The Silhouette - Oct. 17, 2013

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The

Silhouette McMASTER UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

ANDY GETS LOST IN TRANSLATION SEE C1-C8

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013 VOL. 84 NO. 10

Mac throwback

Take a trip to an older McMaster and see that the more things change, the more they stay the same

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Look for the #throwbackthursday emblem inside every section to find more topics on this theme

ACADEMICS

Gone but not forgotten Confucius Institute’s absence hurting those students looking to take Chinese language classes of “Not Offered” statuses, bringing last year’s total of 11 courses down to a single offering: an introductory Mandarin class. McMaster’s ability to provide stu“The number of Chinese dents with Chinese language and courses that are being offered this culture courses took a significant year are obviously less than last blow this past spring. year, but actually the number of Following the university’s students affected by that is not decision to separate from the that high. Last year there were 49 Confucius Institute last February, students taking introductory Chithe Faculty of Humanities is atnese; this current year there are tempting to provide students with 44 students [in the course].” at least a modicum of its former The Faculty of Humanities is offerings, having relied on this now responsible for offering and foreign partnership since 2008 to maintaining the course, which provide students with a variety does not come of courses for without a cost. those who “I have to wanted to learn find the money about China or myself now. languages. “Disconnecting The Confucius The acting ourselves from the Institute proDean of HuConfucius Institute was vided a way of manities, Ken an important step we offering these Cruikshank, had to take” courses; somedefends the one else was school’s deciKen Cruikshank, Acting helping to pay sion to sepaDean of Humanities for them,” said rate. Cruikshank. “DisconIn light necting ourof the faculty offering a beginselves from the Confucius Instiner’s language course this year, tute was an important step we had there is no assurance that this to take – the University as a whole program will be offered in future had to take – in order to address years. “We will try as best we can a human rights complaint,” said to continue to mount the course Cruikshank. but I can’t guarantee every year. A glance at the undergraduBut there is certainly a continued ate course timetable yields a slew Andrew Terefenko Production Editor

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REASONS TO WRITE

commitment and it will continue to be a course we offer.” The University separated from the Confucius Institute following a human rights complaint by a former institute-provided teacher over questionable hiring practices by the Chinese government agency. “We are currently not exploring international partnerships such as we had through the Confucius Institute. I think that way there is a lesson to be learned from the work that we did,” said Cruikshank. “It seemed initially to be a very promising avenue and certainly a number of universities continue to have Confucius Institutes but we suspect they are going to have the same problems.” On the topic of possible future initiatives, Cruikshank said “we would think of the possible repercussions to try to perhaps guarantee that we have complete freedom in terms of hiring, but that’s obviously going to be difficult in working out partnerships. We will have to – in the future – take steps to ensure we have more control than we did with the Confucius Institute.” The Confucius Institute continues to be partnered with 11 other universities and establishments across Canada. @andrewterefenko

Province to tackle tuition billing, deferral fees Anqi Shen Online Editor A new proposal from the Ministry of Colleges, Training and Universities suggests the province is looking to reduce deferral fees, regulate ancillary fees more and put a threshold on flat-fee charges. According to the Ministry’s proposal, which has not yet been made public, changes to tuition payment and ancillary fees in Ontario could be implemented by 2015. The Ministry outlined a province-wide cap on late fees and reduction in deferral fees. Student advocates have been outspoken about deferral fees being an unnecessary penalty for students struggling financially and those who receive OSAP in two installments. While student groups including OUSA and CFSOntario acknowledged the Ministry’s work to address the issues, they continue to push for elimination of deferral fees and flat-fee tuition. Currently at McMaster University, students opting into an OSAP “Flex Plan” are charged $35 per term in deferral fees. Non-OSAP students unable to make a full payment by Sept. 1 are charged a one-time $35 late fee on top of monthly interest, which amounts to 14.4 per cent annually. Spencer Graham, VicePresident (Education) of the McMaster Students Union, said deferral fees are unfair and should

DREAMING UP A STORM

ideally be eliminated, not just reduced. “We believe universities should have flexibility in their funds for students who will end up paying their tuition anyway,” Graham said. The Ontario government also addressed ancillary fees in its proposal. According to OUSA, Ontario students pay some of the highest ancillary fees in the country. The Ministry proposed to clarify that institutions cannot charge extra fees for credential completion or graduation. “We’re pretty happy the government is starting to talk to us more about technology,” Graham said. “A lot of programs use technology that charges students extra – if those things are made mandatory, that’s not allowed.” Both the MSU and OUSA are recommending a 20 per cent off rebate for students who have to buy e-learning materials. Their estimate is that 20 per cent is roughly the evaluation component that should already be covered in students’ tuition. The MSU’s “Stop, You’ve Paid Enough” campaign launched this fall encouraged students to report and take notice of “mandatory” course materials besides textbooks that they had to pay for out of pocket. For example, software such as APLIA, CAPSIM and Mastering Chemistry should not be mandated by professors for evaluation purposes. MINISTRY, A3

COMEDY IS KING

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PLAYOFFS IN SIGHT


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