©" other press >oNEWS DC Registration: A “Vicious Cycle” New Education Bill Brings Yet More Changes |= Eileen Velthuis News Editor Passed on January 28 of this year, Bill 28, the Public Education Flexibility and Choice Act, is being challenged in the Supreme Court of BC. The bill is bringing even more changes to the post-secondary system, as it now allows institutions to decide class sizes and total number of students. It also allows institutions to determine the num- ber and duration of terms, and to assign faculty to deliver distance and online courses while dic- tating when faculty can take vacations and for how long. Bill 28 is opposed by organizations such as the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), the British Columbia Government Employee’s Union (BCGEU), and the College Institute Educators Association (CIEA). The CIEA and the BCGEU have taken the matter to the Supreme Court of BC. According to a CIEA publication, Bill 28 should be “declared a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and thus unconstitu- Eileen Velthuis News Editor The registration system at DC is frustrating stu- dents. New Westminster campus student Laura Miles admits she is fed up with the system. “Every semester it seems that my registration date keeps getting worse and worse...it seems to be a vicious cycle. My first semester, | couldn’t get what | wanted so | settled for classes | wasn’t real- ly interested in,” she said. The registration system has recently been upgraded, from phone-in registration to online web registration. The upgrade does not change the way the registration dates are determined. According to Ashifa Manji at the registrar’s office at DC, the dates are decided by a combination of different things. Students in limited enrollment pro- grams are assigned registration times based on their program of study. For open enrollment pro- grams, new students are assigned a priority regis- tration time based on their date of application. For returning students, it is their GPA that determines the priority registration time. Students should also be aware that they have three more opportunities to try to get into the courses they want. From August 7—17, the web registration system is open to all students to continue to add and drop courses. After August 22 the fee payment deadline, stu- dents who have not paid their full fees are de-reg- istered. When the web registration system opens at 5:30a.m., many students should be able to find the courses they need. Late registration—September 3-14. Students can add and drop courses in person by obtaining signatures from faculty. Miles says “I would like students and administra- tors to know that DC has an obligation when accepting students, to either provide what they claim to, courses that is, or at least let students know that it is highly likely that the classes they want will be full by the time they register. Also, | am aware of the “free-for-all” that happens after de- registrations for non-payment of fees. So is every- one else, and courses are gone in a matter of min- utes at that time.” THE GREAT LITTLE SHOP IN NEW WESTI! Just 1 block west of your college! tional” The CIEA claims that the bill violates Freedom of Expression, as workers no longer have the right to negotiate with institutions about class sizes, hours and days of work and vacation time. They also claim that the rule of law—mean- ing that “we live by the rule of law as opposed to the rule of an individual person’”—has been bro- ken as the employer now has the power to replace employees’ contract terms with edicts. Lastly, they claim that the bill violates workers’ rights to bargain collectively on issues. CAUT has issued a warning to institutions regarding Bill 28. Post-secondary institutions that choose to override collective agreements that are currently in place with their faculty will face censure, which they say could isolate the institution from the rest of Canada’s academ- ic community. Brad Barber of DC’s communications department says that currently “the college doesn’t have an official position on the bill.” A copy of Bill 28 can be found online at . IT'S REALLY EASY!! JUST DROP OFF YOUR CAR BEFORE SCHOOL WALK ONE BLOCK TO SCHOOL PICK UP YOUR CAR AFTER SCHOOL NO PARKING HASSLES STUDENT SPECIALS Are you considering buying a used vehicle? Piece of mind 125 point inspection $75.00 Get ready for spring just Clean up for spring OilChange $21.95 most vehicles 10% ALL OFF PARTS! show your student card Any auto detailing 15% off 826 Royal Ave., New Westminster, BC 604-525-1521 Just 1 block west of your college!