St. Clair ready to move downtown
Students expect easy transition next fall when some classes begin at Cleary
Roseann Danese, Windsor Star
Published: Wednesday, September 27, 2006
The cost to park downtown was the only aspect that worried St. Clair College students about what they said was an otherwise positive move into the Cleary International Centre.
Students in the music theatre performance program, journalism, tourism and hospitality said Tuesday they were thrilled to be able to study their art in the real world.
"It will give us an opportunity to work in a theatre environment rather than a classroom," said first-year music theatre performance student Aaron Bergeron, 21. "I think that's what we're all really looking for, is to get out there and get that experience so when we get into the world, it's a little bit easier."
Students pay about $50 per semester for parking, but downtown rates -- even in cheaper municipal lots and garages -- run about $450 a year. "They'll have to do something," said Andrea Murray, a third-year music theatre student. "We'll have to pay the college rate because we're college students and it's a college-owned facility."
The deal with the city includes parking at the Caron Avenue municipal lot -- at Caron Avenue and Pitt Street -- which has room for 241 cars. The college will pay the city $5,750 a year -- or about $24 a year for each spot.
Culinary studies students won't be making the move downtown, despite earlier reports they were to be included in the mix. Students in the culinary program will stay at the college for classes, but once they're trained, they will work under the direction of Cleary chefs during the preparation of major banquets or shows, according to college president John Strasser.
"The actual teaching one-on-one will stay here," he said Tuesday. "We have very good individual teaching stations. It wouldn't make sense to transfer them from one location to another."
Aspiring chef Iain Drennan, 23, said culinary students are disappointed they won't be in the Cleary on a full-time basis, working in a professional environment and serving real customers.
"This would give us more experience about timing and preparation.... You get a little bit more satisfaction in it, you put a little bit more effort into it, rather than if you're just cooking it for yourself."
Music theatre performance students who are preparing to stage a Christmas revue in December and a major production in April will be among the first batch of students to move downtown.
Journalism students are also expecting to come downtown, where they'll be exposed to events and news outside of college life.
"I think it's an interesting idea because we're going to be on ground level and be able to get out in the city and report on stuff and not have to go through the school for stories," said 20-year-old journalism student Matt Skrzypek.
rdanese@thestar.canwest.com
© The Windsor Star 2006