www.ubyssey.bc.ca Tuesday, March 11, 2003 ?m(*. .^ Volume 84 Issue 41 .Jr .'i'l-jfeSs &WWn > I i 4 f * I ' ' 1 Steamroller splurge since 1918 TAs rally at Koerner Teaching assistant strike enters third week by Kevin Groves the crowd. NEWS WRITER Alan Richardson, an associate professor with the philosophy More than 500 UBC students, facul­ department, also criticised the uni­ ty and staff braved snow and wind to versity's refusal to offer tuition relief participate in a rally supporting the for TAs because McGill, the Teaching Assistant (TA) Union last University of Toronto and Friday. The strike has now moved University of Alberta do not have into its third week. similar offers. The TAs have been joined by "UBC has claimed to be the best UBC's 1600 clerical and library university in Canada and one of the workers, on the picket line looking best in the world,' said Richardson. for pay equity for their largely "But UBC cannot be the best univer­ female membership. sity in Canada if it is taking its lead With Twisted Sister's "We're Not from Toronto, McGill, or Alberta.' Gonna Take It" greeting hundreds of U^C's 1600 TAs are looking to passing UBC students, the rally- have their tuition, which went up an held outside Koerner library—began average of 20 per cent this year, with waving Canada flags, honking waived. horns, banging drums and signs To justify this request, TAs have ridiculing UBC President Martha pointed to UBC's decision to raise Piper. " tuition by an average of $5QQ each, "Throughout this bargaining year for the next three years to Bring process the university has treated it in line with peer institutions. each and every student here with According to the TA Union those YES, THEY'RE EATING CAKE: But they won't take it from the university. No resolution is in sight as utter contempt' said Law TA Kirk the strike enters its third week. NIC FENSOM PHOTO Tousaw, to cries of 'shame' from See "Rally'ron page 4. SECOND THIS ISSUE: UNION GOES Closing in on a cure for cancer by Carlos Sutter ON STRIKE NEWSWRITER by Kathleen Deering A new treatment for cancer is near­ NEWS EDITOR ly a reality, thanks: to research done at UBC by Dr Wilfred Jefferies. He is' Labour relations between the uni­ carrying out research related to the versity and its employers have once NEVyS: Bike Hub moving immune system and his work has again deteriorated, as the second \ B-Lot to take over space. Page 3. recendy generated positive results. CUPE local served strike notice and "Cancer is a disease largely ofthe began job action at 10am Friday. CULTURE: The Ubyssey very immuno-suppressed," Jefferies Approximately 1600 members variety show explained. These include people like of CUPE 2950 (Chan Centre for the Pot the Earth, videos, poems, the very young, who are developing Performing Arts staff and support opera, music and photos. efficient immune systems, or the staff, including library workers) Pages 9, 11 and 12. very old, whose immune systems have been without a contract since are degenerating. It also includes last January and have been in medi­ SPORTS: UBC hockey pt. II people on anti-transplantation rejec­ ation since March 2003. Talks A look at the 5-21 men's team. tion drugs. broke down last week. Pages 6-7. 'Our work has focused really on how your immune system recognis­ CUPE 2950 President Natalie MAKING YOUR BODY EARN ITS KEEP: Dr Jefferies helps the Lisik said one of the main unre­ [email protected] es those cancer cells and detects immune system recognise cancer cells, NIC FENSOM PHOTO solved issues at the bargaining WWW.UBYSSEY.BC.CA them and then kills them,' the med­ table is funding pay equity for ical genetics and microbiology pro­ recognition by the immune system," allows the immune system to identi­ union members. "It's a large issue the equity plan, bargainers looked fessor elaborated. explained Jeff e ries. fy the cancer cells as 'alien cells," for our • membership because the at specific factors and compared In the early 90s Jefferies made "The next thing that we did was and then destroys the cancerous majority of our members are- individual jobs in both female<iom- the observation that a large fraction we put that pump, which is the nor­ ceEs. women,' she said. "It's a human inated~and male-dominated posi­ of cancer cells were reducing the mal functional gene that most of Jefferies believes that this new rights issue.' tions on campus. activity of a type of pump that gen­ your body cells have, into cancer discovery would work, with many "We still don't have women's . ... There was weight afforded to erated small fragments (peptides) cells in order to try and resurrect other therapies. wages at parity with men's wages male jobs versus female jobs, Lisik within transformed cells. These pep- recognition ofthe cancer cells by the "I think it would work in con­ on campus.' said, which helped determine what rides within cancer cells may be immune system.' junction with...chemotherapy, radio­ The proposal the university put pay equity would look like. unique, and the immune system The pump, or gene, Jefferies therapy and other types of experi­ on the table means that on average, Scott Macrae, director of Public recognises these differences and refers to is called the TAP molecule mental therapies. It may be that TAP employees are two per cent short of Affairs, said the pay equity agree­ kills them. (transporter associated with antigen can work by itself or it may work to reaching target equity, sha said. ment in the1 last round of bargaining "In the absence of those small processing). Jefferies's treatment increase the effectiveness of other She said the university is not was the result of some money being differences, the immune system expands TAP expression through a therapies," Jefferies said. honouring pay equity and benefits made available by the provincial cannot recognise the cancer and the new vaccine which results in an Jefferies works with a group of agreements reached during several cancer is able to start dividing improved expression of tumor asso­ years of bargaining. In developing See "Strike" on page 4. uncontrollably and without any ciated antigens. This TAP technology See "Cure"on page 4. iO. TUESDAY, MARCH 11, NEWS THE UBYSSEY I.III...1II..MIIM.I.W..III UBC seeks injunction IMBLE BELIEVING: MODERN TERATURE & THE CONFLICT against picketers \ INTERPRETATIONS: Mar 17, 4pm, Buch B Penthouse. Speaker: Dr. Roger Lundin, Clyde S. Kilby Professor The university is requesting an of English Literature, Wheaton College, NEWS Chicago. Sponsored by UBC Graduate injunction from the Labour TORY TUESDAY - Come have a drink & Faculty Christian Forum. Relations Board against striking & a little political chatter with the UBC UBC MEDICINE PRESENTS "THE CUPE locals 2278 and 2950 which Young Conservatives. Get involved as the RUN FOR RURAL MEDICINE" Sun, would force the unions off-campus. Progressive Conservative Party of Canada Mar 23. For info & registration details,. chooses its next leader! Gallery Pub, Mar go towvyvy.ubcmedicinexjb.net/2005/run CLASSIFIEDS UBC officials contend that UBC is 11, 7pm. Info: Matt 604-681-8420 or private property and therefore the malexb^ijnterchange.ubCjCa— WOMEN'S CENTRE'"ANNUAL unions cannot strike on campus. " ATTENTION ALL HISTORY GENERAL MEETING: Mar 27, 5pm. UNDERGRADS GRADUATING Come out & participate in the women- "^e think it's absurd to claim run, women-oriented resource group! THIS SPRING: Please take your grad that UBC is private property when photos at: Evanaelos Photography, 3156 MAKING PEACE IN A TIME OF., it's clearly a public institution,' said ' W. Broadway, 604-731-8314. Deadline: WAR" - CUSO's overseas projects. Feat : STUDENTS! March 15. ; '"',; Olympic Gold Medalist, Daniel Igali. ' Anthony Waldron, spokesperson for ENGINEERS W/O BOARDER UBC Marl4,7-9pm,YWCA(733BeattySt). P the TA Union. i > i if SPEAKER SERIES: 'Globalization & 604-683-2099: Scott Macrae, UBC director of the environment" by Dr. Peter Dauverge. Looking for a Mar 11, 6:30 at CEME 1202. Everyone MfiWffl. Public Affairs, said" concerns were welcome, www.ubcewb.ca; ubc@ewb ca. h raised Thursday when TAs picketed 2950 members, the latter of whom TEACH ENGLISH OVERSEAS: JOBS went on strike Friday morning. Over FRONTIER COLLEGE, A NON­ $$ GUARANTEED - GREAT PAY. roommate? the General Services Administration PROFIT LITERACY ORG'N, NEEDS *TESOL Certified in 5 days in.-class (or building, which he said they have no the past two weeks, TAs have picket­ USED BOOK DONATIONS for an online or by correspondence). Attend a right to do as the building is not a ed different buildings around cam­ upcoming fundraiser. There are drop-off FREE Information Seminar. FREE pus each day. boxes at Speakeasy (SUB ground), Infopack: 1-888-270-2941 or Got something workplace for TAs. He further said Resource Groups Commons (SUB www.globaltesol.com. when CUPE 2950 joined pickethnes Noisemakers and bullhorns upstairs) & Gage.Commons. 604-713- to sell? sounded, and music was "played 5848. " • TEACH ENGLISH OVERSEAS! One- on Friday, they caused the campus day TEFL workshop. Mar 15. 1 866- JY to become too disruptive to stu- Friday afternoon as those attending ENGINEERS W/O BORDERS UBC 912-4465. www.goteach.ca : the rally at Koerner library marched presents a benefit concert to raise money dents. Thus, the injunction included to the Buchanan complex, including For an overseas internship. Mar 11, 8pm Or lust have an both unions. - •• at Mesa Luna (1926 W. Broadway). $7 Buchanan Tower, to set up pickets.