VOLUME XXXIII, Issue 1 September 26, 2006 TEE TIME: Durham player CAMPUS FEST: Hedley eighth in world championships in action and more See PAGE 30 See PAGE 25 Assault in parking lot By Marilyn Gray By Chad Ingram ChronicleBus Staff strike possible Chronicle Staff If you take the bus to school, you A student was assaulted last might have to find another way to Monday in a campus parking lot. get to class soon. At approximately 10:20 p.m. on Durham Region Transit’s union, Sept. 18, a lone male accosted a fe- CAW Local 222, has set Oct. 6, at male student in the far south Sim- 6 p.m. as a strike deadline. While coe parking lot. scheduled negotiations are still be- “She was able to defend herself, ing held, a strike would mean a halt escape and call the police,” said Gary to all transit coming into the DC/ Pitcher, director of Student Rights UOIT campus except for GO buses. and Responsibility. In the event of a strike, there will The victim is a student of Trent at be no Durham Region Transit ser- Durham College. vice anywhere. Whitby buses will Durham Region Police are cur- still be running because their driv- rently investigating the incident. ers are part of a different union but Pitcher noted that security no buses will be coming into Os- guards are always available for stu- hawa, including the Oshawa Centre dents who wish to be escorted to bus stop. their vehicles after hours. A plan to help students get to He also said the campus Walk school, if there is a strike, is being Safe program is looking for volun- formulated by DC/UOIT transit liai- teers, and stressed the importance son Jim McMaster. of the buddy system when walking “I’ve made some suggestions and the campus at night. I’m in the process of getting approv- Pitcher’s department is printing al from the school,” said McMaster. Photo by Ryan Peterson posters reporting the incident. As soon as a plan to help stu- ALL ABOARD: Students crowd onto the busy Campus 101 bus. If Durham Region Transit “We’re doing everything we can dents in the event of a strike is ap- is hit by a strike, they’ll have to fine other ways of getting to class. to keep this place safe,” he said. proved “we’ll have info around the negotiating their first contract since 222. everyone else. Though a handcuffed man was school,” said McMaster. There will seen being taken from campus by be posters around the campus, an the amalgamation. Because of this, The region argues that post-re- “We’re not trying to take away the issues range from health bene- tirement benefits cost too much but trying to limit,” said Garth police cruiser on Wednesday, Sept. announcement on the information 20, it was an unrelated incident. panel in the new bus shelter, and a fits and pensions to contracting-out money to give to all its employees. Johns, Durham Region commis- policies. Of Durham Region’s 4,000 employ- sioner of Human Resources. “It Pitcher said he was not at liberty to notice posted on the transit page of comment. the MyCampus website. “They want to reduce our health ees, only 300 Durham Region Tran- costs regional taxpayers millions of care retiree benefits as well as ac- sit employees receive post-retire- dollars.”Another bone of contention Anyone with information con- Durham Region has had an amal- cerning the assault can call (905)- gamated transit system since Jan. 1. tive workers’ (benefits),” said John ment benefits. The region claims it is contracting-out policies. Durham Johnson, chairperson of Durham would be unfair to let those workers 721-3111, ext.2943, or e-mail garyp- The region and the Durham Region See Bargaining Page 3 [email protected]. Transit Unit of CAW Local 222 are RegionTransit Unit of CAW Local have a better health package than New college Myerspresident spent 20 years in the Ontario public service, working sworn in By Chad Ingram Chronicle Staff closely with post-secondary and labour market issues. “The premier sends his own personal regards,” said Picker- Leah Myers was officially installed as Durham College’s ing-Ajax-Uxbridge MPP Wayne Arthurs, adding that Dalton Mc- fourth president at a ceremony last Wednesday. Guinty’s loss was Durham College’s gain. (Myers worked directly Held in a tent in the South Residence with McGuinty during her time with the cafeteria courtyard, the ceremony was Ontario government.) overseen by Rocky Simmons, vice-chair Student Association president Evan of the college’s board of governors. MEET THE PRESIDENTS: Muller-Cheng welcomed Myers on be- “I, Leah Myers, promise to keep and half of the students. uphold the mission and values of Dur- Durham’s Leah Myers Other guests included Mayor John ham College,” said the new president as Gray, Centennial College president she was officially sworn in. UOIT’s Ron Bordessa Ann Buller and Myers’ predecessor, Dr. That mission, Myers reminded a crowd Gary Polonsky. of about 200 by quoting original president See Page 2 Myers applauded the institution’s Dr. Gordon Willey, is to educate students, former presidents as she traced the “through a process strongly stressing the growth of the school, and proudly everyday working situation in their chosen field.” pointed out that this year, Durham College has reached its high- A series of speakers offered congratulations. est ever enrolment with 6,000 full-time students. “May Durham College flourish under your leadership,” said “Our students come to us for an education, and they give back Dr. Ronald Bordessa, Myers’ UOIT counterpart. Judy Robinson, in ways we can’t imagine,” she said. “They have initiative. They Photo by Chad Ingram dean of the School of Health and Communications Services, have drive.” HAIL TO THE CHIEF: Leah Myers is officially called Myers “a true champion of post-secondary education in installed as Durham College’s president. this province”. 2 The Chronicle September 26, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS cal experience and coming to the college.” Myers prepares for the future“The missions of the two institutions are different,” she continued, “but what’s unique DC president and wonderful is an opportunity to bring those missions together, in a way that really serves students.” plans ahead for The addition of UOIT was the work of previ- ous president Dr. Gary Polonsky, who retired last spring after 20 years with Durham College and three with the university. Byschool Chad Ingram success “Gary accomplished so much at the col- Chronicle Staff lege, and really turned it into the fantastic place it is right now,” Myers said of her prede- Leah Myers may be new to Durham Col- cessor. “He’s a great act to follow.” lege, but she’s no stranger to the world of post- She pointed out that enrolment at Durham secondary education. College is at an all-time high, and that every Born and raised in Toronto, Myers attend- year new programs are added to the school’s ed the University of Toronto, and graduated academic roster. with a bachelor of political science. As far as her own designs for Durham Col- “I was fortunate enough to be presented lege, Myers plans to do her part to ensure its with an opportunity to work in an entry level tradition of excellence continues. policy position with the Ontario government,” “I’ve started a strategic planning process Myers said of her early career. “I got hooked here at the college, to really engage everyone on public policy.” in a discussion about where we ought to be in She spent the next 20 years in the Ontario five years, what our priorities should be,” she public service, and although she worked for said. different departments within the organiza- Photo by Chad Ingram Her vision is for staff, faculty and students tion, certain issues remained central to her to take part in this campus-wide conversation activities. STRATEGIZING: DC President Leah Myers will involve staff, faculty on the future of the institution. “There’s one thing that’s been constant over and students in discussing where the college will be in five years. She said in October, students will find out the last 15 years, and that was my involvement had separate presidents. Dr. Ronald Bordessa efits of an integrated environment like DC/ how they can get involved. with post-secondary training, labour market is president of UOIT. UOIT. Myers displayed a great deal of pride in and education issues. “There’s definitely a relationship, and we’ve “We are committed to providing opportu- Durham College, not just for its academic and That gave me a good grounding in the is- gotten off to a wonderful start,” Myers said of nities for college and university students to employment track records, but also its staff, sues and opportunities facing Durham Col- her UOIT counterpart. “We share the campus, move between institutions,” she said, “whether students and faculty. lege,” she said. so we have a joint responsibility for a lot of it’s a college student taking a bridge program “The facts speak for themselves,” she said, Durham College is the only college in the things that take place that are campus-wide.” and continuing towards a degree, or a univer- “but it’s not just about the facts. It’s also about province to share its campus with a univer- The new president also stressed the ben- sity graduate deciding they want some practi- the positive attitude and commitment of ev- sity. This is the first year the institutions have eryone here at Durham College.” UOIT president brings new vision By Reka Szekely and running, but it still needs help Chronicle Staff from the community, the govern- ment and other academic institu- tions.