THE Thursday, November 20, 2014 Volume 52, Issue 12 NAIT YOUR STUDENT NEWSPAPERNUGGET FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA NAITSAMAYOR request for relief overSAYS LRT delay denied, NO page 2 www.edmontonsun.com Photo by Ciaran Boyle Photo by Ciaran Boyle Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, inset left above, has turned down a request made by NAITSA President Hasib Baig, inset right, for U-Pass fee increase relief to compensate students for repeated delays in the LRT line extension to NAIT’s campus. The line, originally to be finished last spring, is now scheduled for February. NOW OPEN All NAIT students and staff receive Scan this or visit www.sobeysliquor.com to sign up for the weekly e-flyer. We are located on the northeast corner of the 10% OFF with a valid ID card until November 26, 2014. Kingsway Mall parking lot across from the Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Avonair Curling Club. 2 The Nugget Thursday, November 20, 2014 NEWS&FEATURES City hall won’t play ball “(We’re especially disappointed) mayor mentioned stakeholders – really, report from Nov. 17, the $2.4 million in when we see this $2.4 million (surplus) NAIT students are the main stakehold- savings is directly related to the City of when what we originally requested was ers because they are the ones where it is Edmonton not having to operate the con- for $140,000, give or take, for the entire mandatory for them to pay the U-Pass tinually delayed NAIT LRT line. year as a fee relief for students, which the fee,” Baig said. Baig also responded to criticism sur- mayor refused to grant.” “Whereas with other stakeholders, rounding the level of service provided According to Baig, the mayor’s the commitment is not really the same by the Ookspress replacement bus line response to his letter said that fee relief for them. It’s very disappointing that not being to the same level as the LRT would not be possible because the city he didn’t grant us our very reasonable will be, yet being touted as a replacement would be unable to provide the same request and especially when we can very service. GABRIELLE HAY-BYERS to stakeholders who use transit but not clearly see in the news that they’re going “Unfortunately, when we negotiated Editor-In-Chief through a U-Pass. to be saving $2.4 million.” with the city (about the Ookspress), that @Gee_H_Bee “I want to be clear, because the According to an Edmonton Journal was the maximum (level of service) that While NAIT students continue wait we could get.” for the LRT they were promised, the City Edmonton Transit Service saw fee of Edmonton has announced that they are increases in all categories in February, saving $2.4 million due to the delays only but U-Pass fees, single-ride fares and days after refusing NAIT Students’ Asso- post-secondary rates for those who do not ciation President Hasib Baig’s request for attend schools with U-Pass agreements fee increase relief due to the delays. saw some of the highest increases, from “We’re definitely disappointed with 4.5-6.5 per cent. NAITSA has the same (the city’s) response,” said Baig during agreement with the city as Edmonton’s a conversation with the Nugget about the universities that currently have LRT ser- response he received to the letter he sent vice nearby. to Mayor Don Iveson a month ago. Baig “NAIT students deserve the same wrote the letter to request relief from value in their U-Pass as other post-sec- U-Pass fee increases expected for next ondary students … all levels of govern- year that are based on a model which was ment should realize that polytechnics approved by students during a referen- are just as important as universities,” dum in which the LRT was promised. en.wikipedia.org he said. Unintended consequences By TANIA BOYKO and worsen a person’s relationship with alcohol. While it is unclear how successful this campaign will NAIT students are coming face to face with awkward Some posters are being met with confusion as to what be, it is already turning heads on the issue while readers campaign posters during their trips to the bathroom. The the poster’s messages are. Some students are seeing ‘the reach for a tissue. campaign “Thanks Alcohol” is a new initiative generated lover’ personality posters as being birth control ads and by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC). sexual health posters. The idea stems from the trend of bad nights that are “I know people who do that but I can have alcohol and associated with excessive drinking. They aim to empower not sleep with strangers. So obviously, it’s not alcohol’s their audience by raising awareness of a person’s power fault.” said NAIT student Reha Lavigne upon seeing the over the amount of alcohol he or she consumes. poster. The campaign consists of eight personalities that drink- One thing for sure, health services at post secondary ing brings out in a person: the waterworks, the frequent schools will be monitoring the campaign’s successes and fighter, the lover, the party puker, the big spender, the dis- failures closely to tweak existing and future programs. appearing act, the blackout drunk and the shining example. The website also offers a quiz to pair you with one of Taking a youthful approach, the campaign’s colourful the drinking personalities. A word of caution, while the language and character design gives the initiative a more quiz is entertaining for the average procrastinator, it is nei- relatable advantage over past clinical campaigns. ther a reliable nor an accurate form of test. The lover personality poster can be found in bathroom What can you do to prevent uttering the phrase “Thanks stalls across NAIT campus and captures the awkward mor- Alcohol” with contempt over the previous night’s shenani- ning after of a couple in bed. gans involving a couple too many drinks? The AGLC sug- Posters include the campaign’s website thanksalcohol. gests eating prior to drinks, slowing down the rate at which com where it describes the personalities in more detail, you consume your drinks, give yourself a budget and to provides tips on how to change and resources people can go out with friends that are reliable. It goes without say- utilize to receive help with a serious issue. ing that drinking water throughout the night will help keep However, attached with each personality there is a link your body hydrated. that states, “I know that person,” that allows you to share on If you need support with alcohol related issues, NAIT Facebook or Twitter to your friends. While it is critical to use Health Services and the Counselling Centre are two cam- social media handles to promote a successful campaign, the pus resources that are available in addition to the online move has the potential to be received as a personal attack links that are on the Thanks Alcohol website. strongalberta.ca Thursday, November 20, 2014 NEWS & FEATURES The Nugget 3 The Nugget Room E-128B Parking woes 11762–106 Street By ELYSSA TESLYK Over the years, NAIT has made Edmonton, Alberta many efforts to address issues related to T5G 2R1 parking. There have been surveys dis- Production Office 471-8866 tributed to collect insight on what meth- www.thenuggetonline.com ods of transportation are used and what Editor-in-Chief attitudes individuals have towards their Gabrielle Hay-Byers main method of transportation. There has also been an increase in the amount [email protected] of available parking spaces in attempts Issues Editor to accommodate students. Maria Tagliente Still, controversy continues between [email protected] students, surrounding malls and shop- Sports Editor ping centres, neighbourhood residents Connor Hood and bylaw enforcement. There has been [email protected] public expression that NAIT students Entertainment Editors clog up the residential areas, leaving residents to find alternative parking near Richard Lukacs their home and that students take away Quinton Berger from available space to the shopping [email protected] customers. Bylaw officers have ensured Photo Editors that they will increase the amount of Ciaran Boyle patrols, suggesting that it will create a Tegan Dutton change in behaviour while making fur- [email protected] ther plans to have a residential meeting Online Editor in efforts to curb the parking problems. Baillie Scheetz What to do? online [email protected] It seems as though the pressure is Special Consultant on NAIT to create a successful solution Bridgette Tsang to the parking game students play with Production Manager bylaw officers. Frank MacKay “I got eight tickets trying to park at NAIT and there are no parking passes [email protected] available. What am I supposed to do?” Submissions encouraged: asked one student. [email protected] I cannot speak on behalf of every The opinions expressed by contributors individual student or stakeholder but to the Nugget are not necessarily shared I can acknowledge that there are a few by NAIT officials, NAITSA or elected evident issues. school representatives. First, surrounding neighbourhood residents do not have parking spaces Photos by Elyssa Teslyk For advertising, call 780-701-1951 NAIT’s lack of parking has been well documented over the years. available to them at their convenience. or e-mail: I know that I would certainly have an parking, there is still an unexplored malls or centres, and keeping track of all [email protected] issue with NAIT parking if I were find- demand for parking passes, there individuals who would be classified as ing that students were taking up my are pricing strategy issues for park- shoppers.