IN ) ide January 2009 RECEIVE@ lt JAN ~8 2009 >” Douglas College” The Douglas College Newsletter | New Westminster Campus, David Lam Campus, Surrey Training Centre 35 years of service to Douglas Bruce Clarke, Media Support Technician in the Centre for Educational and Information Technology, celebrates 35 years at Douglas College. For more on Douglas College Long Service Recognition recipients and Excellence Award Winners, see pages 2-3. The likenesses of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, authors of The Communist Manifesto, outside the Shanghai Administrative Institute (SAI). Four Douglas instructors made presentations at this year’s SAI conference, discussing how Marx's ideas apply today. Instructors debate Marx at China conference Four Douglas College instructors recently returned from China, where they took part in a public policy conference hosted by the Shanghai Administrative Institute (SAI). This year’s theme was a political one - The Communist Manifesto and its Relevance Today. More than 100 participants from Canada, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam met over two days to discuss how Karl Marx’s ideas can be used to analyze and act upon current issues. “During the conference, Chinese academics and policy makers were particularly interested in the recent US election and a possible liberal tilt to global politics,” says History instructor Robin Wylie, who spoke about political uses of the Communist Manifesto. Presentations were also made by Mano Daniel (Philosophy) on multiculturalism; Bruce Hardy (Child and Youth Care Counsellor) on Canada’s social safety net; and Charles (Fifi) Odoom (Economics) on the sub-prime mortgage crisis. In addition to the formal proceedings, the SAI hosted a number of social and cultural events for conference participants. There were day trips to Shanghai's YuYuan Ming Gardens, the futuristic Pudong district — site of some of the world’s largest skyscrapers and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower — and the water villages outside Shanghai. “A high point was an evening at the Shanghai Circus, which I can only describe as traditional Chinese acrobatics married to Cirque de Soleil lights, music, and costumes,” says Wylie. The annual call for papers at the SAI conference is made in the Summer. “T would advise any faculty with an interest in public policy and a chance to experience modern mainland China in one of its most fast-paced, some would say frantic, settings, to consider submitting a proposal,” says Wylie. For more information, please contact Executive Director of International Education Guangwei Ouyang at 604- 527-5201 or ouyangg@ douglas.bc.ca. Tapping a special resource The founder and CEO of the UK Employers’ Forum on Disabilities recently spoke at the David Lam Campus as part of the 10 x 10 initiative that encourages businesses to hire 10 percent more people with disabilities by 2010. Susan Scott-Parker had several speaking engagements on November 26, including an invitation-only breakfast given by the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce. On campus, she spoke at separate sessions attended by people with disabilities and those working in the field. She also attended a lunch and an afternoon reception. Scott-Parker’s visit was sponsored by Douglas College, the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce and POLARIS Employment Services. “Tm really enthusiastic. Service providers in the community for people with disabilities are moving away from the ‘care, custody and control’ approach to emphasizing ability and confidence,” says Douglas Adult Special Education Coordinator Bob Logelin. During one session, Scott-Parker noted that with one in three people either disabled or close to someone who is, most people are supportive of changes their employers make to accommodate employees and customers with disabilities. “People with disabilities are an untapped resource for employers, from entry-level to high-level professional positions,” says Logelin. “Minimal accommodations are needed for most employees with disabilities and are outweighed by the increased productivity they bring to the job,” he adds. Scott-Parker told a story about a gardener with learning disabilities who had difficulty finding work because he couldn't complete an application form. He was eventually hired by someone who understood his disability, ignored the paper application and instead gave him a rose bush and pruning shears to determine his skills. “A lot of our Adult Special Education programs operate on this model. It was a great example for us,” says Logelin. Logelin hopes the College can collaborate with the community to bring Scott-Parker back to speak in Coquitlam. “Events like these really build momentum in the Tri-Cities area for the 10 x Io project.” Happy Holidays | Seasonal dignitary Roary Claus paid a visit to Douglas in December to review festive College initiatives with President Susan Witter and Vice President Educational Services Blaine Jensen. Witter was pleased to _ hear that Claus is considering switching to electric reindeer in an effort to decrease his carbon footprint.