The Student Society is very pleased to announce that 2230 people responded to the survey, and 95.1% of you completed it. That is almost unheard of; people generally don't like surveys all that much, but it was clear you had something to say about transit.

The Summary of the Late Night Transit Survey results can be found at the Camosun College Student Society Facebook page link above, or here:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Camosun-College-Student-Society/109081062477033

A separate presentation was given to transit around the over 840 comments on daytime transit issues which are different at each individual campus, here is a brief summary:

University of Victoria experiences large amounts of Pass-ups on routes 26, 7, 4, 14, that's not all, but those are the top four.

Lansdowne Campus, are tired of getting passed by buses full of University students even though they contribute to UPass; they need a crosswalk on Richmond.

Interurban Students get passed up at peak periods by the 21 & 4, and would definitely appreciate more frequent and later service on the number 39, as would the University of Victoria-we told them that and more….

Please contact ccss@camosunstudent.org if you would like a complete summary.

This survey and its response was a huge success that yielded clear, concise information that was taken directly to the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and presented Feb 15, 20011 so that they would have a better student perspective on transit issues.

We met with the Commission, the CEO, the Union, the College, the Downtown Victoria Business Association, UVic, and other stakeholders; we feel we have done our best at this time to help improve the student transit experience both in the daytime and late at night, and you have done yours. There are action steps that can be taken from here however:

Let transit know directly about specific issues as they occur:

transit_info@bctransit.com

BC Transit
520 Gorge Road East
Victoria, BC, V8W 2P3
Phone: 250-385-2551 (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Fax: 250-995-5639

THE WINNERS!

From the Daytime Transit Survey at Camfest in Sept:

·        Chelsea Wilkes – Interurban

o   IPod

The winners of the $50 gift certificates from the online Late Night Transit survey in Jan:

·        Monita Sidhu- Interurban

o   Bard & Banker

·        David Van Der Hooft - UVic

o   Tapas Bar

·        Richard Merinsky – UVic

o   Ferris Oyster Bar

·        Candice - Lansdowne

o   Il Terrazzo

Winners have been notified separately.

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The Student Society is looking for a replacement logo for old logo which we have used for over 15 years. Students can submit up to 5 ideas and the chosen winner will receive $500 gift card for Camosun.

 The deadline for the contest has passed. Some of the entries can be seen here.

 

Too Much

Bread and Butter

Pocket Change

Give us your opinion in a few minutes and you could win $50 in prizes from one of 4 downtown businesses. We want to improve late night transit and getting your thoughts will help get a better picture of what is needed. Entry deadline is Feb 28th.

 

Survey Link

Survey URL: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5MMTSSB

Camosun College Student Society December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women. As well as commemorating the 14 young women whose lives ended in an act of gender-based violence that shocked the nation, December 6 represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also an opportunity to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence. And finally, it is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

Students have more options then ever when it comes to clubs on campus this semester. From Anime to Yoga there are over 27 clubs to choose from. Lansdowne Executive George Ivanishvili explained the significance of this development "We are really excited about this level of involvement. This really gives some entertaining and involving options for our members."

Here is a full listing of clubs

• African Awareness
• Anime
• Ballroom Dancing
• Beer Tasting
• CSEA Camosun Students for Environmental Awareness
• Cooking
• Cycling
• Dodgeball
• Gardening
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Japanese Converstation
• Ju Jitsu
• Knitting
• Nursing
• Paintball
• Pre-Med
• Photography
• Psychology
• Running
• Skiing and snowboarding
• SPCA
• Swimming
• Theatre
• Toastmasters
• Wine Tasting
• Yoga

To contact a club and get involved check our detailed clubs listing at the link below or contact the Student Society office at the number below

The Fall Election is completed The results can be found at our Election Page.  Congratulations to all those who participated in the democratic process.

This October, Camosun students enrolled in class will face more than just high tuition and text book fees, they will face an empty fridge. While often tuition fees are the hot topic with students, the Camosun College Student Society is facing a new challenge, keeping the food bank stocked. Matteus Clement, the CCSS External executive blames rising tuition fees.

“Tuition fees have gotten so high, that the only place left to scrip and save are in rent and food” said Clement. “This in turn is creating starving students who can’t be at their best.”

The CCSS has a food bank that all students have access to in times of need. In the last two years, the food bank has been empty by mid-week. The CCSS has signed itself up with Cobs bread, picking up day old bread to give out at the food bank and even held a free chili day September 30^th to raise awareness about climbing tuition and rising student debt. For those on student loans, students were shocked to find out that the injustice doesn’t stop after school. An average student loan can take 10 years to pay off and people will often pay almost double what they borrowed.

“You can’t even get a break when you leave school,” Says Clement, “Instead of new beginnings and fresh starts, you have 6 months before the government starts asking for their money with interest.”

These increases have come as the government downloads costs to students to make up for declining public funding. Over the last ten years, per student funding has declined by 23%. At the same time, tuition fees have tripled – an increase 16 times the rate of inflation. If the price of bread increased at the same rate, British Columbians would be paying over $12 per loaf. “Just like food, education has become a necessity,” said Clement, “70% of the work force requires some sort of post secondary education in Canada.”

British Columbia’s current system of post-secondary education is failing in significant ways, but progress can be made. We must work to reduce tuition fees to restore broad access, and make the pursuit of education an opportunity and not an economic punishment. We must also work to increase per student government funding so resource strapped institutions don’t turn to fees to make up the difference, and to ensure the quality of education required for a changing economy. For the sake of students and our economy, we can’t afford not to.

The Camosun College Student Society is the membership organization of more than 8,500 student at Camosun College in Victoria. It is Local 15 of the Canadian Federation of Students, and stands in solidarity with over half a million students across Canada.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COf8GIH6haM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7Pq1Zmads8

http://www.cfax1070.com/newsstory.php?newsId=15514

http://www.cfax1070.com/newsstory.php?newsId=15486

Visit our Elections Page to run for office and decide how we are run. Come back after the nomination deadline to see who is running so you can cast an informed vote.

More than 90% of university students will be paying higher tuition fees this fall, according to a report released today by Statistics Canada. This follows the news that the Government of Canada expects federal student debt to surpass $15 billion this fall.

"Canada is on the verge of bankrupting a generation," said David Molenhuis, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "A lack of government investment has left students and their families footing the bill for Canada's universities."

According to the report, tuition fees rose by 4% for undergraduate students to an average of $5,138. Graduate students faced larger increases, with tuition fees rising by 6.6% to an average of $5,182. By comparison, inflation was only 1.8 percent in the twelve months to July 2010. Tuition fees are currently the single largest expense for most college and university students, and are increasing more than any other cost faced by students and far faster than inflation. Despite some recent increases, federal transfers for post-secondary education are less than half what they were in 1980.

"Maintaining a strong economy depends on a highly educated workforce," added Molenhuis. "The absence of a national vision for post-secondary education has left Canada with a patchwork of different policies. This is no way to deliver higher education."

The Canadian Federation of Students has been calling for the adoption of a federal post-secondary education act that would establish guidelines for funds transferred to the provinces for post-secondary education, ensure accountability, and create national standards for the quality and accessibility of Canada's universities and colleges.

The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more that one-half million students in all ten provinces. The Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organisations have represented students in Canada since 1927.