UBC

Second event of the day is UBC's announcement of housing placements. For the last few years, the university hasn't been able to provide housing to all those who are eligible. And now they've implemented a lottery-style system, which is fair enough I guess. But the real issue is this: While tuition rises and UBC's oh-so-important maclean's ranking drops like a dead weight, UBC is spending its money on developing the ENDOWMENT LANDS into commercially available buildings. This includes moving the outdoor olympic-size swimming pool to make room for a mall/apartment building that will be way too expensive for students, leaving it available to private investors. The other buildings going up around campus have, to the best of my knowledge little, if any, value to the common student. So here's the summary of events at ubc... here's why it's been in the news so much, why so many students are pissed off, why the current students are warning future students to stay away: The administration is raising tuition to deal with government funding cuts. Meanwhile, Martha Piper (president of UBC - you'll see her in federal politics in a few years, I'll bet) is spending the money on commercial buildings on the ENDOWMENT LANDS to sell to rich investors instead of building affordable housing. -KY