| Note |
[Transcript] THE
UBYSSEY
WHEEL OF
MISFORTUNE
see
election
coverage
page 6 & 7
Local newshound interviews UBC losers. But the media was absent at the native students' protests against cutbacks on Friday, Jan 22.
Native students rally
Cutbacks spark call for "Parity, not parody of education"
By Mike Gordon
VAN(CUP)—Federal cutbacks to
native education funding are an-
other act of legislative aggression
against native people, said leaders
during a protest in downtown
Vancouver last Friday.
About 100 people demon-
strated against the department of
Indian affairs and northern
development's "capping" of post -
secondary education funds, a
move that limits the number of
qualified native students who re-
ceive aid.
The government has pro-
vided full financial aid through its
post-secondary education assis-
tance program since its inception
in 1973. But in 1986, the govern-
ment put a cap on funding, along
with further restrictions in 1987
limiting the number of students
funded.
The PSEAP guidelines now,
group students in five categories,
with those currently enrolled get-
ting guaranteed funding. With
funding now limited, qualified stu-
dents in lower priority categories,
such as post-graduate students,
will be left out if the money runs
dry.
According to the ad-hoc native
student group that organized the
rally, recent changes in PSEAP
guidelines, or E-12 Circular,
meant 37% of qualified native
applicants were denied funding in
the fall of 1987/88.
"These cutbacks are going to
have a very serious impact on
native people striving for a more
equal place in this soclety," said
Beverly Scow, coordinator for the
intern campus native students' ad
hoc committee on native education
concerns, and president of UBC
native indian students union.
Scow said the hardest hit by the
cutbacks will be single mothers,
mature students, and people from
poorer conditions on reserves.
Most of the speakers at the
rally called the government's
move a deliberate attempt to hold
back the progress native people
have made towards self-govern-
ment and resource management,
and called for the resignation of
DIAND minister Bill McKnight
"They are afraid with the
education of native people that
we’re going to become stronger in
their ways... so they are cutting
back funds," said Seul Terry,
president of the Union of BC In-
dian Chiefs.
Colleen Copeland, a student
at the Native Education Centre,
says her education is being spon-
sored by Employment Canada.
"It’s not very much better
than welfare. Since they just give
you enough to live," Copeland
says.
Though enrollment through
the PSEAP program has jumped
from 3500 to 12,000 since 1977,
less than 2% of native secondary
students go on to complete a post -
see "Native" page 3
Native students rap cutbacks
from page 1
secondary education.
Out of 54,000 students at UBC,
there are roughly 150 natives. To
reach parity, said Ethel Gardner
of First Nations House of Learn-
ing, 1200 native students would
have to be enrolled each year.
A delegation from the rally
presented a petition against cut-
backs to the local DIAND office.
Director of education Ron Pen-
ner said a higher DIAND officer in
Ottawa told him the original draft
of the PSEAP restriction had been
withdrawn, and will be revised.
"Some things aren't going to
change because of constraints
from the conservative govern-
ment," but the department is
opening the consulting process to
students, said Penner.
Scow said, "They're basically
buying time, because of the 37% of
students denied funding"
Scow said the group planned
to network with other native stu-
dent groups and tribal councile
across BC and Canada in united
effort against the cutbacks.
Pick a
politician!
As spring approaches,
young hearts are turning
to...to...student elections. Yes.
once again, the eagerly
awaited AMS executive elec-
tions are upon us. This
Wesdnesday, Thursday and
Fridey, jocks, geers, artsies,
fartsies and intellectuals from
every corner of campus will
storm the polls, eager to vote
for some of the most powerful
politicians west of Blanca.
Pages six and seven exam-
ine the candidates' views, so if
you missed the last elections,
now's your chance. Get out
there! Exercise your demo-
cratic right, and vote, vote,
vote. It's up to you!!
And remember, if you
don't vote, some very scary
things may happen... you'll get
hundreds of chain letters in the
mail, big hairy monsters will
attack you in your sleep, or
your cat may throw up all over
your favorite sweater...
...aaawooooooh.
For more info on Native Student Net
Beverly Scow: 224-4005
Sharon Shorty: 524-0173
Volume 70, Number 33
Vancouver, B.C. Tuesday, January 28, 1988
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