O ver the Edge Running out of ideas for since lines since 1994 March 22, 2006 Volume 12, Issue 11 Wear White for WUSC Fundraiser Wants To Make Poverty History BELINDA LI JENNIFER DALEY CONTRIBUTOR WITH FILES FROM ANDREW KURJATA (OTE) “AND ROBIN COLLUM (THE GATEWAY) It's been a month of ups and downs for the UNBC World University Ser- vice of Canada (WUSC) committee. A revenue increase stemming from a student vote in favour of increasing the © WUSC fee from $1 to $2 a student a semester has been offset by an an- nouncement that the Canadian Inter- national Development Agency (CIDA) has decided to restructure its inter- national development funding. Earlier this semester, 79% of UNBC students made the choice to join many other Canadian universities in “chan- ging a life for less than the cost of a cup of coffee,’ as the campaign slogan went. This fee increase was to be used to sponsor a refugee student's studies at UNBC on an annual basis. This pro- gram is in accordance with WUSC's ' mission “to foster human development _wand. global understanding through education and training.’ According to the’ WUSC€-website, the organization believes that “education is the one uni- versal path leading to a better and more equitable world” WUSC is one of Canada’s premiere development agencies, with its roots in the 1920s. It is divided into two basic parts: overseas projects that focus on creating sustainable programs to ad- dress issues of underdevelopment in impoverished regions, and informa- tional and development activities at Canadian post-secondary institutions. Until now, the funding for overseas de- - velopment has come from the national WUSC office with help from CIDA; ; Local program costs are handled stiain-- ly by the local committees. The UNBC branch of WUSC has been involved in both overseas and local projects. This summer, WUSC member Dave Walraven will be helping with HIV/ AIDS research in Botswana. In fall 2005, a refugee student began attend- ing UNBC with funds from the local. WUSC committee. It was hoped that with the approval of the fee increase, WUSC would be able. to sponsor a student every year. However, the: annual refugee _ stue. dent program is now in jeopardy due to an announcement from Ottawa that the federal government will cease-- funding WUSC's overseas projects. In turn, WUSC has dropped funding for on-campus WUSC organizations ' throughout Canada, = to a loss of $5000 in WUSC UNBC’s an- nual budget. “T's unfortunate that CIDA does not realize the value of the program,” says a statement from UNBC WUSC. “This program fulfils the mandate of CIDA and the lack of funding will be a blow to local projects.” In an attempt.to offset these losses, WUSC will be ‘holding a fundrais- ing on Friday. March 24th - a “Wear White Night’ at Sge O'Flaherty's Pub (770 Brunswick). This event is intend- ed not only to raise awareness about WUSC and offset the budget losses, but also to connect with the “Make Poverty History” campaign. This is an international campaign that calls for urgent and meaningful policy changes for improving aid and cancelling debt in developing nations, bringing about trade justice, and ending child poverty in Canada. The white bracelets that are connected with “Make Poverty Hist- ory” inspired the theme of the fund- raiser. Doors open at 8:00 at the cost of $3, or by donation. Admission will automatically enter you into draws to be held throughout the night. For more information, please email wusc@unbe.ca or see www.makepov- ertyhistory.ca. Deal Inked For Fine Arts Degree At UNBC ANDREW KURJATA NEWS EDITOR Canada's 4th best “primarily under- graduate” university is about to get a lit- tle better thanks to a deal that has been inked between UNBC and the Emily Carr Institute. The protocol agreement will result in UNBC offering its first- ever Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, a joint program which will be comprised _ of courses available at both institutions. According to a news release, “UNBC will provide courses that reflect its strengths in creative writing, fiction, cultural studies, poetry and drama, as well as other courses from First Na- tions Studies, History and Anthropol- ogy. Emily Carr has particular strength in studio arts and provides courses in drawing, visual communication, pho- tography, and digital visual arts.” Currently, this deal is “really build- ing on programs we already offer,’ says -vost who, along with President Charles Jago, signed the deal for UNBC. He says that this method- melding existing courses into a new degree- is a “good way to begin [offering a Fine Arts de- gree] in a cost effective way. Though the financial plan is not yet completed, it is not expected that there will be any significant new costs, since UNBC al- ready has the staff it needs in order to offer the degree.. That being said, this is still a big step forward for those whe would like to see UNBC offer more in the way of fine arts - and there are many. In a recent consultation project conducted in part by Brunt it was found that throughout northern BC there was a strong de- mand for expanded fine arts program- ming. “Everywhere I went,’ says Brunt, “when I asked ‘what are we really not doing?’ everyone said ‘fine arts.” The joint degree will be 120 credit and Emily Carr. Students will be able to follow courses at either institution, due to the use of video conference _and online material. UNBC will focus mainly on Creative Writing while Emi- ly Carr will offer Studio Arts, although “studio courses could be delivered in Prince George or other UNBC cam- puses “in appropriate semesters,’ cording to the protocol agreement. ac- Reaction from students has been positive.“I'm happy,’ says student Sonja Pitre. “I think it’s a great idea,’ says second-year Zac Fudge. “I have lots of friends who have taken a fine arts program, and after a year they're forced to leave Prince George if they want to continue their education in that field.’ This reaction is shared by Brunt. “I am personally delighted,’ he says of the deal. Under the current timeline, UNBC should be offering courses in the program in fall of 2007. ROB VAN ADRICHEM Charles Jago and Ron Burnett, presidents of UNBC and the Emily Carr Insti- Howard Brunt, VP Academic & Pro- tute, sign the agreement. hours, evenly divided between UNBC IN THIS ISSUE: Sounds at the Kizmet NEWS snnnsnmnnemsnnnn Pe 2 Halijo Webster wowed the meee “ ve J Kizmet Cafe audience in her (red | ¢