ampus hews EDITOR ASHLEY SINGH THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 3, 2016 3 New director must be right fit Leadership role created to make advances for aboriginal studies By EMELIE PEACOCK angara College is taking extra care in its search for a director of aboriginal education and services, a new position created in May. The idea to hire a director was in- spired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the college’s deepen- ing relationship with the Musqueam First Nation. Ian Humphreys, provost and vice- president academic and students, said the hiring process for this position is unique. “We are consulting with our elders, making sure that we are getting input from people who are familiar with is- sues around aboriginal education,” he said. “It’s probably one of the [most] complex searches the institution has ever undertaken.” Line Kesler, director of UBC’s First Nations House of Learning, said long appointment processes are common. “Particularly when it has to do with aboriginal positions, that have an ab- original focus, I think it’s always good to plan that it may take a bit longer be- cause the number of people who have relevant experience and very solid qualifications in many fields is very limited,” said Kesler. One of the roles of the new director will be to provide more learning oppor- tunities for the aboriginal studies de- partment as well as other programs. Some of these developments started in September, including the reconcilia- tion carving series and courses in the nursing faculty focused on health in First Nations communities. Eugene Boulanger, a member of the Dene Nation, from Tulit’a in the Sahta Region of Treaty 11 territory, says the aboriginal studies program is prepar- ing him for a future role in his local ab- original government. “T feel really supported as an aborig- inal student,” Boulanger said. “I just feel that increasing accessibility of the stuff that we’re learning in our pro- gram for all the students is an impor- tant step in reconciliation. So I’d like to see more concrete action on Langara’s part.” No exact date was provided for the appointment of director of aboriginal education and services. EMELIE PEACOCK photo Langara’s totem pole, carved by Haida artist and Langara student Don Yeomans in 1979. Bylaw revisions a must for LSU Provincial legislation regulating not-for-profit groups has been updated to encourage transparency By BONNIE LEE LA MADELEINE s the newly elected Langara Stu- Ae Union representatives slip into their new roles, at the top of their agenda will be the revision of LSU bylaws — which outline how the LSU serves and communicates with its membership. The body must update its bylaws within the next two years as new provincial legislation goes into ef- fect Nov. 28. The new Societies Act will be replac- ing the old Society Act, and a notable change in the legislation is the need to digitize a society’s bylaws. “Like the constitution, the consoli- dated bylaws should be in electronic format,” stated a document from the B.C. Registry Services. In a written statement, B.C.’s Minis- try of Finance said the changes were made to address priorities like flexibil- ity, public accountability and member protection. On Oct. 3 the LSU board ordered its general manager, Desmond Roden- bour to draft a new set of bylaws that will, in keeping with the resolution, “clarify and expand member rights with regard to access to LSU records.” His draft will be presented to the new council at its first meeting. While it is not known precisely what changes will be made to the bylaws, there has been speculation that the LSU will work in improve its relation- ship with the college and expand mem- ber access to documents and budgets. At the All Candidates Forum in the LSU Building last Thursday, candi- dates were asked about the LSU by- laws and upcoming revisions. Saman Barring, a second-year busi- ness student and council member hopeful, said the LSU lacks account- ability and transparency. “Students should know where there money is going and how [the LSU] is spending it,” he said. Studentcare coverage leaves students confused Few Langara students know about new deal between Studentcare and Rexall Pharma Plus By CAITLIN O’FLANAGAN new partnership between Stu- [pect and the Rexall Pharma lus went largely unnoticed by students at Langara College. The latest health insurance perk, which started in September, offers stu- dents a 20 per cent discount on specific Rexall brand products and up to $40 of coverage on over-the-counter and pre- scription medications. Students are still covered at other pharmacies but there will be higher out-of-pocket costs. However, many students were un- aware of the new pharmacy network plan — or, as it turns out, much about Studentcare, which provides Langara students with health and dental plans. Jovis Lau, a Langara university transfer student, said students do not take full advantage of their health ben- efits and Studentcare needs to provide a better breakdown of the coverage of- fered. “It is very confusing to navigate, they don’t give you enough information to access the right resources and the process of claiming is really confus- ing,” said Lau. While Langara students were sent a general email informing them of the new pharmacy deal, little information was available from either the student union or student health services. Yaseen Mohammed, a pharmacy technician at the Rexall on 6580 Fraser St, said he believes in the importance educating students and newly immi- grated Canadians about how pharma- cies process prescriptions. He said he sees value in providing discounts for students but he feels the need for a better system that teaches students about the policies. “There needs to be a team, working in different sectors, to explain to stu- dents how things work,” Mohammed said. Rexall’s director of communications and government, Derek Tupling thinks the new deal will be more helpful for students. “We’re excited about it.” he said. “We think it’s going to provide a great service for your students.” 66 There needs to be ateam working in different sectors to explain to students how things work YASEEN MOHAMMED PHARMACIST Health Services Medical Clinic CAITLIN O'FLANAGAN photo Langara College students outside the health services office,on Oct.31,2016.