opinions@op.douglas.bc.ca ired for blowing the whistle Morash le Douglas College Student Society, what gled web it weaves. Last week Merrilyn ulihan was fired for informing the uglas College Board and the New rstminster City Police that she believed members of the DCSS executive were olved in financial irregularities of up to P00. In a memo dated January 21, 1998, ulihan’s allegations were stated as follows: lat there have been cheques processed and ed by-an executive member (total to le is over $6000), without proper Fumentation or authorization. These ques have all at one time or another, in signed by one of the existing executive bers... another executive member has ived $1200 in duplicate honoraria. This not authorized by members of the esentative committee [And] in violation the Student Society Constitution and laws, a loan of $2700 was advanced in oraria hours to an executive without any al contract.” errilyn Houlihan was an employee of DCSS for over twenty years. Houlihan seen many student executives come and Huring her career, and as the DCSS finess manager it had been her responsi- to advise the proper authorities of any financial irregularities. Houlihan, in the course of doing her job (for you and me), discovered that some members of this new 1997-1998 group of executives seemed to be responsible for the alleged committal of financial impropriety. Houlihan consulted Jaimie McEvoy, the DCSS student president, about her suspicions before going to the police. They agreed that the police should be notified if there did seem to be a problem, according to McEvoy. Later, Houlihan reported the findings to the Douglas College administration and the city police. Subsequently, she was fired by the DCSS executive for “not following proper channels of communication” and jeopardizing “the timely remittance of the membership dues of the society.” Each student at Douglas College pays up to $37.50 per semester in membership fees to the DCSS, which when added up comes to around $500 000 per year. Every student at Douglas College is a member of the DCSS by virtue of these fees. And, as members, all students have a right to see all the financial records of the DCSS within 24 hours of their request, as stated in the society's bylaws. However, the financial records of the DCSS are in the hands of an auditor right now, and McEvoy says it's up to the auditor whether or not students can features@op.douglas.be.ca HE BEST AND WORST OF DOUGLAS COLLEGE see them. Upon calling the auditor, their representative said that the records are the property of the DCSS and had no other comment. With $500 000 at stake, students have a right to know how their money is being spent. Houlihan attempted to hold the DCSS executive accountable for the irregularities with the society's finances. For her trouble, a meeting was held two weekends ago, at which Houlihan was fired, after six hours of in camera speeches (meaning the conversa- tion is kept secret). McEvoy said only 17 of the 27 reps came to the meeting/orientation for new reps. The motion to fire Houlihan, the meeting's minutes and the meeting's attendance have not yet been posted. McEvoy said they would be available this week. Due to the scandal, Douglas College is only releasing operational funding to the DCSS until this matter is cleared up. Houlihan has secured a lawyer, who will probably at the least negotiate a dismissal settlement, and may sue the DCSS for The athletic reps are petitioning around campus for the impeachment of three members of the DCSS executive, Jaimie McEvoy, Christa Peters and Amanda Wheeler, and also UT Rep Paul Rosha. Among the reasons for the impeachment —_—_The last petition are “theft by executives reported; elections— firing of the business manager for reporting _ when the , the theft; failure to follow bylaws of the current executive was elected—took place society; spending approximately $8000 of | more than 16 weeks into the spring student fees on CFS conference before the semester. Right smack dab in the middle of students had a right to vote as to becoming _ final exams. McEvoy said he was “against members of the Canadian Federation of having them then,” and the election rules should be made “more democratic.” The Other Press will endeavour to objectively cover all angles of this story and its many spin-offs, Information is coming forth slowly, because the DCSS has been advised by a lawyer to keep quiet, and Houlihan is also represented by a lawyer who will be handling her representation (by the way you and me are probably paying for all these lawyers). So, stay tuned to the political posturing of our barely democrati- cally elected DCSS executive and the impeachment proceedings to follow. Yet, remember that after all is said and done, an employee with over twenty years of faithful service to the students of Douglas College has had her life uprooted and smashed by this year’s DCSS executive for protecting money that belongs to you and me. @ Students; holding a representative orienta- tion under false pretence.” This is not the first time McEvoy has had a petition circulating campus for his im, ent. In 1991 Jaimie McEvoy was student president and, like today, there was a petition circulating campus for his dismissal, although for different reasons than today. According to a January 6, 1991, issue of the Other Press, “The typed pamphlets. . allege McEvoy is controlling the Society along with personal friends, and special interest groups.” Jaimie resigned before the end of his term and was never actually impeached in 1991. Thus, he could run for office again and become our current student president in 1997-98. It is ironic that Houlihan was fired for not following due process when, historically, the DCSS has also failed to follow its own prescribed bylaws. According to the DCSS bylaws, elections are to be held within five weeks of the start of the spring semester. er making over fifty Douglas College students fill out a enty question survey (which might | add was HELL, most of u sneered at us like we were asking you to join a cult or some- ing), the results are in. One overwhelming theme developed in ese surveys and that is Douglas College students have raging rmones. SEX, boys and girls. Students here seem to defy the statistics that British Columbians are the least sexually active people in Canada. Douglas College students also seem to be comfortable doing pretty much anything in the parking lot— including sex, picking their noses and probably even getting married if we put it on the survey. With that said, here are the results (Number one being the most popular answer and so on): 't kid yourself, the real reason you're here z youre on the prowl. Where’s the best re to look for someone who might be You responded with one strong vote: Basketweaving 101, er, I mean Humanities Hardest courses ing for someone? Here’s, your favourites. ° Physics 210 oncourse * CMNS 118 ass * Economics Calculus ie) Cafeteria 5 : Psych 300 ie) Smoking CFCS 110 section pays tribute to those professors who are doing a bang-up ). Simak (PHIL) ). Henschell (MATH) to name a few... We have the finest eats around town and DC students know it. Best food in DC is the Campus Deli Over 75% of responses were for the delicious Deli Funny how this list is considerably longer—since you all have individual gripes nothing could be voted number one © That damn hill © Boxed air Terrible gym facilities Lack of beer on campus DCSS Not enough parking Bureaucracy 8:00am classes The overwhelming responses seemed to be: 1. the concourse bathrooms 2. the first floor 3. science wing 3rd floor acim CD tuition $$ What is the best sport to watch at DCP D. Zieroth (CRWR) The most S response was: 1. B-ball . Tyakoff (POLI) 1.Changing the DC logo 2. the sweating flesh of the gender of choice 5. Fraser (ENGL) 2.Too much administration 3. Volleyball Kirkey (PHY) Other mentionables were the new grey garbage 4. Soccer D. ‘ Beats can Ts DSS. purposely bing he Where is the best place to have SEX in and yellow tape around them Dc? est scam pulled off by a DC student , the shit that some students pull. aig some of the best scams readers have seen. imoking pot in the concourse onvincing a psych professor to extend a deadline because this one udent “really wanted to go camping.” e Student Society (this survey was put out before the DCSS andal occurred) petting extension after extension 3 ere Is the best place to park around everybody likes to spend their hard ed student loans on parking. Here he most popular street parking S. joyal Avenue don’t want to give away my secret h St. ones St. 2. Kits Best Sass When asked what the coolest bar around DC was, your response was overwhelmingly cool. You picked the BLARNEY STONE, bar none. If you're too young to go now make sure you go sometime, Other popular spots include: 3. I’m too young for the bar 4, Mugs and Jugs (tisk, tisk) Best thing about DC Surprise, Surprise, DC students’ raging hormones make THE OPPOSITE SEX the number one best thing about DC. The rest of the list is as follows: 2. The friends you make/the nice people here at DC 3. The Other Press (it’s not rigged, I swear) Number one answer was the concourse. Obviously, lots of DC students have a secret fantasy about doing it on those cold slabs of concrete. 2. Parking lot, DC students love that underground parking lot 3. Handicap washrooms (a certain privacy and leverage bars were mentioned) Other mentionables were the Other Press, stairwells and any cafeteria table Favourite section of the Other Press 1.Sports 2. (tie)Opinion 2. (tie)Reverend Tom The Other Press February 4 1997 5