Local News Over the Edge Jan 24, 1996 page 3 New Graduate Programs to be reviewed by University Senate By Vince Yim In yet another move to expand our ever growing University, there may be many new Graduate degree programs to be available to aspiring graduate students. as proposed graduate degree programs. Now, available programs at UNBC for masters degrees are English, First Nations Studies, Gender Studies, History, Community Health, Education, Psychology, Social Work, International Studeis, Political Science, Biology, Environmental Studies, and Natural Resource Management. An additional fifteen graduate programs has been proposed to the Ministry of Education, with their approval pending. A doctoral degree in Natural Resource Management for UNBC may be in effect soon as well, since government support has been given (although only in principle). This will be all considered by the UNBC Senate, which will review all of the existing graduate degree programs as well The University Senate has a Committee on Graduate Studies and Research to deal with this matter. Their objctives are to review the fifteen proposals waiting approval by the Ministry of Education, postpone submitting proposals for new graduate programs to the Ministry of Education until they have finished reviewing, and examining all the programs (existing and proposed) in light of the mission of UNBC. “I endorse the view expressed by several Senators that the review of current and proposed graduate programs allow us to clarify the mission and unique contribution of UNBC to university education in BC,” remarked UNBC President Charles Jago. “UNBC’s mandate is to provide undrgraduate, gruaduate, and professional programs, but there are legitimate concerns as to the number of graduate programs that a small university like UNBC can offer, especially at this tim in our developmnent.” The review process will not affect those registered in or applying to current graduate programs. Regardless of the review’s outcome, students will have papi opportunity to complete their degrees in a reasonable amount of time. PIRG-atory pone: Remember the guy with the blue face and the weird hair singing songs in the Winter Garden at the beginning of. September? That was us. How about carpooling? That’s us too. Have people been bugging you not to support the oh-so-evil Pepsi corporation because of their involvement in human rights abuse in Burma? More than likely, it was someone affiliated with us. “Us” is a (non-exclusive) group of the twenty or so students who are currently active with the Prince George Public Interest Research Group (or PGPIRG for short—rhymes with iceberG not purGe). PGPIRG is a student run, student funded organization doing research, education, and action on issues of social justice and the environment. We provide an alternative resource centre that houses a collection (small but quickly growing) of books, magazines, and tapes that may be hard to find in Prince George. All of these resources are available for lending, just come into the office and sign out what you need. We are always adding to the library, so if you have any ideas or suggestions of what you would like to see in it, please let us know. Some examples of what PGPIRG did last semester are publicize “Buy Nothing Day” (anti- consumerism), organize a carpooling system for the university community, help organize the Women’s History Month potluck, show a film series for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual History Month, sponsor speakers from Canadian Friends of Burma to talk about Pepsi’s involvement in Burma, work with the Health Centre for AIDS week events, initiate composting at UNBC (with the PGREAPS), help organize and publicize the Coffeehouses, and work on a poverty education campaign. This semester has just begun but already we’ve got projects coming out of our ears! Carpooling is an on-going effort—watch for tables in the Winter Garden or come by the PGPIRG office to sign up. Weare still working on implementing composting at the school, meetings are every Thursday at 5:00 PM in the acoustic room (across from the bookstore). Next Wednesday (January 24) at 1:00 PM there will be a meeting in the PGPIRG office a 5-125) for students interested in working against racism at UNBC. We are working with NUGGS and the CNC Student Association to organize against the federal funding cuts to post secondary education. The next meeting is Tuesday, January 23 at 4:00 PM in room 5-125. We also have a small group of students researching the rights of mental health patients in BC. If you are interested in any of the above, or have ideas about other events/ actions, or just want to get involved, PLEASE drop by the office (5- 125), or give us a call (960-6412) or e-mail (pgpirg@ugrad.unbc.edu). S: ARE YOU A MOVIE BUFF? DO- Fas HAVE NO FUNDING? WANT . : TO ATTEND THE REEL WORLD - FILM FESTIVAL? WELL, OVER THE ERE WANTS TO SEND YOU! That's right! Over The Edge has two, count them, two tickets to give away! FREE! No hassles, No strings! Where do | enter, you say? It's easy! Just fill out the form below and turn it into the Over The Edge office! No problem, you say? Weil, then! We'll see YOU in the movies! ee 3 - ; Name: ‘o) . = , Phone #: 2 i = Question 1: On what two days does the Film Festival take 2 5 2 = ~ F > = Question 2: Who is sponsoring the Film F al> “ M : % Se Sponsors of the Ree! World Film Festival are the: ‘Canadian Red Cross, the Office of International: “Programs, the Faculty of Natural and Environmental: “Studies and supported by the B.C. Council for:: “International Cooperation Global Development: Fund.