Dear King’s,
It’s time we had a talk about your self image. And yes, I’m talking about the Southeast Corner Project.
Is Dal whispering in your ear that you’re not enough? Telling you that you need a makeover because your style is outdated? Pushing you to get plastic surgery because if you can just fix this one thing, you’ll love the way you look? King’s, we’ve all been there. But I’ll tell you now — that attitude will only make you more insecure.
Half of the King’s appeal is the historic-looking cobblestone campus that can’t be beat by schools like Dal. It matches the slightly pretentious nature of King’s students, who clearly like to live in the past — given how often they debate philosophies that were theorized before the discovery of electricity. Why would you give that up for a glass boat and a basement gym?
I’ve also heard that you think this project will bridge the gap between you and Dal. But personally, I think that gap might already be bridged a little too much. A lot of us King’s students take most of our classes at Dal, forcing us to live in Limbo where we don’t feel like we’re fully part of either school. And don’t think I haven’t noticed all the Dal students hogging the Wardy pool table as of late … our neighbours are plenty comfortable at King’s.
And let’s not forget about the mouldy, decrepit elephant in the room. Are you seriously going to let 20 unlucky first years live in the should-be condemned Cochran Bay each year while spending any spare pennies on a glassy new residence they’ll never get the chance to see? Dude. That’s kind of messed up. Almost as messed up as the Jigsaw-trap bathrooms on the fourth floor of Alex Hall. As a matter of fact, I can think of at least 10 places on campus that desperately need a revamp more than the gym.
I know times are tough for you right now. Enrolment is dropping, international student numbers are capped and your students are on your back about making big program changes. And I love that you’re collaborating with Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian groups to improve the future of King’s.
But spending millions on a new facility, all while cutting the positions of professors that actually cover diverse topics in their classes? A shiny new toy won’t make it better. You can’t buy away your problems. I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure you need intelligent faculty to stimulate conversation, not overpriced, oversized buildings. It’s a tough conversation to have — but I think, if they really try, the 14 journalism students retained per year could still keep up their hard-hitting and diverse news coverage without taking class inside a literal bubble.
King’s, the community you’ve created thus far has been fantastic. You’ve guided all of us on a journey through the underworld and back. But please, take your students’ word for it when we say that there must be a better way to collaborate with the Nova Scotian community than imposing a soulless, boat-shaped copy of the Rowe Management Building on our sweet little campus.
With love,
The Watch Magazine