Jutspoken prc cash cows for

ONE BIG thing militant feminists and visible minori- _ties have going for them is a keen nose for money. That became clear in the latest. “discrimination” hullabaloo - last week ‘at the University of B.C.

It erupted after k awyer Joan McEwen — reputedly a sex harass- ment specialist — delivered a (74- --page report alleging that racial and gender discrimination is rife in UBC's political science depart- ment; - a

For this. t taxpay s were billed” — via the university's operating : budget — approaching a quarter of a million bucks.

With interest. the $237, 897.68

‘tab could have provided 50 or more”

$5,000 scholarships, In the event. i. J0f course, it at least took care of "Ms, McEwen. “». .The study recorded the concems _of 39 grads'and undergrads about

the conduct of some 16 professors.

But the concerns seemed to have tore to do with wounded egos - than with sexual hanky-panky.

No names were named, making‘ ”

it hard to sort out just who beefed’

how often about whom. Nor. was

any disciplinary action recom-

mended. But the reaction of certain

of the’students sheds interesting

light.on the money-grabbing possi-

bilities created by such probes.

One graduate student who’ says

“she was ‘called “a big, bad, black bitch" — a claim the prof. in ques- tion has denied — offered to drop.

. her ‘complaint if UBC meta:

. lengthy list of‘ “non- negotiable.

“ requests."

” They included a $40.000 cash payment and guaranteed accep-_. tance into the PhD program of any

‘ political science department. , The university politely told her “to take:a hike, This she has now : done, taking “a Jong list’ of con- -¢ems”to the Human ‘Rights: -.; * Council of B.C. — which is: empowered, to hit politically i incor- "“ Sréet offenders with penalties up to “;' many thousands of dollars.

Numerous of the other com- plaining students are also heading for the Human Rights Council. —.:. including one whose beef is about”

“a lower.exam grade than she felt she deserved. : . Meanwhile, an outfit named the

‘Peter Speck. ue |: Publisher me

985-2134 (101)

Comptroller

Douy Foot

985-21 31°(133)

fs

hither and yon

Alliance of Feminists Across Campuses is pushing to have the faculty punished, more fems in top administrative posts and (here we go again! ') COMPENSATION for the students. . That some of them felt they'd suffered discrimination, prejudice and insensitive language is not in

: question.

_ What ls in question is their intelectual guts and the primary purpose of a university.

This latter being not merely to teach but also to produce tough, open, resilient minds through con- stant intéraction and challenge between faculty and students. Bruised classrvom feelings are often a natural and perfectly healthy byproduct of that process.

A student's armor lies in Jearn- ing to challenge faculty members on their own intellectual battle- ground — not in trading bruised

.. feelings for retaliatory cash awards - from some outside star chamber.

Allowing for all human quirks, good universities will start to dic

‘the day professors are forced to: :

shape every thought, belief and turn of phrase to what the lowest: common denominator wants to hear. ,

And even sooner they” I] cease to. be relevant to society's s needs.

“A SMART SALUTE to West

Van's Barbara Brink — just

“awarded the Order of Canada for

her many volunteer contributions to the community.

© WRIGHT OR WRONG: Learn - from others’ mistakes. You'll never’

live long enough | to make them all “yourself,

Chvis Uohnson | «| Operations Manager

985-2131 (166)

Ale a inka eer dita ot eet eh ied SHE CEL

Dear Me

A\| We're doins 1S

taraat practice, tatyet

Proctice, and tore taryet. practice n Bosnia | they >

ANADA POST: is not’ delivering

Canadians the straight goods. It is run-_

; ning amok in the marketplace, costing businesses and taxpayers money and jobs. The Crown ‘cor poration has. just announced another’ increase in‘the price: of , mailing a letter in Canada: this time from 43. _ to 45 cents. The increase is needed to offset a $69-mil- lion loss‘racked up by the’ post office in 1994-

95. The Crown corporation blames that loss,” in part, on not getting a hike in postal. rates as...

it expected to do in October 1994. But those aren’t the straight goods, Because the post office, somewtiere along

the line, has gotten side-tracked from its main

mandate of delivering the: mail into using: public funds to ‘compete in the private-sector marketplace. In the process, the ponderous publicly, funded behemoth is

Linda Stowart Sales & Marketing Director 980-051 1(34 9)

“Timothy Renshaw : Managing Editor

- 985-2134 (116)

“putting |

: Peter Kvarnstrom Display Manager - : 980-0511 (103)

* Canadians out: of work with: Canadian tax

money.

The Coalition for Canada - -Post

- Accountability. i is therefore lobbying the go

ernment to review Canada Post’s mandate. *'’ Canada Post should deliver: the mail, but

- Canadians need to know why Canada Post i is.

involved in business ventures such as the sub-, sidized delivery of advertising that lose ‘huge amounts of taxpayers’ dollars and undermine legitimate | businesses: .who compete in’ the same area but must abide by real free market forces. Canada Post covers its losses in such’

“ventures, with’ revenue frora its profitable’

postal activities which are in turn subsidized ms through ever-increasing postal rates, oo 88 But Canadian’ taxpayers ’ and: businesses should ‘not have to bear the brunt'of Canada: Post’s inability to operate responsibly. es ~ Mark that one Return to Senider, readers. :

“Trix Agrios Promotions Manager

985-2131 (218)

Valerie Stephenson : Classified Manager

986-6222 (202) .

Administration ° M E M B ER

. Dispiay Advertising

Real Estate Advertising | Classified Advertising Newsroom ‘Distribution, Oiaplay & Real Estate Fax Newsroom Fax

' Classified, Accounting &

‘ Main Office Fax *

905-2131 980-0511 . 985-6982

"986-6222 985-2131 :, 986-1337 ‘985-1435 985-2104

North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an “independent suburban newspaper and qualified ccunder Schedule, 111,” Paragraph (111. of the Excise Tax Aci, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by Nonh Shore Free Press Ltd. and distributed to every door on the North ° Shore. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 0087238, Mailing ‘rates ‘available on request. Submissions are » welcome but we cannot accept responsibility for: unsolicited material including manuscripts and” pictures, which should be accompanied by a’ a stamped, salt. addressed envelope.

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