Commending Laurier’s fanaticism

Re: “Laurier Day unrepresentative,” Nov. 11, 2009

The notion that Laurier failed to demonstrate its purpose, as an institution of higher learning during Laurier Day is as laughable as it is offensive.

Reducing the university’s efforts in the area of academic promotion to booths crammed into a building could not be more unfounded. Information fairs were also hosted at the School of Business & Economics, and in the Concourse.

Visitors were further educated on the specifics of Laurier’s many programs and Co-op opportunities, with seminars having been held by virtually all university faculties and many individual departments.

Laurier’s mission statement addresses our devotion to both “excellence in learning” and “co-curricular development of the whole student” – and for good reason.

Using Laurier Day as a venue to express this synergy speaks to our directive as an institution. Instead of distilling Laurier Day into an exercise of boosting admissions, it should rather be viewed as a testament to our insistence on a balanced university experience.

Laurier is a community rich in enthusiasm, and Laurier Day will only be considered “unrepresentative” when we choose to inorganically restrain this vivacity.

As a paper that “prides itself on providing quality reporting,” greater due diligence and journalistic integrity are required before unduly denigrating many of the very students you seek to inform.

–Clark Chami

I was one of many students that spent much of the day endorsing the academic programs, services, and facilities that Laurier has to offer.

Numerous academic sessions also introduced students to classroom settings and professors, further promoting the quality education obtained through a Laurier degree.

All this academic activity was not limited to the Science Building either. The Peters’ Building and Schlegel Centre were also teeming with campus clubs, student volunteers, and academic booths.

Clearly, the authors of this editorial were either absent from campus on Laurier Day or completely oblivious to their surroundings. The dancing in the amphitheatre was not an “exaggerated theatricality” of Laurier pride, but rather the Groovin’ for Charity fundraiser, a five-hour dance marathon in support of Habitat for Humanity.

In addition to academic attributes, the social atmosphere of Laurier is a defining characteristic of our university. The showing of school spirit on Laurier Day does not overshadow Laurier’s academic integrity, but rather complements its educational foundation.

Prospective students and parents that attended Laurier Day left with not only an enhanced knowledge of Laurier’s academics, but also a taste of the vibrant student life that exists on campus.

–Marc Soares

As a concerned Laurier Day loving student, I am greatly dissatisfied with The Cord’s take on the event.

I’m embarrassed of the poor research of The Cord.

The only components of learning were department booths? False. Opportunities were endless for students to learn about academics, and it was the focus of the day.

With simple research, you could find that there were 14 academic sessions featuring all faculties, in addition to a Music open house, Photonics and Chemistry demonstrations, and Co-op sessions. As well, recruitment staff and ambassadors were available.

A minute walk around campus would show that the Schlegel Building provided the ability to get more information about Business, meet professors and learn about furthering academics through clubs.

The central goal of the day was to highlight our programs and provide a strong idea of what one would learn academically.

As well, that was a crude attack on first years for harmlessly creating a welcoming attitude. These students have barely been here for 3 months and just wanted to show how much they love Laurier!

–Daniel Towers