WE NEED READER FEEDBACK!

Any comments, suggestions, feedback, or submissions may be sent to Tammy Moore, Editor of The Voice at tmoore@ausu.org Many thanks for your writing contributions and support, and I look forward to hearing from you all!

AUSU ACADEMIC COMMITTEE

The AUSU Academic Committee is looking for new members interested in exploring new ways of improving the academic experience of AU students.
Membership is on a volunteer basis. We meet once a month via teleconference, and welcome all new members with fresh ideas and a few spare hours each month. This is a great way to get involved with your school and get to know some fellow students.

Anyone interested can contact Tamra Ross Low at trosslow@ausu.org for more information.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT: Elections 2002

Due to changed personal circumstances, a candidate has withdrawn his name from the upcoming election. This means we now have only 9 candidates for the 9 positions, and all will be therefore elected by acclamation. The President will declare the slate of candidates elected on March 16, 2002.

It is somewhat disappointing that we will not have an opportunity to go through the election process. However, I’m confident that all of new Council will work very hard and do their utmost to ensure that they always represent the student body responsibly.

Thank you to everyone for your interest in the election. Watch this site for more information on the nine men & women who will form your new AUSU Council!

Debbie Jabbour,
President, AUSU

Council News

This has been an exceptionally busy couple of months. Elections are underway, a CRO has been appointed, and ballots will be mailed out this week. Some other highlights:

“¢ The peer portal is under development through AU’s International Consortium for the Advancement of Academic Publication initiative. S. Barg has been working with the members of this team to ensure students’ views are represented and that AUSU remains involved in this venture, since it will be of great benefit to all concerned. Students will sign into the peer portal, then will access things such as course-specific boards, chat, FAQ’s, links, and a variety of student services.
“¢ A new ad hoc committee has been formed, with M. McInnes as chair. This committee will focus on website and Voice planning and development.
“¢ Council discussed the need for a grad student association (based on feedback and inquiries received) and will be looking at initiatives for grad students, with the goal of assisting in the formation of a grad student association linked to AUSU. This will build valuable collaborations with other organizations and will be in line with AU’s focus on increased growth in grad programs.
“¢ G. Dulai submitted a proposal for a variety of new scholarships for our members. The proposal has been referred to the Finance Committee for review.
“¢ Emergency bursary and computer bursary are being revamped to make implementation more cost-effective.
“¢ Members of AUSU executive met with AU President Dominique Abrioux and VP Finance Andy Woudstra regarding tuition costs. S. Barg travelled to Athabasca to represent AUSU on the Budget Advisory Committee February 7/8.
“¢ S. Barg is arranging a seminar on board development with Alberta Community Development. This will involve the attendance of all on Council, to be held after elections.
“¢ Bylaws are still being worked on, in conjunction with research on board development. The goal is to simplify and streamline our bylaws, while implementing more detailed policies.
“¢ The Centre For Learning Accreditation Steering Committee has had an initial meeting and another coming up in March. They have invited two student representatives to sit on the committee, D. Jabbour and N. Palamarchuk.
“¢ The Strategic University Planning Committee circulated initial discussion papers within the University for feedback. As student rep on this committee, D. Jabbour has been working to ensure student interests are taken into account in all university planning. Students with inquiries regarding the SUP can contact D. Jabbour or any member of the committee.
“¢ Congratulations to AUSU staff member Christine Lynch on becoming an AU student.

SCHOLARSHIP NEWS

STUDENTS OFFERED $ 346,000 IN CASH AND AWARDS FOR SHARING VISIONS ON IMPROVED CANADA
– Top Prize of $70,000 to be Awarded to National Winner –

Toronto, On (March 4, 2002) “? The As Prime Minister Awards announced today that it is again challenging students to present innovative ideas and solutions for charting the future course for Canada. The Magna for Canada Scholarship Fund will award more than $346,000 in cash prizes and internships with Magna International Inc., Canada’s largest supplier of automotive systems and components.

This year the As Prime Minister Awards program calls upon full-time undergraduate or graduate students from colleges, universities, or CEGEPs across Canada to prepare an essay answering the question:

“If you were the Prime Minister of Canada, what political vision would you offer to improve our living standards and ensure a secure and prosperous global community?”

Now in its eighth year, the program has grown consistently in popularity year over year; over 800 students from across the country participated in the 2001 program.

All entries are judged on the merit of innovative and workable solutions.
From the entries, 10 finalists are chosen and invited to present their essays before a distinguished panel of judges. The overall national winner is selected based upon his/her ability to express new, solution-driven ideas.

The deadline for essays is June 3, 2002. Program details are available through www.asprimeminister.com or by calling 1-866-AS-THE-PM.

All winning student essays are published in a special book entitled @stake “As Prime Minister, I Would:” .

The Magna for Canada Scholarship Fund was established in 1995 by Magna International Inc, to empower students to express their solutions for building a better Canada. $1,000,000 has been placed in a charitable trust on behalf of the scholarship fund. The program is also sponsored by The Fair Enterprise Institute, a non-partisan and non-profit organization founded to provoke dialogue and debate and propose innovative solutions to improve the living standards of Canadians.

NEWS FROM ALBERTA LEARNING
Proposed legislation would make Alberta’s student finance system more responsive

Edmonton… Proposed legislative changes will simplify and strengthen Alberta’s student finance system and build greater flexibility and responsiveness into the system. The Student Finance and Loan Amendment Act, 2002, was introduced in the Legislature today and combines and revises the Alberta Student Finance and Student Loan Acts.
“It is essential that post-secondary education remains accessible and affordable for all Albertans,” said Minister of Learning, Dr. Lyle Oberg. “Alberta’s student finance system is already among the most comprehensive in the country. This bill will give us greater flexibility to respond to changing student needs in the future.”
The Student Finance and Loan Amendment Act, 2002, will:

“¢ Provide a solid legislative framework for the direct lending of Alberta Student Loans. The province moved to this lending arrangement August 1, 2001.
“¢ Streamline the process for adjusting yearly loan limits
“¢ Enable further harmonization with federal student loan programs
“¢ Facilitate the electronic delivery of students’ finance services
“¢ Simplify legislation and eliminate duplication by combining current legislation into a single act
“¢ Clarify wording in some existing provisions

The proposed changes are largely administrative and are intended to help Alberta’s student finance system prepare for the future. Students will not notice any immediate differences in how their financial assistance is provided.

This fiscal year the province budgeted about $134 million in financial assistance for post-secondary students including scholarships, grants, bursaries, student loans and the new automatic Student Loan Relief Program. In 200/01 approximately 47,000 Alberta post-secondary learners received assistance through federal and provincial student loans and grants.

For more information about financial assistance available to Alberta students, visit http://www.alis.gov.ab.ca.

Main Space at Stride Gallery
Reginald Baxter
King Charles Cavalier Spaniel
February 22 – March 23, 2002

Artist Meet and Greet: Saturday, February 23, 2002

Since 1990 Reginald Baxter has been painting copies of a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel that at a rate of about 4 to 8 each year. The source for this image itself is a bit of a mystery as it was extracted from an “original art” catalogue where the artists’ names appeared to have been fabricated. Upon the first examination the 30 or so dog paintings appear to be replicas of one another, but on closer inspection it is quite easy to spot subtle differences that render each work as a unique original. The paintings are a crude counterpart to current technologies (like photography or videography) where there is no such thing as an original, but only mechanically-made duplicates. These collection of paintings that begun as a mechanically reproduced image of a forgery painting have ironically ended up as original pieces revealing the non-mechanical nature of the human touch and our ways of seeing.

Reginald Baxter graduated from the Ontario College of Art with an Honours in Fine Art in 1989. His work has been widely exhibited in Canada and abroad in various galleries including Kenderline Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK; Mercer Union, Toronto, ON; and 494 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY; and the Venice Biennial, Canadian Pavilion (collaborative bookwork with Tom Dean), Venice, Italy.

The artist will be in attendance at the opening reception. A brochure will accompany the exhibition.

Stride Gallery 1004 MacLeod Trail S.E., Calgary, AB CANADA T2G 2M7
Hours of operation: Tuesdays – Saturdays 11 – 5 p.m.
Storefront. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
URL: www.stride.ab.ca
eMail: stride2@telusplanet.net
PHONE: 403.262.8507
FAX: 403.269.5220

For further information about Stride Gallery’s upcoming program, please
contact Lissa Robinson, Director at 403.262.8507. The Stride Gallery is an artist-run gallery that is funded in part by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the Calgary Region Arts Foundation, the Canada Council and the generous support of the Calgary community.

‘Jewish Values & Social Justice’
With Ben Carniol

Sunday, March 17, 2002 / 7:30 p.m.
@ Beth Shalom Synagogue, 11916 Jasper Ave.
INFOLINE: 454-7109

Join us for presentation / discussion about ‘Jewish Values and Social Justice’ with Ben Carniol, Professor of Social Work at Ryerson University, and author of “Case Critical: Challenging Social Services in Canada”, a text which explores progressive change.

During the Second World War in Belgium, his parents were killed by the Nazis, and he was rescued and hidden by a Christian family. Ben’s stirring insights into his own life experiences and about social justice and progressive change will inspire lively discussion and renewed dedication.

Everyone is welcome. Admission is free, but donations gratefully accepted, and there will be a food bank box. For more information > Netta Phillet @ 454- 7109.

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Global Village Backpackers Banff.

Our hostel opened June 1, 2001 right in downtown Banff. Formerly the Woodland Village Inn, we are a unique hostel as all our rooms have ensuite bathroom facilities. We have a hot tub, sauna, internet access, kitchen facilities, pool table, tour desk, TV room, bike rentals, laundry facilities, lounge and a large outdoor courtyard patio.

A majority of our rooms are spacious 4-8 bed dorms. We also have, what we call, semi-private rooms. Each has a double bed in a loft above a 4 bed dorm. You share the washroom facilities with the dorm.

Room rates

October 1, 2001 – April 14, 2001

Dorm Beds $25.00 $22.00

Semi-private $55.00 $51.00

Weekly rate in a dorm room $129.50 (non-refundable)

All prices include taxes and linen. Discounts are available to travelers carrying YHA, ISIC, VIP or GO cards.

2001/2002 Ski packages

3 Nights/2 days – only $169
3 Nights shared accommodation
2 days ski passes (Lake Louise/Sunshine Village/Mount Norquay)
Transport to/from ski hills
Free pancake breakfast daily.

6 Nights/5 days – only $369
6 Nights shared accommodation
5 days ski passes (Lake Louise/Sunshine Village/Mount Norquay)
Transport to/from ski hills
Free pancake breakfast daily.

We require credit card details to guarantee reservations.
We welcome group bookings. Please call the hostel directly for details.

Cheers

The Staff at the Global Village Backpackers Banff

449 Banff Avenue BOX 398

Banff AB Canada T1L 1A5

1-403-762-5521 Toll-free in North America 1-888-844-7875 fax 1-403-762-0385

Are you an Artist? AUSU supports the arts!

AUSU is interested in purchasing original works of art from students for use in promotional purposes. These promotions may include: gifts from AUSU to graduates at convocation, tokens of appreciation for volunteers, special presentations, etc.

The works of art must:

-be created by an AU Student
-be within a value range $0-$500.
-be accessible or easily transportable to Alberta

If you are an artist of any kind who creates a product you feel we would be able to use for such a purpose, please contact djabbour@ausu.org. Supply a brief description of the art object, a picture if you have it, and its market value.

WRITE FOR THE VOICE!
Fill on our online application at http://www.ausu.org/voice/write.html or contact Tammy Moore at tmoore@ausu.org.