Insight
The Dawson College I Know and Love
As a Dawson grad, I was touched by the solidarity shown by the University of Guelph
BY DIANE NALINI DE KERCKHOVE
I was between two lectures when my mother called me from Montreal with the news of the shooting at Dawson College. My immediate concern was for my parents: they had been walking near the college at the time of the shooting. Thankfully, they had escaped the line of fire by a stroke of luck. Then it sank in that my beloved alma mater had been hit, and I thought of the many friends I have on faculty, staff and administration who may have been in danger.
On Sept. 20, a week after the violent and senseless shooting spree, the wider Dawson community held a ceremony of hope at St. James United Church in Montreal. I felt truly honoured to be asked to speak and sing at this event as an alumna. Before the ceremony, I visited the college, whose entrance was carpeted with so many bouquets of flowers that it rivalled the scene at Kensington Palace following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
I walked in the atrium, where the Montreal police had taken quick and decisive action with the shooter. The walls were lined with flowers, teddy bears and candles. Large message boards had been erected, with colourful pens dangling from strings so that students could scribble words of hope and courage: “We love you, Dawson.” “Wounds will heal, but we will never forget.” “Anastasia, you'll always be with us. Our angel of Dawson.” “This will only make us stronger.” These were just a few of the many hundreds of messages on display. In the centre of the atrium was a table with three large books, where people could write a message to express their gratitude to the Montreal police.
At lunchtime, the area was packed with students chatting and eating. The air was charged, but one could almost believe it was just another day here. Students and staff had reclaimed their college, and I felt proud of the way everyone was getting on with the business of living. This was just what I would have expected of the Dawson I know and love.
It was 1990 when I entered an honours science program called First Choice Science at Dawson. Finding myself able to choose my electives for the first time, I threw myself gleefully into art history, philosophy and Montreal literature. They provided a perfect balance for the meaty science courses I took. I soon discovered that we had been assigned the “crème de la crème” of Dawson's science teachers. To cite but one example, Grant Brown, a multiple award-winning math professor, inspired us with his endless patience, his enthusiasm for teaching and his willingness to answer any and all questions. This was truly a college of dedicated educators.
Dawson gave me the opportunity to spread my wings. In my first year, I became a DJ for CIXS, the college radio station. My weekly jazz program allowed me to share my lifelong passion for jazz with the community. I joined the Student Union when I was elected a student representative to the Senate. This was another eye-opening experience. Here I found a group of diligent and dedicated faculty, staff and administrators. Tensions sometimes ran high, as they often do among passionate individuals with differing points of view, but at every meeting, views were expressed in articulate and reasoned ways. Everyone was allowed to speak. As a mere student, I had wondered if my voice would get heard. What a pleasant surprise it was for me that I was always given a chance to contribute to discussions and student voices were taken seriously.
It was at Dawson College that I found my two vocations in life. I chose to study physics mainly because of my admiration for Richard Shoemaker, one of my physics professors. He made the subject come alive, and its beautiful and logical elegance was laid out in all its glory. He taught us something I have tried to emulate as a teacher: always train students to anticipate what the outcome of a problem should be based on logic. Then make sure to show how the math backs it up. It was a wonderful way to develop “physical intuition.”
Dawson also gave me my first break as a professional jazz singer. At the ripe old age of 17, I was hired to sing at Oliver's Coffee House with my very own trio. I was over the moon when I was hired twice more over the course of that year. It gave me the confidence to apply to festivals, and I played the Montreal Jazz Festival just a couple of years later. Dawson literally set me on my musical journey. Three CDs later, I still write a thank you in my liner notes to Brenda Paris at Student Affairs for giving me my first gig.
When the time came to consider universities, I was shepherded through the often complicated scholarship application process by one of Dawson's wonderful academic advisers, Elaine Roy. I was so pleased to receive the Canadian Merit Scholarship, an award that covers tuition and board. The scholarship was only in its second year, and I would never have heard of it were it not for Elaine's knowledge of all things awards-related. She even put together an interview committee to give me some experience, so I wouldn't be too nervous when meeting the national selection committee.
Dawson's support didn't end when I graduated. Three years later, Elaine helped me prepare my application for the Rhodes Scholarship. I was delighted and honoured when Patrick Woodsworth, Dawson's charismatic and visionary director general at the time, agreed to write me a letter of reference.
You know a place is special when you want to keep going back to it. In the 14 years since I graduated from Dawson, not a year has gone by that I haven't gone back to the college to visit my former professors, advisers, student life co-ordinators, and the many administrators and staff I worked with on Senate and, more recently, on Board of Governors, where I served as a graduate representative. They welcome me back with open arms each time.
It shouldn't be difficult for anyone at the University of Guelph to imagine what a special place Dawson College is. The same magic seems to permeate the atmosphere in both places. I recall phoning my parents after my first week as a new faculty member at Guelph last year. I felt I had made the right decision in taking a post here. “This is going to be a great place to work,” I told them. “It's got a Dawson vibe.”
What do I mean by “Dawson vibe”? I mean a place that strives to support students in every way imaginable: good teaching and caring professors, a vibrant student body that supports and nurtures its members, a strong team of staff dedicated to improving both the body and mind of their community, administrators who genuinely have a vision and seem to view their work as a vocation rather than simply as a duty.
Dawson has all of this, and I see this magic at every turn here at Guelph. It was in the warm welcome and friendly guidance I received from my chair and colleagues when I joined the Department of Physics. It's in the army of blue-clad student volunteers who rescue new students from the often confusing turmoil of a first week away from home. It's in the enthusiasm of the staff at Teaching Support Services as they help new faculty and sessionals through the many twists and turns of starting a university career. It's also in the smile and good cheer of the women who sell me my pasta lunch at Centre Six. Truly, a magical community becomes even more than the sum of its parts.
As a Dawson grad, I was touched by the solidarity shown by the University of Guelph in the president's message of sympathy and the lowering of campus flags to half-mast to mark the death of Anastasia De Sousa and out of respect for all those injured.
As Dawson moves on, its students marching together in solidarity to return to classes and reclaim their college last Monday, I notice that we, too, are moving on. I am relieved to see that students at Guelph have bounced back from an event that has shaken the whole country and academic institutions in particular.
Many papers have been referring to the Dawson incident as “Canada's Columbine.” But it's my hope that Dawson will recover quickly from this tragedy and will continue to be celebrated for its exceptional educational values, warm community spirit and truly wonderful extended family. It always was — and will continue to be — a magical place.
Prof. Diane Nalini de Kerckhove is a faculty member in the Department of Physics.