http://www.newsatniagara.com Jan. 19, 2007 Volume 37, Issue 5 See Page 5 The Best Way To Connect With Niagara SeeSee PagePage 88 Niagara graduates Nature’sNatures IceIce SculptureSculpture awarded for SAC work By ROBYN HOPPER College offi cials state Staff Writer Beauchamp and Hardwick Two Niagara College graduates succeeded in enhancing student have been honoured. life here through initiatives such as Wesley Beauchamp and Mark adding dental health benefi ts to the Hardwick, recent graduates, have local student health plan. won a 2007 Association of Colleges The award winners also led the of Applied Arts and Technology of development for more Niagara Ontario (ACAATO) award for their College student scholarships as efforts as Student Administrative well as participating in the pro- Council (SAC) presidents, state vincial Fund Me Now campaign, Niagara’s offi cials in a press release. which advocated for the provincial ACAATO is the organization government to increase funding for representing all 24 of Ontario’s Ontario colleges. colleges. Beauchamp served as the SAC Established in 2000, the ACAATO president at the college’s Niagara- awards recognize individuals, on-the-Lake campus, and Hard- organizations and volunteers who wick was the SAC president at the have made outstanding contributions college’s Welland campus. to the advancement of Ontario’s Both award winners demon- college system. strated the importance of working The award selection panel for the together to deliver results. sixth annual ACAATO awards was “We are very proud of Mark and Dr. Philip Steenkamp, deputy minister Wesley and their work on behalf of training, colleges and universities; of students,” said Niagara College Len Crispino, president and chief President Dan Patterson. executive offi cer of the Ontario “Both young men made Chamber of Commerce; Beverly important contributions to college Townsend, past chair of ACAATO; life.” Dr. Brian Desbiens, past president On Feb. 19, Beauchamp and of Peterborough’s Fleming College; Hardwick will be presented with and Tyler Charlebois, director of their Student Leadership Awards at Freezing rain combined with frigid temperatures on Jan. 15, left a picturesque scene around advocacy for the College Student the ACAATO annual conference in Niagara. Alliance. Toronto. Photo by Michael Dach COMMENTARY Police give community In a New York minute chance to voice opinion By KRISTEN COUGHLAR Divers says they are seeking the You have, it seems, only one Now, this is not an everyday Staff Writer public’s perspective on “a variety of option: because no one else occurrence, and most of the The Niagara Regional Police things, each community’s view on seems to be doing anything, you commuters stood and stared as Service (NRP) is giving the public their needs.” must put aside your plans and Autrey made his decision in a the opportunity to speak out. To promote these consultation help the person lying face-up on second. He jumped on the track On Jan. 5 the NRP launched Your sessions, the NRP has utilized a the tracks. and covered the boy, hoping for the Community, Your Safety, Your variety of services, including a press Your experience would be like best as the train gained on them. Future: Make It Count, to gather conference on Jan. 5, newspapers, that of Wesley Autrey. A New In the end, both Autrey and the public’s perspective on various TV and radio to enlist the public’s York City construction worker, the seizure victim, Cameron issues and police service priorities involvement. Autrey was waiting, along with Hollopeter, were unharmed. in their community. The fi rst session was held on Jan. By ROSE SOMR many other commuters, for the Hollopeter suffered minor bruises Through a series of consultation 8 at the college’s Welland campus, Columnist morning train when he witnessed and Autrey’s toque saw the worst sessions the public will assist the which, Divers says, about 30 people Picture yourself amid the chaos a teenaged boy having an attack of the injury, having only grease NRP in the development of its attended. of a New York City subway and then falling onto the tracks. stains to show for their brush with 2007-2009 business plan, as well Commenting on the response the station, clutching your briefcase As if this weren’t bad enough, danger. as playing a role in the way their program has received to date, Divers or handbag and making your way an approaching train was rolling This event, which happened on community is serviced. says, “My phone has been ringing to your job. fast toward the platform and Jan. 2, caused me to think about In a phone interview, Dr. Paul all day with people wanting to sign Now imagine a commotion. A Autrey was faced with a choice what I would have done in the Divers, a corporate support analyst up.” young man falls onto the tracks, to either jump down and help the same situation. Autrey maintains with the NRP, says the goal of the The International Ontario Editorial apparently suffering a seizure young man off the tracks, which he is not a hero, but that he did consultation sessions is “essentially Board, a branding, marketing and while every other person is would be a struggle at his slight what he hoped New Yorkers to get community feedback for our communications and public relations gaping at the unfortunate boy, a height and weight, or simply would do if they were faced with 2007-2009 business plan and insight organization, has also been fi elding train begins its regular journey to cover him and allow the train to that choice. to what communities’ concerns and calls for the NRP, who it solicited to the subway platform. roll over them. Continued on Page 6 issues are with respect to crimes and help with the program. the police service in general.” Continued on Page 2 Page 2, news@niagara, Jan. 19, 2007 International students face new challenges By MIRA NASSER ESL student Roman Schmucki, 22, of Switzerland, agrees. have been drawn to study in Canada. Even the tuition rates Staff Writer He says the most diffi cult part of learning English is getting in Canada, although three times higher than that of Canadian International students here come from all over the world, the grammar correct. students, are still relatively lower than in countries such as and many fi nd that adjusting to a new country can be hard. Kim is one of the increasing numbers of international the United States, England and Australia. Every year, 150,000 international visa students enter students who are leaving big cities such as Toronto and Asas says she chose to come to Canada because it was Canada to attend various colleges, universities and high Vancouver for smaller cities. cheaper than going to the U.S., and she felt Canada is safer schools. They leave behind their families and friends in order “Toronto is messy and loud,” he says. “Welland is more and would be “more open to an international student since to learn English or further their education. For most students, relaxed.” they are so multicultural.” it is not an easy transition. Barihan Asas, 27, of Netherlands Antilles, is an interna- ESL student Hitomi Iwashita, 19, of Japan, says she The fi rst obstacle that students face is language. The tional student in the Master of Business Administration pro- likes studying in Canada because it has a lot of different majority of international students entering Canada are gram at Brock University in St. Catharines. She says she ini- nationalities compared to Japan where it is mostly “Asian part of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. tially wanted to attend the University of Toronto but decided people.” English is not their fi rst language and, while some of these on Brock because it would provide her with a “more intimate Social events at colleges and universities are aimed at students do know some English, the majority of them have interaction with my teachers and professors.” helping international students become more involved with no formal knowledge of the language and have to start at the The intimacy that smaller universities and colleges provide one another as well as with Canadian students. basic level. can be benefi cial to international students who are far away Niagara College holds many social activities designed to Tae-Yoon Kim, 27, of South Korea, is an ESL student. from families and friends. A better relationship with their help international students adjust to life here. He arrived in Toronto eight months ago and then moved teachers can help students struggling with the stresses of It also provides students with English tutors, counselling to Welland, to attend Niagara College’s ESL program. He being in school. services and programs such as Global Connections aimed says learning English is “sometimes easy” but writing and In the last few years, there has been a growing awareness at bringing together international and Canadian students for grammar are diffi cult. of Canada’s educational system, so international students their benefi t. Correction SAC welcomes Medieval Times Incorrect information appeared in several items in the Dec. 8, By KELLY ESSER Trailer Park Boys, is coming to 2006 edition of news@niagara. Staff Writer After Hours. The show opens at 8 In an article on page 32, Cindy Andrews’s title should have been Hear Ye! Hear Ye! p.m., and cost is $15. Niagara College campaign chair for 2007 and president of the United Let it be known that Niagara SAC is also sponsoring Way Board of Directors in Niagara Falls. College’s Student Administrative Winterfest: Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. It’s Also, staff participation in the United Way campaign increased Council (SAC) is offering you the a week full of winter activities, seven per cent, not student participation.