ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Foot traffic through the College of Saint Rose was slow on Wednesday, the school’s final day of class. Students who were on campus said it’s been hard coming to terms with the reality that the school is closing for good.
“It’s been very bittersweet,” said Hannah Dote, a junior music industry major. “Like I know I haven’t said that many goodbyes and I am realizing ‘oh my god there’s only a couple days left’ and there’s a lot of people I may not ever see again and that’s heartbreaking.”
It’s not just hard for students, like Dote, it’s emotional for professors as well, like Jaime Iglehart.
“I’m trying not to cry,” said Iglehart. “These students are very special to me, we’ve become very close knit throughout this process.”
Cain Mack is a music industry major and he met Dote and other friends at St. Rose. He described what the news of the closure felt like.
“Kind of like going through a breakup where you are going through different stages of grief,” said Mack.
He even started a band called Superbird. Mack said his experience at St. Rose has been invaluable.
“I’ve met some incredible people here, you know, we’ve done a lot of gigs around Albany and the Troy area,” said Mack.
Students and professors took in their final moments on campus.
“To soak up the friendships. To soak up the time they have with their teachers, with the campus. To have one last moment in the special place that they enjoy,” said Iglehart.
She is a visiting assistant professor in the communications department. Iglehart is making a film to document the closure. She said students and faculty have pushed themselves more than ever this year.
“They’ve been excelling in every capacity. I have students taking an insane amount of credits and on top of it winning awards,” said Iglehart.
The college said its focus this semester has been on assisting as many students as possible to graduate.
Roughly 200 more students will be able to meet their degree requirements this year – and will walk in the commencement ceremony on Saturday – after the college offered summer session one, according to a spokesperson.
“Everyone who’s here are really doing their best to shine and to show what a special place St. Rose is,” said Iglehart.
She is spending her own time and money on the documentary, “Goodbye Dear Neighbor” to celebrate the hard work students are putting in. She has a GoFundMe setup to raise funds for the film.
Carina Dominguez
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