In Other Schools
February 20, 2007
Vancouver students rally for education reform
VANCOUVER (CUP) – Despite a downpour of rain, Vancouver’s Day of Action was in full swing on Feb. 7. Organized by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), the event was staged to campaign for the federal government to reduce tuition fees by 10 per cent, increase funding for post-secondary education, give grants rather than loans, and reinstate free college-based secondary education for adults.
Students raised “Reduce Student Fees” signs, and used Kraft Dinner boxes as noisemakers. Enormous papier-mâché heads of Steven Harper and other government officials with embellishments such as devil’s horns were flaunted.
The majority of the students who attended were from Capilano College, Kwantlen University College, and Vancouver Community College. Students from the University of British Columbia, however, were not a strong presence at the event, as the school’s students are members of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) and not CFS.
According to Ian Pattillo, an executive with UBC’s student society, protests and rallies do not fit into the repertoire of CASA’s annual campaign. Pattillo said he regretted not organizing a way for UBC students to participate in the Day of Action.
Changes help U of A
faculty escape probation
EDMONTON (CUP) – The University of Alberta faculty of medicine has evaded probation after making a number of changes to its programs. This is following an inquiry made by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), which accredits and monitors the medical programs in Canadian and American universities.
Concerns over U of A’s medical program first arose regarding the lecture-based first and second year curriculum, the lack of supervision during medical residencies, as well as claims of students being harassed by healthcare professionals.
According to Tom Marrie, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, the red-flag warning was only one factor among many that led to the revisions.
The U of A is only the second Canadian post-secondary institution to be threatened with probation. In Feb. 2003, the University of Saskatchewan was put under a 24-month probation by the LCME, due to problems with its curriculum and a shortage of teachers.
The U of A Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry plans to implement many of its changes during the coming 2007–08 academic year.
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