Jane Pak, president of UW's Federation of Students, said the students will be pressing Snobelen on his government's direction for post-secondary education, particularly the issue of de-regulating tuition fees.
"We will be telling him about the policies of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, which we all belong to," said Pak, who will be joined by counterparts from Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Western Ontario, Brock University and the University of Toronto's Association of Part-time University Students.
"Universities play a crucial role in the economic renewal of Ontario, and we want to emphasize that point to the minister."
(After meeting Snobelen, the student delegation will see the president of the Council of Ontario Universities.)
She said that, while the OUSA favours an income-contingent repayment plan for student loans, the organization is less enthusiastic about the idea of de-regulating fees, whereby universities could charge higher fees for popular programs without any government controls.
Snobelen has expressed support for a student loans plan that bases repayment on future earnings, as well as serving notice that fees will rise considerably over the next few years.
"We fear that if fees are de-regulated, it will result in a two-tier university system that benefits those who can afford the better of the two levels," Pak said. "We feel that entrance to the university system should be based on merit, not on whether you can afford it."
The position in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences is being made possible with support from General Motors of Canada Ltd. and two auto-parts manufacturers, A.G. Simpson & Company Ltd. and the Woodbridge Group.
Details of the initiative will be discussed by Gary McCullough, GM's general director, safety; Elizabeth Witmer, Ontario's Labor Minister and Waterloo North MPP; Bob Norman, AHS dean; and Dr. Jorma Saari, chairholder.
The international showcase of live performances by magicians, comedians, acrobats, jugglers and musicians continues through Sunday. By the way, the performers are staying in UW's Village 2.
"It is expected to have a significant impact on the computer world, as big as the original Windows had a few years ago," says Jim Dodd, manager of the UW computer store. He said Microsoft should be shipping copies of Windows 95 to the UW store today and they'll be in stock shortly.
John Morris
Information
and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 6047
jmorris@nh3adm.uwaterloo.ca
Editor: Chris Redmond, credmond@uwaterloo.ca