OCADU COVID19: Temporarily Close OCADU and Postpone GradEx

Comments

#402

I'm a 4th year student and have been planning for gradex all year.

Tami Poliwoda (toronto, 2020-03-13)

#404

I am a graduating MAAD thesis student. We have put in 4 years of hard work and dedication to get to this point. We have specifically been working on our thesis for 2 years and Grad Ex is what drives us to work so hard on our thesis as it is where we finally get the opportunity to showcase our works. Important people show up to this event and it’s potential to offer opportunities is extremely relevant for many of us. In other words this event is extremely important to a lot of us, to postpone it would be the right thing to do.

Alessia Latina (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#405

This is a global pandemic and almost every other post secondary institute had closed down. Making gambles and risks with your student population’s health and safety is extremely dangerous. Please close down.

Marcie Hamelin (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#410

People are at risk of getting sick. Even if most of us students are young, we have family members who wont be able to live if they get infected.
I know my dad will die if he gets the virus. I dont want that to happen.

Kenzie Abenhaim (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#412

I'm immunocompromised and can't keep putting myself at risk when there's nothing to even work towards at this point lmao

r m (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#413

It’s outrageous that OCAD has barely said a word about the coronavirus thus far, while every other school has been so diligent.

Kiana Romeo (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#414

The students have worked so hard these past few months (and years) and their work deserves to be showcased!

Erika Jamieson (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#415

I don’t want to die

Pooja Devnani (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#418

OCADU needs to consider the holistic wellbeing of its students!!!

Jenna Lopez (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#427

It is important to the career of students to display the culmination of years of hard work and specialization, and for exposure to commercial interested parties. Postpone, do not cancel.

Manfen Lau (Pickering, 2020-03-13)

#429

I believe the school has prematurely canceled this event. They have opened classes yet cancel an event. This is the complete reverse of what should be happening.

Zack Thomson (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#430

The decision to cancel gradex as opposed to postpone is unfair to the graduating students. The time, energy, emotion and finances students have poured into OCAD, putting their work for gradex ahead of their own well-being in some cases, has been met with nothing short of disrespect with gradex cancelled. If OCAD was truly concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic, then classes would have been moved online by now. As of writing this, 6 major colleges and universities in Toronto have not only postponed classes but provided updates for how the rest of the semester will play out. OCAD chooses to remain open, e-mailing its population late into the evening to inform them if classes will continue to run the following day. Our well being is played with and our futures met without concern in favour of holding down funds. I am deeply embarrassed to be represented by such an institution.

Francisco Lethbridge (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#437

It’s the right thing to do! Come on OCAD get with the system

Brenna Tedford (Whitby, 2020-03-13)

#440

I'm signing because I got to OCAD and I agree with this stance. We should stop jeopardizing our health and jeopardizing the future of graduates.

Nydia Ramos Urrutia (Hamilton, 2020-03-13)

#458

I have tons of friends and some family that attend OCADU and I think that since the city of Toronto is so densely populated it could be potentially dangerous to the students, as well as those they come in contact with, to continue to keep classes in operation. Close it.

Hailey Axhorn (Oshawa, 2020-03-13)

#461

Gradex is an critical part of a students learning experience

Jean Carriere (Pickering, 2020-03-13)

#462

Our graduates deserve better than this.

Logan Hyde (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#465

because these students/artists depend on this show!!!!!!!

Madison Cassidy (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#473

To protect the safety and well being of students and staff. Many must take public transportation and live in dorms, in order to attend university, thereby putting them at even higher risk then being at a very populated university and exposing yourself and others to Potentially contracting and transmitting the virus!!!!

Varda Springer-Kline (Thornhill, 2020-03-13)

#474

As an ocad student i am being exposed constantly by commuting to school and going to my classes I live with people at risk of the virus keep up safe and cancel school .

Carla Sierra Suarez (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#478

Because it’s is not fair to cancel an event people spent money and time and that is the main tools for ocad students to get hired, and subject people who are immune compromised to the virus when we can have classes online easily

Veronica Taranova (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#479

GradEx was so important when I graduated, I would never want the admin to take it away from anyone else

Vie Mononoke (Toronto, 2020-03-13)

#499

Imagination and Art can not be stopped!

Caroline Kasiuk (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#503

Many other events across the globe were not canceled but postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic. It is unfair and unjust to cancel an exhibit that is such an important opportunity for young artists and designers to launch there careers and show their hard work. Simply cancelling GradEx is unacceptable for a school that is supposed to represent young emerging artists and designers.

Max Minuzzo (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#506

In support of my daughter.

Chris Briscoe (Trenton, 2020-03-14)

#509

I am a hard-working graph design student has been waiting over four years to participate in grad exhibition. Please don’t take this away from us

Zaiah Briscoe (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#514

I don wanna die sir

Sang Hyon Jeon (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#515

I seen some of my friends working so hard on their thesis just yo have this once in a lifetime event cancelled, pouring their money and sweats and commuting to school to work on their thesis. That’s why i am signing the petition

Helen Tran (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#517

Cuz I’m not about going to school getting and sick while I have asthma.

Rachel Kitzler (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#525

These amazing, creative, and talented artists deserve to showcase all of their hard work. ❤️

Kendra Mueller (Princeton, 2020-03-14)

#538

I am a student at OCAD currently in my fourth year of my undergrad. Like many others, I was looking forward to GradEx as an opportunity to showcase my thesis work and network with potential employers. A cancellation puts a serious strain on the students potential for success and would like to see it postponed instead.

Mustafa Abdel Fattah (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#541

I’m signing because students have worked so hard for this event and they deserve a chance to show off their hard work!!!!

Claudia Spinello (Markham, 2020-03-14)

#542

I’m signing because I do not think OCAD should take away this opportunity that a lot of students have worked hard for. It is not necessary to cancel an event 2 months from now when you are not canceling classes.

Kali Talmon-Longden (toronto, 2020-03-14)

#543

My sister attends OCADU and I care about her as well as all other students at risk. At a time like this where profs and higher ups are able to stay home due to scare of the virus, students should be given the same privilege.

Ryan Narine (Brampton, 2020-03-14)

#544

It's not fair for gradex to be cancelled.

Natalie Sherman (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#556

I'm signing because I stand with the OCAD students who have worked so hard to get to where they are at.

To take away their one chance to fully showcase the work they've put so much effort and energy into is completely unfair to the students who not only represent the school but PAY the school. Don't let this decision be your legacy, OCAD. Do what's right.

Steven Chen (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#557

My daughter has WORKED VERY HARD THESE LAST 4 years of university and is devastated by this decision. I totally get it but why not low key, less people program by program graduation recognition???!
#Zaiah
#graphicdesign

Kelly Bryce (Campbellford, 2020-03-14)

#575

As an OCAD alumni, who would not be the artist that is today without GradEx104, there are not enough words to encompass how important and unique this experience is for emerging artists and designers. Please postpone the event, do not cancel it.

Alejandro Rizzo Nervo (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#577

Students deserve to have their work showcased after working so many hours on it.

Lynne Hey (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#586

I’m signing this to show my support

Giethan Kanagasabe (Caledon, 2020-03-14)

#589

OCAD should put student’s and staff’s health and safety first and follow the steps of fellow schools by temporarily shutting their doors.

Clarice Bouman (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#590

My oldest friend is a member of the OCADU class of 2020. I’ve seen firsthand how hard she has worked on her thesis project and I’m also aware of the damage to her career that limiting her access to the unprecedented exposure of GradEx will create.

Sara Smith (Toronto, 2020-03-14)

#592

My daughter and all of her friends have spent countless hours perusing this achievement and it should not be cancelled outright based on a virus that will be a couple month blip in the function of the world. Postpone it so they can have their achievements shown to the world and make it a better place in the future.

Dan Moore (Zimmerman, 2020-03-14)



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