www.TheReflector.ca FREE March 5, 2009 Cougars tear into playoffs …See pg. 19 & 23 Logo Up up and What if you had Cougars seek away: paper Arts one week to transfer to CIS News contest goes awry planes take live? Sports Features flight 5 7 13 21 Photo courtesy istock.com Illustration by James Paton NEWS EDITOR: Alan Mattson [email protected] Feeling the crunch Government reluctant to give growing school cash during recession March 5, 2009 by Miriam Ostermann Alberta were capped at the consumer price index (CPI), The Reflector which is directly linked to Amid falling oil prices, rising inflation. This year, CPI stood Cash crunch unemployment and reduced at 4.1 per cent, which means BRIEFS investment, the Alberta Alberta institutions were government forecast a $39.9 allowed to increase tuition by Tuition at Mount Royal (per course, 2009/2010) billion revenue with diminutive that amount from last year’s ount Royal will resources for funding part figures. As a result, the costs of college revenues leaving of the college increase or Mhost a symposium lobbyists abysmally little decrease relative to the rate of on the misconceptions wiggle room to negotiate lower inflation and the cost of tuition and stereotypes tuition fees. fees follow the same rate. Sup. course fee surrounding mental Despite such a significant Currently Mount Royal $83.25 illness on Mar. 19. Topics figure in Canada’s cash- College tuition fees are constrained economy, running at the maximum include stigma about Alberta’s revenue has proven rate of 4.1 per cent and will mental illness in the to have its limitations. The remain unchanged in the media and society. For Students’ Association of year to come. With five new more information, visit Mount Royal College became university level degrees in mentalhealth aware of just how restricted communications, science, when their lobby efforts to business administration, Course fee $391.95 commission.ca reduce tuition fees met slight arts and criminal justice, the disappointment. college was able to charge The forecast resulted in a students university fees. arch is Native $6.7 billion downfall from “It’s hard working within Awareness Month the first quarter prediction of an institution because we M $46.6 billion in part due to want to have a good quality at Mount Royal. Watch plummeting oil prices. With of education here and a lot of for events like Métis oil royalties being Alberta’s time the institution is already jig demonstrations, predominant source of struggling to pay all of its bills fashion shows, crafts, revenue, the province felt the and ensure that students have film screenings, musical effects when prices fell below a good quality of education $40 US per barrel from nearly so any kind of work that we Mount Royal revenues performances and more $147 US last July. Officials say do with regards to tuition throughout the month. in reality revenue will be even is targeted at the provincial For more information, lower at $36.5 billion. government,” Koczkur said. visit the Native Student Since Mount Royal College “If students pay less then that Centre on the second derives their revenue from means the institution will get student tuition and provincial less money and there has to be floor of Wyckham grants, the institution will most money coming in to maintain House. likely be keeping the title of the quality of services. So we having the third-highest post- want the government to ante Tutition secondary tuition cost in the up and cover that room so $34.5-million ount Royal province. The current amount that students aren’t paying sits below the University more.” M students will join of Calgary and above the On top of paying the thousands from across University of Lethbridge. $376.50 course fee, students the world for the World At the moment 30 per cent are paying a supplementary Government grants is made up through student course fee of $80. That Vision 30 Hour Famine $ 71-million on Mar. 13 and Mar. 14. tuition fees while 70 per cent amount is said to increase to is received from government $391.95 in 2009-2010 with The event raises funds grants. Last year that meant a supplementary course fee and awareness for the government granted the of $83.25. Two years ago the hungry families around college $71 million, while college implemented a policy the world. For more tuition made up the remaining that all students in all areas of information, email Art per cent with about $34.5 study pay an equal amount for million. course fees. Kung at akung@mtroyal. Two years ago education ca institutions’ tuition fees in See CASH pg. 3 March 5, 2009 • THE REFLECTOR 3 Free money, apply within Financial help available for students during troubled times by Miriam Ostermann Pearls of Wisdom celebrates from the Alberta Heritage The Reflector students’ achievements while Savings Trust Fund. raising funds for a different Alberta Advanced Education Despite struggles in program or faculty every year. and Technology also continued financial need for tuition, The event has raised more to aid medical residents and accommodation and other than $500,000 for students in students on parental leave post-secondary necessities, the past 10 years. by implementing interest- students can avoid In 2007 and 2008, 2,683 free status on Alberta unnecessary anxiety awards were distributed by Student Loans. The student through other the college, yet the provincial financial assistance program readily available government also has something also received a boost, with alternatives. to boast about. By taking increased living allowances a prudent approach in the rising 14 per cent, lowered past and in planning towards expectations on parental the future, the government contributions, a higher Mount ensured a somewhat healthy limit of $13,000 on student Royal College environment. loans and no restrictions on has made “We have taken steps in vehicles. Along with many scholarships and the past to prepare us for other enhancements and bursaries one of its four what we face today,” adjustments, it also awarded a fundraising priorities. In the said spokesperson record high of $54 million in last school year $2.4 million Rachel Bouska scholarships. were awarded to students in with the The Students’ Association this way, a 28 per cent increase Ministry has also stepped in on behalf from the year before. of students. In 2004 the That same year the provincial government announced that and federal government $1 billion was to accumulate combined were able to add of in the Alberta Heritage an additional $22.5 million to Advanced Scholarship Fund, and has the jackpot for grants, loans Education so far reached $851 million. and bursaries. And while and From the interest on that there’s been much talk about Technology. fund scholarships such as the the economy and financial “We set aside Jason Lang and Alexander struggles, students can turn to $7.7 billion in Rutherford are made possible. the Students’ Association for the Sustainability “We want the government more scholarships. Fund, there is the to make good on their promise The Students’ Association Heritage Fund and and put the additional E-Awards offer awards in it’s valued at $15.8 $149 million into the fund,” Photo by Miriam Ostermann 14 categories for students billion. We have the explained Matt Koczkur, VP Christine Niesman, a first-year nursing student here, isn’t with disabilities, those who lowest overall taxes external for the Students’ too worried about the financial crunch hitting students. She participate in athletics and in Canada and among Association. “But this is has three more years of school to go before job searching. part-time students and many the most competitive another thing that’s more. Rewards range from tax regimes in North not really on the anymore because of the and living costs. With only $500 to $3,000 and the America.” table economy.” speculations on what the deadline is Mar. 6. As announced in the He’s hoping that with future will hold, students can On top of that, the SA is 2007-2008 Annual Report, increased revenue on the rest a little easier knowing fundraising through events $227 million was invested fund, the scholarships there are still funds available such as Pearls of Wisdom and into the Alberta Heritage will increase to reflect to assist in post-secondary Feast of Sound and Song. Scholarship Fund — separate tuition increases education financing. CASH from pg. 2 and Technology, Doug Horner, lower tuition fees. On the flip side, The new degrees require he sees little hope of grants there would also be a definite 50 more faculty members, flowing to Mount Royal towards drop in scholarship funds, because additional classrooms, offices tuition costs within the next year. not enough money is coming in to and equipment. With students He adds the minister has hinted be distributed. extending their education at of the condition becoming worse For now, the college has the college, more professors within the next couple years, reached its maximum student are required to cover class time, compared to 2008 when Alberta capacity for its physical space at while time will be made available was well off in the first half. roughly 12,000 students, which Editor returns for research and scholarships. “Students play a vital role in is an equivalent of 8,000 full- A familiar face will be bringing some fresh faces to “Typically because the cost any of the planning, they have an time participants. However, the returning to the helm of the the publication,” Nolais said. of the institution are going up, important voice and the minister college is looking to make room Reflector next fall.