MARQUIS HALL — An email survey gauging the experiences of students involved in the 2017-18 Learning Communities for the fall and winter terms at the University of Saskatchewan found that over 90 per cent of participants believe they are now much more grown up after nearly finishing one year of classes.

One participant, Cailin Parker-Gates, a first-year student in the College of Arts and Science, says she feels she’s earned a place among her older academic peers, even though she’s got at least another semester of 100-level classes ahead of her.

“I deserve to be taken seriously. I was president of my high school’s SRC,” Parker-Gates said.

Survey data also suggested that the majority of participants are still unsure of the Murray Library’s floor-naming system and are unaware of the requirements for seminar-style classes.

Parker-Gates says she feels immediately undervalued when she introduces herself as a first-year student.

“I’m excited to leave that signifier off when I introduce myself next year. I think it gives people a reason not to take me seriously,” Parker-Gates said.

It remains to be proven whether or not her “Grad 2016” bunnyhug is also a contributing factor to these perceptions.