OPEN EVERY DAY MIDNIGHT RECYCLE News Entertainment youn MoVIE DVDs Complete Ds, VHS & GAMES TOO VdINGE Buggley BUY — SELL — TRADE — RENT SA eyes at CHOOgE6REIER election NOFX coverage show RECYCLE DVDs Page 3 Page 10 DVDs, VHS s GAMES TOO The Red River College's newspaper 113 e r April 8, 2002 May the best man win': SA election race By Natalie Pona andshaking, debates and free bubble gum — Hit must be time for Red River College's student body to elect the new executive officers of the Students' Association. The campaigning officially kicked off midnight on March 25, with two candidates in the race to become the new SA president, David Lyman and Daniel Kreutzer. "As president, you're not speak- ing as one person," says Lyman, who is currently the vice-presi- dent of finance and administra- tion, "you're speaking on behalf of 5,500 people." Lyman is running against Kreutzer, a second-year Business Administration student. "May the best man win," Kreutzer says, the atmosphere rife with the formality and prudence of politick as both men consider every word spoken in front of a Projector reporter. Three hopefuls are vying for the position of Vice-President of Student Affairs: Shubert Beaubrun, Ethan Stock and Jonathan Menec. The final posi- tion of Vice-President of Financial and Support Services has only one nominee, Lars Vik. Daniel Kreutzer (left) and David Lyman are vying for your vote in the Students' Association presidential race. Candidates were given a list of important RRC issues, including being subject to penalty points, or about the vandalism. "Last year With a typical 10 per cent turn many students don't take elec- the tuition freeze initiative and demerits, for offenses like hang- there was no defacing of posters out at the polls, candidates need tions seriously because they see the new Princess Street Campus. ing over the allowed 50 campaign or anything. Now it's happening to work hard to capture the atten- the SA as a big party. Vik insists The SA hopefuls were told to learn posters or making defamatory every day." tion of student voters. that is a false impression. about the problems facing RRC's comments about competitors. Candidates were given a "I'm a little disappointed," "The SA is run like a business. students because, according to an Already the elections are facing chance to introduce themselves Lyman, currently the Vice It's all about accountability... SA memo to the candidates, the typical problems of politics, and to outline election promises President of Finance and Support sure, there are keggers, everyone "knowledge of the... topics will with some candidates having in their opening speeches on Services, says about the lack of has to have fun." greatly benefit... (their) plat- mustaches drawn on, or rude March 26 in the Tower Lounge. interest in the SA elections. Two weeks of campaigning form." comments written on, campaign Two debates, April 2 and 4, also Last year the polls saw only a wraps-up April 11, with the Running in the election can be posters. gave them the opportunity to seven per cent turnout. results of the election to be complicated. Hopefuls need to "I'm running a clean cam- convince students that they are Vik, a second year Business announced at 5:30 at the Rock follow a rule system including paign," says Lyman, who is upset the best person for the position. Administration student, says that the Vote Kegger in The Cave. In Steinbach $120 Spring Special Book today for this incredible deal!! First Jump course tgOlVitel Learn to Skydive at Adventure Skydiv- 0 ing. Call us at 339-JUMP (5867) or check us out at www.339jump.com 2 THE PROJECTOR - April 8, 2002 SA President lobbies in Ottawa By Kelly Stifora rom Mar. 18 to 22, Red River College Students' 1 ... FAssociation President ,0 • Robyn Osmond capped the 101001 College's first year as a mem- MOM ber of the Canadian Alliance WWI= of Students' Associations by CULTURAL joining other student repre- sentatives from across the INSIGHTS country in Ottawa to lobby for Canada Student Loans COLUMN policy reform at CASA's 2002 National Conference. Cross-Cultural Communication - Representatives from 23 CASA-member schools Did you know? attended the conference, usu- ally held in October, but It is estimated that 70% of all communication is non- moved to March this year in ee.ft, '414t,Stanitr".M. verbal and that this figure rises to 90% when two or more the wake of Sept. 11. people of different cultural backgrounds interact. • This year's chosen focus photo courtesy Robyn Osmond was to improve access by Red River College Students' Association President Robyn It takes an average of ten years to learn the improving student financial aid. The lobbying centered Osmond signs a CASA banner in Ottawa. nuances of a new language. on suggested change to limit of $1,700 currently Canada Student Loan poli- Study Grant program to help allowed under the Ontario Lack of fluency in your language does not equal lack of cies, which have remained students with children whose provincial loan program. needs are not met by scholar- hearing. Volume does not increase understanding. unchanged since 1995, Living allowances: ships and student loans. The despite a national increase in Under current CSL living Second language speakers learn the correct tuition costs of more than government currently com- allowances a single student mits $100 million annually 100 per cent over that time vocabulary but may not use the same stress and living away from home in to the fund. period. The conference Manitoba is expected to sup- intonation to carry meaning. offered student leaders a CASA recommends that an port themselves on $801 per extra $50 million be added to chance to lobby MPs directly. month, covering the cost of the program annually, and "It's helpful to be able to tuition, transportation, shel- that application for the Some Examples: actually sit in an MP's office ter, food, health care, and and talk to them face to face grants be opened to all stu- For some individuals from Asia and the Middle East, communications. dents, with monies being about realistic solutions to CASA recommend that CSL awarded to students who crossing the legs is considered to be in poor taste because student problems," said living cost allowances under- demonstrate the highest Osmond. "So that was the the bottom of the foot is showing and the toe is pointing go an initial increase, and need unmet through the CSL type of lobbying that we at someone. Similarly to pointing a finger at someone, then are increased each year program. focused on." according to a students' price pointing a toe is considered rude and offensive. In addition to two-on-one In 1998, the federal govern- index that factors items such ment also introduced the meetings with several as tuition, food, books and Debt Reduction in For some individuals of Asian, Latin American and Manitoba MPs, Osmond rental costs. Repayment program. Aboriginal ancestry, looking down and avoiding direct attended group meetings Capital cost items: Through this program former with federal politicians such eye contact is a sign of respect. Current CSL policies students who are unable to as Progressive Conservative include no allowances for the pay back student loans due to party leader Joe Clark. There are sixteen different ways to avoid saying the purchase of capital cost items financial difficulty and have A package distributed to such as computers, even exhausted the 54 months of word no in Japan. equip CASA members for though post-secondary stu- interest relief currently their meetings outlined seven dents commonly require allowed under the CSL pro- In most parts of Asia, the Middle East and Africa, it would CASA-recommended solu- such technology. Especially, gram can apply to have a por- tions to current problems not be considered polite to the other speaker to state that according to CASA, with tion of their debt forgiven. with aspects of the Canada one does not understand or disagrees. mandatory-laptop programs In 1998-1999 a total of Student Loan (CSL) program. spreading rapidly throughout $177,581 was distributed to In study income: Canada. only 44 students as part of For more information, please contact the: Current student loan poli- The CASA recommenda- this program, although the cies only allow students to Student & Community Advisor — tion is that an application intent was for it to help earn $600 per academic year process be built into the CSL 12,000. In 1999-2000 CASA Diversity & Inclusive Initiatives Office from employment and schol- program to allow students estimates that about 200 stu- arships. Any earnings above Room F214 Ph: 632-2404 special, one-time funding for dents were helped, based on a miropric this are clawed back from such items. total cost of remission of loan amounts at a rate of 80 Loan Amounts: $500,000 for that fiscal year. per cent. CASA recommends The federal portion of stu- CASA believes that the rea- that the allowed income lev- dent loans currently repre- son little of this money is get- -• A"' 'r els be increased at least to the sents 60 per cent of a ting to students is that the student's assessed need, with eligibility criteria are too a cap of $165 per week. stringent. The recommenda- When combined with the tion is that those criteria be Red River College's newspaper provincial portion of what a changed to meet that of cur- 1 student is allowed to borrow, rent interest relief programs, this amount increases to once the student in need $275 per week, or $9,350 for exhausts those avenues.