Theft
investicJated’ I
The supervisor of buildings in the Physical Resources Group (PRG) at UW was investigated in January by the Director of Internal Audit and by a supervisor of campus security on charges of theft. Dave Hedley, who was supervisor of buildings in PRG until January 3 1, resigned on January 26 as the investigation -by security supervisor Joe Sehl was proceeding. No formal legal charges have been brought against Hedley by the university. . But Hedley “very narrowly missed an appointment with the according to a worker in judge,” PRG who was closely involved in the two investigations into the charges of theft against Hedley. The man who directed one investigation, Barry Foord, UW Director of Internal Audit, whose position “involves reviewing departmental activities, review of internal controls and various protective measures”, has refused to comment on the case. Sehl also refused to comment on the investigation, “because, as you know, there’s an action against the university on another matter. And everything is before the court now.” The court action Sehl referred to is the law suit against the
Another
university by former PRG director Bill Lobban, who claims that the university dismissed him without cause on January 26, the same day Hedley resigned. “I’m not saying they’re related,” Sehl said about Lobban’s dismissal and Hedley’s resignation. “But the university’s policy is not to comment on any bf that until this action is finished.” UW president Burt Matthews has also refused to comment on the investigation into Hedley’s actions while he was in the PRG, saying that “I have been asked by Mr. Lobban long ago to say ‘nothing about this case.” Lobban, Hedley and Shaun Sloan, Director of Plant Operations in PRG, all confirm that investigations were conducted by Foord and campus security into charges that Hedley used university materials and labor on his person;1 property. The three bosses of PRG and a fourth, former Plant Engineer Helmut Krueger, have been linked to a power struggle in the department which plans the campus and keeps it running. The shake-up in the PRG has resulted in Lobban’s dismissal, Hedley’ s resignation and the termination of Krueger’s Continued on page 3
U W paper? ,
Abundant rumours that a new paper may start on campus began this week. Those contacted about the venture ktiew about it, but would not admit to being its organisers or instigators. Chevron staffer Ernst von Bezold says federation president Rick Smit and BENT chairperson Nick Redding told him informally the new paper, organised as a club, was designed “to drive the chevron out of business”. According te von Bezold, Smit explained this would be accomplished by students withdrawing their fees from the chevron (the feds are confident the chevron will become a separate corporation) and by undercutting the chevron’s advertising base. Smit, contacted later, denied I knowing anything but the rumours already in circulation. He said von Bezold had got his information from a conversation at a party, and “the whole conversation was based on the assumption that there could be another paper on campus.” “It was pure speculation,” added Redding. Smit said his statement about the chevron being undercut was “a prediction - not a threat or a promise”. He added “the chevron will probably go out of business at the hands of the students.” “Don’t try and make it out to beg great federation plot, because it isn’t ,” he stated, “I’m staying clear of all that.” Redding said he knew that there were “a large number of people interested”, .but Smit said he had not yet been approached by the club for federation recognition Smit denounced von Bezold for what he called “adopting a low level of journalism” by reporting the conversation. . A confidential source close to the organisers also implicated former Board of Publications chairperson Randy Barkman, as well’as Smit and Redding. Barkman refused to be interviewed by the chevron. One set of rumours led back to Engineers Hugh Alley and John Chaychuck. Chaychuck would only say that he was interested in forming a “journalism club”, and perhaps bringing in some famous journalists as speakers. Although he admitted the possibility of the club publishing a newspaper he said that nothing was decided at this-point, not even the date of the
next meeting. He said he got the idea “a couple of weeks ago” and an organisational meeting attracted about 15 people. Asked what spurred his interest he said, “That’s a hard thing to define.” Continued on page 17
Exams end on Friday,
in PRG -affair ’
April 2 7 . May the force be with you during
the
NQ relief fcir stiident As we reach the end of tile term, the prospects for student summer employment are still unclear. According to government sources, prospects are just as good,. and perhaps better, than they were this time last year. On -the other hand, most large companies in the K-W area are still not committing themselves to hiring significant numbers of students for the summer. In a chevron survey of the 15 largest local employers it was learned that 25 per cent are suffering cutbacks and layoffs. These companies cannot begin to think of hiring students until their regular employees are re-instated. At the same time, the many footwear manufacturers in the area are experiencing a boom period due to new federal regulations limiting shoe imports. In the context of the provincewide situation, OFS representative, Dale Martin predicts that, “there will be less students finding work this summer than ever before. ’ ’ Recent OFS research indicates student unemployment will probably be an appalling 25 per cent this year, making 1978 “the worst summer ever.” Another worrisome problem, according to Martin, is that student wages generally will be lower, often just at the minimum wage level. For example, both the Ontario Government “Experience f
‘78” Pr,ogrrtm, and the federal “Young Canada Works” programs are generally offering minimum wage. if you are unable to find a job this summer, Unemployment Insurance won’t be of much help. A UIC spokesperson said new rules require a minimum of 13 weeks insured earnings within the last year before you may even apply for benefits in this area. In the search for the elusive summerjob, another major stumbling block may be early cut-off dates for applications. Big student employers such as J.M. Schneider, Experience ‘78, and the City of Waterloo closed applications weeks ago. In spite of the generally gloomy outlook, what steps can the individual student who is still seeking summer employment take? The chevron survey uncovered two main alternative routes. Applications are still being accepted by the footwear companies, some of the big tire manufacturers, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and hopefully, a number of small firms. In addition, the Manpower ‘Centre for Students (a separate office of Canada Manpower) will continue to take applications throughout the summer. Officer in charge, Carollyne Hood, said that the centre receives a stream ofjob offers every day for “s~*imming instructors, farm workers, painters :, factory
this time. And may the farce be with you later. -photo by tony pan
iinemploye
warehousers and so on”. Hood claims that most of these Liobs are for the whole summer and are above minimum wage. Job-creation branch officer, John Cullen, expects Secretary of State approvals for the Young Canada Works proposals for Kitchener-Waterloo to be finalized over the next couple of weeks. These projects provide another source of employment available through the Manpower Centre for Students placement service. As yet, neither Hood nor Cullen are able to give statistics on the number of jobs -which will be available to local students this summer. A fear expressed by Martin of OFS is that students from poorer families will be hardest hit by high student unemployment, since their parents may also be out of work at present and therefore unable to support them.
The ultimate outcome will be a higher drop-out rate, as was already evidenced in the 1977-78 school year when a lower proportion of high school students enrolled in university. Martin places the onus for the short-term solution of the student employment crisis on the provincial and federal governments. He demands that “the government should have a massive student job creation program as well as a more realistic student aid plan.” The student aid plan should offer higher levels of support during the school year and summer support for those without jobs. The alternative to government action thissummer will probably be one out of four students out of work - 25 per cent of students unable to save any money to return to school in September.
This sign predicts that getting unfortunately, right.
may
-lo&e
atkins
I
Unemployment
Survey
On the local scene at UW the chevron surveyed 350 students about the summer job situation. Of the students surveyed we found only 99 have summer jobs lined up, 240 are still looking, and 11 had other plans for the summer. Out of the 240 still unemployed, 174 were expecting (hoping) to find a full time job, 48 were expecting to find a part time job and 18 were expecting to be unemployed. Of the students looking for a job, 65% have found it harder this year than last year to find one. Of those that have jobs 79.8% of the jobs do not relate to the students programme at UW and of those expecting jobs only-l l-percent expect a job related to their programme. c ld
a job
be difficult. The suggestion is, -photo by john w. bast