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Q.P. says...

“Oh y ah”

This is in reply to Mr. Paul Steen-
huisen’s letter in the January 17, 1985
issue of the Other Press. While |
credit Mr. Steenhuisen for taking that
first big step and writing a letter to
the editor, | still have to take issue
with a number of things that he
raises, the first of these being the
front page photo in the January 2,
1985 issue.

The photdégraph was used to break
up the monotony of a page with
nothing but copy on it, and because,
unfortunately, there were no other
suitable pictures available (our usual
photographer was out’ of town and
there was nobody else on staff with
sufficient darkroom skill to develop
anything else). The caption was writ-
ten at five in the morning the day the
paper had to be sent to our printer by
a burnt-out writer who tried to make it
humourous. We do not always have
the people or the resources to obtain
journalistic excellence (this is what
makes things that much harder), and
this was one of those occasions.
(Another is the total lack of inform-
ation on things happening at the
Maple Ridge campus).

The wording ‘‘typically uninvol-
ved’’ was not intended to refer to the
individual in the photo (our apologies
to the individual shown for any em-
barassment or anguish suffered), nor
is it a slur against the music depart-
ment. The statement was made to
refer to the usual response given to
any function of the college outside of
courses or pub nights (i.e. student
elections, attendance at plays, con-
certs, games, protests, and the Other
Press).

Perhaps Mr. Steenhuisen took a
couple of days out over the Christmas
Holidays to relax, enjoy the season, or
visit with his family. It may surprise
him that a small handful of us gave up
our holidays to produce what we felt
was important information for the
students of this college, and have it
ready in time for registration. Defin-
itely not considering it a waste of
time.

| am. very sorry that Mr. Steen-
huisen considers the four dollars that
he was required to pay for ‘‘Other
Press fees’’ ‘‘wasted.’’ As an auton-
omously- funded (through the collect-
ion of a separate levy from its owners,
the students), produced (entirely ex-
cept the printing), and run organ-
ization, the Other Press is responsible
only to the students of the College. No

- other body, administration, govern-

ment, student society, or otherwise,
has a say over the content of the
paper: no one else controls the editor-
ial content. This offers. the Other
Press (and the students) the unique
opportunity to say what they want
without censorship of ideas.

If our ‘‘forced subscribers’’ were to
have the ‘‘minimal four dollar’’ levy
lifted, they would be forced to pay a
much higher per-issue price for the
paper, and nobody would really be

any better off. However, to accomo-
date Mr. Steenhuisen, we could pro-
duce something similar to the Mad
Hatter, which of course would be
much cheaper, but would also probab-
ly be just’ as boring as the Mad
Hatter; and have just as much
“filler’’ (things like photos, graphics,
headlines, cartoons, announcements,
letters or editorials).

Some of this ‘‘filler’’ are things that
many people consider to be of some
importance (some people even read
them), aside from being useful. While
we realize that we cannot please
everybody, the Other Press attempts
to appeal to as many people as
possible.

Doctor Cannabis has been retired
by his creator, an individual who,
even if not everyone shared _ his
opinions, was and continues to be
contributing to the paper, thereby
exercising an option open to him and
other students as well, which more
people should take advantage of.

Advertising is a necessary evil
which helps us pay our equipment

costs, as well as providing a source of

income for one or two students. Our
“rather healthy budget’’ amounts to
barely enough to pay our printing
bills, and nowhere near enough to
replace any of our rapidly aging
equipment.

_ Advertising also benefits the stu-
dents. Many of the advertisers ap-
proached by the Other Press offer
discounts to students — not a bad
idea for anyone trying to make ends
meet. Without the Other Press, it is
very likely that most of these dis-
counts would not even exist.

By the way, as Mr.. Steenhuisen
should know, personal attacks are
grounds for libel.

Further, at no time during the
conversation ‘‘the wonderfully nega-
tive office coordinator’’ had with Mr.
Steenhuisen did | state that | ‘‘didn’t
give a shit’’ about the students. What
| did say was that | was pissed off at
those among the student population
who don’t give a shit about what is
going on around them (i.e. not those
who had outside commitments like
work or families or even just a heavy
course load. | mean those who take
one or two classes and spend their
free time down in the bar or at home
watching T.V.).

Finally, | feel that the Other Press
has done a very credible job of repre-
senting student views, presenting
issues relevent to students, and keep-
ing the students informed about
college happenings. Therefore, | feel
that perhaps it is more important that
Mr. Steenhuisen and others who feel
the same way about the newspaper
re-evaluate their negative attitudes
towards it and do something construc-
tive about the situation.

Remaining positive,

Stewart Woolverton
Production Coordinator,
The Other Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

_ Student society

A number of students have request-
ed an encore presentation of the last
Speaker’s Corner dealing with educa-
tional cutbacks. Thursday, February
14, at noon in room 3302 will be just
that and more.

There are several speakers, cover-
ing a variety of issues around the
general theme of educational cut-
backs. If you are interested in know-
ing just where your education dollars
are going, come and participate in
Speaker’s Corner. And remember,
War is Peace, Hate is Love, Ignorance
is Strength and Restraint is Good for
You.

News from the 3rd Annual CFS

Pacific Region General Meeting. The

campaign committee decided on four
basic short term goals: educating the
membership (students); better comm-
unications between local associations;
cross-campus lobby network; and out
reach to non-members of CFS.

The committee felt that once these
goals were obtained, it would better
arm us with skills to aim at the
following long term goals: student
participation in the economic summit;
a national lobby effort to halt further

Apologies

 

Dear Other Press

This letter is intended as an apol-
ogy to Matt Doull. In the February 1
issue of The Other Press, | said Matt
did not go to the Maple Ridge campus
to campaign for student society vice-
president.

| have since been informed that

Matt Doull did go to the afore-

mentioned campus. My own negli-
gence in checking the facts led to an
incorrect story.

Dan Hilborn

decreases in federal funding for edu-
cation; and renegotiations of the
Federal Provincial Fiscal Arrange-
ments and Federal Health Contribut-
ions Act.

Our campaign slogan remains ‘No
More Cuts’. March 19th is targeted
as the Provincial Day of Concern.
Susan Woods, vice president, is the
chairperson for the campaign commit-
tee here at Douglas College. If any
students would like to participate in
the planning and implementation of
this campaign, please contact Susan. |
hope all students will participate-on
March 19 and show their concern.

The development committee recog-
nized that there are problems in the
overall development of a strong. na-
tional student organization and felt
this is partly due to a lack of strong
provincial federations to do the neces-
sary organizing and development of
local student organization.

Some of the development commit-
tee’s short term goals are: improved
contact and support between locals;
regular contact from provincial office
to locals; sharing staff and resources
between locals; and increase number
of local visits from the provincial
office.

These short term goals are aimed at:
maintaining funding levels. Medium
term goals are aimed at restoring
quality education, and long term goals
are for student (& faculty & staff &
community) control of the education
system.

Any students interested in seeing
the full report just ask Maéerrilyn
Houlihan, our business manager, for a
copy.

The weight room now has paid
staff. Any student wanting to learn
how to use the equipment or needing
help setting up a program, there is
now someone to assist you. Hours will
be posted outside the weight room
(room 1322).