November 10, 2004

New Lecterns: Home Grown Solution

PHOTO BY BELINDA LI

Professor Jennifer Hyndman uses some of the very cool features of

the lecterns in the new lab building.

By KATHLEEN DE VERE NEws EDITOR

The combination of a little inge- nuity, a little innovation, and a lot of technical know-how from Educational Media Services (EMS) has created a homegrown solution to a surprisingly persistent prob- lem at UNBC - dysfunctional lecterns..

While UNBC’s lecterns may seem perfectly functional, accord- ing to Andrew Snih, Educational Media Services Coordinator, they may work fine for resting books on, but most of them are sorely lacking in multimedia capabilities, a problem that EMS was deter- mined to remedy with the lecterns in the new Northern Health Sciences Centre and in the Teaching Lab extension.

“Previously the architects in all of the buildings would have designed the lectern that went in the front of the room,” explained Snih, “and usually, the architects would never consult with an audio-visual person, and they would build a nice looking lectern, but it wouldn’t be functional when it came to teaching.”

EMS looked into having custom

designed lecterns made for the new buildings by companies in the United States, however, according to Snih, none of the designs met the multimedia needs of the class- rooms, and none of the companies were willing to work with the uni- versity to create a design that solved those problems.

“We came back with that infor- mation,” said Snih, “and we decid-

ed to take it upon ourselves to

design our own and leave the architects out of it. We went from there, got money available for a prototype, went down, and made sure it would function the way we wanted it to.”

The new EMS design allows fac- ulty and other users of the lecterns to control a variety of multimedia sources at the touch of a button. Each lectern contains a computer that allows users to write notes or draw diagrams on the screen and have it instantly projected, a DVD/VCR player, a high resolu- tion document camera, a converter for projecting slides, and plug-ins so users can use their own laptops or multimedia equipment.

Not only did the EMS designed lecterns meet the needs of the

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Educational Media Services saves UNBC thousands

Northern Medical Program far bet- ter than any other commercially available lectern, they were also far cheaper than the other solu- tions available.

According to Snih, on average, one of the commercially built lecterns would cost the university in excess of $25,000 American, but the ones designed by EMS ended up costing the university a fraction of that - approximately $5000 to $6000 Canadian. The EMS designed lecterns were also built using local labour and products thanks to the in house design.

In addition to meeting the needs

of the Northern Medical Program, EMS designed the lecterns so they could replace existing lecterns in other lecture theatres throughout the school. “We knew we had a need in the medical building, and at the same time I knew there was a need else- where in terms of the opportunity to improve services. In the lecterns that are your current theatres now, like 7-212, 7-238 and 7-150, there’s a lot of manual labour that should- n't really been involved [when EMS has to come in and set up computers or other multimedia equipment].”

The new lecterns will replace the older one in large lecture theatres in the new-year, and Snih is con- vinced that the change will make presenting multimedia more intu- itive and user friendly.

The new lecterns are also height adjustable and wheelchair accessi- ble, design features that are unique to EMS’ lecterns. °

“| These new lecterns] will allow us to focus on growth, offer more timely delivery of other projects such as video, it’s an improvement where everyone is concerned because faculty doesn’t have to wait for us either, more students can come in at their own leisure, and everything is right there at your fingertips.”

“Like I say, we're striving to get better service, and we want to offer our customers functionality, and always improve on the service and the technology,” said Snih.

_ News

B.C. NDP Will

current level

By BRANDON FERGUSON THE OTHER PRESS

“With a billion-dol- lar surplus in our province, we can- afford to put the brakes on and freeze tuition fees next year” |

- Carol James

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. (CUP) Should the New Democratic Party win British Columbia’s next election in May, they would freeze tuition fees for the 2004-2005 academic year, Leader Carole James announced at Douglas College Oct. 26.

The election promise comes in light of province’s nearly $1 bil- lion announced surplus — nearly half of that coming from students’ pockets.

“With a billion-dollar surplus in our province, we can afford to put the brakes on and freeze tuition fees next year,” James said to the applause of a pub-night sized crowd in the college’s main concourse.

To facilitate the freeze and com- bat inflation, the NDP would add $24 million in funding to univer- sities and colleges.

James told the assembled crowd of students and media fees have increased 180 per cent at Douglas College since Premier Gordon Campbell's Liberals lift- ed the tuition freeze in 2001. Capilano College faced a 247 per cent increase in the same period, and Okanagan University College endured a nearly 300 per cent rise.

Before the press conference, James sat down with some Douglas College students for an hour-long talk about students’ experiences.

During that hour, James heard firsthand the toll that tuition fee hikes have taken on students.

Page 4

Freeze Tuition

| James says province can afford to maintain fees at

Some students said they are working three jobs while taking part-time classes in order to make ends meet. Family and friendly relationships are suffering, and new parents are left wondering which of their children will get to go to college. The four-year degree has become a misnomer, students said, asserting education has become a source of lottery- like revenue for the current gov- ernment.

Rather than looking at educa- tion as an economic windfall for the government, James promised the students she would treat edu- cation as “an economic tool — not just because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it’s the right economic thing to do.”

Jessica Gojevic told James: “I have several friends that I watch. struggle everyday to get groceries and to get their homework done because they’re working two jobs.”

Joel Koette, who splits his time between Douglas and Simon Fraser University, also expressed the difficulties involved in the life of a student.

“I have a day job and I also have an evening job and I take part-time courses,” he said. “It’s quite a balancing act.”

James reflected the woeful state of student life they portrayed in her announcement.

“The Liberal government has shifted the cost of higher educa- tion on to the backs of students and their families,” James said.

Advanced Education Minister and Deputy Premier Shirley Bond said she found it odd that James would make the announcement two days before a key byelection in Surrey.

“The tuition fees in British Columbia-are actually at or about the national average,” Bond said. “While the rest of the country was raising tuition, we had an artifi- cial political tuition freeze. This is nothing more than the same old, same old.”

Student Lawsuit Going to Supreme Court

By NaDya BELL CUP ATLANTIC BUREAU CHIEF

ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. (CUP) — Memorial University of Newfoundland’s school of social work may come under scrutiny from the Supreme Court of Canada if the court agrees to hear former student Wanda Young’s appeal.

“We believe it is an issue of national interest, and we believe that the decision should not have been overturned,” said Gillian Butler, Young’s lawyer. :

The Globe and Mail published front-page article on the case Nov.

Young must first receive leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, an application process that could take several months.

Young’s lawsuit for negligence

against professors Leslie Bella, William Rowe and the school of social work has worked its way through the Newfoundland and Labrador court system since 1998.

Actions of the school caused her to be investigated for child sexual abuse after she submitted a poorly footnoted paper.

Most recently, the provincial Supreme Court of Appeal over- turned a verdict that awarded Young $839,000 in compensation because she was unable to be a social worker after the allegations.

According to Butler, Young had already been paid $300,000, which the university is attempting to col- lect.

“The university is quite vigor- ously pursuing this young woman to get their money back at this

stage, notwithstanding that they are fully aware that we are taking this matter further. Which surpris- es me quite frankly,” said Butler.

The longstanding case has been difficult on both the school of social work and Young.

After the case was overturned Oct. 12, the director of the school of social work, Shelly Birnie- Lefcovitch, said he was relieved the appeal verdict cleared his fac- ulty of any blame.

However, Butler says public reaction has been in favour of Young.

“From my perspective, I feel that in the community at large, the sup- port is with her. We don’t have any choice but to take it further,” said Butler.