Emily Carr CFS Delegate Report

By Linda Szasz and Kyath Battie

Since returning from the CFS AGM, we have summarized some key points from committee and constituency meetings. We felt it was important to share with stu- dents here at ECIAD what some of the goals are for this year. There is currently some discussion about what the CFS is and what benefit we as students at Emily Carr stand to gain from being members of the Federation.

The organization, like any other, has its flaws and is in a con- stant state of review, dependent on feedback from students like ourselves. However, the bottom line comes to the fact that we belong to a national student advo- cacy organization. Currently, access to post secondary education is being systematically eroded by federal cuts to post secondary edu- cation.

These fuckers are destroying the public education system and stu- dents need to work together to preserve what is left. The CFS is the only national, organized advocate for our rights. Six dollars a semes- ters is a bargain for that kind of representation.

CAMPAIGNS AND

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS The Campaigns Committee was

busy re-evaluatingthe goals that were established at the May 1996 meeting. Here’s a brief run down :

- opposing de-regulation of post- secondary education

- opposing the creation of, or increases to, user fees i.e. ancil- lary fees, recognizing that such fees are a “back door” method of compensating for funding shortfalls created by federal and provincial funding cuts to social programs.

- opposing use of “learning tech- nologies” to replace student- teacher contact, except when applied to distance education.

FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN:

GOALS - make education a prominent

issue in the upcoming federal election - increase student voter turnout - increase awareness of value of post-secondary education. - advocate for a national system of grants With a federal election on the horizon, there’s going to be a push on the politicians to get tax breaks for students.

NATIONAL AWARENESS AND MEDIA STRATEGY UPDATE: SUMMIT ON POST-SECONDARY

EDUCATION The summit is proposed to

discuss issues of post-secondary education, bringing together con- cerned parties from a regional and national level. These parties include but are not limited to student groups, faculty groups, labour groups and administrative groups.

COUNCIL OF CANADIANS The Council of Canadians is

holding “Bank Action Day” on December 5, 1996 to highlight the Alternative Federal Budget and all member locals are encouraged to support and participate.

Students Unite, Fuckers Beware!

BANKRUPTCY AND

INSOLVENCY ACT

Whereas Bill C-5 proposes amendments to the Act which would disallow students from discharging their student loan debts in the event of a bankruptcy for a period of two years following graduation: therefore it is recommended that a membership advisory explaining the implications of Bill C-5 be issued, and that those provisions of Bill C-5 which affect students’ rights to discharge their student loans in the event of a bankruptcy be actively opposed.

The Campaigns and

Government Relations Report goes into more detail regarding goals and implementation at the local and national levels. This is just a brief synopsis of the Report.

FINANCE COMMITTEE The May 1996 CFS Budget was

revisited as it was realized that it had been based on inflated figures and needed to be adjusted accord- ingly. The result of the fine tuning is a projected balanced budget.

It was resolved that the Saskatchewan fieldworker position be filled by February 1997. Three other positions to be filled in the future are Campaigns co-ordinator, Researcher and Aboriginal Caucus co-ordinator.

A complete budget report with facts, figures, and schedules can be found in the General Meeting binder located in the ECIAD Students’ Union Office.

CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES

TRAVEL SERVICES What is Travel CUTS?

Travel CUTS is wholly owned by the Canadian Federation of Students and remains one of the few student-owned travel compa- nies in the world. Travel CUTS cur- rently provides travel services to approximately 200,000 students in 46 offices across Canada, employ- ing over 250 full time staff.

How does Travel CUTS

contribute to the Student

Movement?

In addition to providing literally millions of dollars to Canadian stu- dents annually in savings on air- fares, train travel etc., Travel CUTS contributes to the Federation by providing cash support to the movement and its operations.

ORGANIZATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Much of the work of this

Committee was focused on house- keeping items such as cleaning up the bylaws pertaining to the struc- ture of the National Executive. The proposals to add new members to the Executive such as a Disabilities Rep, and a Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual Rep were defeated. The overall sentiment of the participants was that a review of the structure of the National Executive and its purpose needs to take place before positions should be added or removed. Other housekeeping addressed the addition of the Aboriginal Caucus Rep to the Executive from the last General Meeting.

ELECTIONS Don’t think of it as losing a

provincial Chair, think of it as gaining a National Treasurer... yes, Michael Gardiner is leaving B.C. as of May 1997 for Ottawa. And former B.C. Chair Brad Lavigne has

been ratified for another term based on his excellent work as National Chair. Jen Story was voted in as the National Deputy Chair, and Kim Radbourne rounds out the Travel Cuts Board. The May 96 Semi-Annual General Meeting is going to be held at Memorial University in StJohn’s , Newfoundland.

WOMEN’S CONSTITUENCY

REPORT There is going to be a compre-

hensive lobbying strategy on the drug Rohypnol (the date rape drug) seeking legislation and public education policy, to be developed and executed by the Women’s Rep of the National Executive. Campaign strategies that relate to students who are single

wae

PS “Ek hd ¢

A. GREGORY SCRATCH, EMILY CARR INSTITUTE 1991-95

December 1996 / Planet of the Arts 5

parents, usually women, are being considered. These include raising awareness about the specific issues facing student parents, working to remove barriers which prevent interested parents from pursuing post-secondary education and joining with coalition partners to lobby the federal government for a national child care program.

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL

CONSTITUENCY GROUP REPORT After long debate within the

group it was decided to change the name to “<?>” in order to be inclusive of those who might not feel comfortable with the lesbian, gay, bisexual categories. (This might include transsexuals, trans- gendered people, cross-dressers, drag queens or members of the S/M community.) The purpose of the name change was to redirect focus on the issues and away from labeling.

A national campaign on anti- heterosexualism:is to be run to coincide with the “Day Without Hate” on March 14. The theme is “Queer-positive Space.”

STUDENTS OF COLOUR

CONSTITUENCY REPORT It was resolved that a

campaign be run addressing racism. The slogan is:

“The more things change, the more they stay the same... Make a change, fight racism." The campaign will focus on immigration, the experiences of

students of colour in Canadian post-secondary institutions, and ways to challenge racism.

ARTISTS CONSTITUENCY REPORT The student artists who partici-

pated in this group decided they will run a poster campaign to promote student artist work, thereby supporting student artists. We exchanged addresses and phone numbers to encourage com- munication between us in order to share concerns and experiences, and keep each other informed of issues which may affect us across the country. By keeping in contact with each other we can expand upon the idea of the campaign and welcome any participation by stu- dents here at Emily Carr.

A video was produced at the meeting in lieu of an artist perfor- mance night which usually takes place on the last night of the meeting. The video was an attempt to engage other students in the discussion “What is Art?” The responses varied from the hilarious to the inspiring. The video will be available through the ECIAD Students’ Union office for those interested in viewing it. @&

CURRENT JOB

Janitor, Granville Island Public Market.

SKILLS

Printmaking; freelance graphic design; some curating experience; creative thinking.

IDEAL JOB

Curatorial work; cultural advisor in an arts environment.

Emily Carr CFS Delegate Report

Students Unite, Fuckers Beware!

By Linda Szasz and Kyath Battie

Since returning from the CFS AGM, we have summarized some key points from committee and constituency meetings. We felt it ‘was important to share with stu- ‘dents here at ECIAD what some of ‘the goals ae for ths year. There is currently some discussion about ‘what the CFS is and what benefit ‘we as students at Emily Car stand ‘0 gain from being members ofthe Federation,

The organization, like any ‘other, has is flaws and isin 2 con- ‘tant state of review, dependent ‘on feedback from students like ‘ourselves. However, the bottom Tine comes tothe fact that we belong toa national student advo- ‘acy organization. Currently, acess to postsecondary education is. being systematically eroded by federal cuts to postsecondary edu

‘These fuckers are destroying the public education system and st Gents need to work together to preserve what is left. The CFS is the ‘only national, organized advocate ‘or our rights. Six dollars a semes- tersis a bargain for that kind of representation

‘CAMPAIGNS AND

‘GOVERNMENT RELATIONS "The campaigns Commitee was

‘busy re-evaluatingthe goals that

were established at the May 1996

‘meeting. Here's a brief run down ‘opposing de-regulation of post: secondary education

- opposing the creation of, or

increases to, user fees i. ancl lary fees, recognizing that such fees are a "back door” method (of compensating for funding shortfalls created by federal and provincial funding cuts to social programs. ‘opposing use of “learning tech nologies" to replace student teacher contact, except when applied to distance education,

FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN: Goats, ‘make education a prominent issue in the upcoming federal election increase student voter turnout increase awareness of value of post-secondary education. [advocate for a national system of grants With a federal election on the horizon, theres going to be a push ‘on the politicians to get tax breaks for students.

NATIONAL AWARENESS AND (MEDIA STRATEGY UPDATE: ‘SUMMIT ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.

‘The summit is proposed to discuss issues of post-secondary education, bringing together con: ‘cerned parties from a regional and rational level. These parties include ‘but are not limited to student ‘groups, faculty groups, labour ‘roups and administrative groups.

‘COUNCIL OF CANADIANS

"The Council of Canadians is holding “Bank Action Day" on December 5, 1996 to highlight the Alternative Federal Budget and all ‘member locals are encouraged to support and participate.

savas 90 ores eras Speen Eee Leer Te yeaa See

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

“The May 1996 CFS Budget was revisited ast was realized that it hhad been based on inflated figures and needed to be adjusted accord: ingly. The resut of the fine tuning isa projected balanced budget.

Iwas resolved that the Saskatchewan fieldworker postion be filed by February 1997. Three ‘other positions to be filled in the future are Campaigns co-ordinator, Researcher and Aboriginal Caucus co-ordinator.

'A complete budget report with facts, figures, and schedules ‘an be found in the General Meeting binder located inthe ECIAD Students’ Union fice

‘CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES, TRAVEL SERVICES

What is Travel CUTS?

‘Travel CUTS is wholly owned by the Canadian Federation of Students and remains one of the few student-ovined travel compa ries in the world Travel CUTS cur- rently provides travel services to approximately 200,000 students in 46 offices across Canad, employ. ing over 250 full ime staff

How does Travel CUTS

contribute tothe Student

Movement?

In addition to providing literally millions of dollars to Canadian stu ents annually in savings on ar fares, tain travel etc, Travel CUTS contributes to the Federation by providing cath support to the ‘movement and its operations.

ORGANIZATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ‘Mich of the work ofthis

Committee was focused on house- keeping items suchas cleaning up the bylaws pertaining tothe struc- ture of the National Executive, The proposals to add new members to the Executive such as a Disabilities Rep, and a Gay Lesbian, Bisexual Rep were defeated. The overall sentiment ofthe participants was that a review of the structure of the National Executive and its purpose needs to take place before Positions should be added or Femoved. Other housekeeping [Sddressed the addition of the Aboriginal Caucus Rep to the Executive from the last General Meeting

ELECTIONS Don't think of ta losing 2 provincial Chait, think of it a gaining a National Treasurer. yes, Michael Gardiner is leaving 8.C. a8 of May 1997 for Ottawa, And former 8.C. Chair Brad Lavigne has

‘been ratified for another term based on his excellent work a5 National Char Jen Story was voted ina the National Deputy Chae, and Kim Radbourne rounds out the Travel Cuts Board, The May 96 Semi-Annual General Meeting is going to be held at Memorial University in StJohi's Newfoundland,

WOMEN'S CONSTITUENCY REPORT

“There is going to be a compre hensive lobbying strategy on the rug Rohypnol (the date rape rug) seeking legislation and public education policy, to be developed and executed by the Women's Rep Of the National Executive.

‘Campaign strategies that relate to students who are single

‘A. GREGORY SCRATCH, ILY CARR INSTITUTE 1991-95

PHONE 844-3861 TO HELP

December 1996 / Planet of the Arts 5

Parents, usually women, are being students of colour in Canadian Considered. These include raising postsecondary institutions, and ‘awareness about the specific sues ways to challenge racism, facing student parents, working to

remove barriers which prevent ARTISTS CONSTITUENCY REPORT. interested parents from pursuing "The student artists who partic post-secondary education and pated in this group decided they

Joining with coalition partners to will run a poster campaign to Tobby the federal government for a promote student artist work,

national child care program, thereby supporting student artists We exchanged addresses and LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL jphone numbers to encourage com:

CONSTITUENCY GROUP REPORT _"Unication between us in order to ‘After long debate within the share concerns and experiences, ‘group it was decided to change the and keep each other informed of fame to "<?>" in order to be Issues which may affect us across inclusive of those who might not the country. By Keeping in contact ‘eel comfortable withthe lesbian, with each other we can expand

‘9, bisexual categories. (This ‘Upon the idea of the campaign and might include transsexuals, trans- welcome any participation by st ‘gendered people, crossdressers, dents here at Emily Car

‘drag queens oF members of the 'A video was produced at the ‘IM community) The purpose of meeting in lieu of an artist perfor-

‘the name change was to redirect mance night which usually takes {focus on the issues and away from place on the lastnight of the

labeling ‘meeting. The video was an attempt ‘national campaign on anti-._ to engage other students in the heterosexualsm'sto be unto. _dicussion “What is Ar?” The coincide with the "Day Without responses varied from the hilarious Hate” on March 14. The theme isto the inspiring. The video will be “Queer-positive space.” available through the ECIAD Students’ Union office for those STUDENTS OF COLOUR interested in viewing it.

‘CONSTITUENCY REPORT was resolved that 9 ‘campaign be run addressing

racism, The slogan is: Ss ‘The campaign will focus on Ci

immigration, the experiences of

CURRENT JOB Janitor,

Granville Island Public Market.

SKILLS Printmaking; freelance gravhic design; sone curating experience; creative thinking,

IDEAL JOB Curatorial vor's cultural advisor in an arts environment.