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OVER THE EDGE

UNBC's Official Student Newspaper

Volume , 3
eh 14

ril 14,

‘oy;

University Undergoes Financial Reorganization
President Jago Unveils bh evoke for the 1997-98 UNBC School Year |

by Vince Yim

On April 8, 1997, President
Jago gathered a meeting of staff
and students to announce the
outline of the new operating
budget for the 1997-98 school
year. “This year’s budget is
focused not on budgetary
cuts,” quoted President Jago
from the Budget. Guidelines
Report when presenting the
outline of the proposed budget
for the 1997-98 school year,
“but rather on making choices
about where to allocate our
existing resources to achieve
the most over the upcoming
year.”

In general, many of the fees
that students will face will not
undergo major increases.
Tuition fees will still be frozen
over next year (for the second
year in a row), while only minor
increases in various areas due
to inflation and changes in
employee/employer relations.
As a result, residence fees will
only see a 1% increase in the
next year.

This is interesting, as no new
revenue (apart from private
donations) are expected, apart
from the 200 new full-time
_ Students expected to enroll at
the University. As it is, UNBC
is home to about 2000 full-time
students, 550 part-time.

Many facéts ofthe university
will see improvement and
growth. After being cut over a
year ago, funding for graduate
teaching assistants will be
restored to its 1995-96 level,
this being one of the major
teaching needs that money will
be distributed towards.
Courses will also be expanded,
with more courses being

offered through the Internet.

We will also be seeing the
creation of three full-time
faculty positions in Forestry,
Environmental Studies, and
Social Work.

With all of the increases in
services and freezes in student
fees, sacrifices are inevitable.
Already seen are cutbacks in
the security and janitorial staff.
Other positions to be
eliminated will be Director of

‘used for

Services, Manager of Campus
and Development, and Risk
Manager. The elimination of
two Faculty Dean positions is
soon to occur, as mentioned in
the report, Planning for

‘Growth.

Still, with money that the
university has, $250,000 will be
replacement of
equipment in the Laboratory
Building, $134,000 dedicated to
projects in the Library and
computer labs, $1million
towards student recruitment

-and retention, and $800,000 to

the capital reserve fund.

“The University plan
suggested...that we set aside
$3 million a year for capital
reserve and replacement
furids,” Jago also — said,
“Obviously, if we set aside that
much. money, we would be
devastating our operation. So
by setting aside $800,000, we
know we are setting aside too
little, and therefore, we have to
be very, very clear about our
priorities for expenditure.”

As well, in order to save
money, money must be spent.
The university intends to hire

an electronics engineer forCTS |

(Computer and
Telecommunications Services)
so they will not have to rely on
outside help in case ofa
mechanical failure.

The proposed budget was
presented to Senate on April
9th and was passed without
any amendments made. The
budget will be officially ratified
when it is passed on to the
Board of Governors on April
19th.

Northern Undergraduate Student Pizza
By Kevin Milos reates Campus Controversy _

If you happened to be walking

around the school on
Wednesday the 19th, you may
have noticed something a little
out of the ordinary. Namely, a
huge line-up of people waiting
for the free Domino’s pizza and
Coke that the directors of the
Northern Undergraduate
Student Society (NUGSS) were
handing out. “Cooll”,
everyone thought, “Free
Lunch!”, and jumped into line.

Once they made it to the front
of the line, most found out that
this was much more than just a
good bargain but instead a
planned protest against the
monopolizing contracts of ICL
and Pepsi on campus.

Since day one, ICL, the catering
corporation that runs. the
campus cafeteria, has had a
monopolizing contract on
campus, as has Pepsi, hence the
lack of Coke machines and

products. That is to say that if.

there are any events where -

food is served on the campus,
ICL is the only company that is
allowed to cater to the event.
Northern Undergraduate
Student Society Vice-Chair,
Ryan Maclvor, stated in an
interview that, “The Northern
Undergraduate Student Society
is protesting that there is no
freedom. of choice on this
campus. We want the
university to foster a freedom
of choice ideology.” He went

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