Bandersnatch Going craaaazy since 1971 Volume XXXII Issue II Code of Laws News Americans in the prison system and the proposition is approved and the Karen Gelsthorpe ways to amend it. The main points of Code of laws will then become a more Production Manager the Justice minister being that there coherent structure. The reason for this could possible be a way to enable the need for change all of a sudden is the Why buy local Justice Minister Martin aboriginal people to avoid jail for smaller loop wholes in the justice system are Cauchon intends to review and revise offences. now being abused by the guilty and the Canadian Code of Laws to allow for Also among the Focal points are their attorneys to avoid justice and pe- food? Page 3 a process of modernization. The objec- the prostitution laws. The strictness of nalization. The changes to the code of tives of this revision are to simplify these laws is making laws will also include a more uniform and create a new set of laws, which the streets even more approach to judging trials. As the con- will better reflect the new Canadian dangerous for these fusion level is at an all-time high within society and needs. Due to the length women and men so the the justice system, more and more of the Campus of time in which the Code has not been Justice Minister sug- trials outcome now hinges on the judge fully updated the code has digressed gests editing them. As that the accused has to face. to looking more like piece meal than well as the laws on The pressure for this act to hap- an official Code of Laws. The state of sexual provocation and pen has been building for about twenty Clubs,clubs,clubs some of the laws made to protect citi- the ramifications that years and even the attorneys are say- zens in the cases of self-defense have law implies. Police ing that it is time for this change to oc- become so confusing and disorganized power is also being scrutinized in this cur. In fact it is pass due in the eyes of starting on that the laws have become illegible. The proposed review as the laws including many. main focuses of this effort are to create that of using excessive force are “To page 4 a functional straightforward set of laws. confusing”. Among the main focal points of The a fore mentioned changes will this discussion is the number of Native take years to review and implement if Entertainment Teacher Faces Suspension All about Andrew Coté “ - The teacher had never been in effect since both people involved were consent- Animal Cross- Editor-in-Chief trouble with the college ing adults and it was proven that there was no - No student or staff member complained position of power involved since Vo Quang was in connection with this matter never her teacher and never had to grade her. ing page 12 - No teacher has been sanctioned in the The meeting came to an end once it was estab- history of the college for a consensual relation- Last Thurday, a Labour Relations Com- lished that Stachrowski wasn’t going to allow ship mittee meeting was held in the Stewart Hall con- any of the guests to express their opinions on - The Administration acted on allega- ference room. It concerned Mr Cyrile Vo Quang, a the matter but he did say that he would be avail- tions in a letter from friends of the teacher’s es- C.A.L.L theatre workshop teacher who had had a able during the 5-day period if people wanted to Arts tranged wife consensual relationship with a John Abbott stu- speak to him. - The teacher committed no crime dent, Meghan Popiel. Gerald Stachrowski, Secre- Given the chance to interview a few stu- - The Sexual Harassment Policy specifi- tary General, confirmed that the College had re- dents on the matter, this is what they had to say: cally acknowledges consensual relationships as ceived a complaint letter on the 29th of August “Abbott has no real grounds for suspen- acceptable Many Poems pertaining to an ‘inappropriate relationship’ be- sion, he (Vo Quang) should follow it up in court.” - The teacher neither taught nor evalu- tween the two individuals and demanded imme- - Mireille Aucoin ated the student diate action. The letter was signed ‘Concerned “Whoever decided to suspend him is page 9 - No allegation was made that this rela- Parents’, but after verification, Stachrowski con- pretty stupid because they’re both mature, con- tionship compromised the teacher’s ability to firmed that the author of the letter had no children sensual, and over 18. Let them live their lives.” teach attending John Abbott College. In fact, as Vo - Stéphan Lemire - The student code of conduct does not Quang said, the letter was written by friends of “He can do whatever he wants, it’s his prohibit relationships with the college staff” his ex-wife who simply wanted to cause him harm. life.” Sports Allister Thorne, the Academic Dean, Based on the evidence obtained in the letter, the - Stacey Miller would not comment on the college’s position due college proceeded to suspend Vo Quang with no “I don’t agree that he had relations with a to the fact that there is a 5-day period before the pay until January 17th, 2003. The John Abbott student, but it is his own private life and Abbott suspension becomes official and nothing is sup- Faculty Association (JACFA) defended Vo should stay out of it.” posed to be said from the College’s standpoint Interview with a Quang at the meeting and had planned to have - Andrea Kaczovowsky about this matter during the period. various people, both staff and students, express “No comment on this issue.” An important point that was argued at the their views on the matter but Stachrowski refused - Arpad Nagy Canadien on meeting was that there was no official college to let anyone except for JACFA representatives The administration will make its final deci- policy concerning relationships between staff and th speak due to a clause in the labour agreement. In sion on Thursday, September 26 students. The only rule the college had to rely on page 15 a letter received by Bandersnatch, JACFA explains and Bandersnatch will be sure to cover was the Sexual Harassment policy which had no 1 September 25th,which facts were2002 established at the meeting: this ongoing story. BANDERSNATCH John Abbott College On The Side with your Editor-in-Chief Andrew Coté P.O. Box 2000 St. Anne de Bellevue, QC H9X 3L9 "Abbott's Many Places" Tel: (514) 457-6610 Ext 5389 Fax:(514) 457-6091 E-Mail: [email protected] Office: H-041 some of the decision makers hereat Greetings! have some extra time in your schedule Abbott, and have your voice heard. So or have really long breaks, you should all you students out there, you should Well it’s already week five and look into joining one of the clubs on be here for your education, as your main John Abbott is in full swing. Classes are Editor-in-Chief campus. They’re a lot of fun, you can priority but that’s not what Abbott is getting intense and the workload even Andrew Coté learn a lot and you get the opportunity about, there’s much, much more. bigger. The new students are slowly to meet quite a few people. SUJAC (the getting accustomed to college life and Student Union) is hosting ‘SUJAC Club Get involved! News Editor finding out how different it is from high Day’ in the Agora on Wednesday, Oc- Open school. You’ve all undoubtedly found tober 2nd where all the clubs on cam- the munch box, Abbott’s deep-fried pus will be setting up their own booth Campus Life Editor food haven, the caf, where you can get to provide information about their club Pizza Hut and Dagwoods and the new Open and that would be a great opportunity student lounge has finally opened, but for you to get involved in some of our has yet to receive its couches. The oval Entertainment Editor school’s activities. The theme of club coffee house remains the same even dayis"Fall Harvest" and should be lots Shawn Robertson though it has lost 60 percent of its seat- of fun! One thing I’ve discovered over ing space due to smoking regulations my many semesters here at Abbott is Sports Editor and still today, only smokers frequent that it actually helps out to get in- Robert Menzies it so it always looks empty and you can volved. There are so many people at tell where the non-smoking section is school who really couldn’t care about just by looking at the tables where the Arts Editor where they are, they’re just here to get chairs are still stacked up on top of them. their DEC and get out of here. They Open We at Bandersnatch are just getting never take the chance to realize that started. Were having our elections next studying here at Abbott means that Office Manager Tuesday for a whole lot of positions or you’re studying at the nicest campus Jason Doan if you’re interested in writing for us, our in all the CEGEP system. The staff mem- office is in H-041, drop by anytime. In bers here are very receptive to students, this issue, you’ll find a whole lot of de- Production Manager and you can actually make your mark scriptions of some of the clubs on cam- Karen Gelsthorpe here and have the opportunity to pus like the Gamers club, Anime club, change things you don’t like.