Over The Edge Page 4 EDITORIAL November 23, 1998

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universities

By Paul Berard

1 entered the UNBC
Cornerstore last
Wednesday and, like a
number of the other stu-
dents in line, was inter-
ested in obtaining a
copy of the latest
Maclean’s magazine:
“The Eighth Annual

1995 has been stagger-
ing. Yet, UNBC’s institu-
tion is far from graduat-
ing to the next level.
The Maclean’s Guide
to Universities has been
a thorn in the side of
unbiased reporting on
the matter of post-sec-

institution is found lack-
ing, the ranking of the
institution falls accord-
ingly.

Not only that, but the
Guide itself is a pain in
the ass to read. A con-
stant stream of advertis-

ing

President, Number of
Full and Part time stu-
dents and average
tuition for a year. Forget
phone numbers,
addresses for further
information or anything
else actually involving
research. No, prospec-

books relevant to the
student is the greater
question. Who cares
about the number of
classes with a student
cap of 500 - can the
teacher present the
material? Maclean’s is
not even hitting the nail

Universities are places
to think about issues.

Like the Maclean’s
Guide to Universities.

Note: For those who did
not like this editorial, you
will undoubtably be
pleased to know that

Ranking - Universities.”. ondary education tive students should not with the Guide, they are UNBC held a ‘“get-
Of the eighty copies’ since the first look for any aid on mashing the mind ofthe together” this past
ordered by the publication the part reader by asking Friday to celebrate the
Cornerstore, a meager eight years themtoaccepta achievements that gave
pile of ten to fifteen ago. At ni: common ground — us this ninth place finish-
remained at the counter best, the achean® \} for all universi- ing. With that event con-
when | made my way to Guide can awe ve yn : \\ ties to be cluded by this publishing
the front of the line. The only  pro- : FH iveasit® judged. deadline, | would like to
word was out on cam- fess to give Students are extend my hand in con-
pus that UNBC had its a n seeking tospe- gratulations to the
first official ranking inthe overview cialize in their University of Northern
publication - ninth place _ of different fields, not to British Columbia for a
out of twenty one univer- _ institutions diversify to all job well done, yet | think
sities ranked under the across a of Maclean’s as to fields, so why does the cont'd from page 4...
category of “Primarily nation with where they might take information have _ to
Undergraduate.” universities scattered their educational needs show an_— equality it should be accompa-

Pir (Gm amie | y
Undergraduate is a
good way to describe a
developing _ institution
like UNBC. The people
involved in the social
and academic climates
of the community are
always striving to do
their best and the num-
ber of changes on cam-
pus in the time since |
arrived in September

through areas of social,
economical and political
fluctuations. Essentially,
the end result is a com-
parison of items found at
most institutions, which
is compiled into three
major “Ranking” cate-
gories -
“Medical/Doctoral’,

“Comprehensive” and
Pr ant alm Woy
Undergraduate.” If one

divides the magazine up
to the point where inter-
ested students are
thinking of buying per-
fumes, mutual funds
and watches. A
“Directory” of the univer-
sities involved gives
only marginal informa-
tion about the student
population: Name,
Location, Year Opened,

and tuition.

What Maclean’s should
be doing is taking a look
at the levels of accom-
plishment for each indi-
vidual subject. For
instance, which school
is the best to attend for
English? Mathematics?
It is irrelevant as to how
many books are aittrib-
uted to each students’
courses. Are those

between intitutions turn-
ing out graduates?

The bottom line is that
Maclean’s was search-
ing for a cash cow and
managed to find one in
the post-secondary edu-
cational system by suck-
ing parents and poten-
tial students into think-
ing that the issue is
required reading for the
course.

nied with a warning.
UNBC is growing and
aging - without further
commitment in areas
that we are weak in, our
position will definately
erode in future surveys
or information pieces of
this type.

Nonetheless, congratu-
lations to those individu-
als whose efforts make
this ranking possible.

Over The Edge welcomes all letters to the editor and atoms to ne every Seianiaton. Suprissicns may be withheld and printed at a later date due to spacial restric-

‘tions. Over The Edge reserves the noth to edit for spelling, grammar, content, pt ye! in whole or in part any Letter to the Editor. oe Letters will not be print-
EE SLAY SDE NIND:

LETTERS

From the Treasurer...

For four years now,
April Williams has been
in the employment of
the Society. For the last
year now, | have had
the great pleasure of
working with April. In
my opinion, and as
Treasurer of _ this
Student Society, April
is one of the most ded-
icated, hard working
individuals | have ever
had the pleasure of
working with. | am
always amazed at her
integrity and devotion
to her job and to the
students of this
Society—astounding.

In light of recent
events, | would like to
show my sincere and
heartfelt gratitude to
April for the work she
performs everyday for
the Society, as well as
support for the accusa-
tions made against her.
lf April .is being
accused of working too
hard, or making herself
too available to stu-
dents then | myself am
guilty. Nowhere in my
life, have | ever experi-
enced such _ insane-
ness. If hard work is a
crime, and if dedication
to a job is reason for a

personal attack on
someone, then | too
am guilty and must
experience the same
personal attacks as
April.

So, as Society
Treasurer, aS a mem-
ber of the Board of
Directors, and as a
friend of April, | am
going to say that | will
not tolerate any more
attacks on April.
Personal attacks,
because of her job will
not be tolerated, nor
will her character as a
person be under attack
by anyone in_ this

Society. | stand behind
my words by ensuring
not only April, but the
membership of this
Society that no further
forms of harassments
will take place. | am
appalled ai the attitude
of many of the people

within the University. |
would hope at a
University level, that
some form of maturity
would take place and
that grievances against
someone could be han-
dled in a more mature
nature than that which

has taken

place.

already

Respectfully,
Christopher Reid

You’ve got questions, we’ve got

answers

Recently there have
been questions raised
about the presence of
the Women’s Centre at
UNBC. In response to
these questions, we
asked some questions
of the people who use

the Women’s Centre.
Poster’s providing
direct quotations of
responses to the ques-
tions have been put up
around campus and
help to share the opin-
ions which also

demonsirate the diver-
sity of the people
attending UNBC.

Julie Walsh
Leanne Beatty
Joella Hogan