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Coherent vision planned for multi-faith space
Underemployment a problem for youth Karty Vishal Gazette Staff
Andrei Calinescu Gazette
Alex Carmona News Editor
Students puzzled about the exact purpose of the new multi-faith space in the University Community Centre can look for some answers in the new direction Myuri Komaragiri, vice-president campus issues for the University Students’ Council, is planning to take. Komaragiri explained that before the data gleaned from a general student survey regarding the space, the USC was unsure where exactly they wanted to take the space. Komaragiri also felt that space was being under-utilized. “We had this space that was technically renovated to be a multi-faith space that was not really being operated properly— there were maybe one or two religious groups that were using it, but that’s it,” she said. “I was also asking various
faith backgrounds if they used this space, and they were saying things like, ‘I had no idea it even existed,’ and, ‘I also didn’t think it was for me.’ Obviously a lot of things had to be done to get it to be used better.” Komaragiri said she was surprised when the vast majority of the 900 survey responses placed the most value for the space in education and community building. “I honestly thought most groups would say that prayer was the most important, but everyone put community building and education as the top two most important aspects of the space. For me, that was illuminating because people wanted a space where they could learn about other ways of life. It wasn’t just the opportunity to practice their own religion, but to learn about one another, which I think is really healthy to hear from a stu-
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dent body,” she continued. Dua Dahrouj, president of the Muslim Students’ Association, also stressed the need for the purpose of the space to be more clearly defined. “I think the main issue is in properly utilizing the space, and creating some kind of consistent and clear mandate for it. I feel that, right now, a lot of clubs really want to use it, but we don’t really understand the purpose of the space. Creating a mandate with a clear and consistent purpose is really a need.” She also explained the MSA had initially hoped the multifaith space would provide a helpful outlet for the dedicated prayer rooms that are currently overflowing during the Islamic prayer hours, but that a number of structural issues in the space still need to be addressed before this can occur.
Volume 106, Issue 33
Most people have heard of unemployment, but what about underemployment? Underemployment occurs when a person desiring fulltime work can only find a part-time job, or where a person is forced to work a job they are overqualified for. This is a particular problem for youth, especially recent graduates. According to a recent report published by the Certified General Accountants, 57.4 per cent of unemployed youth aged 15 to 24 in 2011 had just graduated. In addition, four per cent of youth were being underutilized in their employment positions in 2011. While this is of particular concern, the report also notes recent youth unemployment is at lower levels than in past recessions. This is of little assurance to Brad Duguid, Ontario’s minister of economic development and innovation. According to Duguid, current levels of youth employment are unacceptable. “We’ve really redoubled our efforts to try to provide supports to
young people to help them find opportunities, in particular focusing on entrepreneurship,” Duguid said. “I’ve actually increased funding in a partnership with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, who run a fantastic program to help young people get in to their own businesses.” According to Duguid, students need to be able to think in an innovative, entrepreneurial way regardless of their career path. He explained employers’ needs have evolved over recent years, and young people must adapt. “What companies are looking for today are not just people that have technical expertise. They’re looking for people that will join their organizations and drive innovation,” Duguid said. “That’s what the next generation global economy is really built on, is innovation.” Overall, employment in Ontario has bounced back from the recession. Employment is up 134 per cent since the recession, meaning all jobs lost have been recovered. >> see Efforts pg.3
Stats
Canada youth unemployment rate
Canada youth underemployment rate
2008: 13.7%
2008: 1.7%
2009: 15.3%
2009: 2.3%
2010: 13.6%
2010: 2.3%
2011: 16.3%
2011: 2.4% Source: Certified General Accountants
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