Wednesday, February 17, 2010 

PRINCE GEORGE—Hundreds more British Columbians signed the petition to reduce student debt this week as the Education Shouldn't be a Debt Sentence tour reached the College of New Caledonia in Prince George. The tour is organized by the Canadian Federation of Students-BC and is swinging through campuses across the province in February and March.

"BC families are suffering as record high tuition fees have led to record high student debt," said CFS-BC National Executive Representative Michael Olson. "This tour is giving voice to the thousands of British Columbians who need a commitment from the BC government to reduce student debt."

Playing host to the tour, the students' union at the College of New Caledonia held an "Unfair Fair" on Wednesday, where students participated in events that highlighted student debt and underfunding of colleges and universities. The events included the funding limbo, where students had to literally bend over backwards to succeed as the funding levels (and limbo stick) went down. 

"For far too many College of New Caledonia students, education is a debt sentence," said Olson. "We are calling on both of the MLAs in the Prince George region, Pat Bell and Shirley Bond, to stand up for their constituents."

Tuition fees have more than doubled in BC since 2001 as per-student funding has been cut. The elimination of the BC grants program in 2004 accelerated student debt accumulation to the point where average debt upon graduation of a four-year program now exceeds $27,000. Meanwhile, BC has the highest interest rates in the country on its student loans. The CFS-BC's campaign calls for the BC government to:

• reduce tuition fees;
• re-establish a grants program;
• eliminate interest on student loans; and
• restore funding to universities and colleges.

The Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia is BC’s provincial student organization, representing 150,000 university and college students at all levels of post-secondary education in BC. It is non-partisan and affiliated with Canada’s largest national student organization, the Canadian Federation of Students.

-30-

Monday, February 15, 2010 

TERRACE—Hundreds more British Columbians signed the petition to reduce student debt over the past two days as the Education Shouldn't be a Debt Sentence tour reached the Prince Rupert and Terrace campuses of Northwest Community College. The tour is organized by the Canadian Federation of Students-BC and is on its northern BC leg after touring Vancouver Island campuses in the first two weeks of February.

"BC families are suffering as record high tuition fees have led to record high student debt," said CFS-BC National Executive Representative Michael Olson. "This tour is giving voice to the thousands of British Columbians who need a commitment from the BC government to reduce student debt."

Playing host to the tour, the students' union at the Northwest Community College held free lunches, and gathered signatures on the petition on Monday and Tuesday on the Prince Rupert and Terrace campuses of the College.

"For far too many Northwest Community College students, education is a debt sentence," said Olson. "Hardly a person went by without signing the petition, and many shared stories about the toll high tuition fees and student debt have taken on them and the College community."

Tuition fees have more than doubled in BC since 2001 as per-student funding has been cut. The elimination of the BC grants program in 2004 accelerated student debt accumulation to the point where average debt upon graduation of a four-year program now exceeds $27,000. Meanwhile, BC has the highest interest rates in the country onits student loans. The CFS-BC's campaign calls for the BC government:

NANAIMO-Hundreds more British Columbians signed the petition to reduce student debt today as the Education Shouldn't be a Debt Sentence tour hit Vancouver Island University. The tour is organized by the Canadian Federation of Students-BC and is swinging through campuses across the province in February and March.

"BC families are suffering as record high tuition fees have led to record high student debt," said CFS-BC Chairperson Shamus Reid. "Whether they were students, staff, faculty, or administrators, hardly a person walked by without signing the petition to reduce student debt."

Playing host to the campaign tour, the Vancouver Island University Students' Union held a free soup kitchen with live music and gathered signatures on the petition.

"For far too many VIU students, education is a debt sentence," said VIUSU Chairperson Mikael Jensen. "We need our Nanaimo-area MLAs-Ron Canetelon, Leonard Krog, and Doug Routley-to stand up for their constituents and make reducing student debt a priority."

Tuition fees have more than doubled in BC since 2001 as per-student funding has been cut. The elimination of the BC grants program in 2004 accelerated student debt accumulation to the point where average debt upon the graduation of a four-year program now exceeds $27,000. Meanwhile, BC has the highest interest rates in the country on its student loans. The CFS-BC's campaign calls for the BC government to:

• reduce tuition fees;
• re-establish a grants program;
• eliminate interest on student loans; and
• restore funding to universities and colleges.

The Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia is BC's provincial student organization, representing 150,000 university and college students at all levels of post-secondary education in BC. It is non-partisan and affiliated with Canada's largest national student organization, the Canadian Federation of Students. 

VICTORIA—Thousands more British Columbians signed the petition to reduce student debt over the last two weeks as the Education Shouldn’t be a Debt Sentence tour hit campuses across Vancouver Island. Organized by the Canadian Federation of Students-BC, the tour wrapped up on the Island with an event at Camosun College today, and will be moving onto campuses in northern BC next week.

“BC families are suffering as record high tuition fees have led to record high student debt,” said CFS-BC Chairperson Shamus Reid. “This tour is giving voice to the thousands of British Columbians who need a commitment from the BC government to reduce student debt.”

Playing host to the campaign tour, students’ unions at North Island College, Vancouver Island University, the University of Victoria, and Camosun College held free lunches with live music, and gathered signatures on the petition at the Lansdowne campus today. Students could also send a direct message to the Minister of Advanced Education through the campaign website, www.debtsentence.ca.

"For far too many Camosun College students, education is a debt sentence," said Reid. “We are calling on Vancouver Island MLAs to stand up for their constituents.”

Tuition fees have more than doubled in BC since 2001 as per-student funding has been cut. The elimination of the BC grants program in 2004 accelerated student debt accumulation to the point where average debt upon the graduation of a four-year program now exceeds $27,000. Meanwhile, BC has the highest interest rates in the country on its student loans. The CFS-BC's campaign calls for the BC government to: 

• reduce tuition fees;
• re-establish a grants program;
• eliminate interest on student loans; and 
• restore funding to universities and colleges.

The Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia is BC’s provincial student organization, representing 150,000 university and college students at all levels of post-secondary education in BC. It is non-partisan and affiliated with Canada’s largest national student organization, the Canadian Federation of Students.

-30- 

PORT ALBERNI-Hundreds more British Columbians signed the petition to reduce student debt this week as the Education Shouldn't be a Debt Sentence tour passed through North Island College. The tour is organized by the Canadian Federation of Students-BC and will swing through campuses across the province in February and March. 

"BC families are suffering as record high tuition fees have led to record high student debt," said CFS-BC Chairperson Shamus Reid. "Whether they were students, staff, faculty, or administrators, hardly a person walked by without signing the petition to reduce student debt."

Playing host to the campaign tour, the North Island Students' Union held free soup kitchens and gathered signatures on the petition from Monday to Wednesday on the Campbell River, Courtenay, and Port Alberni campuses of the College.

"For far too many North Island College students, education is a debt sentence," said NISU Chairperson Jaden Keitlah. "We need our North Island MLAs-Claire Trevena, Scott Fraser, and Don McRae-to stand up for their constituents and make reducing student debt a priority."

Tuition fees have more than doubled in BC since 2001 as per-student funding has been cut. The elimination of the BC grants program in 2004 accelerated student debt accumulation to the point where average debt upon the graduation of a four-year program now exceeds $27,000. Meanwhile, BC has the highest interest rates in the country on its student loans.

The CFS-BC's campaign calls for the BC government to reduce tuition fees, re-establish a grants program, eliminate interest on student loans, and restore funding to universities and colleges.

The Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia is BC's provincial student organization, representing 150,000 university and college students at all levels of post-secondary education in BC. It is non-partisan and affiliated with Canada's largest national student organization, the Canadian Federation of Students.

-30- 

CAMPBELL RIVER—The North Island Students' Union will be petitioning at Timberline High school tomorrow as part of a day of events throughout Vancouver Island for 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 events.

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.

Students' Union representatives will be focusing on their attention on High school students who will be entering post-secondary at a time when personal debt levels are reaching historical highs, tuition fees are on the rise and per student funding continues to decrease.

"We're building pressure on the government right up to the release of the 2010 BC budget," said Toni Gore, "This government must commit to a plan to reduce student debt over the four years of its mandate, students today deserve the same access to education as the ones that came before them."

WHAT: Petitioning

WHEN:  10:30-2:30, Wednesday, November 18, 2009

WHERE: Timberline High School Cafeteria

-30-   

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

-30- 

VICTORIA—The Camosun College Student Society (CCSS) will be hosting a free soup kitchen for students tomorrow as part of a day of campus events throughout Vancouver Island for 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 events.

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.

"Camosun Students are calling on the government to take concrete action in the 2010 BC Budget  to reduce student debt and make education affordable", said CCSS External Executive Matteus Clement, "The government needs to realise that students are really suffering and help now."

WHAT: Soup Kitchen for Student Debt

WHEN: 11am - 12pm, Wednesday November 18, 2009

WHERE: Outside the Fisher Building, Lansdowne Campus

WHO: CCSS & Canadian Federation of Students representatives  

The Camosun College Student Society represents 9,000 students at the Lansdowne and Interurban Campuses of Camosun College.

-30-