What's Inside
Should smoking be banned at D oon ’s door’s?
see pages 2 and 3
SPOKE
Conestoga College, Kitchener
29th Year — No. 14
The final push before summer
May 5,1997
Profile
BRT co-ordinator has come full circle Former Conestoga broadcast student is now guiding the next generation towards careers in radio and television. his years of experience. “I’m working with people who Mike Thurnell has seen the are just starting there careers, and media world from the roles of stu I think it’s really exciting,” says dent, DJ, program director, and Thurnell. “When you see them teacher. Yet, through it all, he has come in as just young people and seen himself as a broadcaster. see them develop into broadcast And, through it all, Thurnell has ers, there’s a feeling you just can’t been guide to up-and-coming tal put into words.” Even before he worked for ent. The co-ordinator of Conestoga’s Conestoga, though, Thurnell was a broadcasting: radio and television guide for young talent coming (BRT) program started his broad along the road to a career in cast career volunteering on broadcasting. Reluctant to give CKWR, Kitchener-Waterloo’s himself credit for the achieve community radio station. During ments of his students, he tells of a his stint there, he spun records and young person who started work did immitations of CFTR’s promi- ing, right out of college, at a radio nant DJ. “I laugh at it now,” says station in Thunder Bay where he Thurnell. “I had to pay to be on was program director. From there, radio. So, you’d pay $10 a year to this unnamed talent went on to have a radio show.” He says it was become morning man at the sta this experience that hooked him tion, and is now working mid-days on broadcasting and made him at CHUM-FM, one of Canada’s lagest radio stations. want to learn more. “I didn’t do it,” says Thumell’s next step Thurnell,’’but, I was taking the BRT program at “I’m working with helped them realize their potential.” Conestoga, from people who are Even so, stepping out which he graduated in 1979. A broad-set just starting there of being the guiding hand at a radio station man, he could be and back into the imposing, but it’s careers, and I classroom has been softened by his jovial think it’s really manner. With twinkle anything but boring. Like the industry, in his eye, he speaks exciting.” Thurnell says the enthusiastically about the differences M i k e T h u r n e l l , BRT program is unpredictable. “You between university B R T c o - o r d i n a t o r can never predict and college educa what will happen, tion. “You’re there (in because by the end of college) to get the job,” says Thurnell, who got his the day it’ll change,” says first part-time job in radio on Thurnell. He’s quick to add that CJGY in Guelph three months the changing nature of his job in pm bayD ecrIhdapt-im ejob." broadcasting is partly what keeps after he started at Conestoga. “IstaredinS
by Bob Puersten
CRUNCH TIME — Second-year law and security administration (LASA) students write their conflict-resolution exam in Room 4B6 April 24. (Photo by Tim Kylie)
Report shows full employment Wright said the survey is used to telephoned during a “reference” provide valid feedback and infor week. The survey, which is used by mation on employment trends to every Ontario college, strives for a co-ordinators and faculty in each 100 per cent response rate and is program. It is also used as a recruitment meant to provide a snapshot of alumni-employment activity dur tool in high schools because ing one week, said Mary Wright, prospective students find the infor manager of student employment, mation helpful in choosing a co-op education and alumni ser career path, she added. The majority of respondents left vices. By Tim Kylie The 1996 response rate was 86 positive comments, Wright said. Although the comments were A report on student employment per cent, she added. Six programs in the school of sometimes general, some gradu prepared by student employment, co-op education and alumni ser technology had 90 per cent or ates thanked specific teachers or said the student-employment vices shows that all graduates more employed in a related field. Three of these programs — office had been helpful in their from three Conestoga programs systems, successful job search. found jobs in a field related to telecommunications Most said the skills they learned automated manufacturing, and their program in 1996. jg ^ e graphic design hegrapicsdnvt- and advertis- robotics and automation e-da10reportT percentoveralem ploy-m entratesw ithone i n s c h o o l aterls ing,m h e lorthat p e dthey t h ehad m oreceived n t h e j ogood b person v a l u e f o r education. and electrical-engineering technician working in a field unrelated to his Myon Shwadschuck, co-ordina programs le d the way as 712 of or her program. tor of graphic design and advertis l|088 graduates available for work The survey also reported average ing, said die faculty in his program reported having found a job relat- salaries and salary ranges by pro are proud of their success. ed to their studies in a survey six gram. He said the program always used months after graduating. Of the three programs with full to have a full-employment rate but T o determine which graduates employment in a related field, the had gone down to 80 per cent a were available for work, the study largest average salary belonged to few years ago when the job market factored out those who did not materials management at $29,038. was bad. respond to the survey, those seek The program’s renewed success The average salary was $25,576 ing further education and those for electrical-engineering techni can also be measured by the fact n o t seeking employment. cian and $23,231 for graphic that it now graduates about 25 stu The survey was administered in design and advertising. dents annually when it used to t w o stages. Robotics and automation had the graduate about 15, he said. First a questionnaire was mailed largest average salary at $31,052, “There are a lot of other schools t o graduates six months after grad- and accounting had the widest with the same program who aren ' t u ation. salary range,_ from $ 16,380 to achieving the same thing,” he Then, those graduates who did $72,000. added. not return the questionnaire were
Graphics, materials management, and electrical engineering technician programs have 100 per cent placement in 1996.
Thurnell contrasts the university experience, saying, "In University, you get a piece of paper and what you do with it is up to you after that. I think alot of professional students go to university, where people who really want to do it go to college." A career in broadcasting is something Thurnell is defi- nitely passionate about. Whether he's been steering a troubled radio back to prosperity or he's steering the careers of his students, he sees himself as part of the broadcast industry. Now, however, Thurnell is in a different phase of his career in which he is preparing the next generation of broadcasters, pass- ing on to them knowledge from
him interested, "I think if I went to a nine-to-five routine, I'd probably go crazy,' he says. "T hat's no for me." But , while Thurnell is passionate about what he does, he suggsts that students enjoy their time in college and take advantage of the opportunities that are only avail able here. He says that when he was in school, he liked being in college. However, his focus was on" When I get out here, I'm going to ..." Thurnell says that, at the end of their programs, many students he's spoken to find themselves regretting missed opportunities. Says Thurnell, "Seize the day. Enjoy one day at a time. Tomorrow will come soon enough. Enjoy the moment."
Page 2 — SPOKE, May 5,1997
The Smoking Question Committee to discuss smoky doorways By Craig Vallbacka Following a proposal at a recent college council meeting, Conestoga College has requested that a committee be formed to deal with smoking. The committee, which is being chaired by Kim Radigan, co-ordi nator of health, safety and environ ment, will be discussing various issues surrounding smoking out side of campus doorways. Radigan said some of the issues which the committee may be look ing at are cleanliness, public image and the possible restriction of smoking outside of certain doors. She said the committee may also discuss the issues of health and safety surrounding the congre gation of smokers outside door ways. “It’s always possible we will agree it’s not a problem and not take any action,” Radigan said. These issues are only a possibili ty so far, in that, the committee itself has not been completely formed. “I’m just working on getting members now,” said Radigan. “I’m probably 75 per cent of the way there.” She said the college wants the committee to have a representative from physical resources, the clean ing company, community and pub lic relations, the support staff union, the facility union and the DSA. Radigan said the committee will probably have eight to 10 members. Radigan said the committee will have both smokers and non-smok ers on it, but she can not guarantee a “50-50 split”. However, she said,
UP IN SMOKE — Smokers congregate at Door 4 at Conestoga’s Doon campus on April 28,1997.
“I don’t think it’s a smokers versus non-smokers issue.” Although the committee is not formed, Radigan said she plans on
having the first meeting by midMay or the end of May. She said the number of meetings will be dictated by the number of issues
which are discussed and she has not been given any time line to work in. To prepare for the first meeting,
(Photo by Greg Bisch)
Radigan said she has been contact ing other colleges to find out if they have any policies on smoking outside of doorways.
Inconsiderate smokers are self-defeating By Craig Vallbacka
BUTTS — Thrown away cigarettes litter a flower garden outside Doon campus Door 5. (Photo by Greg Bisch)
Yet again, laziness and igno rance has brought about a prob lem which will likely generate controversy. Conestoga College has recently formed a committee to address the issue of smokers congregating outside of Doon campus door ways. Regardless of the committee’s recommendations or any actions which may be taken, it’s a prob lem that Conestoga College’s smoking population brought onto themselves. All someone has to do is look on the ground or at the flower beds surrounding the school’s door ways. Cigarette butts litter the ground like worms on pavement following a heavy spring rainfall. Meanwhile, though, shiny grey
receptacles designed for the sole purpose of holding those butts, remain virtually empty. Laziness proven. Ignorance is a little more diffi cult to show. However, most peo ple, smokers or non-smokers, have probably had to weave and dodge their way through a crowd of smokers to get into the school. The likelihood of this scenario is usually more evident in foul weather. This problem of “congregating smokers” is not a rights issue, nor is it the first step in a master plan to alienate the smoking popula tion of Conestoga College. The problem has a much broader scope than the locality of the col lege. Society, not just smokers at Conestoga, have lost some values. These values are respect and cour tesy.
SPOKE, May 5,1997 — Page 3
The Smoking Question We’ve been down this road before By Greg Bisch With the butt-littered, smokerjammed doorways here at Conestoga College, there is little question that many are left con cerned. However, with the forming of a new smoking committee, the members should be warned — smoking is a sensitive issue. In January 1988, the Conestoga College board of governors voted 9-0 to ban smoking as well as the sale of tobacco products in all col lege-owned buildings. The board’s student representative at the time, Tony Karais, said that many stu dents undoubtedly would be upset with the ban. Indeed, one student, Rick Liddell, who was in his first year of a pre-press program at Waterloo campus, was very upset. His prob lem being that along with the ban, there were to be no designated smoking areas, leaving smokers outside in the cold. On Nov. 23, 1988, Liddell orga nized a college-wide protest for the addition of designated areas. At his own campus, 65 of the 250 students picketed outside the Waterloo building. Some carried signs, which read, “NON-SMOK ERS HAVE RIGHTS BUT NOT AT THE COST OF SMOKERS RIGHTS.” News of the demon stration was carried in the Kitchener-Waterloo Record and on CKCO-TV. The college’s dilemma, however, was the estimated cost of building areas with proper ventilation. Later, in a December 1988 meet ing, Conestoga College President John Tibbits stated that with the college’s then-$900,000 deficit,
there were more important priori ties. As well, while it would have been politically easier to add the designated smoking areas, with a cost at over $200,000, it was impossible. Meanwhile, at Doon, things were going rather smoothly, according to campus security supervisor Bob Gilberds. He said, at the time, that the ban was being accepted by smokers. However, in a recent interview, he recalled there were some difficulties. “People were used to sitting in their offices, then they were told that they have to go out in 20 below zero temperatures,” he said. “Some didn’t like that too much.” With this, he conceded that the ban was hard to enforce. Gilberds, a smoker himself, said the ban didn’t bother him much. He had already been smoking out side for two years prior because co-worker Janet Smith, a campus security officer, was allergic to smoke. As for Liddell, he was disap pointed with the lack of support his campaign received at Conestoga’s Doon, Guelph and Cambridge campuses. In a Dec. 5, 1988 Spoke article entitled Smoker Ready To Give Up Fight, Liddell said that the board of governors would never change their minds with such a poor show of interest. He was most angry with Doon Campus where seven students out of about 2,800 took part in his demonstra tion. “As far as I’m concerned, the smokers at Doon, with the excep tion of the few who showed, deserve to freeze,” he told Spoke.
ASHES TO ASHES — June 3 , 1988 — College painter Neil Johnstone takes down Conestoga’s last in-door ashtray. The photo by then-student Nellie Blake appeared in Spoke on June 20, 1988 in a story entitled, College smoking ban runs smoothly, says Gilberds. (Photo by Greg Bisch)
Is smoking in the doorways a problem?
Amber McDougall accounting, 2nd year
Denise Binden nursing, 3rd year
Douglas Giesel electronics engineer ing technology, 1st year
I’m a non-smoker and I think it’s revolt ing to smell. I noticed a door by the Blue Room was surround ed by cigarette butts
I just hate the butts. I mean, there are ash trays. I don’t think there is a solution because people are just ignorant and have no respect.
I think there is a problem. The con gestion in the door ways makes it hard for people coming in and out. It looks gross as well.
Gillian Convoy general arts and sci ence, 1st year
Rachel Stanley general arts and sci ence, 1st year
B. J. O’Brien general arts, year
No, because there is really no other desig nated area for smok ers. Where are they supposed to go?
I don’t like it when I’m waiting for the bus.The smell seeps through the doors inside; you can always smell it.
No, I don’t think it’s a problem. All schools have smokers in the doorways; they’re all like that, not just us
1st
(Photos by Craig Vallbacka)
Page 4
SPOKE, May 5,1997
SPOKE
No matter perspective what you do, Time to leave the past behind people will T be important en years ago, the Deschenes report urged the federal government to investigate the more than 220 suspected Nazi war criminals living in Canada. Since that time, the government has prosecuted four cases, all of which have ended in failure. The recent months have seen a renewed interest on the part of the Jewish community to increase the fight to prosecute former Nazis. No one can deny that the atrocities committed by the German soldiers were among the worst acts men have ever committed against their fellow humans. That being said, however, it’s time to let the past remain in the past. Rather than lingering over history and focusing on the evils of men, it is time to look to the future and try to build a society in which everyone is treated with respect and equality. The arguments the Jewish community have put forth in favor of going after war criminals make sense and have a lot of validity. The arguments against are just as numerous. Many years have passed since the Second World War occurred. Although people’s memories remain as vivid as the day the events took place, their ability to remember details with any degree of accuracy fades with time. Also, as people age, their appearances change. To ask someone to point a finger at a 70-year-old man and say with certainty that this is the man who 50
years ago committed a crime is nearly impossible. Sending someone to prison for the rest of his life based on the emotion-filled memories of events which took place 50 years ago is playing with fire. As members of a generation who were bom after the war ended, we cannot even pretend to understand what living through a war is like. Similarly, unless people have actually known the fear of existing under a fascist regime, they cannot positively say they would have acted differently. In 1961, Yale University psychologist Stanley Milgram designed a study to investigate how far ordinary citizens would go in obeying orders. Subjects were asked to administer increasingly painful electric shocks to a “learner” who missed a test question. Throughout the experiment, the learner would complain of a heart condition. When the subject hesitated, he was instructed to continue administering the shocks. What the subject didn’t know' was that the “learner” was Milgram’s assistant and no shocks were actually being administered. The results of this experi ment stunned psychologists everywhere. Of the 40 subjects, not one of them stopped administering shocks before it had supposedly reached 300 volts. Sixty-five per cent of the subjects continued administering shocks until the experiment was complete. The point of explaining Milgram’s experiment is to show that humans are naturally inclined to follow orders, even when it goes against their better judgment.
In Milgram’s experiment, subjects were told that if they didn’t continue, the experiment would be mined. In Nazi Germany, citizens and soldiers alike knew that if they didn’t obey, they would be killed. Very few Nazis acted on their own free will. It was a matter of obeying orders or putting themselves and their families at risk. Punishing people for the way they acted during a war seems contradictory. When a government puts a gun in a man’s hand and tells him to go out and kill his fellow human beings, all rules of society are disrupted. The world becomes chaotic and the lines between right and wrong become blurred. German soldiers were not the only people committing outrageous crimes during the war. American, Russian, Japanese, Canadian . . . all committed their share of crimes. The Jewish community maintains that the Nazi soldiers must be punished for the roles they played in the death of six million Jews. While it is not nearly sufficient for the suffering these people went through, many of the German soldiers have been punishing themselves for the past 50 years. Often more terrifying than life in prison are the images and the voices in their minds that these men must live with every day. The hunt of Nazi war criminals in the 1990s is reminiscent of the Salem witch hunts in the 1690s in Massachusetts. Nothing was solved in Salem, and nothing will be solved today. Forgetting would be impossible. Forgiving is necessary.
p
familiar song came to mind as I sat in bed and reviewed the events of the first day on a week-long job I’ve been fortunate in the past with people with whom I’ve had to associate, be they childhood friends, classmates at high school, university or here at Conestoga. The first person we (anoth er classmate and I) were introduced to on the job was someone who reminded me of one of my classmates with whom I enjoy a very friendly relationship. Immediately I took a liking to this fellow on the basis of that similarity. My second encounter with another was not as reassuring. Tnis one’s abrupt manner was a little off-putting. Everyone else was friendly enough. What I found daunting though was the mountain of work we were set. At the time, I thought we were required to do all of it, which was going to be impossible. I felt overwhelmed and wondered what I had got myself into. The reassuring thing, though, was the people had been friendly, so whatever I felt about the work, at least it was going to be tolerable and only for a week. it then occurred to me, what if I do get a full-time job and then found out there were people with whom 1 could not be comfortable? A nightmare, I thought. With horror I realized that this situation could happen to me in the future, and that it is probably happening to many people out in the workforce. How do people cope with working in an atmosphere of unfriendliness? How can they drag themselves from the sanctuary of their homes to go into a situation where they are less than comfortable? Will I be able to manage or will I quit and risk unemployment for the sake of
Americans on the powerplay t’s that time of year again for all the hockey addicts. The National Hockey League playoffs are in full swing, and for the next month and a half or so, teams from both the United States and Canada will wage war for hockey’s Holy Grail. Not too long ago, there was absolutely no question as to who was the dominant force in hockey. The Canadian teams dominated everything about the game. There is also little debate as to which country has produced the most talented players ever. But the face of hockey is changing, and there is little Canada can do to stop it. In all honesty, there is nothing that anyone can do to stop the primary agent of change in sports. You guessed it: Nike. A new series of ads has hit the airwaves just in time for the playoffs. Goalies who ramble on about how they were chased out of hockey by one of Nike’s new stars
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like Detroit’s Sergi Fedorov, Vancouver’s Pavel Bure or Toronto’s Mats Sundin. With every passing second, the average hockey fan becomes more and more a slave to the Nike empire and its kingpin, Phil Knight. There is a small bit of irony to this story. The world’s largest hockey equipment producer, a Canadian company called Canstar, was purchased by Nike in 1994 for $535 million (Cdn.). A decade earlier, Nike could have had the same comapny for a mere $35 million. I could say the joke’s on Knight, but that is just not the case. Not only is Nike the largest athletic apparal company in the world, but now it is the largest hockey equipment producer as well. Take a close look as some team uniforms when you can. Several teams now have small Swooshes, Nike’s trademark symbol, tat tooed on their jerseys. Some of you will say that there is nothing to worry about. Hockey is the game that Canada is known for and it will always be associated with this country. But I ask you this: Where does the
greatest player ever to lace up skates, Wayne Gretzky, play now? What about his so-called successor, Eric Lindros? And what of players like Mark Messier, Paul Kariya, and the now-retired Mario Lemieux? Each of these men, all of them Canadian, play for an American-based team. (They play for New York, Anaheim, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh respectively.) Phoenix’s new team, the Coyotes, was formerly the Winnipeg Jets. And how can I forget the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, or should I call them the U.S.-based Quebec Nordiques? People have been saying that the Americans are trying to take hockey away from us ever since we lost the World Cup to them last fall. I think it goes back a little more than that. As far as this season’s playoffs go, I’m picking the Avalanche to outlast the Philadelphia Flyers and win their second straight Cup. But either way, the road to the NHL finals leads right to Nike’s front door.
Som ething to say? . . . W rite in to Spoke and let us know SPOKE is published and produced weekly by the journalism students of Conestoga College. Editor: Ellen Douglas; Photo editor: Tony Kobilnyk; Production manager: Helene Beaulieu; Advertising manager: Lynn Jackson; Faculty supervisors: Jim Hag arty and Andrew Jankowski SPOKE’s address is 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 4B15,Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4M4. Phone: 748-5366 Fax: 748-5971.
eople who need people are the luckiest
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concluded that wh at w ill be of foremost importance to me is not the work so much as the people who I’m going to be working with. If l enjoy the people, things are going to be fine. And if I’m doing work I enjoy, but people around
Does this sound l i k e
reasoning of a
pampered person or someone who is insecure ? Well I thought of that and, no, I don’t think so. isthedparound me alIknow because I find them stimulating. A bad apple is even welcome to make life more interesting, but not a whole barrel of them. This is when the words of the song sung by Barbara Streisand came to mind, At this time of year many students have just graduated and are looking for full-time jobs. When my turn comes and if I ’m lucky to find a job, I will aim, not only to be a good employee, but also a good co-work er. Because people are still the most important things in the world.
SPOKE is mainly funded from September to May by the Doon Student Association (DSA). The views ana opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of Conestoga College or the DSA. Advertisers in SPOKE are not endorsed by the DSA unless their advertisements contain the DSA logo. SPOKE shall not be liable for any damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space. Unsolicited submissions must be sent to the edi tor by 9:30 a.m. Monday. Submissions are subject to acceptance or rejection and should be clearly written or typed; a WordPerfect or MS Word file would be helpful. Submissions must not contain any libellous statements and may be accompanied by an illustration (such as a photograph).
student life
SPOKE, May 5,1997 — Page 5
Survey shows support for Sanctuary pub B yB ob Puersten adding that other colleges have successful The majority of Conestoga students sur veyed recently want the Sanctuary to be turned into a pub. Of 13 students in the student lounge on April 24 who were asked “What do you think of the idea of turning the Sanctuary into a pub?”, 10 supported the idea. Many who liked the idea of turning the current study and recreation area into a licensed establishment cited either the loca tion or the quality of the Condor Roost, Conestoga’s bar at the recreation centre, as their reason for the change. Ron Birtle and Marcus Boots, first year general arts and science (GAS) students, said a pub in the Sanctuary would be better and more profitable than the Roost because it would be located where students social ize. “Everybody’s in this building,” said Boots, “So, to have one (a pub) here, it would generate a lot of business.” Second-year broadcast radio and televi sion (BRT) student April Haldenby said that having a pub in the Sanctuary said “a lot of colleges have them (bars) right in the school.” “I really don’t care, because I won’t be here next year,” said Tracy Thompson, a second-year early childhood education (ECE) student, “So, it really doesn’t effect me to be quite honest.” Thompson, though, did agree that a pub would get used more if it were closer. Jason Kempthome, second-year BRT stu dent said the Roost is not a really good bar, adding “Not too many people want to walk out to the Roost, especially in winter and brave the cold.” Kempthome also said that a pub in the sanctuary would be very successful. Kris Ferguson, also a second-year BRT student, said a pub in the sanctuary would do well because Conestoga is isolated and “there are no other real bars in the area,”
bars within the school. Said Ferguson, “I think it would help out Conestoga.” Gillian Convoy, Sylvia McKinnon, and Travis Memer, all first-year GAS students, agree that Conestoga needs a pub which is closer to the students, but with some reser vations. “I think it would be awesome,” said Convoy. She added, though, that a pub in the Sanctuary, during the day would have students getting drunk and not going to class. McKinnon was concerned over how the Sanctuary would change if it were a pub. “This is more a relaxing area,” said McKinnon, adding that if it were a pub, people would might get rowdy. Memer said, “Make it (a new pub) in the school somewhere, but not here (in the Sanctuary).” j j Derek Bradley, second-year nursing stu dent, also said that turning the Sanctuary into a pub would change the student lounge, adding it’s now a place where stu dents can relax and study between classes. Chris Spearen, also a second-year nursing student, said, “There doesn’t seem to be a great need (for a new bar) on campus, because the Roost, whenever you go in there, is not as busy as most campus pubs are.” He added that there would not be enough business to support a pub in the Sanctuary. Second-year construction engineering student Laci Lamot disagrees, though, say ing the Roost doesn’t make money because it’s “so far away.” Said Lamot, “They’d probably make money and everybody in here would be happy.” First-year nursing student Erin Devries, sidestepped the issue, saying it doesn’t bother her either way whether the Sanctuary is turned into a pub. “It’s just not something I associate with school,” said Devries.” When Fm here, I’m paying to get my education, not to go and drink.”
Ron Birtie
Marcus Boots
April Haldenby
Tracy Thompson
Jason Kempthome
Kris Ferguson
Chris Spearen
Sylvia McKinnon
On-campus bar hot topic again By Helene Beaulieu The more things change the more they stay the same. One of the hot topics at Doon these days is the on-campus bar. The same topic has gotten lots of verbal play over the years. In Conestoga’s early years, licensed pub nights were regularly held in the main building. Almost every issue of SPOKE published in 1982, carried a review from the week before. Many pubs featured popular live bands from that year such as FM, The Spoons, Blue Peter, and the Bopcats. Attendance was high at these events, averaging 314.5 people per show. That April, Harlequin boast ed a sold-out show of 400. For at least seven years, pubs were sponsored by breweries. Molson, Labatt, Canada Cooler and Meagers provided promotion al material such as shirts, glasses, beach towels and key chains. In 1987 Molson sponsored the Beatles cover-band 1964 and agreed to make up the cost of hir ing the band if funds were not raised from sales at the door. That
was also the year David Wilcox was reported, from a survey, to be the favorite performer at one of 12 pubs held. In that year alone 16,416 bottles of beer were con sumed at the pubs, along with 7,056 shots of liquor. Five years later, in 1992, students were no longer attending on-cam pus pubs in any great number. At the time, the blame was levelled at students, as suggested in the Aug. 4 headline, Student apathy reflect ed in scheduled DSA events. Then-activities co-ordinator Beckey Boertien said pub nights weren’t as successful as they should be because people didn’t want to get involved. By that time Conestoga’s poli cies and procedures had changed and students were no longer allowed to smoke during pubs. It was thought that may have been affecting turn-out. “The DSA has been looking at alternate locations for off-campus pubs,” said Boertien, “but that means we lose liquor sales renenue.” In October of ‘92, Zen Karp wrote an editorial that suggested
“the lounge could be turned into Conestoga College’s own bar.” But, he added, “I imagine whether or not such an idea could ever become reality would, among other things, depend on how many students supported it.” This in turn spawned the November Streeter (similar to the one this week by Bob Puersten) that asked the question “Do you think the Doon Campus should have a bar?” Seven of the eight respondents featured in the article said yes, citing reasons such as bringing students closer to each other and giving them a place to go to relax. It was two years later that the Condor Roost began operating in the Kenneth E. Hunter Recreation Centre. According to recent articles, the Roost does not draw the number of people past expectations might have predicted. In last week’s SPOKE, DSA president April-Dawn Blackwell said the changing demographics of the student population (60 per cent are mature stuents) would not sup port another on-campus bar.
Page 6 — SPOKE, May 5,1997
Boat business opens for season
Summertime means Canoeing the Grand By Colleen Cassidy The Grand River; it’s just a stone’s throw from the college and with the coming of summer it’s common to see canoeists paddling the waterway. Many of the canoes are rented from Canoeing the Grand on the banks of the Grand River near Freeport Hospital. Simone Wilson, works at Canoeing the Grand from the mid dle of April to the middle of October. She is also the daughter of the company’s owner. The business opened with 12 canoes in 1991, Wilson said. Now there are 85 canoes and 10 kayaks. Wilson said her family enjoys canoeing, but it was inconvenient because they only had one car and they had to find a way to get thencanoe back to where they had parked the car. None of the canoe rental companies had a shuttle ser vice. She said her dad thought a good rental business would offer a shut tle service for people who rented canoes as well for people who owned their canoes. He put a bid into the Grand River Conservation Authority for a piece of property along the Grand. A car dealership bid for the same land,
Simone Wilson, a worker at Canoeing the Grand Canoe Rentals pulls one of the canoes onto land. The company opened for the season on April 26. Photo by Colleen Cassidy
Wilson said. The GRCA accepted her father’s idea. Because the property is on a flood zone on the river, the author ity feared in the event of the Grand rising there may have been dam age to some of the cars at the deal
Letter
Nursing student thanks RNAO for job placement Dear SPOKE, I would like to report about my student placement at the Registered Nursing Association of Ontario (RNAO). Colleges and universities sent fourteen nursing students from across the province to spend one week at the RNAO office. I was privileged to be able to connect with both the other stu dents and professionals. It was an excellent opportunity to network with others who have a deep com
mitment to being the caring nurse. I also began to perceive where the future of nursing is going. The researcher and thinkers in the nursing community gave me an expanded perspective of my prac tice and attitudes toward the peo ple for whom I care. I am grateful to the staff of health sciences who gave me this oppportunity. Sincerely, Marion Willms
ership which may have caused gasoline or other contaminants to spill into the river. “The GRCA was looking for something similar to my father’s idea,” said Wilson. The Grand is not a dangerous
river, Wilson said. She said there is very little whitewater, although there is a little on the north route towards West Montrose. People who want some adventure will take that route, while families
are more likely to take the south route towards Cambridge and Paris. Originally they used fibreglass canoes, but they tipped easily. Now flat bottomed canes are used. “Another advantage of the flatbottomed canoe is that they can skim right through only a few inches of water, because in the summer the water level is very low,” said Wilson. She said when the business was first opened they used wooden paddles, but found they splintered and broke easily. Now aluminum paddles are used. “The blade is wider, so one stroke with an aluminum paddle equals two with a wooden paddle,” Wilson said. She said the business is based on the idea that most of the customers are inexperienced canoeists, but they enjoy canoeing. They use equipment that will stand up to rough treatment. “It makes more sense to use proper equipment than to get upset with people who might damage equipment,” said Wilson. Wilson works hard in the sum mer, but she enjoys it. “Dad and I agree when it stops being fun, we’re getting out of the business,” she said.
Conestoga to host photo contest for Ontario Skills Competition By Anita Filevski On May 7, Conestoga will get a taste of the 1997 Ontario Skills Competition. However, it will only be a small taste. Commercial photography is the only discipline that will use the facilities at Conestoga College, said Bob Bauer, commercial pho tography chairperson. All other competitions will be held at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The Ontario-wide competition involves approximately 600 high school and college students from the trade and technology fields. These students compete in vari ous job skills, ranging from baking to electronic publishing to mechatronics. Students reach this level by com peting in run-off contests across
the province, Bauer said. Grade 7 and 8 students are also involved, in a Design and Technology Challenge. This year, the challenge is to build a space station. This challenge reflects the 1997 Ontario Skills Competition’s mis sion statement: “to champion and stimulate the development of excellent technological and leader ship skills in Canadian youth in order to strengthen our competi tive edge in the global market place.” Of the 600 participants, only 12 will be taking part in the commer cial photography competition. Students will be required to interpret and photograph two theme ideas chosen at random the morning of the competition, said Bauer. They will also be required to develop the film, make two contact
sheets and two eight-by- 10-inch enlargements of their best shots. Students must also submit two mounted exhibition prints, which were to have been completed prior to the contest, as well as write a half-hour theory exam. The competition starts at 7 a.m., and students have eight hours to meet the requirements. The 1997 Ontario Skills Competition winners will be announced during an awards cele bration at the Kenneth E. Hunter Recreation Complex at Conestoga. The gold, silver, and bronze medal winners will advance to the national level. The national competition will be held in Red Deer, Alta., May 2931. However, commercial photogra phy is not one of the contests offered at the national level, Bauer said.
CIM chooses Conestoga to offer courses By Lynne Thompson The Canadian Institute of Management (CIM) has asked Conestoga to offer courses which would lead to the institute’s pro fessional certification. Andy Clow, chairman of busi ness and part-time business studies at Conestoga, said CIM is a non profit association which offers cer tificates in management. Although these certificates are not always required by employers, they are beneficial to people looking for jobs. CIM requires eight courses to
qualify for certification. It has agreed to accept six of Conestoga’s courses toward the certificate, said Clow. Two CIM-specific courses must also be completed. A course in financial management will be offered in the fall semester and a course in policy and administra tion will be offered in the winter semester, said Clow. CIM previously offered certifica tion courses at the University of Waterloo. In a news release from the public affairs office at Conestoga, Clow said he believes that “the college’s increasing rep
utation for excellence in business education is a key factor in CIM’s decision.” Conestoga has also been success ful in other certification programs, such as those of the Ontario Real Estate Association, the Insurance Institute of Ontario and the Canadian Professional Sales Association, the news release said. “To date, more than 30,000 Canadians have participated in the CIM program,” said the news release. “Conestoga’s involvement will be with the local Grand Valley Branch of the Institute.”
student life
SPOKE, May 5,1997 — Page 7
Handling the pressure
Vanessa Popaudiuk, a first year nursing student, practices taking blood pressure readings on business-math teacher Sam McElrea.
Conestoga’s day care held first-ever fund-raiser By Lynne Thompson Conestoga’s day-care centre kicked off its first-ever fund-rais ing event April 21. ECE worker Cathy O'Toole said money was raised by selling MacMillan products, including muffins, cookies, meats, pies and jams. O'Toole said no specific decision has been made as to what the money will be used for. It will def initely go back into the day-care centre and be put toward some thing for the children, O'Toole said. Products were sold by the day care staff, as well as a number of
parents who have offered to sell the products to co-workers or friends. The cost of the cookie dough, which makes four to six dozen cookies, was $9. Muffin batter, which makes 15 to 30 muffins, also sold for $9. Prices for chick en, burgers, pies, jams and wieners varied. O'Toole said all MacMillan products are completely natural. She said the day care chose MacMillan products because they will get a good return on each unit and the products sell themselves. The fund-raiser was to have run for two weeks. Buyers can pick up their products on May 23.
Job-search help available at student-employment office By Tim Kylie The student employment office posted 1,020 job openings between September and April, according to student-employment manager Mary Wright. She said students should become aware that they can use the office in their job search. A resume-referral service is available free to students for six
months after they graduate. Student employment will send a graduate's resume to each applica ble job posting it receives, she said. All the graduate needs to do is make sure student employment has enough resumes and notify the office when he or she has found a job. The student-employment office is open from 8:30 to 4:30, Monday to Friday, year-round.
(Photo by Matt Harris)
Page 8 — SPOKE, May 5,1997