ampus hews EDITOR AUDREY MCKINNON THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 1, 2012 3 By KATJA DE BOCK t is a shame when $200,000 in schol- arships and bursaries go unclaimed every year, especially when money is limited. That’s according to Roy Daykin, vice-president of administra- tion and finance at Langara College. Sometimes the fund criteria are so restrictive that no matching candidate can be found, said Daykin. Last year, for example, the Carol and Charles Loh and Holdstock/Drechel bursaries went unclaimed. “The funds will eventually be distrib- uted,” said Daykin. Langara works with the donors to modify the agree- ments, Daykin said, adding that Langa- ra is not unique, since other colleges also have overflow funds. “A bursary is based on financial need. A scholarship is based on aca- demic performance,” said Daykin, add- ing that in 2011 Langara distributed over $300,000 of funds to students. Sue Street, executive director of col- lege advancement, finds new donors and keeps up relationships with exist- ing donors. “People give because it makes a dif- ference,” said Street. “We can really impact students.” Street wants to increase funds, both for bursaries and scholarships. Shirley Kamerling-Roberts, manag- er at financial aid services, said via email, that in the January 2012 term, 300 bursaries were awarded out of 453 applications. That means there’s a 66 per cent chance of success. KATJA DE BOCK photo illustration Roy Daykin, vice-president of administration and finance at Langara College is responsible for a portfolio that includes finance, facili- ties, and technology. Daykin, who worked previously at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Douglas College, said that students should actively look into what financial aid is available. Thousands of dollars in scholarships and bursaries go unclaimed every year. $200k in undeclared cash Thousands in scholarships and bursaries go with no takers yearly because of restrictive guidelines or no knowledge of what’s there. That’s great news for people like Jen- nifer Barrett, a Langara biology stu- dent who received her first bursary last semester. “They're a great supplement for school supplies, for unexpected things that just pop up. It’s a nice little emer- gency fund,” she said. Barett is awaiting the results of a second application. “If you find some- thing, apply for it, because if you don’t, you're not going to get the money any- ways,” she said. Daykin’s advice echoes that. “Look into what financial aid is available, both at Langara and out in the wider world. There is lots of money out there that goes unaccessed,” he said. “One thing is, students don’t know how easy it is.” HOW T0 qualify: 1 Carol and Charles Loh bursary -Awarded to second year health care students. Holdstock/Drechel bursary -Awarded to film students who are enrolled in two English courses. -Currently being modified. Source: Langara College Financial Aid Department New LSU bylaws drafted The Students’ Union is re- vamping their rules after members asked for change. By JULES KNOX ing to bring in new bylaws that would be the biggest organization- al change in the history of the union, says Saadia Rai, an LSU spokesperson. If passed, the new bylaws will re- structure the organization and change how money is spent. Demands for greater accountability within the union triggered the adjustments, said Rai. Students running for office might need to submit a resumé under the pro- posed changes as well. Rai said that would keep the elec- tions from being a popularity contest. However, students are questioning this proposal, saying that it is not clear who would be qualified to review these resumés without any bias. “The students should be the ones to choose the candidates instead of the LSU narrowing it down,” said Kari Fer- nandez, a Langara arts and sciences student. “It defeats the whole purpose of the people voting.” Budget responsibilities would also be clarified under the new bylaws, Rai said. Right now, it is not clear who is re- sponsible for spending committees’ budgets within the LSU. A problem with the current LSU model is that it hampers good gover- nance, Rai said. “It pits one constituen- cy against another.” Student liaisons are currently com- peting for scarce resources that are given to each of them, she said. “Right now there’s a lot of internal squabbling.” The new bylaws propose hiring a chairperson to ensure that proper pro- cesses are followed at meetings. “You don’t want meetings to be hi- jacked by certain students and their self interests,” said Rai. Under the present terms, students need to be part of the constituency in order to vote for a particular liaison. For example, only disabled students can vote for the disabilities liaison. Under the proposed changes, ail members would be able to vote for can- didates representing these minorities. “That’s not right. That’s not fair,” said chemistry student Yuri Lee. She said only people in a particular minori- ty should be voting for their represen- tatives. Rai said she hopes a referendum will be held late November after the bylaws go through a second legal review. LSU members were not able to com- ment on the proposed bylaws. Ti: Langara Students’ Union is try- Tiny spaces and traffic leave ugly scars on campus cars Students may find them- selves at a car body shop and paying a hefty fee after parking during class. By TANYA HILL Ontario Street might put your car at risk for dents. Last year ICBC reported 16 collisions in the Langara parking lot, including those involving parked cars. [ons south side parking lot at Smaller stalls may mean more peo- ple are unable to exit their vehicles without the possibility of hitting the car beside them. Tn 2010 the parking lot was repainted making the parking sizes smaller, in order to fit more cars. “T avoid the small parking spaces,” said Justin Mang, a computer-science student. “If someone [drove a bigger car] they wouldn’t be able to get out,” People are also taking up two spaces to avoid other cars parking beside them. “People park over the lines, spac- es are so small that people are scared that their car might get a dent,” said nursing student Vinita Pereira. Of the people who study and work at Langara, 27 per cent drive to school. Students who use the parking lots pay $6.50 per day. That could add up to almost $400 over a full-time semester. But the possibility of getting a ding, or dent could mean parking at school is even more costly. The estimated mini- mum cost to repair a dent is $250, esti- mates 24HR Collision Center, located on Fraser Street and SW Marine Drive in Vancouver. Another issue is the high congestion in the parking lot when most school days let out. Many staff, instructors and students are trying to leave the area at that time. lege at peak times. anything 66 Spaces are A 2010 Langara College transporta- tion survey highlights student and so small staff frustration with exiting the col- that people “The perimeter parking is fine but are scared in the middle, its too that their jammed,” Mang said. People surveyed car might in the 2010 transportation report sug- get a dent. gested that a left hand signal at the parking lot entrance would be helpful to relieve congestion. VINITA PEREIRA