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The Chronicle
October 4, 2011
Publisher: Greg Murphy Editor-in-Chief: Gerald Rose Ad Manager: Dawn Salter
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Editorial Page
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Students need to vote to see tuition changes
Students who would like to pay less and get more out of their education should find their way to the polling station. Perhaps the most important goal for college and university students today is to graduate with as little debt as possible and a good job. That might seem idealistic, but if enough students pay attention to the issues and vote accordingly, politicians will feel the pressure and we might see some action. And we need to. Not only does Ontario have the highest tuition rates in Canada, but Ontario students also receive the least amount of funding. Stats Canada conducted a study on the financial impact of student loans and concluded that borrowers were less likely to own investments and their own homes because of high student debt. As such, most parties are promising a tuition freeze and offering students benefits. But with all the talk of the weak economy where does the student really stand? The Ontario Liberals have always carried a strong stance on education. Under the McGuinty government, they froze tuition rates in 2004 and more recently offered the $150 textbook and technology grant. The main issue in this election is funding students from lower and middle-class financial backgrounds. They promise to lower the impact of tuition rates by offering more accessible grants and bursaries while investing in Ontario campuses. That being
said, the liberals intend to lower tuition for these students by 30 per cent, or about $1,600 for university students and $730 for college students. There is also talk of a loan cap of $7,300 per year if the student finds a job out of school. The idea here is to reduce the debt of recent graduates so they can focus on their personal success rather than their depleted bank accounts. However, the Liberals have failed to get immediate results in the past and many of these benefits are time-sensitive. Students graduating this year may not feel the effects of these renewed promises as opposed to students entering or currently enrolled in long-term programs. After the innovative tuition freeze was lifted, in 2006 additional fees jumped 30 per cent. Will current students and recent graduates be able to take advantage of promised benefits or is it just a matter of students being in the right place in their academic careers at the right time? Although the New Democrats came in a little late with advertising their education platform, leader Andrea Horwath has insisted they too intend to freeze tuition rates and will offer compensation to postsecondary institutions over lost revenue. Their plan also promises to eliminate interest on the Ontario portion of student loans, thus allowing the government to pay the difference and ideally put extra money into the pockets of students. In the
early ‘90s Ontario suffered under a deep recession, which prompted former leader Bob Rae to cut funding to social programs, including per capita student funding. In the mid to late ‘90s, then Progressive Conservative leader Mike Harris continued to chip away at per student funding despite a strong economic recovery. Today under Tim Hudak, the Ontario Progressive Conser-
vative party’s stance on postsecondary education focuses on the Ontario student and the middle-class. They promise to increase funding for students from middle-class families and put an end to the foreign scholarship program. However, there are few details on how these changes will arise and their education platform revolves more around elementary and secondary schools than post-secondary institu-
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ditors:
Ashley Anthony, Ashley Bain, Natasha Cohen, Kristian Cuaresma, Amanda Darrock, Patricia DeBres, Hillary Di Menna, Angeline Doucett, Mahmoud El Bayrakdar, Nancy Ellis, Tracey Fidler, Larissa Frankevych, Robynne Henry, Kamesha Horne-Simmons, Chealse Howell, Sarah Hyatt, DJ Johnson, Justin Knaggs, Sarah Labatt, Omar Laing, Sarah LePage, Brandan Loney, Lori Marks, Cameron Mcdonald, Zachary Mclachlan, Ray McNeil, Matt Mcphee, Kimberly Moreau, Derek Morton, Aaron O’toole, Tara Oades, Nicole Patton, Bobby Perritt, Philip Petrovski, Mike Pickford, Tyler Richards, Austin Rogers, Mike Ryckman, Brad Snape, Kaitlyn Tarrant, Denis Umpleby, Amy Valm, Meghan Wels, Emily Wood.
he Chronicle is published by the Durham College School of Me-
dia, Art and Design, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7L7, 721-2000 Ext. 3068, as a training vehicle for students enrolled in Journalism and Advertising courses and as a campus news medium. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the college administration or the board of governors. The Chronicle is a member of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association.
Editor-In-Chief: Gerald Rose
Advertising Production Manager: Kevan F. Drinkwalter
Angie Doucett
dvertising sales:
Mark Antaya, Lesley Bell, Kelly Bounds, Michael Chiadika, Gabriela Corvera, Matthew Henlein, Melissa Mahon, Shawn Managhan, Melissa Matheson Joey Meawasige, Amanda Micks, Sarah Mills, Kimberly Mohns, Kate (Kat) Moore, Vanessa Oishi, Brittany Philp, Kathleen Roach, Tyson Ruck, Lauren Shiels, Mathew Wilson, Ashante Wright, Sherry Zwetsloot
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Publisher: Greg Murphy
tions. So, whether you’re borrowing or paying out of pocket for school, pay attention to what the politicians are saying. Every party’s platform affects the student in one way or another. Voters have the power to hold politicians to their word. Have your say in who directs the next four years of our education.
Feature Editor: Ginny Colling
Photography Editor: Al Fournier
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dvertising design:
Rene Benjamin, Sarah Blastorah, Brittney Brenner, Tara Fergusson, Braedon Jasper, Landon Johnston, Rachel Junker, Robert Lewis, Ashley Mainguy, Rebecca Mark, Josh Martin, Melissa Matheson, Nicole McCormack, Katie McHugh, David McQuad, Tyler O’meara, Martin Plumley, Stacy Salaoras, Paige Sipidias, Katherine Smith, Myles Wiltshire
Ad Manager: Dawn Salter
Technical Production: Darren Fisher