Mary VALLIS
THE MARTLET (UVIC) >

meaning they will be the only credit
card vendors recruiting student mem-

bership in the student union building

come. While he said other deals-in-
progress are still confidential, he
expects another deal will be revealed |

si when students’ budgets couldn't next fall. the next UVSS meeting on July 6.
get any tighter—and their debt The deal also means the UVSS will “T think people in this society nee

; loads ~ larges—the University of make money off every credit card pur- _to have access to purchasing,” said

Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS) is chase made by a cardholder. Stewart. “Student incomes are at a

signing a contract that may make credit
cards even more accessible to students.

“(The deal] is a good way to make
money off other people without doing

a lot of work,” said

level where credit is a good thing to
have.”

Although Stewart doesn’t know th

director of services specifics of the deal, debate on the
Anita Zaenker as the motion was minimal. Stewart said
board discussed the about half the board members at the
motion. meeting already knew about the deal.
The UVSS will be “I was actually hoping for more of
paid a fee for each discussion,” said Stewart.
new membership, as John Fitterer, business operations
well as for each each manager for the UVSS, negotiated th
C a i | | il eS credit card transaction deal with MBNA, but is currently on
made by a cardholder. _leave and not available for comment.
The deal also includes Stewart said the deal will not be sign
a $7,500 signing bonus. until Fitterer returns in early July.

At the June 21 board meeting, the
UVSS passed a motion to become
partners with the Alumni Association

in a five-year credit card affinity pro-
gram.

The deal will give MBNA, the cred-
it card company, exclusivity rights—

rating instead,

  
  
    
  
 
  

Mary VALLIS
THE MARTLET (UVIC) ;

tudents attending UBC next year will be more than just
Ss of the university's undergraduate Alma Mater
Society (AMS)—they will also be members of CASA,
Canada’s national right-wing student organization.
AMS’: decision to join the Canadian Alliance
Associations (CASA) is a major shift for BC’s
ovement, because UBC’s undergraduate member-
is the largest in the province.

July 1998 Page 2. NEWS

Finance director Morgan Stewart
expects the deal to bring in $9,000 in
revenue for the UVSS in the contract’s

them a chance to develop a good credit

Stewart hinted the contract is only a
taste of corporate oan to

Membership for the new card will
be targeted at Alumni members and
UVic students—a market that is

first year. potentially 57,000 consumers strong.
Stewart also said Members of the Alumni
the deal does not Association, many of whom currently

encourage students
to go into greater

debt, but offers

hold a Bank of Montreal affinity car
will have the option of switching to
the new card.

MBNA is a private, American-
owned company. Don Jones of the
Alumni Association said the deal is
still in final eet

The motion |
join CASA, whi
required a two-
thirds majority,
passed after three hours of debate at the June 10 council
meeting. While five board members voted in favour of
remaining an autonomous student association, 16 AMS
members voted in favour of the motion to join CASA.

But two council members abstained in the decision alto-
gether—including AMS president Vivian Hoffman, who
told the Martlet that personally, she would have opted to joit
CASAs rival, the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS).

According to Hoffman, the council’s decision to join

CASA—the CFS’s newer, smaller continues on page 7