CREDIT: JEN DOEDE
Students rallied to have their voices heard regarding the current province-wide faculty strike which has left over 500,000 out of class for 30 days now.

On Nov. 10, a few dozen students rallied outside the Fanshawe London campus in order to voice their opinions regarding the current Ontario college faculty strike happening across the province. The rally primarily allowed students the opportunity to share their disappointment and dissatisfaction with the lack of classes so far this semester.

The student rally started at the Cheapside Street entrance to the campus at approximately 1 p.m. Once students made the finishing touches to their signs, the group began to march on the sidewalks surrounding the campus towards Fanshawe College Boulevard and Oxford Street.

“Let us learn,” the students chanted while walking down Oxford Street. Numerous individuals in their vehicles were honking and waving their hands at the group of students to show support for the initiative.

While the students rallying held different opinions regarding the state of negotiations between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the College Employer Council (CEC), the students were all able to voice their concerns and feelings to the public.

Some of the students rallying are urging college faculty from across the province to vote in favour of the CEC's most recent offer of settlement in order for students to return to classrooms as soon as next Tuesday Nov. 21. The vote will take place from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16 and be decided by a 50 + 1 majority.

When the rally crossed paths with picketing members of the College's faculty, the students were greeted with applause and some faculty members even shouted “we miss you”.

Riley Jones, a student in the public safety fundamentals program, explained that she came out to the rally to have her voice heard, as she wants to return to the classroom as soon as possible.

Jones explained that one of the current concerns students have related to the strike revolves around the financial aspect. Students are wondering how their Ontario Students Assistance Program (OSAP) will be affected due to the strike and halt of classes.

Another concern was brought up by special events planning program student Nicolette Stacey, as she may have to extend her lease an extra month instead of moving back to Toronto due to the fall semester being prolonged. “[The strike] causes a lot of uncertainty about our future in many different ways; our careers, jobs, internships and summer [plans],” Stacey said.

After raising their signs, chanting for quite some time and receiving a number of honks from commuters on Oxford Street, the students marched back towards Cheapside Street. At about 2:30 p.m., the students dispersed, signaling the end of the rally.

The rally was originally organized through social media.

“I want to get back to the classroom. I want the Union and the Council to be able to come to an agreement that is fair to everybody and get us back to getting the education we all worked so hard for,” Shannon Beach, a student in the practical nursing program said. Beach said that she is concerned that the semester could be up for debate, since it is already spilling over into January.  “I don't want to lose what all of us have worked so hard for,” Beach said.