MEDIA
December 22nd 2011
For Immediate Release
Kelowna—The Okanagan College Students’ Union (OCSU) is outraged over the closures of all five public Sexually Transmitted Infection clinics across the interior of British Columbia. The proposed alternatives are to visit a general practitioner or a walk-in clinic are both completely insufficient and leave many students without access to necessary services. It is well understood that general practitioners are already overtaxed in small towns throughout the interior of BC. Many students attending post-secondary in the interior are from outside the operating area of the Interior Health Authority (IHA) and do not currently have their own general practitioner. Diminishing a student’s access to a feasible means of preventive care and screening not only helps to promote the spread of infection but also helps to encourage the stigma surrounding sexual health.
Ross Saunders, the Internal Director of the OCSU and studying at Penticton Campus of Okanagan College stated “these reductions in service only help to perpetuate further stigma toward sexual health within the youth demographic in the Interior. This is not only a direct attack on youth, but is also a step backwards in health care services in the interior. For the IHA to blatantly disregard their own recommendations and research shows a complete lack of understanding of the needs of the interior.”
The Okanagan College Students' Union also feels that the feasibility of walk-in clinics as an alternative is a shameful attempt at a band-aid solution. In addition many women are uncomfortable with male doctors providing PAPP smears. Given the majority of practitioners’ at these walk-in clinics are male, this presents a challenge for many women seeking service from a female doctor in the interior region.
The OCSU is alarmed that the proposed closures will cause grievous consequences for students. In 2006 the IHA commissioned a sexual health review by the TGS consultation incorporated. The very first recommendation was that “youth reproductive-sexual health services should include the following components: reproductive sexual health education, the provision of contraceptive options including emergency contraceptive pill, pregnancy option counseling and availability of STI clinics.” The review also indicated that duplication of services was not seen as applicable to STI services.
The OCSU implores the IHA to reconsider this drastic move to eliminate access to sexual health services in the Interior. The OCSU further encourages the IHA to not only restore but to increase STI clinics in the interior regions.
The Okanagan College Students' Union represents over 7,000 students studying across the Okanagan-Shuswap region from Osoyoos to Revelstoke and is a proud member of the Canadian Federation of Students.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Ross Saunders: 250-460.1440
For Immediate Release
December 1st 2011
PENTICTION – In dedication to the 14 women killed at L’Ecole Polytechnique on December 6th 1989, the Okanagan College Students’ Union and the Penticton & Area Women’s Centre are working together to host an evening of discussion and collaboration in keeping with the spirit of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
A wave of violence, predominantly violence against women, has swept over the Okanagan-Shuswap in the past year. Our communities have been on edge; yet still remain vigilant, as a result of these deplorable acts of violence.
The event will feature a collaborative art piece by the Golo Art Project during the day, and a panel discussion featuring representatives from the South Okanagan Restorative Justice Program, Penticton & Area Women’s Centre, Okanagan College Criminal Social Justice Department, and the RCMP.
“It is important to give the community the opportunity to come together on December 6th, not only to remember victims of violence against women in the past, but as a reminder that this problem is still present in our communities,” said Ross Saunders, Internal Director of the Okanagan College Students’ Union. “I wear a white ribbon as a pledge never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women.”
Leading up to the December 6th event, the OCSU will be promoting the White Ribbon Campaign. The campaign began in Canada in 1991 in response to the L’Ecole Polytechnique shooting, primarily as a method of educating young boys and men on the problem of violence against women. The OCSU provides free white ribbons and educational pamphlets to its members throughout the duration of the campaign.
What: December 6th Memorial Vigil
Who: Members of Okanagan College Students’ Union, Penticton & Area Women’s Centre, & Community
Where: Okanagan College – Penticton Campus (583 Duncan Ave) Lecture Theatre
When: Tuesday, December 6th 6:00pm – 8:00pm
The Okanagan College Students’ Union represents 5000 students at three of the main campuses of Okanagan College. The OCSU is a member of the Canadian Federation of Students, Canada’s largest student organization with a combined membership of over one-half million students.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Natasha Di Iuorio, Okanagan College Students’ Union
250.492.4305 ext. 3208
Angelika Eneas, Penticton & Area Women’s Centre
250.493.6822
Amberlee Erdmann, Okanagan College Women’s Resource Centre
250.492.4305 ext. 3311
Cabinet Minister meets with local Students’ Unions
Kelowna—The Okanagan College Students’ Union (OCSU) and the UBC Students’ Union Okanagan (UBCSUO) met on July 7 with Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of Advanced Education, to discuss the current realities of post-secondary education in the Okanagan-Shuswap. Both Students’ Unions are alarmed about the Minister’s public statement that student debt is good, and concerned that the Minister does not realize the full impact of student debt.
Given the Minister’s perspective on student debt, the Students’ Unions will be requesting another meeting to ensure that Yamamoto is clear on the scope of the problem her government has created. “We would hope for a more sophisticated response from the minister who is responsible for advanced education,” stated Cory Nelmes, Financial Coordinator of the Okanagan College Students' Union.
Yamamoto stated to local media that she believes student debt is a really good debt to assume. The students disagree. Education is a necessity in today’s economy. Many students are forced to take large debts in order to pay for it. This does not mean that student debt is good; it means that education is a necessity.
Women, parents, mature students, and students with disabilities are all more likely to go deeper into debt than a younger unattached male. When interest on their student loans is factored in, it is clear that these students are on average paying much more for their education than their peers. Student debt is a barrier against full participation in the economy. Students who shoulder larger debts are less likely to purchase homes, and are more likely to put off starting a family. Debt aversion keeps many potential students from pursuing their studies at all.
The Students’ Unions believe that debt disproportionately faced by women, parents, students with disabilities, and mature students is discriminatory.
The UBCSUO repeatedly stated that students are being forced into student debt at an alarming pace due to government underfunding. The OCSU advocated for increased government funding to relieve the burden of incredibly high tuition fees. “Student debt is ballooning at unprecedented rates” stated Kirk Chavarie, Executive Chairperson of the UBCSUO.
The Okanagan College Students' Union and UBC Students Union Okanagan jointly represents over 12,000 students studying across the Okanagan-Shuswap region from Osoyoos to Revelstoke. Both are proud members of the Canadian Federation of Students.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jordan Haynes (OCSU): 250-863-7792
Kirk Chavarie (UBCSUO): 250-863-9823
53_Media_Release_Min_Adv_Ed_110807.pdf
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