THECORDWEEKLY Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo, Thursday, September 17, 1981 Volume 22 Number 2 Funding -a priority? TORONTO (CUP) The provincial "renew its commitment to providing government can no--longer afford to the financial resources to maintain "muddle its of through" in funding and enhance Ontario universities." the Either universities. fund the University of Toronto President universities to the level of inflation James Ham, referring to the past orstart closing some down,advises a five years of underfundingas "death government-established committee. by torture" for the universities also The Committee twelve-member called for increased funding, saying on the Future Role of the that if the universities Universities in "are not Ontario, criticizedby strong, neither will be your future." faculty, student and staff Educators and students were associations for consisting of ''five united in their opposition to the government three administrators, recommendation to restructure university heads andfive messengers the university system from the and to possibly corporate elite" closes some universities. WONG nonetheless has strong words for the provincial government's Patrick Wesley, speaking for the Ontario CHIN underfunding of the in Confederation of BY universities, University Faculty Associations its recently-released report. thought the option "unthinkable" PIC Dr. Smith, leader of the Stuart and added that the "consequences provincial Liberal party, for access to quality education and commented on the report. Ontario's Research and "Ontario's university system Develop- today ment needs could be extremely stands at the brink of disaster... the serious." level of underfunding of the Council of Ontario Universities universities has now reached crisis spokesperson William Sayers said LAURIER'S CHALLENGE proportions," he said. he thought university closings were Smith's words were echoed by "a very slim possibility." of 1981, a preliminary challenges of the university should be open to David Bates, President of the In March are. This education On the other hand, Taylor Committee on the everyone regardless of age, sex, Ontario Council on University report of the week we talked to Joe Veit, asserted that no university was safe Universities in family background, financial (OCUA). "The Future Role of President of WLUSU, and Dr. John Affairs Universities from the threat of closure. Ontario, "The Challenge of the status etc. are at a critical stage in their lives Weir, Vice-President Academic, to Premier William Davis recently was submitted to Premier and theirfutures rest squarely in the 80's" register their response sto the stated that he would be to Legislature. The There's a growing hands of the government." The reluctant Davis and the committee's guidelines, outlined " Dr. Weir: close a university. Taylor pointed of women at but report "vindicates what professors report was "to stimulate discussion below. percentage Laurier out that the dire situation of the statistics. and university presidents alike have I'm not sure of the exact university system had been known rather than to address comprehen- Cord: What is your opinion of the been the past five year It has definitely been growing saying for the for least sively every issue arising from the guidelines outlined in this portionof the universities must have adequate "to government at four though. years and has failed to terms of reference." The the "Challenge of the 80's"? funding." it act." She Cord: What is Laurier doing to questioned why the government had preliminary report outlined the (I) Veit: I think it is a pretty good catch "Contrary to the government's improve "accessibility for the waited a month releasing the past and future objectives of all list of the necessary guidelines. statements over past five years before the report. universities, (II) funding in relation Dr. Weir: I think the opinion was physically handicapped through the report admits that Ontario's access and At the University of Toronto, to objectives, (III) structure of the that most people viewed it as a improved physical study university system has not been able aids?" Students' Administrative Council system. pessimistic and threatening to provide quality education and President Matt Holland called the document at first. But when the to see more accessibility," said Barb Taylor, Although the report has since Veit: I would like report "predictable." He did not final report came out, it seemed Chairperson the member finalized, receiving forty- improved accessibility for physically of 220,000 think that any'university would be been after more positive. Ontario Federation of submissions handicapped. Students. closed and the chances were fairly seven written and Officials and organizations briefs during four days Cord: How do you feel Laurier is slim that U of T programs would be twenty-three Dr. Weir: Our university has a involved with the universities of public hearings, we thought it "responding to the needs of the trimmed. But he worried that particularity difficult environment welcome the to the interesting to at the growing group aged and over?" recommendation cpuld to provide some of would be look 25 for handicapped people. We've committee to end underfunding. tuition rise the in Veit: Laurier is really putting a large the extra revenues the developments on report recently renovated a bathroom to The Council of Ontario Universities universities comparison to what people at emphasis on continuing education need. accomodate wheelchairs. We have a urged the provincial government to Laurier feel about the report and for mature students. We're soaking committee looking into the alot ofbucks into advertising for the problems on campus but our what Laurier is doing to meet the and we expect to develop it more. telecollege etc. physical layout makes it difficult. new challenges of a changing not a new thing. Our telecollege Cord: What is Laurier doing to Weir: We are working hard to Cord: Does Laurier provide university system. The past report, Dr. enables us to reach many remote "expand research in underdevelop- develop the part time program. We "accessibility for those who live in "Challenge of the 80's and the too. ed fields?" in areas it is remote areas of the province by areas finalized report, "The Report ofthe want programs where for Dr. Weir: Dr. Weir: The research that can be to get teachers, like expanding communication aids for Other questions "Committee on the Future Role of difficult iS to carried out at any university will Administration. At distance learning?" Cord: How Laurier responding Universities in Ontario", will be Business this "demonstrated needs for furthur depend on the faculty. ' In the we are not able to provide a presented in part to you, along with time, /Veit: Laurier has four to five development in currently available process is a Task Force to develop a degree program in this field but we criticisms and recent developments satellite campuses where courses are professional fields?" research strategy for Laurier. This doprovide courses. would finding out the amount in government and university taught. They're trying to reach Dr. Weir: The Business programis a mean Cord: Do you think that Laurier is money decisions, in a series entitled, students in other parts of the large program inan area wherethere of available forresources, the "raising the participation of facilities in general and faculty "Laurier's Challenge". Please feel province. It's not a 'good will' is a heavy demand for programs. It women?" sharing of resources. free to comment in the form of a behaviour. They're interested in has greatly expanded in the last few at Editors Note: The above Cord "Letter to the Editor"or by a written Veit: I don't know the statistics for declining enrollment too and want years and will probably level off questions are quoted from the article at any time. Laurier but, for women in general, to tap all the possible resources. the size it is right now. But, it is "Challenge of the 80's" objectives. The first subject to be dealt with the percentage hasincreased. I don't Dr. Weir: We have an extensive off- difficult to hire the faculty to staff Dr. and Joe Veit were involves what the preliminary report think it's strictly necessary to go campus program inSimcoeCounty. the programs. The new computing Weir has to say about what the future after the women only. A university We've had itfor twenty years, soit's program is just getting underway interviewed separately. Mike Murray Mesmerizes Shakespeare at Stratford IN THIS ISSUE: p.B p.ll News in Brief Strathdee proclaims What has your Bored been "vintage Trudeau" Remus Sorcerus OUAA's go to nationals up to lately. The "Royal Commission"? Psychology of a Pub. Hawks at it again. A Laurier education can p. 5 It's a chic thing,l know. Exhibition Rugby starts atually get you a job. *p. 9 season. OFFCAM-What is it? p. 12 Bop around t'ue clock or P-2 how long did you have to Bridge seeks exposure at stand in the" beer line. WLU p.lO Give, your repetoire of Some celebrities on , trivia a test on sports quiz. campus, p. 3 fluslEADFLOPS p. 7 p.15 2TV Cord Weekly, TTmnday, Septeaber 17,1981 News Shorts Bands OFFCAM Essentially a social club, are available to appearing Thursday, September Here at Wilfrid Laurier members and Sunday evening the WLUStudent 24 to at a cost ot $6.00 to WLU students University, many clubs and OFFCAM wishes bring together information is provided on the many Union (WLUSU) Board of those students that may be living and $7.00 to The organizations exist to help students facilities available here. Directors met for the first timesince miles from WLU so that following two Thursdays will be with their extra-curricularactivities. many Memberships are on sale for $1.50 their annual budget meeting in July.