Friday, Nov. 7, 1980. Got change for a dollar?, is the never ending. question students ask of Fran, the New West e¢ampus’ hardworking cafeteria lady. UBC Se ‘ee hike possible VANCOUVER [CUP}--The University of BC student council is desperately scra- mbling to halt a proposed 13 per cent tuition fee hike. But any successful at- tempt to delay or halt the university's board of gover- nors from passing the in- crease seems doomed, as many council members ad- mit they have waited too long to act. ““We've got a hell of a problem,’’ student council executive member. Allan Soltis says. ‘‘We’ve been caught flat-footed.’’ The student campaign a- gainst the hikes is even more confused as student politicians have submitted two reports opposing the hike to the board. The first ‘report was so full of gram- matical errors and misinfor- mation that some student politicians felt it necessary to produce a second report. Meanwhile student board _ representative Anthony Dic- kinson is angry at the council for not acting until three weeks after he reveal- ed the board’s intention to increase fees at its Novem- ber 4 meeting. “Due to (council) laxity, one wonders whether they- *re concerned or not,’’ he said. ‘‘I did what I could to point out the political consi- derations behind letting the increase pass. If student council lets this go without a fight, it’s opening itself up for even more increases in the future.”’ The university's admini- stration is backing the board’s position on increas- ing fees. ‘‘UBC’s fees are relative- ly low compared to universi- ties in the east,’’ adminis- tration vice-president Mi- chael Shaw said. ‘‘I’m sure the whole question will be examined very carefully and so will the question of student aid.’’ UBC students were prom- ised a review of student aid last year which never occur- red. The promise was made when the board decided to index tuition to UBC’s oper- ating costs, resulting in an immediate 10 per cent fee increase., Student society president Bruce Armstrong says ano- ther increase, when com- bined with the rising cost of housing, transportation and food, poses a formidable financial obstacle for stu- dents and manly would be unable to cope. ‘‘A 13 per cent increase will prove to be a barrier to further education for many students already on cam- pus,’’ he said. ‘‘The board should look at the ability of students to pay for increas- es, not at percentages. They should not base their judgement on _ business practices. ‘‘We’re not. a business. This is a university.”’ There are eight govern- ment appointees on UBC’s 15 member board. All eight are prominent businessmen with strong connections with the social credit gov- ernment, including one for- mer education minister. The Other Press page eleven Protest disturbs Smith KELOWNA ([CUP]}--Placard carrying students protesting a lack of housing and a three-year delay in the building of a gymnasium greeted the BC education minister.Brian Smith here October 17. Smith, visiting Okanagan College to make what he expected to be a popular announcement about the gym, was visibly disturbed by the protest. After the crowd cheered the protesting students, who had also circulated leaflets to high school stu- dents who toured the cam- pus earlier that day, Smith cut short his announcement with a curt mention that construction of the gym would begin in April. Student association spokesperson Stephen Lear- ey said the protesters knew before the ceremony that Smith was going to make the gym announcement. “‘We just wanted him to know that we were fed up with the excuses about the gym that his ministry has been generating for the past couple of years,’’ he said. ‘‘We also felt it was important to make a strong statement about the student housing situation, which for _ Kelowna is fast deteriorat- _ ing. Learey said he was glad the gym issue was out of the way because ‘‘now we can concentrate on housing. It’s a problem all over BC ;and together with all stu- dents in BC we have to begin putting some serious work into it.’’ The BC Students Federa- tion has already been work- ing on the housing situa- tion, but Learey said he felt local student associations, especially at the colleges, could achieve a lot. ‘‘Smith seems to get un- nerved by protest and I think we should make more use of this'tactic,’’ he said. MIGHTY GOOD BEER Introduci ew Columbia from Labatts.