Season of change
The start of school signifies a new beginning.
In the retail world it means removing
the back to school sale signs and cramming
shelves with Halloween trinkets.
I know this to be true because on a recent shopping excursion to one of the upscale dollar stores, I marveled at the skulls and autumn decorations on the shelves. I thought, shucks, Christmas must be around the corner. The retail world lives in its own reality.
At Fanshawe, change is also afoot. Students may see new buildings being built, a new eatery popping up in T-building or the FSU's hotdog and sausage cart in the Student Union Building courtyard. But the real changes are happening in the ivory offices of Fanshawe.
In one single summer, three vice-presidents have left or are leaving the building as you read this. Scott Porter, vice-president, Finance and Administration, and his wife Lynne Porter, a support services officer in the faculty of arts, media and design, left Fanshawe after 27 and 17 years of service and moved to Newfoundland at the end of June. Cathie Auger, vice-president, Student Services, is retiring from Fanshawe after almost 38 years of service along with Bernice Hull, vice-president, Corporate Strategy and Business Development, who is leaving after 39 years at Fanshawe at the end of August.
Of the three, and oddly enough, I had the most contact with Scott Porter. Whether it was playing ball hockey in B-gym until he retired his stick for a racquetball racket, running into him at gas stations, hardware stores and interestingly enough the waiting room at the dentist office while his son was having his wisdom teeth removed at the same time my wife was having the one they left behind as a teen removed. Scott to me was an everyday man, a regular guy with a fancy title. An easy guy to talk to, I truly liked Scott.
Bernice Hull is the one individual I have rarely ever crossed paths with, other than the occasional nod in the hallways. I did tweak her a few times in Interrobang columns of years gone by. I like to think the one I penned in jest about her and former Ontario Public Service Employees' Union (OPSEU) Local 110 president Paddy Musson put a smile on her face. At the time the two were on separate bargaining teams, Hull was representing Ontario Colleges and Musson OPSEU employees in province-wide negotiations leading into and during a faculty strike. I mused at the time that the two have slumber party, do each other's nails and dye one another's hair.
Then there is Cathie Auger. Often described as relentless, tireless and an advocate for students, she has been and continues to be all that. I wonder if she really is leaving the building or will she back volunteering in some capacity. I think Interrobang may have caused her some consternation over the years. I'd occasionally get a call from the College's former marketing director explaining a couple of students complained about something in the paper. I'd wonder were their names Cathie and Auger? I wonder if she'll ever come clean on that? What I can tell you definitively is I have the utmost respect for her. One thing I will always remember about Cathie was when my father passed away eight years ago I received an unexpected note from her. That small personal touch has stayed with me. I don't recall if I ever thanked Cathie for her words, but I hope this acknowledgement all these years later will suffice. You will be missed in many different ways.
Finally, Bruce Wilson, manager of the International Services Office, who is retiring after 20 plus years at Fanshawe. I got to know Bruce while playing staff lunchtime ball hockey and other College-related endeavors. I ran into Bruce in the Student Centre recently, congratulated him on his retirement and suggested he dust the cobwebs off his hockey stick for one more game. I'll keep inviting you Bruce until your last day here. I think you may have a goal or two left in you and at least one corner battle with me.
Fanshawe is definitely changing. Ask me in 20 years if it was for the better.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
I know this to be true because on a recent shopping excursion to one of the upscale dollar stores, I marveled at the skulls and autumn decorations on the shelves. I thought, shucks, Christmas must be around the corner. The retail world lives in its own reality.
At Fanshawe, change is also afoot. Students may see new buildings being built, a new eatery popping up in T-building or the FSU's hotdog and sausage cart in the Student Union Building courtyard. But the real changes are happening in the ivory offices of Fanshawe.
In one single summer, three vice-presidents have left or are leaving the building as you read this. Scott Porter, vice-president, Finance and Administration, and his wife Lynne Porter, a support services officer in the faculty of arts, media and design, left Fanshawe after 27 and 17 years of service and moved to Newfoundland at the end of June. Cathie Auger, vice-president, Student Services, is retiring from Fanshawe after almost 38 years of service along with Bernice Hull, vice-president, Corporate Strategy and Business Development, who is leaving after 39 years at Fanshawe at the end of August.
Of the three, and oddly enough, I had the most contact with Scott Porter. Whether it was playing ball hockey in B-gym until he retired his stick for a racquetball racket, running into him at gas stations, hardware stores and interestingly enough the waiting room at the dentist office while his son was having his wisdom teeth removed at the same time my wife was having the one they left behind as a teen removed. Scott to me was an everyday man, a regular guy with a fancy title. An easy guy to talk to, I truly liked Scott.
Bernice Hull is the one individual I have rarely ever crossed paths with, other than the occasional nod in the hallways. I did tweak her a few times in Interrobang columns of years gone by. I like to think the one I penned in jest about her and former Ontario Public Service Employees' Union (OPSEU) Local 110 president Paddy Musson put a smile on her face. At the time the two were on separate bargaining teams, Hull was representing Ontario Colleges and Musson OPSEU employees in province-wide negotiations leading into and during a faculty strike. I mused at the time that the two have slumber party, do each other's nails and dye one another's hair.
Then there is Cathie Auger. Often described as relentless, tireless and an advocate for students, she has been and continues to be all that. I wonder if she really is leaving the building or will she back volunteering in some capacity. I think Interrobang may have caused her some consternation over the years. I'd occasionally get a call from the College's former marketing director explaining a couple of students complained about something in the paper. I'd wonder were their names Cathie and Auger? I wonder if she'll ever come clean on that? What I can tell you definitively is I have the utmost respect for her. One thing I will always remember about Cathie was when my father passed away eight years ago I received an unexpected note from her. That small personal touch has stayed with me. I don't recall if I ever thanked Cathie for her words, but I hope this acknowledgement all these years later will suffice. You will be missed in many different ways.
Finally, Bruce Wilson, manager of the International Services Office, who is retiring after 20 plus years at Fanshawe. I got to know Bruce while playing staff lunchtime ball hockey and other College-related endeavors. I ran into Bruce in the Student Centre recently, congratulated him on his retirement and suggested he dust the cobwebs off his hockey stick for one more game. I'll keep inviting you Bruce until your last day here. I think you may have a goal or two left in you and at least one corner battle with me.
Fanshawe is definitely changing. Ask me in 20 years if it was for the better.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
