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The following is a feature dealing with tuition fee increases
affecting students in B.C., as well as a look at the national and

 

international scene.

re

A March 10 class boycott and
rally to protest education cut-
backs and tuition fee increases
_ |was announced last month by
‘ the British Columbia Student
Federation.

Students from the University
r of British Columbia, Simon Fra-
__—__|ser University, Capilano Col-
; lege, Vancouver Community
College, Vancouver Vocational
Institute, The B.C. Vocational
/School, and Douglas College
ae have announced they will parti-
y ‘cipate in the protest.

Bs High school students from
a throughout the lower mainland
are also expected to take part.
The rally is scheduled to take
F place in front of the Queen
a Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver,
and a march through the streets
was also discussed at a Feb. 27
BCSF meeting.

 

  
  
   
    
  
    
  
   
  
    
   
  
 

 

 

Terry Glavin

A Douglas College rally or-
ganizing committee, struck Feb.
2S at a special general meeting,
will co-ordinate the protest
here. ;

The committee is composed of
nine students from all four
campuses.

The Faculty Association an-
nounced its support of the —
walkout last Wednesday, and
the Faculty Association at Capi-
lano College announced it sup-
poprt last Tuesday.

Dave Johnston, chairman of
the Douglas College rally com-
mittee, said last week initial
organizing would be ‘‘difficult’’,
but expects at least the class
boycott to show some success.

Johnston said the possibility
of buses leaving the four cam-
puses March 10 for the rally "has
been considered.

A tuition increase of 25 to 30
per cent was set for next year at
the University of British Colum-
yia last Tuesday after 1,200
protesting students dispersed
outside the UBC board and
senate chambers.

_ Similar increases are expect-
ed to be announced for Simon

Fraser University and the Uni-

ersity of Victoria.

. After 150 students protesting
cutbacks and tuition fee increa-
ses dispersed last Tuesday at
SFU, administration postponed
a decision on fee hikes until

. April.’ :

_ U of Vic administration presi-
dent Howard Petch recommen-
ded last Tuesday that tuition
fees there be raised by 25 per
cent.

TUITION HIKES IN B.C.

Tuition fee increases have
been suggested by both the
B.C. Association of Colleges
and the Universities Council as
a remedy for the limited educat-
ion budget, announced Jan. 24.
_ The budget was criticized last
month by UBC administration
president Doug Kenny and SFU
administration president Paul-
ine Jewitt as being ‘‘consider-
ably less’’ than what the uni-
versities had asked for.

Douglas College principal
George Wootton said last month
the 10.8 increase in the colleges
allotment is approximately half
the increase needed to remain at
the 1976 level.

Wootton said last Monday
that Education Minister Pat

McGeer told colleges at a Feb.
25 meeting that a ‘‘*mechanism”’
exists for tuition fee increases at
colleges to be supplemented
through a ‘‘reserve’’ in the
department’s budget.

Currently, tuition fees at
B.C.’s colleges revert directly
back to the municipalities, to
defray their 40 per cent share of
college costs.

But this ‘‘mechanism’’ refer-
red to by McGeer represents a
new interpretation of the cost-
sharing formula outlined in the
Public Schools Act, and allows
colleges to include tuition fees
in their operating budgets.

Wootton said McGeer told the
colleges that if tuition fees were
increased to provide 40 per cent

el
ay

cont’d. on

 

 

 
 
  
  
  
    
 
      
   

 

 

Cariboo College Student
}Council will not join in B.C.
Colleges and Universities Mar-
ch 10th anti-cut-back walkout
C.C.' Student President Jim
Piderman said Friday.

At a B.C. Student Federation
Conference in Pentiction Pider-
man said the Student Council
decided not to participate in the
walkout ‘‘as a demonstration of
good faith’’ to the administrat-
ion.

The March 10th action was
called by the BCSF last month to
protest education cutbacks and
tuition fee increases.
_ BCSF Chairman Gordon Bell
said Friday C.C. Student Coun-
cil is too concerned about their
“image” with administration.
| ‘‘They are worried more
about credibility with admini-

         
     
        
      
     
 

 
 

  

  

 

  

Bell said.

Piderman said he is conduct-
ing a letter-campaign to protest!
cut-backs and tuition hikes,
rather than ‘‘militant-type act-
ions”’ like a walkout.

-Piderman admitted a letter
campaign would not be effective
as a walkout.

 

The walk-out ‘‘is not a con-
structive move, it might be
politically effective, but we are
not sold on it,’’ Piderman said.

Tuition fees at B.C. Universi-
ties are expected to increase
25-40 per cent this fall.

The 10.8 per cent increase in
provincial grants to colleges
announced by the Department
of Education is half the increase
necessary to maintain current
standards Douglas College Prin-
cipal George Wootton said last
month.

 

 

 

~

Tray

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