By Ethan Ready

Student impact of Faculty Strike

Student’s patience wearing thin as UNBC Faculty Strike continues

Nov 21, 2019 | 4:01 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — The longer the work stoppage goes on for the faculty at the University of Northern British Columbia, the more anxious the students appear to be getting.

“It’s hard because we’re just left in the dark here,” said Drew Gilchrist, a second-year Environmental Engineering student.

It’s fair to say that students are growing concerned with the state of their semester and whether it’s going to have major implications on their post-secondary studies the longer they’re kept out of the lecture halls.

For instance, the Environmental Engineering program is a joint program with the University of British Columbia. With the strike continuing, it may near a point where those students won’t be able to transfer.

Another example is the Education, Social Work, and Nursing students who all require a certain amount of completed course work in order to be eligible for their practicums.

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In the meantime, many students are trying to do what they can to stay on top of the material that they can.

“We’re trying,” said Gilchrist. “A huge difficulty is there’s such a lack of motivation. All around, it’s really hard because not only are we missing classes, but there are not the same services at campus… It’s very minimal. The cafeteria is barely serving any food. It’s very difficult for the students to have the motivation to go and do these things.”

As the strike is into its third week, both sides appear to be well aware of just how impactful this work stoppage is on the students. Both insist they’re wanting to ensure a deal is struck sooner rather than later.

Until then, the students — and their futures — are caught on hold.

*In an email to CKPG Today, UNBC says counsellors are available on campus from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday with scheduled appointments and drop-ins.

In addition to that, Health Services ( a nurse) is available daily from 10 a.m. to noon.