News From nutrition to psychics Natural health and healthy alternatives program at Douglas Aboriginal media program explores new learning avenues by Chris Bodnar OTTAWA (CUP)—A new aboriginal media studies program is challenging traditional methods of post secondary education in an effort to get more native voices into Canada’s large newsrooms. The program, currently being developed at the First Nations Technical Institute in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, will focus on teaching students interviewing, researching, writing and coverage tech- niques. Internships will be available for students in mainstream and aboriginal media. Diplomas and ac- creditation will be given by Loyalist College in nearby Belleville. According to Susan White, one of two people de- veloping the program, only four of the approximately 4,000 journalists working for Canadian daily news- papers are status Indians. Interest and feedback about the program has been received from as far away as the Northwest Territories. “This program certainly has national potential,” said White, “We [expect to] see our graduates work- ing in a variety of jobs across the country.” The skills taught won’t be exclusive to journalism fields. Students will be taught how to present issues to society, which could lead to jobs in public rela- tions, research and the civil service, White says. “Aboriginal people will be the biggest story in the next century,” White explained. “It’s important that they get their messages across to the mainstream media.” Nfld. government won’t budge on 1-900 line by Sean Ryan ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. (CUP)—Despite numerous student complaints about expensive phone bills, Newfound- land’s department of education won't replace a 1-900 student aid information line with a toll free number. Instead, the government says, it will use the Internet to help deal with the problem. The provin- cial student aid division operates a 1-900 number that charges callers 50 cents for the first minute and 40 cents each additional minute. The 1-900 number was the target of numerous com- plaints last semester because of the high long dis- tance bills students, particularly those in rural New- foundland, are charged to check the status of their student loans. “[The Internet would] remove dependency on the 1-900 number,” said Frank Marsh, assistant deputy education minister. But while Marsh says the Net may be the solution to an inefficient system that often leaves students on hold for as much as 15 minutes, all the while being billed for their time, student leaders aren’t quite as optimistic. “How many students have access to the Net around Newfoundland?” Memorial University stu- dent counsellor Zaki Saleemi asked. “You have to re- alize not everybody has instant Net access.” Campus security policies questioned by eyewitness by Katie Andrews SASKATOON (CUP)—A thief nearly got away with ripping off thousands of dollars worth of high-tech equipment from the University of Saskatchewan while campus police were busy buying doughnuts and lifting weights. A university employee called the campus cops just after 2:30 am on January 6, to report a break-in at a satellite transmission station on campus. A security camera and alarm had been installed in the building by Campus Security after approximately $26,000 worth of satellite equipment was taken from the location during two break-ins in late November and early December. When the employee dialled Campus Security, he spoke with an officer who said she was on her way back from Robin’s Donuts, but said she would con- tact the three others on shift that night. According to the officer, two of her colleagues were working out in the Phys Ed building and another was on foot patrol. : he Natural Health and Healing Alterna tives brochure may be the only brochure on campus with a disclaimer. It reads in part: “Douglas College is offering [these] courses solely to provide information.... The College does not accept responsibil- ity and/or liability for the accuracy of any healing claims or statements made in these programs....” Despite its caution, Douglas College is making it possible, through its continuing education department, for you to educate yourself about your alternatives. One thing to bear in mind is that the Natural Health and Healing Alter- natives program covers a wide range of ideas. If you're not sure if Astrology and crystals are applicable to your life, consider courses such as practical nutrition, stress release, vegetarian nutrition, and herbs. If you want to explore deeper, there are courses on spiritual aware- ness, psychic phenomena, and ear coning, among others. You can register for whole programs, or just take a single course. There is going to bea Natural Health and Healing Alternatives Open House on Tuesday, Febru- ary 4, between 7 and 9 pm on the fourth floor of the New West campus. Call 527-5472 (24 hour registra- tion line) and quote course number U900A 19971. There will also be a Herbal Certificate Program Information Session on Thursday, February 6, from 7 to 9 pm. Call 527-5472 to register, quote course U200A 19971. In addition, there is a free noon-hour series: ¢ Tuesday, February 4 —Herbs and Qigong ¢ Wednesday, February 5 —Acupuncture ¢ Thursday, February 6 —Aromatherapy To attend one of these sessions, register at 527- 5440 and be in the Douglas College Boardroom from 12:15 to 1:00 pm on the appropriate day. Also offered are Healing Alternatives Clinic Ses- sions: * Mondays — Reflexology with Yvette Eastman ¢ Tuesdays — Herbs and Qigong with Don Rost ¢ Wednesdays — Acu- puncture with Louise Demorest ¢ Fridays — Reiki with Stirling Marie Sexton ¢ TBA— Healing Touch with Akash Sonnichsen The suggested donation for these clinic sessions is $15/ half hour. To arrange an appointment call Dave at 527-5038. For more information, there is a brochure avail- able in the Continuing Education Office, which is room 4011, outside on the fourth floor (walk straight from the north elevator towards the new student building). (ool. A study where you dont have to open a single book. We're looking for women who are considering starting oral contra- ceptives (birth control pills) for the first time. We are conducting a clinical trial of a birth control pill that’s been approved and on the market for several years. We're interested in how packaging may affect how consistently and (all 1-800- correctly women take the Pill. For further information on how to participate, give us a call at the number below. If you qualify, you'll get six months worth of free birth control pills. In return, we’ll ask you to fill out some question- naires. All calls are confidential and free of charge. 593-4030 First Use Oral Contraceptive Study 4 February 31997 The Other Press