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Shein’s silence sheme

falls flat

by Chris Page

Silence may be golden, but not at Douglas College, it seems.

Education Minister Bill Vander Zalm’s speech at Douglas College's official opening March 18th was met by applause, despite Student Society President Tim Shein’s plans to meet it with silence.

Shein blames The Province for breaking his confidence. Publicity in the media des- troyed the plan, he said.

Other protests came from banners with messages like ‘We want to learn.’’ Students unrolled “If you think educa- tion is expensive, try ignor- ance” as Vander Zalm finish- ed his speech.

Colleges are still being built in B.C., he told a crowd of about 900. He called the build- ing ‘‘the finest college facility in North America.”’

However, Faculty Associa- tion President Ralph Stanton noted in his speech that B.C. spends ‘less per person on education than any other prov-

ince. He said that Douglas College could not admit 500 people who applied this year.

Following Stanton came Shein who said the new cam- pus is better than the ‘‘glorif- ied trailer park’’ on McBride Blvd. He barely mentioned education cutbacks.

Student Society Vice-Pres- ident Alanna Whitley said later that she would have ap- proached the speech more pol- itically.

“It wasn’t the time or place,’’ said Shein.

Of the political tone of Stan- ton’s speech, Shein said ‘‘He has his views; I have mine.’’

College President Bill Day was among the other speak- ers. He gave a history of the college.

Bill Day, Tim Shein and Ralph Stanton were among those not.clapping after Van-. der Zalm’s speech.

Bill Vander Zalm donated a tree to the college, which he planted by himself.

He was expected to use a gold painted shovel, but it was stolen.

Bill Vander Zalm gazes into the crowa

Behind the scenes at the opening

by Brian Pharez

On Friday March 18, 1983, the Douglas College concourse was full of activity; setting up for the opening cerimonies.

The concourse was filled with chairs that were all re- served for VIP’s and special guests of the college adminis- tration and the attendin socred politicians. The stud- ents were to sit on the cold cement or stand.

During preparation, the col- lege administration had dis- covered and removed some protest banners that some de- termined students had spent the night planting in strategic places for the cerimonies. They were placed on some led- ges and steel support beams up the sides of the glass en- closure. One could not be

reached and can still be seen above the 8th street concourse

entrance. Another was suc- cessfully recovered by these students and it was released over the concourses 4th level railing as Van der Zalm fin- ished his speech. __ Although the banner read- ing ‘‘If you think Education is Expensive, try Ignorance’, was seen by many people at the opening and on TV, the demonstration met minimum success. The concourse was a majority of well dressed, up-

served’ seats, . every speech about the ‘nec- essity’ of education cutbacks with much enthusiasm.

Ken Peters, creator of the

» applauded

publicized banner, was disap- pointed in how the cerimonies -were ‘stacked’ with socreds, but was pleased with the pub- licity the banner received.- Other determined protest- ers placed their banners in classroom windows overlook- ing the concourse, but Van der Zalm had his back to them. The cerimonial shovel which was to be used for the cerimonial tree plant- ing was stolen by unknown persons and the tree planting was performed with an

golden

-ordinary shovel. per middle class people, some During the planting a man of which occupied the ‘re- _ approached Van der Zalm and

said,‘‘You’ve fucked welfare, you’ve fucked municipal af- fairs, you’ve fucked ICBC and you've fucked education! Why don’t you stick to gardening?’’

Vander Zalm is not amused

by Ian Hunter

The television blinks on. It is a slow news day at the CBC. It must be for the reporter is asking Education Minister Bill

- VanderZalm what he thinks of a cartoon from the Osher Press entitled ‘‘ Ways to Assassinate Your Education Minister. ‘‘ He

is not amused.

tacted VanderZalm Friday after seeing the cartoon in the February 2nd edition of The Other Press. The short news

through the heart with a wood-- en stake and about to be killed by a ticking clam shell while scuba diving in the Gulf Is-

lands. Cut to Bill. VanderZalm

thought it was in

and that he would

expression.

said

e contact ing Douglas College to try and }prevent the students of Doug- Reporter Larry Rose con- 'las college from being further exposed to free thought and

uglas College President

Editorial Coordinator for the Other Press Nancy Powell says ‘‘Unfortunatly I missed the origional news cast but, as we're an autonumous news- paper we can say almost any- thing we want so long as it

isn’t libellous. We don’t con-

_ Sider the cartoon to be at all

libellous, although some people might find it offensive. I find what he’s doing to edu- cation offensive and other newspapers have shown him

to be the asshole he is.”’

The Other Press has yet to be officially contacted by any- one about the cartoon but, if there is sufficiant interest, it may be re-ran or even expand- ed. More next week.

Bill Day says VanderZalm has not yet contacted him about the cartoon and ‘‘haven’t thought about the matter at _ all’’adding ‘‘The Other Press,’ does what it decides to do...it isn’t. under my jurisdiction’

item began with a brief pan of the cartoon; showing a carica- ture of Vander being blown up with:a shovel, elec- tricuted at a ribbon cuttin ceremony, being stabbe

Tim Shein and Alanna Whitley waiting for Other

Press staff to finish speaking.

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