www.ubyssey.bc.ca Tuesday, March 9, 2004 Volume 85 Issue 42 a L'IICE' i ^ *-*•?•: : Uh...what the hell? since 1918 » r.* . ']* > -if Mourning the deaths of women's centres Campbell 'largest single abuser" of women in BQ says protester by Megan Thomas Chong from her office. "Women are NEWS EDITOR still going to have access to these direct, essential services and will be Paper tombstones adorned the win­ able to receive the help that dows as mourning protesters they need." stomped angrily on the doorstep of, The province is maintaining $33 BC Premier Gordon Campbell's million in funding for front-line Vancouver office yesterday during a women's services like transition V mock funeral for dying women's houses, safe houses and counselling l centres around the province. for women and children, she said, The protesters, numbering adding that any of the women's cen­ about 50, chanted 'shame, shame" tres providing such services were while speakers and organisers eligible for project-based govern­ pinned a tombstone for each BC ment grants. women's centre that cannot afford "We did say the government was to stay open to the window of not funding advocacy, but if they > >-J_! • "^ Campbell's vacant 4th Avenue were providing direct services in office. Their cries were punctuated any way, they should have looked at by the odd honk of support by pass­ the appropriate funding source to \ r* ••'', ~Jrmm£**,r -. i, 1 ing traffic and bus drivers. - get the funding for those direct serv­ vJ- &&_!'#"--t '#/ 'rsr fi I "Gordon Campbell is the largest ices," she said. u' *7W$fc" - * * * s I ! •/ single abuser of women in the Campbell did not attend the province of BC," said Bev Meslo, an mock funeral and attempts to reach c y organiser of the mock funeral. "We him or members of bis staff were * ^^v___»*'--- '• \ ^m * find that women are being negative­ unsuccessful—something that does ly impacted by this government. not surprise Meslo. She said BC Our voices are being cut." women's groups have repeatedly ^WftVft.. ,tf AH 37 women's centres in BC lobbied to meet with Campbell and :< will lose their government grants of his ministers to discuss the impact i ":*- *. IT*---"* I ^*_ff about $47,000 each on March 31, of the cuts, but they have not said' Meslo—a move that will save received a response. the province about $1.7 million Meslo also wants the govern­ next year. ment to address concerns about the __ --_»* V i i*~T I "Immediately upon that happen­ treatment of women in BC that were ing there will be 17 deaths—17 raised in a report by a coalition of women's centres will die," said 12 BC women centres. That report * ^IP-.M> / /* / • Meslo. was brought to the attention of the The mock funeral was planned United Nations last Januaiy. for yesterday to coincide with It said the BC government is International Women's Day. Meslo breaching the Convention on the said she hoped the mourning would Elimination of All Forms of / send a message to the BC Liberals Discrimination against Women V 4 that the women's centres that are through cuts to welfare assistance '•: % able to survive this round of cuts and legal aid, and by abolishing the I',: must be supported in the future. BC human rights commission. >*. a _ L .if But Ida Chong, BC Minister of Members of the Health Sciences "iv. Women's and Senior's Services, Association for BC also attended to defended the cuts, saying the mourn in support of the women's women's centres were notified two centres. Eighty-five per cent of work years ago that they would need to in the health sciences is done by -|a>^ - •) J find alternative sources of funding. women, said board member Jackie -„*H:>.> .1 "Government advised them at Spain. That sector is currently been ^.the time we would be focusing facing job layoffs related to govern- i|ffjfr_?-'> »-A i provincial dollars on direct, essen­ tial services for wpmen," said See "Women"on page 2. LEAN ON ME: A crowd gathers to mourn government cuts to women's services, MEGAN THOMAS PHOTO THIS ISSUE: Latest proposal would hike Search for missing student "on hold" tuition by 16 per cent Drew Lett, 27, has been missing for three weeks by Jonathan Woodward and Saturday to pore over the area by Jonathan Woodward $1400 more. NEWS EDITOR near where Lett was last seen and NEWS EDITOR Graduate students in Medicine where he lived. The search was called can expect next year's fees to be The search for missing student off late Saturday afternoon, with no Sixteen per cent is the most recent $14,000 and Master's of Business Christopher Andrew Lett, 2 7, was put new evidence produced, proposed tuition increase, say uni­ Administration students will see "on hold" Monday after searchers "We've put it on hold until we can CULTURE: Breaking hearts! versity officials, drawing cries from their fees increase $8000 to total combed UBC campus and the endow­ come up with something concrete," Brtiken Social Scene concert students that the increase is "unrea­ $36,000 per year. ment lands over the said University RCMP Staff Sergeant sonable" despite UBC's consultation The increase will bring more weekend and found Barry Hickman. "He's still missing." reviewed. Page 9. /' \ efforts. - .. than $17 million to UBC. This com­ no trace of him, While some media outlets have EDITORIAL: Kooky no more The fee hike would add about bined with government funds will police officers said. t reported that Lett may have met Nova Scotia bans words related $550 to a typical undergraduate cover UBC's expected $31^million An RCMP con­ I * *\ with a 'misadventure,' Hickman to mental health from print tuition, bringing it to $4012. shortfall. This ensures that the cost tingent partnered said that the police do not suspect media. Page 10. Engineering and pharmacy students paid for by the student is under the with about 25 peo­ 1 i any foul play. ple from a number 'J [email protected] face further increases of about $680 30 per cent mark. Anything over "We have a number of different of volunteer rescue -i WWW.UBYSSEY.BC.CA and $850, respectively, while Commerce students can expect See "Tuition" on page 2. teams on Thursday r LETT See"Lett"onpage2. TUESDAY, MARCH 9,2004 NEWS THE UBYSSEY .ccommoaaiion STRIKE! ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE IN CASTING CALL. CMAJ Representa­ THE UBC SINGLE STUDENT PRODUCTIONS IS CURRENTLY tives of REIDENCES. JANUARY-APRIL. LOOKING FOR ACTORS (5 MALE endangered CLASSIFIEDS Room vacancies are available in selected AND 3 FEMALE AGED 19-25, who UBC single residences for qualified male are willing to volunteer their time for an women's and female applicants. Available for independant horror film. Auditions are centres were immediate occupancy in Gage, Fairview, being held March 28. For information Totem and Ritsumeikan residences. on times and location please email joined by Applicants who take occupancy ofa cniajproductions<2,shaw.ca. Some crew several union fimnnn residence room before Feb.2 2004 are positions are also available. activists. The eligible to participate in the residence crowd called UBC FOOD COOP. FAIR TRADE & lottery for returning students in 2004- ORGANIC FOOD FOR THE 2005 Winter session. Contact UBC ervices for an end to STUDENT BUDGET. Open 12-2PM Housing in Brock Hail (1874 East Mai!) STRESSED ABOUT SCHOOL? OR cuts. MEGAN weekdays in the SUB basement hear the for more information. The Housing LIFE IN GENERAL? Want someone to Wellness Centre and Travelcuts. Office is open from 8:30am-4:00pm talk to? AMS Speakeasy provides THOMAS PHOTO weekdays, or'call (604) 822-2811 during information and confidential peer THE UBC CHAPLAINS office hours. 'Availability is limited for support/referrals. Staffed by trained ASSOCIATION PRESENTS A some residences and room types. volunteers, it provides confidential peer Women are "unduly burdened" with cuts SPIRITUALLY INSPIRING ART FREE RENT 1 MONTH DUNBAR / support to UBC students. Visit us on the EXHIBITION, "IN SARCH OF SUB main concourse. Support line: 604- "Women" from page h YOUR SPIRITUAL SOURCE", by 41 / UBC 4 yr old building 1 bedroom, 5 appls, ns/np. $950. 604.908.0990 822-3700, info 604-822-3777. Email attack by this government,* he said. prominent professional artists; [email protected]. ment cuts, she added. Another bystander said it was Gregg Simpson, Jamie Nicholls, Jean- Guy Daiiaire, Marion Jamieson, Pnina !_&m_2M2MiJMf "Women are being unduly bur­ her anger over the impending Granirerj Janet Cummings, Monica Hu, LEARN ABOUT THE BIOLOGY OF dened with these women's cuts,* women's centres closures that and MongYen. 8-13 March, 2003, HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS! The TEACH ENGLISH OVERSEAS: Jobs said Sipain. "Everywhere you look brought her out 10am-7pm, AMS Art Gallery in SUB. Rainforest Reptile Refuge in Surrey is $$ Guaranteed-Great Pay. TESOL in the province it is hitting women looking for volunteers to give tours, and Certified 5 days in-class, online or by' "I am incensed about the clo­ VEGETARIAN LUNCH PROGRAM. much more! Please visit correspondence. Free information in one place or another.* sure of the women's centres,* she Vegetarian lunch, every Tuesday 12:30- www.rainforestsearch.com, email Seminar, every Tuesday _ 6:00pm. #216, A member of the crowd agreed, said. "It is simply unbelievable that 2:30 @ International House (1783 West [email protected], or call 1755 West Broadway (@ Burrard). Free Mall) Everyone welcome. , 604.538.1711 for more info. infopack: 1-888-270-2941 or contact adding that he was at the mock this government..