—enpeEPe

 

 

ore

Students, as we know, are
a low income group. I know
because I belong to this
‘group. We survive through
the year primarily on the
money we earn during the
summer. It would seem
only reasonable, then, that
students should be provided
with affordable housing.

The College System was
developed on the premise
that it serves residents in
its regional boundaries. Al
Atkinson, Director of Coun-
selling, provided this in-
formation to me. Douglas
College, it is assumed, at-
tracts as students, only
those who already live in
the surrounding area. This
assumption has resulted in
the view that there is no
need for student housing.

After two weeks of invest-
igation on this issue, how-
ever, I have discovered this
view to be incorrect.

According to statistics re-
leased to me_ by ° Andy
Wilson, Registrar of Stu-
dents, Douglas College (and
its three campuses) attracts
students to its programs
from right across the prov-
ince: Kimberly, Williams

Lake, and Prince George, to
name a few; and, in fact,
from right across Canada:

 

Linda Keryluk, a New Westminster Douglas
College student, questions whether the absence

of a provision for subsidized student housing at
Douglas is a wise policy.

Special to Other Press.

Alberta, Manitoba, and as
far as Ontario.

Further statistics from a
residency report identify a
total of 547 students from
outside the area. Although
this figure is large, I sus-
pect that it is not large
enough. Non-resident stu-
dents pay a higher regis-
tration fee than resident
students. It is clearly to the
disadvantegeof a student to
identify him or herself as a
non-resident of the region.
It is not unlikely, then, that
non-resident students, fru-
gal through necessity, to
choose to be identified as
resident and give a friend
or relative’s address within
the region, rather than their
own home address. Thus,
the number of non-resident
students is likely much
higher than statistics sug-
gest.

In addition to the non-res-
idents that Douglas College
is attracting, the argument
for student residency can
be further strengthened by
the examination of an ele-
ment of the College
population that is totally
ignored, that of single ad-
ults, especially with child-
en, who have decided to
quit their jobs to improve

 

i: a

 

 

The Other Press

their education. The finan-
cial burden of surviving

from semester to semester _

is great enough without
adding the additional stress
of securing such a basic
need as shelter.

The existing methods of
referring students to re-
asonable shelter are totally
inadequate. The system in-
volves posting accommoda-
tions that have been given
by landlords in the comm-
unity. Not only is the num-
ber of reasonably priced
units insufficient, there is
absolutely no inspection of
posted accommodation (take
"em as you get ’em folks).

In the summer of 1980,
the then Dean of Students
Services was approached by
the Student Society for an
amount of money to be
used to advertise the need
for low cost accommoda-
tion. Although the need
was, and continues to be
great, the request was de-
nied.

The assistance of the Ad-
ministration of Douglas Col-

 

lege, in helping students
acquire reasonably priced
accommodation, is neglig-
ible.

The other organization stu-
dents of the New Westmin-
ster Campus might expect
to provide assistance, would
be the city of New West-
minster itself. After all, the
City Council has empower-
ed the First Capital city
Development Corporation t
redevelop areas of New
Westminster Thenew Doug-
las College Campus on 6th
Street is one of the pro-
jects and considering the
College's close proximity to
the waterfront housing de-
velopment, a second pro-
ject, one would expect col-
lege students needs to be
reflected in this develop-
ment. Not so. Of the 2,000
housing units being built on
the waterfront, there will be
absolutely no provision for
co-op or subsidized hous-
ing. The waterfront housing
development will contain
luxury housing exclusively
(sorry students - you can

November 12

 

photo by Ian Hunter

always get acheap room at
the King Edward!).

It seems only reasonable
that the Douglas College, in
conjunction with the City of
New Westminster and the
Provincial Government, pro-
vide students with some
form of subsidized housing.
I would suggest in fact that
now would be an opportune
time for the collective gov-
ernments to act to meet this
obligation. What better time
than now for this collective
body to purchase houses for
the purpose of providing
subsudized student housing
(BCIT owns such co-opera-
tive style accommodations).

I suggest that the Douglas
College Administration take
upon itself to act to provide
for an evident need, stu-
dent housing. I would fur-
ther suggest that the Stu-

dent Society, whose respon-
sibility it is to fight for the

rights and needs of the
student body, act to en-
courage the implementation

of this policy. j