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(cont. from page 1 |
Christmas exam.

“The fact that so many
have failed in the past
shows that many have come
without the necessary pre-
paration,’’ he said.

But Parkin expects the
end of term pass rate to
reach the usual 80 to 85 per
cent. ‘‘I think another term
of practice makes them
realize that clear precise
writing is what they (the
students) need,’’ he said.

Parkin said the composi-
tion exam tests only basic
reading and writing skills.

“Students -in high school
are now trying to acquire
those skills,’’ he said.

He said that it is impor-
tant that the English de-

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
    
 
 
  
 
 
  

 

partment is no_ longer
teaching high school Eng-
lish and he hopes the exam
results will serve as an in-
centive for high school stu-

dents to work harder.

The Other Press

In 1978-79 400 students
attended free remedial
English classes offered by
the university in contrast to
200 enrolled in this year’s
course where students have
to pay.

Youth Employment
Program on campus

by Pat Worthington

A member of the Pro-
vincial Government Youth
Employment Program
handed out applications for
provincial work to Douglas
College students last Tues-
day, February 4, on the
New Westminster Campus.

Steve Guthrie, a provin-
cial government worker,
reported that offices would
be set up in Surrey, Feb-
ruary 11, Coquitlam, Feb-
ruary 14, and in Richmond,
February 18.

Prospective applicants
have a wide number of
ministries to choose from
including the Ministry of
Fisheries, Ministry _ of
Highways, hospitals, parks
and others.

The aims of the program
are not just to provide work
but to provide youth with
opportunities to develop

— a

 

skills which will assist them
in entering the work force
and to contribute to the
social and economic deve-
lopment of the Province
creating employment op-
portunities.

Last year there were
30,000 applicants for pro-
vincial work: across B.C.
and of those only 2500 were
awarded jobs.

The rates of pay do not
vary to the job but varies
solely according to the
amount of education the
applicant has, according to
Guthrie. For the youth with
less than 2 years of post-
secondary education the
rate of pay is $4.15, for
more than 2 years of edu-
cation the rate is $4.50, and
for one or more years of
post-graduate education,
$5.00.

  

Inflation estimates await)
final approval

by Brenda Gough

Negotiations for an infla-
tion estimate within’ the
next three years of con-
struction of the New West-
minster campus are waiting
for final approval.

Principal Bill Day said
that the estimation first
must be approved by the
college board, and then by
Victoria.

It’s an easy process, and
the final approval shouldn’t
be long,’’ said Day.

The users groups are also
at work, going over rough

Bad weather
causes enrollment drop

by Kathy Riley

If your classes seem
smaller this semester, it’s
because enrollment at
Douglas College has
dropped by 2.18 percent.

Bad weather conditions
are to blame, according to
Ken Battersby, Surrey
Campus’ Acting Director of
Admissions and Records,
Heavy . snowfall seems to
have discouraged prospec-
tive students from regis-
tering.

Of the 5600 who did turn
up, approximately 1100
were new students.

Legalize
marijuana says
= Lethbridge candidate

LETHBRIDGE [CUP]—A
marijuana marketing board
to insure a safe legal supply
of the drug is what Peter
Jones wants out of politics.

Jones is running the
federal election in Southern
Alberta’s Lethbridge-Foot-
hills riding on a one plank
platform: . legalize — mari-
juana.

With a shaven head and '

a beard halfway down his
chest the 37-year-old coal-
miner from the Crowsnest
Pass is quite a contrast to
other candidates in the
Conservative
riding. But Jones thinks he
will do well. ‘‘I’m, the
choice for people turned off
by politics, for people who
don’t usually vote.’’

“We should grow it in
Canada, for Canadian con-
sumption,’’ says Jones,
who believes one Canadian
in eight regularly smokes
marijuana. ‘‘It would make
an ideal cash crop.’’

However, that doesn’t
mean a Petrocan company,
said Jones. He would _ pre-
fer an independent growers

stronghold .

 

February 18, 1980

drawings and suggesting
ideas.

Architects have approved
specific details, location,
and space needed, sug-
gested by Ann Frost, head
of the users committee.

“I’m delighted with what
they have offered, it’s spa-
cious and convenient,’’ said
Frost.

The final blue prints are
being reviewed and are
progressing well.

“‘lT must say things are
going along very well,’’
Day said.

Battersby refused to give
information of students per
campus, as he feels the
figures are vague and
squabbles could arise over
campus budgets. He
stressed the point that all
figures are estimates only.

Figures indicate ‘that
about 2,000 students are
enrolled in University
transfer programs, with
about 1,800 in occupational
programs and 1,600 in Ge- |
neral Study programs.

The decline is not an un-
expected one as Spring re-
gistration is traditionally
lower than for Fall.

association.

It is important to end the
criminal element in the
marijuana trade, worth a
billion dollars a year in
Canada, says Jones. ‘The
only way to do that is to
legalize it. It’s like the pro-
hibition of alcohol, it just
doesn’t work.’’

The only victims of mari-
juana use are those who
happen to run afoul of the
law, says Jones. The more
than 200,000 Canadians
with criminal records for .
Marijuana possession have
been unjustly treated, he
maintains.

“l_was lucky, | started
young,’’ says Jones, who
says he hasn’t felt any ill
effects from smoking the
weed for over 20 years.

But Jones isn’t smoking
much during the campaign:
“I’ve had to give it up for
the time being, just to be on
the safe side,’’ he said.
He’s been stopped by the
RCMP several times since
the start of the campaign
but ‘‘They’ve been polite.” /