worry ended By Jessica Smith Chronicle Staff Following days of anxious waiting for students and faculty alike, a tentative settlement between college faculty and management was reached, hours before the strike deadline. Tough issues that had brought negotiations to a standstill on many previous occasions were resolved enough to prevent 8,600 teachers, counsellors and librari- ans across the province from walking off the job Wednesday, March 3. "We're really pleased a work stoppage was avoid- ed," said Shelagh Gill, chair of the management bargaining team. The settlement is for a two-year contract and includes a salary agreement, a letter of understand- Pt-.olo by Jessica Smith ing creating a task force on workload, a return to work policy for employees on long-term disability, MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT NO STRIKE: White many students are relieved classes will con- a recognition allowance increase and a drug plan tinue, some had hoped for another break. A tentative settlement reached March 2 means the unchanged from (lie previous contract. The settle- waiting and wondering is over for many DC students and faculty. ment has yet to be ratified by faculty. No date had been set for a ratification see Strike page 2 City gives $1 million for arena By Cindy Wells be in keeping with the overall flavour Chronicle Staff of the campus. It won't be lavish, he said. ' Dr. Gary Polonsky, president of "There will be no granite, there will UOIT .and Durham College was pre- be no marble," said Polonsky, "but sented with a cheque for $1 million there will be beautiful natural materials from the city of Oshawa at a special to cherish: brick, wood, glass, and of ceremony on Feb. 26, as the first instal- course Zamboni.s." ment toward a new shared sports com- Thomas Coughlan, VP of Athletics plex for the Oshawa campus and the for DC and UOIT, said from a student's -city, point of view, "I can't tell you how The city is committed to providing a exciting it is that we will be able to total of $8 million toward the entire walk over to this new complex and $11.6 million cost of the complex. have a game of hockey and still have "The city of Oshawa as partners time for our studies. It's really remark- wants to make sure that we anchor able, it's a dream come true." UOIT and make certain it is a.great suc- Gray is also excited about the new cess, as we know it will be," said complex. ' Oshawa mayor John Gray. He said it is going to help reposition Located on the west side of Simcoe' and remarket Oshawa. Street, north of the soccer fields,, the "No longer are we going to beseen new facility will feature two-NHL-sized as just an automotive town," he said, ice rinks and possibly a pool. in'the "but we are going to be seen as a centre future. of excellence in education, a centre of The upper level of tlie complex will excellence in/automotive construction feature a lounge and a multi-purpose and a city that progresses, is proud of room overlooking both arenas. its citizens, and provides servicesthat The larger arena will seat 500, with people want in a city," tlie smaller arena seating approximate- As well as building the sports com- ly 250. Glass in the front lobby will plex on campus, the city of Oshawa is allow for spectators to view the rinks. building a recreation complex on Photo by CIndy Wells Dennis Bryan, an architect from Harmony Road north of Wal-Mart with SAY CHEESE! College and university president Gary Polonsky Barry Bryan Associates who helped four ice rinks. Donevan recreation was presented with a cheque for $1 million last week to put design the complex, said it will have complex is also being rebuilt. towards the new arena that will be built on campus, north of the- plenty of windows letting in lots of Construction of the sports complex soccer field. From left; Councillor Robert Lutczyk, Councillor light. It will be "very open and airy," on campus is set to begin this spring, John Neal, Thomas Coughlan, VP of Athletics, Mayor John Gray, he said. and the facility Is expected to open by Councillor Tito-Dante Marlmpietri, Gary Polonsky, Ken Bright, Polonsky said the new complex will spring2005. Ralph Aprile and Bruce Bunker. 2 THE CHRONICLE March 9, 2004 NEWS Pancake breakfast a succ e s s By Erin Pereira Chronicle staff said. "Both tlie college and the university liave a commit- It may not have been pan- ment to the United Way. So cake Tuesday, but on March 2 far this year we've raised just In the school cafeteria it cer- over $26,000, so this Is one of tainly looked that way. the on-going activities." Durham College and the Rliodes said just under 100 University Of Ontario Institute pancake breakfasts were sold Of Technology held their tills year between the Whitby annual pancake breakfast last and Durham campuses. Tuesday to help raise money "It was a little bit disap- for the United Way. pointing," she said. "We're "A breakfast includes a stack down a bit with sales this year, of pancakes, sausage, a fruit but it might have been the cup and coffee," said Katie timing with break week, and Virag, ' a second-year people have other tilings on Entertainment Administration their minds right now." student at the college who Rliodes said she feels donat- organized the event. "So for ing to the United Way is a just five bucks, it's not bad." very worth-while cause and The event also featured a loves being involved in all of 50/50 draw that could be tile various fund-ratsers and entered for $1 for those wlio activities. may not have wanted any "It's fun helping people out pancakes. who need help," said Scottie Virag said she was happy to Toolc, vice-president of social be able to help raise money for affairs for the student associa- such a great organization. tion. "I'm on student council "I think it's great," she said. and we're here to help and to "I just wish more students support everybody." would get involved and be The United Way raises supportive. But I also under- Photo by Julion Cocita funds from all available non- stand, because five bucks when GOOD EATIN': College and university president Gary Polonsky, Richard Levin, government sources in the you're a student is a lot of VP of Enrolment Management, and Paula Doyle, VP of Public Relations for the SA, community. money." serve up pancakes to hungry students. Their desire is to help those Kathy Rhodes, curriculum who are less fortunate. There and liaison specialist for Durham the breakfast was held in Whitby on Pancake Tuesday. are 126 United Ways throughout College and co-chair of the campaign Feb. 17 and at Durham last Tuesday. "The United Way serves people at all Canada that are helping to make com- committee, said because of break week, Usually the annual event is held on levels across the Durham Region," she munities better. DC, UOIT S trike averte d in hold first last-minute d eal spring formal By Shannon Campbell Chronicle Staff Continued from page 1 said Rautins. The traces of winter are quickly dissolving, Drug benefits will remain unchanged after manage- the birds have returned and spring is the in by press time. ment's drug card proposal was withdrawn. This means the air. And the Student Centre is presenting Salary will increase 3 per cent retroactive to last all. drugs approved by Health Canada will continue to the first ever semi-formal event, Spring Fling. September, 0.5 per cent on April 1, another 2 per cent be covered. It will be a fun-filled evening, from dinner in Sept. 1, and 1.8 per cent on April 1, 2005. Management had proposed including a third party, and dancing to a silent auction. This increase will put faculty's pay BCE Emergis, to approve all new "Attendants can expect a photographer to back at a mid-point between that of sec- drugs before including them on the take their pictures, a lovely Polish dinner, a ondary, school teachers and university faculty drug plan. band, a comedian and dancing," said Paula professors. " I'm hoping that A return to work policy agreement Doyle, vice-president'of public relations for Workload has been another con- students are for employees on long-term disabili- the Student Association. tentious issue between management and ty has been another important issue Liquor will be available to those who are of faculty throughout negotiations. happy and confi- to the union. legal drinking age. "They (negotiating teams) are develop- dent that there "That was huge because we pay "We ask that students choosing to drink, ing a management-union task force on 100 per cent of the long-term dis- do so responsibly," said Doyle. workload," said Debbie Rautins, vice- won't be any work ability. The union really wanted to The Polish scoff will be made up of pero- president of Durham College's OPSEU stoppage. promote individuals going on to gies, cabbage rolls and sausages. local 354. modified duties to cut down on the Spring Fling came to life from suggestions "They'll be looking closely at that, and long-term disability payouts," said by previous students. the next round of talks they will imple- Rautins. Prizes will awarded and a silent auction ment a lot of workload changes." Shelagh Gill "That doesn't just have to do with will be held, with items such as clothing and In the past decade full-time student the money, it has to do with people's sporting tickets.