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YOU AIN’T GOT THE ANSWERS since 1906
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015
WESTERN UNIVERSITY • CANADA’S ONLY DAILY STUDENT NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED 1906
VOLUME 108, ISSUE 60
Applications to Western down 2% Katie Lear NEWS EDITOR @KatieAtGazette
Applications to universities in Ontario have decreased two per cent from this time last year, according to statistics released by the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre. While OUAC still processes applications after their deadline on January 14, the data collected so far indicates that nearly two per cent less students have applied to Western’s main campus.
Mike Laine • GAZETTE
For the affiliate colleges, applications to Huron have decreased just over nine per cent compared to 2014, while applications to Brescia have increased almost 10 per cent in the same time period. Applications to King’s have only suffered slightly, with a one per cent decrease. Overall, applications to Western and its affiliates have decreased just below two per cent, but the downward trend in submissions has not been a source of concern for the university so far. “The main driver for decreasing applications in the system generally is simply demographics,” vice-provost academic programs John Doerksen said. “There’s projected to be just a smaller number of people in the age of 18–22 … so I think the demographics for Ontario are to see a gradual reduction in that number for the next few years.” Doerksen added that another cause could be due to self-selection. “Western has the highest entering average in Ontario of all Ontario universities. And so what that means is that gradually some students who might’ve been interested become increasingly aware of that and then end up not applying,” Doerksen continued. Other universities that have seen decreases include Trent University, who experienced almost a five per cent decline in applications, Brock University with almost an eight per cent decrease and the University of Windsor, who suffered over an eight per cent drop. However, some universities have seen a spike in the number of applications sent, such as Ryerson, who saw a four per cent increase, and OCAD, who saw almost a nine per cent bump. The overall two per cent decline in applications sent out by high school students has continued from 2014, where the numbers dwindled after a continuous rise since 2005.
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W
E GREW UP TOGETHER, AS BROTHERS WOULD GROW TOGETHER – JOHNNY IS A BROTHER WHO I HAVE KNOWN FOR ALMOST MY ENTIRE LIFE AND HE WILL BE MISSED. CHRIS BJELIS
LONGTIME FRIEND OF JOHNNY BROZ AND AN ORGANIZER OF FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
Friends remember crash victim, raise money for his funeral Katie Lear & Mohammad Abrar Abdul Hanan NEWS EDITOR AND STAFF @uwogazette
Friends of Jan Broz, who tragically died in a deadly car accident on campus on Sunday, have created an online fundraiser to raise money for his funeral service. Broz was the passenger in a car that crashed into a large tree on Perth Drive near Western’s Chemistry Building, and authorities pronounced him dead a few hours after the incident. “The motivation for the campaign is Jan Broz’s mother, who came to Canada with Johnny when he was a young child,” said Chris Bjelis, a longtime friend of Broz and the key organizer of this campaign. “She was like a mother to many of us, and we feel as though it is extremely important to help her get through this time, in whichever ways possible,” added Sean Kennelly, another of Broz’s friends. “[Broz’s mother] being on disability, there are naturally many limitations around financial requirements that can be extremely difficult to handle. ... We don’t want
his mother to have to worry about any financial burdens as she grieves and walks through this process,” Kennelly said. Broz, known to his friends as Johnny, is described as an automotive enthusiast and an outgoing person who loved spending time with his family and loved ones. “I met Johnny back in grade three, over 15 years ago. Became really good friends, he didn’t have any family so our mothers became close friends, more like family — joining us for family Christmas, Thanksgivings and birthdays. We grew up together, as brothers would grow together – Johnny is a brother who I have known for almost my entire life and he will be missed,” Bjelis said. Bjelis added that the campaign has received a very positive response and within 24 hours, numerous friends, family members and people from the community have donated to the fundraiser. He is confident that they will be able to meet or at least come close to the $10,000 goal set for the campaign. “We’ve raised almost $1,000. I know the government covers about $1,500 but that’s still not
nearly enough to cover the entire cost of the funeral,” another friend of Broz’s and Western student Tina Lei continued. “We’re looking to raise about $10,000 so it would be great if we could have support from the community.” Bjelis added that those wishing to donate could make a donation at the TD Canada Trust on Jalna and Bradley or make an online donation on the official website. Although the police investigation into the accident and the role that alcohol may have played in it is still ongoing, Bjelis took the time to comment on the unfortunate circumstances of Broz’s death. “The message I would like to give is everyone has a choice: drinking and driving is not something that should be taken lightly, but it still happens and it’s probably happening right now. Drinking and driving is a choice people make, and Johnny is a victim in this situation, a passenger, who didn’t drive himself, but would sometimes jokingly say this is how he would leave us and, unfortunately, it takes a tragedy like this to bring light to this daily issue.”
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