Mark Grant
Contributor
Despite being the first college in York’s history to have its residence shut down, the social and interactive life of Founders College is still going strong.
Founders opened its residence on Keele campus in 1965, setting the stage for a residence-based student community. Last April, amid much debate and controversy, Founders residence finally closed its doors due to lack of applications and budget shortfalls, administration told Excalibur.
“It was a really sad thing to have happen,” says Meghan DuCille, president of Founders College Council. “But at the same time, we’re already seeing this September that this hasn’t affected our community at all. Students came to their frosh week and we had a good turnout for academic orientation. We already have a lot of events underway.”
Students displaced by the closure now call a floor of Vanier residence, “Founders House”, their new home.
Sky Wilson, a first-year sexuality studies major who lives on the Founders floor of Vanier residence, confirms that the sense of community in the college is “really strong”.
“I feel like Founders has a lot of pride,” she says. “It seems that Founders has a lot of events—there’s always something you can go do.”
Oscar Karpiak, a first-year history major also living on the Founders floor of Vanier residence, explains that the closing of its affiliated residence might actually have brought the Founders community closer together.
“Since [Founders] doesn’t have the residence anymore,” he says, “it makes sense that everyone gets together more often.”
