Over the Edge « September 14, 2005

News 3

B.C.s Newest University Opens in Kamloops

Martin, Harper, Campbell attend ceremonies
marking birth of Thompson Rivers University

MARCEL TETRAULT
OMEGA (THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY)

KAMLOOPS, B.C. (CUP) - There

was pomp, protest and politicians - in-"

cluding the prime minister - on campus
from March 31 to April 2 for the official
opening of Thompson Rivers University,
formerly the University College of the
Cariboo, in Kamloops, B.C.

The festivities began with the pomp -
professors and other dignitaries patading
through campus in their caps and robes
Mar. 31. The politicians - Conservative
Leader Stephen Hatper, Premier Gordon
Campbell, Advanced Education Min-
ister Ida Chong, Kamloops Mayor Mel
Rothenburger and others - all similarly
decked out, trailed them.

The procession made its way through
the protest, about 50 strong and there to
let the politicians, particularly Campbell,
know that they were not pleased with the
ballooning costs of post-secondary edu-
cation. According to the Canadian Fed-
eration of Students, university students
in B.C. who paid $8,000 a year in tuition
when the Liberals took power in 2001
now pay $14,000 a year.

Following a short announcement at the
school’s Convocation Wall, the opening
ceremony began in the university gym.
The ceremony began with an Aboriginal
theme, including a First Nations bless-

ing and a performance by six Aboriginal
students who played a traditional Native
drum song.

After the drummers, Campbell inaugu-
rated Olympic skiing gold medallist Nancy
Greene Raine as the university's first chan-
cellor. Greene Raine is a controversial fig-
ure among the Native community because
of the Sun Peaks ski resort.

Five of the six drummers were wearing
T-shirts reading: Sun Peaks Destroying
Secwepemc Land. Boycott Nancy Greene's
Cahilty Lodge.

As soon as the politicians got a chance to
speak, the TRU puns started flying.

“Today marks a true achievement,’ said
Betty Hinton, member of Parliament for
Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo.

“This is truly a momentous day for Ka-
mloops ... we ate truly in the big leagues,”
said Claude Richmond, member of the
legislative assembly for Kamloops.

By then, the crowd was groaning.

Rothenburger and Kamloops-North
Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger spoke
next, and mercifully, if they had TRU
puns planned, they nixed the notion after
the reception received by Richmond, and
offered the usual platitudes.

Following the ceremony, Harper was
asked about the Conservative party's plan
to make post-secondary education more
affordable. He mentioned income-contin-

gent loan-repayment and educational sup-
port programs, and went on to say a major
focus of a Conservative government would
be to have international students help pay
for Canadians’ educations.

“Our universities need better marketing
around the world,’ said Harper. “The fees
paid by international students allow cross-
subsidization of Canadian students.”

The opening festivities continued April
1, with presentations and a panel discus-
sion about the future of the new univer-
sity, but the main event was the arrival of
Prime Minister Paul Martin, who was the
university's first official guest.

Martin toured the computer automated
systems lab in the trades and technology
centre, where he tried his skills at conttol-
ling a robotic arm.

He then gave a 30-second speech out-
side the building, and remarked how much
he liked the campus. Similar to Harper
and Campbell’s visit Mar. 31, Martin was
dogged by protesters, this time trying to
persuade the prime minister to not allow
USS. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
entry into Canada.

After his short visit, Martins phalanx
of security guards whisked him away, and
with that, Thompson Rivers University
was born.

MATT SILVER / OMEGA / CUP
Prime minister Paul Martin, TRU president Roger Barnsley and TRU board of gov-
ernors chair Ron Olynyk unveil a plaque at the opening of ThompsonRivers Univer-
sity in Kamloops April 1.

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