CFS-PACIFI

By: Arni Haraldsson

On January 25, 1982, ECCAD took up prospective membership in
the Canadian Federation of Students-Pacific Division (CFS Pacific).
Upon becoming prospective members, each student of the College
-pays a fee of 15¢ per year. This comes to a total of aprox-
imately $67.50, which the Student Society has paid out of the
Spring Term budget.

Prospective membership entitles this College to 18 months of
observing the operative function and proceedures of CFS-Pacific,
as to what that organization can offer the students of this
College. It is during this time period- that ECCAD students must
come to final decision on whether or not to take up full member-
ship in CFS - Pacific.

The cost of full membership per student, per year is $7.50, a
total of aproximately $3375.00 per year. This fee would be coll-
ected upon registration, along with the Student Society fee.
Prior to taking full membership, a referendum must be held among
the students, with a majority in favor before membership can be

taken up.

CFS-Pacific offers us a voice on both a provincial and a nation-
al level. This means, for example, if any issue arises in the
near future concerning this College, then we, the students,
could have access to a lobbying group which would act as a med-
jum between the College and the government. It is not unlikely
to say that certain important issues may arise, due to govern-
ment cutbacks in education. For example, it appears quite appar~
ent that the government favors centralizing education, so that
New Caledonia College in Prince George, for example, is deprived
of their art department to justify centralization of art educa-
tion in the lower mainland. This, then, means that an inner con-
flict may arise among students, ie; lower mainland vs. the inter-
ior, or colleges vs. universities. Here, CFS-Pacific would act
as a unitary group, focusing students away from frivolous debat-
ing, towards realizing who the opposition really, is.