Over The Edge - Page 6 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To: The Editor of Over the Edge From: Cameron Ortis, Fourth year student, International Studies Programme Re: The cutting of languages at UNBC It should be brought to the attention of the general stu- dent body that UNBC could be losing its language cours- es. Or at the very least, it will be. subject to considerable downsizing. This would, as you know, leave UNBC the only university in Canada that does not offer an ade- quate number of languages. My purpose in writing this let- ter is to bring a small amount of awareness to the student body regarding the language issue and the broader issue of constant uncertainty that effects the sessionals who teach at UNBC. All this to suggest that the student body of UNBC ought to be a little more than disappointed with the administration efforts here on campus. UNBC currently offers first and second year Russian, Japanese, and Mandarin. Drawing form the languages is the International Studies Programme which requires its majors to complete four semesters of a language or languages. The International Studies Programme is not, however, the only program which draws heavily from the languages offered here. The political science department with its focus on Russia, obviously encourages stu- dents to take Russian as a language. The business stu- dents also make up a consid- erable chunk of the students taking languages. While the International Studies Programme is the only pro- gram which requires a lan- guage (First Nations Programme excluded here), they are drawn upon to sup- port much more than just the Ints. Programme. Well, it appears that the lan- guages are in some trouble. According to a few sources the language department could face cuts of up to one- third to one-half its current size. This would effect a large number of students who are now in there first year of a language. These cuts would leave UNBC the only university in Canada which cannot come up with the relatively puny amount of money to at least keep a base line programme of lan- guages. One more step to a College of Northern British Columbia? This downsizing is further evidence of a_ university administration which treats its students with little or no respect. Furthermore, one must consider the sessionals who face these cuts. Within the language programme the sessionals have gone well above and beyond the call of duty (as with other pro- grammes). Without their constant dedication to lan- guages and UNBC, this cam- pus would be a much differ- ent place. One could go so far as saying that this cam- pus is maintained on the backs of sessionals in a Wal- Martish management style used by the administration. So much for at least getting a pat on the back for a job well done, at UNBC a sessional will just be “let go”. The broader issue of ses- sional maltreatment shows a university administration which will not tolerate any dissent amoung the ranks. The handy thing about a ses- sional is you can fire them and hire them at your leisure. Why, after all the restructur- ing efforts, are they now hir- ing an Associate Dean within the College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences? Wasn't the restructuring sup- posed to cut back on the number of Deans? | think using the future Associate Dean’s salary of at least $90,000.00 per year would go a long way to keeping on at least three sessional instructors. Come on, give your head a shake! Keep a few languages around! Reflections of a Somber Patriot. “Am | Just Quasi- Eh?” By S. Marinus Langeler I've always thought of Canadians as being a proud brotherhood. Here we are a nation composed of the best and worst of a vast variety of other nations. We introduced the word, “Cool,” it's an etmological fact. We as a nation like ourselves. Sure, we are “overshadowed” by the USA, big deal! It’s only in Nike-vision and Ford-scope that we disappear under these Americans (you'd think they owned the whole conti- nent, wouldn't you? Well some of them do too!) who hog the spot-light like a spoiled little princess. We Canucks have something special, a team spirit, an almost familial connection. Or do we? My assumptions Over The Edge Letters to the Editor Submission Policy Over The Edge reserves the right not to publish any or all letters that are submitted for publication. Over The Edge also holds the right to edit letters for spelling and length. Content will not be edited and all opinions and the rights of the published article remain solely with the author of the let- ter. Over The Edge reserves the right to reprint any letter in full or part in any issue after intial publication has occurred. Letters may be submitted by: email: berap000@unbc.ca mail: Over The Edge 3333 University Way Prince George, B.C. V2N 4Y3 Any questions? Comments? Please phone us from nine to four weekdays at 1-250-960-5633. Faxes can be directed to 1-250-960-5407 twenty-four hours a day. made an ass of me when | told a teacher that ! figured Canadian nationalism amounted to a feeling of kin- ship. “I don’t feel an kinship with you,” responds my teacher. Yikes. Am | naive or something? | was sure that if | were lost in foreign territory and in big trouble, a given group of Canadians would band together and rescue me, perhaps in some covert parachute brigade fashion. Heck, I'd do it. On the other hand, | might be different, and not know it, from other Canadians. | was raised on Mushroom pie (great Canadian food), the CBC (the Great Canadian psycho- logical conditioning), and the wooden spoon on my bottom (one of my Mom’s innova- tions). And | turned out all red, white and huge like a really sweet young patriot oughta be. Am | so quaint in my sentimentality to those fellows of mine who were raised on McDonald’s (the Great American conquest), Much Music (the Great Canadian MTV), and the nin- tendo controller in their hand? Well, belt me up side the head with a beaver, just maybe | am. Today | met BCTV new per- sonality Tony Parsons, shook his hand and got his auto- graph. It was the coolest thing since | met garnet Rogers. We spoke of how one comes here, loves the woods, but aches to see the ocean again. A girl behind me had him sign her t-shirt. How come | didn’t see any- body behind her? It’s like our famous players are second fiddle to Country Western Stars, for | have seen a despairity in the enthusiasm paid to the latter compared to the former. | don’t get it. Why? Canadians are so cool! (Or am | just a product of conditioning?) BRIEF LIST OF COOL CANADIANS WHO ARE NOT DEAD Rita MacNeil (if you can get past the cleft pallet thing) Rex Murphy (if you can get past the fact that he looks scary) Tony Parsons (if you can get past the bad penmanship, my autograph reads: “To Simunmn, Best Niches, Tony Bisons.”) Garnet Rodgers (if you can get past the “I’ve never heard of him thing”) That guy who's paddling across the Canadian river system (if you can get past the “who the heck are you talking about and what's his name thing”) *The true north, strong and free man...All the freakin’ way! Re: Women Centre Editor: A Letter To the Editor you - printed in your last issue re: anonymous complaint about women’s centres, has left me cause for concern. Most times, | turn my cheek to complaints about the Women’s Centre at UNBC. | have used the women’s cen- tre for a number of reasons, mostly personal, and have volunteered my time there now and again. . | thought that | would take responsibility for one of the complaints the article made. That is, the “You can’t come in because you have a penis,” comment. To be hon- est, | have heard myself say that in jest to a friend who | am always joking around with. | am assuming that what the writer overheard was my conversation with him. If that is the case, | want to apologize to the Women's Centre for the bad press. Quite often, | forget that people who utilize the Centre for whatever reason are often socially associated with the Centre all the time. | am also sorry to anyone who overheard the conversation and misunderstood its con- text. (No cause for defense, please!) | think that | will, however, take this opportunity to clarify some things | know personal- ly about the Women’s Centre at UNBC. This is on my behalf only, as | am sure opinions differ on this sub- ject.