Volume 27 Issue 32

The Douglas College Autonomous Student Newspaper Since 1976

September 11, 2002

 

 

 

Pierre Florendo
OP Contributor

Long lineups. Tables loaded with print-
ed material. The loud din of hundreds
of people murmuring all at once.

A small group of people violently
pushing and shoving, while a larger
group of people sit around and watch.

Is it a Boxing Day sale? A heavy metal
concert at GM Place? A live show of
World Wrestling Entertainment?

No, it’s just the start of another year at
Douglas College.

Tuesday, September 3, 2002 marked
the return of life at DC. Once again, all
of the indicators of school activity reap-
peared. People were lining up at the
Registrar's Office to add and remove
courses. The Cashier's office also pos-
sessed a long lineup, prolonging the
inevitable moment when a student
watched as their bank account drained
quickly and effortlessly. Not to be out-
done, the Bookstore contained its own
mosh pit and massive lineup.

Classrooms resumed their purpose as
rooms for learning, instead of rooms for

sleeping, eating or other activities. The
cafeteria was filled to over 80% seating
capacity, compared to the 2-3 tables
that saw regular use over the summer.
The lower cafeteria also re-opened,
granting people access to essentials like
submarine sandwiches and pizza pizza.

Outside, students could be seen utiliz-
ing the “New West Grind”, also known
as the climb from New Westminster
Station to Douglas College. The steps
leading from the front of the school to
the top floor of the Students’ Union
Building doubled as a makeshift seating
area, allowing people to enjoy lunch in
the rare event known as sunshine. The
smokers’ area also saw re-use, as smokers
enjoyed their nicotine breaks while
respecting the property and not spit-
ting.

But the greatest indicator of the resur-
rection of Douglas College was the con-
course.

Besides the aforementioned line-ups
at the Registrar’s and the Cashier’s, the

Wrestling with the

worth of
FREE
Greer ies

concourse also housed almost all of the
traffic, whether students were entering
DC, leaving DC, or changing wings.
The concourse, constructed like a mini-
amphitheatre, gave people the opportu-
nity to sit on the extended staircase.
From here, they could watch the centre
stage, and enjoy the presentation.

This week’s presentation was the gath-
ering of “welcome back” tables. All sorts
of groups were there. spud.ca made a
presentation about its organic food
delivery service. The DC Athletics
Dept. had a table describing the many
activities available for students during
the year. The Douglas Students Union
had a very active table, informing stu-
dents of the services they had to offer
and the issues that involved most stu-
dents, while handing out the all-impor-
tant DSU Handbook and Day Planner.

However, the most bizarre (and, sub-
sequently, most attention-grabbing)
presentation at the concourse was the
one put together by the Other Press.

 

 

Concourse festivities

The table below the massive banner was
simple: people sitting behind a table
displaying previous issues of the OP,
along with buttons and OP promo pens.
But what grabbed the attention of the
people was the sumo suits.

Yes, sumo suits. Highly suspect,
potentially dangerous, and seemingly
irrelevant to the paper. But if the pur-
pose of the sumo suits was to draw
attention to the Other Press, it succeed-
ed. Over a dozen people donned the
bulky suits and went at it, while the
spectators at the concourse were amused
and captivated by the show. But then,
maybe you were there and that’s why
you are reading this. Maybe I kicked
your ass.

The first week of class may be over,
but the events will continue. The DSU
has a Welcome Back BBQ planned on
September 12th, and there are more
events planned in the concourse for the
rest of the year. Keep reading the Other
Press for more information.

 

Airline security
see page 6

 

 

 

 

Censorship
See page 5