Campusnews Aidan Royea focuses his attention on his individual science project on molecules to critically solve some of the problems he faced. EDITORMELANIEGREEN | CASSANDRA OSBORNE PHOTO Finding the magic potion Langara teacher makes chemistry an experience, not a class = By CASSANDRA OSBORNE new chemistry class at Langara College is struc- tured unlike any other by focusing on semester-long individual projects, encouraging stu- dents to think critically and solve prob- lems without the need of constant out- side influence. Science projects, spearheaded by in- structor Kelly Sveinson, encourages mistakes in favour of growth. “The vision that I had when I built this course was to get the students to experience science in a more authentic way,” Sveinson said. He said that post-secondary educa- tion at the undergraduate level usually exposes students to a very contained and controlled version of science that lacks creativity and doesn’t encourage mistakes. “Tt's ahuman characteristic, a computer couldn't do that.” — KELLY SVEINSON, INSTRUCTOR According to Sveinson, the course is “only appropriate for a handful of stu- dents,” due to its difficulty and level of commitment. Under the instructor’s supervision, Aidan Royea is studying molecules us- ing a specified computer program for the semester. “[The course] gave us the opportunity to explore real world problems, as op- posed to regular second year courses,” he said. “Doing the routine doesn’t actually prepare us, it doesn’t even give us an idea of what to expect in the real world.” Sveinson believes a common mis- conception about science is that it lacks creativity. “It’s very not linear, it’s very not sys- tematic,” he said. “Tt’s a human characteristic, a com- puter couldn’t do that.” Paul Habbas, a bioinformatics stu- dent, is working with contaminated soil trying to find a way to remove the contamination by using the bacteria to clean it up. He hopes to transfer this idea to medicine, with the goal of looking into DNA to treat hereditary diseases. “It’s not just theory anymore. "It’s application, which is what this whole course is about,” he said. Habbas compares what he’s learned about the scientific process to an art form saying, “a painter [...] has to lay down the drawing and he has to go in there with colours. It’s the same thing with science,. You see a problem, you try to think of questions to solve that prob- lem and then you go and you apply it.” U-Pass contract validity unclear f Recent LSU vote to include CS stu- dents questioned ™ By CASS LUCKE ull time continuing studies stu- F dents have been approved to join the Langara Students’ Union next fall, a controversial move that could be interpreted as breaking the U- Pass collective contract with TransLink Student line-up at continuing studies during a lunch break. zyse KoTY« PHOTO and the Ministry of Transportation. In Vancouver, all student societies have a standing contract with Trans- Link and the Ministry of Transporta- tion stating that every student enrolled in a credit course can receive a U-Pass by paying union fees. At Langara, continuing studies stu- dents have never been part of the LSU because the majority don't receive course credits. However, according to the LSU, continuing studies students want to be included in the union. Those 500 students enrolled in full- time continuing studies programs now receive credits. The LSU passed a new bylaw on Jan. 6 to include these students into the union in September, but this does not guarantee they will receive a U-Pass. According to TransLink, these con- tracts don't foresee expansion to include additional students. "TransLink is not aware of any votes being conducted by student associa- tions,” said TransLink media rela- tions advisor Jill Andrews. "There is nothing in current agreements that eyes expansion of the program.” The LSU's media spokesperson, who wouldn't give their name, said in an email that the additional students shouldn't affect the U-Pass contract. "At this time, no new negotiations need to be made,” they said. Alex McGowan, president of the Kwantlen Student Association, which is also part of the U-Pass contract, said unions can't make their own changes to the agreement. "Even with a certain amount of vari- ance permitted between student soci- eties, all unions have the same U-Pass agreement,” he said. "Individual nego- tiations are not permitted.” McGowan said the KSA doesn't in- clude continuing studies students in its student union benefits. "I don't think this is possible. Ei- ther a student society participates in the U-Pass program or you don't,” he said. "That is a decision that is put to students in a referendum of the student society.” CS ATLANGARA STATS AND FIGURES 20,000 CS students enrol in Spring 2017 These students are considered part-time. 100 CS students already get benefits RMT students are full-time and credited, so they receive a U-Pass. 500 full-time CS stu- dents in Spring 2017 Numbers are expected to grow as full-time CS programs are added. SOURCE: DANIEL THORPE, DEAN OF CONTINUING STUDIES, FRIDAY, FEB. 10,2017 | THE VOICE 3 Ex-LSU director fights back Wrongful termina- tion affects her future career, so she wants clarification former director of the Lan- = By SYDNEY MORTON gara Students’ Union has A delivered a letter to the LSU, claiming that she was wrong- fully terminated by the board. According to the LSU, Harsimran Malhi was fired on Nov. 23 because she broke a bylaw that states that if a member misses two meetings, their membership is eligible for termination. However, Malhi said she provided a valid doctor's note and got permission from former general manager, Des- mond Rodenbour to miss the meetings in question. “I wanted to clarify that it was the board’s mistake,” she told The Voice. In the warning letter delivered on Jan. 24, Malhi demanded a retraction of her termination and payment of lost wages from the LSU. Malhi said she believes her dismissal was illegal, adding that the LSU lacks transparency. . “They should have read their own bylaws. "And _ secondly, it’s their due dili- gence that they should have con- tacted me if they Harsimran Malhi , FORMER LSU DIREC. couldn’t — contact TOR Desmond,” Malhi said. Rodenbour was hired to find ways to bring transparency and improve the democratic process within the LSU, but was dismissed three months later, along with the LSU’s lawyers, Malhi and a fourth member, by a newly ap- pointed board. “Now, I'm not going to stop fighting for it.” —HARSIMRAN MALHI, FORMERLSU DIRECTOR Malhi does not want the termina- tion to affect her professional reputa- tion in the future Sukhman Singh, a former interna- tional student advisor of the LSU said that board members cannot be termi- nated without prior communication. “If they are missing board meet- ings regularly they can’t just terminate them, they have to talk to them before and ask why they did not come to the meeting,” Singh said. The LSU media spokesperson, who does not want to be named, would not comment on Malhi’s firing, but did say board members are “deemed to have resigned from Council [and] Council simply accepts their resignation,” in- stead of termination. Malhi has met with legal counsel but could not comment on what action she will take if there is no response to her letter. If reinstated, she is determined to find answers from the board about her dismissal. “Now, I’m not going to stop fighting for it,” Malhi said.