Over The Edge Page 10 Student Organizations September 24, 2001

Back Yard Barbeque
Break down
Continued...

Continued from page 4...
out of the program entirely.
As a result, the show was still
going at 11:30, when the
police arrived to break things
up. The headliners, Spirit of
the West, were cut off in the
middle of their performance,
and everyone had to leave
the area.

This raises questions about
whether or not there will be a
Backyard Barbecue VIII.
According to Wingham, the
City of Prince George intends
to work with NUGSS to
ensure that the event contin-
ues in the future. There will
need to be “a very high con-

sensus as to (what) the rules
(will be),” says Wingham.
Plans are being discussed,
such as alternative venues,
for example, the Multiplex, for
future shows. “We need to
make sure that everyone
knows the ground rules to
keep the Backyard Barbecue
running and profitable,” com-
mented Wingham, “It was
unfortunate that this hap-
pened.”

Message from
University Affairs

NUGSS is at a crucial stage
in its short history. We are
_ currently in the process of
obtaining land for a Student
Union Building (SUB). A SUB
will ease the space restric-
tions that the University is
currently facing. It also pro-
vides the student society with
the ability to increase student
services for you. This could
include comfortable lounges,
a pub, and a movie theatre. A
SUB will also enable the soci-
ety to generate revenues to
reinvest in the students. We
are also committed to work-

Intramurals Fa

ing with the UNBC adminis-
tration to ensure the con-
struction of an Athletic
Centre. The arrival of these
two facilities will ensure the
quality of life on campus that
you deserve. As a student
you can help NUGSS
achieve these objectives by
getting involved. We hope to
see your participation and
support during the upcoming
year and in the future.
Moezine Hasham

Director of University Affairs

Mon. 5-10 p.m. & Wed 5-7

October 8" — November pA

Men’s, Women's & Co-ed

3 on 3 Basketball

Tues. 5-10 p.m. & Thurs 5 — 7 p.m.
October 9" — November 27"

Men’s, Women’s & Co-ed

Squash Ladder

NO FEEI!! Come and join up for fitness and fun.

Register throughout the semester

For more information call: 960-5883

8 avail

bie in the fitness center!!

PIRG: Fighting for Social
Justice andthe |
Environment

By Johan Boyden

If you think you can’t change
the world, stop reading this
article. The destruction of the
environment, the misery of
poverty, the oppression of
indigenous peoples, the
dilemmas of genetic engi-
neering, access to safe abor-
tions, endangered species,
human rights abuse, racism,
sexism, pay-equity, rape: if
you don’t give a damn about
such environmental and
social justice problems, go
watch a sitcom. —

But if you think that societies
flaws are fixable, read on.
For over twenty years, stu-
dents at universities across
the globe have been organiz-
ing to address big problems
by forming Public Interest
Research Groups. Four
years ago, UNBC students
called for PGPIRG by refer-
endum. If you want to make
the world a better place, get
active at PGPIRG.

Prince George Public
Interest Research Group vol-
unteers organize awareness
campaigns, music festivals,
conferences, and_ action
groups on problems that are
in the public interest to
address

resource library of hanging
files, several hundred books,
and numerous magazines on
specific activist issues. PIRG
also coordinates both resi-
dence recycling and campus
composting. As a UNBC stu-
dent funded and student run
organization, PIRG provides
part time employment for
many students.

The goal of PIRG is to
inform and act upon environ-
mental and social justice
issues. Nobody denies this is
a big task. Obviously we
don’t live in a utopia; there
are a lot of things wrong with
our planet, our country and
our city. But by creating a
body of knowledge about
issues from clear-cutting to
child labor, by acting in small
student groups or internation-
al coalitions, and by suggest-
ing alternative ways of living
and thinking, PIRG volun-
teers work to make a differ-
ence.

Thus PIRG does small
things to solve big problems.
We grow organic vegetables
in soil enriched with organic
waste from the compost
buckets around campus. We
distribute pamphlets and

information about the amount
of non-recycled plastic enter-
ing landfills from UNBC. We
offer free workshops on non-
hierarchical decision-making.
We tell students that you can
save money by purchasing a
car-pool pass instead of a
regular parking-pass for your
vehicle. We network with
community groups like GALA
and celebrate Pride. We
work with national environ-
mental organizations,
women’s groups, and unions
to bring key note speakers to
the campus and the commu-
nity.

This isn’t easy. To effect
change, you can work alone:
but things go quicker with
other people. If you want to.
work on a project about
something in the world which
needs to be fixed (or at least
looked at) PIRG is the place
to go. Network with experi-
enced activists, or just hang-
out and learn about issues
like corporate power, animal
abuse and patriarchy. the
world problems won’t go
away .if people don’t address
them. Check out PGPIRG.

inteers manana guerita_ LiVe and Teach in Japan!
The JET Programme

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme

Free Information Session
Friday, October 5
12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.
Rm 6-305 Conference Centre

The Government of Japan invites university graduates to Japan as
Assistant English Teachers or Coordinators of International Relations
beginning July 2002.
Applicants must be a Canadian citizen, have a Bachelor's
degree by July 2002, and be vance = age of 40.

Application forms available from:
www.embassyjapancanada.org
The Student Success Centre
Consulate General of Japan/Tel: (604) 684-5868, ext 223.
Deadline: Postmarked by November 23, 2001