Nipissing University students have abandoned their sit-in protest which occupied President Mike DeGagné's office and the boardroom for 18 days and have joined the picket line with their striking professors.
Eight students met with DeGagné at 10 this morning for about three minutes.
Afterward, spokesperson Lauren Edwards said the school year is in jeopardy and that the sit-in group had decided to leave its peaceful protest to support the faculty.
Edwards is calling on students to do more than getting on social media because she says the administration is not looking at the Facebook feed.
“Come out to the picket line to get informed on the issues. I understand that a lot of people have gone home. It's a stressful time and it's nice to be around family. As well, we could be working trying to save up money to pay for school. You have to send letters to your MPP, and President DeGagné."
Edwards says there isn't any more time to make up with the announcement of the Christmas break being shortened to December 20 to January 4 and reading week has being eliminated.
The provincially appointed conciliator called both sides to an exploratory meeting today. President DeGagné said he was hopeful.
"I'm cautiously optimistic. We have been busy confirming the extent of our flexibility. We would like to move forward, absolutely."
On Tuesday, the president of the Nipissing University Faculty Association, Susan Srigley said she was hopeful as well. “It is certainly an opening to get back to the table. There is a lot of solidarity among the faculty and we all want to get a deal so the meeting could facilitate that happening. This means something because it's the first movement we have had in three weeks."
President DeGagné was surprised that the students had moved to the picket line to support the faculty.
"I'm going to miss them. They have been here for two weeks. They, like everyone else in the university, are trying to be helpful. This is what a university does. It teaches critical thinking."
