Trent University’s 50th Anniversary
3 minutes, 33 seconds in length
Description: the video opens with the Trent University’s 50th anniversary logo, then a shot of the University President seated in a chair.
Dr. Leo Groarke – President & Vice-Chancellor, Trent University:
I wanted to be President at a University where I could be “close to the action”.
Description: Footage follows in rapid succession of an aerial view of the campus, a rowing team on the river with a backdrop of a campus building, students playing soccer, a drumming ensemble, a snowboarder performing a stunt, students working in a chemistry lab, a robotic arm performing an action, math formulae on a blackboard, campus mascots, university students graduating, student group shots at various events and in classrooms, campus buildings.
An announcer speaks:
“Fifty years ago our community’s dream for a university became a reality.
Description: Footage includes shots of the university in 1964 and now in 2014.
The announcer continues:
“And for half a century, with a forty-year partnership in Oshawa, Trent University has been challenging the way we think about the world….. and learning itself.”
Description: A shot of former Professor Tom Symons, Founding President, 1961-72.
The announcer continues:
It arose from the banks of the Otonabee River in the heart of the Kawarthas, Land of the Shining Waters.
Trent was founded through the efforts of a citizen’s committee, interested in creating a university to serve the Trent Valley. They delivered on that promise, and with 100 acre donation from Canadian General Electric, Trent had found its home.
Description: Aerial shots of the beautiful countryside surrounding the University. A shot of a newspaper article from the ‘60’s entitled, “View From a Campus of Tomorrow”. An article from the front page of the Peterborough Examiner, “CGE donates site for University”.
A student journalist asks the question, “When you hear the word Trent, what’s the first thing that you think of?”
Linwood Barclay 1973 – Bestselling Author, responds:
“The bridge.”
Dr. Nona Robinson – Associate Vice-President, Students:
“Collaborative.”
Dr. Leo Groarke:
“Transformational.”
Dr. Joel Baetz – Professor, English Literature, Oshawa:
“Inspiring.”
Kelly Vanleyden 2008 – Administrative Coordinator, Trent Oshawa Student Association:
“Inclusive.”
Dr. David Newhouse – Professor, Indigenous Studies:
“A focus on social justice.”
Dr. Vythegi Srithayakamur – Postdoctoral Fellow:
“The small community.”
Dr. Ray Dart 1982 – Professor, Business Administration:
“My dream job.”
Ryan Cole – Chemical Physics Student:
“Awesome.”
Dr. Suresh Narine 1991 – Professor, Physics and Chemistry:
“There’s a kind of spontaneous combustion that happens when you put a young person in touch with possibility, and you open up a world of potential change that they can effect.”
Description: Video footage of professors and students, some in white lab coats, interacting in chemistry, biology and computer labs.
Dr. Carolyn Kay – Professor, History:
“So many students have said to me that the college has made them feel that they were a part of Trent, that they mattered, they felt they made extraordinarily important friendships with other students, connections to faculty, to the Dons in the colleges…”
Dr. Don Tapscott 1966 – Chancellor:
Description: Dr. Tapscott is shown speaking in an auditorium setting to a large group of students.
“…and that is making the role of the teacher and the professor to be much more important, because only humans can do that…”
Dr. Cathy Bruce – Professor, School of Education & Professional Learning:
“At Trent we don’t just know your name, we know you as a learner, and part of that is just the individual, personal connections that we have.”
Christine Ouellet – Biology Student:
“Exactly, all the professors know you by name. Once you get to upper year, you really get to go work right in the research lab instead of just watching from the sidelines.”
Hubert Chan – Business Administration student, Oshawa:
“You’re actually able to meet the teacher, talk to the teacher and actually be able to ask them questions on a personal level and actually get to know them as a person rather than just an instructor.”
Dr. Vythegi Srithayakamur:
“When I was doing my undergrad here I knew all my professors by first name, and I was able to directly go up to them and ask questions.”
Dr. Kathryn Norlock – Kenneth Mark Drain Chair in Ethics & Professor, Philosophy:
“And by the time they graduate, I’m able to write very personal letters saying, ‘You should hire this student whom I’ve gotten to know over four years.”
Dr. Joel Baetz:
“The more that I have the opportunity to run into a student in the hallways, the better the chance that we’ll be able to challenge one another, grow together, learn together, and discover new and brilliant ideas together.”
Dr. John Wadland – Professor Emeritus, Canadian Studies:
“So, challenge the way you think.”
Dr. Susan Wurtele – Professor, Geography:
“Challenge the way you think.”
Dr. David Newhouse:
“Challenge the way you think.”
Kelly Vanleyden:
“Challenge the way you think.”
Description: Video finishes with footage of a group of female students dressed in TrentU sweatshirts walking on campus, shots of professors in classrooms, students engaged in chemistry and biology lab work, an aerial view of the river leading up to the campus, and closing with the Trent University’s 50th anniversary logo.