five-star reviews!
While not a small thing, I want to celebrate that we now have an accessibility ramp in Burwash Dining Hall, which means that for the first time, everyone can move easily from this space to the High Table to the Common Room.
Our IT team extended its support hours to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Imagine the difference that is making to professors and students who cannot install the latest upgrade that popped up just before an early evening class or the outside group renting one of our beautiful spaces but couldn’t connect to the internet—and might book their next meeting someplace else.
In all these ways, big and small, we are working to make our campus not just a place to study, but a true community where everyone feels supported and included. By listening to student feedback, embracing wellness initiatives and making spaces more accessible, we are supporting a vibrant, inclusive campus life and making a difference in the everyday experiences of our students, faculty, staff and librarians.
It’s a Small World, after all!
Rhonda N. McEwen
President and Vice-Chancellor