CORNER BROOK — There were a number of factors which may have prevented this past weekend’s symposium remembering the Titanic from reaching its ultimate destination.
However, despite the mostly icy public response, organizer Olaf Janzen said the three days of events were still a success.
The chair of the historical studies program at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University said the symposium included an effort to continue fostering a link between the university community and students at Corner Brook Regional High. Through a number of papers by the local high school students, he said that was a positive.
“We wanted students to have an opportunity to come up here and do some research of their own that they could present in an academic environment,” he said. “That went well, and we will certainly look into further efforts in that regard.”
The centennial remembrance was also meant to further advance the relationship between the university and the public. The sparsely attended events may have left that one of the few areas which sank on organizers.
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“I would have liked to have seen a larger turn out,” Janzen said. “I think it was a shame we didn’t get more people because I think the symposium really did work well.”
The various presentations, panel discussions, meals and film showings were held Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday. The organizer said it was possibly just poor timing to have it in conjunction with St. Patrick’s Day weekend and while the Corner Brook International Food and Craft Fair was also happening.
The professor also hoped the new extension to the arts and science building would have been ready to host it, creating another drawing card. But, that was not the case.
“There is a very strong feeling here at Grenfell that we want the community to regard Grenfell Campus as accessible and open to them to visit,” he said. “They have long had events on campus and they have always thought that, but it would have been nice to have it in the new venue with a full view of the city.”
A wrong-headed comment well written is a wrong headed comment none-the-less. I would agree that for the most part the "old guard" citizens of this town have little or no interest in academic pursuits, mainly because this has been an industrial town since the 1920's. However to say that building a university here is a "stupid idea" couldn't be a more negative comment or detrimental to the morale of the town especially with the recent firefighters situation, layoffs at the mill and now the pension crunch for workers and retirees of the mill. It's time for Corner Brook to change tact and diversify or risk dying altogether. The university campus has been here and doing well since 1975, so the recent additions to the building and programs are needed for the campus to continue being successful. It is also one of the biggest employers in the region and growing every day. I wouldn't say its a "stupid idea" by any stretch of the imagination. Though if you have a better idea - as opposed to complaining - lets hear it!