Illustration by Katie Doyle
Our college has seen significant changes to its pandemic policies in the past few months.
By November 1, all students attending on-campus classes will be required to provide proof of vaccination as stated in a recent policy. The Dialog discussed the new policy at length with VP of student success Chris McGrath as well as executive director of the Canadian Public Health Association, Ian Culbert. Both advocated for the removal of the negative rapid test option.
On October 1, GBC also announced that more programs, activities and services would be back on campus in the upcoming winter semester.
We’ve heard a lot from admin, but student voices have been largely absent in this narrative until now. Our team interviewed several individuals about the situation to see what they had to say.
Nicole Bannawe, a second-year student in the Interior Design Technology program says she has nothing against the new policies or the way that the college has been addressing COVID-19.
“I think it’s good that they’re trying to protect both employees and students, and that they aren’t unnecessarily putting people at risk,” said Bannawe.
Bannawe expressed her eagerness to return to campus and her satisfaction with the October 1 announcement.
“Online classes are actually hard. From my perspective, it’s not really as engaging as it is in person because you’re just in front of a screen all day. Some days you feel motivated, but most days you don’t,” she said. “Online class doesn’t give you that same sense of confidence to raise your hands or ask questions.”
“They’re trying to bring back students slowly and I think that’s great because most students prefer being on campus and prefer that engagement in person. They learn a lot better.”
“COVID is really hard to control and decision-makers are doing their part. You want to make sure that everyone coming in is safe and vaccinated. So it’s fair, it’s justified,” said Bannawe. “Overall, they’re doing a great job. I think there are students who will not agree and you can’t really please everyone.”
When asked about the changes, a third-year student who chooses to remain anonymous lamented their disappointment with communication from decision-makers.
“I understand that our school is doing the best they can with the information that they have. But there’s really been a lack of outreach and feedback opportunity from students about how we feel,” they said. “Our professors certainly haven’t ever asked us; do you feel like this format is working for you? Is there anything we can do differently?”
However, they are hopeful that the October 1 announcement will mean more conversations with students to identify the specifics of what students want and need access to.
“If they implement policies without having a conversation with us first, it will not serve us. They will be making decisions based on what’s cheapest for them, what might look good on paper, but if these changes are to practically benefit our education, there needs to be dialogue with the students,” said the student.
The student also had concerns about the removal of the rapid test option: “I think it’s really unfortunate for students who have invested in a program who for medical reasons cannot get vaccinated.”
“I see this happening a lot in general, where a COVID policy is prioritized over other medical or psychological needs of the students,” the student said. “And in a world where there are already so many barriers to access education for people with disabilities, it really felt like George Brown isn’t providing any solutions. But not only that – they were putting up more barriers.”
The college has stated that students will be able to request accommodations based on medical, religious or creed grounds – how successful these requests have been is unknown.
The student, who is currently in a hybrid health sciences program at the Waterfront campus, feels that the restrictions on what students can do have hindered some programs more than others, and may continue to do so next semester.
“It almost feels a bit like classism. We are a small program. We are not a moneymaker for GBC. Dental is huge. And then tourism and dental technology and hygiene, those are the breadwinners,” said the student. “I don’t want to speculate on the reasons why, but from the outside it feels like a slap in the face.”
Tayla Talmage, a post-graduate digital marketing student, shared both positive and negative sentiments about COVID-19 policy at the college.
“I think in order for life to go back to normal, most of the popular, ideally the whole population needs to be vaccinated, but obviously that’s not going to happen because of the anti-vaxxers. But I think as students, our education is such an opportunity and we can’t ruin it for others by not being vaccinated,” she said when asked about the removal of the rapid test option.
“But I know just from speaking to people on social media, I know some people have vaccinations from China or other places in the world that aren’t accepted by George Brown. And now they’re so confused.”
As an international student herself, Talmage sympathized with concerns over the mandated vaccine policy. “Do they now have to get another vaccination? What does that mean? What does mixing vaccinations do? Because we don’t have any of that information. If I have the China dose that isn’t accepted and an accepted one, what is it going to do to my system?”
“For me personally, it was easy,” she said with reference to her personal vaccination journey. “I got all my vaccinations here. I got the same dose. It was very, very seamless. It was easy to do.”
“I’m not too familiar with which places don’t have accepted vaccines. I can’t speak for them, but I can try and put myself in their shoes and think that they must be really unsure.” said Talmage.
“I mean, they could just go to the vaccination stations. Ontario makes it very easy. You go stand in line, it takes 10 minutes and you’re good to go,” she said. “But for them to be put in a position where they don’t have the information to make a decision that they’re happy with and that makes them feel safe. On top of that, not having the option to take a rapid test means that they don’t have an option to go to campus at all.”
“I’m of two minds. I think it’s amazing and must go forward. But from the perspective of other international students. I acknowledge that it would be a much tougher decision to just go and get vaccinated and not have that rapid test option.”
Talmage applauded the news of more on-campus activity, given that many bars, restaurants and clubs have already gone through the process of re-opening successfully, she said.
“I’m so excited. I started my postgraduate at home back in South Africa in May and I only arrived here at the end of July. And it’s basically just the same thing, but in a different room, in a different flat instead of my parents’ house,” said Talmage.
But overall, she has been impressed with her school experience these past few months.
“I think the online platform and the opportunity to engage and interact with your lectures and classmates has been done really well on George Brown’s part,” she said. “The use of Microsoft Teams, Blackboard, and the professors trying to get everyone engaged and really promoting everyone, talking and collaborating. Initiating conversations has been great.”
“People are constantly needing to adapt,” said Talmage. “But I think at the end of the day, COVID has been awful. And if we need to adapt in order for life to go back to normal and in order for the pandemic to end, then we just have to do what we have to do to protect each other. And that hopefully in the next few years, people won’t even remember COVID.”
