March 10, 1998 Over The Edge Page 5 LETTERS NUGSS Writes Back | am writing this letter in response to the “UNBC situ- dents are politically apathet- ic” letter written by Paul Huxtable. Paul suggesis that the problem with NUGSS and student apathy in general is because of the fact that the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) are not a part of this campus. H suggests that the reason for the low ‘turnout at the National Day of Action is because the CFS didn’t organize the students. As a result the entire rally was a failure. He also men- tions that NUGSS has prob- lems getting siudenits to attend Annual General Meetings and to vote in the elections. He mentions how many students showed up at various protests across Canada, and the impacts that they had in the various regions. He ends by stating that NUGSS is getting in the way of organizing students effectively, and that the CFS should be brought in to do a better job. Mr. Huxtable, this is my opportunity to rebuff some of your comments. To start things off, joining the CFS would cost the undergradu- ate students between $15 000 and $20 000 per year. This cost would include send- ing promotional packages with posters, having the opportunity to attend CFS executive meetings held in the lower mainland, and sending delegates to the uni- versity when a referendum is being held to leave the CFS. Presently there are only around 5 _ post-secondary institutions within BC that are members of the CFS, and some of them are still choos- ing whether or not they will remain a part of it. What does this mean? The CFS is a dying organization in the West. Their interests are mainly represented in Ontario and the Eastern provinces. Do the students of UNBC want to spend between 15- 20% of our entire budget on an organization that repre- sents students only when they decide to leave the CFS? ; What is done in place of the CFS? NUGSS belongs to a new organization called the British Columbia Yukon Student Association. The BSYSA‘s mandate is to pro- vide the free-flow of informa- tion between all of the ember institutions, and to work with others should the need arise on either behalf. The cost of belonging to it, $800. The Executive Meetings are held all across the Province and in the Yukon, making it so that certain institutions do not have to spend an arm and a leg to attend. | have two more points to make before | sign off. NUGSS currently gives around $35 000 and $40 000 to sponsor different events on and off campus. A large por- tion of those funds is given to over 60 different clubs that are on campus. Each of these clubs represents a dif- ferent social aspect of the university. Each one adds to the social fabric that is UNBC. Each one improves the lives of students in their own way, on their own terms, without NUGSS telling them what to do. My final point might seem a student. moot, but | feel that it should be made anyway. Post sec- ondary institutions usually expect between a 5-10% voter turnout at their elec- tions. NUGSS regularly gets at least a 10% turnout. The number of people attending the protest was .5% of the population of UNBC, regional campuses included, and the reason why there was a lack of time and preparation was because we were informed about it 1 week in advance, by the CFS. If there is to be a spark from students in British Columbia about the tuition increase in other parts of Canada, it will come from individual student societies, associations, and unions. The wet stick of BC is the CFS, and until they find a way to dry out, post-sec- ondary institutions will contin- ue to leave them. . Matt Macrae President ( NUGSS Human Resources +i Development Canada ow ' INBC IN - COURSE AWARDS | APPLICATIONS FOR FALL ‘98 AWARDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROMTHESTUDENT | SUCCESS CENTRE. | APPLICATION DEADLINE | iS APRIL 1, 1998.- Over The Edge is looking for interested staff writers and photogra- phers! The next staff meeting will be at 2:30 pm, Tuesday, March 10 in the OTE Wintergarden Office! Please attend if you are staff, or are interested in becoming staff! it payS to be charitable. This summer, the Labatt People in Action program will fund 120 students to work at registered charities across Canada. You can gain valuable work experience, do something good for your community, and still be able to pay next year’s tuition. For an application form or more information please call 1-800-334-2627 or visit our website at www.lpia-ltao.com. Deadline for applications is April 3, 1998. Développement des ressources humaines Canada des étudiants.