Muse, 1997-01-24

              mm
January 24, 1997
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Volume 47, Number 13
Education groups rally to change student-aid
By SAMER MUSCATI (CUP)
OTTAWA — An unlikely coalition of university administrators,
professors and students have put
aside their past differences and
asked the federal government to
revamp its delivery of student aid.
Seven national post-secondary
education groups jointly released
a series of recommendations on
Jan. 20 that they say will help
students cope with rising tuition
costs and increased debt-loads. The
group wants the federal government to introduce new student-aid
grants, interest relief on loans,
opportunities for work-studies and
tax relief measures.
"There is no single solution to
Ottawa examining
differential loans
More money may be made available
for students with dependents
By MICHAEL CONNORS
and MARK TIPPLE
Four months after nine of
Canada's premiers called on Ottawa to increase student aid, plans
for raising federal lending limits
are still inconclusive.
The investigation of student aid
levels started last September after
the First Minister's conference in
Alberta. At that conference the
premiers acknowledged that student aid levels have not increased
to meet the rising costs of post-
secondary education.
But questions have been raised
about the value of raising student
loan limits across the board.
Gerry Godsoe, policy group
manager with Canada Student
Loans, says the agency is "examining the [students'] repayment
obligation" in light ofthe prospect
of amassing giant debts in the future.
"We're asking ourselves, 'Does
one loan limit for all students make
sense?'" Godsoe said. "The loan
maximum only affects a small
minority. Only a small percentage
of students, less than a quarter, are
at the full level."
However, according to the provincial representative ofthe Canadian Federation of Students (CFS),
such increases are a necessity to
help students survive the economic
struggles of post-secondary education.
Dale Kirby, Newfoundland's
executive representative to the
CFS, said there is no other option.
"What's the alternative?" Kirby
asked. "Less people having access
to education?"
Kirby agrees, however, that
across-the-board increases will
only result in loading students with
more debt.
"The real solution is a new structure on grants and a cap on the
amount you can borrow. You're
not going to solve anything by just
giving people another $20,000
debt."
According to Godsoe, the federal government has already introduced a series of special opportunity grants in the last few years
covering students with permanent
disabilities, part-time students and
women pursuing doctorates in certain fields.
The government is also looking
at extending the grant system as
part of a proposal submitted to
them by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
on Jan. 20. He said it is too early to
speculate what the result will be,
•Please see "Special" on page 11
student debt-load," said Don Savage, executive director of the Canadian Association of University
Teachers. "The proposals are a
remarkable thing. Most importantly, we have developed a package of solutions that address the
various problems."
The main problem, say coalition members, is that student debt
is rising unchecked at an alarming
rate. Statistics Canada estimates
that student loan debt-loads will
triple to $25,000 in 1998 from
$8,700 in 1990. The education
groups are urging the government
to move fast and accept the recommendations to keep post-secondary education accessible.
Gerry Godsoe, a government
policy manager for the Canada
Student Loans Program, says it's
too early for the government to
respond to the proposals, but promises to take a close look at them.
One key element ofthe package
is new targeted grants to help disadvantaged students by providing
special financial aid. Single par-
• Please see "Give" on page 11
Bank of Montreal President Anthony Comper was at MUN last week to donate a $250,000
scholarship fund. Photo by Mike Bannister
Students criticize bank donation
Bank of Montreal donates $250,000 scholarship fund
By DAVID COCHRANE
Student leaders in this province are giving mixed reviews to
a new scholarship fund donated
to Memorial University by the
Bank of Montreal.
On Jan. 20, Bank President
Anthony Comper announced to
a crowd of university, government and bank officials a
$250,000 endowment, which
will be used to award a $3,000
annual scholarship to entry-level
MUN students.
Students will be awarded the
Bank of Montreal scholarship
CAN A BANK CHANGE? Some critics say the Bank of
Montreal's recent donations to universities is an attempt to
buy a better corporate image.
on the basis of academic achievement and level of financial need,
with priority going to students
who receive loans. The scholarship can be renewed for up to
four years if the student maintains a high average.
Council ofthe Students' Union
President Robert Mendoza
thanked Comper for the donation at the press conference, but
later was more critical of the
Bank.
"I think it's a positive initiative," Mendoza said, "but at the
same time I think the banks have
a long way to go on campus and
in general. I think the banks can
do a lot more on campus."
The Bank of Montreal and Canadian banks in general, have
been criticized recently for making too much profit and for the
• Please see "Banks" on page 15
PlAn/min/g a tkiP oil or? to the mAl^
OILG/^SflZjE YOOIL
f%l£N/Df \rVlTH A
THHEe-irVAY CAW-.
Call Return-Missed Call
Call Return-Busy
Three-Way Calling
*69
• 66
*71
NEWTEL
35t per activation. Where available. Wdoes notivork on displayblocked calls.