AMPUS NEWS — sororsnesxv0 THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2018 3 Students’ health plan faces increased fees Referendum this week will decide whether medical benefits are cut or prices are hiked By PUNEET DHAMI angara’s health and dental plan might be getting more expensive unless students are willing to lose some of their current benefits. The Langara Students’ Union is holding a referendum about whether to increase the current price of its health plan from $200 to $235 a year. The union is also seeking approval to increase the fee by up to five per cent a year to match inflation. “If the referendum doesn’t pass, it would mean that some plan benefits would need to be cut, both on the health and dental side,” said Sophia Haque, Langara’s student care program man- ager. Almost 80 per cent of students surveyed last year said they would be in favour of increasing the plan fee in order to maintain or increase benefits, said Haque. “This gave the LSU a strong man- date,” she said. “Students don’t want to see benefits cut, and they’d rather pay a little bit more to keep them.” The LSU currently has one of the lowest prices in the province for its health and dental plan. The University of the Fraser Valley and Simon Fraser University also have low fees, and both schools will be holding a similar refer- endum this year. In order to keep the price of the plan down, the LSU switched from Sun Life Financial to Pacific Blue Cross last year. Changing companies ensured the LSU was getting the best competitive rates and allowed LSU to switch to a lo- cal, non-profit insurance company, said Haque. “The switch saved students nearly $70,000.” Haque said that even with the pro- posed fee increase, the plan is a good deal. “If a student was to go purchase individual health insurance, it would cost upwards of $1,900 a year to get a similar level of benefits.” However, not all students were pleased with the possible fee increase. “Pm not happy that [prices] are go- ing up,” said Jade Quach, a health and sciences student. “School is already so expensive.” The LSU’s health plan was first ap- proved in 2005, and the price has not increased since it was brought in. “In fact, in 2006, the LSU was able to reduce the plan fee from $218 to $199.98 and put those funds towards building the Student Union Building that is up and running today,” said Haque. All full-time students who are LSU members registered in the fall semes- ter are automatically covered by the health and dental plan. Students who started attending Langara in January must choose to opt-in if they wish to be covered. VOTING on Campus MARCH 14 AND 15 10am. to5 p.m. Upper level in the LSU Building MARCH 18 10.a.m. to 3 p.m. Building A’s main foyer DON'T FORGET Student ID is required to vote Upgrades to fire alarm will make campus safer Government spends $1.8 million to fully integrate campus emergency system By KAYLA ISOMURA is a fire at Langara. The Ministry of Education is spending $1.8 million installing a new fire alarm system for the college. Im- provements include upgraded pull sta- tions, strobe lights, smoke detection and speakers. “The system was end of life and therefore required a replacement,” said Patricia Baker, Langara’s manager of building operations. “This is not the type of system you would allow to run to failure.” The previous system required a mandatory upgrade, which began last August by Houle Electric. The new system is more likely to de- tect a fire and is much more reliable, Baker said. “Prior to [the upgrade], the fire alarm signal was not the same building to building as new buildings came on- line,” she said. All the buildings on campus will now have a consistent alarm sound, she said. Outdoor call stations are being in- stalled which will enable students and staff to contact emergency services when a fire occurs. The call stations will also enable communication on campus during emergencies because they work on a different line from the internal campus phones. Baker said that while buildings A and B required full upgrades, newer buildings only needed some minor changes. SS" can now feel safer if there Ethnic voters Continued from page 1 Bhangoo is worried the government will value today’s issues in the same manner. For example, she wants to know more about rising tuition and wage gaps. She said she would feel like she was deprived of voting rights if the govern- ment didn’t care. Science student Patrina Sahni be- lieves it is an attempt to win votes and nothing will happen after the election. She heard criticisms from her com- munity about how the Times of India Film Awards show is about winning votes. Despite the rumours, she is go- ing to the event with her parents. Sahni said she wouldn’t vote for Clark in the upcoming elections. ier cs a SERA AKDOGAN photos Clockwise from top: Langara’s former president David Ross cuts the cake at his farewell party on March 8. Guests mingle around the food table. Students from Langara’s daycare perform songs at the party. Moira Stilwell, the MLA for Vancouver-Langara, gives a speech. Langara holds party for outgoing president Colleagues of David Ross gather to say goodbye to Langara’s former president before he leaves for Calgary By SERA AKDOGAN lege as Langara’s former president steps aside. More than 40 people attended the going-away party for David Ross on March 8 to congratulate him on his new job and say goodbye. He’s leaving his position at Langara to become the new president and CEO of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary. Children attending Langara’s day- care performed songs for the outgoing president. Several of Ross’s colleagues gave speeches thanking him for his contributions to the college over the past 4% years. “David has been an exceptionally in- spiring leader, not only to the Langara B: shoes need to be filled at the col- community but also on a provincial, na- tional, and international level,” said Anne Lippert, chairwoman of Langa- ra’s board of governors. “His leadership has really inspired the whole Langara community.” Lippert discussed Ross’s many achievements, including rebranding Langara and promoting leadership de- velopment. “Under David’s leadership, Langara has been successful in attracting and increasing the level of international student involvement,” she said. Ross said he is excited to start a new life with his family in Calgary but has mixed emotions about leaving. “Youre always sad about leaving your friends and the community that you develop here, but you’re always looking forward to the next opportuni- ty,” he said. “I do believe whole-heartedly that the next generation of leadership at Langara is strong and it will lead this institution to what it will be in the fu- ture —a continuing strong institution.” Jennifer Wade, one of Ross’s child- hood friends from Nova Scotia, spoke about how the former president’s val- ues reflect his vision for Langara. “Roots are very valuable to both of us. They taught us the meaning of com- munity and sharing, much of what Da- vid has accomplished here,” she said. Lippert said that the presidential search committee and a recruiting firm are still working to find a replacement for Ross. “We'll never find a David, but [we'll look for] the best possible candidate,” she said.