September 2009


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To: rhea@uwi_pals.com
Subject : UWI owes me a Refund

Dear Rhea,

Just a quick email to touch base since we haven’t spoken for some time. Hope since you moved to London it’s a little warmer than Manchester. Indian summer or not, you’d better enjoy it before the single digit degrees kick in. I don’t think I even mentioned that I’m now with UWI’s Marketing & Communications Department. Actually, it is this new post which allowed me to witness what I consider the most amazing evolution in life last week. I couldn’t wait to share it with you.

Take your mind back let’s say, a decade, when we donned our hipster jeans and tank tops and enrolled in this place of higher learning for our undergrad degrees. At the end of it we loved the experience and only spoke highly of it. And I guess it’s because it was all we knew at the time. But last week, I was pleasantly surprised. What we had was chick feed compared with what I witnessed.

Anyway, enough nostalgia, there I was, my first week of UWI as a staff member witnessing a jaw-dropping, invigorating phenomenon, called UWI Life. And no Rhea, I’m not using the phrase UWI Life as a simple noun. That’s a branded title describing three days of activities that celebrate, coach & challenge new students. And it’s not just three arbitrary events filled with speeches and academic “how to’s”

It’s a strategic project aimed at introducing incoming students to the academic, physical and cultural environment of UWI. These three days are separated according to the audience type so that even parents and spouses, are involved and it’s fully interactive. Can you believe that?

Gone are the days when you pay, line up to register and wait for that first class to begin. (BTW did you know that students attend UWI free now…lucky huh?)

The week starts with UWI Life Support which (as it connotes) involve the people who make up the support system for students. Well, these supporters (parents, guardians, spouses) attend what I’d call an energizing and enlightening three hours, where they learn the true meaning of campus life. The supporters were educated about the real deal once their loved ones started campus life, and were treated to anecdotes about “draftin late,” having to “live” in the library and the countless pleas for the phone card money to be increased.

As a new parent myself, I thought this was exceptionally useful especially as I now see life through different lenses where money is not that disposable. Jokes aside though, it’s also instructional to the parents and spouses to understand the commitment needed and the physical, financial and even emotional backing necessary.

The following evening, UWI Life Extension, was for post grad and more mature students. The big shebang though is the culmination of the three days, and this was actually the one that really blew me away. Aimed at helping students glide easily into UWI, this all-day event was explosive and interactive and tickled all senses.

Remember in our day there was the Dance Theatre? Well, it’s still up and running and the dancers performed more modern versions of what we did in the JFK Hall (As an aside, I don’t think you have seen it yet, but JFK is so passé, everything is now held in a state-of-the-art facility called UWI SPEC—an indoor stadium which can seat over 2,000). Anyway, so the dancers evolved and I was pleased to see this. But Rhea, what fascinated me was the UWI Cheerleaders who apparently perform at all sporting events.

The addresses by campus management were very informative, warm and engaging. Their mentoring words were seasoned by a presentation that received standing ovation—a no-holds barred orientation into this phenomenon called UWI Life. Delivered by Dr Dianne Douglas, clinical psychologist, this feature dealt with sex and sexually transmitted diseases, money management, time management, substance abuse and emotional disorders, to name a few.

Of course, there was free lunch (which UWI student would not love that?) and during the break, students were treated to an Information Village which displayed all the services available at UWI—from health to security and even banking. What a great way to initiate them!

You’d think that was it, right? No siree. The afternoon was kind of like a SUI fete in the quad back in our day, but times 10. The games, the giveaways and the gaiety were largely due to this upsurge called event sponsorship that’s taking over as T&T becomes more and more commercial, firms like Digi-Data, Digicel, Mario’s, Republic Bank Ltd, and E-City were all represented. As the perfect target audience for corporate T&T, Generation Next(ers) were in receipt of every possible branded merchandise from cups, to bandanas and the much needed stationery. This was accompanied by prizes which ranged from MP3 players, stereo systems, phones and the biggies: laptops. Just remember how only 10 years ago—we huddled in the computer labs to use the machines, and now every other student has a laptop.

I was even speaking with one of the two President’s Medal winners, Nadeemah Mohammed, at the event and she had high praises. She admitted that the euphoria of her national achievement (only a day before) was matched by the wonderful experience she was having at UWI Life, if that’s not a great testimonial, what is?

Girl, while the students experienced their baptism into UWI Life, so did I, and what a great orientation it was for me. I learnt about the rudiments of the campus from the structured speeches, I had fun with the interactive games and most important I became engaged with my UWI community. And Rhea, if you think I’m, exaggerating just because I work in the Marketing Department, check it out on flickr. In fact, I’ll also attach some for you to see what we’ve missed out on. I don’t know about Unees in the UK but from my experience at UWI Life I’m thinking about enrolling in another course to get in there in 2010.

Gotta run, we’ll chat later on FB
WG