Student struggle

Some international students

are working extended hours to

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PRODUCED BY LANGARA JOURNALISM STUDENTS | WWW.LANGARAVOICE.CA

OCTOBER 24, 2019 * VOL. 52 NO. 2* VANCOUVER, B.C.

Foreign

Students
graduate,
evacuate

Study: two thirds of
international grads quit
Canada within six years

By SOUBHIK
CHAKRABARTI

orkplace discrimination
and racial profiling could
be the reason interna-

tional students don't stay in Canada,
according to a recent study.

Conducted by Statistics Canada,
the study found that only one-third
of international students who stud-
ied in Canadian college and univer-
sity programs remained in the
country after graduating.

‘The study said that difficulty find-
ing jobs in Canada could be the
reason international students are
leaving and that discrimination
from employers and language barri-
ers could be contributing factors
impacting student employment.

‘Third-year math and geography
student from India Avjeet Dhaliwal
who has experienced discrimination
said that if she is unsuccessful find-
ing a career in her chosen field she
may leave the country.

“If I'm getting a really good job I
wouldn't have any problem staying in
Canada, if not, I'll go back,” Dhali-
wal said.

The study’s co-author, Marc Fren-
ette said that integration and a lack
of connections could be a factor
hindering the job search.

“They don't have the same kind of
network as people born in Canada
might have,” Frenette said.

Khushwant Singh, a second-year
international student from India
in the Langara computer science
program said that it took him three
months to find a job in Canada

“It’s quite difficult” Singh said.

According to Frenette, however,
trouble finding work may not be the
only factor in the trend.

“It’s possible that they aren't
getting a job,” Frenette said. “But it’s
also fully possible that they intended
to go back to their home country or
some other country” .”

While some students may intend
on leaving, a 2017 survey conducted
by the Canadian Bureau for Inter-
national Education found that
over half of international students
surveyed expressed a desire to
immigrate to Canada following
graduation.

Mushrooms

fighting \\

mental
illness

A poisonous Fly Agaric mushroom which has psychoactive properties. Consuming Fly Agaric can be deadly. PHo70 sourcen FROM LIBRESHOT

No transit, no students

Looming bus strike could be an obstacle for college commute

By RAY CHOPPING

ith the possibility of

Coast Mountain Bus

Company staff walk-

ing off the job, many
Langara students and staff may soon
be unable to get to the campus.

Langara’s 2017 Transportation
Survey Report showed that 88 per
cent of respondents used transit to
reach the campus.

Aaron Marty, an environmental
studies student, said that a transit
strike would be very problematic for
him.

“My only way to get here would be
taxi,” said Marty.

Situated on South Vancouver’s 49
Avenue, Langara College is primar-
ily serviced by the 49 bus route,
the second busiest bus route in the
province.

Studio 58 theatre student Sofie
Kane said, “It’s the main way we get
to school.”

While the survey showed that

transit was a prominent option for
respondents located in Vancouver,
the results suggest that transit is even
more popular among those travelling
from further away. The survey stated
that 96 per cent of respondents
located in Surrey relied on transit.

“Ttake two buses
and atrain, sol
don't think I'd be
able to reach the
college.”

— SRIKANT RATURI, BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION STUDENT

Business administration student
Srikant Raturi said that a transit
strike would be devastating for him
as he relies heavily on the transit
system.

“T take two buses and a train, so I
don't think I’d be able to reach the

college,” said Raturi.

In an email, Sherry Chin-Shue,
director of human resource
operations at Langara said the
college is yet to address the possibil-
ity of a strike with employees.

“We are monitoring the situation
closely and considering our plans
should there be job action by transit
workers,” Chin-Shue said.

In 2001, transit operators went
on strike for over 100 days, in what
became Metro Vancouver’s longest
transit strike to date.

Despite 99 per cent of union
members voting in favour of a strike,
the president of Unifor Local 111,
Mike McMillan, said he is “still
hopeful a walkout can be avoided.”

However, Gordon Lovegrove, a
UBC engineering professor with
expertise in transportation, said that
such a significant vote could result in
a strike action.

“I dont see the drivers backing
down,” Lovegrove said.

The union must provide the
public with 72 hours’ notice prior
to striking.

Vancouver is full of cycling options. A
map of the city's bike routes is avail-
able online at Vancouver.ca.

Driving with multiple passengers? Ap-
ply for a carpool decal from Langara
and get access to carpool spots.

Services like car2go and Evo let you
rent cars by the minute.

While taxi services are available in
Vancouver, ride sharing services like
Uber and Lyft are on their way follow-
ing recent city approval.

SOURCES: LANGARA .CA, VANCOUVER.CA