Also the nearest pool is in
New Westminster,’’ Agasse
said.

Lynne Wells, an active
student at the Maple Ridge

campus last semester, is
unhappy with the method of
the distribution of student
fees at the college.

“‘The distribution of stu-
dent fees is pathetic. We

eceived nothing in return
@.:: semester. We don’t
mind paying alot and getting
little in return, but not
paying for all the rest (pools)
and getting nothing back,’’
Wells said.

Valente said that the bud-
get of $125 allocated to
Maple Ridge is too small.

‘‘We need more money in
order to hold more student
functions. This is turn
would eliminate apathy
among students and gene-
rate interest at the college,’’
he said.

The complaints of the
students of Maple Ridge do
not lie solely with the stu-
dent society. They are also
highly critical of the adminis
tration of Douglas College.

  
  
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

As a result of the condi-
tions at Maple Ridge, the
students and staff held a
meeting with Kitching in

November to voice _ their
concerns.
Students told Kitching

that because there are only
13 courses offered per sem-
ester at Maple Ridge, it is
not possible to recieve a first
year university transfer pro-
gram. They said they are
frustrated at course limit-
ations; not being able to
follow up 100 level courses
with 200 level courses. Many
students have to commute to
other campuses of Douglas.

Agasse said: ‘‘There is no
rhyme or reason for the
courses offered since they
are all virtually 100 level
courses. ‘‘

Kitching said that student
jinput into curricular plan-
ning has been extremely
low.

“We've tried hard to res-
pond to the communities
needs. I don’t know what
else we can do to help them
(students) until we get a
bigger student demand,’’

  

she said.

Kitching, _ vicé-principal
John Slattery, and a career
counselor visit the Maple
Ridge campus once a week.

Valente said that these
visits by the administration

- are just ‘‘stop overs.”’

‘‘The only one that spends
a full day is the career
counselor, but the day is
spent recruiting students for
Coquitlam because students
are told Maple Ridge has
nothing to offer,’’ he said.

Kitching is not favourable
toward high school gradu-
ates attending Maple Ridge
and: said that she would
rather have them attend the
New Westminster or Coquit-
lam campuses.

A survey was done by
Douglas College which
asked high school students if
they would attend the Maple
Ridge campu& if offered the
courses they required. Forty
per cent said they would
attend.

“Kitching said she wants
more people enrolled in the
college but doesn’t encour-
age high school students

     

The Maple Ridge campus of Douglas College. “The physical

because she doesn’t think
the college’s support system
is good enough. Thats
ludicrious,’’ Valente said.

The answer to the adminis
trative problem according to
Agasse and Valente, is to
install a principal at the
Maple Ridge campus.

“It would be a major step
in the right direction, and
would help solve almost all
of our problems,’’ Agasse
said.

If the problems connected
with the administration and
student society are resolved,
the students are still con-
cerned with the physical
conditions of the four-storey
campus.

A list of needed improve-
ments has been made up
and includes:

*adequate library facilities,
*proper heating system,

*a lounge facility,

*floor coverings,

*food facilities and

®*more parking spaces.

Kitching agrees with the
students that the physical
appearance of the college is
“‘terrible.’’

page nine

      
 
  
 

appearance is terrible.”’

. “But the question is, is it
better than nothing at all,?’’
she said.

The lease on the building
which houses the campus
expires.in two years, so the
need will arise for a new
permanent campus.

Kitching said that Maple
Ridge should have its own
permanent campus but that
“‘a political route must be
taken.”’

“‘However, it may be hard
to press politicians for a new
campus when the sections
are only half filled,’’ said
Kitching.

The outcome of the cont-
roversy on the future of
Maple Ridge can only be
solved by time and effort by
both students and adminis-
tration. Hallgate said in an
interview that he was un-
aware of the problems that
Maple Ridge was having
with his council and with
administration.

“‘Now that I am aware,
the student society will en-
deavor to look into and solve
these problems,’’ he said.