NANAIMO—The Vancouver Island University Students’ Union will be holding a classroom speaking blitz tomorrow as part of a day of campus events throughout Vancouver Island. The event is part of the Education Shouldn’t be a Debt Sentence campaign. Students at UVic, Camosun College, Vancouver Island University, and North Island College will be gathering signatures on the provincial petition to reduce student debt at the four public colleges and universities across Vancouver Island.

The events come on the heels of last week’s government report on the public consultations held for the 2010 BC budget. The report recommended that the government address BC’s high student loan interest rates and inadequate funding for universities and colleges.

“We’re building pressure on the government right up to the release of the 2010 BC budget,” said Mikael Jensen, Chairperson for VIUSU, “This government must commit to a plan to reduce student debt in its upcoming budget.”

At VIU, the Vancouver Island University Students’ Union has organised the following:

WHAT: Classroom Speaking Blitz

WHEN:  8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday, November 18, 2009

WHERE: Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo Campus

WHO: Representatives of the Vancouver Island Students’ Union

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