2 THE VOICE, THURSDAY, OCT. 9, 2013 EDITOR ASH KELLY Cws hee: y | Photo courtesy of COPE Meena Wong says students and others working for minimum wage deserve a significant increase in their earnings. Wong promises increase to $15 By ORVIS NOEL ayoral candidate Meena Wong is promising Vancou- verites a $15 minimum wage if she wins the municipal election on Nov. 15. Wong was a community organizer before she accepted the nomination for COPE. She is concerned that residents working for minimum wage in Vancou- ver, including students, are often living below the poverty line. “The provincial wage of $10.25 is not a living wage,” said Wong. “It is time for students to rise up and be treated with respect.” Vancouver students say a higher minimum wage is enough to grant their vote to COPE. Langara English student Sina Weld- eten works part time and cannot get a student loan. “I totally agree with the increase,” she said. Hermit Gill, SFU criminology stu- dent, thinks the minimum wage now is fine but a higher wage will make him vote COPE. Vision Vancouver councillor Geoff Meggs agrees the minimum wage is too low, but worries that Wong is sim- ply making a strategic pre-election move. Ian Tostenson, President and CEO of British Columbia Restaurant & Food- services Association, said, the mini- mum wage is up 30 per cent after 10 years. “This is good,” he said. “It is not a shock to business.” Tostenson said Wong is running to appeal to a certain demographic. “Wages are under provincial jurisdic- tion, we need to have a reasonable level of wage increases, simply a political move is wrong.” Meggs said the minimum wage in- crease will take time but the quicker it gets there, the better. For students working just 15 hours per week, the wage adjustment could mean an increase of $285 per month or $3,420 per year. Sex assaults near Langara campus Langara security says they are keeping a close watch out for students walking to and from city bus stops on 49 Avenue By SHANNON LYNCH AND MEL EDGAR Vancouver, police are warning women to be aware of their sur- roundings. The first incident happened in April when an elderly Asian woman was groped from behind while walking be- tween Oak Street and W 55th Avenue. The second occurred in June near W 30th Avenue and Granville Street where another elderly Asian woman was hit between the legs. The most recent attack was Friday, Oct. 3 between Granville and Oak streets on W 64th Avenue when a mid- dle-aged Asian woman was attacked in a similar fashion. Her assailant ap- proached her from behind and groped her. She pursued him but was punched in the face and knocked to the ground. She was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries. Police describe the attacker as five foot 10 inches tall, 35-40 years old with a medium build and dark clothing. Langara’s security and safety man- ager, David Aucoin, said the school se- curity guards focus on 49th Avenue, making sure students get off busses and into school safely. Rebecca Delarue, design formation student at Langara, said these inci- dents remind her of last fall’s series of attacks at UBC. “Tt sounds like it’s continuing and it’s more of a threat,” she said. Princo three attacks in South 66 It sounds like it’s continuing and it’s more of a threat Rebecca Delarue Design Formation THREE assaults in South Van April 20 Oak Street and W 55th Avenue HM June? W 30th Avenue and Granville M oct.3 Between Granville and Oak on W 64th Avenue wt FRIGHT NIGHTS _ OPENSELECT DATES FROM OCT 10 t HAUNTED HOUSES FEATURING A BRAND NEW & EXTRA-LARGE HAUNTED HOUSE, ss KEEPERS DOLL FACTORY. _ KINSHI Monsters of Schlock and Kinshira will not be performing Oct 10-12 -NOV 1 a lan SAVE ON FRIGHTPASSES AT: ed] FRIGHTNIGHTS.ca