CKDU Offers an Alternative Voice

Volume 126 ~umberll Dalhousie University, Halifax, ~ova Scotia ~overnber18,1993 CRTC license renewal pending CKDU offers an alternative voice by Ryan Stanley part of the station. In the meanwhile, others at CKDU Anyone who's listened to CKDU are preoccupied with preparing for the FM knows the station sounds different. licensing hearings. Public hearings are No T op-40, no indistinguishable DJs re not uncommon when stations seek to cycling cheesy quips, no advertising that renew their broacast licenses. They threatens to overpower news and music. can be sparked by complaints, how If many of their staff and volunteers ever, and CKDU has always received had their way, the station would sound its share of critical reaction from Hali more different still. They call them fax listeners. The problem is the sta selvesDalhousie's'campus-community' tion's commitment to providing alterna radio station, and they take the second tives to the programming available on part of that label seriously. commercial stations, and the fact that this What they also take seriously, how programming - whether discussion of ever, is the task of ensuring that their conttoversialorcuning-edge issuesorsim license to broadcast is safely renewed ply non-mainstream music-sometimes this December. The Canadian Radio rubs people the wrong way. television and Telecommunications According to the notice from the Commission (CRTC), the federal body CRTC informingCKDU of the public which regulates the broadcast airwaves, hearing, the commission wants to dis may ask CKDU to appear before a cuss"the implementation ofguidelines public hearing in Fredericton, New for broadcast of potentially objection Brunswick on December 7. The renewal able material". process is one through which all broad Chris Trowbridge, Program Direc casters must pass periodically, and if suc tor at CKDU, thinks shocking mate cessful, could permit the station to go rial on the radio sometimes serves a • about its businessforas long as seven years useful purpose. "I think that there are f before the next renewal is required. times when it's important that people's Once that hurdle is past, Sara perceptions are challenged," he says. Shields would like to see the station "We've done some really good work branch out into different areas of the that way, with gay and lesbian pro communiry. Shields is CKDU's Com gramming, and we've introduced con munity Affiars Liaison, and is working temporary black music to the airwaves to open the station to people who in Halifax, with rap and hip-hop pro aren't often heard on the radio. She has gramming that no one else will touch. spoken with seniors and First Nations That's really important cultural ex people, for example. She said the Black pression that doesn't get a voice some United Front is preparing to air a weekly where else." current affairs show, and pointed to a Jo-Ann Citrigno, CKDU's Station show called "Telling it like it is", organ Manager, doesn't downplay the ized by the anti-poverty group Humans CRTC's seriousness, but doesn't ex Against Resource Deprivation (HARD), pect the hearing to censure CKDU's as a small step towards giving a voice to approach. "The commercial station marginalized groups. does what everyone expects, they play "Radio is intimate and public," she by all the rules, because they want to says. "It works for a communiry that's make money, and that's their bottom underrepresented. It can serve to allow line," she says. "We're pushing the other people within that communiry to talk way, and I think the CRTC likes that, to each other... and to move that com they like the creativity." She also says the muniry forward." CRTC favours campus-mmmunity sta Still, Shields sets her goals high. tions for the support they typically give to She says she has come up against the local Canadian music talent. very obstacles she's trying to help over According to Trowbridge, the sta come. "The irony," she says, "is that tion is currently revising its program the people who are underrepresented mers' guide, and hopes to clarify the • in the mainstream media are the peo- procedures for responding to com l.... pie who are the most stretched", and plaints, in accordance with the CRTC's lack the time and resources to produce guidelines. He said the station had also received numerous letters of support f / a radio program. She said this realiry L-------------------------------------------......JI'-' hasrequiredaflexibleapproachon the from listeners. Student aid 1993: more loans, more frustration by Cheryl Way Shelly McCulley, a first-year pharmacy stu- when they are going to school. They shouldn't partment of Education's point of view." dent, thinks that the new all-loan system will have to worry about money." Lee added that mistakes made on students' The jury is still out on whether changes to the keep people from misusing government funds. But Thompson did have to worry in Septem- applications often cause problems. The four most student aid program in Nova Scotia are benefit- "People who are really in need won't abuse the ber when clerical errors made by the Student common errors students make are failing to submit ing students who apply for financial help to system," she says. "They know it will mean more Assistance Office meant his loan was late arriv- supporting documents like income tax returns, fail- attend colleges and universities. loans to pay back." ing. "They wrote back and said I would have to ing to declare investments, and not verifying work "It's tough because everyone has to make the In previous years, students could get up to send more information about the Veteran's Pen- term earnings or a work term's job search. decision if they're going to come back to univer- $1 OS per week of study from Canada Student sion I was receiving," he says. "They made a big In September, the Student Assistance Office siry. Theymightgetthernoneytodosoviaaloan," Loans and $71 a week from the Nova Scotia mistake. I don't know how they could figure a answered an average of 228 calls a day. There says Jefferson Rappell, C6U President. 'They have bursary program. The new NSSL program means student is on a pension-a veteran's pension for were 412,44 7 attempts to reach the office, but to keep in mind that each year they are building up that students can now receive up to $150 a week. that matter." 406,862 of those callers received a busy signal. A a student loan debt." For some students this change has meant going to Yet according to Fay Lee, from the Student new toll-free number and touch-tone response The new system ofstudent aid in Nova Scotia school is financially easier. Assistance Office, such glitches are uncommon. system is in place, allowing students to check on allows for students to borrow more money from "If they're going to give it [money] to you, they "The system is working smoothly," she says. "We the status of their application 24 hours a day. thegovemment.However,bursariesarenolonger mayaswellgiveyoualot,"saysAndyThompson, haven't yet reached the end of the first year of Oespitethistechnologicaleffort,theofficephones available. The NovaScotiaStudentLoan (NSSL) a journalism student at King's College. "The operation so it's a little early to give a full assess- still appear to be bearing the brunt of student is the new alternative to the old bursary system. worstthingastudentcando isworryaboutmoney ment, [but) it's working smoothly from the De- frustration. THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL: LARGE PEPPERONI $7.95 +tax 455- 5555 STAND-BY FOR LIVe $7 Friday, Nov. 19 $7 9:30pm. TAKE-OFF. Advance tickets available now at the DSU S.U.B. enquiry desk or at the door. General Admission. Must be 19 years of age or older. WARNING THE SURGEON GENERAL HAS DETERMINED At Canadian Airlines, we understand how THAT THE difficult it is for students nowadays to make ends meet. That's why we're offering a year-round student stand-by fure at 65<7<"> off the regular WOOD economy fare anywhere that Canadian flies. So, if you thought a flight home or a ON THURSDAY chance to get away was beyond your budget, then think again. NIGHTS IS A For more infonnation, call your travel agent or Canadian Airlines ,md simply stand-by. VERY SERI Canadi n (anadL•:n 1 1 W'hr t trJd1 uJ... t I ( 11 dL•II A1rlt t I· llr ltlclll.lll 1d I m~ 1\.UI hll 011 0111.. ,, l\ l'r TL't ·r1 h ''' I r 'lpll I I hr JIll 1\\u.l'" r ,,., ld l.f Prm,fnl ,.~ r\\llln.d fn l l lll I iJid h\ h l<i.Oih the Gazette • November 18, 1993 • 3 CROSSCANADA 11ews Prominent lawyers debate prostitution English test for profs? CALGARY (CUP)- An Alberta politician has been called "racist" Right or slavery? for his suggestion that mandatory tests be given to professors who do not speak English clearly. by Tamara Dinelle ment, Lana MacLean of the Nova pimp-prostitute relationship turns from Tory MLA Lome Taylor told the Alberta legislature that professors Scotia Association of Black Social what is normal business into what be without a good grasp of English should be required to take a verbal test Anne Derrick and Joel Pink's No Workers and Vince Calderhead of comes slavery," he said. He also feels before being hired. vember 9 debate in Dalhousie's Metro Legal Aid. that there is great conflict between the He said there are a number of teachers without a good command of the Mcinnes room was an education out The current laws agamst prostitu prostitute and the community.

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