BCGEU strike averted: ratification vote soon | By John McDonald The Douglas College Board of Directors has moved one step clos- er to implementing a_precedent- setting non-user athletics levy by _ giving what amounts to a “first reading” to the motion. The levy, to be administered by athletics director Betty-Lou Hayes, will see Douglas College students pay $1.00 per course to a maximum of $5.00, if passed. Dean of Educational and Stu- dent Services Gerry Della Mattia who initiated the request for the levy, said he hoped the motion - would pass, but added that “some of the board members are con- cerned.” Della Mattia said his goal was to see “increased funding for recrea- tional activities at Douglas Col- lege.” “One of my conerns, though, is that everyone has the perception that this (the levy) is only for col- lege basketball and trips to Texas,” said Della Mattia. “It goes far be- yond that; it involves every level of recreational activity at the col- lege.” “Tt’s not an athletic levy per se; it’s an activity fee,” added Della Mattia. Politics postpones Punjabi/Sikh studies Canadian University Press VANCUUVER -- A group of Uni- versity of British Columbia stu- dents is angry with Ottawa’s han- dling of a grant application to establish a chair in Punjabi and Sikh studies. The UBC Sikh Students Associa- tion is sending letters to both Ex- ternal Affairs Minister Joe Clark and Secretary of State David Crombie to protest unnecessary delays in the application, said club president Palbhinder Sandhu. In March of 1985, UBC and the Federation of Sikh Societies agreed to establish a chair in Punjabi lan- guage and literature and Sikh stu- dies. Now, Sandhu and others say In- dian government interference is behind the almost two-year feder- al delay in processing the grant ap- plication -- a charge Indian gov- ernment representatives deny. According to a recent Globe and Mail report, however, External Af- fairs did intervene in the applica- tion for a $300,000 multicultural- ism grant, arguing support for the program linked to Canada’s Sikh community could harm bilateral relations with India. In a recent article, the Globe said documents obtained under the Access to Information Act show an External Affairs official thought the Indian government would misunderstand the federal grant. E.G. Drake, an assistant deputy minister in external affairs, sent a memo about the grant in April, 1985 to the Secretary of State, which is processing the applica- tion. ‘In the memo, he wrote, “...the implications in terms of for- eign policy must also be consid- ered.” “I hope, therefore that the Indi- an government’s likely reaction can be taken into account before any conclusion is reached,” con- tinued Drake. ; Palbhinder Sandhu said the chair concerns the rights of Sikhs and other Canadians to learn about the Sikh community. More than 200,000 Sikhs live in Canada, including about 80,000 in the lower mainland in B.C. The Federation of Sikh Societies has raised $300,000 towards the chair, including $175,000 in B.C. Sandhu said the position is needed “especially to get rid of a lot of perceptions that the sikh community is a violent communi- ty,” start in September 1985. Jagdish Sharma, Indian Consul- general for Western Canada, de- clined comment on what the Indi- an government thinks of the UBC chair. Inside Page 2 OPS Elections Page 3 Coke is Page 4 it Page 5 Page 7 Hobbsian Money Money for nothing... Les Autre Funnies, of course Box adding the program was set to , He also denied allegations that he interfered in student politics made by former Douglas College Student Society senate member Keith Wilson. “I think that’s a misperception,’ said Della Mattia. Wilson charged that Della Mattia had told him and other student society members that if they didn’t impose an athletics levy the college would. “That’s maybe his perception,” said Della Mattia, adding “I don’t want to get in a war with Keith.” Based on Fall 86 enrollment figures, the proposed levy would add $35,000 to the current athletic’s budget. Volume XX] | December 4th, Special General Meeting; athletic students clashed with others over a motion for verbal support of their levy bid. Athletics students clashed with other students at a recent Special General Meeting of the student society when an attempt was made to block an _ athletics-generated motion calling for verbal DCSS fm | ssue Nednesday support for a pitch to the college board for the levy. Students currently pay DCSS fees ranging from $6.00 to $19.00 as well as Other Press fees of $1.00 to $4.00 every semester. January 28, 1987 » Other PRESS Doug las College's s Autonomous S “We have not put any pressure whatsoever on the government of Canada or UBC,” Sharma said. The UBC professor who has been involved with the Federation of Sikh Societies in establishing the chair also said the Indian govern- ment has not pressured UBC on the issue. Ashok Aklujkar, a Sanskrit pro- fessor and past head of the Asian studies department, called the delays and controversy “a sad sit- uation.” He said the chair is needed to further study of Punjabi and Sikh traditions, and that he became in- volved in establishing the chair be- fore tensions increased between the Indian government and Sikhs. Impeachment, fee increase at SGM Student Society treasurer Chris Lirette; impeachment for him and president Scott Nelson at SGM, 12:00 noon, Feb. Sth in the large lecture hall. By John McDonald The removal of the president and treasurer and a $.50 surcharge to be applied to an expanded off-- campus activity program are among the main topics for discus- sion at the Feb. Sth Special General Meeting of the Douglas College Student Society. Society president Scott Nelson, in a motion from the senate, has been asked to resign due to “will- ful neglect, demonstrated abusiveness and total abrogation of the (DCSS) constitution.” The motion was passed by a ma- jority of senate members at a re- cent senate meeting and _ stems from, among other things, allega- tions of election interference earli- er this fall. Nelson refused to com- ply with the motion forcing its consideration at the SGM _ where he can count on support from a large contingent dents. Lirette faces removal due to a petition generated from within the athletics department, apparently for his opposition to a motion for verbal DCSS support for an athletics pitch to the college board for an athletics levy at an earlier SGM. of athletics stu- The DCSS activity program could expand from the current free student access to the Canada Games Pool and Maple Ridge Lei- sure Center to include Fitness Plus locations in Burquitlam and near Lougheed Mali. There would be an additional $.50 user surcharge. Other motions to be considered at the SGM will include a proposal to rename the executive posistion of secretary to that of vice-presi- dent external and to have the DCSS constitution reflect this change. tudent Newspaper | No | Stik. A strike that could have disru ted classes at Douglas College : averted last week by a tentative ; greement between the B.C. Gor ernment Employees Union and. the college board. Although yet to be ratified by he membership of Local 57, compris- ed of secretaries, building service | workers and non-teaching per- sonnel, college negotiator Rob Corbett said; “We anticipate that it will be accepted.” 77% of the local voted in favour of strike action when the college board refused to alter their final | contract offer, a package that w: rejected by an overwhelming 99% | of the membership. They meet a- gain on Feb. 3rd to consider the | latest proposal. j Central to the dispute was th college’s desire to end consider: tion of senority in promotion, said the chairperson of the Local’s bar- gaining unit, Marian Exmann. Corbett would not reveal co tents of the tentative agreement “We've agreed not to announ details until both sides have rat fied it.” He added ‘that the colleg board has already given their proval. oe to see how the members respond- ed to the new proposal. “We thin it’s the best we could get,” said E: mann. “We hope it’s to their satis- faction.” : Corbett added the last step in t process is review of the contract provincial government official: but said he did not aetcipe an. problems.