ear 2 News Volume 12, Issue 8 February 1, 2006 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Maggie Gilbert (eic-ote@unbc.ca) MANAGING EDITOR Stephanie Wilson (biz-ote@unbc.ca) PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Belinda Li (prod-ote@unbc.ca) NEWS EDITOR Andrew Kurjata (news-ote@unbc.ca) COPY EDITOR Barry Wolfenden (copyed-ote@unbc.ca) SPORTS AND CLUBS EDITOR Tyler Clarke (sports-ote@unbc.ca) ARTS EDITOR Tabatha Lundholm (arts-ote@unbc.ca) PHOTO EDITOR Vincent Chan (photo-ote@unbc.ca) ADS MANAGER Ashley-Paige Smith (ads-ote@unbc.ca) _ DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Elizabeth Fyles TECHNICAL ADVISOR Eric Chlebek STAFF WRITERS Becky Carmichael Earson Gibson Anna Gradowska Jeremy Johnson Cameron Orr Taylor Pratt Taran Rallings David Vogt CONTRIBUTORS Allen Lai Andy Raden Sean Rennebohm Kurt Russell Rob van Adrichem CANADIAN UNIVERSITY PRESS Nadya Bell Kurt Heinrich Kerry Wall Over the Edge is the official independent publishing media of students at the University of Northern British Columbia. As such, it is our mandate to report on issues of interest to students in the Northern Region. We encourage all students, both on the main and regional campuses to submit to Over the Edge. Over the Edge is part of the Canadian University Press network of papers, otherwise known as CUP. CUP is an organization that is entirely owned by member papers, and provides such services as a news wire and adver- tising to Over the Edge. OFFICE LOCATION 7-219 MAILING ADDRESS 3333 University Way Prince George, BC V2N 429 PHONE (250) 960-5633 FAX (250):960-5407 E-mail over-the-edge@unbc.ca a ee ee ae oe a i ANDREW KURJATA NEWS EDITOR One day, around 3:30 in the after- noon, second-year students Tabatha Lundholm and Tyler Clarke were reading their English textbooks in the “chance meeting lounge” on the second floor of the medical building. They were approached by someone in a security uniform who asked them if them if they were medical students. After Lun- ~ dholm responded in the affirmative, she says she was told, “Good, because if you werenit I would have to kick you out.’ On a second occasion, Lundholm was once again studying in the medical: building and says she was asked to leave because’she wasnt a medical student. Though neither occassion actually re- sulted in the students being physically removed from the building, the impli- cation was cleat, she says: if youre not a medical student, you shouldn't be in the medical building. This shouldnt be happening, says Jennifer Young, the Students Affair Coordinator for the Northern Medical Program. Medical students at UNBC pay the same fees as all other students and, just as they are entitled to use fa- cilities and lounge areas in the main building, so too is the medical building open to other students. Security also doesn’t know anything about students being kicked out, as it is their policy to lock the medical building up at 5:30, but allow anyone who is in there to stay. ‘The stories remain, however. When gon students for this story, there were at least five different in- stances of non-medical students being questioned on their presence in the building, though there is no agreement on whether it is security personnel or not. On some occassions, it seems the students were in the building after its lockdown, at which point it is expected that only medical students (who are all provided with keys to the building) will have access to the lounge area. Again, though none of the students inter- viewed were physically removed, they all felt as if they were being encouraged to leave, This isn't sive the case, though. “We study in there all the time,’ says student Heidi Andre. She, like many ~ others, feels that the building is su- petior to other lounge areas in the uni- versity, with its kitchen area (complete with a tefrigerator and sinks) and com- © fortable couches and chairs. “T definite- ly feel they get an advantage,” she says, citing the facilities, free food, and larger lockers. Third-year chemistry student Elithabeth Fyles feels the same way. “T think its crap that they get a key to the medical building... I've had secur- ity lock the office corridors [to the lab building] at 4:30 in the afternoon, and I can't even get in to hand in my assign- ments and talk to my teachers, even if I know they're in there.’ Other students aren't as concerned, First-year student Oliver Dunbar says he's never seen the building, but is “glad that new develop- ment is come to B,C. If they need that [keys to the building and extra space], then yeah, sute, great.’ Febru 1, 2006 + Over the Edge ‘Kicked Out of the Medical Building VINCENT CHAN ‘The doors to the medical building are usually locked at 5:30pm everyday to all UNBC students who are not in the medical program. The New Government’ s Plan for Students. ary education in Canada, KERRY WALL THE EYEOPENER (RYERSON UNIVERSITY) TORONTO (CUP) — The never- ending election campaign has finally, mercifully, ended. And now comes the fun part: waiting to see how many cam- paign promises come true. Prime Minister-designate Stephen Harper made many promises during this campaign; the Conservative elec- tion platform involved roughly $74 bil- lion in tax clits and spending. And, like just about every other party out there, the Conservatives put forward their solutions for a post-sec- ondary education system that's been Oe RE RA MESNRRGEERAEE SE ERRAZES CNG NN NGS 5 criticized for being costly, inefficient and disorganized. - Here's what you can expect if Harper and his yet-to-be-appointed cabinet keeps their campaign promises* for post-secondary education, Investment and overhaul ‘The Conservative election platform included a yearly investment of $100 million for Canada’s colleges, universi- ties and apprenticeship programs. Post-secondary education is under the jurisdiction of the provincial gov- ernment, suggesting that it might be up to the provinces to decide exactly how to dish it out the cash. The platform would remove post- NADYA BELL / CANADIAN UNIVERSITY PRESS The election of Stephen Harper as Canada's next Prime Minister has some concerned about the future of post-second- secondary funding from the Canada Social Transfer (the system that trans- fers federal money to the provinces for education and social services). Conservatives would start a transfer fund exclusively for post-secondary education, instead. ' The Tories also said theyd change elements of the Canada Student Loans plan. Parental income would have less of an impact on a student's eligibility. for financial assistance. In other words, students won't be automatically disqualified for monet- ary aid if their parents make more than a set amount. The Conservative plan would also let students (‘or their parents,’ according to the official policy platform) claim a $500 tax credit on textbooks. It would also exempt the first $10,000 of a scholarship or bursary from taxa- tion, which is a $7,000 hike from the current exemption level. ‘This means that students who receive full or multiple scholarships would get the first $10,000 tax-free. The first $3,000 of any scholarship or bursary is currently free from taxation. Let's not get ahead of ourselves — this is a minority government. There's going to be a certain amount of give- and-take involved. Harper's Conservatives have 124 seats. The Liberals won 103 seats, the Bloc Quebecois has 51 and the New Democratic Party won 29. There will be one independent MP. : This means that the Conservatives will’ need the help of other parties in order to pass legislation. Funding for post-secondary educa- tion was on the NDP’s wishlist when it demanded (and received) changes to the 2005 Liberal budget. ‘The party supports reductions to tu- ition fees and increasing funding. The Liberal plan would have paid for the first and final year of undergradu- ate study for every student starting in: 2007. The Conservatives may be hearing about these ideas when a time rolls around. We know what they've promised, but a minority government yields un- predictable results, It really is too early * to tell.