The t her Tess Douglas College’s Autonomous Student Newspaper since 1976 Volume XIII, Number 16 June 25, 1990 ree Tuition Fees on the Rise by Matthew Martin On Thursday, June 21, the Douglas Collgege Board decided to consider an 11.1% fee increase for the 1990 fall semester. According to College Bursar, Peter Greenwood, the two biggest reasons for the tuition increase are — the faculty’s collective agreement _ and an internal inflation rate higher than what the provincial govern- ment allows. The Ministry of Advanced Education and Job Training has set the inflation rate at 6.53%, says Greenwood, adding the college’s — internal inflation rate is around 8%. The rest of the increase is to — cover the extra costs of more facul- — ty no longer being contract employees,as they are now entitled | to the full range of employee benefits under the new contract. Greenwood says that each full | time faculty member costs about | $20 000 in benefits and "there were 35 to 40 positions regularized." According to Greenwood, a number of other options were con- sidered instead of raising tuition. One of these options was to reduce the number of services the college offers, but "we are not con- sidering reducing services because the student demand is just too great." When Greenwood was asked why tuition was being raised, even though the college’s ancillary fund generated over $400 000 last year, he replied that that money was ear- marked for one time only expendi- tures like the new, automated library system. "We looked at other institu- tions and even with our increases, our tuition fees are still pretty reasonable compared to other in- stitutions...the college’s fees are 55-60% that of SFU or UBC" said Greenwood. “College is underfunded," says DCSS President Jamie McVoy Before the fee increase, Douglas College had the second lowest fees in the province. With the increase, Douglas will still have the fourth lowest tuition costs of the province’s colleges. Douglas College Student Society President, Jaimie McEvoy, says the increased expenditures are because the "college is opening new programs, as well as more eve- ning courses...the college is raising expenditures and covering the money with student’s tuitions,"ad- ding that even though Douglas’s tuition is relatively low in com- parison, "the other colleges are too high already." "Both the College and the DCSS are actively lobbying the provincial government for more government funding" said Mc- Evoy. The reality is that the colleges are under funded said McEvoy, and "students are going to think twice before attending any institutions." The college board will make the final decision about the fee in- creases at its July Board meeting. _ tent photo by Marion Drakos College Butts Out by Matthew Martin Douglas College will be a non- smoking zone by August Ist. The policy will apply to all people in all internal areas of the college and includes the exterior rooftop and courtyard areas says College Bursar Peter Greenwood. Douglas College has a respon- sibility to adopt such a policy Greenwood says, because Douglas is an institute that boasts a strong Health Sciences Program. The College will offer non- smoking courses to assist employees who have trouble kick- ‘ ing the habit. Greenwood is also confident that enforcement will not be a problem. "We will have to ensure ade- quate signage so that everyone is fully aware that the building is non- smoking," said Greenwood, adding that most people will support the move. "People are enlightened as to the dangers of smoking and secon- dary smoke. Our actions are consis- with many other organizations.” According to Terry Leonard, Director of Facilities and Services, the college will save thousands of aint by Marion Drakos Lighting their last dollars that used to be spent repair- ing smoke damage to carpets, linoleum, and ventilation systems. "It’s a reality. It’s something that’s happening everywhere" said Leonard. University of PEI Caps Enrolment by Padraic Brake HALIFAX (CUP) -- The March 13 Prince Edward Island budget includes a 6.9 per cent in- crease for post-secondary educa- tion next year, but according to UPEI president William Eliot, that will only "meet inflation and give a little bit more." Eliot said, "The increase will certainly not restore per student funding to the levels that it was ten | years ago." The province has followed the | Maritime Provinces Higher Educa- tion Commission funding recom- mendations four out of the past five years. "The provincial government has always acted upon the recom- mendations of the MPHEC,” Eliot said. "We may have problems with the recommendations though." Lisa Murphy, president of the UPEI student council, said, the MPHEC has been recommending the "bare maintenace" for operation of universities. "Over the years it has a cumulative effect." Eliot said UPEI will have to look at other ways to ensure a quality education for its students. "We don’t have too much farther to go before we will have to imple- ment enrolment caps." He said the university may only have "one year to go" before it acts. Murphy described implement- ing enrolment caps as a "band aid solution." "Enrolment caps serve as an example of where we are," she said. "The way to handle it is to lobby the provincial and federal govern- ments to increase funding." In the last federal budget, the government eliminated $4.4 mil- lion in transfer payments to the province. "Education itself is becoming so insecure," Murphy said. "It’s being left up to a few weeks of wrangling between the federal and provincial governments.” If UPEI does implement enrol- ment caps, it will join six other universities in the Maritimes that have announced limits on the num- bers of students it will allow into their universities next year. Dalhousie’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has raised academic entry requirements and put a cap on the total enrolment for next year. The Dean of the FASS Rowland Smith, said, "It is the best and the least we can do with classes that are growing unacceptably large." The PEI budget also increased the maximum amount a student could receive in provincial student aid bursary from $1950 to $2200. "The increase in the bursary program was adequate," Murphy said. "We (the student council) were quite relieved that at least that was increased." Higher Tuition Fees a "Barrier" to Students By Karen Hill TORONTO (CUP) - Some were hanging from trees and screaming, but mostly the 700 stu- - dents from across Ontario were just swarming outside education mini- ster Sean Conway’s office Mar. 15 to protest next year’s university tui- tion fee hikes. Tuition is planned to go up 8 per cent next year. There are also rumours of an additional 7 per cent boost to compensate for cuts to federal transfer payments to the provinces for health and education. Tim Jackson, chair-elect of Ontario’s student federation, said these increases would make it more difficult for people to go to school. "Those students who can not already attend a college or univer- sity are even farther away (now)," he said. "Those who don’t have a chance will never get a chance." Higher tuition fees will make it even tougher for native students to attend a post-secondary institu- tion, he added. "If they want to study dentistry in the north, there are no programs available for them (there)," he said. And families are being forced to make choices they shouldn’t have to make, he said. "It’s getting to the point where families have to draw straws to see which child will go to a post-secon- dary institution." York University student Kath- leen Hall said she is outraged by the increase. "My tuition is far too high for me to live on," she said. "I have barely enough to get by every month. I live off $500 a month. I haven’t seen a movie since I went home for Christmas. "I buy my books one at a time. I go in with $15 and hope I can get one textbook." Jackson said OFS’s position on tuition fees remains unchanged in the face of cuts to federal transfer payments to education. OFS sup- ports free tuition for students. But, he said, OFS realizes students have a debt to repay to society. "We’re pushing for a more fair, progressive tax system," he said. Students should not pay fees, but rather, pay higher taxes once they have joined the work force, he said. And, current OFS chair Edith Garneau warned, the provincial government will have to reckon with student opposition when the next election rolls around. "The students are a big part of the population in Ontario and they aren’t pleased with the govern- ment. And they’ll show it, when they get the chance."