25 Year Plan: In regards to the administrative re-structuralization of the
Institute, the Institute’s hired consulting firm, Wilson Banwell, has begun
its process of collecting opinions from the various areas of this commu-
nity. Although student participation has been excellent at focus groups,
true decision-making power concerning the future of the Institute actual-
ly lays with the Transition Committee — a committee from which students
and faculty were previously excluded. Due to pressure from the
Students’ Union Executive, students will now have a place at this impor-
tant table. Student Representation on the Transition Committee is
essential to ensure that the concerns of students are recognized and
addressed as this school undergoes significant changes.

The Students’ Union Executive has been approached by students from
the Media department who are concerned about the lack of access to
necessary and up-to-date computer equipment, which the Institute
already has in its possession. Visual Arts students who are concerned
about an increasing inability to get the courses they want and need have
also approached the SU Executive. Finally, we have been approached
by students who are upset with having to pay more for an inadequate
number of parking spaces. Please contact the Students’ Union
Executive if you wish to get involved in addressing these concerns.

Years of effort by the Canadian Federation of students have culminated
in tuition fee reductions and freezes in British Columbia. This year, we
must pressure the new provincial government to further reduce tuition
fees and increase core funding. As members of the Federation we are
joining forces with 400,000 students nationwide that are dedicated to
improving our post-secondary education system. Campaigns will be
ongoing throughout the year. If you wish to get involved please stop by
the Students’ Union office.

As you may already know, significant changes were made to the Canada
Student Loan programme, which have affected the accessibility and
quality of the programme. For more information, please stop by the
Students’ Union office.

An Information table has been set up outside the SU office with regular
updates on what is happening as a result of the recent attack on the
United States. Students and campus groups across the country are put-
ting forth the following principles:

- We must not rush into a military response which will result in the
deaths of more innocent people.

- The path of blind vengeance, the path of the clenched fist, will only
guarantee that this will happen again.

- This was a crime against all humanity. Justice should be carried out
according to the rule of law, and international court should mete out
punishment. No one country should be called upon to be the judge,
jury, and executioner, least of all the country that was targeted.

- Our government must ensure a balance between the need for security

and the need to protect individual liberties.

- We must resist the scapegoating of people on the basis of race, reli-
gion, and nationality; in this case especially, innocent Muslim and Arab
people in Canada and abroad. We must take a stand against racism
and xenophobia.

In addition, students across Canada have put a call-out to Jean Chretien
and Paul Martin, insisting that they do not sacrifice social spending for
military expansion. For information on this effort and others, please drop
by the Students’ Union Office, room 122, across from the Cafeteria.