John Tory tours campus By Stephen McDonald trades and the Chronicle training facility, Staff___________ need to have n voice In Queen's Park, even if it comes from (lie The urgent need for skilled opposition. trades people in Ontario was on "It's about awareness to all Conservative Leader fohn Tory's members of (provincial) parlia- mind as lie toured the Durham ment," says Woodward. "The gov- College Skilled Trades Centre on ernment is trying to promote Oct. 25. apprenticeship gro'wtli, hut the Tory, llic leader of (lie official problem is there is no capital opposition at Queen's Park money to expand facilities that stressed tlie need to develop and need expanding. When this issue expand skilled trades in Ontario. comes up in tlie liouse, lie (Tory) "They ;ire absolutely critical," will at least liave (lie knowledge to said Tory. "It is ironic that at a time speak to it." we are really short (of people in The Skilled Trades Centre is skilled trades) we don't have currently using portable class- enough space in the pre-eminent rooms to accommodate (lie shrink- college in Ontario to accommodate ing space a( the cinnpus. llioso who would apply." "\Ve are trying to (crrale) a five- Durham College and U01T year growlli plan," says Woodward, President Gary I'oloiisky, iind "will) 15 per ceiil growth in llir first Skilled Tr.idf Centre Principal John yi'iir, topping off at 1).") per cfiit in Woodward arcoiiipanird Tory on ilie fifth year." tln'2.'i-miiuilf tour. 'I In* first phase of Woodward's The Sk'lls Tr.iiiiiiiK Ci.'iiirr li;is proposed i.'xp.uisioii would rosi liL'fii in need »1 expansion forsniiir approximately S7 million. liiiir to arcoiniiiodate llic growing 'I 111- lu-rd skilled ir.idrs t'hotu by Strplien McDonald for in iirrd lor skilird labourers in Ontario is incrra.singi'xpoiit.'iiliallv. TALKING TRADES: From left: Skilled Trade Centre Principal John Woodward, Durliuni lU-gion, and throughout Conservative Leader and Durham College and U01T President Gary Polonsky Ontario. Woodward expressed th'r See Tory pg. 2 talk about the urgent need for skilled trades people in Ontario. nml l'i)r expansion of the skilled School of Business New O SAP grants shows Halloween spirit New OSAP grant paying back is (lie same," said programs and the costs," she said. Stephanie Murray, president of Slie said the government is try- money available the Ontario Undergraduate ing to keep expenses down for stu- Students' Alliance. "Anything dents, but there's always room for for disabled more' than $7,000 is all grant improvement. money." "They're doing a really good job students and OSAP loans eventually have to of bringing in students who could be repaid with interest, unlike never before afford to go to post- those from low- grant money, which Is given to a secondary school," MacDonald student on the basis of financial said. "With grants, student debt is income families need or academic merit and does lower right off the get-go." By Lindsey Evanoff not need to be paid back. MacDonald said financial aid "It .reduces the amount of officers have been collec- Chronicle Staff lobbying money being borrowed," said Lyn tively with the government for .a MacDonald, financial aid officer. long time to get tlicm to change Students using OSAP to pay for "It's part loan, part grant. The the way the OSAP process is done, scliool will receive grout money if lender takes the tuition out of the and this is definitely a step for- they need more than $7,000, loan portion and the grant money ward, according to new government reg- is deposited right into a bank "We support any kind of assis- ulations. account." tance for students who are oilier- On Sept. 15, tlie provinciiil gov- Slic added tliat tuition is taken wise unable to pay for the tuition," ernment announced a major from loan money only and grant she said. "Some students never change to OSAP, which can now money is entirely for (lie student. thought they had a hope of com- provide students will) a maximum The changes to die OSAP pro- ing to college." of $11,500 for a two-term school gram are mainly to liclp students MacDonald said in most cases year. The number is up from with disabilities and students debt is ;i reality of being a student. $9,350, but tliat money was all from low-income families or who "A large number of students loan money and liad to be repaid. have significant financial need, need to resort to loans to pay for Despite increases in tuition and Family si'/.e and income are scliool," slic said. "Grants and other expenses, this amount has- both taken into consideration, other incentives lielp tliese stu- n't been changed since 199'1. MiicDonald said. dents." The program's aim is to help "University students, or stu- For more information on reduce student debt. dents in high-cost programs like OSAP's new grant, book an "Students have access to more Hrvfighting, are likely to get more appointment with a financial aid money, but the amount they're OSAP because oftlie length of (lie officer. Campus shuttle blasts off Golf ing to gold - p. 2 with a broken finger p. 31 Photo by Ashleigli Izdebski SPOOKY: This may look like a Halloween cos- tume, but don't be fooled! It's just a statue in the School of Business. See the full story on page 10. 2 THE CHRONICLE November 1, 2005 NEWS Shuttle away tho se fro sty feet By Carly Jackson Chronicle Staff identified by its green, newly posted sign, and the bus returns to eacli stop about every 15 minutes. Tired of having to walk from one Megan loncs, Hrst-year Human end of c;impus to llic other? Well, Service Counselling student and It's (line to give your tired feel a rest. one of (lie many who rode the shut- Durham College and UOlT's tle buses for tlie first time, tliinks die Transit Operations lias Implement- new service Is a wonderful idea, ed a new service to put the days of "I love it," she said. "I'm never those tedious walks behind us. walking again!" On Oct. 2-1, Transit Operations )im McMaster of DC and UOIT launched a free on-campus shuttle Transit Operations also believes bus service for students and faculty. students will enjoy and bciielll from The hlue and while shuttle bus was (lie shuttle bus service. purchased by (lie college and uni- "1 tliink it's a great idea," lie said. versity and travels across die cam- "As our campus grows. It gives a pus, making . 11 slops in total, lime-efficient way to get to and from departing from and returning to tlie [lie far readies of tlie campus." main transit loop in front of the Randy Low, one of (lie rive dri- Gordon Willcy Building several vers who alternate sliifts, wants to times daily. Including the Soutli get (lie word out about the new ser- Simcoe parking lot, (lie new vice. Campus Ice Centre ;ind (lie north This bus is basically a courtesy parking lots, die bus slops at most of for (lie students," lie said. the buildings on campus, allowing McMaster said that in llie near students to get anywhere they need future, (here will he a contest for to in 15 minutes or less. students to give tlie new sliuttle Ims The bus, with 22 seats and stand- service an oflicial name, and tlie bus ing room, departs at 7:35 a.m., will also receive a paint job. returning to the main transit loop For more information, contact Photo by Carly Jackson and leaving again at 10 after (lie DC and U01T Transit Operations at NEW SHUTTLE BUS: Driver Randy Low smiles while he waits for eager students with hour, and continues on until 10:10 905-721-3111 extension (i(i52, or by tired feet and bulky backpacks to board the bus which will take them to locations all p.m. Each shuttle bus slop can be email at piiblictransit(n'dc-uoit.ca. over the Oshawa campus. Conservative leader impressed with campus By Derek Giberson grander... tlicrc's an energy here." many of (lie current government's students." , post-secondary, education in die Chronicle Stall 1 Ie said some of bis discussions proposals to improve post-sec- Tory added lie prefers to sec col- province. witli students and faculty included ondary education in Ontario, but leges and universities have some He was treating (he visit as a tlie liigli cost of post-secondary the agreement is "in principle," as freedom to establish tlici' own pro- chance to listen to students and fac- John Tory called (lie new univer- education, as well as (he funding lie feels Dtilton McGiiinty's govern- grams, while ensuring that the cost ulty. sity buildings "incredibly impres- differential between UOIT and die ment liasn't created a defined plan "doesn't get beyond die reach" of "It was awesome to see an indi- sive" in a recent visit to the campus, otiicr universities in Ontario, which to implement die changes. students in Ontario. vidual like lolin Tory come talk to while expressing some concern get more government funds per stu- "I want to sec the fine print," he However, he was careful not to us," said Nahccd Dosani, one of (lie over the direction of post-sec- dent tlian UOIT. said. give too much detail on (lie students present at the discussion.