By THOMAS CONNELLStaff Writer

“If it sounds too good to be true, itusually is,” says Detective ConstableMarjorie Smith, of the NiagaraRegional Police Service (NRP).

While that may be something ofa cliché, it is nevertheless a fact, asfive Niagara College studentsrecently discovered.

The five were victims of aninvestment scam perpetrated by afellow business student, who wasarrested by NRP officers lastweek.

Brenda Seca, 27, was arrestedJan. 30 at her Port Colborne homeby Smith and charged with threecounts of fraud over $5,000 andtwo counts of fraud under $5,000.She is a student in the BusinessAdministration – OperationsManagement (Co-op) program atNiagara College’s Glendale cam-pus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Seca was held in jail overnightin Welland, then released on a$25,000 surety after appearing inbail court, at 59 Church St., in St.Catharines on Jan. 31.

At the time of her arrest, Seca wasserving a conditional 20-month sen-tence for a previous fraud convic-tion. The earlier charges stem fromanother investment scam she orches-trated while working as an employeeof the Canadian Imperial Bank ofCommerce in Port Colborne.

Police would not give specificsconcerning this earlier case, otherthan to say it was a charge of fraudover $5,000 and involved “sub-stantial amounts of money.”

According to Smith, it was Seca’sbanking and investment backgroundthat enabled her to gain the confi-dence of her fellow students.

“She was very persuasive andbacked up her pitch with sophisticat-ed-looking documents and paper-work,” said Smith.

She said Seca promised to dou-ble investors’ money in a matter ofweeks. However, the moneyinvolved was never invested.

Any disciplinary action whichcould have been taken against Secaby the college “is now a moot point,”according to Darrell Neufeld, man-ager of corporate communications atNiagara College.

According to Neufeld, Seca has“not shown up for classes sincesometime in November.Therefore, it is not a matter thathas anything to do with the collegeor programs or staff.”

“Obviously, we’re distressedany time students are victimized,and, fortunately, she has beendealt with by the justice system,”says Neufeld.

Seca refused to comment on thecase when contacted at her PortColborne home, where she isunder house arrest.

Niagara Newswww.niagara-news.com

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By DONNA DURICStaff Writer

Niagara College President Dan Patterson, alongwith four other college presidents, has made a plea tothe provincial government for an extra $127 millionfor Ontario colleges.

“The colleges are sending a strong signal to thegovernment that chronic under-funding has led to adecrease in per-student funding, which is seriouslythreatening quality at our 24 colleges,” saysPatterson.

Patterson, who is chair of the Association ofColleges of Applied Arts and Technology of Ontario’s

(ACAATO) Committee of Presidents (COP), present-ed a case to the Ministry of Colleges, Training andUniversities outlining the need for additional fundingat a press conference in Queen’s Park Jan. 21.

Since 1995, government funding for Ontario col-leges has dropped from a $809-million yearly operat-ing grant to $762 million. Per-student funding hasdropped from $7,552 in 1991, to $4,379 today, andenrolment has increased by 34 per cent in the sameperiod. Ontario colleges receive one of the lowest lev-els of government funding of any province in Canada.

Presidents make plea for funding

At left, Mark Hardwick, Welland Student Administrative Council (SAC) director of communicationsand media, and Grant Barron, a second-year Computer Engineering Technology (Co-op) programstudent, hold the wood for a contestant in a log sawing contest on Monday, Feb. 3. The contest waspart of Winterfest, a weeklong series of outside events held by Welland SAC from Feb. 3 to Feb. 7.

Photo by Kathryn Hanley

Student arrested,charged with fivecounts of fraud

Continued on page 3

See Page 2

They came, they sawed, they conquered

See Page 20

Page 2, Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003

Glendale promoting ‘greenhouse sales’By AMANDA KLASSEN

Staff WriterValentine’s Day is a special

time of the year when you get anextra chance to show someonehow much you care. Greenhousestudents at the Glendale campusin Niagara-on-the-Lake are mak-ing it a little cheaper and easierthis year by offering festive flowergift bags for less than $10.

The little red gift bags will havea heart-shaped sucker, a teddybear key chain and a variety offlowers including red miniaturecarnations, miniature white dou-ble daisies and pussy willows.

The gift bags of flowers will beon sale for $9.95 in front of thebookstore at the Glendale campusand at the Welland campus.

There are only 125 of the giftbags made but there are alsoother plants that will be avail-able at the greenhouse for yourspecial someone.

“The idea was to promotesome greenhouse sales andactivity at this time of the year,”says Peter Thompstone, a horti-cultural professor.

“Buying flowers on Valentine’sDay can be a very expensiveproposition. We are trying to pro-vide a nice alternative that workswith a student’s budget.”

Thompstone says that, from astudent’s standpoint, flowers typi-fy pleasure and romance.

“It is a chance for the studentsto show that they are learningfloral design and give them a lit-tle bit of exposure.”

Students get a chance to learnthe entire process of marketing anarrangement, from the planningthrough to the sale of the flowers,says Thompstone.

“It reflects the business world.”The gift bag is a modest pre-

sent at a reasonable price. A stu-dent could give it to a specialsomeone or a friend.

“I think it is a chance for thestudents to showcase what theyare doing, and it indicates that flo-ral design is still part of the cur-riculum here.”

Students are preparing for the35th annual School ofHorticulture and AgribusinessOpen House and Plant Sale onSaturday, March 22, and Sunday,March 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Included with the flowerarrangements are red heart-shaped suckers. The flowersand little teddy bear key chainsare removable from the giftbag. These are modestlypriced gifts that make a goodpresent for friends or that spe-cial someone.

Christine Martin, 36, left, a Horticulture Technician program stu-dent, Tara Barbour, 21, a Landscape Technician program student,and Betsie Menchetti, a part-time Horticulture Technician programstudent, prepare the Valentine’s Day flower arrangements in theGlendale campus greenhouse.

Betsie Menchetti, a part-time Horticulture Technician program stu-dent, prepares one of the flower arrangements that will be avail-able for the Valentine’s Day sale at the Glendale campus green-house in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Photos by Amanda Klassen

Students from the Glendale campus greenhouse are preparing Valentine’s Day flower arrangements,which will sell for $9.95. Displayswill be in front of the bookstores at the Glendale campus and the Welland campus.

Year 2 Journalism-Print program students will be producing the official program for the 35th annual School of Horticulture and

Agribusiness Open House and Plant Sale. Pick up a copy on Saturday,March 22, and Sunday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003, Page 3

By JASON GROSSEStaff Writer

The double cohort is coming toBrock University in a major way.

Brock University, in St.Catharines, has reported the sec-ond highest increase in applica-tions from secondary school stu-dents in Ontario, a total of 27,557versus last year’s 11,540.

Brock University PresidentDavid Atkinson says there are sev-eral reasons for the increasebesides the double cohort.

“Brock has become higher onpeople’s radar,” he says. “We’veadded a whole pile of new pro-grams.”

“We’re the beneficiary of geog-raphy. The biggest cohort of stu-dents is in the 416 (telephone) area(code), (and) right now we’re get-ting almost 20 per cent of our stu-dents from the Greater Toronto

Area (GTA).”Atkinson explains that Brock

has had an “86 per cent increase infirst-choice applications” and ofthat, “60 to 65 per cent actuallyend up coming here (Brock).”

“The important numbers arealways first and second choice,”he says.

He says Brock usually expects“about 40 per cent of second-choice applications” to actuallyaccept offers.

Atkinson’s point is that of the5,310 students Brock plans toaccept, the 65 per cent of first-choice applicants and the 40 percent second-choice applicants whowill accept Brock’s offer do notadd up.

“If you take 60 per cent of 5,310and understand that we are onlytaking 3,725 (students), you canappreciate we have a problem.”

However, because of the cohortand sheer volume of studentsapplying to university in Ontario,

Atkinson says, “the choices don’tmean as much anymore.”

“Students are applying to what-ever school they think they evenremotely might be interested inattending. They are going to cometo the open house in March andthen they are going to make uptheir mind.”

Atkinson says Brock has also

seen a 30 per cent increase in thefourth-, fifth- and sixth-choiceapplications. He says this is “kindof a wildcard” in terms of howmany of these students will actual-ly choose to attend Brock.

“It’s a good problem in the sensethat we are going to get some verygood students. It’s not a very goodproblem for the students who don’tget in here.”

The reality, Atkinson says, is“even as it is, obviously we havemany more applications, even infirst and second choice, than wecan possibly accommodate.”

The solution? “They’ll have to goto other universities as they alwayshave,” he adds.

More alarming, Atkinson says,is the fact “there are about 9,000students who have applied to uni-versity in Ontario for which thereare no places at all.”

“You have to keep in mind whatexactly it is the provincial govern-ment guaranteed. What the provin-cial government said was ‘there willbe a place for every qualified andmotivated student in the province –at a university.’They did not say at aparticular university or they did notsay in a particular program.”

Double cohort lives up to hype at Brock

By MEAGHAN HUTTONStaff Writer

This is the last academic semes-ter for many students, and someare becoming stressed about whatthe future holds.

With the semester in full swing,many students are pondering whatto do, whether to start their bud-ding careers or return to the booksat university or at college.

Nicole Carnegie, 20, ofBrampton, in her second year ofthe Recreation and LeisureServices program, says sheknows what she will be doing inthe fall. “I will be returning tomake up courses.”

She says, once she is finished atNiagara College, she wants to pur-sue a career in her hometown.

“I want to get a job in the cityhall recreation department inBrampton, programming for chil-dren’s events.”

Julie Sullivan, 22, in theFitness and Health Promotionprogram, says she hopes that ongraduation she will get a job inher chosen field.

“I want to get a job as a fitnesstrainer and work in a health club asa personal trainer for a bit. Then Iwould like to move to the YMCA,where I can work with people ofvarious ages.”

Many students don’t know thecollege offers services to help stu-

dents, whether it is applying to fur-ther their education or finding apost graduation job.

In addition to jobs online,Niagara College’s Job Centresoffer services and support for job

searches, from helping withresumés, cover letters, and inter-view skills to job search strategies.

Carnegie says she alreadyknows where to look because herinstructors have given her and herclassmates lots of resources.

Jason Garcia, 21, of Hamilton, asecond-year student in the Law andSecurity Administration program,says he has already begun jobsearching. “There are many Web

sites for employment services.”For students who aren’t sure

where they want to go after Aprilor next September, theCounselling office is alwaysopen. It offers confidential ser-vices to all students attendingNiagara College.

The office has professionallytrained counsellors who can helpwith such things as admissionsprocedures, resolving academicdifficulties, developing betterstudy skills and improving deci-sion-making abilities, all in a con-fidential and supportive setting.

Carnegie says she is “notstressing out” about getting a jobbecause she knows it’s a field inwhich she is qualified foremployment.

“My name is well known inrecreation in Brampton, so it willnot be hard.”

Garcia says he has been lookingfor a job with the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Police. Hehopes to get a job at the CanadianForensic Science Centre inToronto. In September, he wants togo to university to study for fouryears in a science field, then gointo his career of choice. He hasn’tmade a final decision, however.

The on-campus Job Centres canassist students looking for jobs.The offices are in Welland, inSE101 and at Glendale, in W115,

between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.weekdays. Appointments can bemade by calling 905-735-2211,ext. 7777 at Welland, or 905-641-2252, ext. 4165 at Glendale.

Students who are continuingtheir education or are just notsure what they want to do can

visit Counselling Services at theWelland campus in SE102, orthe Glendale campus, in W102.Information and appointmentscan be obtained by calling 905-735-2211, ext. 7778 in Wellandor 905-641-2252, ext. 4409 atGlendale.

Kristina Nadeay, 22, a second-year Early Childhood Educationprogram student, walks into the Job Centre at Niagara College’sWelland campus. The Job Centres, at all campuses, offer ser-vices and support for job searches including help with resumés,cover letters, interview skills and search strategies.

Photo by Meaghan Hutton

Students stressed over job opportunities

Colleges need more financial help from governmentContinued from page 1

“The numbers speak for them-selves,” says Patterson. “We canno longer pretend we can do morewith less. We can’t.”

Patterson made a request toDiane Cunningham, minister ofcolleges, training and universities,that per-student funding beincreased to the national average.

“The minister has indicatedthat she will examine our requestand we’ll see if additional dol-lars can be made available,” saysPatterson. “Without additionalassistance from the government,the college could find itself in adeficit situation.”

The government does not allowcolleges to operate under deficits,for if they did, colleges wouldhave to look to outside sourcesfor money, such as fundraising,or they would have to trim exist-ing expenditures, such as invest-ments in technology and mainte-nance costs.

“The colleges are in a realcrunch. We’ve got to invest in theclassroom,” says Patterson.

Brian Tamblyn, president ofGeorgian College, of Barrie, Ont.,is chair of COP’s funding commit-tee. He says one of the main con-cerns he addressed to the ministeris that while colleges receive the

same amount of funding they did12 years ago, operating costs havegone up. He says he’s also con-cerned that expected staff retire-ments could result in a gap in thelabour market.

“From hereon, in the next 10years, there will be unprecedent-ed numbers of retirements andthat’s going to be a major crisis.Skills shortages is a big issue,”Tamblyn concluded.

Tamblyn says the ministry hasalready committed an extra $82million for the 2003/2004 bud-get, but colleges need $127 mil-lion more to avoid a risk of run-ning “large” operating deficits

and “doing things that willdetract quality from programs.”

Tamblyn says the ministry willannounce its budget plans in Marchand that “no promises have beenmade,” but he’s “hopeful the situa-tion will have a positive outcome.”

“The minister’s response wasencouraging and she realized wehad a point.”

Patterson says that collegeswill “pay tremendous dividends”to the economy if additionalfunding is made available.

“Colleges have been a truesuccess story in Ontario. Itwould be foolish not to reinvestin colleges at this point.”

Manystudents don’t

know thecol lege offers

services tohelp students.

‘They’ l l haveto go to other

universities . . .’-David

Atkinson

‘It would befool ish not to

reinvest incol leges atthis point. ’

-DanPatterson

Page 4, Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003

By SHANNON BURROWSStaff Writer

Police officers aren’t perfect.Twenty-one-year-old *Sam

Buxton says he experienced thisfirst-hand on Jan. 8 during hisdaily drive to Niagara College.

Buxton says he was drivingwithin a speed range of 120 to 125km/h in the centre lane on theQueen Elizabeth Way, “going withthe flow of traffic,” when a policecruiser moved in front of himwithout signalling, cutting him off.

“I was about four feet behind thecruiser. This happened fast, withno warning from him that he waschanging lanes, so he kind of putme in this situation. I couldn’t justhit the brakes when he did (cut meoff),” says Buxton, adding therewere cars behind him at the time.

He says traffic began passinghim on the left again, so “I basi-cally tried to get out of the situa-tion as best I could. My choicewas, logically, to pass since trafficon the left started to speed up andpass. So I signalled and wentaround the cruiser ... and moved

back into the centre lane. Momentslater, the police cruiser was behindme, lights flashing, signalling forme to pull over.”

Buxton says the police officer saidhe pulled Buxton over for “carelessdriving,” which the officer explainedwas “being unaware of your sur-roundings and endangering and dis-respecting other drivers.”

“He gave me the harshest fine pos-sible because I followed too closely,

even if he put me in the position. Iwas speeding, even if the other carswere doing it as well. He can pickwhomever he wants to call for it. Iguess that day he just had my num-ber,” says Buxton.

He says he felt the officer’s atti-tude was “intimidating” and“threatening.” He says the officermade it seem as though “I was dri-ving around ... drunk and ... enroute to killing somebody. He said

to me, ‘You’re going to kill some-body, and I don’t want it to be acop,’ ... as though killing anyoneelse would be all right in hisbooks. I feel he could haveapproached the situation better.”

Buxton says he doesn’t considerhimself guilty of careless drivingand he feels that it is “an incredi-bly harsh charge.” A charge ofspeeding would have been moreappropriate, he adds.

Buxton says he intends to fightthe charge of careless driving andgo to court. Since he’s “not thebest public speaker,” he enlistedthe assistance of POINTTS.

“This is a group of people whospecialize in traffic tickets and knowthe laws of the highway, up anddown. I feel they’ll do the best theycan with what happened.” He sayshe’s taking this action because “care-less driving is a big thing, and I don’tfeel that I was. I don’t want to havethis on my record.”

Buxton says he’d done some“reading up” on POINTTS andfound they are “expensive,” butsays it’s worth it if they win his

case, because his auto insurancecosts will stay down and he won’tlose points on his license.

“I thought they were very openand honest,” he says of the indi-viduals working at POINTTS.“They seem to love what they doand are very helpful with how theydo it. It makes me feel a little lessstressed knowing I have someonelike that in my corner helping methrough this.”

He says his case cost a flat rateof $500, which is more than whatthe ticket’s fine was, but simplypaying the ticket will affect his dri-ving record and insurance.

“The reason people go toPOINTTS is to try to fight ticketsthey feel they shouldn’t havereceived.” He says he would be hitwith six demerit points and muchhigher insurance costs if he losesin court.

Buxton says he’s hoping thecharge will at least be reduced tospeeding.

“That would be a big load offmy shoulders. The one hard thingto look past is the fact that I’m

going up against someone who isan officer of the law.”

“While he may have been hav-ing a bad day and took it out onme, he’s the one wearing thebadge. I just hope the truth worksin this case, and while I’m notlooking to get off entirely, I amhoping for a lesser charge.”

Buxton says he will be notifiedof his court date during the nextfour to six weeks and then he willgo over the police report with theindividuals at POINTTS.

“I don’t think I’ve hit 120 km/hon the highway since, so I guessthey’ve (the police) already wonthat battle. There are a lot of peo-ple out there who drive recklessly,with no concern for anyone.”

“There’s a lot at stake whenyou’re flying through traffic to getsomewhere faster. I wasn’t evendoing that, and I received a harshfine. Those who are doing that(reckless driving) may end upreceiving an even harsher fine,which could be death, or the deathof others.”

*Name was changed

Driver to fight careless driving charge

Girl Guides will unveil new version of cookiesBy MEAGHAN HUTTON

Staff WriterWith their ever-so-wide smiles,

the girls in brown and blue willhave something to smile about thisspring.

The Girl Guides of Canada(GGC) will unveil a new versionof the familiar chocolate andvanilla sandwich cookies. Bakedby Dare Foods Ltd., their newcookies will have a new lookand new packaging. They willcontinue to have the great tasteand quality that Canadians love,though.

For over 70 years,Canadians have been buyingGirl Guide cookies in variousforms and shapes.

In the 1930s the cookies wererich in fruits, nuts and spices.However, these luxuries were

not available during the SecondWorld War and the recipe waslost. A few years later, the vanil-la crème cookie was introduced,as well as such flavours asmaple cream and shortbread.Numerous types and flavourswere sold until 1960 whenGGC, Ontario Council, enteredinto a contract with ChristieBrown & Co. for the manufac-ture and delivery of a sugar-topped cookie. Within a shorttime, Girl Guides selected thefamous chocolate and vanilla

sandwich cookie.“For 40 years, we’ve enjoyed

a very successful relationshipwith Nabisco Ltd. (formerlyChristie Brown), who has beenour exclusive baker. However,as of spring 2003, Dare Foodswill take over and will workwith GGC to build our cookieprogram,” says Kelly Bohar, atthe Niagara area Girl Guide

office.“The look of the cookie is dif-

ferent,” says Ann Harbridge, GirlGuides president.

Trish Derby, GGC deliverymanager, said the details of thecookies were kept a secret until theofficial launch on Jan. 15.

Cookie Campaigns, which netthe Guides about $14 million ayear, feature chocolate and vanil-la from January to May andchocolate mint from October toDecember. The new selling priceof the cookies will be $4, up

from the $2.75 to $3.50 of thepast. This price will be lockedfor three years and will ensure astable contribution of support forGuiding programs for the future,says Bohar.

The cookies will also have anew box bearing the new coloursthe Guides chose with theirrevamp for the 21st century.Harbridge says they have updat-ed their cookies to match theirupdated look.

Diane Belcourt, Girl Guide

leader, says that with therevamp of the Girl Guides, shehas seen a change in the mem-bership and the participationwith the guides.

Belcourt says although shehas seen a change in the mem-bership, she hasn’t seen thatgreat a transition for the newcookies.

“Right now it is just a split.Some people are willing to takethe change, but others are disap-pointed in the change.”

Bohar says, overall, she doesn’tknow what the feedback istowards the cookies. “It is tooearly to tell if the cookies will be asuccess.”

In the fall, the GGC will beunveiling a new mint cookie, to goalong with the new crème-filledcookies.

For more information, GGCcan be contacted at 1-800-565-8111 or the local Girl Guidebranch can be reached at 905-735-4688.

Call us at 1-800-777-39211-800-777-39211-800-777-39211-800-777-39211-800-777-3921or visit our Web site at www.dyc.edu for details.

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Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003, Page 5

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Career Fair for Niagara, Brock students

By LESLIE BRANCONNIERStaff Writer

The Niagara College andBrock University annual CareerFair will have over 55 employerspresent.

On Feb. 13, at the Glendalecampus’s lower level, there willbe a career fair for NiagaraCollege and Brock University,from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We’re especially pleased withthe variety and range of jobsavailable,” said Janet Forfar, JobCentre consultant in charge ofgraduate services at the college’sWelland campus.

There will be full-time and co-op opportunities available.

This will give the students achance to speak with employ-ers, to research what specificjobs interest them and to get toknow more about the specificsof the jobs.

“Even if you are not jobsearching, it’s a good chance tofind out what’s out there,” saidForfar.

Students should dress accord-ingly and bring resumés withthem. This is a chance for stu-

dents to impress employers.There will not be mini-inter-

v i e w savai lab le ,but studentswill be ableto fill outa p p l i c a -tions andtalk withprospectiveemployersface to face.

J a yMeilstrup,g e n e r a lmanager ofC a s i n oN i a g a r a ,will be thes p e c i a lguest atthe event, speaking in theYurich auditorium at 10:30 a.m.

Meilstrup will be sharing his

expertise and telling studentsabout the available positions and

job require-ments atC a s i n oN i a g a r a ,e x p l a i n i n gthe skillsthey arelooking for,and givingadvice onhow to get ajob with thecasino.

Organizersnote thate m p l o y e r s ,who at onetime werehiring onlyu n i v e r s i t y

students, now have begun tohire college students and vice-versa, because of these joint

career fairs.Bus rides will be available for

students at the college’sWelland and Maid of the Mistcampuses.

On Feb. 20, there will be a

career fair at the college’s Maidof the Mist Centre. This fair,which will have 32 employerspresent, is specifically targetedat the hospitality and tourismindustries.

Niagara College Glendale Campus Lower Ground Level135 Taylor Road Niagara-on-the-lake

(QEW, Glendale Exit)

•Meet employers from Niagara and beyond

•Access recruiters from a variety of industries and professions

•Maximize the chances to get the job that you want

sponsored by career connections

Thursday, February 13, 2003 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hot Prospects, the jointCareer Fair 2003 of NiagaraCollege and Brock University,on Feb. 13, will include a Dressfor Success fashion show.

The show, an added featurethis year, will be held at 12:30p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. on thelower ground level of the col-

lege’s Glendale campus inNiagara-on-the-Lake.

The planning and promotionclass students of the Business— Sales and Marketing pro-gram have organized the showwith the latest in business attirefrom local retailers in theNiagara region.

Fashion Show tobe held at Glendale

‘Even if you arenot job searching,

it ’s a goodchance to f indout what’s out

there. ’- Janet Forfar

Glendale campuswill be home to full-time,co-op careeropportunities

Page 6, Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003

Winter mornings can be frustrating.Waking up, you wonder how long you’ll have to stand out in the cold to

clean the snow off your car. Then you drive to school, battling through slushand bad drivers only to find yourself in a full parking lot once here.

Niagara College has more than five different parking lots but, in the wintertime, one-third of the area is full of piled snow while the remaining area isfilled with cars, parked by people who have forgotten what the lot looked likebefore the snow fell.

If you think the parking here is bad now, it isn’t going to improve.When the YMCA is completed in 2004 at the Welland campus, there will

be even less parking space there. The YMCA is building on the college’sproperty and on to a parking lot. The YMCA has decided to build its ownparking lot, but the question is where?

The Regional Municipality of Niagara has plans to improve WoodlawnRoad to provide access to the YMCA and college parking lots.

The college has no intention of making another parking lot either. The spaceis available to build one, but, and you’ve heard this before, the money isn’t.

However, the parking problem might be solved before the YMCA opens itsdoors. The double cohort is coming.

Accommodating what may be a surprising increase in student enrolmentwill come in two forms: parking space and living space. These can place hugefinancial burdens on the college and that is something even I understand,especially if the financial burdens are downloaded onto the students.

Perhaps the college and the YMCA can work together financially to build aparking lot, before it becomes a noticeable and frustrating problem.

SARA CAMPBELL

It seems as though the United States government is in a hurry to start another war.Although United Nations (UN) weapons inspectors haven’t found the “smoking

gun,” U.S. President George W. Bush is insistent on moving the war machine backto the Persian Gulf.

Some think the tension between George W. and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein isbased on an 11-year grudge, developed when George Bush Sr. invaded Iraq duringthe Gulf War. Many now think George W. wants to finish the fight started by hisfather.

Others believe his motivation lies in the land, or is, rather, the oil in the land.Bush, being an oilman from Texas, would probably like to have control of the vastamounts of oil in Iraq.

Few people seem convinced Iraq is a real threat to the U.S. or that Hussein willuse weapons of mass destruction in a first strike. Most nations seem to want to waitfor a green light from the UN before making a move.

Since the military campaign in Afghanistan, Bush has lost much of the world’ssupport for his war on terrorism. Tony Blair, the British prime minister, once saidBritain would “stand shoulder to shoulder” with the U.S., but that support iswavering.

Blair recently visited Bush at Camp David to discuss the possible Iraqi war, butBlair is not as quick to help out as he was a year ago. Other nations are also slowto jump on the war bandwagon for a second time. There seems to be a lack of enthu-

siasm to chase down terrorists in a country that has not been linked to terroristactivities against the U.S., yet.

Polls show that Bush is losing support at home as well. In the past year, he haslost about 30 percentage points in popular opinion polls, dragging his support levelbelow 60 per cent.

Retired U.S. Army General Norman Schwarzkopf, who led the U.S. troops in theGulf War, has suggested that Bush wait for the UN Security Council to give thegreen light before making a move, because there is just not enough evidence to war-rant an attack. Other members of Bush’s government are voicing concern about theexpected attack.

The recent State of the Union Address was important for Bush. It is now the mid-dle of his term, so he needs to have a unified country to go to war and also to winanother election. There have been many anti-war demonstrations, protesting anattack against Iraq, in not only the U.S. but also many other nations. These demon-strations do not indicate support for the Iraqi government, but simply a word of cau-tion to the U.S. government before the storm begins.

Maybe Bush should be focusing on the other battle: winning another election. IfBush forgets about the American people too much, he will find that he has starteda war he is unable to finish. The American voters will have forgotten him and cho-sen a new leader.

LORI LANGLEY

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Editorials

Bush battles war, American support

College’s parking lots need to change

The Niagara News is a practical lab for the Journalism-Print program, covering the college community and other areas of interest.Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the management of the Niagara News or the administration of

Niagara College, Room V10, 300 Woodlawn Rd., Welland, Ont. L3C 7L3Phone (905) 735-2211 / 641-2252 / 374-7454 / FAX (905) 736-6003

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Editor-in-chief: Neil McGregor, manager, Communications and Information Technology division;Managing Editor: Phyllis Barnatt, co-ordinator, Journalism-Print program;

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Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003, Page 7

Opinions

“When you get all your projectsall at once, it’s overwhelming.” “A couple of days before a test.”

“We’re in a good program forthat. During a test period, whenteachers don’t correspond witheach other and assignments pileup.”

“At school, in long three-hourclasses. It’s pretty stressful atwork. With my girlfriend themost.”

“When something’s wrong withmy family. (It was) less stressfulsecond-year. First-year, firstsemester, is the most stressful.Second-year is less because youhave a feel for what’s going on.”

Street TalkB y R O B Y N E S I M P S O N a n d E L Y S E D E B R U Y N

S t a f f W r i t e r s

“When do you feel the most stressed out and why?”

As I sit at my computer, listen-ing to the hum of my classmatesworking on the Niagara News, Ifall into deep thought. Their laugh-ter and melodious voices ring withthe exuberance of happy youngpeople and I am sorrowfullyreminded that soon, I may neverhear those voices again.

In two short months, I will be

plunged into the foray of screamingbosses and looming deadlines,yearning for the time when life con-sisted of having as much fun as pos-sible without neglecting yourresponsibilities. If you had somehowneglected them, it wouldn’t result inbeing fired or starving to death.

I know it sounds melodramatic,but I don’t think change is easy for

anyone to accept. For the past yearand a half, my life as a college stu-dent has been like sailing on a tem-peramental ocean, stormy at times,yet, for the most part, tranquil andserene. Now, as I approach theshore of a foreign land, graduationand the work world, I must takewith me what I have learned on myjourney and use it to help me dealwith the challenges that lie ahead.

Though I started college ratherlate in life compared with myclassmates, I knew it was the righttime for me and that no matterwhat, my education would comefirst, and socializing, second. Iwent through the whole party cir-cuit for three years before comingto college, so I was somewhatblasé upon hearing promises ofhaving the time of my life here. Itell you that all changed themoment I walked into the school

on my first day of classes.After exhausting myself going

to every single pub and ComedyNight first semester, you’d havethought I would have had no ener-gy left to learn a thing or get toknow my classmates.

Nevertheless, the energy that thecollege atmosphere generated wasmore than enough to keep me con-stantly inquisitive and full ofcuriosity about everything Ilearned and everyone I met.

Now that my time here is com-ing to a close, I am beginning torealize how rare, fleeting and pre-cious it is to possess that drivinginquisitiveness. It is somethinginherent and unique to beingyoung, something that I fear losingif I become stuck in the routinefamiliarity of work, home, work,home, should these be in my futureafter I graduate. The fact that I will

soon be leaving a place where thiscuriosity is overflowing seems tostrike one more nail in my coffinof fears and doubts about thefuture.

However, I am comforted by themany happy memories I’ll takewith me when I leave and I amproud of the tremendous personalgrowth I’ve experienced in whathas turned out to be some of thehappiest times of my life.

I’ve still got two more monthsin which to cram as much social-izing as I can, so I better get offthis computer. I see a friend ofmine in the hallway, and I coulduse a lighthearted chat rightnow. After all, it’s those littlemoments that we don’t payattention to that make up most ofour memories. I intend to walkaway from here with the happi-est ones I can.

By DONNA DURICStaff Writer

Column

Lauren Fouyere, 18,Social Service

Worker program, first-year,

Grimsby, Ont.

Ashley Van Delft, 18,Social Service

Workerprogram, first-year,

Beamsville, Ont.

Roland Moses, 22,General Arts and

Science program,

second-year,Toronto

Tom Huibers, 18,Computer EngineeringTechnician program,

first-year,St. Catharines

Jonathen Cipryk, 26,Computer TechnologyEngineering program,

second-year,St. Catharines

Journalists, including those in the Journalism-Print program at Niagara College, are taught that their reporting must bebalanced, fair and as objective as possible. That rule must also exist for columns written by reporters. In columns, the

feelings and opinions of reporters are welcome, but balance, fairness and objectivity must never be disregarded or treatedlightly. Our columns, which are clearly identified as such, do not reflect the opinions or feelings of the Niagara College

administration or the management of the Niagara News. Columns reflect the opinion of only one person: the writer.

Student’s curiosity nurtured by college environment

Wampum treaty belt a sign of peace Page 8, Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003

By E. J. GOODERStaff Writer

An authentic Friendship Treaty Wampum belt hangs inthe boardroom of Niagara College. The belt was presentedto the board of governors in 1993 and represents an officialtreaty and partnership between the college and the sur-rounding native community.

The aboriginal population didn’t use wampum as curren-cy but the Europeans who settled in North America did.

Wampum was used by the aboriginal population for over800 years and is a sign of peace. It is also used to cementagreements because no agreement is considered officialunless Wampum is exchanged.

Different kinds of Wampum belts were used throughoutthe history of the aboriginal people and the newcomers.

Wampum was fashioned from purple and white tubularshells made into small beads from the Quahog, or conchshells, and entwined with string made from buckskin, treebark fibres and sinew.

The shells to make the Wampum belts were foundalong the eastern coastline as well as the large river-banks of North America.

Each belt has symbolic meaning.The Ever Lasting Tree Wampum belt, also known as

Wing or Dust Fan of the Confederacy, represents strengthand peace. If any man or nation wants to follow the path ofpeace, he or it could follow the roots to the tree. If any manor nation, clean of mind and spirit, promised to obey thelaws of the Iroquois Confederacy, he or it could find shelterunder the long-needled leaves of the great peace tree. On thetop of the tree an eagle stands guard and is ready to warn theconfederacy of any danger or threat.

The Hiawatha belt, also known as the Peace belt, is thesymbol of the five nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. Thisbelt is sacred and demonstrates the prevailing peacebetween the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga and theSeneca Nations. The great Chief Hiawatha forged peacebetween the five nations, when the nations were warring.The peace lasts to this day.

The Hiawatha belt is dark with white lines of beadingshaped into four squares. White lines connect eachsquare and between the four squares is a shape, like aheart or a tree. The dark area in each square representseach nations territory.

The design represents the spiritual or ethereal Longhouse.In the middle of the Longhouse is the Onondaga, Keepers ofthe Fire. Keepers of the Eastern Door, the Mohawk Nation,protects the eastern corridor while the Seneca Nation,Keepers of the Western Door, protects the western corridor.The purpose was to be on guard and watch for any trouble,or evil, that might attack the Confederacy.

The two lines extending from the squares of the Mohawkand Seneca represent the path of peace. Any nation wishingto follow the way of peace may find shelter under the treeof peace, or join the confederacy of the Five Nations.

The George Washington Wampum belt is a white-beadedbelt with dark figures holding hands. In 1789 it was the firstrecorded treaty between the natives and Washington, thefirst U.S. president.

The belt was to authenticate that a sacred agreementbetween the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy andthe 13 original colonies was made.

Dave Labbe, president of the Fort Erie Native FriendshipCentre, says the centre has replicas of sacred Wampumbelts, such as the Two Row belt, in its possession.

In a phone interview, Labbe says this belt is importantbecause it represents the peace, love and respect that existbetween the two cultures.

“‘The white background represents the river of life. Thetwo parallel purple, blue rows, separated by three beads ofpeace, love and respect, represent the culture of the nativeand newcomer.’ The two lines symbolize the two cultures incanoes navigating the river of life side by side.”

The canoe, he adds, “carries the culture of the native andof the newcomer such as food, clothing and language.”

Cheerfully, he says, the “canoes were to navigate theriver of life side by side and not interfere with oneanother’s life.”

Native community driving force for change

Debra Lee Williams, 30, administrative assistant in theAboriginal Education Access Office at NiagaraCollege’s Welland campus, stands in front of theFriendship Treaty Wampum belt, in the boardroom atthe Welland campus. The Friendship Treaty belt, pre-sented to the college’s board of governors, finalizesthe treaty and partnership between the college andthe native community. The belt is photographed below.

Photos by E. J. Gooder

By E. J. GOODERStaff Writer

Having aboriginal research conducted byaboriginal researchers is the hope of GailLafleur, manager of the AboriginalEducation Access Office for NiagaraCollege’s three campuses.

Lafleur, an Anishnabe from the NipissingFirst Nations Reserve of North Bay, Ont.,attended the Aboriginal Policy Conferencein Ottawa last November. Niagara Collegesponsored her participation.

Educators, researchers and native Eldersattended the conference. Among them wereElder Be’sha Blondin, Alain Jolicoeur,deputy minister of Indian and NorthernAffairs Canada, and Nils Peterson, vice-president of research at the University ofWestern Ontario in London, Ont.

Lafleur says she didn’t have to write areport for the college, but that she did buyresource material for the library in theAboriginal Educational Access Office.

Lafleur, of St. Catharines, says this con-ference was the first of its kind in Canadaregarding the aboriginal population.

Aboriginal professionals, she says,attended. “Researchers were mainly non-native and this conference was to promotemore research by aboriginals.”

Lafleur says this conference was impor-tant because “research influences the policymakers and policy affects the lives of the

aboriginal population.”There were a number of workshops, she

says, such as healing among aboriginaloffenders, demographic trends in the urbanaboriginal population and the growth of theurban aboriginal population.

Lafleur says she was “emotionally affect-ed” by the workshop on research of the abo-

riginal child and the child welfare system.“It leaves the child with instability and

what they do is become more deviant.” Theaboriginal child doesn’t have a full sense ofidentity, which they would receive in theirown families and communities.

“The majority of incarcerated aboriginalpeople went through the child welfare sys-tem.” She says research shows that systemis an “entry system into the incarcerationsystem” for the aboriginal population.

“This just blew my mind. I was just sodisturbed by that.”

The aboriginal child, Lafleur says, has“overwhelming odds to having a life with-out so many trials and tribulations.”

“We live,” she says, “in a world of sys-tems” and either enter the educationalsystem or the judicial system. Many abo-riginal people, Lafleur says, end up in thejudicial system because they drop out ofthe educational one because of a lack ofunderstanding.

The research, she says, found that insta-bility in childhood is a large factor in howthe native and non-native child turns out.“We have such a high incarceration (rate) ofaboriginal people.”

Lafleur says educators are trying tounderstand the variables to try to prevent thepattern from continuing. The conferencefocus dealt with the aboriginal population.“It was very sad.”

Aboriginal women, she says, wereinvolved and participated in this research.As a result, she said, she believes therewill be a noticeable influence of nativeleadership “in regards” to the child wel-fare system.

Lafleur says there is growing resistanceto having aboriginal children enter thechild welfare system.

“It was nice to hear the voices of lead-ership.”

Policy, Lafleur says, makes legislationand if policy is going to “affect us, thenwe have to be part of the driving force”for change.

This conference demonstrated that thereare “aboriginal people who are educated andare professional.” There are aboriginal peo-ple, she says, wanting and working forchange “collaboratively amongst them-selves and with non-natives.”

“A sense of change is coming from thepeople who want to improve the quality oflife” for the aboriginal people.

Lafleur says the conference was effec-tive, and the resources available fromIndian and Northern Affairs Canada willhelp her follow trends.

This knowledge and information willhelp her assist the aboriginal students atNiagara’s three campuses and the stu-dents at Six Nations Polytechnic inOhsweken.

Gail Lafleur is manager of theAboriginal Education Access Office forNiagara College’s three campuses.Lafleur is standing beside native artwork in her office at the college’sWelland campus.

Photo by E.J. Gooder

Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003, Page 9

Advisory committee acts as ‘two-way street’By SHANNON BURROWS

Staff WriterNiagara College’s Broadcasting

– Television, Radio and Film(BRTF) students now have a betteridea of what’s happening in theindustry.

Seven members of the advisorycommittee, six of whom are grad-uates of the BRTF program atNiagara, visited the school on Jan.21 to hold a question-and-answerseminar for the students and toshare their work experiences.

Members of the committeeincluded Tom Otto, FAN 590 radioannouncer, Colin Chilvers, specialeffects artist, Maggie Craig, scriptsupervisor, Cal Coons, co-creatorof television’s Blue Murder, DaleSheldrake, television and film edi-tor, Jamie Saunders of the NiagaraRegional Police, and PeterMurray, president of OMNI Mediain St. Catharines. Absent wasHarold Wesley, of CTV.

Ron Tufts, BRTF second- andthird-year presentation teacher,was master of ceremonies forthe seminar and introduced thecommittee.

Otto said the purpose of thecommittee is to act as a “two-way street” between the collegeand the people in the industry.They help keep the BRTF pro-fessors up-to-date on changes inthe industry and discuss the col-lege’s curriculum.

“You never know where thisindustry will take you,” said Otto,adding that grads may have a “lit-tle tougher time” finding theirplace in the field because of ashrinking workforce and rapidlychanging trends.

“Whatever technology youinvest in today will be obsoletein 12 hours,” said Saunders.“Development of technologynever slows down. It just keepsgoing faster.”

“The digital revolution in spe-cial effects in the last five to 10years has been a phenomenalthing to see and understand,”said Chilvers, who won anAcademy Award in 1979 for hiswork in Superman. “It’s incredi-ble what can be done. You guyswill have the benefit of that inthe years to come.”

“The education you get here willdo,” said Sheldrake. “Your educa-tion will continue long after this.”

“Training is so diverse,” saidCoons, “from watching DVDs toattending classes.”

Regardless of changing technol-ogy, “you still have to worryabout” things like depth of fieldand lighting, said Craig,

“Fundamentals ... will alwaysstay the same,” said Murray.

“You have to be comfortablelearning,” said Craig.

Aside from a willingness tolearn, a successful grad needs to

have “gumption” and interperson-al skills and be “passionate, clever,resourceful, creative,” a “teamplayer” and “bring enthusiasm tothe job,” said Coons, adding thatnetworking and contacts areimportant. “Don’t get discouraged.It’s about finding out who you areand what you want to do. It’s aboutexperiencing life.”

Sheldrake said interest andreliability were important on

the job. “I jumped throughhoops to make sure I didn’tscrew up,” he said.

Creativity and good ideas willalways be needed in the industry,said Murray. “If you are a trueartist, it will show through. Ifyou’re good, you’re going to rideit to the top.”

“You are in a creative business,”said Otto. “You have to have cre-ative dreams. You have to pursue

those dreams.”“I think there are a lot of career

opportunities in film,” said Coons.“You’ve already started. If you’renot busting your ass now, you’vemade a big error.”

“You have to keep pluggingalong,” said Otto. “Use the skillsthat you’ve got ... the talents thatyou’ve got. If you’ve got the rightheart and the right spirit, you’llmake it.”

From left, advisory board committee members Peter Murray, Jamie Saunders, Dale Sheldrake, CalCoons, Maggie Craig, Colin Chilvers and Tom Otto addressed the Broadcasting — Radio, Televisionand Film program students about issues in the broadcasting industry.

Photo by Shannon Burrows

Makeup ‘absolutely necessary’ for televisionBy SHANNON BURROWS

Staff WriterIn the television industry, make-

up isn’t just for women.Stoney Creek resident Kathy

Rupcic, professional makeup artistand graduate of Niagara College’sBroadcasting — Radio, Televisionand Film (BRTF) program, visitedthe school on Jan. 31 to talk abouther job and demonstrate how toapply makeup for TV.

After several positions in thebroadcasting industry, Rupcicwent to the Toronto School ofMakeup Art. “I wanted to dosomething creative,” she says.

Rupcic does makeup mostly for

TV personalities, but also for film,stage and photography subjects.She works at CH Morning Live inHamilton and at Opera Canada

three times a year, as a freelancer.She says she works “full-timeplus, between everything that’shappening.”

She says she enjoys workingfor the opera because there are alot of “special effects” and“character” to work with. “It’s anice diversion from TV,” so shecan broaden her abilities.

Rupcic says makeup is“absolutely necessary” for tele-vision, yet many men whoappear on television are nervousabout wearing cosmetics.

“It’s a technical need; it’s notan aesthetic need. It was menwho established this field. It’s

not a girly-girl thing. There’s nota television show happeningwithout makeup.”

She says without makeup,

people on screen would look“blotchy, sick, sallow, haveshadows on their face andgreasy-looking skin.”

“There’s nothing more unattrac-tive that watching someone on TVwith a greasy face,” says Rupcic.“How you appear to yourself orothers is different than how youappear through film.”

Rupcic says that regulareveryday makeup won’t work;you have to use productsdesigned for TV. She uses prod-ucts such as MAC or CinemaSecrets. “TV makeup hasevolved a lot. TV has refined theproducts a lot.”

“(You) need to know whatyour skin type is,” says Rupcic,so that you know which productsto “stay away from.” For exam-ple, she says, people with oilyskin should avoid greasy prod-ucts, and people with drier skincan use creamier products.

She says CH Morning Livereceives “many” e-mails fromviewers regarding the hairstyles,clothes and makeup they see onthe show. “We’re very visually ori-ented. People notice that.”

She says some of the biggestpriorities in applying makeup toTV faces are “contouring the face,minimizing shine and smoothingthe skin tone.”

She says she tries to obtain anoval shape when contouringbecause it’s presumed to be theideal shape.

She says a subject’s normalskin tone is distorted on camera,so it is important to add warmthand colour to the skin throughthe use of cosmetics. “What you

see to the human eye is not whatyou see on camera.”

Rupcic says, when choosingcolours of foundation, “Don’tmatch the skin tone exactly.Warm it up.”

She says when makeup artistsare working on men, they focuson skin tone, but on colour forwomen. “I do a lot of mixing andblending. The most essentialtools for a makeup artist are herbrushes. The types of brushesyou use can make a huge differ-ence in your work.”

Rupcic demonstrated applyingmakeup for TV on BRTF second-year presentation students LizJansen and Blair Hough, who willbe appearing on BRTF’s upcomingTV show, Inside Niagara.

“Keep it neat, keep it defined,”she says. “Think of the credible

image you want to give.”She recommends drying clay or

paste for men’s hairstyles asopposed to gel, which gets tooshiny. As for keeping your subjectcomfortable with the idea of wear-ing so much makeup, Rupcic says,“Don’t seem tentative or afraid” toapply makeup.

“This is strictly technical. It isamazing how many terrificmake-up artists are out therewith absolutely no tact. Theyjust don’t know how to dialoguewith people.”

“Don’t be snobby about whereyou’re going to work,” saysRupcic. “Be willing, available anda hard worker.”

Kathy Rupcic demonstrates applying makeup for television onsecond-year Broadcasting — Radio, Television and Film pro-gram presentation student Liz Jansen, who will be appearing onBRTF’s upcoming TV show, Inside Niagara.

Photo by Shannon Burrows

Second-year Broadcasting — Radio, Television and Film programpresentation student Blair Hough gets a makeover for TV by pro-fessional makeup artist, Kathy Rupcic.

Photo by Shannon Burrows

Page 10, Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003

IIIINNNNSSSSIIIIDDDDEEEE NNNNIIIIAAAAGGGGAAAARRRRAAAASecond-year Broadcasting — Radio, Television and Film program

students are busy constructing the set for Inside Niagara, Niagara

College’s annual student-produced TV show. Inside Niagara airs

live from TV Studio Two in the Voyageur Wing on Thursday, Feb.

13. See story on page 12.

Clockwise from left, second-year

BRTF program

students Geordie Rockey, Jeremy

Wilson, Ryan Blore, Mike Osburn

and Alicia Luckhardt.

Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003, Page 11

Clockwise, overhead

view of the Inside

Niagara set in TV

Studio Two; Jay

Fiegehen; Geordie

Rockey and Ryan

Blore; Brian Currie

and Mike Osburn;

Ryan Tonellato,

Jeremy Wilson and

Jay Fiegehen.

Photos and pagination by Shannon Burrows

Page 12, Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003

By AMANDA KLASSENStaff Writer

The Facilities ManagementServices department at NiagaraCollege is getting ready to unveil itsWeb site.

Bart Lanni, a technologist in thedepartment, has been working to getthe Web site ready.

“We are hoping it is going to makeus more visible and will give peoplean idea of what services we do pro-vide,” says Lanni.

The Web site will be linked off thecollege’s main site,www.niagarac.on.ca.

It will provide information such asthe department’s vision statement,college history, funding, a how-topage, contact information about thedepartment’s staff, custodial ser-

vices, preventative maintenanceschedule, a feedback section and,what is most-requested, a servicerequest form.

“The big thrust will be that a lot ofpeople are always requesting plansfor their area of the building, and youwill be able to get them online now.”

This will eliminate the plans hav-ing to be sent out every time there isa change made to the building. Theonly plans not available will be theDay-Care Centre at the Wellandcampus and the police firing-rangebuilding, also at the Welland cam-pus, because of safety concerns.

The Web site still needs a finalclearance but should be online by theend of February.

Lanni says he will be meeting RobKreamer, the college Web master, to

go through the technical aspects ofthe site to make sure it is within theguidelines of the college.

“Part of my role is to make surethe information gets out there and itis the proper information that isavailable.”

Lanni says that it is his job to keepthe Web site up and running.

“I am happy with it. It is some-thing that is alive and ready to rock.”

The Web site is a tool to makeeveryone aware of the plans and tosee the progress the department ismaking on projects. The informationthat will be on the Web site will bethe most current information avail-able, says Lanni.

“We want the Web page to betotally interactive and we want peo-ple to use it.”

By LESLIE BRANCONNIERStaff Writer

The Amur leopard has arrived atthe Zooz in Fort Erie.

The Zooz recently showed offthis rare and endangered leopard,named Sergai, during theWinterfest Sportsman Show, atthe Fort Erie Race Track on Jan.18 and 19.

The Zooz was selected to hostthe Amur leopard as part of theSpecies Survival Program, a NorthAmerican PopulationManagement plan, operated by theAmerican Zoo and AquariumAssociation.

Zooz is on Stevensville Road,directly off the Queen Elizabeth

Highway, and No. 3 Highway.“There are less than 50 of these

rare leopards left in the wild due tohabitat destruction, loss of preyand poaching for fur,” a Zoozpress release says. “The Amur isdistinct from other leopardsbecause of long legs and long hairthat allows it to live in cold, snowyclimates. They inhabit a small areain Russia, near China and Korea,along the Amur River.”

“We take caring for theseextremely rare animals very seri-ously,” Tim Tykolis, general man-ager of the Zooz. “We welcomethe Amur leopard to our Zooz fam-ily, and the entire Zooz team willensure that he is safe, healthy and

ready to help with the survival ofthe species.”

The Zooz has built a new natur-al enclosure for the leopard in theSilent Forest.

“Our new leopard will be in avery natural environment whilevisitors to Zooz enjoy the wonderof one of nature’s most beautifuland rare cats.”

The Zooz opened to the publicon May 18, 2002. The Zooz hasinteractive educational displays,art exhibits, fishing ponds, kiteflying, an animal petting area, achildren’s playground, restaurantfacilities, a picnic area, a walkingpath, trolley tours and themed giftshops.

By SHANNON BURROWSStaff Writer

Inside Niagara is back.Hitting the airwaves from

Thursday, Feb. 13, until April 24,the half-hour television show isbroadcast live on Cogeco Cable10 every Thursday at noon andrepeated at 6:30 p.m. andSaturdays at 4 p.m.

Produced by second-yearBroadcasting — Radio, Tele-vision and Film (BRTF) televisionproduction students and hosted bysecond-year BRTF presentationstudents, the show includes localsports and entertainment, tip ofthe week and adopt-a-pet seg-ments.

Under the instruction of BRTF

professors Ron Tufts and TomPagonis, who are “here to guidethem,” says Pagonis, the studentsrotate through various positionssuch as directing, producing, cam-era work, audio and field produc-tion, expanding their skills.

Preparations have been goingon for three weeks, says Pagonis.He says Inside Niagara has beenairing since the 1970s, but has notalways gone by that name.

“It’s evolved quite a bit. There’sa lot more shooting, a lot moreediting. It’s a good project.They’re dealing with not only thecollege but also the community.They’re out there shooting, get-ting into real-life situations.”

Please note the show will not beairing the week of Feb. 27, whenthe college is on a break week.

The BRTF Web site iswww.broadcasting.niagarac.on.ca.

Inside Niagara hits Cogeco airwaves

Zooz hosts endangered leopard in Species Survival Program

Facilities Management Services Web site to be unveiled soon

By AMY CONTOISStaff Writer

Dust off your apron and hoist up yoursleeves for an afternoon of culinary delight.

Niagara College, in partnership with theNiagara Culinary Institute, is hosting itssecond annual Couples in the Kitchenseminar.

Couples are invited to join husband-and-wife chef team Tim and Cathy O’Donnell atthe Maid of the Mist campus, in NiagaraFalls, on Sunday, Feb. 9, from noon to 6p.m. to get their hands dirty while learninghow to prepare a decadent meal.

Cindy Andrews, manager of the college’s

Tourism Industry Development Centre, saysthe seminars are “very hands-on.”

“They will be whisking, chopping, slicingand cooking. Morethan anything, it’sjust a lot of fun in thekitchen.”

Andrews says shewants to assure any-one who is interestedin participating thatthe seminar is notexclusively for cou-ples. She says mothers and daughters, sis-ters and brothers and friends are welcome.

She also encourages anyone who wishes tocome alone.

The couples will learn to make their ownappetizer, entrée anddessert. This year, theywill be making oystersoup, duck, a salad andcrème brûlée. Theywill then enjoy a sit-down dinner in theKerrio Room, the on-campus dining room,where they will eat the

fruits of their labour.Tickets are $150 a couple and there is still

space available.The institute offers hands-on cooking

seminars throughout the year. Some of theupcoming events are Winter Soups andSalads, Feb. 20, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.,Bachelor Cooking, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to4 p.m., Comfort Food, March 2, from 10a.m. to 4 p.m., Mom/Dad and Me Cooking,March 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., My BigFat Greek Dinner, March 23, from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. and Easter Desserts, April 13, from10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about any of theseminars, or to order tickets, call 905-735-2211, ext. 3602.

‘More than anything,it’s just a lot of fun

in the kitchen.’— Cindy Andrews

College’s Culinary Institute teaching couples to heat things up in the kitchen

Bart Lanni, a technologist for the Facilities Management Servicesdepartment, stands beside a computer displaying the new Website that should be ready by the end of February.

Photo by Amanda Klassen

Broadcast studentsto go live to air

Second-year Broadcasting — Radio, Television and Film program production students RyanTonellato, Mike Osburn and Brian Currie construct the set for Inside Niagara, which airs liveThursday, Feb. 13 out of TV Studio Two in the Voyageur Wing.

Photo by Shannon Burrows

Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003, Page 13

By CARISSA PERTSCHYStaff Writer

Eat Smarter, feel better.Meet the challenge to choose

meals that are fast, flexible andhealthful. Visit the cafeteriaand make EatSmart choicestoday.

N i a g a r aCollege andA r a m a r k ,N i a g a r aCollege’s foodproviders, weregiven an EatSmart award ofexcellence at aWellness confer-ence inNovember.

As an awardwinner, NiagaraCollege is rec-ognized as meet-ing healthfulfood and kitchenc r i t e r i aa p p r o v e dprovincially bymedical officers of health, saysChristine Philbrick, NiagaraCollege’s nurse.

The official launch of the EatSmart program on Jan. 29 pro-motes healthful eating atNiagara College’s three cam-puses.

On Jan. 29, there were give-aways of fruit and fruit juice,while quantities lasted, at thethree campuses.

As well, a fruit basket, a pairof Rollerblades and movie tick-ets were given away at everycampus.

“Niagara College is proud tolaunch this program,” saysSandy Fox, director of ancillaryservices.

“We have a deli that offers avariety of different breads,falling in line with Canada’sFood Guide,” says Fox. “Thespecial meal every day willhave nutritional information

available. As well, nutritionalinformation for most types offood will be displayed for stu-dents.”

The Eat Smart designationrecognizes exceptional stan-dards in healthful food choices,food safety and non-smokingenvironments. NiagaraCollege’s cafeterias provide awide range of nutritionalchoices.

“This is an award of excel-lence, and we are proud tooffer our students and staff EatSmart options,” saysPhilbrick.

Eat Smart, Ontario’s health-ful restaurant program, is anexclusive program that awards

Ontario restaurants for meetinghigh standards in food safety,nutrition and non-smokingseating.

The program’s goal is to con-tribute to the reduction of

chronic diseasesincluding heartdisease and can-cer, as well asfood-borne ill-ness in Ontario.

There are dif-ferent aspects tofood’s benefits.Healthful eatingfor studentshelps with theiralertness andc o n c e n t r a t i o nand overall well-being, says AnnaPorretta, dieti-cian with theR e g i o n a lNiagara PublicHealth depart-ment.

“Eat more fruitand vegetables,

choose lower fat dairy products,and eat leaner meat,” saysPorretta.

“Try to develop healthful eat-ing behaviour now and continueon with it further in your life.”

“A restaurant or cafeteriawith the Eat Smart designationwill offer a variety of healthyfood choices on the menu, highstandards in food safety andhandling and more non-smok-ing seating than is required bylaw,” says Philbrick.

You can contact the RegionalPublic Health department at905-688-3769 ext. 344 or 1-800-7248, or go online atwww.regional.niagara.on.ca formore information.

Jan. 29 was the kickoff for Niagara College’s Eat Smart programat the three campuses. Above is a display of fresh fruit and fruitjuice giveaways. As well, at this table at the Welland campus,there were draws for Rollerblades and movie tickets.

Photo by Carissa Pertschy

At front left, Aliye Grant, 21, of Niagara Falls, a second-year EducationalAssistant — Special Needs Support (EASNS) program student at NiagaraCollege’s Welland campus, talks with Sandy Fox, director of ancillary ser-vices at Niagara College, about healthful eating on Jan. 29. Second-yearEASNS student Rebecca McEachern, 20, of Welland, listens. It was the col-lege’s Eat Smart kickoff.

Photo by Carissa Pertschy

Anna Porretta, dietician with the Regional Niagara Public HealthDepartment, stands next to her nutrition display at NiagaraCollege’s Welland campus on Jan. 29 to provide students and staffwith nutritional information as part of the Eat Smart program kickoff.

Photo by Carissa Pertschy

Cafeteria offers students healthful eating choices

By LORI LANGLEYStaff Writer

The Ontario provincial government’s downloading ofcosts over the years has taken its toll on the NiagaraRegion.

“They walked away from the Niagara Region,” saysBrian Heit, deputy mayor of St. Catharines.

Mayor of Niagara Falls Wayne Thomson says download-ing has had a “detrimental effect” on his city.

Cindy Forster, mayor of Welland, says, “There’s been alot of impact” on her city.

In order to keep a balanced budget, the Tories down-loaded costs for such things as roads, infrastructure andtransit, to the regions. The regions then passed thosecosts down to the municipalities.

Forster says public transportation was “adverselyaffected” in Welland. There are three transit systemsamong the 12 municipalities in the Niagara Region.

“There are people who want to work and are qualified towork, but can’t because they don’t have transportation,”says Forster.

Welland used to receive subsidies for up to 75 per centof its transit costs, but is now spending $500,000 to$750,000 a year to keep the system running, and Forstersays there has been “a huge impact on repairs.”

Other areas in Welland that have been affected bydownloading are social housing, ambulance service andinfrastructure that include roads, sewers, waterlines andsidewalks.

Niagara Falls has been affected by downloading inseveral areas, says Thomson, adding, he hopes for“kinder policies” from the provincial government in the

future.“It’s easy to reduce taxes and indicate a balanced

budget,” as the Ontario government has done, hesays, but “taxpayers have felt the pinch of down-loading.”

In St. Catharines, people and their vehicles have feltthe pinch because of poor road conditions.

Heit says St. Catharines now has what people call a“pothole inspector.” The inspector is to make sure the mostpressing repairs are done and to reduce lawsuits against thecity as a result of poor road and sidewalk conditions.

The roads in St. Catharines have a quality rating of 76 to77 per cent, based on provincial criteria.

He says Tim Rigby, mayor of St. Catharines, wasin favour of amalgamation of the municipalities inthe Niagara Region. However, because of the failureof the forced amalgamations of Ottawa and Toronto,the provincial government dropped any other slatedamalgamations.

Heit says roads and the transit system were the areashardest hit by downloading costs in St. Catharines.

By KATE DESROCHESStaff Writer

Mechanics don’t deserve the bad rapthey sometimes get.

“There are a lot of good, honestmechanics out there,” says EarlGilson, of Gilson’s Auto Repair, inNiagara Falls.

Gilson and his shop have been fixingcars for 20 years. He offers this advice forwinter car maintenance.

“Oil changes always, anti-freeze andwindshield washer fluid.”

He also says to not let your vehicle’sgasoline levels fall below a quarter tank;half a tank is better. “Only in a perfectworld do people run around with a fulltank of gas.”

Gilson says that one of the mostimportant things a person can do is learna little something about cars throughmagazines, books. “They will teach youhow to change spark plugs and thingslike that.”

Eighty per cent of Gilson’s clientele arewomen and, he says, the worst part of his

job is calling clients to tell them theyhave a big repair.

“I t ’s a lmost l ike te l l ing a personsomeone in their family has died.Saying they need a new engine andi t wil l cost $700 is very hard. I usu-al ly get Wayne, my other mechanic ,to do i t .”

Gilson’s Auto Repair at 8407 StanleyAve., in Niagara Falls, behindMarineland.

The college has not offeredContinuing Education courses since the

late 1980s, but the Motive PowerOperations — Automotive program atthe Welland campus provides hands-ontraining for the automotive field. Astate-of-the-art Skill Centre for MotivePower Training offers courses in weld-ing, vehicle body and structure,hydraulics, drivetrain technology,power plant, computer applications,suspension and steering systems, brak-ing systems, automotive electrical andelectronic controls, customer relationsand career planning.

Government downloading costing region

‘They walked away fromthe Niagara Region.’

—Cindy Forster

Mechanic lends advice for drivers on winter car maintenance

Page 14, Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003

Panic disorder can affect one in 75 peopleBy DONNA DURIC

Staff WriterMany of us have experienced

situations in which we feel pan-icky and anxious. Our adrenalinestarts pumping, our hearts startpounding and we start to trembleor feel shaky.

This is a normal, instinctiveresponse to danger, called theflight-or-fight syndrome. It’s bio-logically programmed into humanbeings to enable us to overcomethreatening situations.

However, some people feelthese symptoms when there is noperceivable threat or danger loom-ing, and they suffer through themon a chronic basis. This is whathappens to people with panicdisorder.

About one in 75 people suffersfrom panic disorder. The averagetime of onset is during adoles-cence or early adulthood.

People with panic disorder willexperience a sudden, acute “panicattack” any time and any placewith no warning. They are filledwith a paralyzing sense of terror,along with a number of otherphysical and emotional symptoms.Common symptoms of panicattacks are sweating, shaking, nau-sea, numbness, dizziness, tinglingin the limbs, hot flashes, breathingproblems, a fear of going crazyand a sense of feeling separatedfrom one’s body.

Shari Brooks, 26, of Binbrook,

Ont., is a first-time mother of athree-month-old girl. She startedexperiencing panic attacks a fewweeks af ter giving bir th toher baby.

“I never had them before in mylife. Then all of sudden here I amgetting them when I have a baby totake care of,” she says.

Brooks experienced her firstpanic attack when she was at homealone in her apartment. It was inthe early morning hours, around 1a.m. or 2 a.m., and, she says, shefelt terror at the prospect of beingalone so late at night.

“I was outside having a cigaretteand I just looked around me andrealized how dark and desertedeverything was. The whole worldwas asleep. This wave of terrorjust swept over me.”

Following that incident, Brooksstarted experiencing chronic anxi-ety during the daytime, fearing theonset of another panic attack oncenighttime set in. She experienced afew more panic attacks late atnight, she said, before she realizedshe had to do something aboutthem. Her doctor decided to pre-scribe her an anti-anxiety medica-tion called Ativan.

“I couldn’t be like that when Ihad a baby to take care of.”

Brooks was prescribed the stan-dard starting dose of 0.5 mg. Shewas told to take one pill beforebedtime, but she didn’t find herselfneeding to right away, because just

knowing she had them, she says,made her feel safe.

Eventually, she said, she foundherself needing to take one atnight, which she did for about twoweeks, but now she no longerneeds them.

“I stayed at home by myself fora few nights, and I forgot my pillsat my mother’s house. I said,‘Forget it. I’m sick of this. I haveno choice but to try and getthrough this.’”

Brooks says she felt a fewmoments of panic starting to creepin a few times, but she ignoredthem and ta lked herself outof them.

People with panic disorder are atrisk of developing a more seriousproblem called agoraphobia. Thisillness results when one experi-ences a panic attack in certainplaces and then starts avoidingthose places for fear of gettinganother panic attack. Some peoplebecome housebound.

However, the Web site for theAmerican PsychologicalAssociation says, people withpanic disorder can lead normallives and almost 90 per cent ofcases are highly treatable. A com-bination of medication and behav-iour therapy is the treatment forthis condition. Improvement isnoticed within 10 to 20 weeksafter starting therapy.

For more information on panicdisorder, visit www.apa.org.

Shari Brooks experienced her first panic attack within weeks ofgiving birth to her baby girl, Emma.

Photo by Donna Duric

Fundraising dance will support Heart NiagaraBy ELYSE DEBRUYN

Staff WriterHeart Niagara is a non-profit organiza-

tion. On Feb. 8, a fundraising dance is beingheld in at the Willoughby Fire Hall onSodom Road in Niagara Falls. Tickets are$10 each. The dance begins at 9 p.m.

Feb. 14 is the official day for love and thetime to help heal the hearts of those withheart disease.

In a pamphlet about heart disease, womenare warned that their symptoms can differfrom men’s. They are more likely to experi-ence atypical symptoms such as vague chest

discomfort.Richard Sutherland, manager of scientific

communications for the Heart and StokeFoundation, said women’s hearts aresmaller than men’s .

“Women are reasonably protected byestrogen until menopause. After menopausethey are just as susceptible as men are.”

Sutherland said women are more likely tohave heart disease because their hearts are“smaller and are harder to repair when itgets injured.”

“Women should go to cardiac rehab class-es and they aren’t showing up.”

In cardiac rehab, Sutherland said, thepatients are taught what to eat and how tomake life easier and better after a heartattack or stroke.

“People are unaware they have heart dis-ease and check into the hospital with pneu-monia (because they are) going to the doc-tor way too late.”

“First of all, people have to be aware of ahealthy diet. No saturated fats and exerciseare very important. Then blood pressure istaken every year after the age of 25. Obesitycan cause Type 2 diabetes and ends in heartdisease.”

Carolyn Gould, college nurse, said theHeart and Stroke Foundation helps a lot ofpeople. “It’s a good foundation.”

Joanne Gale, administrative assistant forHeart Niagara, said the dance’s proceedswould benefit a school program.

“The program teaches Grade 9 studentscardio-pulmonary rescuscitation and cho-lesterol testing. Every student in NiagaraRegion will have this training at no cost,”said Gale.

For more information about thefundraising dance, call Heart Niagaraat 905-358-5552.

Pill Diane-35 not approved for birth controlBy ROBYNE SIMPSON

Staff WriterIf you are taking the contraception and

acne treatment pill Diane-35, there are afew things you should know about it.

In a Jan. 16 article in the Waterloo andKitchener newspaper, The Record, it wasreported that Diane-35, manufactured bySchering AG in Germany, is being misusedas a contraceptive, with women using it forbirth control when it has not been approvedfor that use.

The concern with Diane-35 is that itincreases your chance of developing bloodclots up to four times more than standardbirth control, according to The Record.

According to the Diane-35 Web site, thecontraceptive reliability is as high as anyother combined oral contraceptive.

CBC states that it discovered Diane-35 isbeing prescribed as a birth control pill inCanada.

Dr. Robert Peterson, on the CBC Webpage, in an interview, said that because ofconcerns about this product, there is a spe-cific notation in the information available tophysicians that this should not be used as anoral contraceptive.

Peterson is a member of Health Canada

and director general of Health Canada’sTherapeutic Product Directorate.

Elizabeth Wheeler, 24, of Cambridge,Ont., a second-year student in the DentalHygiene program here, says she wasn’taware of the risk factor with blood clotting.

“The way my doctor presented it to mewas that it was a contraceptive and it alsohelped treat acne.”

Wheeler says she didn’t know it wasn’tapproved for birth control either.

A phone operator for EmergencyContraceptive Pills said that side effectshappen with every pill.

She said, “When you come in to go onthe pill, you watch videos and learn allabout the certain birth control you will begoing on. There are risks with every birthcontrol pill.”

Diane-35, the acne and contraceptive pill, is misused as a contraceptive. Althoughwomen are using it for birth control, it has not been approved for that use.

Photo by Robyne Simpson

Physicians adviseagainst use

as contraceptive.

By ROBYNE SIMPSONStaff Writer

If you are interested in travel-ling and helping people plan theirvacation, then take advice from atravel agency owner.

Susan-Jane Moir, 44, fromSunderland, Ont., is the owner ofParkwood Travel Inc. in Oshawa,Ont.

Moir has been owner of the

company for two years and usedto be an employee. She boughtthe company from her formerboss, Yvette Adamkovics, whostarted the business in 1982.

Moir was employed there 14years before she took over.

As a woman owning a busi-ness, Moir says, there were nodisadvantages, “probablybecause most travel agencies areowned or run by a woman. Iguess in some other type of busi-ness there may be some disad-vantages, but then, I believe, ifyou act professional you will be

taken seriously.”Moir, who grew up in

Scarborough, went to CentennialCollege there, taking travel andtourism.

“In school I enjoyed geographyand found different culturesinteresting. Travelling was agreat pleasure, and I also likedworking with people.”

In taking over the business,Moir says her main worries wereto keep business steady, to attractmore clientele and to keepabreast of all things in the busi-ness.

Her main personal goal was tolearn the accounting, keeping the

books, for the office.“I have never taken any course

on accounting.”Moir’s main goal for the office

is to make it work and to servethe consumer to the best of thebusiness’s ability.

“A happy client is a returningclient.”

Moir says she doesn’t feel itwould be different for her start-ing the business 20 years ago.

“The prior owner of Parkwood

Travel was a woman, and sheopened the office 20 years ago. Ido not think she was ever intimi-dated by anyone just because shewas a woman. I feel the sameway today.”

The advice she would giveanother woman is to be profes-sional and keep an open mind.

“The business world changesevery day and you have to keepabreast of everything aroundyou.”

Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003, Page 15

Think outside the

FISHBOWL!!

Turn it up!Turn it up!

One’s faith in God helps accomplish goalsBy MARIAN ORLEANS

Staff WriterColumn

Following one’s goal in life can be difficult at times, butwith the right help andguidance from friends,families and one’s faith inGod, it can be accom-plished.

I’ve always admiredpeople who know whatthey want to do in life andtry to make it happen. Oneof those people, someoneI’m very proud of, is my23-year-old brother,Jeffery Orleans.

He has been a born-againChristian for about sixyears, teaching and helpingChristians understand thetrue meaning of being aChristian and following theword of God and the teach-ings of the Bible himself.

Orleans’s testimony onwhy and how he became a Christian has always been this:“I had an experience with Jesus. I wanted to know if JesusChrist was real, so I invited Him to my life.”

He’s travelled the United States, Guinea, WestAfrica and some provinces in Canada, teaching about

the word of God.Orleans always wanted to go to a Christian university to

study theology after secondary school. After he graduatedfrom Bramalae Secondary School in Brampton, he took a

year off school toconcentrate on hisbible studies in thechurch. He thendecided to go toYork University inToronto, to take acourse to get intothe university’sSocial ServiceWorker program.

He took the pro-gram at YorkUniversity for asemester and madeup his mind to go tothe Christian uni-versity he wantedto attend, OralRoberts University,in Oklahoma. Hedidn’t attend the

first time he was accepted there becausehe didn’t have enough money to pay for his tuition andaccommodation.

During the Christmas holidays last year, he received asum of money from his church members in Brampton, to

go to Oral Roberts University. The money was onlyenough to pay for his plane ticket, registration fee and hishouse rent. He didn’t have his tuition paid yet. Despitethat, he bought the ticket and went to the university.

A few days after the semester start-ed, Orleans went to the school’sfinancial aid office to talk to one ofthe workers there about his financialstate.

After the discussion, he was told tocome in the next day to speak with thehead person in charge of approvingschool loans for students.

Orleans says his intention wasn’tto apply for a student loan. He wentthere because he had faith that if hetold someone at the office about hisfinancial problem, God would helphim get the money for his tuition.

He went to the office the next dayand was given half of his tuition forthe school year, which he didn’thave to pay back.

Orleans says he always had faiththat if he went to the university,God would bless him with histuition. Now that he has half of it

paid, he’s hoping to pay off the rest by the end of theschool year.

Orleans is a first-year student in the college’s four-year Social Service Worker and Theology program.

‘ I h a d a ne x p e r i e n c e w i t h

J e s u s . I w a n t e d t ok n o w i f J e s u s

C h r i s t w a s r e a l , s oI i n v i t e d H im t o

m y l i f e . ’— J e f f e r y O r l e a n s

Female travel agent not intimidated in career

JEFFERY ORLEANS

Sub

mitt

ed p

hoto

‘The business wor ld changesevery day and you have tokeep abreast of everyth ing

around you. ’— Susan-Jane Moir

There are only five chances left

to advertise in the Niagara News.

The distribution dates are

Feb. 14, March 14, March 21,

April 4, and Thursday, April 17.

To advertise, contact Linda Camus

at 905-735-2211, ext. 7748.

Page 16, Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003

Sports

By JORDIE FRYStaff Writer

In Niagara College basketballplay, the men’s and women’steams each earned a win and aloss, further confusing theirplayoff picture.

In an away game doubleheaderFeb. 4 against Ancaster’sRedeemer College, the womentook the floor first and squeakedout a 55-54 win. Leading scorerfor the women was ShannonKatch with 22. Tasha Dolinskiand Theresa Birnie had 10points, while Carrie Stratfordchipped in with eight.

The men followed thewomen’s example but took it tothe next level, winning 100-78.Edson Jones led the Knights witha 29-point performance, whileJamaal Cornwall and Nimie

Yanay each netted 18 and 17points respectively. Roundingout the double-digit scorers forthe Knights were Eliran Kikoswith 13, while Kyle Young andRichard Welcome each droppedin 10.

Jones says a 12-2 run early inthe second half ensured the winfor the Knights.

“That run blew open the gameand there was no looking backafter that.”

In a doubleheader at Windsor’sSt. Clair College on Feb. 1, bothteams suffered defeats that left abad taste in their mouths. Withthe women taking to the hard-wood first, they came out with astellar first half, ignoring therowdy fans and playing somegood basketball.

Stratford says they had “a

good first half,” especially pointguard Tasha Dolinski whostepped up.

“Tasha hit a three right at theend of the first half that put us upby one. She had a solid game,fouled out in the second half butstill played solid.”

Then it all went downhill.Stratford says, they “just unrav-eled in the second half.”

“We never came out serious inthe second. They went on a runto start the second half, and wedidn’t regain our composure allgame.”

When it was all said and done,the Knights had blown a one-point halftime lead and turned itinto a 78-54 beating from theSaints.

The men hit the court after see-ing what unfolded in the

women’s game but didn’t seemfazed by what happened.

Jones says he didn’t think the“big rowdy crowd” affected histeam.

“We just played through it.They weren’t that bad. I’ve seenworse. I like crowds like that anyways.”

The entire game was closewith neither team showing that itreally wanted the win. With theKnights up by three late in thegame, they missed a couple keyfreethrows that would havesealed the win. That, in turn,spelled disaster for the Knightsas the Saints’ point guardJoaquin Littlejohn did theinevitable, sending the game intoovertime.

“After the missed freethrows,they raced down court and hit a

three with 3.8 seconds left.”Niagara still had time on the

clock for one more quick shotbut, Jones says, he doesn’t reallyknow what happened.

“I was set up in the press breakand went to turn around and gothit in the head. I blanked out alittle and just remember going tothe bench and being told we weregoing to overtime.”

The Knights failed to comeback in overtime and the Saintsprevailed 98-96, sending the menhome just as disappointed as thewomen.

While the men sit atop theWest division at 7-2, they holdonto the hope of winning theirfirst West title. The womenimproved to 4-3 and sit in thirdplace in the West division, keep-ing their playoff hopes alive.

By JORDIE FRYStaff Writer

With a combined record of 23wins and one loss, the NiagaraCollege volleyball teamsimproved their records at a dou-bleheader in Hamilton atMohawk College on Jan. 30.

The women improved theirrecord to 12-1 after dispelling atough Mohawk team in five sets.With three games left on theschedule, all on their home court,the women will cruise into theplayoffs hoping to stay focusedduring the last games.

The Mountaineers shell-

shocked Niagara by taking thefirst two sets 25-21 and 25-23.The women showed how theylost only one game all year asthey stormed back taking thefinal three sets 25-17, 25-12 and18-16. Ginni Llord led theKnights with 20 kills and twostuffed blocks for a total of 22points.

The men, next to play, put theirundefeated record up against oneof the league’s worst teams andthat is exactly how Niagaraplayed this game.

The Knights came out playinglike the better team, winning the

first two sets 25-21 and 25-23before Niagara Coach KerbyBentley made subs for the thirdgame, thinking they would getthe job done.

Bentley says there is no reasonwhy his subs should not havewon that game.

“They had a job to do and theyshould have gotten it done, noexcuses.”

Bentley resorted to his startersin the fourth set despite a fewkey injuries to Nick Touchette(finger) and Mike King (ankle)but, once again, they couldn’tfinish the job. With their unde-

feated season on the line, theKnights showed the heart ofchampions, rebounding to winthe fifth and final set convinc-ingly, 15-8.

Graeme Gaunt led the Knightswith 27 offensive points (26 killsand one stuffed block).

The men’s team also participat-ed in the Mercyhurst Tournamentin Erie, Pa., as the Canadian rep-resentative. While losing all threegames, coach Bentley says theyhad some tough competition but,overall, it was “a good experi-ence” for his team.

“In our first game we lost to

Mercyhurst in three sets, then weplayed the University of PuertoRico, who had a few formernational players on their team.We took one set from them,which was pretty good, and inour last game we also took oneset from the eventual tournamentchampions, St. Francis.”

Both teams play tonight ontheir home court againstAncaster’s Redeemer College. Itwill be a special occasion, as aceremony for Gaunt will be heldbefore the men’s game, for all hehas done in his four-year careeras a Knight.

Brian Deryck, No. 1,setter for the col-lege’s volleyballteam, is a fourth-yearstudent in theM e c h a n i c a lEngineering Technology (Co-op) pro-gram. Deryck, of Chatham, said he alsoplayed volleyball for Chatham-KentSecondary School. Deryck said he cameto Niagara College because of the pro-gram he enrolled in and the volleyballteam. He said his favourite professionalplayer is Shawn Barbisan, of GenevaVolleyball team.

Spotlight on theKnights

BRIAN DERYCK

Text by Marian Orleans/Photo by Sara Campbell

Tommy Harris, No.8, power/right-sideplayer for the col-lege’s volleyballteam, is a first-yearstudent in theBusiness Administration – Marketingprogram. Harris, of Mississauga, said healso played volleyball at John FraserSecondary School and for JCC BluesVolleyball Club. Harris said he came toNiagara because “the volleyball pro-gram is one of the best in the nation.” Hesaid his favourite professional playersare Cal Rydier Jr. and Rich Thompson.

Spotlight on theKnights

TOMMY HARRIS

Text by Marian Orleans/Photo by Sara Campbell

Edvart Uka, No. 4, isthe power player formen’s volleyballteam at the college.Uka is a second-yearstudent in theGeneral Arts and Science program. The24-year-old, of Albania, said he hasalways enjoyed playing volleyball,especially here in Canada where he hasmade many new friends. Uka said hisfavourite professional volleyball playeris the Captain of Team Yugoslavia,Nikola Grbic.

Spotlight on theKnights

EDVART UKA

Text by Marian Orleans/Photo by Sara Campbell

Confusing playoff picture for basketball teams

Volleyball teams continue winning ways

By ASHLEIGH VINKStaff Writer

Toning, stretching, condition-ing and motivating are all partof one job held by a student.

Ember Johnstone, 23, ofMilton, Ont., teaches muscleconditioning and cardio classesin the gym of Niagara College’sGlendale campus every Monday

and Wednesday nights.Johnstone graduated from the

University of Guelph with ageneral Bachelor of Arts degreebefore coming to Niagara

College to pursue a career in theSpecial Event Management(Post-graduate) field.

Johnstone has a background injiu-jitsu and was a member ofthe University of Guelph’scheerleading squad for her dura-tion there. She teaches twoclasses at the Glendale gym,Mondays between 4:30 and 5:30p.m. and Wednesdays between5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Johnstone received her fitnesscertification at the universityand has trained both a Junior ARaiders hockey team and a

Junior B Lacrosse team inGeorgetown, Ont.

“I love doing it (teachingclasses),” she says. “It worksdifferent muscles and conditionsour bodies.”

Shanlea Barnes, 20, aBusiness Marketing Co-op pro-gram student, says she has donethe class since last semester andsays it makes her feel betterafter the workout.

“I love it ... it helps me workoff the pounds I gain at the bar,”says Barnes.

The classes are for men andwomen and help motivate themand tone various muscles.

“The cross training is good for

sports teams. It helps your mus-cles adapt and is always some-thing different,” says Johnstone.

Emily Foucault, 18, a GolfManagement Co-op programstudent, says, “She’s(Johnstone) awesome. It gets meout of bed. I like it because it ismotivating.”

Johnstone says the circuittraining classes “work not onlyour bodies but also our cre-ativity.

“It is all about pushing us tomotivate others. I have seen the

differences in others. People arecoming back. It is nice to see

the development and change inothers.”

Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003, Page 17

Kerby Bentley, ofthe Athleticsdepartment, is thehead coach for thecollege’s men’s basketball team.Bentley, of Caledon East, Ont., said heenjoys the benefits of sports, travellingand helping students become leaders.Bentley played for the college’s basket-ball team for four years and was theassistant coach for two years.

Spotlight on theKnights

KERBY BENTLEY

Text by Sara Campbell/ Photo by Marian Orleans

By SARA CAMPBELLStaff Writer

As high school athletes con-sider where they will be nextyear, college and universitycoaches have begun recruiting,an issue about which Ray Sarkis,director of the AthleticDepartment at Niagara College,said many students have miscon-ceptions.

Sarkis said recruiting is a year-long job for the coaches, goingto high schools, events, tourna-

ments or championship games.Once a new recruit is found, hesaid, three to four months of thecoaches’ time is spent on con-stant contact and getting theplayer to apply to the college.

“We tell students they can’tapply after deadline and we can-not help them get into a programafter deadline just for the sake ofhaving them on a team. We don’thave any leverage.”

He said that, in the past, someprograms with space availableallowed students to enrol but thecollege no longer accepts that.

“If we have the program theyrequire they can come visit thecollege and we will see how wecan help them financially,” hesaid, adding students see a finan-cial difference at Niagara College.

“We consider the cost of livingfor them and compare it to othercolleges or universities inToronto or Hamilton,” he said.“Welland seems to be less costlyand ideal.”

Sarkis said athletes are chosenby what their skill level is, whatpotential they have or what posi-tions are available. He added

students may send videotapes ofthemselves if coaches are unableto see them in action, such aswas the case with Eduart Uka, of

Albania.“The coaches work through

their high school coaches andonce we are in contact with them(athletes) we need to see whatthey are academically like.”

Scholarships are only award-ed, Sarkis said, if the athlete isdoing well academically.

“I am usually checking theirmarks myself, along with thecoaches,” he said. “Then if theyare on the honour roll we look

into other scholarships or awardsavailable to them.”

The athletic department, Sarkissaid, assists a recruited athlete

with tuition through the scholar-ship program. He said up to$1,000 scholarships are offered,with about $500 per term.

“We push the athlete academi-cally to help them earn theirscholarship. These athletes needscholarships (because) betweenschool and games they can’t earnmoney by getting a job,” he said.“They are working hard repre-senting us, the college.”

Sarkis said the athletic depart-

ment raises money for the schol-arships through admission feesfor tournaments or games,advertising packages and bill-boards. Any money that is leftover from one year is transferredto the next.

“There are many misconcep-tions that a lot of scholarships areavailable, but there are not.”

He said high school studentsshould consider that when mak-ing their college selection. Withthe double cohort next year, itmay be a surprise as to howmany students will enrol.

“We are expecting a playerfrom New York and locals fromNiagara Falls and St.Catharines,” he said. “Themen’s volleyball team is lookinggood for next year, as it alwaysdoes. We are expecting newplayers from Chatham sinceGraeme Gaunt came along andwe’re glad he did. He’s an excel-lent player.”

He said the college hasrecruited “many fine althletesover the years.” He said the col-lege has recruited “many fineathletes over the years.”

Coaches recruit high school students for teams

Toning, stretching, conditioning, motivating instructor

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‘There are many misconceptions that a lot of

scholarships are avai lable, butthere are not.’

— Ray Sarkis

‘She's (Johnstone) awesome. Itgets me out of bed. I l ike it

because it is motivating.’— Emily Foucault

Photo by Ashleigh Vink

EMBER JOHNSTONE

RAY SARKIS

‘ I l o v e i t . . .i t h e l p s m e

w o r k o f f t h ep o u n d s I

g a i n a t t h eb a r . ’

— S h a n l e aB a r n e s

Students working out with Johnstone.

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By MEAGHAN HUTTONStaff Writer

Weekends are the time to unwindand relax, put all your frustrationsbehind you and hope that Mondaydoesn’t come too fast.

We know, though, from living inWelland, there aren’t many placesto have fun. With the lack of barsand clubs, many students ventureto Thorold, St. Catharines andNiagara Falls for a night of fun andexcitement.

Jay Crowells, 21, of Oshawa, afirst-year student in the Recreationand Leisure Services program, sayshe would “rather travel and have agood time” than stay in Welland.

“The bars in Welland suckbecause there are a lot of localsand there is too much underagedrinking,” says Crowells.

Joel Smith, 24, of Windsor, asecond-year student in theComputer Programmer Analyst(Co-op) program, says staying inWelland is “boring and there isjust no place to hang out.” At theone good bar in Welland, “just abunch of old people hang outthere,” so he would rather traveland go to Rumours nightclub, at4960 Clifton Hill in NiagaraFalls, Excess Café and Lounge,at 55 St. Paul St. in St.Catharines, or Front 54, in

Thorold.The latter at 54 Front St. is a

popular place for students to goon Wednesday nights, when it isstudent pub night. Low beerprices on Saturday draw in thestudent crowds.

Rolande Moses, of Toronto, aGeneral Arts and Science student,says he likes to go to clubs outsideof Welland because the ones hereare “too small and usually thereare always people trying to causetrouble.”

Moses says the three clubs helikes are Rumours, Daily PlanetTap and Eatery, at 4573 QueenSt., in Niagara Falls, and L3

Nightclub, at 6 James St., in St.Catharines.

“Rumours has a different atmos-phere and at the Daily Planet youalways see crazy s*** happening,and L3, they play good music andyou always see people you know,”says Moses.

Crowells says he likes to go to

Big Bucks and Chili Pepper, bothin St. Catharines, because “every-one goes there. It’s always good togo places that you know peoplebecause then you can hang out.”

“Going out to places outsideWelland is better than staying inbecause it’s good to go out andenjoy a few drinks,” says Smith.

Page 18, Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003

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NADD hosting first annual fundraiserBy CARISSA PERTSCHY

Staff WriterAvoid the mourning after.On July 19, Niagara Against Drunk

Driving (NADD) is hosting its first annu-al In-line for Life fundraising event in St.Catharines along the Welland Canal path.Walkers, bikers and in-line skaters are allwelcome to participate.

“The more the merrier,” says NADD’schair, Brenda McKee, 28, of St. Catharines.McKee is a graduate of Niagara College’sJournalism-Print program and is a PublicRelations (Post-graduate) program student.

“Basically the purpose of the In-line forLife fundraising event is threefold,” shesays. “It is to raise awareness of the issuethat is not going away. It is also to raisemoney for the organization. NADD gets

no government funding whatsoever.”Lastly, “It’s to generate volunteers. Weneed bodies to help with the event.”

“We are hoping to raise $10,000 at thefundraising event,” says McKee. “Every dol-lar we earn will go straight back into the orga-

nization to help spread NADD’s message.“We are in the planning stages right now,”

says McKee. “We are hoping participants will

get pledges. Hopefully, people will be able toraise money in the community so we can giveservices back to the community. Come out.Help plan and, hopefully, help save lives.”

“Because impaired driving is a very seri-ous issue in the Niagara Region, our hope isto educate and eliminate these dangers soour roads will be safe for everyone,” saysKelly Foster, president of NADD.

In 1999, 72,925 people were charged withan impaired driving offence in Canada,according to Statistics Canada’s Centre forJustice statistics. That is a charge rate of onein every 287 licensed drivers in Canada.

Rather than driving drunk, McKee recom-mends people “plan ahead, take a cab, stayovernight, or call a friend.”

McKee says, “NADD started in 1997because of the high number of people being

injured and killed from drunk driving.”Through educational means, NADD tries to

reduce the death and injury caused in theNiagara region as a result of impaired driving.

NADD is a non-profit, grass-roots agencythat operates in the Niagara region to pro-vide information and education to children,teens and adults in an effort to reduce thedeaths and injury that all too often occurwhen people drive under the influence.

NADD says they want to get people intheir communities to “think about impaireddriving, and their responsibilities, socially,morally and criminally.”

For more information about NADD, or ifyou want to become a NADD volunteercontact McKee at 905-933-7320 or Foster at905-937-6233, or go online athttp://www.nadd.ca.

RGCO brings gambling awareness to BrockBy ADAM CAMPBELL

Staff WriterGambling away your future? What are the

odds?The Responsible Gambling

Council Ontario (RGCO) visitedBrock University, in St.Catharines, for a three-day aware-ness campaign recently. RGCOwill be visiting 18 Ontario uni-versities and colleges with theKnow the Score campaign, whichkicked off last September 2002and ends in March.

The RGCO’s goal is to bringawareness to the 18-to-24 age demograph-ic, educating young adults on the signs of

gambling, risks involved with gamblingand locations for addiction treatment with-in their communities.

This non-profit organi-zation, established in1983, helps individualsand communities addressgambling in a responsibleway.

They are also trainingstudents at the universityand college level to helptheir peers by providinginformation and educa-tional materials.

A council spokesperson said this programdoesn’t look down on gambling, but rather at

ways to keep gambling safer for the gambling-addicted person and the people around them.

A contest for the Know the Score campaignis underway as the RGCO goes on itsOntario-wide tour. Students are invited to par-ticipate by answering five questions designedto increase awareness of the issues surround-ing gambling.

This contest is being run through theRGCO Web site. Students who answer allquestions correctly are eligible for one oftwo $1,500 scholarship awards, gift cer-tificates for food, campus books and dailygiveaways.

Besides Brock University, the Know theScore campaign will be visiting these otheracademic institutions: Humber College in

Toronto, University of Waterloo in Waterloo,Nipissing University in North Bay, CanadoreCollege in North Bay, York University inToronto, Ryerson University in Toronto,University of Toronto (downtown campus) inToronto, Laurentian University in Sudbury,Mohawk College in Hamilton, WilfridLaurier University in Waterloo, LakeheadUniversity in Thunder Bay, CarletonUniversity in Ottawa, University of Windsorin Windsor, Algonquin College in Ottawa,University of Guelph in Guelph and the Frostand Sutherland Campuses at Sir SandfordFleming College in Peterborough.

For more information, visit the RGCO’sinteractive Web site at www.responsiblegam-bling.org.

Students travel region in search of good time

‘Come out. Help planand, hopefully, help

save lives.’— Kelly Foster

Marketing student aims highBy MARIAN ORLEANS

Staff WriterA Niagara College interna-

tional student says the collegehas a lot to offer to studentspursuing their post-graduateeducation.

Vyomesh Desai, 17, fromIndia, in the BusinessAdministration – Marketing(Co-op) program, is a first-year student at the college’sGlendale campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

“I came to Niagara because Ithink it’s a good college and Ican do something importantwith my life after I graduate. Ireally enjoy being a student atthe college. The teachers arevery good, friendly and co-operative. They are alwayswilling to help students withtheir school works and help

answer their questions.”Desai says he “likes” the

method of teaching at the college.“Students have access to

school facilities such as com-puters, library, and the in-classpresentations conducted by theteachers and sometimes stu-dents are very educative andmake learning less difficult.”

Desai says he isn’t quitesure yet of a place to do hisco-op, but wherever he can geta better opportunity, he’llwork there. “The co-op place-ment is a great experience forstudents to be well trained andeducated in the field.”

Desai is part of the college’sStudent AdministrativeCouncil (SAC) at the Glendalecampus. He’s a student repre-sentative.

“One of my biggest chal-

lenges at Niagara was when Iwent for the meeting the col-lege held for the candidatesfor the student representative.I didn’t think I was going toget the position because of themany students who went forthe meeting.”

“However, I got the job andit’s very challenging for me. Iget to make announcements inthe auditorium about eventstaking place and help withorganizing some of the eventsrun by SAC.”

“Niagara is an excellentcollege. The school facilitiesare very helpful to studentsand the hands-on practicesare very good. After I gradu-ate I want to work in a mar-keting company which has agreater scope in the field ofmarketing.”

Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003, Page 19

By JESSICAARCAROStaff Writer

Coming out of Pizza Pizza, a lanky boy with shoulder-length brown hair munch-es on a greasy slice ofpizza while clutching acreamy garlic dippingsauce, his favourite meal.

Bonar Bell is a 20-year-old ballet and jazz dancer,studying the movement ofthe human body, and whilehe often relies on publictransport, nothing seems toslow him down.

“I think that every roleI have been given hasallowed me to experi-ment, whether that becharacter-wise, or even ifit allowed me to foolaround backstage with theprops or costumes.”

Bell started his performing career at the Oshawa LittleTheatre, in Oshawa, Ont. He moved on to the O’Neill

Collegiate andVo c a t i o n a lInstitute, aperforming-arts school forGrades 9through 13.

For the nextfive years,Bell partici-pated in sever-al roles andactivities withhis school. Inone signifi-cant musical,written by hisGrade 9 class,he played thetuba in the pitband for thefirst time.

A n o t h e rimportant per-formance herecalls was hisrole in West Side Story, because, “although I had alreadybeen dancing for three years before that, I didn’t take itvery seriously until that time.”

After graduating from the collegiate, Bell entered BrockUniversity in St. Catharines, to study health science,intending to become a doctor. One term into his first year,he changed directions and enrolled in the bachelor of kine-siology, honours program.

“I think by (studying) kinesiology, I can increase mydance performance, by knowing which muscles to workon, which to develop more fully.” In the program, he isstudying the science of human movement, which is amajor concern for professionals in performing arts.

He chose Brock University for its “school size and spir-it,” which he discovered while on a residence tour.

Bell had begun studying dance at the beginning ofsecondary school. Like most beginners, he started with bal-let, though it took him several years to begin to enjoy it.

Looking back, he says, he would have preferred startingwith jazz or hip-hop.

He is study-ing severalkinds of danceat the LoriHannah DanceGroup, on St.Paul Street, inSt. Catharines,with hopes tosomeday jointhe Cirque duSoleil, “but Ihave a lot oftraining beforethat dayarrives.” Healso feelsdance is hisfavourite formof expression.

“You canportray a lot inone plié.”

For the time being, he sat-isfies his thirsts for perform-ing by learning parts of hisfavourite musical, Cats. As acat, he is in his prime. Hisgreen eyes sparkle and a

look ofp u r ec o n f i -d e n c e ,c o m -b i n e dwith thee n j o y -ment oft h em u s i c ,sp readsa c r o s shis boy-ish face.

U p o ncomple-tion ofhis hon-o u r sd e g r e e ,Bell sayshe wantsto pursuea career

in dance, studying it more intensely and achieving his teach-ing certificate. Once he has received his certification, he

would like to instruct at the university level, preferablywhere he can instruct in kinesiology and dance.

There is onemajor lifelongfactor forwhich, Bellsays, he is “verygrateful.” As aChristian, hesays that hisfaith has been“a huge part” ofhis life. He sayshe feels he hasbecome closerto God in thepast three yearsand thanks Himevery day forbeing alive.

He believesthat God has alot to do withhis future aswell. He livesby the saying,“If we look toofar into thefuture, we for-get to livetoday.”

At Brock, heis constantlycontributing histime and effortto the studentbody. He is ageneral mem-ber of theR e s i d e n c e

Advisory Council. His duties include keeping students informedof special events, holding quarters for laundry exchange and,most important, he must participate in one committee.

As a member of the volunteer committee, he is in chargeof helping organize and run at least two large volunteer proj-ects each term. From his volunteering experiences, he hadthe opportunity to help organize and participate in the uni-versity’s 2002 World Vision 30-Hour Famine.

“That is my baby.” He can’t seem to help but smile as hetalks about the project. “The whole concept blows me away.It is symbolic, yet we still feel the sense of giving our offer-ings to the people in developing countries.” He says heplans to participate in organizing this year’s famine as well.

When he isn’t dancing, Bell can be found playing his gui-tar and writing songs. His inspirations come from his toptwo artists, Lauryn Hill and Alanis Morisette.

“(Morisette) is great for lyrics. I think her writing isgenius. When I write, I try to pick up on some of her tech-niques and then twist them around in my own way.”

No matter where or how he ends up, Bell says, “it’ll be ablessing.” Everything he is doing now is part of his faithand, he says, he truly believes that God will always point theway for him.

From top: Bell practices a walkover bridge; Bell exe-cutes a backbend at the barre; Bell and dance instruc-tor, Lori Olszynko, of the Lori Hannah Dance Group,demonstrate improvisation techniques during a balletclass; Bell and Olszynko get ready for class in theback lobby of the dance school.

Photos by Jessica Arcaro

Brock student aims high with hands, toes

BONAR BELL

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‘ It is symbolic, yet westi l l feel the sense of giving our offerings to

the people in developingcountr ies.’

– Bonar Bel l

Page 20, Niagara News, Feb. 7, 2003

Charity Ball raises $3,000 for food bankBy DONNA DURIC

Staff WriterMore than $3,000 to benefit

hungry students was raised by thesecond annual Niagara CollegeCharity Ball, held in the GrandeBallroom at the Americana Resortin Niagara Falls on Feb. 1.

“The Charity Ball is a funevening for students and a greatway for them to give back to theschool,” says Melanie Kidon,22, a student in the PublicRelations (Post-graduate) pro-gram (PR). “All proceeds go tothe Niagara College studentfood bank, which is available forany student who needs assis-tance when loans run short.”

Kidon, along with other stu-dents in the PR program andSpecial Event Management(Post-graduate) program, workedwith Dave Rapelje, manager ofthe Student Centre, on a commit-tee dedicated to organizing theevent. Members of the college’sStudent Administrative Council(SAC) helped.

The theme of Charity Ball 2003was Gangsters, Glitz andGlamour, a tribute to the roaringtwenties. Last year’s ball had aMardi Gras theme.

Among college officials whoattended the ball were DanPatterson, president of NiagaraCollege, Steve Hudson, vice-president of corporate services,Martha Casson, acting vice-president academic, and AlVaughan, registrar.

Over 200 staff and students,dressed in formal attire, gatheredfor cocktails, dinner and dancingon Saturday night, while actors,hired for the event and dressed asgangsters and flappers, mingledwith the crowd. A swing bandplayed music throughout dinner,and student pub deejay DavidMichael kicked off the dancingwith more swing music, followedby current club favourites and avariety of old and new party hits.

Profits from the evening’s $40ticket, as well as money raisedfrom the “racketeering raffle”were presented in the form of acheque to all three SAC presidentsduring the speech ceremony fol-lowing the dinner.

The racketeering raffle consist-ed of purchasing a wingspan oftickets for $10 and placing theminto a jar beside a prize, to bedrawn later in the evening. Prizes,which were donated by local and

national sponsors, included jetboat ride tickets for two, one- andtwo-night accommodations at theAmericana Resort, a tandem sky-dive jump at the Niagara SkydiveCentre, helicopter tours of the fallsand a karaoke machine rental,among other items.

Christopher Newman, 23, ofSudbury, is a student in the PRprogram who helped out with thecharity ball. He was selling ticketsfor the racketeering raffle.

“Our students have been reallysupportive,” he says. “I wish I(had) bought a ticket instead ofvolunteering, but my time wasbetter spent here. It’s great to see itcome to fruition.”

In order to get the event off theground, SAC donated $2,800 tothe committee.

“If it wasn’t for SAC, this eventwouldn’t have happened,” saysNewman. “It’s their brainchildfrom last year. We’re just reallyhappy that SAC supports this (andthey) didn’t ignore the fact that thefood bank was empty.”

Rapelje, committee chairper-son, says he enjoyed working onthe event.

“I was very fortunate to workwith my two co-chairs (JenniferKoch and Michelle Pagonis, bothof the Special Event Management(Post-graduate) program). Theydid a lot of the work, setting bud-gets and the day-to-day adminis-trative aspects - picking the venue(and) picking the meal plan.”

The committee worked as ademocracy, says Rapelje, meetingevery Wednesday since Septemberand voting on suggestions.

“Everyone on the committeehad a voice and say in what hap-pened,” he says.

Rapelje says he thought theevent was a success.

“I think it was a great night foreveryone who attended. Greatfood, great music and a lot oflaughs. The prize raffle that wehad was very well received (and)people were dancing right up untilwe closed.”

Last year’s ball raised $3,800,and Rapelje says he wants tochange a few things for nextyear’s ball, such as having alate-night buffet instead of a sit-down dinner, in order to increaseprofits.

“We’re just hoping it becomesmore and more of a steadfast tradi-tion here. I hope at some point wecan get our attendance up to 1,000.”

From left, back row, Charity Ball committee members are Aaron Hahn and Michael MacNeil.Middle row, Jessica St. Louis, Ricky Wong, Christina Sarkis, Ella Basic, Arianne Quenneville,Melanie Kidon, Jay Rumley, Dave Rapelje, Jessica Ash, Jennifer Jones, Jennifer Longmuir,Michelle Pagonis. Front row, Emily Hanes, Jennifer Koch and Hayley Bishop. Sarkis posedfor the photo, although she was not on the committee. She is the SAC president at the Maidof the Mist Centre campus.

Dan Patterson, college president,and his wife Saundra got into thespirit of Gangsters, Glitz andGlamour by dressing in 1920sstyle clothing.

Actors, from the Theatre Arts program at Brock Universityin St. Catharines, dressed as flappers, were kicking off thedancing to swing music during the Charity Ball held Feb. 1.

Students and staff sit down to a formal dinner followedby dessert in the Grande Ballroom of the AmericanaResort in Niagara Falls.

Andrew Hanes, presidentof the Welland campusStudent AdministrativeCouncil, says thanks toall who attended andworked on the CharityBall committee, during ashort speech ceremonyafter the dinner.Proceeds from the eventbenefit the student FoodBank at Niagara College.

Attendees at the ball dance to the music played by stu-dent pub deejay David Michael.All photos by Donna Duric