Our new website has officially launched. Log on to thecord.ca to check it out. More details on pg 2.
THE A return to ‘Trudeaumania’? The tie that binds Wilfrid Laurier University since 1926 Volume 53, Issue 2
Paying up front Laurier moves to flat-rate copyright fee system
National, page 8 thecord.ca
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
A dialogue for diversity
JUSTIN SMIRLIES
Changes coming to ‘student ghetto’ LINDSAY PURCHASE LOCAL AND NATIONAL EDITOR
MANAGING EDITOR: NEWS
For some students in Ontario, it looks like they’re going to be paying more for copyright fees this upcoming academic year. At the Wilfrid Laurier University board of governors meeting on June 21, the university approved a motion to move forward in signing onto the new licensing agreement that the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) made with Access Copyright. The new agreement revoked the original $3.38 full-time equivalent (FTE) fee and the $0.10 a page fee for copyrighted materials such as course packs and moved towards charging a $26 FTE fee that is paid up front, effective July 1. The original model, on average, had students paying $15-18 in copyright fees. “The new license agreement is just a straight fulltime equivalent fee, there is no longer any $0.10 cent per page copying fee,” explained Shereen Rowe, the university secretary and general counsel. “The bookstore has estimated that there will be an immediate 30 per cent or more drop in the cost of course pack for students, because there will no longer be that copyright fee added to course packs.” However, if a student doesn’t purchase a single course pack they would still be responsible for that FTE fee. The university, as discussed at the board of governors meeting last week, has agreed to a cost-sharing model in which they will pay 20 percent of the $26 FTE fee. That
Decision made on Northdale
With an increasingly multicultural population, what efforts are being made to make sure students feel welcomed at WLU? In Depth, page 10-11
WADE THOMPSON VISUAL DIRECTOR
News, page 3
Inside Time to butt out
Rough offseason
Cord columnist Alex Reinhart argues that Canada should take steps towards banning cigarettes
Women’s basketball team loses pair of key contributors for 2012-13 season
Opinion, page 14
Sports, page 19
LPGA hits Waterloo Some of the top female golfers in the world were in town over the weekend for the Manulife Classic Sports, page 20 Arts, page 17
North by Northeast: In review
With a unanimous vote, the Waterloo city council approved on Monday the final report for the Northdale Land Use and Community Improvement Plan Study, a monumental decision that should enable more directed action to begin to take place in developing the area. “This has been quite a journey, I think, for all of us. We set out, as a council, with the vision of a diverse, vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood,” recalled ward six councillor Jeff Henry, the ward that encompasses Northdale. “Ultimately what got taken was, in my view, a fair and balanced approach between the various interests that are here.” Major research and discussion has been ongoing since 2010 to develop a comprehensive plan to facilitate change and accommodate growth in the currently studentdominated neighbourhood. Councillors were also able to pass a series of amendments, including the allowance of six storey buildings, as opposed to the initially outlined three, in low density areas. The Zoning By-law Amendment was also included, which put in place adjustments to qualifications such as the proximity of towers to one another on the same lot, among other requirements. The meeting was well-attended, with few vacant seats in the city hall. Community members were extremely vocal, with more than 20 delegations presenting a mixture of praise and concern for the report. Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union vice president of university affairs Chris Walker and University of Waterloo vice president education for the Federation of Students Adam Garcia were present to advocate on behalf of students. While both indicated that the plan was largely consistent with the needs and values of students, some apprehension about long-term sustainability was expressed. “We have concerns with the longterm sustainability with respect to overdevelopment, which overcompensates for projected enrol ments,” said Walker. “The universities have both indicated that they do not intend to grow at a really substantial rate over the next number of years, whereas the plan supports quite a lot of growth.” Chris Tyrell, MMM Group project member, had earlier indicated that the mixed use intention of the plan would allow for other demographics to situate themselves in the area, while a recommendation was also presented to council for the re-evaluation of student trends every two years in order to maintain the relevance of the plan to any changes in enrolment patterns. The meeting was not without some controversy. Paul Ellingham, a landlord in Waterloo, went so far as to suggest that according to the Ontario Planning and Development Act, passing the vote at the time of the meeting would be illegal due to the fact that Local, page 7