Han Solo: Uh, everything’s under control. Situation normal.
Imperial staffer: What happened?
Han Solo: Uh, we had a slight weapons malfunction, but uh… everything’s perfectly all right now. We’re fine. We’re all fine here now, thank you… How are you?

— Star Wars

You would think, given the amount of advertising Ryerson puts into its acclaimed G. Raymond Chang School for Continuing Education, it could make sure its website worked. For two days now, something to do with a faulty server has prevented www.ryerson.ca/ce from loading. A “we’re so sorry, please forgive us” message appeared in place of the site last night, and when I tried to get back onto it today I was initially encouraged by the fact that things looked as though they were going to load

No dice.

Don’t get me wrong, server crashes happen to the best of us. I could write a novel about the times theeyeopener.com’s server (the old one, not the one we’re on now — it’s a long story) conked out on us. But the Eyeopener, love it though I do, does not have award-winning ads in subway stations and on bus stops city-wide. (Dear John, can we get award-winning ads in subway stations and on bus stops city-wide? This may or may not be a rhetorical question designed to determine how often you read the blog.)

All I want is to determine when the courses that count towards the recognition (and would it kill you to make this a certificate? No one is going to believe “recognition” when I put that on my resume) in website design and development are offered. Earth to Ryerson! Non-bitter graduate of one of your degree programs is willing to shell out more money!

This does not, however, detract from the down-to-earth cool factor of the school’s namesake. I once saw G. Raymond Chang hanging out on one of the benches by Heaslip House, HQ for the school that bears his name. It was weird. Students and random Torontonians walked by, oblivious to the fact that the dude sitting under the sign having a smoke was also the dude whose name was on the sign. (“So how did you know?” you ask. Well, Timmy, sometimes people go crazy and go to the Eyeopener, where they learn to identify university officials 98 per cent of the general public wouldn’t know from Karon Liu.)

I also once shook hands with the man. I just like throwing the webcast screenshot at people. (I dare you to screenshot your own convocation appearance. All the cool kids are doing it.)