Douglas Students’ Union surpasses

Nepal fundraising goal

» Over $14,000 in relief donated through Canadian Red Cross

Lauren Kelly
News Editor
© news@theotherpress.ca

Wee the help of the
students, faculty, staff,
and clubs at Douglas College,
the Douglas Students’ Union
(DSU) has surpassed its goal

of raising $3,000 by May 25 for
Nepal’s ongoing earthquake
relief. Student donations
totalled $4,037.30, which the
DSU matched up to $3,000. The
Canadian government matched
the entire contribution, resulting
in a total of $14,074.60 in aid
relief through the Canadian Red
Cross thanks to the efforts of the
Douglas community.

The country of Nepal,
located between India and
China, was struck with a
7.9-magnitude earthquake on
April 25. This was followed by
about 265 aftershocks, the most
severe being a 7.3-magnitude
one on May 12. According to
the Nepalese government, the

: earthquakes have killed nearly

: 9,000 people, injured 21,000, and
: destroyed 500,000 homes. The

: United Nations estimates that

: 2.8 million people are in need of
: humanitarian assistance.

: College relations coordinator :
: Ruab Waraich said that the :
: DSU wanted to focus their

: energy towards helping Nepal,

: because “Douglas College

: has a large population of

: South Asian, Chinese, and

: international students, and this

: is an issue that’s very close to

: home for them. As we are the

: representatives for students at

: this campus, we represent all

: students, not just domestic ones.
: So we thought it would bea great
: idea to help them feel more at

: home and raise money for their

: home country.”

The DSU Crew, DSU Focus

: Club, DSU Video Games Culture
: Club, and DSU Indonesian Club
: all contributed to fundraising

: efforts. They were joined by the

: elected DSU representatives and
: hosted events such as carnival

: games with refreshments

: donated by Chartwells, a video

? game event in the concourse,

: anda large bake sale, which

raised $500. The college library,

: marketing division, Campus Life,
: and the Office for New Students
: helped as well.

College relations and

membership outreach

: coordinator Tracy Ho explained

: the overwhelming response:

: “Getting the reports back and

: hearing the news about children

: and families and women not
having homes and sleeping on

: the street hit a lot of people really
: close to their heart, and I think

: that has been great motivation

: for students to come together on

: this.”

Although the DSU fundraiser

: is now over, it is still possible

: to donate to Nepal through the
: Canadian Red Cross and the

: Humanitarian Coalition.

 

  

Photo by Lauren Kelly

 

City of Surrey and federal government

respond to gang activity

» Funds and RCMP presence increased

Cazzy Lewchuk
Staff Writer

 

he City of Surrey has always

faced a problem with gang
violence, which has led toa
significant number of shootings
and increased fear from
residents of both Surrey and the
rest of the Lower Mainland in
the last three months.

Since early March,

Surrey has had a reported 30
shootings. According to RCMP
investigation, the vast majority
of these shootings are linked
to violence between feuding
groups of South Asian and
Somalian gangs. Only one of
these shootings has resulted in
a death.

Although many of the
shootings involved vehicles and
occurred in daylight, police
have been unable to track
perpetrators or cars involved.
However, the crimes are believed
to bea result of drug-trafficking

: a list of five suspects known

: to be involved in gang activity.
: Police are working closely with
: Somalian and Sikh community
: leaders to investigate.

Proactive responses to the

: increased shootings have come

: from all levels of government.

: Ina press statement, MP and

: Minister of National Revenue

: Kerry-Lynne Findlay reported

: an allocation of funds and

: police presence. These resources
: included 100 new RCMP officers
: in Surrey, bringing the total close :
: to 800. These fall short of Surrey:
: Mayor Linda Hepner’s original

: request of 130 new officers.

In addition, Ottawa has

: approved $3.5-million over five
: years to the city to be used for the :
: Surrey Gang Reduction Program:
: run by the Surrey School District. :
: This program specifically targets:
: 400 at-risk youth who may fall

: victim to joining gangs.

The Wraparound Program

is another school district-led

: organization that works with

: youth currently involved in

: criminal or gang activity. Last

: awaitlist of roughly 45 students

: new RCMP officers will begin

  

Image from Thinkstock

: being worked out right now

: : [...] We know this is a very real
: hoped that the new funds will : conference, she stated “They will | community concern.” It is known

: to get into the program; it is : patrolling Surrey. In a press

: month, the BC government
: announced a one-time funding
: allotment of $270,000 to

activity, and the RCMP have
arrested several males in : eliminate the waitlist.

connection with drug and Ww, 4. There i dl : Findlay was unclear about : than later, but there isa process : more than 12 months after the
weapon charges and released ; Wraparound. There 1s reportedly? the exact time period that the : between governments that’s : funding is released in Ottawa.

: behere, we hope, sooner rather : all officers will be deployed no