A4 The Cascade
Volume 4 Issue No. 5
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UCFV Abby, Not Too Shabby By Steve Tait Welcome; glad to see you picked up the latest addition of the Cascade. More importantly, however, I am glad you are reading my column. The focus will be my impressions of the Abbotsford campus, of U.C.F.V, what disturbs me about it, what I like about it and any general observations I have towards it. To start, I, quite frankly, enjoy going to school here; I like the campus and would probably rather not go anywhere else (except maybe Oxford). Although I have a certain fondness towards my school, it is not without its problems or draw backs. I could probably count on half of one of my hands the classes that I actually dislike or have not enjoyed taking here in Abbotsford. I feel the level of instruction is very high. And there are many of my instructors who I have developed some form of a relationship with, or who have influenced me in some way or another. An example of this would be Tim Herron. Tim teaches English. Tim is a good guy. I have taken two classes with him and look forward to more. The first class I did marginally well in, but wanted to do better because English is what I have chosen to go into and love it very much. Tim took me and my writing about two levels higher than it was before I met him. He worked with me
conference. At no time did I feel apprehensive about seeing him or talking to him about my papers. He was generous with his deadlines, which is both a good and a bad thing. But what it did indicate however, is that he really wanted me to get better, to attain that next level of writing; he wanted me to get good. I thank Tim for that and owe him a lot when it comes to my writing ability. I urge anyone who is interested in English to take his classes. Not only that, but he throws one hell of a party too! The second thing I want to touch on is some simple humble advise that I have for you. Last year I learned that there was a person whom I had two or three classes with that felt I made the classroom uncomfortable enough that they were compelled to file a grievance against me. This was probably one of the most stress inducing episodes of my life and obviously in theirs too. I was summoned to the Deans office without any explanation as to why. While waiting for the meeting I tried to deduce what could possibly be the reason the him wanting to see me. Eventually we had our meeting and I found out what had happened . I had made some comments, over the course of the year, that had offended my classmate. I was shocked when I learned who it was because I had never intentionally patiently and was always available for set out to offend. I felt very, very up-
set at the fact that I could inadvertently cause that much discomfort in someone else. We eventually resolved the issue and still have classes together and get along quite nicely. The point here is: be careful of how your conduct yourself around your classmates. That is not to say be timid and wary of everything you say. No, of course not. Speak your mind. Agree, disagree, persuade and grumble. But make sure you do it with reverence and tact. No one needs to feel uncomfortable at school nor does anyone need a grievance on their conscience. Now here is a helpful hint to ease some of the pain of an over abundance of homework. You know those nights when the Canucks are playing but you have too much homework to go and watch the game. You are in the library debating with yourself whether to go to Finnigan 'sand watch the game or sit begrudingly in the library. Going home to watch is not an option because you still need to do research in the library. Find yourself an empty classroom (the last one on the left hand side of the hall, up on the fourth floor, for example; I forget the number and am too lazy to go look - you'll find it). You can always get a sixer to augment the pleasure of watching a hockey game. Of course you will need an empty coke cup from the cafeteria to
Mission Campus Experience ond smaller gym, a magnificent theater that is now the pinnacle of the Fraser Valley Arts community, and a gigantic sports field. While the UCFV wing of the project is still relatively small in comparison to the other campuses, it now leaves a lasting new impression. The campus is possibly best described as inviting and altogether stimulating. The architecture is modern and fresh while the open entranceway leaves students comfort-
ably pursuing their studies. Direct access to a small but fully-serviced library is also one of the great new perks at the campus. The idea of a combined university and high school often brings to mind the image of pure chaos. But an army of Lilliputians unleashed on the gigantic college students is not the case at all, as both schools have cooperated well to keep the institutions divided. It's a novel idea and it works, and the initial and continuing success of the project has silenced even the most skeptical critics.
hold, because new mouths started flapping over the fact that the proposed site was prone to flooding. The new Minister of Education declared it would be "irresponsible to build an educational facility in an area of potential flooding." By 1973, space for classes was obtained in the five towns. Even with a permanent campus slow to materialize, the college was begun. In Chilliwack, it was the Eden bank Trading Post. In Hope(also serving the Fraser Canyon), the basement of the school board offices. In Agassiz(also serving Harrison), it was in the Funk's Insurance Agency building, on Pioneer Avenue. In Abbotsford, W. J. Mouat Secondary School; in Mission, the old hospital building on 5th avenue. Classes began in 1974. Scott Fast, and Art Ross were among the instructors cial Credit was defeated, and the N.D.P. in those days, and they are still here. were installed. Our school was put on But, in those early days, perhaps
even today, no-one was aware of a terrib le threat that hung over every head in Chilliwack ... Yes, a shadow loomed overhead, threatening every-thing we'd built here. And who would defend our motel-campus? Oh, Chilliwack had its heroes. But it also had it's enemies. A very Kirk : Khan sort of ratio. The enemies were brain drain, then a scarcity of courses, then a big screen T.V. You see, sir, while Kirk was meant to win, he still lost Spock, his best friend. It wasa brutal finish, perhaps "Khan" will conquor in defeat again? Their heroes came by the dozens. Everyone remembers Murdo MacLachlan, but what about Tyler Tokaryk --one of the first student advacates of acquiring degree granting status for the new Fraser Valley College. "F.V.C." you find you still hear Continued on Page 7
By Nolan Webb
Flashback ...September 1992. A green(and I mean to the bone) freshie wipes the remaining raindrops from his forehead and steps into the UCFV Mission Campus for the first time. It's dark, it's wet, it's cold, it's lonely and, dear God no, the class is horror of all horrors-European History (No offense E.D.)! Needless to say I never warmed up to the old Mission Campus, with it's conditions that were "intimate" to some but mostly just positively de-
M urd O Ultra By Simon Langeler
Good afternoon, Mr. Langeler. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to gather data pertaining to the origins of the Chilliwack campus-and to make it interesting. As always, if you and your mission impossible force fail, or are captured in your mission, I will deny all knowledge of your existence and activities. This message will selfdestruct. -The Chief.
In the beginning there was a Chilliwack full of churches. On December 3rd, 1960, the Fraser Valley branch of the UBC alumni sponsored a conference in Abbotsford to talk about setting up a junior college in Chilliwack. But the idea was so small, that there were concerns that a community college wouldn't be able to compete with grade 13.
hide your sin. Throw on the TV and watch the game. Between periods zip down to the library, do your research and bang, you get the game and the homework done. That way you avoid looking like a chump the next day in class when your homework is not finished. Finally, some thoughts on the library. I was glad when the library was completed. I think it is a good addition to the campus. My only concern is with the hours. Sometimes I am simply not finished or no ready to go home at nine o'clock. I think they should extend the hours that it is open. the concern may be that the budget may not allow for the extra wages that would have to be paid. But, after nine, you would really not need more than one person to act as a sort of monitor. They could have the library fully functional until nine and then simply have it open for a couple extra hours as a place to study. Perhaps also, another concern may be that there would not be enough people to justify ha,ving it open extra hours. I know several people who feel the way I do. Perhaps even just extending the hours two nights a week would work. At the very least it would be helpful to have the library open longer during midterms and finals. Thank-you for reading; I hope your time here is well spent and you enjoy all that is available to you here at UCFV.
pressing to everyone else. November 1996 ... A grizzled veteran serving the fifth year of his sentence gawks skeptically at the latest government poster-project . It's the Mission joint project-A.K.A. Heritage Park Secondary School and the new UCFV Mission campus. Dazzled by the sheer size of it all, I gaze further into the majestic beauty that is before me. It offers much to my worn senses-A colossal gymnasium, a secOne Mr. Murdo MacLachlan, a prominent member of the group studying the possibility of a site near a "hole in the wall" on Sumas Prairie, recalled the results of this early effort to start a college in the Fraser Valley. "It did not get off the ground." Murdo was a radio celebrity at CHWK 1270. Then in about 1969, or 1970, the Minister of Education suggested that the Fraser Valley would be a good place for a vocational school. Chilliwack and Abbotsford were competitive in their respective interest. Chilliwack's Mayor Crabtree assigned Murdo to head up the efforts of the Chilliwack recommendation. Abbotsford superintendent, W.J. Mouat, worked on the Abbotsford recommendation. A site was picked at the end of Lickman road, in the Chilliwack area. But then came the 1972 election, So-
