jen e A Ass q aae Page 2 February 4, 1987: student The Other Press The Other Press is a dem- ocratically run, autonomous newspaper __ serving Douglas College since 1976. It publishes 16 times a seme- ster, once a week, under the auspices of The Other Publi- cations Society Our funding comes by way of a direct stu- dent levy paid at registration and through local and _ natio- nal advertising. The Other Press is a member of the Canadian University Press and subscribes to it’s state- ment of principles. OPS Board of Directors Chairperson: : Vacant Member at Large: Vacant Member at Large: Vacant Staff Representative: John McDonald Staff Representative: Kirstin Shaw Business Manager: Mark Roberts Other Press Staff | Production Co-ordinator: John McDonald | Typesetting Co-ordinator: te Jeff House Production Assistants: . Rob Hancock Jennifer Whiteside David Mills Mike Roberts Tony Balasubramanian Copy Editors: Jennifer Whiteside Mike Roberts John McDonald News Co-ordinator: John McDonald Editorial Co-ordinator: Colin Turkingdon Entertainment Co-ordinators: Jeff House Kirstin Shaw Features Co-ordinator: Vacant Classifieds Co-ordinator: Vacant Sports Co-ordinator: Veronica Blok Recruitment Co-ordinator: Karen Dhillon Graphics Co-ordinator: Chris Brown Photographic Co-ordinator: : Rachael Smith Contributors: John McDonald Jordan Acomba Lori Donald Chris Brown Veronica Block David Mills Rachael Smith Buses blasted Everytime a college or university student turns around another in- crease for an essential service is sta- ring him/her in the face. Transit is no exception. For a Port Coquit- lam student attending UBC, the cost of transit for a school year amounts to over $700.00 (since 1979 when post-secondary students had their reduced rate transit passes revoked, the cost of a 3 zone pass has risen 489%). This is on top of the high. tuition costs and the cost of pur- chasing text books. High school stu- dents on the other hand, have no tui- tion costs, no text book costs, and no room and board costs as most live at home. Yet transit feels that they de- serve a special rate and post-sec- ondary students don’t. At Douglas College, we began a petition a couple of months ago. We did not push it very hard, just left it sitting on the desk in our office. In a little over a week, we had filled out over 30 pages just from flow- through traffic. I have with me now the petition that, while incomplete, contains over 2500 signatures. One point should be clear from this, stu- dents in B.C. are fed up with the high cost of transit. Students who take out student loans are allotted $40.00 per month. In greater Vancouver the cheapest Letter to the O.P. “Athletics Levy” - the words have become engrained in my mind. Athletics-Levy-Overkill is sweeping the college. Sure it’s not the money, it’s the principle of the matter. No one except the sports enthusiasts wants to be forced to pay extra fees for activities that they are not, and do not intend to be involved in. But what ever hap- pened to school spirit. I am not involved in sports, but I do not begrudge those who are. Everyone is aware of tight budgets and the hassle of doling out hard To the Students: Bill Vander Zalm has his own ra- dio show on local radio station CKNW now and fields calls from listeners. Recently he said welfare recipients should work in day care centers for their money. Sure Bill, way to put your foot in your mouth. I’m positive that all the fully qualified day care workers were thrilled to hear that. Why not stick to your idea about the shovels? Our Premier also wants the Lord’s Prayer back in school. Well Bill, it’s 1987 and there are several major religions, yours being just one. But I suppose since you’re the Orther Press fare card available is $46.00. Where is this $48.00 a year supposed to come from? With the elimination of “off-peak” hours, students trying to make it by on their $40 a month have been given a slap in the face by the transit commission. It is no wonder that the debt load of B.C. students is among the highest in Canada and that B.C. has the lowest post-secondary participation rate in Canada. The provincial govern- ment has stood in the way of our post secondary educations and_ the transit commission is standing be- hind the government. If a student can get past the obstacle of the provincial government’s imposed cutbacks and the resulting high tui- tion costs, the student is then faced with transit costs that are the highest in Canada with no help to pay for it. Students in B.C. have had enough of increase after increase in the things they need to acquire a post secondary education. It is hard to fight a faceless government, but transit is something students can fight. To go ahead with the elimina- tion of off-peak hours may be the last straw and result in students tak- ing action against such unwarran- ted victimization of the academic community. DCSS Vice-President Michael Booth earned ‘compensatory’ cash for this activity and that; but, what is four or five extra dollars a semester going to hurt? Does no one besides the sportsters want to see our col- lege (well) represented at various athletic meets and competitions provincially or federally? Admittedly, the athletics stu- dents are a bit cocky at times, and their ‘presidential advocate’ may be a little off the wall, but let’s not condemn and constrain our sports teams because of a few (or maybe a little more than a few?) radical in- dividuals. Let’s keep an _ open mind. Mueller Sloan Premier we will use the Christian prayer. Speaking of Christian morals, you are also imposing your opin- ion on abortion on the people of the province. Don’t you think that such an important topic deserves a vote from the people, or at least a government study? In conclusion, it seems to me that Mister Vander Zalm has de- cided to abandon his _non-con- frontational government approa- ch. I think the radio show shows that he is accessible, but that doesn’t mean he will change his personality. What’s next Bill? Edu- cation, the Socred’s old Whipping Dog? Jordan Acomba Other Press Douglas College’s Autonomous Student Newspaper O19? ACRROWN CR Join the Other Press ee RE It's just like the army but you don’t Nave to kill Plenty of positions available No experience necessary Beat the rush STAFF MEETINGS Thursda ‘ Room I pi {2:00 noon EVeryone Welcome!)