UNBC Life

Shelley Termuende
Editor-In-Chief/Publisher

niversity of Northern British

Columbia student, Conan
Winkelmeyer has spent seven years
advocating for improved maintenance
on roadways and pathways
frequented by UNBC students in the
dangerously icy winter. In Over the
Edge's 2013 March issue, Conan’s
story of fighting for safer independent
access around campus was published.
Since that time, many students,
community members and parents have
been contacting UNBC to assist Conan
in his campaign. On September 15th,
2013, Conan sat down for an interview
to discuss the greatly improved
walkway which has been installed in
front of the Neyoh residence.

The new and improved pathway
features a small slope decline gradient,
improved underground drainage
grates which connect to the vast
UNBC underground drainage pipe
system and a rock catchment garden
to collect water before it hits high

A New Path For Conan

traffic areas. This system is said to
have cost approximately $60,000. It
has yet to be seen if the new system
will be effective in the dreaded Prince
George winter months, but Conan
is hopeful that the new walkway wil
prevent injuries to pedestrians.

From this whole experience, Conan
takes away the satisfaction that he
followed the proper avenues for
change and saw results. Regardless
of how many years he has fought,
how many methods he has tried to
get his points across, and how much
physical evidence he has gathered,
Conan maintains a very positive and
professional attitude towards the
whole situation.

Conan’s goals in publishing this article
are to encourage students to be
vocal about their expectations from
the university, and to have them hold
the administration and staff of UNBC
accountable for negligent practices
and poor maintenance. He is begging
students to supply documented

evidence and report injuries incurred
due to poorly managed UNBC
roads, walkways, and parking lots
stating, “Together we can improve the
maintenance of our home. We pay to
live here, and go to school here...if we
want to see change, we have to go
about getting it in the proper way.”
Conan hopes that students will use
veritable facts to seek justice.

People have said to Conan, “Look
what you did! This is your pathway!"
but he does not see it that way. He
insists the students as a whole are

to thank for the changes. “They read
the story, they got it out into the
community and our UNBC students, my
friends and the wonderful surrounding
community forced the officials to

act.” When asked about how he

felt regarding how long the process
has been Conan stressed that it is
important to remember that change
may not happen right away, but
reminds students to be patient and go
through proper and official avenues.

15

Conan offered a truce to those with
whom he has had a combative
relationship over these many years.

"At the end of the day, | know they
were just doing their job and following
orders..some people just fall on swords
and | am not here to rock the boat
without due cause.’ Conan would

like to thank those who have helped
him through this conflict (with special
mention to Access Coordinator,
Brenda Christensen), all those who
worked behind the scenes to make
changes happen, and to the UNBC
maintenance crew for continuing to

do the best they could throughout the
situation. Conan concluded by saying
“you cant take a jab without having a
solid platform to stand on.” Thanks to
his hard work, and the hard work of
dedicated individuals aiming to improve
the snow and ice removal practices at
the university, Conan now has the solid
platform he has been fighting for all
these years.

Shine Day Brightens City of Prince George

Morganne Williams
VP External | NUGSS

ach year on September 14th,

2013, University of Northern British
Columbia students take over Prince
George to gather donations for
Shinerama, the Cystic Fibrosis Research
campaign that has been a Canadian
University tradition since the 1960s. On
Saturday, September 14th, 2013, over
300 UNBC students to pool all their
energy and enthusiasm into raising
money for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) research
and care.

Mayor Green opened the ceremony
proclaiming September 14th, 2013,
Shine Day and this was followed with
words of inspiration to our volunteers
from UNBC Professor, Dr. Summerville.
A homemade video from Keegan, a
13 year-old Prince George boy who
lives with CF was a surprise to all
who gathered and spurred them on.
Keegan has attended Shine Day at
UNBC for six years running!

UNBC shiners went all out for
donations on Saturday. The
International Studies Student
Association held a barbeque infront of
The Brick, while the World University
Services of Canada club hosted

an outdoor concert infront of the
downtown Wendy's restaurant. The
debate club hosted a by-donation

car wash where many students were
soaked from other students making use
of their buckets of soapy water.

Thank you to the many residents,
visitors, business and community

groups who, once again, supported
this fundraiser. From the Kinsmen’s
breakfast, Over the Edge newspapers
assistance with the participant T-Shirts,
to the many businesses providing us key
real-estate outside their establishments
so we were visible to the community;
we are so thankful. To the community

members who continue to show their
support every year, a huge thank you.

Planning the 2013 UNBC Shinerama
campaign has been an enlightening
and indescribable experience. UNBC
students never cease to amaze me
with their continuous involvement and
support for the fight against cystic
fibrosis. This year's Shine Day was no
ditferent than any other year, in that
hundreds of students selflessly gave up
their Saturday to band together and
raise money for CF research and care.

This is a huge fundraiser at UNBC that
students should be proud to be a part
of, | know | am!

This year's Shine Day raised a
staggering total of $10,500 for Cystic
Fibrosis research. The ultimate goal for
this year's campaign is $22 OOO. Events
such as the Over the Edge Shinerama
Club night on October Sth, The Penny
Drive being hosted throughout UNBC
and the Alumni Basketball game on

September 28th should help UNBC to

reach their ultimate goal.

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