Left-wing groups criticize provincial budget update The BCNDP, CFS-BC, and CCPA comment on budget cuts affecting students, families By John Morrison Ill, News Editor remier Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals announced an update to the provincial budget on September 1 which received a failing grade from left-wing groups including the B.C. New Democratic Party, Canadian Federation of Students, and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Despite promises that the deficit will not exceed $500 million in the lead up to the May 12 provincial election this year, the budget update included a deficit of $2.8 billion. “Today’s budget is an admission that the B.C. Liberals misled the public and have no ideas about how to deal with the economic downturn,” said New Democrat leader Carole James. The budget also included a rise in Medical Services Plan premiums, which will increase for the first time since 2002 come January 1 by a maximum of $3 per person or $6 per family extra each month. James added, “. . . just as families are struggling to emerge from the downturn the Liberals’ only answer is a new tax and hikes to MSP premiums.” Students will be affected by cuts including $16.2 million from Student Aid BC and $37.7 million from institutional funding. Tuition fees have more than doubled since Gordon Campbell was elected Premier in 2001. Since then, the BC Liberal government has eliminated the provincial grants program and with the non-renewal of the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation, through which the province forgave provincial student loan debt, pursuing a post-secondary is more costly than ever before. “Borrowing beyond your means is never a wise strategy, yet that is precisely what thousands of B.C. families are forced to do every year to afford this government’s massive tuition fee increases,” said a representative from the Canadian Federation Rd New Democrat leader Carole James of Students-British Columbia. A report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives agrees. “Spending cuts will make it harder for low and middle income British Columbians to weather the recession. . . . We cannot afford to push more people into hardship,” said a CCPA Statement. Colin Hansen, finance minister, defended the budget in a written statement, pointing out that as of January 1, 2010, individual British Columbians earning up to $118,000 annually will pay the lowest provincial personal income taxes in Canada. He believes those savings will provide taxpayers with increased financial flexibility and help stimulate the economy. Week of Welcome a success Office for New Students, Douglas Students’ Union welcome new and returning students By Kristina Mameli, Acting Staff Reporter eek of Welcome at Douglas enthusiastically W weve new and returning students back to class with an impressive showcase of what life at Douglas College can offer. Officiated by the Office for New Students (ONS), Week of Welcome is an important part of the school’s orientation program which was reinvigorated and has excelled since the ONS was created three years ago. “We were created out of a strategic initiative where the college kind of looked at itself and [asked] what are we doing well? What can we improve on? One of the things they thought they could improve on was retention of current students, retention of incoming students, and the support of to familiarize themselves with the campus, make new friends, and ease their way into post-secondary life. The Douglas Students’ Union offered a free pancake breakfast and agendas; various booths were set up in the concourse offering information from campus organizations and clubs, free cola, popcorn, and the chance to play Rock Band. The Beat 94.5 was live on location, even featuring a DJ—all providing the groundwork for a well-rounded student experience. The ONS has also had success with their Student Ambassador program. The student leadership program was started when the ONS was created as well, and features student volunteers with at least one semester under their belts. “The idea is to bring students in 365 days a year. We slot them into the training process,” said Baillie. “They’re doing incoming anything from students,” looking at academic said Kyle “It’s not how long you’re here; It’s the quality of the experience while _ \eadership theory, to Baillie, you’re here.” —Kyle Baillie, manager of the Office for New Students _ event management manager to personnel of the management to Office for New Students. “So as part of our overall orientation program, Week of Welcome is one component that we use to try and make students more comfortable, to make sure that they have all the information that they need and the ability to get engag Studies show that students who are more involved in their schools are more successful academically. “The three main things that help students to be successful, particularly in their first year on campus, are that they forge a meaningful relationship with a faculty member. They forge a meaningful relationship with a staff member or if they get involved with a club or group or activity on campus,” explained Baillie. “So the idea is that although our office can’t control the notion of forging a meaningful relationship with a faculty member, we can influence the other two.” Week of Welcome offered a variety of ways for students 4 social responsibility issues to environmental issues. It’s individual to the student'ambassador.” So what makes a good Student Ambassador? “We’re looking for people who just want to make a difference in the community, who want to contribute back, to learn something new, beyond that we sort of customize it. It gets students to take what they’re learning in the classroom and apply it in a real world setting.” “Even though people are here sometimes for a very short amount of time,” smiled Baillie. “It’s not how long you’re here; it’s the quality of the experience while you’re here.” If you'd like to get involved with the ONS or apply to be a Student Ambassador, visit http://www.douglas.bc.ca/new- students/office-new-students html. ‘coutact Bob Shebib st shebibb@dvaglas.be ca S or Lawrence Becker at beckeri@douglas. = ee Douglas College Wrap-Up By Kristina Mamell Scholarship calls for applicants Applications for the Brodie Osborne- Campbell Memorial Scholarship are being accepted until September 30. The scholarship is only available to full-time Criminology students making the transition from first to second year with a 3.5 minimum GPA. The scholarship honours Brodie Osborne-Campbell, a Charles Best Secondary — student who died tragically inApril 2007 of) — a bacterial meningitis infection at age 15. Brodie was the only son of Douglas College Criminology instructor Colin Campbell and Judith Osborne. | S _ For _ and more information, be.ca, or check out http://www douglas be.cal. .