Dear Editor: The North Shore News recently published Ms. Fay Butterfield’s letter to Minister Tom Perry deploring the state of post-secon- dary education in our province. While some of the issues Ms. Butterfield raises are best an- swered by the minister, there are some issues that 1 can address. Ms. Butterfield’s assertion that if you are not an honor student in this province you are not entitled to an education is false. Unlike the universities, no community college has a grade point average (GPA) entrance re- quirement, For instance, and without checking for precision, both the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University have as an entrance requirement to first year a GPA of about 3.1. This fact, tied with the fact that there are more students registered in the community colleges of Brit- ish Columbia than in our univer- sities, means that the majority of Students attending B.C.’s com- munity colleges are the average students of whom Ms. Butterfield writes, At Capilano College we have a priority registration system for our Academic Studies Division which is based on grade point average. In this system, the student with the highest GPA who has applied MAILBOX GPA-based system challenges students lo study at Capilano College is the first in the registration lineup. If this highest GPA is, for ex- ample, 2.3, then the person with that GPA is first in line and is able to select his or her courses from the entire timetable. Our mission is to be an institu- tion of first choice. As it turns Out, we are being very successful in achieving our mission. | am pleased to say that many students choose to attend Capilano College even though their GPAs are well above the universities’ entrance requirement. Even so, you don't have to be an honor student to register at Capilano College. On Aug. 14 when our Academic Division was 66% full, the lowest GPA registered was 2.75. When we were 80% full, the lowest GPA was 2.5; on Sept. I, when we were 95% full, the lowest GPA was 1.8. From these data we can say that at least one-third of our academic students are the average students to which Ms. Butterficld refers. These data also show that stu- dents with a GPA of less than 1.8, that is to say, students whose overall average grade is D or less, have very few courses to choose from when they arrive at Capilano College to register. These are the students who were slated to register on Sept. 2 and later. Unfortunately, the Possee’s anger misdirected Dear Editor: -Derek Possee has my heartfelt sympathy. He has lost a son in an unfortunate occurrence which “probably should not have happen- ed, and is justifiably angry. I do feel that his anger is misdi- tected... Police.on a drug bust should‘not be expected to ring the doorbell and politely” ask if they may come in. A When. confronted by a man car- tying’ what ‘appears to be a shot- gun, they should not be expected . to ask iit it is a toy.- | CRE LIMOUSINE SERVICE ‘FOR ALL SERVICE CUSTOMERS ‘AT . . The officer acted correctly and, unfortunately, will probably suffer conscience pangs for years despite that. As I see it, the true culprits in ‘this case are the informants, pre- sumably guests or at least visitors to the house, who reported the occupants to be drug dealers. With friends like that no one needs enemies, and it is against them that Mr. Possee’s anger and frustration should he directed. David Muir North Vancouver discouraged young adult Ms. But- terfield speaks of is among this group. What do we offer this group? We encourage these students to take a course from among those available, work hard in it and earn an A+. If they earn a good grade, they wiil be at the front of the line at the next registration. We know that adds a term [to their dime in school, but under the circumstances of theic past per- formance we think this is the best investment the student can make in him- or herself. This approach challenges the student to earn a better grade than he or she has done in the ‘im- mediate past, and in this way discover how to be successful and to enjoy the excitement of being successful. As for fairness in registration, we say that it is not too much for one college in the system to have a GPA-based priority registraiion system as opposed to the ‘‘first systems Ms. And we are come, first served’’ Butterfield suggests. that college. In her letter,.she raises other points about the funding of the system. That is for Dr. Perry to answer. My obligation, and that of our board, is to see that the taxpayers’ money we receive is well spent. This year we will serve all the students that the ministry has funded us to serve. Indeed, in each of the last 10 years, we have served more students than we are funded to serve. I think we are spending our money wisely. Let me say, however, that ad- judicating the competition for scarce resources among health services, social services and educa- tion must be extremely difficult for any government in Canada. In my opinion, this is the issue which will be increasingly debated with vigor and vitrioi in our province. Douglas K., Jardine, president Capilano College Community work perfect place for youth to learn Dear Editor: As a mother of two teenagers I’m very concerned about the youth problems on the North Shore. I believe they stem from: (a) a society that is far too ma- tecialistic; (b) kids having too much free time (i.e, they do not have enough homework, and they are no longer into activities such as gymnastics, martial arts, music, etc.): and (c} parents who are either averworked or who just don’t care what their kids are doing or where they are. I have a solution. Our locat community services can tap in- to the best readily available resource there is: our young adults. All youth between the ages of 13 and 18 should have to perform 1,060 hours of volun- teer work in the community as part of their education and completion of high school. Students choose the area they’re interested in, whether it be the environment, people, or animals, etc. These are real life situations, not learned in any classroom. I feel our children can accept more responsibility at an earlier age, and what looks more im- pressive on that first resume than a young adult ajready out there actively involved in the community — the real world? Donna Crestejo North Vancouver LONDON DRUGS PARK ROYAL APPOINTMENT CYNTHIA O'DONOHUE ASSISTANT MANAGER LONDON DRUGS PARK ROYAL London Drugs is very pleased to announce the appointment of Cynthia O'Donohue to the position of Assistant Manager — Merchandising of their largest store ever: the new. London Drugs Park Royal (Grand Opening: Tuesday, Nov. 17th). : Cynthia is now in her sixth year with this aggressive and in-. ‘novative drugstore chain, with all of that tire spent in super- | visory and managerial roles. - ’ Born and raised in Vancouver, Cynthia has interests in cross- country skiing, sailing, and camping and she loves to. travel. She looks forward to get- ting involved in the West Van- - couver community. 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