November 30th, 1984 The Douglas College’s Autonomous Student Newspaper ther Press | 2nd class mailregistration pending Volume 17 Issue 8 socials face the hangman » Last pub night, November 17, 1984, was the pub night to end all pub nights--forever. The rumors were con- firmed early last week in a letter to the by DONNA FORBES D.C.S.S. from Bill Morfey, a member of the college’s administration. The students of this college will no longer be allowed to hold student socials on campus. During the Ski social, a fight broke out on the dance floor but was quickly removed to the concourse. Student Society president, . Jesse Sedhu was in the process of calming down the person responsible for the skirmish when his friend tried to start a fight with Jesse. One of the hired security guards jumped in and another fight broke out in the con- course. The window outside the upper cafeteria was broken. Several people from the social ran out to watch security guard trying to get the fighters outside the building. A small fight ensued outside the college and then the emergency door outside the concourse was broken as a couple of social attenders tried to force their way back inside. All were guests and not students of this college. — Members of the New West police department later arrested the person responsible at a local drinking estab- lishment, down the street from the college. According to Sedhu, ‘‘The D.C.S.S. is going to press charges for restitution for the damages.’’ The damages to the glass door and window are estimated at between $800 and $900. The Student Society is also being billed for damages that occurred in the underground parking area, presently contracted to Impark. Also, the D.C.S.S. is going to have to pay for a college employee, hired to clean up the glass. Sedhu is furious with Mr. Morfey’s stance and feels ‘‘that he is just stating his opinion and not the overall opinion of other members in administration.., | understand that he is upset because during recent meetings with Mr. Morfey he has expressed great con- cern about the vandalism that is occurring during our socials, but he has to understand the student. soci- ety’s position: We feel that it is important to hold functions where students can interact outside the classroom and pub nights provide the major opportunity to accomplish this.’’ ‘Pub nights are also the major opportunity that the many _ poorly funded clubs and athletic teams have, in order to obtain money for their organizations. Any organization that volunteers to sponsor and work at a pub night receives 50 per cent of the excess revenue. These - fund-raisers Club sponsored ' have now been eliminated. Sedhu further stated that he in- tended to fight Morfey’s decision to cancel all further Douglas College student socials. He is requesting that Mr. Morfey prove that is was Douglas College students that caused the damages in the parking lot. ‘I think it stinks! Mr. Morfey is penalizing every student at Douglas College for what happened.’’ The Douglas College Student Scci- "This familiar sight at D.C. pub nights willbe seen no more. ety will be meeting with Mr. Morfey later this week in order to decide the fate of future socials, but until that time it has been affirmed that there will be no more pub nights until further notice. Down the TRAC TRAC or Training Access may be coming to Douglas College. TRAC is a new system of vocational training created by the Ministry of Education by RHONDA JESCHKE that enables students to learn a trade at their own pace by using varied media and teaching strategies. The program is non-traditional and based on a ‘‘continuous intake’’ that makes it possible for students to be at different places in the same program, at different times. TRAC has already been implement- ed at other institutions in B.C. but the decision to create TRAC at Douglas College now rests with the Ministry of Education. Douglas College is now awaiting program approval and fund-’ ing. Start-up costs for Douglas College are expected to be $163,000 for equipment. and building completion plus $130,000 per year for teaching and support services such as library and administration. It is expected that 40 students per year will graduate from the TRAC program. The proposed program includes an electrical and mechanical component as well as the more specific aspect of vending machine repair. This program will combine vocational learning with entrepreneurial skills. Other institutions, such as Pacific Vocational Institute and Kwantlen College already offer TRAC programs, but the idea is not to compete with them, but rather to give the students an option of. transferring from one institution to another with minimal complications. Opinions vary regarding the TRAC system. Some people like the idea that students can progress at their own speed. On the other hand, there is not as much incentive to graduate. Terry Clement, Dean of Applied Programs Division at Douglas College is optimistic and hopeful that the ministry. will okay the program. He sees the teachers’ role within TRAC, changing from ‘‘a major source of knowledge to that of a manager.’’ He adds that because TRAC is a relatively new system, it will need time to gather different resources for im- plementation. CFS Rep Tammy Roberts, on the other hand does not like TRAC for a number of reasons. First, the students don’t get individual attention. Also, she does not feel it was developed enough before it was implemented. Then too, the institution applying TRAC will have to churn through more students (‘’funding units’’ or’’F.U.’s’’ for short), to even get funding at present levels. She sees other systems in Canada that may offer more for students than TRAC. She sees TRAC as being a part of ‘‘the centralization of the educational system.’ Good or bad, we may soon have TRAC at Douglas College. The final decision will be known after March 31, 1985.