Volume 13 Number 2 Sept. 23rd to 30th 1982 by Chris Page The Douglas College Stu- dent Society’s Campus Gen- eral Meeting attracted at least seventy students to the New Westminster cafeteria on Wednesday, to hear about furniture, the new college ‘governance’ system, and cutbacks in education. About one hundred-twenty students signed to indicate their presence at the meet- ing, but fewer people were actually there. Although he had hoped for a turnout of two hundred, student society president Tim Shein was happy.‘‘I appreciated all the students coming out and supporting us.’’ Last February, only forty students turned up for the student society’s Annual General Meeting. The student society’s pro- posal to allot up to $7,500 to spend on furniture for its lounge and meeting room at the new campus was hotly debated. The money had been set aside from previous years’ student fees, and the student society asked for approval to spend it. “All through the meeting you've been talking about cutbacks,’’ shouted student Alan Holmes. “You can put up with a little less ae save a little more,’"he added, proposing that some money be given towards the college’s educa- tion expenses. “Drown in dept,’’ says grattiti scrawled outside the University of B.C. student awards office. Inside, a frenzied staff reply to questions and hand out still more applications for financial aid. But the staff cannot tell students how much money they’ll receive, or if they'll get any grants above their student loans. The staff can’t tell students when \ ( Students Show Up Campus General Meeting ’ The amount of money the society could give to the college is ‘‘not substantial’, said student society Vice- President Lenka Russ. ‘‘It won't save one course.”’ ‘The whole meeting is a farce,’ complained student Les Pandak, referring to the . fact that the ‘‘furniture mo- ney’ was already ear- marked. He said that there was ‘‘no point’’ to the de- bate. The shrinking number of students rod ah i ae stu- dent society's plan by a were of thirty-one to eee. student committee was formed to choose the furni- _ ture. * College President Bill Day explained the new ‘gover- mance’ system in which student volunteers will serve on advisory committee to make recommendations a- bout college policy. There are twenty-four pos- itions open on seventeen committees. Most positions will be filled by a selection committee interviewing ap- plicants with one to be elected by students. Cutbacks were also dis- cussed. Tim Shein tried to get student input on approaches to fighting cutbacks. Let- ter writing, sit-ins (of a legislative office), and in- creased faculty involvement were mentioned. ‘I would like students who were there (at the meeting), to have input on cutbacks,”’ says Shein. they’ lI receive their loans, or when they’ll find out what became of their applications. In fact, about the only concrete information stu dents can obtain about stu dent aid is that they'll pro bably get less than they asked for. Meanwhile, - many _ stu- dents who filled out their financial aid application by the July 2 deadline for receiving funds by the begin » this is the crowd at the Student Society Campus General ae held at New Westminster campus cafeteria, Wednes- day Sept 22nd. = ». o | Photo by Gerry Oikawa How College Handled Cuts by Chris Page “We are beginning to burn the deckhouse in the engine room to keep the boilers going,’’ says Douglas College President Bill Day. He’s referring to the bud- get cutbacks the Provincial Government has inflicted on post-secondary education. ihe government cut its education budget last spring; in July it attacked post-sec- B-C: Students Await Aid ning of classes, had yet to receive any money as school went into its first week. "Our understanding is that students who got their loan applications in on time will get their documents by the end of the week,’’ said UBC awards director Byron Hender Sept. 13. But when the documents arrive, students will receive Continued on.... Page 2 ondary education once again. The cutback affects the college for both the 82-83 and 83-84 college years. For this year, the Provin cial Government chopped the college’s operating budget $350,000, and cut a further. $133,000 intended for tem porarily funded programs. - How is the college hand ling this mid-year cut? © The introduction of a pay parking system at the ‘new campus, by an outside company, Imperial parking. © Cutting sections in Vis ual Arts, Business, Human ities and Communicatiors. © The elimination of Early Childhood Education and Longterm Care’s January intakes. e Increased class size in Nursing, Business, and Per forming Arts. Faculty remain ing after the layoffs will have “less time for co-ordination with outside agencies (like hospitals),’"” says Day, ad- ding that the problem ‘“won’t show up in the short] run.’”’ ¢ The library will reduce purchases and auxillary staff. ¢ The introduction of Stagecraft Technology will be delayed until Fall 1983 at the earliest. e Faculty who survive these cuts will take five days leave without pay, possibly including some instructional days. ¢ The administration bud get will be cut. e A saving will be made from the capital budget. ‘‘At the expense of equipment and supplies, we are saving some programs,’’ says Day For the 1983 fiscal year, the college expects to have to cut its budget another $1.6 million. This will probably involve the end of academic summer school courses. Day expects that ‘‘there will be no lack of = pace when this cut takes place.