Athletic levy closer; student protest mounts 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 athletic’s director Betty-Lou Hayes, will see Douglas College students pay $1.00 per course to a° maximum of $5.00, if passed. DCSS senate representative Petra Bangemann is planning to present a petition containing over 250 names of people opposed to the levy at the next college board meeting she said. 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 Coalition starts up By Mike Roberts “It’s got to stop!”, says Coalition for Accessible Education spokes- person, Vanessa Geary regarding a growing trend of rising tuition fees at B.C. colleges and universi- ties. Geary, along with seventeen other UBC students, formed the coalition on Jan. 29th to contest the four percent tuition increase at UBC, and similar hikes at the other post-secondary institutions in B.C. The coalition is also con- cerned about rising housing, tra- nsport and _ textbook expenses. With huge debt loads, and an abs- ence of grants, the coalition believes that post-secondary edu- cation is becoming less and less accessible for B.C. students. The coalition is a _pro-educa- tional, non-political group that hopes to influence a_ significant change-for-the-better in B.C. col- leges and universities in a non- radical way, “We don’t want to al- ienate anybody”, says Geary. Geary stresses that the coalition is open to all college, university and Vancouver high school _ stu- dents, as well as concerned citi- zens who wish to express their concern. The first general meeting of the Coalition for Accessible Ed- ucation will be held at the UBC Grad Centre on Wednesday, February 11, at 12:30 pm. Letters Page 2 Medicine Page 3 Out and about Page 5 Page 5 Curling up Page 6 Inside Box Money, money, money Les Autre Funnies, of course 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.” Based on Fall 86. enrollment figures, the proposed levy would add $35,000 to the current athletic’s budget. 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. Volume XX| | athletic levy Scott Nelson and Petra Bangemann; DCSS split over sisi 0 (=a AVA Wednesday, February 4, « OTHER Drei PRESS College Board member jailed Ouc glc aS Colleg Former Douglas College board member and New Westminster al- derman Sandy Tompson was sen- tenced to six years in prison Jan. 26th, after pleading guilty to 15 counts of fraud and criminal breach of trust.The money, totalling over $350,000, was taken from trust acc- ounts administered by Tompson in his role as notary public and never recovered. His notary public license was revoked earlier this month. Tompson, who served for a num- ber of years on the college board, Youth Suffrage, says By John McDonald Ian Hunter, former Other Press staffer and Douglas College stu- dent, is making waves all over the place. His cause; Youth Suffrage. His method; unceasing _ publicity hunting in every medium _pos- sible. What is Youth Suffrage? It’s a grassroots movement by Ian Hunter to give children - all chil- dren - the right to vote in federal, provincial and municipal el- ections. What: is his argument? That chil- dren being the victims of social, economic and political exploitation should be given the right to change their situation through the use of mass voting power. And that any question of their ability to vote is outweighed by their right to politi- cal representation. Fresh from Victoria, where his idea was debated in model parliament, Hunter talks about Youth Suffr- age. OP - How goes the movement? Hunter - It’s going good. I got great response over in Victoria... and I’ve come to realize one thing - it’s that the process is as important as the product. In other words the conciousness-raising impact of the movement is just as important as the end result - it’s really valuable. If it can get people to think, not just of Youth Suffrage, but of the larger issues facing us, then I’ve accom- plished something. OP - Have you heard a reasonable argument against your proposal? Hunter - Not really. The best I’ve heard yet comes from Brian Ward of the Canada Council of Children and Youth - he says that because of the position we’ve put children in, by giving them the right to vote we also expose them to things they were previously protected from, but I say because of the new con- stitution those protections are be- ing eroded anyway - if they’re al- ready losing that protection maybe we should go all the way and give them the protection of adults - the right to vote against any govern- ment that is not serving their best interests. OP - Would the Youth Suffrage movement continue if you weren’t involved? Hunter - Well, the seed’s been planted - if I was shot dead tomor- row by an enraged adult, it would probably continue but if I was hit by a truck it might just be a hiccup es Autonomous Stude nt Newspaper was never formally removed from his position on the board, according to college president Bill Day. His term expired in the spring of 1986 and was not renewed. Clients who entrusted the former alderman lost amounts ranging from $500 to $160,000. Tompson re- fused to cooperate with police in recovering the lost funds, which Tompson’s lawyer said were used in a vain attempt to save his failing real estate investments. student in history - I may be wrong. Articles are being written, radio broadcasts are going out, so who knows? OP - Any converts yet? Hunter - I definitely have some converts - but if they’re going around as I am and making an issue of Youth Suffrage I can’t tell. OP - Do you see yourself as the spiritual head of an army of en- lightened and empowered youth? Hunter - I don’t want to formally head the movement - I see my role as raising the issue but I'll probably have no other choice - I have no desire to carry on a lonely crusade. I still see myself as a writer in this but unfortunatley, others don’t. OP - So what’s next for movement? Hunter - I want to move it beyond the academic circles it is in now and really affect the conciousness of the kids so they can do someth- ing about it - other than that, I just want to keep up with the mail and try to break into the Vancouver talk show circuit. OP - Any message for the stu- dents? Hunter - Only that it’s a fun topic and the argument itself leads to very important discussion on de- mocracy and the role of authority. the