Federal government announces it will approve fewer international students, in wake of the housing crisis and universities taking financial advantage of international students
On Jan. 22, Marc Miller, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, announced that smaller cap on the number of international student permits to be approved will come into effect this year.
In an online news release on Jan. 22, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated that about 360,000 new international study permits will be approved in 2024, which is a 35 per cent reduction from last year. The IRCC also stated that while international students are an integral part of Canadian society and the economy, they are currently being taken advantage of by some educational institutions aiming to earn more revenue from the higher tuition international students pay.
“Some institutions have significantly increased their intakes to drive revenues, and more students have been arriving in Canada without the proper support they need to succeed,” stated the IRCC online news release.
Some institutions have significantly increased their intakes to drive revenues, and more students have been arriving in Canada without the proper support they need to succeed.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Jan. 22 online news release
The news release also cited that increasingly high numbers of admitted international students are putting pressure on housing services.
This new international student cap coincides with Miller’s December 2023 announcement that access to funds of at least $20,635 are needed for international students to study in Canada. This is double the previous requirement and this amount is in addition to the cost of student’s tuition and travel expenses.
Miller stated that this decision aims to protect international students that cannot afford to live in Canada from academic institutions aiming to take advantage of them.
These new requirements were also justified by Miller in light of the current housing shortage, the effects of which are increasing in severity for both international and domestic students as enrolment for both groups continues to rise.
"Through the decisive measures announced today, we are striking the right balance for Canada and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system while setting students up for the success they hope for," stated Miller, in the Jan. 22 online news release.
Through the decisive measures announced today, we are striking the right balance for Canada and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system while setting students up for the success they hope for.
Marc Miller, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, in Jan. 22 online news release
Under the new federal limit, provincial limits have been established according to each's population. As a result, provinces with the greatest numbers of universities and hence international students will likely see the greatest decrease in approved permits.
The cap does not apply to graduate students, nor to elementary and high school students. The cap also does not apply to students that already hold a study permit, so current international students are not at risk of having their ability to study in Canada revoked.
This cap will remain in effect for two years and the number of new international students to be approved in 2025 will be decided at the end of this year.
This is an ongoing story.
Queen's University is among the many Ontario post-secondary institutions facing exacerbated financial deficits
On Jan. 25, Queen’s University announced they they would begin working with Nous Group to address their financial struggles.
These financial struggles are part of a larger issue many universities in Ontario are currently facing. In a report by a blue-ribbon panel, created by the Ontario provincial government to ensure long-term financial sustainability in post-secondary education in the province it was found that in Ontario universities currently receive the least amount of money per entering student in comparison to other provinces.
Furthermore, the Council of Ontario Universities noted that 10 universities are currently predicted to have a total of $175 million in operating deficit.
Many universities are blaming their financial strife on the tuition fee reduction in 2019 and the subsequent tuition freeze policy. These were implemented in 2019 after provincial government had removed the system that provided tuition rides for low-income students through the Ontario Student Assistance Program.
Queen's University currently reports its financial deficit at $48 million, which had originally been marked at $62.8 million. On Queen's University's website, they credit this improvement to enacting a hiring freeze and adjustments of budgets.
To improve their finances, Queen's is now working with international consultancy firm Nous Group and has introduced their operations as the Queen’s Renew Project. The timeline for their project has not been released. However, they have emphasized that the goal is to address the financial concerns through internal review and suggest redirection.
A group called Queen’s Coalition Against Austerity has formed in opposition to the controversial Queen's hiring freeze.
This state of financial crisis is not unique to Queen's and is being experienced by the majority of Ontario post-secondary institutions. McMaster University has also begun to take steps to address their financial issues.
The institution has announced that their finances are being managed internally and have released written financial goals through the published blue-ribbon panel report.
With the recent updates to their financial management, Queen's University principal Patrick Deane stated in a published message, "I am hopeful that as we have done in the past, we will face obstacles together and emerge stronger for our efforts."
This is an ongoing story.
A podium finish for the women’s team and fifth place for the men’s team rounds off the Marauders’ performance at the Ontario University Athletics competition
On Oct. 29 the McMaster University men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in the annual Ontario University Athletics championships. This year, the race was hosted by the University of Waterloo at the Columbia Ice Fields.
Both teams ran an eight kilometer race in Waterloo, facing off against 16 other universities within Ontario. The women’s team finished with a bronze medal while the men’s team was able to secure a fifth place spot in the competition.
Running for the women’s team, senior Rosalyn Barrett impressed as she won an individual silver medal in the eight kilometre race following a fantastic second place finish. The team was also aided by Hannah Goodjohn and Victoria Lamb, who helped the Marauders to their bronze medal by finishing in tenth and eleventh place respectively.
For the men’s team, this year marked the first OUA competition for many athletes on the roster, which has experienced high turnover from the previous season. This includes runners such as fourth-year Connor Lashley, who recorded a twelfth place finish, and rookie Kamran Brar who landed the next closest finish for the Marauders at twenty-fourth overall.
The Marauders’ third place finish sees a slight decline from last year’s OUA result of a silver medal.
Next, both teams will head to London, Ont. and Western University, where the U Sports national competition is taking place on Nov. 12.
University is a time to explore and narrow down your interests, but trying to balance prioritizing activities and future endeavours is a slippery slope
When you start university, you’re given close to a million different pieces of advice from all kinds of different individuals. Your parents, high school teachers, friends, therapists will all have something to say. In all the advice I received one thing was for sure though — university was a time to find out who I was by pursuing things that interested me. Now that I’m graduating and looking back, I can confidently say that it was much easier said than done.
Another one of the most frequently offered pierces of advice was to ensure that I knew how to manage my time. I was told that as long as I learned to prioritize between extracurricular activities and schoolwork I’d have no problem navigating my first year.
My approach in first year was quite conservative, in that my primary focus was to get accustomed to the difference in workload rather than indulging too much in fun activities. I quickly realized, however, that this was not the way to go about it. Although my grades were good, I soon found myself on the brink of mental exhaustion and lacking in stimulation from alternative sources.
Coming out of high school, I knew that my interests were multifaceted. Being involved in sports teams, student council and various clubs, I had already established that my interests were definitely broad and that focusing solely on schoolwork would not last long.
Coming out of high school, I knew that my interests were multifaceted. Being involved in sports teams, student council, and various clubs, I had already established that my interests were definitely broad and that having only a sole focus on schoolwork would not last long.
Subsequently, I came up with a plan: even though I had felt I had wasted my first year in terms of having a life outside of school, I was determined to change that in second year and finally broaden my horizons as one would say.
Clearly, the pandemic had other plans.
There wasn’t much to do other than continue doing what I did in first year. Although everyone around me was looking into which hobbies to take part in that restrictions would allow, I knew that the activities that I truly wanted to do wouldn’t be possible. Even still, I hiked, spent time outdoors, saw friends when it was possible and joined a few clubs.
But I was bored out of my mind. My grades were better than ever, but like many others, I’d assume, I wasn’t happy. It wasn’t enough.
Like the world had a wake-up call after World War I and entered the Roaring 20’s, I too, had my own epiphany once restrictions were lifted in third year (bold comparison, I know). I knew I had to make up for lost time, but my enthusiasm led me to spread myself too thin across various activities.
In the pursuit of satisfying my interests, by the end of third year, I found myself to be a student-athlete on the women’s football team, a Silhouette writer, an McMaster Student Union Maroons representative, an amateur snowboarder and an executive for a number of clubs.
In my opinion, this was a bad approach, but a necessary one nonetheless.
I was convincing myself that I had a lot more free time than I did, resulting in decreasing performances in each activity. Like the Great Depression following the Roaring 20’s, I too, entered my own. I knew that something had to change in fourth year.
Throughout all this, it gets difficult to navigate the line between living in the moment and thinking about your future. Especially in my final year, knowing that this era is coming to an end, the pressure of having a good time and enjoying the moments as they come is at an all-time high. Grades and schoolwork, although more important now than ever, start becoming secondary activities.
Throughout all this, it gets difficult to navigate the line between living in the moment and thinking about your future. Especially in my final year, knowing that this era is coming to an end, the pressure of having a good time and enjoying the moments as they come is at an all-time high. Grades and schoolwork, although more important now than ever, start becoming secondary activities.
As I know most fourth years can agree, the looming thought of what comes after never entirely leaves your head. Nonetheless, you push it further and further back as impulse decisions in the pursuit of fun make themselves more and more comfortable in your mind. Isn’t that what university was supposed to be all about though?
Now, however, instead of having my interests narrowed, I think I might have even more. In retrospect, while I am grateful for the myriad of experiences that university has afforded me, I recognize that I might have benefited from a more measured approach.
I leave you with this final piece of advice, the quality of which is for you to decide and for you to take how you will. Regardless of how important something may seem to be in the moment, times will continue to change. Although memories and experiences are important, be mindful of what you prioritize them over.
While my undergrad has been the hardest years of my life, it has also been the most crucial to my overall growth
If you were to ask me in high school what I thought university was going to entail, I would have just told you some stress but still an overall exciting four years. Although that has been true, it does not depict or merely explain what these four years were.
From the first day of my undergrad in 2019, I was so excited to start this new life of mine. University was all I ever dreamed about, especially during the number of times in high school I was eager to leave. Now that it had arrived, it was seeming exactly like I had rehearsed over the years in my head.
Stress, loads of reading and writing, but overall growth and change; I was one step closer to my life. Yet little did I know what I was going to endure. It was the complete opposite.
These four years have been the most difficult years of my life and although it may be easy to point the finger at 20-page papers, this wasn't the only reason.
Your early 20s are the epitome of your adulthood. You grow immensely and the growing only begins. The second I walked into university, I not only lost friends, but I went through the hardest break up of my life, then had to finish the rest of the two years of my undergrad online because a global pandemic was underway.
Half of my undergrad was spent virtually, my mental health was crippling and I never felt more alone. This was university?
I had so many ideas in my head as to what I thought it would be and this wasn't it. But those ideas were also part of the problem.
I learned that I needed to let go of the idea I had and wanted and instead accept my journey for what it was. Moreover, I could always still the reigns back, so I did. In the peak of pandemic I started working on my mental health and took a chance to breathe.
I learned that I needed to let go of the idea I had and wanted and instead accept my journey for what it was. Moreover, I could always still the reigns back, so I did. In the peak of COVID I started working on my mental health and took a chance to breathe.
Healing all of the heart break and loss was immensely needed, thus I instead viewed the pandemic with admiration in ways, a lesson I learned I’ve learned time and time again.
Walking into McMaster University, I was beyond scared, selfless in unhealthy ways and overly self-critical. After spending time alone at home for so long, I learned I truly was my only fan, supporter and friend and that I needed to take care of that.
And it was when I was stuck at home that I remembered touring the campus and seeing The Silhouette’s office around my first week – all I loved to do was to write and while everything seemed so far and impossible at that point, I still thought why not? and started writing.
I started growing with my writing with the Silhouette. As I became a staff writer, I also began spacing out my studying and understanding how to do things that were best for my abilities and well-being.
I found beauty in being in my own presence, beauty in my work and craft and beauty all around me. My undergrad never stopped testing me as I dealt with more grief, stress and mental health struggles regardless of the grip I started to have.
Although one may see university as just improving your own logic for your future, more specifically within your work field, university bettered me as a human-being.
I learned how to take care of myself. I learned more things about myself when I thought I already knew it all and more importantly – I kicked university's butt and some.
I did things I never thought I could for myself and for my future self. Now I am the Opinions Editor for the Silhouette and I am just weeks away from graduating. I have learned so much along the way, met so many amazing people and gained so many new skills.
It turned out to be a lot better than what I thought it was. A lot better.
C/O Vitolda Klein, Unsplash
Chasing perfection is a societal ideal that rarely benefits the one chasing
Recently, I have noticed how often the term "perfectionism" is thrown around. Nowadays, it seems as if everyone is a proud perfectionist who refuses to accept any standard short of perfection.
Their sense of perfectionism will appear in their work ethic, study habits and even personal relationships. In spite of the rise of perfectionism in the last decade, I have had a difficult time understanding the glorification of this phenomenon.
To be clear, I don’t believe that individuals willingly fall into the trap of perfectionism. It's often society that pushes us towards perfectionist behaviours as we are incessantly told from a young age to improve and polish every aspect of our life that might be slightly blemished.
From our parents to our schools, to our mentors, we are told how the “real world” holds high standards that we have to live up to. Time after time, we have been told how achieving greatness stems from perfect work ethics, perfect grades and a perfect attitude.
Because of these harsh statements, many of us have been conditioned to only judge ourselves and our accomplishments on a zero to perfect scale — meaning if our work is not performed perfectly, it might as well deserve a zero.
For example, we often don’t feel proud if we score a 90% since our immediate thought is how we could have potentially achieved a 100%, but failed to do so. We slowly start losing happiness and joy because accomplishments are no longer satisfying if they are not “perfect.”
In fact, over 60% of McMaster students reported feeling higher than average levels of stress in a 2017 survey, leading to concerns about the effects of chronic stress in university students.
In fact, over 60% of McMaster students reported feeling higher than average levels of stress in a 2017 survey, leading to concerns about the effects of chronic stress in university students.
KIMIA TAHAEI, OPINIONS STAFF WRITER
However, I must say that I don’t believe that perfectionism is entirely devoid of value. In fact, science has proven that “healthy perfectionism” exists. Studies have stated how in some cases perfectionism can often be a driving source to perform your absolute best and achieve the highest of accomplishments.
However, I must question, how thin is the line between “healthy perfectionism” and obsessive perfectionism? Can individuals who fall into the trap of perfectionism in their work life keep it detached from their personal lives? Wouldn’t relationships, hobbies and activities done for the sheer joy of it deteriorate if perfection is the only given option?
“The most evil trick about perfectionism is that it disguises itself as a virtue,” stated author Rebecca Solnit.
“The most evil trick about perfectionism is that it disguises itself as a virtue,” stated author Rebecca Solnit.
KIMIA TAHAEI, OPINIONS STAFF WRITER
This quote excellently explains why so many individuals fall into the trap of perfectionism. They do so as they believe that this could increase their quality of work and they could reach perfection. However, the unfortunate truth is that the concept of anything ‘perfect’ is erroneous. Often, because individuals cannot define ‘perfect’, they assume they aren't reaching it, making perfectionism a never-ending cycle.
Candidly, we must take a step and ask ourselves, how are we defining a ‘perfect job’ or a ‘perfect relationship’? Or whether a ‘perfect grade’ is truly worth it, if it comes at the cost of our mental health?
We cannot let the false and outdated definition of perfectionism gain control over our decisions. In a world that is so cruel and chaotic at times, it’s foolish to rob ourselves from experiencing the simple joys of life.
C/O Travis Nguyen
While the holiday season may be welcomed, the extreme shift to total relaxation can cause us to “crash”
By: Ardena Bašić, Contributor
The holiday season is often a welcomed time off for many, especially students who face their exams period immediately prior to the break. However, given that we are exceptionally busy beforehand, the decrease or change in responsibilities can be a shock to our system.
Although we certainly deserve the rest after busy and stressful times, we must balance that with different endeavours and activities to ensure that we are not putting ourselves in significantly contrasting environments. Such an approach will allow us to get the most out of the holiday break and return to school and work with a renewed sense of motivation.
Many individuals become acclimated to such high levels of productivity, particularly students who must balance their school work, extracurriculars and other endeavours on top of maintaining their health and social lives. In the moment, we often fail to realize how much of our energy is coming from the sheer adrenaline of all our obligations, likely alongside copious amounts of caffeine.
Thus, when we take a break from such a hectic lifestyle, the drastic drop in our stressors often leave us feeling drained and lethargic, a phenomenon often called ‘adrenal fatigue.’ In fact, going from one extreme to another — overworking to completely resting — could leave us feeling worse off.
Thus, when we take a break from such a hectic lifestyle, the drastic drop in our stressors often leave us feeling drained and lethargic, a phenomenon often called ‘adrenal fatigue.’ In fact, going from one extreme to another — overworking to completely resting — could leave us feeling worse off.
Ardena Bašić, Contributor
We need to find a place in the middle of this continuum that will allow us to recharge without radically lowering our adrenaline levels.
There are a variety of activities and methods that can allow individuals, no matter their specific interests, to find this balance. For example, some hobbies can be both restful and stimulating to the brain and body at the same time.
Reading, exercising and listening to or playing music all have beneficial effects on the body and mind, but are not as taxing as arduous readings or complex essay prompts. Moreover, social interactions can be highly energizing for some individuals, especially after being deprived of them during the pandemic. It not only has physiological benefits since humans are naturally social creatures, but it also helps abate feelings of loneliness and isolation that can be extremely draining on a person. Finding solidarity in finally getting a break after a long semester can also be a great bonding tool among students!
Of course, such approaches will vary for everyone. Some people who are more introverted may find that individual activities are a better way to stay occupied without creating overbearing stressors during the holidays.
Furthermore, one cannot expect every day of the break to be the same. Our energy levels fluctuate constantly and we need to respond as needed. This may mean being outside and active with friends for one day and then deciding to stay in for a movie marathon by yourself on another.
So long as we are not keeping ourselves on one end of the spectrum for a prolonged period of time, we can find a healthy equilibrium between complete rest and the hustle of our daily life.
So long as we are not keeping ourselves on one end of the spectrum for a prolonged period of time, we can find a healthy equilibrium between complete rest and the hustle of our daily life.
Ardena Bašić, Contributor
In sum, although the holidays may seem like the perfect time to fully recharge, we have to balance such rest with engaging activities to ensure that we do not completely crash. Given the spirit of the season, reaching out to loved ones and peers, finding new or old forgotten hobbies or simply taking what comes with the day can allow one to reach this balance.
Take care of yourself and those around you and you will come back with a new vigour for a successful next term!
C/O Dolled UP Desserts
Katarina Poletto, the founder of Dolled Up Desserts, reveals her journey from the Health Sciences program at Mac to opening her own bakery
After graduating from her undergraduate studies in health sciences at McMaster University in 2016, Katarina Poletto was ready to begin her master’s degree at the University of Chicago. However, her plans took an unexpected turn when she decided to take a year off to pursue her true passion — baking. She opened her award-winning bakery, Dolled Up Desserts, that same year, specializing in gluten-free, vegan desserts with a pin-up vintage twist.
Poletto entered the health sciences program at McMaster thinking she would go into medicine. But when she realized she didn’t want to pursue it anymore, she began to explore her other interests in holistic health and wellness.
“I really went in a really different direction than most of my peers. In second year, I realized I wanted to [do something different] because I became disenchanted with the medical system,” said Poletto.
For her fourth-year thesis project, Poletto had researched alternative therapies for eating disorder treatment under the supervision of Dr. Parmjit Singh and she wanted to continue on a similar pathway for her career, focusing on research and policy making for alternative therapies and holistic health.
Poletto received an offer and scholarship to attend the University of Chicago for graduate studies in social service administration and policy in the fall of 2016. However, it all changed when she received the Summer Company grant for entrepreneurial students after learning about it from her partner, and now husband, earlier the same year.
With the $3,000 and business mentorship provided through the grant program, Poletto started Dolled Up Desserts.
Poletto had always loved baking and grew up in a household with a sweet tooth. However, during university, she developed intolerances to gluten, dairy and eggs. Following this change in her diet, she began to bake for herself more because she noticed there was a gap in the market for high-quality gluten-free and vegan baked goods.
“Oftentimes, [gluten-free food] tastes like cardboard or sandpaper and I wasn’t going to settle for that. I really focused on trying to make tasty gluten-free items,” said Poletto.
Poletto was already an avid baker, baking at least twice a week, and worked on converting all her recipes into gluten-free and vegan items she could enjoy. With her recipes and knowledge about the gap in the market, she was inspired to create a business to fill that gap.
Dolled Up Desserts started as a wholesale gluten-free and vegan dessert manufacturing business. Within the first few months after the launch, the business saw tremendous growth and the demand for her products were high. In fact, the Union Market at the McMaster Student Union Centre was one of her first customers.
Seeing the great potential for her business, Poletto never turned back to her graduate studies.
“I had no idea what I was doing. I was absolutely just going at it, learning as I was going and I felt confident in that,” said Poletto.
In July of 2020, Dolled Up Desserts finally opened its brick-and-mortar location on James Street to offset the losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to opening the physical location, Dolled Up Desserts was mainly focused on providing dietary-inclusive desserts for restaurants, school cafeterias, stadiums, hotels, banquet halls and other event centres. However, during the peak of the pandemic, they lost many of their food service customers.
“We were doing some really big things leading up to the beginning of 2020 — huge, massive things — and we lost it all in a week when the lockdown happened because gluten-free and vegan products aren’t part of a restaurant’s core business. It’s an accessory product that’s good to have. So, I’m grateful for the store. It’s definitely given us a bit more presence in the community and given our brand awareness overall,” said Poletto.
Poletto is still looking to get the business back in the food service sector while continuing the store front as it is her firm goal to have inclusive desserts be available and accessible everywhere.
Looking ahead into the holiday season, Dolled Up Desserts will soon launch their holiday menu at the end of November. The holiday menu occurs once a year where every item is replaced with the best of the best, limited-edition Christmas and holiday themed baked goods.
The story of Dolled Up Desserts may not be a typical one. Poletto did not pursue a predictable career in the science field coming out of the health sciences program, but she says the skills and knowledge gained from the program have been integral to her success and starting a business for the first time.
“From the outside, it’s really hard to see this and it’s gotten lost in translation over the years, but the health sciences program really gives learners the opportunity to develop different skills to be lifelong learners and do and learn about things that interest them in a way that makes sense to them,” Poletto explained.
Poletto valued the inquiry learning model from the program the most which allows the students to be directors of their own education.
“[Inquiry] is a free form space or you to try and unlearn all the things you’ve learned from traditional school . . . and that learning model really opened up my mind and awareness to who I am as a person and really helped me develop the skills to be a lifelong learner,” said Poletto.
“[Inquiry] is a free form space or you to try and unlearn all the things you’ve learned from traditional school . . . and that learning model really opened up my mind and awareness to who I am as a person and really helped me develop the skills to be a lifelong learner,”
Katarina Poletto, Founder of Dolled Up Desserts
Today, Poletto often returns to McMaster as a guest speaker and mentor for health sciences and commerce courses.
Poletto’s journey of wanting to go into medicine to opening her own bakery has been challenging and difficult. So what’s the secret ingredient behind her success? She says flexibility and open-mindedness to new opportunities.
“If I was so focused on, ‘This is the way I have to do things and this is the only goal I have,’ I would have never [started Dolled Up Desserts]. I believe having goals is really important, especially long-term goals, but there also has to be room for flexibility and opportunity there. If you are ever presented with a really exciting thing that may be off kilter to what you think you should be doing, just do it because you never know — it could change your life,” said Poletto.
“If I was so focused on, ‘This is the way I have to do things and this is the only goal I have,’ I would have never [started Dolled Up Desserts]. I believe having goals is really important, especially long-term goals, but there also has to be room for flexibility and opportunity there. If you are ever presented with a really exciting thing that may be off kilter to what you think you should be doing, just do it because you never know — it could change your life,”
Katarina Poletto, Founder of Dolled Up Desserts
C/O Tim Gouw, Unsplash
With bird courses changing, so should we
By: Diya Ahmad, Opinions Editor
Even before beginning my first year at McMaster in 2019, the term “bird course” was well-known to the 500-large graduating class of my high school. In particular, McMaster’s fall course selection coincided with our high school graduation. Being one of the unlucky ones with a second-day course selection appointment, all I could do was watch worriedly as my peers scrambled to get a spot in one of the coveted “bird” courses.
The phenomenon of scouring the depths of r/McMaster to find bird courses isn’t one isolated to first year. In fact, the dichotomy between those with first-day enrollments and those with second-day enrollments is majorly rooted in the popularity of bird courses. While getting into a popular course is treated as nothing less of an achievement, it’s important to step back and reflect on the true impact of bird courses.
While getting into a popular course is treated as nothing less of an achievement, it’s important to step back and reflect on the true impact of bird courses.
DIYA AHMAD, OPINIONS EDITOR
This isn’t to say that there aren’t students who are genuinely interested in the aforementioned courses, but that the most popular motivation for taking such courses is to receive an easy grade. However, this assumption has its own pitfalls. On one hand, perceptions of which courses are “easy” and which are not are often wrong.
For example, modifications to the delivery of ECON 1B03, a supposed “bird course,” following the termination of in-person classes, such as the introduction of weekly quizzes, left many students feeling as if it didn’t meet their expectations of a true “bird” course. On r/McMaster, students expressed disbelief in the course ever being a perceived bird course to begin with, emphasizing the difficulty of five-minute quizzes that gave one minute per question to be answered.
Clearly, the uncertainty of class formats amid the pandemic and our return to in-person learning have left sentiments about bird courses to be lacking in reliability. The effects of this are more massive than initially meets the eye.
From personal experience, bird courses are often decided upon and chosen through conversations with upper-year students. Even throughout the semester, such students can be turned to for guidance through shared experiences. Due to the changing nature of previously-considered “bird” courses, there’s ultimately a breakdown in communication between younger and older students. The confusion and uncertainty that comes with beginning university is often resolved by connecting with others that have been through the same experiences.
Even something as simple as bird courses illustrates that the changes in the way we learn at McMaster has ultimately led to differences in experience and our ability to support one another.
Even something as simple as bird courses illustrates that the changes in the way we learn at McMaster has ultimately led to differences in experience and our ability to support one another.
DIYA AHMAD, OPINIONS EDITOR
Apart from our connection with our fellow Mac students, our over-reliance on bird courses has tremendous impacts on our learning. With Mac’s distinction as Canada’s most research-intensive university, it comes as no surprise that nearly all of the McMaster students that I’ve met have plans to pursue a postgraduate degree, whether that be graduate school or a professional program such as medicine or law.
Let’s take the example of medical schools. With rising admission averages for GPA, it’s no wonder bird courses are as popular as they are. After all, if each and every one of your course grades are being evaluated under a magnifying glass, wouldn’t you want to take all steps possible to ensure they’re as high as possible?
Yet, in my experience, bird courses have the potential to cause more harm than good. Oftentimes, I’ve had to spend more time on the endless assignments of a supposedly “easy” course than the ones mandatory for my degree. Even when a class has been truly easy, it’s undeniably difficult to devote time to subjects that you have no passion for. Oftentimes, I’ve felt that taking bird courses for the purposes of taking an easy course has caused me to feel as if I’m wasting my time and money at university.
Reflecting on my negative experiences with bird courses, I’ve changed my mindset entirely to accommodate electives that wouldn’t take away from my mandatory courses while aligning with my interests. Being in health sciences, a program that gives me numerous electives, I’ve found much more gratification in filling up my elective space with economics courses: a field of study that I have cared about since my time in high school.
There’s no doubt that choosing bird courses has its benefits, especially amidst the pressure to do well in order to gain admission to professional schools. Yet, when acknowledging changing course structures, internal satisfaction and “bang for your buck,” perhaps it’s time to do away with the trend towards bird courses.
C/O Travis Nguyen
Financial, distance and mental barriers exist in our return to in-person university
By: Ardena Bašić, Contributor
University life before COVID-19 feels like a distant dream. Never before have we associated campus life with daily MacChecks, proof of vaccination, social distancing and the infamous mute button on Zoom. Although there are aspects of in-person learning that both students and professors are yearning to get back to, there are also some that could be challenging and necessitate some changes in how higher learning operates.
For one, being on campus poses issues in terms of both accommodation and commute. Given that most leases start in the spring, when the winter semester is ending, many students did not have a chance to find accommodation well before McMaster University announced intentions for in-person learning for the fall 2021 and winter 2022 semesters.
Not only was this logistically difficult, but many students could also struggle in being able to fund full-year lease agreements. This is especially true given that the pandemic could shift at any time, rendering such accommodations as simply another setting for online learning. Although the university was cautious in waiting to announce what type of learning we could expect for this school year, it did not bode well for many considering the competitive and expensive nature of student housing.
Although the university was cautious in waiting to announce what type of learning we could expect for this school year, it did not bode well for many considering the competitive and expensive nature of student housing.
Ardena Bašić, Contributor
In terms of a commute, classes occurring in person means that it will likely be longer than the time and distance from one’s bed to their desk. Although some students are located in Hamilton, they will still have to keep track of the bussing system or find a parking space on or near campus. Again, while both these options are generally feasible, they may pose challenges in terms of time-management and funding for many.
Another difficulty that could arise involves the coping mechanisms students have developed to ease anxiety during these unprecedented times. Although many services are once again being offered on campus — such as athletic facilities and clubs that focus on well-being — some are still being left online or are hard to come by. The Pulse, for example, requires bookings and minimizes the time one can spend in a single visit.
Struggling to book a space during high demand means that some people who have relied on exercise for their mental health may be left out. Of course, there are online options, but many students are tired of such an approach and are eager for in-person activities again. These barriers make it daunting for students to be optimistic about a normal, on-campus life like the one many had before the COVID-19 pandemic.
These barriers make it daunting for students to be optimistic about a normal, on-campus life like the one many had before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ardena Bašić, Contributor
One more thing to consider is the stimulus shock that many students felt when coming back to campus for the first-time post pandemic. The sheer number of real-life people seemed intimidating after only seeing virtual faces for so long. Although students will likely acclimate to this after a period of time, it will only be exacerbated by the limited supply of coping mechanisms currently available. Although schools have to move gradually for everyone’s safety, it still comes with its caveats for students and anyone working on campus.
Given these logistical issues, educational institutions may have to work toward a revised version of on-campus learning rather than exactly what we had before. For example, giving students who rely on commuting or are struggling to find or pay for accommodations first choice during class scheduling. This will allow them to find the classes that work around their schedule and would be enhanced even further if classes continued to offer online completion options. Reductions in tuition for students who choose the latter should also be considered, since they would not be making as much of a use of campus facilities as those on campus.
Moreover, as it is safe to do so, schools should continue to expand their offerings and attempt to regain close to, if not exactly, as many programs as they had previously. Catering to the diverse range of student interests will ensure that there is something for everyone to relieve the stresses that come with being a student. In lieu of choosing whether programs should be fully online or fully in-person, live-streaming and recordings offer an alternative that would maximize accessibility.
In lieu of choosing whether programs should be fully online or fully in-person, live-streaming and recordings offer an alternative that would maximize accessibility.
Ardena Bašić, Contributor
Social acclimation will no doubt be the hardest step, as most of us have spent well over a year being limited in our contacts. However, as we increasingly get back to a new normal, we will be able to practice our flexibility and resiliency as humans to find comfort and appreciation in our environment again. Although the world around us is filled with uncertainty, the pandemic has taught us that we can definitely rely on our adaptability and constant yearning to change our surroundings for the better.
