Teaching Assistants Face Chopping Block

by Jason Morris

The UNBC Graduate Stu-
dent Society (GSS) is worried that
federal government cuts in transfer
payments to the provinces for
postsecondary education may result
in a reduction of the amount of
teaching assistantships currently
offered at UNBC.

UNBC President Charles
Jago feels that teaching assistant
money is not being distributed in an
accountable manner and is propos-
ing that all incoming graduate stu-
dents have a minimum 3.33 GPA
(B+) to receive a TAship. He may
also cut the teaching assistant bud-
get from $450,000 to $300,000,
which would mean the loss of up to
19 TA positions (there are currently
53 positions). Arguably, UNBC
needs more TAs though, as some
have to teach outside of their de-
partment. Teaching assistants are
paid $8,000 per year.

Such cutbacks will hurt un-
dergraduate students who benefit
from teaching assistants. One re-

by Toni Fletcher

Paul Ramsay, the newly-ap-
pointed Minister of Education, at-
tended UNBC on Thursday.

At one o’clock, he gave a small
political speech followed by a ques-
tion and answer period. Although
not well attended, it was a very in-
formative discussion.

The Honourable Minister started
by giving a bit of his personal back-
ground: former professor at CNC,
social activist, union leader and
general “shit disturber”. Because
of his background in education, he
is quite comfortable with his new
portfolio.

Mr. Ramsay noted that his sense
of social activism may have started
when he was teaching in the States
at the time of the Kent State inci-
dent.

Paul intends to continue his so-
cial activism in his role as Minister
of Education.

Mr. Ramsay went on to give the
usual government speech outlining

_ the NDP’s commitment to educa-
tion and training. He gave the ex-
amples of the new university, con-
tinued support of CNC, new
programmes at both the Native
Friendship Centre and the Elizabeth
Fry Society. He also touched on

sponsibility of teaching assis-
tants is to help students under-
stand what went on in the lec-
tures, and to advise them on their
assignments. TAs also teach
classes and do much of the mark-
ing for professors. Thus cutting
the amount of TAs will place
more burden on professors,
when many of them already have
a full schedule. As well, offer-
ing teaching assistantships serves
to attract graduate students that
want the job and teaching expe-
rience. UNBC as a young insti-
tution then, may diminish its ap-
peal to students wanting to do
their Masters degree.

The GSS has drafted a
letter of response to President
Jago’s proposals, and will meet
with him on March 26. Students
interested in voicing their con-
cerns over cutbacks to TAships
can contact GSS Vice-President
Melanie Buddle at
buddlem@unbc.edu.

some of the other NDP accom-
plishments such as new park cre-
ations, forest renewal procedures
and the Nisga’a treaty.

All of this was well and good,
but what was important was that
he was sincere and believable in
his stated commitment to educa-
tion and his belief in the NDP as
the party for preservation of our
social support network.

When asked questions about
the problems with the student
loan system, he didn’t sidestep,
he simply said he hadn’t been
aware these were problems—
he’s too new to the job.

He is concerned about the
magnitude of the tuition in-
creases that have been forecast
and his hope is that the govern-
ment can absorb some of the cuts
from Ottawa.

When asked about the differ-
ences between parties, he gave
some sinple examples:

-the NDP. want to create parks
while the Liberals want to open
the existing parks to mining

-the NDP want to fund mid-

‘wifery while Reform want to

outlaw it
The history of BC, Ramsay

overtheedge March 20, 1996

pase
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Above: "Permission to Land" There was a terrific turn out for the Paper Air Plane
Flying contest, held in the Administration Atrium during the Mid Winter Festival.--Photo
courtesy of UNBC Department of Communications

Minister of Education Visits UNBC

said, has always been one of con-
flict between business and workers.
This has led to a polarization of the
political parties that is still evident.

When asked about legalizing

’ Marijuana, Mr. Ramsay said it’s a

federal issue with low priority, so
won’t likely happen.

He did, however, admit that he
had smoked it (past tense) and in-
haled.

Above: The Tug of War held in the Northwood
Winter Gardens, on Saturday March 16 Th..,
during the Second annual Mid Winter Festival--
photo courtesy of UNBC Department of
Communications. |