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Budget shortfall; tuition protest ■ College of New Caledonia
Board deals with $1.8 million deficit
Allan Wishart
allanw@pgfreepress.com
A lla n W ISHA RT/ Fre e Pre s s
Local band Highball Riot provided the early entertainment for CNC students at Wednesday’s Day of Action on tuition and fees, held in the atrium at the school.
Students hold Day of Action to protest tuition hike Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com
Students at the College of New Caledonia (CNC) joined their fellows across the province on Wednesday for a day of action against student debt and rising tuition costs. At CNC, Highball Riot provided the musical entertainment to kick off the afternoon, followed by a number of speakers, including Zach Crispin, chairperson of the
Canadian Federation of Students-BC. “Student debt in B.C. is at a record high,” Crispin said in a press release. “Students and their families are sick of governments squabbling over jurisdiction. We demand the provincial and federal government work together to eliminate student debt.” Leila Abubakar, chairperson of the CNC Students’ Union, agreed with Crispin. “Access to post-secondary education is vital in our northern community,” she said. “CNC is suffering from insufficient govern-
ment funding which threatens the quality and accessibility of education in our region.” Students were able to take part in a number of activities during the afternoon, including sumo wrestling, with the tagline “Wrestle Student Debt Down”. The day of action calls on the provincial and federal governments to work together to reduce tuition fees, drop student debt, and increase funding for public post-secondary education.
The College of New Caledonia needs to find ways to make up $1.8 million in the next three months. A budget development report presented to Friday’s board meeting showed a shortfall of that amount for the 2012-13 school year. “There is lots of work still to do on this,” president John Bowman told the board. “We are looking for all groups to identify potential areas for savings. No decisions have been made yet.” The board also gave preliminary approval to a two per cent increase in tuition and fees for next year. A final decision on the increase will be made at the board’s next meeting, scheduled for March 1. “Like every year,” vice-president of finance Penny Fahlman said in the report, “the college is facing a variety of unavoidable higher costs and spending pressures.” She listed some of these costs as being rising utility costs, higher software and licensing and maintenance fees, and employee salary step increments. “We intend to make available a limited number of one-time early retirement incentives and voluntary severance packages to full-time regular employees,” Fahlman said, “who will not be replaced in the following year by a new regular or full-time employee.” Bowman said one new initiative the college is undertaking is trying to get more of the students who apply for seats in courses to follow through. “We want to make more applicants into registrants, which would boost our tuition revenue.”
THIS WEEKEND! Feb 3rd & 4th 7:00pm
vs.
February 3rd
Local singer Caitlyn Macaulay will perform during the 2nd intermission. Minor Hockey Scrimmage
February 4th
Kellogg’s Mascot Mania
Cheer on the mascots during the mascot soccer match! Bring office or cleaning supplies to support the