Grants Cancelled —

The cancellation of student aid grants in
the provincial budget announced Monday has
Douglas College president Bil] Day con-
cerned over the effect it will have on
accessibility.

“With student unemployment being so high
and demand for post secondary education
rising, there are going to be a lot of
students hurting...some may not be able to
afford to continue," Day said.

Douglas College experienced a dramatic in-
crease in enrollment this fall (28 percent)
and coupled with a "serious" shortage in
scholarships, bursaries, and emergency |

loans, there are a large number of students |

suffer ing from shortage of funds.

Day also pointed out that the cancellation
of the grants portion would hit hardest -
at the student who would fear going into
debt, students coming from low income
families.

"A major problem with ay vacant yer
is that the more someone needs the assist-
ance, the more fearsome the prospect of a
debt load. As usual, those who can afford
‘debt, can use the sys tem most easily," Day
said.

Douglas College is. attempting to alleviate
some of the hardships by establishing a
campaign to raise a $250,000 endowment fund
to support student aid.

"We started the fund in November of 1983
with the board approving a Student Financial)
Assistance Fund," Day said.

"Now, we are going to have to put every
effort into raising those funds quickly. At
a time when economic conditions are placing
an increased demand on family incomes and
government resources, many good students
will be deprived access to any form of
financial assistance, unless we can get
this Assistance Fund going.

The purpose of the trust fund is to provide |
financial assistance through bursaries,
grants and emergency loans, to students in
need..,

"The cancellation of the student aid grant,
| will put a greater strain on ‘these eT

endowment fund.

| dary education in this country.
| At the same time as announcing the formal:

| additional $260-million in the 1984-85,

| The New Democratic Party has vigorously

| Conservatives to join in.
| only 25% of Conservative members of Parlia-
ment have spoken against the bill compared

qualify for financial assistance.

Dear Friends:

 

“Mad Hatter Page 2

=i

Day said.

All donations are deposited into a permanent
The interest revenue from
this fund goes directly to students who

 

New Democratic Party members of Parliament
have taken the lead in fighting Bill C-12,
the Liberal government's lan to limit |
further its share of funding for post-secon-

end of the 6 and 5 restraint policy in the
recent budget speech of February 15, the
government is imposing that policy on the
post-secondary educa Tonal sector. This
comes at a time when universities and
colleges are already strapped with record
enrollment increases and cutbacks from con-

 

servative provincial governments.

Bill C-12 will amend the current federal/ |
provincial agreement for funding post-sec-
ondary education by cutting its transfers
to the provinces to 6% in 1983-84 and to
5% in 1984-85. This action has already cut
$118-million this past year and will cut an

funds which the provinces were entitled to
under the existing formula.

opposed this action and has urged the
‘Unfortunately,

to 85% of New Democrats. Two Liberal mem-
bers mustered the courage to speak in favour
of this indefensible bill.