AMPUS NEWS — sororssewnnen THE VOICE, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011 3 Cuban 5 rally set for Saturday Cuban Consul General to speak at Langara about five convicted spies imprisoned in U.S. By SHAWN GILL orge Sober6n, the Cuban Consul General in Toronto, will voice his support for five Cuban men imprisoned in Florida since 1998 for espionage and conspiracy against the American government at Langara this Saturday. The reasons for their controvercial imprisonment stem from a 1996 inci- dent in which the Cuban air force — acting on intelligence the U.S. govern- ment says was gathered by the five — shot down two planes operated by a Miami-based anti-communist group called “Brothers to the Rescue”, result- ing in the deaths of four Cuban-Ameri- cans. Saturday’s talk is the fifth stop on province-wide tour organized by the Human Rights & International Solidar- ity Committees of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators. The inten- tion of the tour is to raise awareness for an important human rights issue that has received little coverage in the mainstream media. “We want Langara students and fac- ulty to hear about the story of the five and their continued mal-treatment,” said Susan Weber, Langara librarian and campus representative of the body that organized Soberon’s tour. “Just under 3,500 Cubans have died since the Cuban Revolution as a result of American aggression against Cuba,” says Noah Fine, of Free the Cuban Five Vancouver. In 1997, a string of bombings at Ha- vana hotels resulted in the death of an Italian-Canadian tourist. Former CIA agent and reputed terrorist Luis Posa- da Carriles took responsibility for the bombings. By 1998, the five had infiltrated sev- eral so-called exile groups in Miami, and assembled thousands of docu- ments including files connecting Car- riles with the Cuban American Nation- al Foundation, a powerful Washington lobby group based in South Florida. Fidel Castro, then Cuban President, sent an emissary, famed author Gabri- el Garcia Marquez, to then-U.S. Presi- dent Clinton to hand-deliver informa- tion the five had gathered chronicling recent exile group aggression against Cuba. The Americans declined to investi- gate Carriles and the Miami exile groups, instead using the documents to charge the Cuban Five. The American consulate in Vancou- ver was contacted for a comment on this story; they said that they would not be able to formulate a response for press time. CUBAN 5 1996 Cuban Airforce shoots down Miami-based “Brothers to the Rescue” 1997 Bombings at Havana hotels,Luis Posada Carriles claims responsibility 1998 Cuban 5 arrested, charged and imprisoned Studio 58 to get $20,000 facelift Drama students will be getting much-needed upgrades for their audito- rium with help from the college By MATT HYNDMAN that is being matched by Langara College, Studio 58 is set to receive a makeover this December as it closes in on its goal of raising $20,000. The theatre program is hoping to spruce up the studio in order to im- prove the quality of productions and create a more comfortable experience for theatregoers. “We want to make it more appealing for people coming to see our shows,” said Bruce Kennedy, the studio’s tech- nical director. He says the studio has not been given a significant renovation in 20 years. As of press time on Wednes- day, Studio 58 was still totaling their exact donations. Although the studio appears to be in generally good shape, Kennedy says improvements are needed. Chairs are missing springs, the car- pet is shredded in places and there are no running lights on the floor. But according to Kennedy, it is the 25-year-old stage floor that most needs replacing. “It’s painted over four or six times per year. It has hundreds of coats of paint from different productions over the years,” he said. With the cafeteria situated above the studio, the pipes that run below it have leaked water and grease down into the studio. “The masonite floor absorbs mois- ture over time. Seams are appearing which ruin the effect of the shows.” Kennedy said. He says a new floor should last the studio another 10 to 15 years. Carol Chrisjohn, the production manager for Studio 58, says that while students should continue to donate to the fundraiser, the studio is “well on [its] way to the goal.” Chrisjohn says the studio is an important asset to Lan- gara College. “We're proud of the program, it’s one of the best in the country.” She says thousands of people come to watch the studio’s shows and the the- atre program is the “face of the col- lege” for many people in Vancouver. Roy Daykin, Langara’s executive di- rector of advancement, says the studio is important to the college and he is happy to be helping match the dona- tions. Te to an ongoing fundraiser CARLY WIGNES photo Some of the items that will be on sale in the Students’ Union Building till 4 p.m. today include clothing, electronics, books, board games, umbrellas and even shoes. The proceeds go to support financial assistance programs for students at Langara, providing funding for adult education, student employment, students with disabilities and emergency loans. Bargain basement prices at college- wide garage sale: Financial Aid The Students’ Union Build- ing will be full of deals like electronics and clothes By CARLY WIGNES alling all bargain-hunters: the Langara garage sale is open for business, and it’s never too early to start collecting gifts for the winter holidays. The Financial Aid Department is holding a garage sale today in the Students’ Union Building to sell items that were left at the lost and found kiosk last year. Students can choose from a vari- ety of goods such as books, calcula- tors, backpacks, games and jewel- lery all at prices that are well below their actual retail value. “It is a very popular event,” said the manager of student assistance programs, Shirley Kamerling-Rob- erts. Student volunteers have been busy inventorying the household goods, sunglasses, shoes and bind- ers that will also be available for purchase. This year, feature items include two televisions and a desk, Kamer- ling-Roberts added. Second-year arts and sciences student Angel Chung gave a very positive review of last year’s garage sale. She bartered for the items she purchased, one of which was a flash drive in excellent condition that cost only one dollar. Chung said that there were many electronics and books that were on sale last year. “There were definitely a lot of umbrellas too,” she added. Students are welcome to contrib- ute items to the sale, said Kamer- ling-Roberts. This is the sale’s seventh year running, and Kamerline-Roberts said close to $3,000 is raised each year, all of which goes to student fi- nancial assistance. Today’s sale runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Financial assistance programs at Langara provide funding for adult education, students looking for em- ployment, out-of-province-students, part-time students in high need, students with permanent disabili- ties and emergency loans. 66 Its avery popular event... Shirley Kamerling- Roberts