With numerous trips to
Siberia, Greg Poelzer's most
recent one has allowed him
the ability to perceive the
various changes that have
taken place.

Surprisingly, much has
been done to improve the

university. For instance, 40
billion rubles (or 18 million
dollars) has been recently
spent on the 530 Universities
throughout Russia. Although
this may not seem like a great
amount in comparison to
Canadian standards, for these
people, it is an exceptional
extravagance.

On Yakutsk State alone, —
there has been an investment
of 18 billion rubles. Six new —
buildings have been added to
the facilities, including the
novelty of paint. Also,
although we are accustomed
to our many faculties, that of
Economics has just been
added to Yakutsk State.
Evidently, the universities in
Russia have finally begun to
receive the long-needed
improvements.

However, the rural lands
throughout the country have
recently become self-
sufficient. With the state
being no longer responsible
for each community, many
‘problems have arisen.
‘Electricity in these areasis—
‘becoming non-existent, and
“the price of reindeer meat
(their source of subsistence)
is now outrageously
expensive,

One. of the most striking
things apparent to Carin
Holroyd on her first trip to
Siberia was that the area
lacked running water,
unsuitable housing, and
(Continued on page 8)

SOBERING STATISTICS

You probably remember
being handed free beer in the
Winter Gardens during the
National Collegiate Alcohol
Awareness Week; but then, there
was nothing in it that might have
impaired your memory. Students
of UNBC and the Office of
Student Services organized the
information tables and
distribution of the innocuous
brew, the latter of which was
offered as one of many
alternatives to alcohol. The
following statistics were made
available to. promote alcohol

consumption awareness, a
perpetual campaign at
universities across Canada:

_by Melissa Fegarido

Which of these stats would you~

be responsible for?

* 80% of students drink
alcoholic beverages

* 62.1% drink beer at least once
a month.

* 34.2% drink beer at least once
aweek. |

* 2.2% drink beer daily

* Over a two-month period,
5.9% of students decided to drink
alcoholic beverages instead of
attending class

* Througout the course of an
academic year, 11.4% of students
skip classes because they’re too
hung overt

CONTACTING OVER THE EDGE

See something in “Over the Edge” that you would like
6 see again, want to offer suggestions on how we can make our
paper better. Please contact us. Here are all the ways you can :

Our Editors and their E-mail addresses, waiting for your
response. 5
Gopy Editor: Manpreet Sidhu- sidhu@ugrad.unbc.edu
Production Editor: Tracy Gula- gula@ugrad.unbc.edu
News Editor: Charles Hogg- hogg@ugrad.unbc.edu
Sports Editor: D’Arcy Davis - davis@ugrad.unbe.edu
Arts Editor:Damien Joly- joly@ugrad.unbe.edu

A

Our FAX number is 960-6330.

You can also drop off letters at the student services office where
we have a mail box (it is checked every day).

f You can also send general comments by E-mail to over-the-

edge@ugrad.unbc.edu

We also hold regular meetings at 11:30am on Wednesdays in the
glass room across from the “bar”.

Remember all letters to the editor must have your name,
student number and phone number must be included if the
letter is to be printed.