Daily Bulletin

Thursday, February 6, 1997

Knights of past . . . future

Says FASS producer Joanne Brenner: "See your profs on stage during the FASS '97 Production of 1001 Arthurian Knights! You'll see Phil Eastman, June Lowe, Don Brodie and a 'yet to be revealed UW rep' as they each take a cameo role in one of the performances. Plus, don't miss the voice of Larry Smith as the 'Budget Machine' each and every night!"

Tickets for FASS are $8 from the Humanities box office (888-4908). There's one show tonight, at 8; two on Friday night, at 7 and 10; and one on Saturday, at 8 p.m.

Tuition fees can rise 10%

Education minister John Snobelen also said the government is increasing funds for student aid by 37 per cent, which "will bring government spending on postsecondary education to approximately $2.9 billion".

Said the minister: "The province will also invest an estimated $100 million in student assistance by matching, dollar-for- dollar, private contributions to the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund received up to March 31, 1997. . . . A new scholarship program recognizing excellence and achievement will pay the tuition of the top two per cent of students at colleges and universities in Ontario. The first round of Ontario Merit Scholarships, estimated to total $15-$20 million, will be awarded based on marks achieved in 1997-98. . . .

"Consistent with the government's objective that student loans be repaid, the loan-forgiveness level for OSAP will be increased from $6,000 to $7,000 for loans issued after August 1, 1997." And 30 per cent of university revenue from fee increases "must be set aside for local student aid".

It's not enough, was the response from the Council of Ontario Universities. UW president James Downey, who is chair of COU this year, said in a in a news release that the fee announcement "pays no attention to the advice from the government-appointed Advisory Panel on Future Directions for Post-Secondary Education. . . .

"While today's announcement refers to a discretionary tuition fee increase of up to 10%, after all reductions are calculated universities can only receive a maximum overall increase of 2.3% for teaching, learning and research. This amount, which barely covers inflation, falls far short of what is needed for Ontario universities. . . .

"For 1996/97, the government administered a severe cut of $280 million to university operating grants, even though universities and colleges alone among the government's transfer partners were already funded well below national averages. Late last year, the government announced that it was freezing those grants at 1996/97 levels, thus denying us any opportunity for recovery. Today's announcement means that our universities will have no opportunity to begin to renew the resources on which quality and innovation depend. Ontario universities are still 10th out of 10 on the funding scale, the worst per capita funded institutions in this country. We may think we're smart in Ontario, but we're not smart enough to overcome the fiscal disadvantage our universities are contending with."

Bonnie Patterson, president of COU, took another jab: "We thought that the Minister understood the severity of the conditions in Ontario universities. . . . What will it take for the government to wake up?"

Clinton speech stresses education

We must make the 13th and 14th years of education -- at least two years of college -- just as universal in America by the 21st century as a high school education is today, and we must open the doors of college to Americans.

To do that, I propose America's HOPE Scholarship, based on Georgia's pioneering program: two years of a $1,500 tax credit for college tuition, enough to pay for the typical community college. I also propose a tax deduction of up to $10,000 a year for all tuition after high school; an expanded IRA you can withdraw from tax free for education; and the largest increase in Pell Grant scholarships in 20 years. Now, this plan will give most families the ability to pay no taxes on money they save for college tuition. I ask you to pass it -- and give every American who works hard the chance to go to college.

In the 21st century, we must expand the frontiers of learning across a lifetime. All our people, of whatever age, must have a chance to learn new skills. Most Americans live near a community college. The roads that take them there can be paths to a better future. My G.I. Bill for America's Workers will transform the confusing tangle of federal training programs into a simple skill grant to go directly into eligible workers' hands. For too long, this bill has been sitting on that desk there without action -- I ask you to pass it now. Let's give more of our workers the ability to learn and to earn for a lifetime.

He's saying: gimme shelter

In thirty years, he points out, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 40,000 houses in 46 countries. "The University of Waterloo chapter has supported many building projects around Waterloo and North America with volunteers, money, and supplies. Funds to pay for materials and transportation to build sites are always required. It is somewhat symbolic that I have abandoned my warm housing to bring attention to the needs of those who are without housing. I hope people will become interested in HFH and support them either with their time or donations."

Stokes-Rees, a fourth-year electrical engineering student who claims that "I love to do just about anything outdoors," invites potential contributors to stop by his tent at night, or drop off $2 or more either at his office in Davis Centre room 2571 or at the Conrad Grebel main office.

Play's coming next week

CAR

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca -- (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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