Put 681 km between you and your parents! (updated)

SooToday.com received the following correspondence from faithful readers Matt Hawdon, Commuter9, Marilyn and Lewis Coffman and Craig regarding Algoma University's recent Toronto ad campaign.

The accompanying photos were provided by Matt Hawdon.

To see a second Algoma University ad spotted by Hawdon in downtown Toronto, please click here

************************** Hi, I just wanted to applaud Algoma U for their creative advertising! Having grown up in Toronto and attended a downtown university I know why they did this. A large percentage of students who go to school downtown are commuters and many live at home (rent is very expensive). It was posted in busy student area (and ads on Edge 102) with the hope of appealing to those who understand the funny phrases. People downtown are bombarded with so much stimuli. If your advertising is lame and boring, nobody will notice. Just getting the Algoma U name out by inspiring a laugh and some thinking is a great idea. Obviously if you’re considering going to university you have some sense to research the institute and quality of their education. Cheers, Craig

************************** Office of the Registrar Algoma University Sault Ste. Marie, ON 

To whom it may concern:

I have recently returned from spending several days in Toronto where I had the pleasure of walking through the University of Toronto campus.

How horrified and incredibly surprised I was to find your most distasteful and highly inappropriate recruitment posters that are displayed near Varsity stadium on the corner of Bedford and Bloor St. West.

I cannot imagine how anyone trying to recruit students to attend a university would be so disparaging of parents, many of whom are financing their son's and\or daughter's education as they study in a post secondary academic setting.

Surely this sort of message to disgruntled students in a rush to leave home does nothing to raise your academic ratings or instill confidence and values in an institution of supposedly higher learning.

Both my husband and I with university (and a post graduate) degrees are incredulous that someone in authority saw fit to permit this type of recruitment message to be printed and posted.

Academic freedom is one thing, but using a young person's displeasure with "house rules" and "boundaries" set by caring parents is totally disgusting and a black mark against your institution.

Our four children have each received university degrees and, as parents, we are thankful that not one of the degrees was received from Algoma U if this is how you view parents and most students with such disrespect.

There are many ways to interest young people in your academic setting without resorting to the mentality that suggests attending your university is a good way of getting away from controlling and mean parents.

Our oldest grandchild is now in her second year at a university which receives much credibility and respect from the world of academia.

How sad that your recruitment posters will blemish a similar reputation for Algoma University.

May we strongly urge you to remove at once all posters from this campaign in all locations and discipline the ones responsible for such an act of immaturity and academic irresponsibility.

Your university's credibility will continue to suffer as long as such pieces of negative propaganda are available for public viewing and discussion.

Yours truly,  Marilyn Coffman and Lewis Coffman Paisley, ON

************************** Hello, I just saw the letter from the concerned reader objecting to Algoma U.'s advertising in the GTA. It's not only in bus shelters etc., if you listen to CFNY... 102.1 The Edge in Toronto (I listen to this on my Bell ExpressView here in the Sault), they've got spots all day long there as well.

Not only do I not object to this form of advertising, I think it's brilliant. Good for them for "thinking outside the box." Cheers, Commuter9

************************** Hey Dave,

Was in Toronto this past weekend and saw these ads for Algoma University in the downtown area. 

Was a little ashamed to say this was my home town school. 

Nowhere did the ad mention quality education or great learning atmosphere. 

It gives the message that come to Algoma U if you are ready to party or don't want to follow rules.

I thought the public should be made aware of the image this school is portraying in other cities.

- Matt Hawdon

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