Architecture students plan to walk out

Dalhousie architecture students request more teaching staff

Architecture students plan to leave classes at 11 a.m. on Friday. (Photo: Mick Côté)

Students attending the Dalhousie University School of Architecture are threatening to leave their desks behind on Friday.

At 11 a.m., students plan to walk out of their classes and stand in front of the Ralph M. Medjuck building to support their overworked professors.

The faculty is short seven members. Three professors are on sabbatical, two are off on medical leave and two positions remain vacant.

The architecture program runs year round and almost half of the faculty is working overtime.

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Olivia Ferguson-Losier was worried the conflict would affect her eventual application to the master's program. (Photo courtesy of Olivia Ferguson-Losier)

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"Our faculty is exhausted," said Christine Macy, the department's dean.

"There's a hiring freeze so things haven't been running smoothly at all," said Imtiaz Ashraf, a fourth year student. "Considering the high tuitions we pay, we feel like we're getting a raw deal."

Students have sent an email to four members of the Dalhousie administration, including president and vice-chancellor Dr. Tom Traves, outlining their concern.

The email requested that the university hire two full-time members on twelve-month contract "until the staffing situation is permanently resolved."

Macy said she supports the students' decision to protest.

Hiring freeze

The architecture faculty was given permission from the university to hire one new professor. However, the second faculty position became available after a university-wide hiring freeze was announced.

The lack of staff has forced professors to spend more of their time teaching classes and less time mentoring master's students.

"It's especially severe when you're in thesis advising because that one on one relationship is fundamental," said Macy.

Money woes

Faculty wages have been increasing, but the overall faculty budget has not. Macy said they do not have the money to replace the people on sick leave.

"This isn't something that happened suddenly," she said. "This is something that's a structural problem."

Members of the faculty and Macy met with students on Tuesday to discuss their frustration.

"Students are out there mobilizing in support of our program and our school," said Macy.

"I'm standing behind the school of architecture and its faculty," said Olivia Ferguson-Losier, a fourth year student. "We want a change and by doing this we're hoping to gather enough attention to get a change."

No one from the Dalhousie administration or human resources department responded to several calls regarding the student walkout and the hiring freeze.

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