As always I went to the Syre building to get my morning cup of coffee from the cafeteria to be told that the building was going to be closed for the day. I asked why and was informed that it was being used for a Sustainable Connections Business Convention.
I do want to say that Sustainable Connections is a very important organization and beneficial to our community, and I was let in the building to go to the cafeteria to buy my coffee. While inside I asked a patron if the convention was for community businesses and students or just businesses. I was informed by several convention attendees that it was not for students, strictly businesses attending the conference.
Now this is very troubling to me and I will explain. Lets call it a matter of principle.Whatcom Community College is first and foremost supposed to be an institution of higher education serving its student body. Furthermore, as students we are paying roughly $400 a class to attend WCC so we can receive an education. This brings me to a question.
When did it become okay to close down a portion of the school during normal school operating hours to host a non-student function such as a business conference?
We should be asking our school why this happened and what deemed it so important? Was it simply a matter of generating money? Where are the school’s priorities? Do they not agree that WCC is first and foremost an institution of higher learning? or am I simply missing some key piece of information
Bill Wadkins, WCC Student
Whatcom Community College’s decision to close its Child Development Center will have a profound and devastating impact on the college and our community and rob the state of one of its finest early childhood learning centers. We understand the difficult budget issues the college and our state are facing. However, some programs need to be protected because they provide core services to the college and community, in this case, to students with the least amount of resources for returning to school, staying in school, and achieving their goals. The college’s announcement was without significant input from faculty, staff, or the community, and without enough meaningful attempt at a solution. I am a faculty member at WCC, a CDC parent, and an experienced early childhood and family literacy educator, and I know there is additional information, possibilities and even support for WCC that could have led to a decision and strategy different than closing the entire program.
Amanda Henkel
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