el e ie S news@op.douglas.bc.ca

THC report makes an impact

..And now the details

 

 

 

Jim Chliboyko

 

“Tt became an increasingly unproductive
place.”

“There appears to have been no
enthusiasm within the College for
DG.

“Parts of the agreement appear to
work to the detriment of the College.”

“The promises made to residents of
Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows now
look like empty rhetoric, despite the best
intentions of a few individuals.”

These are some of the more negative
findings of Kathryn Barker, PhD, who
authored the Thomas Haney Centre
Operational Review, the conclusions and
recommendations of which were released
just last month.

But there is good news—Douglas
College will remain in the Maple Ridge—
Pitt Meadows area, albeit in a different
form and with a different focus.

Susan Witter, President of Douglas
College, wrote that she was buoyed by
the findings. “It is encouraging that we
can now end the recent speculation
about the campus’ future and focus on
how to provide the best possible
educational service for the Maple Ridge—
Pitt Meadows region,” she wrote.

Specific recommendations deal largely
with university transfer courses; students
will be able to complete a full first year
of UT at Thomas Haney. As well,
developmental programs will be
increased, entrepreneurial and employ-
ment courses may be offered, and
connections to other educational
institutions will be strengthened in an
effort to improve education in Maple
Ridge—Pitt Meadows.

Barker came up with three possible

Pini

options for the future of Douglas
College at THC: close Douglas College
in Thomas Haney Centre; an option
called “Reforming THC,” which
involves a greater investment of thought
and time and resources into the centre;
and an option called “Transforming
THC,” which would involve something
“radically different” for the centre.

Barker's study deemed the first
option, closing down, the least viable for
Douglas College, in terms of what the
college would lose. Not only would their
dealings with the Ministry of Education
be damaged, but there would also be
harm done in their relationship to the
community of Maple Ridge—Pitt
Meadows, a community into which they
may never be welcomed again. And the
“Transforming THC” option was seen
to be more of a long-term solution. The
Reforming THC option seemed to be
the more favoured option.

Citing pressures from both outside
and within, Barker placed the blame for
THC'’s lack of success on conflicts
amongst stakeholders’ expectations, a
paradoxical decision-making process at
work within the college, and “the logical
inconsistency between the Ministry's (of
Education, Skills and Training) vision
for student-based success and its current
economic vision of success.”

Barker seemed particularly irked by
the machinations of the Ministry. “It is
literally impossible,” she wrote, “to
create a student-centred institution, with
all the support, flexibility, and innova-
tion that it requires, while basing
educational grants on enrolment targets
and indirectly placing sole value on
‘bodies in seats.” Those, Barker said,
who are worried solely about the

opinions @op.douglas.bc.ca

 

The second coming of Iraqua

Tom Laws

 

With 1998 well under way, there are a
few changes that need to happen to
make this world a better, happier place.

In Canada, they have begun putting a
cap on the number of non-English
speaking immigrants. Perhaps there is
one step further that could be taken. We
should make anyone immigrating to
Canada from Czechoslovakia show two
pieces of ID, such as a driver’s license
and major credit card. Or better yet, we
could get around this problem by legally
changing the name of Czechoslovakia to
make it more user friendly and easier to
emigrate from. Something like
Visaslovakia or Interacaslovakia because,
teally, who accepts Czechs anymore?

Internally in Canada, our Prime
Minister has too much power. If we ever
wish to become a super power, we must
keep this power in check and keep it
from becoming too encompassing. For
instance, the moment the PM gets into
office, he is allowed to choose his
cabinet. Now, a cabinet is a very
formidable piece of decor, especially
when made of mahogany or other
hardwood. Perhaps he could start out
by choosing some coasters, and then
maybe moving on to a nice spice rack or
shoe tree. But choosing a cabinet is a
long involved process, and he shouldn't
be allowed to do so until his second
term in office or until his taste in
furniture has been deemed adequate by
an objective tribunal funded by tax

dollars.

We are part of the mighty United
Nations, and we have to use some of
that power to take a stand against
countries like Iraq. If they wish to
continue to trade with English speaking
countries, we have to make Saddam
Hussein start spelling his country’s name
with a ‘U’ at the end of the ‘Q’ to
comply with proper English.

Or, to make Iraq less dependent on
the world buying its oil, they could get
into some contra deal, They could
change their name to “IrAQUA” and get
royalties from the band for putting them
on the map. In exchange, the band

 

DC is in this hallway right here

The Thomas Haney Campus in Maple Ridge

“headcounts” would like to see THC

 

David Lam, | mean Tam, photo

 

close, because it brings Douglas’ other
numbers down.

The college, too, has been at fault.
Barker claims that Douglas College's
decision making is based on outdated
methods and non-student-based
priorities, and that these methods have
rendered THC ineffective. “The
scattergun approach prevails; offer some
programs and services to the public, and
see who takes them up,” writes Barker in
the report.

Though there appears to be quite a bit
of work ahead of Douglas College staff
in attempting to fix Thomas Haney’s
problems, students and administration
seem to be glad that everything is now
out in the open. To quote one of
Barker’s more feel-good conclusions,
“Many of these negative factors,
however, can be easily turned to positive
with genuine enthusiasm and some
dedicated resources.” @&

could re-mix their most popular song to
include lyrics like:
“Im a Barbie dictator in a third world
country.
Making plastic (made of oil), it’s
fantastic
Threatening chemical war
Then trying hard to score
Ungodly Americans
Better than Iranians
Come on Hussein

Union, and unless the oo

_ BCGEU is ina really good
mood that thirty million dollars
in savings will disappear.

The really maddening part about
all this is that the government passed
legislation last year making amalga-
mation mandatory.

“The overall picture is a massive
asset grab from charities for the

_benefit of government,” says Michael
_ Holland. lawyer and member of

_ Glacier View Lodge society in

_ Comox. Mr. Holland I agree with o

Lets go insane”

Small changes in the complicated
societal fabric of earth? Perhaps, but they
need to be made if Canada, Iraqu, and
everybody else to is “just get along.” @

 

assets to the government it wouldn't
_ long before the existing board is
dissolved and bureaucrats who know

 

UGG

 

 

Otherpress.douglas.bc.ca

 

 

4 January 28 1998 The Other Press