DAILY BULLETIN
_University of Waterloo -- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada_
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1997
Knights of past . . . future
Which is a convoluted way of saying that FASS, "1001 Arthurian
Knights", opens toknight in the Humanities Theatre with the usual
mixture of melody, comedy, parody and jeopardy, Thursday through
Saturday.
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%
The Ontario government announced yesterday that universities and
colleges can increase their "average tuition fees" by "up to 10 per
cent" in 1997-98. "The maximum an institution can raise its fees for
any one program will be 20 per cent."
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
Giving his annual State of the Union speech on Tuesday night, United
States president Bill Clinton issued a "Call to Action on American
Education", proposing new national standards for schools and also
offering some plans for university and college 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
"Hi, I'm Ian," says a manifesto from Ian Stokes-Rees, "and I've been
living and eating outdoors since Sunday, February 2, to raise funds
and awareness for Habitat for Humanity." He's camping on the
volleyball court area outside Conrad Grebel College, "bringing
attention to those without adequate shelter. . . . Your pledge or
donation will help purchase land and building supplies to construct
decent houses for low-income families in Waterloo, around North
America, and world-wide."
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
Here's advance notice that the drama department's next major
production, "The Children's Hour" by Lillian Hellman, will run next
week -- February 12 through 15, at 8 p.m. in the Theatre of the Arts.
Despite the name, it's not a kids' play; it's a tough show about
accusations of lesbian activity in a boarding school. (I note that the
Shaw Festival will be doing the same play next summer.) Tickets for
the UW production ($10, students $8) are available now at the
Humanities box office.
CAR
_________________________________________________________________
_TODAY IN UW HISTORY_
_February 6, 1979:_ The name of "Engineering IV" is officially changed
to Carl Pollock Hall in honour of the first chair of UW's board of
governors, and later chancellor, who died recently. _February 6, 1990:_
Undergraduate engineering students vote to pay a voluntary fee each
term to create a Waterloo Engineering Endowment Fund.
_________________________________________________________________
Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credm...@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca -- (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
This Bulletin is available on the Web at http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/bulletin
