Skinheads run as 3000 rally against Neo Nazi's Page 4 The Triumphant Return of Ped. Page 8 ANCOUVER ITY HALL SENDS KIDS BACK TO THE STREETS. PAGE 11 HEAVY BREATHING YS. BLASTING AIRHORNS A TELECOMMUNICATIONS ie elec eta college’ Ss autonomous student hewspaper - since 1976 oe coe Volume 16 Number10 The DCSS pulled out of CFS. But was the vote legal? Passing Deadlines , Passing Gas and Passsing Out for over 16 years CFS Threatens Suit Against DCSS One of the nation's largest student organizations is taking the DCSS to court over allegations of gerrymandering and unremitted fees by Christopher MacLaren The Canadian Federaton of Students (CFS) is planning to take legal action against the DCSS for allegedly holdingan unconstitutional referendum and failing to remit student fees for the 1992 fiscal year. The DCSS held a referendum during winter registration last year on whether ornot theStudent Society should remain within the CFS. The referendum to pull out narrowly passed and has raised concerns within the CFS as to its validity. Jacquie Best, Chairperson of the BCCFS says the CFS does not recognize the “pull-outreferendum” as legitimate. Thereferendum was held during registrationand students voted inside the registration hall where no CFS representatives or materials were rmitted. “Within the registrationarea, no federation people were allowed, no[ camoaign } materials inside and no scrutineers,” said Best. “There were no scrutinee allowed around the ballot boxes o the counting of the ballots,” added Best, “this is basically a breach of democratic principles,”. Bestalso claims that voters were told to vote No at the ballot boxes. “We have sworn affadavits of some of the students of Douglas College,” said Best. Charles Parker, Vice-President Internal of the DCSS said the Student Society believes the referendum was February 3,1993 FREE legitimate. “The Student Society stands by theelectionas being fair,” said Parker. Parker didn’t want to make any further comments saying only “they’ vecontacted usand letus know that this is being litigated right now soifit’sin negotiation with the courts or with our respective lawyers Ican’t say anything about whathappened,”. ” The CFS is also planning to sue the DCSS for student fees the Student Society collected but did not remit. According to Best the DCSS is still required to remit all fees colleceted for the 1992 fiscal year. “Legally they have breached the contract by not remitting the fees thatthe} y colleceted from thestudents. Even if we were to accept it asa legitim>tereferendum, you[ Douglas College Jare liable for federation fees for that fiscal year in which you pull out om in return the membership all the services,” said Best. cording to Best, the outs tandi lngfees totalapproximately The DC SS has apparently sed such CFS services as rite national Student Identity Cards. “The DCSS turned away idents requesting International Identity Cards. We now have an agreement with S.F.U. and they are now providing ISIC’s to students of Douglas College,” said Best. Neither Jerome Bouvier, DCSS President nor Julian Smit, Treasurer were willing to comment on Bests’ allegations. First Nations Services Co-ordinator Proposed The First Nations Association seeks new Resource Co- ordinator to adress Native concerns more knowledgably by Christopher MacLaren The First Nations Association plans to send a proposal to Victoria this week in an attempt toestablisha paid position for a First Nations Services Co-ordinator at Douglas College. According to ae Senyk, First Nations Re titive, this position will os Repes First Nations diackenle with access to resources and various forms of support. “We expect to have a Resource Co-ordinator, someone who will advocate our issues.We expect someone who will liason with the college because we do have unique issues,” said Senyk. Charles Parker, VP. Internaland a member of the First Nations Association said, “this person, he or she, would essentially be a lay counsellor like the co-ordinator of the Womens’ center. We borrowed liberally from that job description.” Parker also said that they hope to have this position established and filled by the beginning of thesummer semester. “ It's with the management committee. They have toapprove the proposal to go to Victoria, ” said Parker. Themanagementcommitteehas since passed the pro : Originally, the First Nations Association formeda registry for First Nations Sidenote to join the association, but according to James Andrew, an active member in the First Nations Association, many of the students felt there wasn’tenough recognition and support from Administration. ” A lot of them felt there wasn’t a supporting enviroment here. In terms of student services support the academic advisors here aren’t really that knowledgable about First Nations issues.” Andrew alsomentioned the lack of awareness about specific services available to First Nations students like housing and funding. Betsy Senyk also expressed that the First Nation’s Assoc. will be persistent in lobbying for this proposed position. “We are a self-determined people. It is very important to us politically and personally to hold on to our culture. To support all the .[FirstNations] students thatare taking the initiative to educate themselves,” said Senyk. “Wealsohopetopromotecross- cultural awareness,” Senyk added.” Thissortof programcanonly enhance thestudentcommitteeasacollective”. First Nation, Association members: (clockwise from top) Charles Parker, Betsy Senyk, and James Andrew Photo: Chris Maclaren