“Democracy is never unjust,” says Scott Nelson, of the Feb. Sth DCSS special general meeting where he was forced to resign. “I’m just glad more students are becoming aware of what the student society can do for them and how it can affect them.” Nelson, who was accused of “willful and total abrogation” of the student society constitution was swiftly voted out by a seem- ingly vengeful crowd. When “question” (a demand for an im- mediate vote on a motion) was called, several people in the crowd “objected” forcing a vote on whether to proceed to “question”. An overwhelming majority of the crowd said yes to the immediate vote. Mike Bouchard, a supporter of Nelson, then attempted to end the meeting by questioning “quorum” (whether the meeting had enough legal: attendence to proceed) and leaving the meeting but chairper- son Mickey McLaughlin ruled the quorum motion invalid and the impeachment motion continued again with an overwhelming’ ma- jority voting “yes”. Nelson said afterward that he was “disappointed that some stu- dents who raised their hands didn’t get a chance to ask ques- tions.” “Several students said _after- wards that they really didn’t know what they what they were voting for,” said Nelson. “One thing I’m asking is why he jumped over two agenda items to the resignation of the president.” “Nelson, a veteran of student politics as the president of his high school student government, _ said he was not sure if he would run again for the position of president. “Tt all depends if they hold a by- dent ousted election,” said Nelson, adding “you don’t have to be president to be involved in the student soc- iety.” Student society treasurer Chris Lirette, who also faced an im- peachment motion at the meeting, said he thought the meeting was unfair to Nelson. “I think the people who wanted him ousted had a slanted view and they came into the meeting with- out any consideration of his per- sonality and what he’s done for the DCSS,” said Lirette. “I think people tended to victim- ize him because of his support for the athletic levy,” he said. “He was rail-roaded and he didn’t have a chance.” Of the 121 name petition calling for his own impeachment, Lirette said “the 120 people who signed the petition obviously didn’t show ” up. He calls it “the coup of the OP.” Who’s “he” and what’s “it”? “He” is Scott Nelson and “it” is his impeachment at the DCSS spe- cial general meeting on Feb. 5th. Accused of constitutional abroga- tion, Nelson believes the Other Press and their constant “negative cover- age” had much to do with his oust- ing. “¥ certainly feel the OP has not published anything positive about the DCSS,” said Nelson. “As far as personal vengeance goes, you have to expect a little of that when you are in the political seat.” Nelson said he thought none of the Other Press coverage in the 86-87 school year had reflected well on him or the student society. “When you have ex-members of the OP coming up to you and saying OP called negative it is all negative down there, you be- gin to wonder,” said Nelson. Nelson added that he had “learned a lot in the last year and I can’t re- gret it.” Society treasurer Chris Lirette, who also faced impeachment at the SGM, said he didn’t appreciate the “editorializing” on the front cover of the last issue of the Other Press. The cover featured a cartoon show- ing cowering politicians sitting on spring-loaded ejection seats labelled with the names of the DCSS executive. The figure labelled “Scott” was in the midst of ejection and was published before the SGM. “It was a pre-conceived notion of what could happen,” said Lirette. “1 think it could have affected the out- come of the SGM.” Letters Page 2 Page 3 Page 5 Some Sports Page 6 Page 7 Indians claim U. 12MIDNITE in the foyer Les Autre Funnies, of course Vic. Reprinted from the Ubyssey B.C.’s_ student aid program is completely inadequate, according to a recently released report from The Canadian Federation of Stu- dents. The task force report, compiled with input from college and uni- versity administrators, students and bankers, said the provincial government is not doing enough to help B.C. students. The report was broken down into several ma- jor categories: - Economic barriers - Debt loads - Repayment and default on loans - Lack of government funding - Awards reflecting achievment rather than need. CFS researcher Roseanne Moran said the main economic barriers to Volume XX1| Dyoye CFS decries loan program February 5th SGM: student backlash against athletic levy and con- duct of student society president Scott Nelson. As well, a backlash appeared against the motion passed at the Dec. Sth SGM where a number of athletics supporters appeared at the meeting and moved to have the DCSS support a pitch to college management for a seperate athletic levy. Students voted to have any mention of the levy struck from the minutes of the previous SGM as well as removing their support for the original proposal. SSUSuas gias students are the cost of living, high tuition fees, low wages and high unemployment. “One out of every five B.C. stu- dents did not find work at the height of Expo last year so we’re quite concerned about the future,” she said. Moran’ said more _ students attending Douglas College are ap- plying for student aid than are for admission. She said the elimination of the bursary program in 1984 has creat- ed skyrocketing debt loads for stu- dents. The average student debt load for an eight month term in 1981 was $1,356, which jumped to $3,102 in 1985, an increase of more than 130 percent. James Rae, assistant deputy minister to Stan Hagen, the minis- ter of advanced education and job Wednesday, February | | “ OTHER RESS Other agenda items included motions to change the name of the DCSS executive position of secre- tary to vice-president external and a motion endorsing the expansion of the DCSS external activity pro- gram to include some Fitness Plus locations with a 50¢ surcharge ap- plied to entrance. Both motions were lost in the confusion. er College's Autonomous Student Newspaper training, refused to comment on the report. Hagen was out of the province and unavailable for com- ment. Darlene Marzari, New Demo- cratic Party leader for advanced education, said the provincial gov- ernment will react eventually. “We'll keep looking for some modest proposals (from the Socreds) but nothing comprehen- sive enough to _ address the cutbacks in university funding,” she said. Moran said the provincial gov- ernment has been doing a lot of talking about loan remissions but it just isn’t helping enough. She said students are being forced into an untenable situation because they are not getting enough information about their loans. The membership of the BCGEU local 57, component 14 voted 96% in favour of accepting college ‘management's final offer in a rati- fication vote on Feb. 3rd, averting a possible strike and class disrup- tion at Douglas College. But Marian Exmann, chairperson fof the local’s bargaining unit said ‘that it was “low for a ratifacation “We usually have ~Membership ratifies “It’s the lowest acceptance vote we've had, which I think is signifi-- cant.” The stumbling block in negotiations centered around the colleges’s desire to end considera- tion of seniority in promotion and received a 99% _ refusal when tendered as a final . offer. A subsequent strike vote saw 77% of the local’s membership say “yes” to job action, forcing college management to tender an 11th contract hour offer to avoid job action and possible disruption of classes. Details of the agreement were unavailable but Exmann said “it’s the best we could get.” The agreement must be ap- proved by provincial government officials, but Rob Corbett, college ‘personnel officer, a negotiator for the college, said he could see no problems in that area. .