Rules and responsibilities of disclosure............7
A recent Supreme Court ruling relaxs rules for disclosing HIV to sexual partners if risk is low
V
the oice
produced by langara journalism students
Students suffer longer wait times for counselling
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october 18, 2012 • Vol. 45 no. 3 • vancouver, b.c.
DRY AUTUMN WEATHER HOLDS OUT TO SHOWCASE VIBRANT COLOURS OF FALL
During this stressful time of year, it can take up to six working days to get an appointment for advice By ANNE ELLISON
D
uring the first round of midterms, the counsellors at Langara are as swamped as students. Although spikes during exam and registration periods are to be expected, the demands on counselling departments across Canada are increasing, according to Langara counsellor Tim Charters. “It’s kind of hectic around here,” said Tim charters Charters, who pracCounsellor at Langara College tices career, academic and personal counselling. “They should hire some more [counselors],” said health sciences student Desiree Bigornia, frustrated by the long wait for academic advising. Students can wait up to six working days for an appointment. Counsellors are working within the constraints of funding (just over $1 million annually) to serve the needs of roughly 10,000 Langara students. The department employs one parttime and eight full-time counsellors. Two full-time and one part-time student services assistants are on hand to answer general career and courseplanning inquiries.
See Counsellors, page 2
SASCHA PORTEOUS photo
Students on campus enjoyed Wednesday’s dry weather and bright autumn colours despite the threat of rain in upcoming forecasts.
Election results still not public Newly-elected board members only disclosed in LSU meeting Monday
MEMBERS
Newly elected
Evelyn Zeng, board member at large
Adrien Fu, disabilities liaison
Adam Giesbrecht, queer liaison
Ranhawa Gunkirat, women’s liaison
Emma Munroe, environmental issues coordinator Source: LSU board members
By Tanya Hill
T
wo weeks have passed since the Langara Students’ Union elections during the first week of October. However, official election results have still not been posted on their website or otherwise. Repeated attempts by the Voice to obtain the official results have been ignored. This Voice reporter was able to find out the election winners from the newly elected members themselves at the annual general meeting. Several of the new members spoke after the annual general meeting about their thoughts on upcoming initiatives. “I would like to see more transpar-
ency, outreach and general student awareness of LSU activities,” said board member at large Evelyn Zeng. The LSU annual general meeting and passing of the budget was held on Sept. 20. When asked about the pending information regarding over $40,000 of unaccounted student fees reported several weeks ago, Adrien Fu, disabilities liaison, stated, “I want to get as much student input as I can before making any financial decisions.” Langara business student Dean Tsatouhas was at the AGM and spoke to Langara Published, a student blog at the College. “I asked why there was a $10,000 to $15,000 increase in student honorariums,” said Tsatouhas.
“After some beating around the bush I got an unclear answer,” he added, paraphrasing that “the LSU stated that ‘the board has been much more active this year.’” Langara Published previously interviewed Langara student and former board member Muneori Otaka about his experience with the LSU. “I assumed from attending the meetings that the majority of the board members just want the titles, and the power to spend money,” Otaka said. “Of course, not everyone on the board was like that, and there are a few intelligent students who are genuinely there to serve students.” Full election results are expected to be posted this week on LSU’s website at www.lsu.bc.ca.
Thousands of fruit and nut trees will be planted By RYAN BANAGAN
Vancouver Park Board continues to plant trees along streets and in parks for Greenest City 2020 Action Plan
T
he Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is committed to planting 150,000 new trees throughout the city by 2020. The Park Board is responsible for maintaining Vancouver’s urban forest of approximately 140,000 street trees that line boulevards and medians, along with trees in over 200 public parks. Vancouver city council completed the first major step when it approved the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan in July 2011. The plan is divided into ten smaller plans, each with long-term goals that address three overarching areas of focus: carbon, waste and ecosystems.
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The Park Board is focusing their attention on increasing the number of Vancouver’s food-bearing trees by 50 per cent. “Goal six, access to nature, has two targets. Plant 150,000 trees and have all Vancouver residents live within a fiveminute walk of a park, greenway, or other green space by 2020,” said Niki Sharma, Park Board commissioner. “Trees provide an incredible array of environmental, social and economic benefits, including cleaner air, habitat and food for wildlife, reduced erosion, improved water quality, increased property values and neighbourhood pride,” said Park Board communications manager Joyce Courtney. In order to reach the target, the board requires public and private part-
ner contribution. The board estimates one third of the trees will be planted on private properties. The remaining two thirds will be planted on streets, in parks and on other public properties. Two thirds of the trees will come from the Park Board’s own tree farm in Langley, said Courtney. City staff is projecting about 3,000 street trees will be planted in 2012. The annual planting program costs about $650,000 from the Park Board capital budget. The unit cost of a new tree is $375. In 2012 there was $67,400 added to the budget to support maintenance of these new trees. Maintenance fees include pruning and controlling pests and diseases.
RYAN BANAGAN photo
The Greenest City 2020 Action Plan aims to increase food-bearing trees in Vancouver by 50 per cent.