al, news Two student societies formed at AGM credit for a total of $169 in S ll of ages: < an increase page three by Greg Heakes The Douglas College stu- dent society made history during the Annual General Meetings, February 16, 17 at the Surrey and New West- minster campuses by form- ing two separate societies on the Kwantlen and Doug- las campuses. The student society touched on issues as, tuition increases, cutbacks, cons- titutional ‘Changes, fare- cards, activity fees and the Other Publication society. Despite the fact that many teachers asked stu- dents to attend classes ins- tead of the AGM, quarum was reached. The Kwantlen AGM held on Monday, establish- ed a new student society for that college. The Kwantlen society will function entirely separate from that of Doug- las, beginning September I, 1981. Under the new by-law changes the student society reorganized setup of. the Multi-Campus Council and created a disciplanary com- mittee to take action against pubznight offenders. The new Multi-Campus Council will consist of a president, vice-president, treasurer, chairperson, and two representatives from each student campus coun- cil. the major change from previous years is that the vice-president internal and vice-president external will be almalgamated into one. The counil also took act- ion against persons who cause damage at pub nights. The new committee will have the power to revoke the privileges of a student card for a period of four months or one semes- ter. The Kwantlen and Doug- las College Student Society also raised their activity fees, as well as The Other Publications Society, who in effort to gain more auto- nomy, will now get their funds directly from the stu- dents. Previously, the Other Press was allocated 251% of the student societies budget. What the new costs mean is that the average full time student taking 12 credit courses will now pay $18 in activity fees. The only motion defeated during the two days of mee- tings was a student society constitutional change that would have seen the Other Publications Society (Other Press) present a monthly financial statement to the student society. Former Other Press editor, Keith Baldry, spoke against the motion stating that it was an infrigment on the autonomy of the paper. The motion was subsequently defeated. eampu od motions co. ‘S20 to $144 in ihe fall of 1981 : an increase of 8 per cent lege Annual General Meet- _ ing regarding a Declaratio ue Education. __ : : n then aoe for *an assessibility s dy aim- ed at the segme __ secondary ¢ eqnesucn petition at the Douglas Col- ie endorter nts society which are poli from obtaining a The Other Press March 19, 1981 The Douglas College Student Council AGM was held Tuesday at the New Westminster campus. Photo by John Dhaliwal Victoria rally planned Students are taking the sorry financial state of post- secondary education in B.C. directly to the public this week, in a gamble to place pressure on a steadfast pro- vincial government. With a week-long series of meetings and rallies, the B.C. Students Federation is hoping to publicize its five- point declaration of de- mands designed to save education from _ provincial policy. ‘“‘The direction of provin- cial government policy is serously threatening the post-secondary education system in B.C.’’ states a brief released Sunday by the federation, which repre- sents 30,000 students. “Consistent underfund- ing of post-secondary edu- cation leaves institutions unable to maintain the qua- lity and scope of education from year to year. Cutbacks on the number and variety of courses available, over- crowding of classes, out-of- date libraries, and_ short- ages of equipment and faci- lities are the trend in post- secondary education.’’ At UBC a two-hour class ' boycott was called Wednes- day, so that students could attend a rally. Capilano College students were in Victoria on Wed- nesday to set up an infor- mation picket and soup kit- chen on the steps of the provincial legislature to gra- phically portray the plight of their college, which faces a $400,000 deficit next year. ‘It’s about time the pu- blic heard about what’s going on in the education system,’’ student organizer Mike Miller said. “Tf current trends continue, education will become in- creasingly unable to meet the needs of the education community, and of society as a whole.’’ The student federation’s demands for a comprehen- sive education plan is being supported by both the Col- lege Institute Educators As- sociation, representing 13 college faculty associations, and the Association of Uni- versity and College Em- ployees, a union represent- ing support staff at UBC Simon Fraser University and several colleges. “‘The past few years have seen control of B.C.’s post- secondary system move closer into the hands of the government,”’ federation chair Catherine Ludgate said. ‘‘The government is using that control to force lower wage settlements on faculty and staff, and is making it virtually impos- sible for students of lesser means to complete their education.”’ Ludgate also said the province’s decision to slash $4.1 million from the Youth Employment Program will result in about 4,000 fewer summer jobs, more than offsetting a slight increase in the student aid program included in the provincial budget. ‘‘We applaude the in- crease in student assist- ance, but only with one hand,’’ Ludgate said. “‘By the time inflation and the increased number of appli- cants is factored in, the increase will clearly not meet the needs of financi- ally strapped students.’’ Demands outlined in the five-point declaration include: reversing the majority on institutional governing bo- dies from government ap- pointees to elected commu- nity representatives; a creating comprehensive education plan by the go- vernment and the education community for coherent education funding; undertaking a government study on financial barriers to education; creating a student assist- ance program ensuring no person is prohibited from attending an institution for financial reasons; and, proper wage settlements for faculty and support staffs, so that they do not ‘‘Bear the brunt of education un- derfunding.”’