Endeavour (January 31, 2007)

              January 31, 2007
Volume 42, Issue 11
www. lethbridgecollege. ab. ca/ endeavour
News
Features
Entertainment
Sports
South Africa project • page 2
Lost I. D • page 7
What’s on now• page 16
Women’s Volleyball • page 20
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Voices blend together into a mass of murmurs; students looking harried sit at their computers and work on their assignments.
Yet, Shelley Anderson looks more stressed than her classmates, her hands are shaking badly today, bad enough that she can’t focus on her work or anything else but the tremors in her hands.
Shelley is just one of many people who are classified as a sufferer of depression in today’s working society.
“ I was about 13, I was completely preoccupied with death and dying,” says Shelley. “ I had tried hurting myself one too many times.”
Shelley, now 22, continues to battle these and other disturbing thoughts while continuing her education and her life.
Students at Lethbridge Community College will be shelling out a few extra dollars following a 3.3 per cent increase in tuition fees starting in September.
The increase means students will be paying $ 217.70 for a typical three- credit course, which is $ 7 more then last fall.
The LCC Board of Governors approved the increase on Friday.
LCC Students Association president Jonathan Hill explained that the increase in tuition is a result of a higher cost of living.
“ With the cost of living going up, cost of running a business goes up, and when it comes down to it, running a college is a lot like running a business,” said Hill. “ Any increase to the pocketbook is going to be a harsh one.”
“ Asking for 3.3 per cent is definitely more money,” Hill continues.
“ But I really feel that the administration is looking out for the greater good of the students.”
The move comes as the University of Lethbridge and universities in Calgary and Edmonton approved increases in recent weeks.
Under the current tuition fee policy, the provincial government regulates any increases.
Currently, any increases in tuition are capped at 2004 levels and is tied into the consumer price index.
Hill explains that any tuition increase can’t be higher then the price of inflation in Alberta.
“ In the grand scheme of things it could have been a lot worse, under the old tuition act we could have been hit with up to a 32 per cent increase,” said Hill.
Out of 17 Alberta colleges, LCC has the 12th- highest tuition fees.
“ It’s a tough time to be a student, especially in Alberta,” said Hill.
“ When it increases this much I’ll take it - I’m not happy - but I’m definitely going to celebrate the fact it’s no more then that.”
First- year Child and Youth Care student, Amanda Tona said that coming from the University of Lethbridge, tuition is much more reasonable at LCC and doesn’t think the hike is cause for alarm.
“ I don’t think it would hinder too much,” she said.
“[ It’s] more of an annoyance.”
“ I don’t think it’s going to bother me much,” said Brandon Merrill, a first- year Business Administration student.
“ It doesn’t seem like too much of a hike to worry about.”
Mark Laycock
Endeavour Staff
Brant Penner and Kaleisha Hall are preparing for their trip to Cancun for this years Reading Week.
Many students will need passports to fly outside of Canada.
For full details on passport regulations and trips to Mexico direct from Leth­bridge
Airport see story on page 3.
Tuition hike 3.3 per cent
Depression is
valley of gloom
Shannon Powder
Endeavour Staff
Shelley Anderson reflects on her day- to- day struggles with depression.
Photos by Anne- Marie Jackson
Passport
issues add baggage
Story continued on page 3