we”

By Ashley Whillans, Associate News Editor & Matthew Steinbach, News Editor

re you bored with your classes? Do you have new ideas to make school more

interesting and engaging for yourself and others? Put your ideas into action with the Douglas College Education Council and College Board.

The Education Council is currently looking for four student elected representatives, and the College Board is looking for two students as well to serve the 2009/2010 term at Douglas College.

Not only will elected students receive great job related experience, but they will also have the opportunity to make important decisions affecting all Douglas College students. | Students on the Education Council will have the opportunity to make important decisions about special programming, curriculum content, policies relating to transfer credits as well as they will make

—

recommendations to the College Board on allocation of funds to specific programs. Last year alone, the Education Council decided to close the school down for two weeks to enable students to volunteer their time and take part in the Olympic festivities in 2010.

Board members will learn what it is like to be financially responsible for an organization and they will be directly responsible for all major budget and long-term decisions that Douglas College must make to ensure the college’s survival in the 21" century education system.

There are other benefits to being involved than just being a part of the decisions.

“In addition to being involved in your community, being on a board of some sort gets you in the door, looks good on your resume, you can get reference letters if you are a looking for a job afterwards and it is a good experience for public speaking,” says Alysia MacGrotty, current Douglas College Board Member.

College Board and Education Council seek student representatives

Elections are open for any student interested in serving a one-year term with either committee or both if a student chooses to run for the council and the board.

However, two education council seats are reserved for students whom are registered in 50% of their courses at the campus they wish to represent. The voting for each representative will take place within the constituent group (either New Westminster or Coquitlam) and students may be eligible to serve additional terms upon election. These restrictions do not affect the board.

The deadline to become a candidate is February 9", and interested students must fill out a nominee application, available online at www.douglas.bc.ca (search for Education Council and/or College Board and click on the elections link) or in person at either the Registrar’s Office or the Douglas Students’ Union main office.

_ News Shorts Gy Mattie Stvainen ar Ania, Whillans

Two years later, and the DSU is still in receivership

By Matthew Steinbach, News Editor

ast month was the start of the second | year of receivership for the Douglas Student’s Union (DSU). They were first placed in this position by the courts in 2007 and have never gotten out of it.

Geoff Lenahan, treasurer for the Students’ Union, commented recently that the DSU is moving forward, and that it’s time that they left receivership “for the Sudents’ Union’s

health.” He went on to explain that he was “tired of constant delays from the school.”

The college has a say in this process as they were the organization that initially helped place the DSU in receivership, along with the Canadian Federation of Students’ B.C. wing (CFS-BC), CFS-Services and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) because of outstanding debts and other concerns regarding financial controls.

: Lenahan explained that the main delay

: is the college’s lingering concerns over the organization’s fiscal controls, but this could all be resolved sometime after February 17" when the DSU officially will meet with the college’s finance committee to discuss terms for the DSU to formally end receivership.

If this meeting does not go as planned, though, Lenahan did explain that the DSU would be prepared to take their case to court if need be to resolve their current predicament. However, both himself and Taylor, staff relations officer, do not believe that will transpire.

Geoff Lenahan explained that Marne 6

Jensen, receiver-manager for the DSU, has had “no hands in our operations” for the last year except in the case of major staff hiring and purchases. Taylor explained that they have been working closely with their auditors “to ensure financial accountability,” and have been able to put in place many new controls, policies and procedures with the help of their newest staff member, the Finance and Services Coordinator Roxanna Matanzas. With her help, Taylor explains they have been able to keep everyone at an “arms length from cash.” However, she was unable to go into specifics. Despite any setbacks the DSU may be facing with the college, at least one of the DSU’s creditors was supportive of their plight. Shamus Reid, chair for the CFS-B.C., explained that as far as they were concerned their debts have been paid off, and that “the DSU should be let out of receivership.” Marne Jensen, the receiver-manager, could not be reached for comment. She will have a final say as well on the end of her appointment, which is expected to occur on February 17" at the same financial meeting with the college.

Quick Facts on Receivership

What is Receivership?

Receivership is a court-ordered appointment of a person to control an organization because of what is seen as the loss of financial control over the organization. Creditors and other groups have to actually take the society to court to have this imposed upon them. The receiver, once put in place, has ultimate control of the organization’s property, finances, and

af

(operations until all parties can agree to release

the society or until a court orders that the organization is in compliance.

So, why did this happen to the students’ union? Several years back, the DSU was close to bankruptcy, owed two rather large loans back to the CFS-B.C. and CFS-Services and a smaller loan to CUPE. Douglas College was also withholding the fees that students pay

to the organization because their financial situation was considered to be out of control. So, in January 2007, these four groups put them into receivership.

Who is this Marne Jensen?

She is the general manager of the University of Victoria Students’ Society, which had several financial issues of their own about five years before her appointment. She was appointed to repair the dire situation at the DSU. She was recommended by the CFS-B.C.

Is she paid by or accountable to students? She is paid $100 for every day she works on the DSU’s file but she is only accountable to the Supreme Court of British Columbia. She can also hire anyone she deems necessary to help complete her work at the DSU, including assistants, bookkeepers, etc.

How long was this supposed to take?

The time to correct the situation was initially believed to be 3-6 weeks because Jensen

was already acting as a financial advisor temporarily to the organization, so she was aware of the file.

Veneta) Scheel is hayek . =

Budget passes without a fuss Last week, The Other Press reported that the coalition was still in play. However, on Wednesday, the Liberals decided instead to force the Conservative government to give into their demand of detailed reporting, and then supported the budget. This was meant to serve as a confidence motion, so if the opposition was not impressed with how the Tories were handling the economic crisis they could be ousted.

¢

Pattullo Bridge re-opens

_ Commuters \ ho were expecting a month of ~ extended SkyTrain hours and bus re-routes _ had an unexpected surprise last Monday

when TransLink suddenly announced that

they would re-open the bridge only after a

week since the fire that caused the closure. As it turned out the damage was not as

severe as Translink had initially expected

\ Bee pe up the retrofit to

After 95 eae! in operation, Glen —