Student survey results say yes to Universal Break

By Ashley Clark

BELLEVILLE – This year’s student survey results don’t bring too many changes for Loyalist College students.

Universal Break, a weekly event held for the first time this year, received a positive reaction with 72 per cent in favour.

The break guarantees all students a lunch from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays with special activities such as live music, free treats, therapy dogs and hand massages.

Some of the proposals that were rejected in the survey were bus passes whose cost would be incorporated into tuition fees, an enhanced student health plan, and having top Canadian bands perform at the Shark Tank Pub.

The survey by the college’s student government was filled out this semester by almost 800 Loyalist students.

QNet News talked to 10 students and found that only one had filled out the survey.

We asked these students about some of the questions and found the results to be quite different from those in the official survey.

Most of them said that having bus passes incorporated into tuition seemed like a good idea.

“It’s a lot more helpful if you don’t have a car. And that way it’s already paid for so you don’t have to worry about it,” said Emily Raite, a graphic design student.

All but one person supported top Canadian bands coming to the Shark Tank. The one person who didn’t vote for it said she doesn’t go to pub and therefore it didn’t apply to her. Meanwhile, a handful of students were surprised there weren’t enough votes in favour of the proposal.

“Really?” Raite said. “I like that idea. I think a lot more people would go if more famous people were there.”

The one category that still came out on top was Universal Break. Though some students hadn’t actually participated in the activities that have gone on, the consensus seemed to be that students enjoyed having a definitive break away from classes.

“I like it. It gives me an extra hour to chill out,” said student Derek Sullivan. He took part in the slacklining that went on, as well as seeing the therapy dogs, he said.

Dymond Lasher was another Universal Break enthusiast.

“I love Universal Break. It’s a chance for people to come out and express their creativity,” she said.

She told QNet that she liked student rapper JP‘s performances.