October 7 2002 Tuition highest in 60 years Students paying more than ever By Adam Grachnik, Ottawa Bureau OTTAWA (CUP) — Even with inflation, tuition fees for Canadian students are at the highest level in 60 years, according to a new study released by the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). Access Denied: the afford- ability of post-secondary edu- cation in Canada states that “when fees are adjusted for inflation, undergraduate uni- versity students today are pay- ing more than at any other time in the past century, and six times what a student was charged in 1914.” Student lobbyists believe these numbers finally prove to older generations that stu- dents are burdened with soar- ing tuition fees. “This report shows that we are facing a completely differ- ent situation [than they did],” said Erin Stevenson, commu- nications coordinator for the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA). “It shows people that we are not kidding when we say tuition fees are increasing.’ According to the CAUT, which represents 30,000 aca- demic staff, their study is extremely telling. “It was more affordable to send a child off to university in the 40’s-50’s than today. We are more elitist than we have ever been,” said Dave Robinson, CAUT associate executive director, adding that the current debate about fund- ing for post-secondary educa- tion is the same debate that occurred in the twenties about high school, an institution at the time deemed “critical” and made free. Peter Adams, the Liberal MP and member of the govern- ment caucus on post-sec- ondary education and research, said the report “doesn’t surprise me.” “(’'ve] heard all the argu- ments, but tuition isn’t the largest thing people face,” Adams said. “I like to think that federal government is con- cerned about access.” Robinson doesn’t think so. “The priorities they have are wrong. They need to put more money in core operating funds,” he said. “We are putting burden and barriers on house- holds.” “If were not careful the only people going to law school will be sons and daughters of doc- tors and lawyers,” said Robinson. “Liberal Government] policy pursued over past 10 years is a recipe for disaster.” Since 1993 the Liberal gov- ernment has axed billions of dollars from the Canadian Health and Social Transfer fund (CHST), which, among other services, provides funds for post-secondary education. “[I] don’t want to go back to expensive strings that existed in 1993. It used to be very expensive,” said Adams, adding, however, that some funding seems to be returning to the CHST. Adams shifted the blame in the funding debate towards the provinces. “However more we support students, the more [funding] provinces will take away,’ he said, explaining that if the fed- eral government increases funding, the provinces will use it as a ticket to reduce their contributions. Robinson said that when he meets with the federal govern- ment to discuss his funding strategies, he gets a different story privately than publicly. “Privately [they] say you're absolutely right, but than tell me that the provinces will never go for it,” he said. He believes the two levels of government need to_ get together to find a solution. “We can’t get rapped up in constitutional side. We have to sit down with provinces and get it done,” he said. “Post-sec- ondary education is absolutely critical.” n photo B.A.R.F. (Be A Responsible Friend) and the Peer Support Network brought the Forum Theatre Network to UNBC to present ideas on responsible drinking in a fun and positive way. Over The E Page 7 Canada Customs charged with censorship Pro-lsraeli newsletters confiscated By Chris Wilson-Smith, Ontario Bureau TORONTO (CUP) — 350 copies of a newsletter defend- ing Israel’s moral right to exist, headed to the University of Toronto, didn’t make it past the Canadian border on Thursday. The newsletters were being sent from the California-based Ayn Rand Institute to the University of Toronto Objectivist Club in preparation for a meeting on Sunday, which will feature a lecture by Dr. Yaron Brook, the executive director of the Institute. Customs officials informed Ray Girn, the president of the club, that they were investigat- ing whether the newsletter constituted “hate speech.” “The only thing they had to go on was the title ‘In Moral Defense of Israel’ and appar- ently they opened a sealed box on that basis,” said Girn. “They then sent me a terse let- ter saying that they would inform me in writing of their decision.” Girn said he left numerous messages with Customs on Thursday, asking about their criteria for judging hate speech and the status of the newsletters. He said their only response was a message which would not disclose details of the investigation. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency released the newsletters this morning, but not before they were sent to Ottawa for “closer scrutiny.’ Custom’s guidelines say, “Goods that constitute hate propaganda under the Criminal Code are those which advocate ‘or promote genocide or promote hatred against an identifiable group distinguished by color, race, religion or ethnic origin.” “Clearly we are not advocat- ing violence or discrimination,” said Brook. “I believe that rules should exist to stop hate pro- paganda. Our newsletter is an intellectual argument in defence of Israel. That is not a crime.” Customs officials could not be reached for comment. Calling the confiscation “nothing less than spooky,” Dr. Brook said it raises many issues, including examining the definition of the term “hate speech.” “Given the anti-Israeli senti- ment on so many campuses and in so many books out there, | think it’s ironic that something that finally defends Israel from all perspectives gets stopped by customs,” said Dr. Brook. Some of the discussions in the newsletter include, “Allowing Israel to Destroy the PLO Helps Defend the U.S” and “Radical Islam’s Assault on Human Life.” Under federal regulations, Customs is permitted to con- fiscate material for a period of three days before making a decision over whether to release it. “This is censorship,” said Dr. Brook. “Those are three days that Canadian citizens will not be able to read my material. I’m not just worried about my stuff - even people who are opposed to me have a right to make their arguments and be heard. Canadians can think for themselves.” Although Girn said he isn’t expecting more problems relating to the literature, he is concerned about the possibili- ty of protestors at the event on Sunday. Sean Ruth Sales Consultant Honda North 105 Brunswick Street Prince George. B.C. V2L 2B2 Sales: (250) 562-9391 Parts & Service: (250) 562-4744 Fax: (250) 562-5151 Email: info@hondanorth.ca