[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Brandonhall08.jpg” caption=”Volunteers prepare bags of cookies to hand out to Brandon Hall residents. Photo by Vilma Rossi.”]

It was great to see such a large turnout for Wednesday's Open House as Brandon residents officially opened their on-campus lounge. The lounge is located in the Refectory Building and provides all Brandon Hall students with their own space to connect and maintain their community spirit.

It appears students are taking full advantage of the lounge with its work areas, computers, printing station, kitchenette, satellite televisions and seating. At the Open House, each student received a bag of home baked cookies courtesy of the Anti-Violence Network.

As the week winds down, students can continue to access the Frid Street warehouse to retrieve their belongings. Some parents have been inquiring about future dates and times to access the warehouse and those decisions will be made shortly. Remember that any items left at the warehouse will be moved back to campus on your behalf when the building is ready for occupancy.

Some of you are also wondering about timelines for moving back to campus. We continue to do everything we can to ensure as fast a return as possible. Once timelines are finalized, students and parents will receive that information promptly.

The Commons Help Desk has been working with students to address any specific questions regarding their individual hotel rooms.
Those students who have decided to change their housing option have been contacting resadmissions@mcmaster.ca

The McMaster Students Union organizes a program across campus called SWHAT (Student Walk Home Attendant Program). It matches a volunteer attendant with a student or students who want company walking home to residence or off campus. That program is being expanded to provide assistance to Brandon residents.

SWHAT volunteers will be at the Brandon lounge at 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00 pm each night to accompany groups of Brandon students on the Hamilton Street Railway bus to downtown hotels. Students are advised to form groups at these times to make the process as effective and efficient as possible. Students also can use their commuter allowance to pay for cabs to get them back to their hotels.

With students settling into their interim accommodation, whether in hotels, back at home or in other accommodation, this will be the last regularly-scheduled Parents update.

We'll be keeping everyone updated via the Daily News as developments warrant so be sure to check in. We will continue to monitor the daily@mcmaster.ca email for any questions or inquiries and students will continue to receive updates by email as well.

The Crisis Management Group has been very appreciative of your ongoing support and understanding during this challenging time.
You should be very proud of your children, our students, who have shown great patience and strength, bolstering an already impressive community spirit.

Sincerely,

The Crisis Management Group