Dear Immortal God Emperor of Mankind,
I ask for a better 2011 than the 2010 I received. May certain people (or person) show up tonight.
In his name we pray, Lupercal.
Happy New Year people.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Welcome (back) to the Suck.
Niagara College is once again "The Suck."
For the past few years of my life in various NC programs, I have referred to this place of higher education as "The Suck," for various reasons (namely for its lackluster offerings and shoddy faculty and practices).
All this changed for the better when I enrolled in the Journalism program at the Welland campus (the bustling metropolis that it is.)
I felt this program had a decent group of people in it who could work together as a team, without personal agendas (save for a few). The faculty had a decent grasp of reality as well, rather than the socially-challenged, holier-than-thou, condescending, tech-wizards I encountered in Computer Engineering and the fossils I discovered in Business Accounting. The Journalism faculty seemed to generally care about us and saw us as future up and coming peers rather than the walking tuition payers everyone else regarded us as.
All that changed this past holiday season.
A few days prior to our much looked forward-to vacation, the cornerstone of our program, THE pillar of our "family unit", George Duma, was released from his teaching duties here in Welland. George has a lifetime worth of experience in the field, and he was removed from us due to the college "not having anything for him past April," which I'm treating as a load of Public Relations tripe because he probably didn't meet some sort of 'requirement' showcased on a 8.5x11 inch paper, even though he has been teaching here for quite a time.
This combined with his other newly acquired part-time job giving him a better situation financially, took one of our main leaders from us. George always had time for his students, no matter what the issue was. He was someone you viewed as a genuine friend, not as just "some teacher." You could talk to him about almost anything.
Just before we left for Christmas, George came in to say goodbye. We all assumed he meant just for the break, which is when he dropped the bombshell on us. He would be gone when we returned.
He stayed only for a minute, I could see his restraint to not lose his composure in front of us. We would later find out about his genuine tears of sorrow.
The handful of us that were in the newsroom (Room B2) that day felt all the same - gutted.
We found ourselves unable to compose complete thoughts, unable to write, unable to function.
The heart of our program is gone.
Way to go Niagara College.
You just killed our program.
(And you know that "No. 1 in Student Satisfaction" award? All students know that's a load of crap as well and I hope you get knocked off your throne. Deal with that Dan Patterson.)
To those newly enrolled at our place of higher learning: "Welcome to The Suck."
For the past few years of my life in various NC programs, I have referred to this place of higher education as "The Suck," for various reasons (namely for its lackluster offerings and shoddy faculty and practices).
All this changed for the better when I enrolled in the Journalism program at the Welland campus (the bustling metropolis that it is.)
I felt this program had a decent group of people in it who could work together as a team, without personal agendas (save for a few). The faculty had a decent grasp of reality as well, rather than the socially-challenged, holier-than-thou, condescending, tech-wizards I encountered in Computer Engineering and the fossils I discovered in Business Accounting. The Journalism faculty seemed to generally care about us and saw us as future up and coming peers rather than the walking tuition payers everyone else regarded us as.
All that changed this past holiday season.
A few days prior to our much looked forward-to vacation, the cornerstone of our program, THE pillar of our "family unit", George Duma, was released from his teaching duties here in Welland. George has a lifetime worth of experience in the field, and he was removed from us due to the college "not having anything for him past April," which I'm treating as a load of Public Relations tripe because he probably didn't meet some sort of 'requirement' showcased on a 8.5x11 inch paper, even though he has been teaching here for quite a time.
This combined with his other newly acquired part-time job giving him a better situation financially, took one of our main leaders from us. George always had time for his students, no matter what the issue was. He was someone you viewed as a genuine friend, not as just "some teacher." You could talk to him about almost anything.
Just before we left for Christmas, George came in to say goodbye. We all assumed he meant just for the break, which is when he dropped the bombshell on us. He would be gone when we returned.
He stayed only for a minute, I could see his restraint to not lose his composure in front of us. We would later find out about his genuine tears of sorrow.
The handful of us that were in the newsroom (Room B2) that day felt all the same - gutted.
We found ourselves unable to compose complete thoughts, unable to write, unable to function.
The heart of our program is gone.
Way to go Niagara College.
You just killed our program.
(And you know that "No. 1 in Student Satisfaction" award? All students know that's a load of crap as well and I hope you get knocked off your throne. Deal with that Dan Patterson.)
To those newly enrolled at our place of higher learning: "Welcome to The Suck."
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
A new beginning for the old self.
If you are reading this, you either care what I have to say, or you are killing time between things.
I hope it is the first.
I am tired of who I am and must make some changes in order to be the person I want to become. I have some character defects and flaws. We all do and don't think for a second you don't. I'm OK with that. I'm over it.
I weave a most tangled web and usually have to make things worse before I can make them better. I cannot help this, but I will change it. I will become better. This is my nature now.
I will not permit fear, self-doubt, remorse to control me any longer. If I must, I will become without fear. I have been burned once too many times, and I say to the sycophants - No more.
Enough is enough, and it's time for a change.
You say to 'seize the day' - I plan to dominate it.
- Written Nov 17, 2010. Published Dec 28, 2010.
I hope it is the first.
I am tired of who I am and must make some changes in order to be the person I want to become. I have some character defects and flaws. We all do and don't think for a second you don't. I'm OK with that. I'm over it.
I weave a most tangled web and usually have to make things worse before I can make them better. I cannot help this, but I will change it. I will become better. This is my nature now.
I will not permit fear, self-doubt, remorse to control me any longer. If I must, I will become without fear. I have been burned once too many times, and I say to the sycophants - No more.
Enough is enough, and it's time for a change.
You say to 'seize the day' - I plan to dominate it.
- Written Nov 17, 2010. Published Dec 28, 2010.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)