Back to class

After a lazy summer, Andrew Wingfield was ready to get back to classes as another school year began Monday at Lakehead University.

"I’m excited to get back into that busy kind of school regiment and get busy again," said the second-year water resource science student. "I miss coming to university; it’s been a long summer."

While Wingfield was returning to see familiar faces, first-year nursing student Stephanie Monaghan was excited to meet new people.

"I feel like today is the day I start my career," she said.

Monaghan has lived in western Canada for most of her life and moved to Thunder Bay two weeks ago.

"This is my dad’s hometown," she said. "We just moved back here this summer after being out west for 27 years, so I’m really excited to get to know his roots and be familiar with the city."

Vice-provost of student affairs Marian Ryks-Szelekovszky said Monday was a busy day but it was great to see the action back on campus.

"It’s wonderful to have the students back after a summer of quiet," she said. "It’s lots of busyness in the Agora and students checking things out and asking for help freely from one another and us, the different service units here."

The most common issue students face on the first day is trying to find their classes, Ryks-Szelekovszky said, adding figuring out where to go to change classes and seek financial aid forms are also top priorities.

She added the university was prepared for long wait delays at the school’s entrances because of the striking Northern Ontario School of Medicine support workers. However, the picket lines shifted to the C.J. Saunders Fieldhouse entrance in order to allow students to move on and off campus without delays.

"It’s been very quiet out there," said Ryks-Szelekovszky. "Things have been very peaceful as far as I can hear."
Monaghan was also surprised to see the picket lines thinner at most of the entrances than they have been the past couple of weeks.

"I expected more people to be there and blocking traffic and everything but they’ve been letting in car after car," she said. "They’re making it easy for us."

Local 677 president Yuk-Sem Won said while they still plan to maintain the line, it was a gesture of good will to let the students cross the line easily.