Editorial over THE EDGE - Wednesday, November 30 , 1994 9 Political insecurities where a "businessperson" would be appropriate by Damien Joly can reinforce already rigid stereotypes. There The issue of “political correctness" is a are obviously better examples, but you get the contention within this University and our society idea. as a whole. People are constantly complaining Everyone has their own beliefs and that they fear to speak out without being ideas, and-no amount of "political correctness" is attacked for being “politically incorrect." This going to change that. When those ideas are confuses me when I ponder what is "politically expressed in a form that is offensive to a correct." I understand the concept basically particular group of people, those ideas are going encompasses the idea that discrimination can no to come under attack, sometimes for very good longer be tolerated within our society. It isn't reason. If one is confident enough in one's ~ acceptable to discriminate against a person...any belicfs to allow a debate about them, then as a person...be that discrimination active or passive. whole we will grow and learn. However, if one Passive discrimination could be in the form of a is going to whine and complain that he or she racially motivated slur or a dumb blonde joke, isn't allowed to speak his or her mind because of while active discrimination is of the more "correctness", it seems as though they are “There are. 2: grent many things that we students take for cane ‘Ona an sein da we wake up, get dressed expecting much the same Sia te. ae wee that people other person and their Sex? In an age where every. insec “The ee of fourteen families sharp flash and a loud burst of noise. cleared, many were left stricken. _ As the winters get colder and . FOOD FOR THOUGHT - The Kraft Dinner Christmas is rapidly approaching for many of this | _ city's poor, and the Active Support Against Poverty and the Phoenix Transition Society would like to help as many families avoid a hungry holiday as possible. To aid their goal, UNBC staff, students, faculty, and construction workers are issuing a challenge to the College of Caledonia. Can a College of three or four times our size come ‘up with more food than us in a food drive? That is the challenge. In reality, this game is going to feed some hungry families. Plain and simple. Challenges and races don't matter much when a two year old is crying out in hunger, when Santa comes in the form-of a good square meal. The yams you won't cat and the turkey and stuffing you will are a foreign luxury for many. All you are being asked to do is divert some money from our local neighbourhood White Spot/Cafeteria to purchase some nonperishables for the food drive. Forget the challenge, feed a family. December Ist to the 15th. Boxes are located in front of the Women's Centre, in the Newspaper office, in the Student Association office, in the library, in the cafeteria and in the Student Services office. Food and toys are welcome. 3333 University Way, Prince George, B.C., V2N 4Z9 Fax: 960-6330, E-mail over-the-edge @ugrad.unbc.edu obvious sort. Even a simple "the businessman" blaming someone else for their own insecurities. POISON PEN by Ian Lorenz A couple of weeks ago 10 000 post secondary students converged on Parliament Hill to protest the Federal government's proposed changes to post secondary education. When Lloyd Axworthy came out to talk to the students his voice was drowned out by the loud chanting of ‘BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT!' After being pelted with eggs and macaroni it became clear that no one was really listening to him and he left. The Minister was very polite and offered to sit down with student representatives to discuss the proposed changes. The students that were at this protest gave Canada a poor perception of educated students. Hey, I like chanting bullshit and throwing eggs as much as the next guy but it is not the Way to treat someone who is reasonable and willing to hear your views. What the government wants to do is raise tuition costs considerably to (so they say) help to reduce the national debt. To help offset the higher prices of tuition the government says that it will make those elusive student loans more accessible (ya . tight) and will allow people to use money from their RRSPs (how many students have an RRSP?) toward school. Everyone is in favour of reducing the debt. The problem comes when you get around to deciding what to cut to reduce the deficit. Everyone is quick to call for deficit reduction but when it comes to cuts they are just as quick to say "Not me’. Well J am for deficit reduction but as you may well have guessed (Not me) I don't want funding for education cut. Unemployment insurance costs about twice as much as does spending on post secondary education. UI does little to improve the country and has not proven to be an effective social programme, In a world that grows more and more complicated every day the country needs more and more educated people for _ its workforce. I am sure that the: money the government spends on education is more than returned in higher taxes by educated people who get higher paying jobs. In the United States students pay about 10 times as much for education than in Canada where the Federal Government picks up about 80% of the tab. The government doesn't want to totally cut its subsidies to pose secondary education right now but if they get their foot in the door there is no telling what will-happen. If cuts to education are in the works can Medicare be far behind? Lloyd Axworthy and his cronies would have us believe that higher tuition rates, but more easily obtainable loans, will increase students’ ability to go to university, not diminish it. I doubt it. The government wants us to pay more but, out of the kindness of their heart, they will lend us some money to do it. They better lend us_ the money because no one will be albe to afford to go without it. And using RRSP money to contribute? I think the Federal Government is seriously overestimating the amount 18-25 year old students have amassed in the retirement savings. Education creates better citizens and is an invaluable part of this country. Students pay about 2500 dollars a year in tuition and over 8000 dollars a year for living expenses while at school. If money allocated for post secondary education is cut, Canada will surely suffer. Do you want to tell Lloyd Axworthy in an appropriate way (other than chanting bullshit) what you think of his proposed cuts to education? If you do, youcan write to: The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy Minister of Human Resources Development 220 Laurier Ave. West Suite 1650 Ottawa, Ont, K1P 9Z9a.