THE DURHAM COLLEGE Volume XXIV Issue 4 November s, No more tuition hike s !1996 DC lets gov 't know students are overburdened BY SHAWN SIMPSON Thursday. afford another tuition hike of 10 are limits to what students and of school. Chronicle staff The panel, appointed by to 15 per cent. She said OSAP their families can afford." Sheldon Levy, vice-president Education and Training helps, but debt is too much of a Durham College president of institutional affairs for York, Minister John Snobelen last burden for Gary Polonsky said cutbacks and said part-time enrolment is Representatives from July, has been meeting with the many stu- the financial load limit accessi- decreasing. One reason for this, Durham College, York public, academics and other dents to over- bility for students to a postsec- he said, is that part-time stu- University, and Seneca College interested parties to Find ways come. ondary education. He said he dents don't receive the same have a sent clear message to the to: apportion education costs "Students understands the difficulty of financial assistance as full-time provincial government that stu- among students, private sector recognize that assigning financial responsibili- students. dents cannot shoulder much and government; promote co- education is ty, but cautioned the panel about Midge Day, a faculty member more of the financial burden for operation between colleges and expensive and increasing tuition. in the legal administration post-secondary education. universities and between them students must "We look to the panel to find department for DC, told the Delegates from the three and secondary institutions; and pay their fair that magical balance," he said. panel that cutbacks hurt the institutions presented their meet future demand for postsec- share," she "We could stand one to two years quality of education. She visions for said, postsecondary educa- ondary education. s a i d . Polonsky of (financial) stability." the government has been reduc- tion to a provincial advisory Clair Roxburgh, president of "However, gov- York and Seneca agreed that ing funding since 1989 and there panel at Seneca College's the DC student association, told ernments must recognize that cutbacks and increased tuition is no more "fat to be trimmed." Newnham campus last the panel that students cannot education is expensive and there force many students to drop out Please see page 3 Thousands protest gov't cuts in Days of Action BY ROB BURBIDGE Chronicle staff__________________ Being poor Thousands of people demonstrated against Ontario government cuts, including in Ontario cuts to education, Oct. 25 and 26, finishing off the "Metro Days of Action" series of is not a crime. protests. Police estimated that 75,000 people took part in a rally at Queen's Park on the second [?fl©§i§© day following a march from near the ONE. The crowd filled the park in front of the QillQTflljpQ^ p®|)© D Legislature and listened to speeches and music. The musicians included singer-song- writer Bruce Cockburn and British protest folk-rocker Billy Bragg. Bragg sang Bob Dylan's The Times They are A Changin' "reclaiming" it from a Bank of Montreal ad campaign. On the previous day, more than 4,000 people picketed and demonstrated at 300 sites across the city. Demonstrators shut down the TTC and mail delivery. Garbage wasn't picked up in much of the city. Although organizers threatened to shut down GO transit and Pearson Airport, the services operated almost normally. Government buildings were picketed throughout the morning by unions and social groups. In the afternoon, more than 1,000 people took part in rallies at the Lois and the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Ministry of Education building. Man-of-Steel Durham College teacher Pat Whaley walked for 2 1/2 hours with two colleagues, tie the knot - finally. from her home in High Park to the educa- Photo by Rob Burbldge tion rally at Bay and Wellesley Streets, York University student Caltlln Fisher at the Ministry of Education encouraging protesters along the way. Please see In Toronto, protesting cuts to the education system. Fisher said, "I "I don't like to see the cutbacks that are think protest always makes a difference." She said everyone will happening to education," said Whaley, Entertainment eventually be affected by Harris' cutbacks. About 2,000 people explaining why she went out to protest. "We 18. attended the rally on Oct. 25. live in a democracy and I'd like my voice to page ..Please see EDUCATION page 12 2 The Chronicle, November 6, 1996 .UP FRONT. D esigning a future at Durham hear the program had been cut, Interior design particularly for the high school students coming up. students have to "I was kind of upset," Hayter said, "at least we got to finish our last year. But, it's closing a work through lot of doors for kids coming out of high school. Maybe Durham the summer Region was the only location they could get to," Carlo Raponi, also in third BY SHAWN SIMPSON year, said he had similar senti- Chronicle staff____________ ments about the design course being cut and worried that the The third-year interior design cut-backs would adversely affect students are building their the final year of the program. future as they apply the theory Other than fewer supplies, he of design and construction to said, he hasn't noticed a negative some in-class woodworking pro- impact on himself or the course. jects. Despite their obvious The woodworking component enthusiasm, however, they are of the course, Raponi said, is concerned about the eminent great. It helps the students demise of the program. understand how things go Meeting at the Whitby cam- together and the process to com- pus every Tuesday this semes- plete a project. ter, the students are required to "It's like hearing about some- design and build a piece of wood thing in Somalia and actually furniture. This component of being there. Once you're there, their course is intended to com- you actually see...you know bine the theory they've learned much more," he said. in the first two years with a As for Brown, he hasn't really practical application. thought about what he's going to Richard Brown has taught do when the design program is interior design full-time at completed. Durham College for six years. 'There are a lot of things I He said, the woodworking aspect would like to do, like hop on a of the course is critical for stu- plane and go to Greece and go dents to gain a complete under- digging through the ruins," he standing of the discipline. He said laughing. "But, I always feels the students should receive have a positive outlook, not wor- three full years of woodworking, rying about life and what it one as brings, and all those material not just semester they SImpson have now. Photo by Shawn things that make- you fret or This group will bo the second- Interior design student Angela Hayter applies theories of woodworking worry about a job because I've last class to graduate from the never looked at what I do as a interior design program at DC. and finish by Christmas, Brown program and I thought it had a (for its cancellation) is financial; job." The program will be discontin- said. tremendous amount of poten- but to me, education is more The projects the students are ued in December 1997. Students "I was really disappointed tial," Brown said. "Somehow it than just finances." working on will go on display in now in second year are required when they cut the program didn't seem right, even though Third-year student Angela the purple pit, Brown said, hope- to work through next summer because I thought it was a good the answer we've all been given Hayter said she was upset to fully in early December. Oshawa daycare faces cuts to wages BY B.J. STURMAN ting wage subsidies to daycare the system ever since the gov- two more children. More chil- She would like Harris to come Chronicle staff __ workers by $4,500. Early ernment of Mike Harris dren means less individual care. into the daycare and see how Little Ark daycare in down- Childhood Education (ECE) announced they want to change Coutu feels this won't be good for they run it. They plan every- town Oshawa is one of many fac- workers make anywhere from it. the children or staff. thing from nutrition, activities ing drastic changes if a proposal $18,000 to $20,000 a year. That "If we lose $4,500 from wages She understands cuts have to and helping children develop by Janet Ecker, Ontario minister is less than the Statistics our staff will be working for min- be made to budgets, but feels social skills. of community and social services Canada poverty line for a two- imum wage," said Coutu. "Some Ecker's suggestions are going to "We put more into it than he becomes law. person family in Toronto. The of our staff members can't live on far. The report also recom- gives us credit for," said Coutu Ecker released a report in cuts would chop their wages to that." mends lowering basic health and Coutu and staff don't know September suggesting changes $13,000 and $15,000. One way Ecker suggests to safety standards. when or if the proposed report to Ontario's child care system. Susan Coutu, director of the recover wage cuts is by increas- Among other things, Coutu will be passed, but they are One change proposed is cut- daycare has been worrying about ing subsidized spaces.