NEWS

Students for Rent New student bursary program blurs the line between public and private responsibilities

Elise Hugus, The Link (Concordia University)

MONTREAL (CUP)—Concordia students who are having a hard time making ends meet can now put themselves up for financial adoption.

Through the new Adopt-a-Student program, stu- dents receive a stipend from a corporate or individual donor with a $500 to $2,500 yearly commitment. Though there are numerous bursary programs available through the Financial Aid and Awards Office, this is the first instance of direct sponsorship at Concordia.

Kathy Assayag, Vice President of Advancement

and alumni relations says that 235 students will receive $2,500 each this year, enough money to pay a Quebec student’s tuition fees.

“Based on the number of applications from students, we were meeting one-tenth of financial need last year,’ says Assayag. “That’s why we put emphasis on this pro- gram, we want to close that gap.”

If the student maintains decent grades and their financial needs stay the same, he or she can expect three years of funding. Applicants to the program must qualify for financial aid-which makes international students ineligible.

Adopt-a-Student appeals to donors who want to see the individual impact of their contributions to the university. Though they can specify which depart- ment of the university they’d prefer their money to go to, awards are made at the discretion of the Financial Aid and Awards Office. “Adoptees” are encouraged to get in touch with their benefactors, even to establish a relationship over the years.

“Most alumni attribute where they are today in life to the university and they want to be able to do the same for someone else,” acknowledges Assayag. “We hope it leads to a cycle of continual giving.”

In the three weeks of its existence, the program has raised a lot of interest—and a few eyebrows.

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Bianca Mugyenyi, acting deputy chair of the Canadian Federation of Students’ Quebec chapter, says the program points to the need for increased university funding, but sets a precedent for privatization.

“It’s a systemic problem but not a systemic solu- tion,” Mugyenyi comments. “If we need programs like this, its pretty clear that we haven’t succeeded in improving accessibility [to education].”

Faced with rising costs of living and mounting debt, students are turning to private sources to support their education. Mugyenyi fears that this will lead to further cuts in government funding.

“Education is a right, we shouldn’t be begging for money from private individuals,” she says. “That said, if anyone wants to adopt me, step right up!”

Assayag agrees that the Quebec government hasn’t done enough to fund public education, but sees private donations as a way to make up the difference.

“The university is grown a lot and it’s going to take a lot of financial resources to keep this going,” says Assayag. “We see this as a partnership, not as privatiza- tion.”

As Concordia expands—both in terms of physical space and student body—alumni play a pivotal role in the university’s financial future. According to the 2003—2004 President’s Report, Concordia received over $15 million from private sources in that year.

Adopt-a-Student is the brainchild of Richard J. Renaud and Leonard Ellen, both members of the Board of Governors with university buildings in their namesake.

Quantum Leaps Coming to Douglas College Career workshop encourages academic opportunities for young women

Nicole Burton, News Editor

Career shopping at Quantum Leaps begins for Grade 11 stu- dents next week at Douglas College.

The 15th annual career workshop gives the high-school stu- dents a chance to hear from women working in math, science, and technology fields. They’ll hear from women who work with everything from chainsaws to “bucky balls.”

The goal is to encourage young women to stay in math and science classes so they have more career choices once they graduate, says conference organizer Jennifer Kirkey—particu- larly in the fields of science, high-tech, business and computer applications.

“The most important thing about this workshop is the par- ticipants will meet women who use math in their financially rewarding careers,” says Kirkey, a physics and astronomy instructor at Douglas College.

“Too often, television and movies portray scientists as men with crazy hairdos and white lab coats. That’s not what scien- tists are. Once again, we hope to blow a few myths and pre- conceptions out of the water.”

Students from all over the Lower Mainland will attend the October 26 workshop, which features four panels of female

professionals who work in fields like business, Information Technology, computer engineering, chemistry, and astronomy. Among the panelists are Kwantlen University College instruc- tor Alice Macpherson (who has worked on everything from chainsaws to 100-tonne dump trucks during her long mechani- cal trades career) and Douglas College chemistry chair Brenda Addison-Jones, who will talk about her work with ‘bucky balls’-—soccer ball-shaped clusters of carbon atoms used in super-conductor research.

The keynote speaker will be Sandy Eix, a physicist and curator of the new “Eureka!” gallery, as well as Centre Stage at Science World. A busy mom, she combines her work with her love of fiddling, music, physics, and guinea pigs to make a well- rounded life.

Quantum Leaps will run from 4pm to 8:30pm, Wednesday, October 26 at the college’s New Westminster Campus. Spaces are still available for interested students.

For more information, please call 604.527.5630 or email Kirkey at kirkeyj@douglas.bc.ca.