2 THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012

EDITOR RUMAN KANG

ews & features

Gaza art show gets student attention

An exhibit of children’s art from the Israeli-Palestinian war hopes to spreads awareness

By OMAR SHARIFF

e coordinators of A Child’s View from Gaza are hoping that the exhibit will help bring aware- ness to the conflict happening in the Middle East.

The exhibit on display at Langara on Monday gave students the opportunity to see artwork from Palestinian chil- dren affected by the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

“What we’re hoping to do with this exhibit is just to share a different per- spective on what the occupation is like in Gaza,” said Erica Lamacraft, an ac- tivist with one of the groups that helped bring the show to Langara.

“The goal that we’re hoping for is just exposure, and to have people think about Israel and Palestine in a different way.”

Brian Campbell, coordinator for the art show, said he was surprised to see so many people who were interested in a child’s perspective of war and con- flict.

“People are really interested to see what horrors the Palestinian children have been through,” said Campbell.

Parry Mudhar, a second-year engi- neering student volunteering at the ex- hibit, hopes that student interest in the conflict doesn’t end at the show.

“T hope people take away some infor- mation on what’s going on and maybe

do some further research, because when you just look at the pictures, you aren’t getting the whole story,” said Mudhar.

Lamacraft says that students have reacted positively to the art exhibit.

“People are interested and engaged,” said Lamacraft. “Seeing that children lived this — I think it has opened some people up to really thinking about the human beings who actually live in these circumstances.”

First-year arts and science student Leanne Rachid says this issue is par- ticularly important to her because she comes from nearby Lebanon.

“Nobody really knows about what’s going on in Palestine,” said Rachid.

Rachid signed her friends up for a mailing list to receive more informa- tion about the situation in Palestine because she believes it is important for her friends to stay informed about the issues.

“T worry that they don’t know what’s going on, so I try to make them know what’s going on,” said Rachid. “I try and spread awareness too.”

Susan Smith, division assistant to the Dean of Science, thinks that the ex- hibit can help people better understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Anyone who has children or even was a child can relate to this instantly, and it really speaks a lot louder than words can.”

C

ONFLICT

in brief

The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been on going since 1948

There have been over 14,000 con- firmed casualities- since 1948

Last year 8 children were killed

Source: Wikipedia

Scabs take union jobs from workers

SCABS, continued from page 1

“T work six months in the summer on the train, and go to school the other six months,” she said. “So not only to lose my job, I also lose my education, which is very difficult.”

And some of Boechler’s Langara classmates might be harming her with- out realizing it. Students might see this as an employment opportunity, but they should consider the impact of their decision to work for Rocky Moun- taineer, said Marshall.

“By taking the job as a scab, it shows the company they are willing to betray fellow workers. It slows down the nego- tiation process,” she said. “The compa- ny feels no pressure to negotiate with their legitimate workers.”

Scab labour is illegal in B.C., but be- cause Rocky Mountaineer is federally regulated, they are able to use scab la- bour. The trains are not seen as an es- sential service, so the federal govern- ment won’t officially intervene in the dispute.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has come forward to support the locked-out workers. MPs Libby Davies and Don Davies and MLA Shane Simp- son have suggested the company nego- tiate in good faith with their employ- ees.

Rocky Mountaineer, which last nego- tiated with the locked-out employees on July 8, declined to comment for the story.

LANGARA PHOTO-IMAGIN

G GRAD TIJANA MARTIN WINS NATIONAL AWARD |

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This photo by 2011 Langara photo-imaging grad Tijana Martin showing Bert Easterbrook defending a man during the Stanley Cup Riots on 06/15/2011 was chosen to be one the national photos of the year by the News Photographers Association of Canada.

College's Co-Op program celebrates a milestone

JEREMY SALLY photo From left to right Marianne Gianacopoulous, Sean Padley and Kevin Rolston of the Co-operative education department celebrate the program’s 30th anniversary.

The Co-Op program on campus prepares students for life after graduation

By JEREMY SALLY angara’s Co-Op program turns 30 Li: month, celebrating three de- cades of placing students in careers they love.

“Employers always tell us how im- pressed they are with Langara stu- dents,” says co-operative education in- structor Heather Workman.

She says the program is successful because it adapts with business and workplace needs.

Workman has taught in the program for 12 years. When asked what sets the program apart from others, she says it’s because “we get to know our stu- dents personally. We’re constantly working with them throughout the program.”

Some students retain contact with the instructors as their careers change.

“Tm getting baby photos now,” laughs Workman.

“The instructors are why the pro-

gram works so well,” says Andrew Car- bonneau. He is completing his BBA and is in the program. “You don’t realize just how many skills you really have, until you enter Co-Op.”

Gerald Cruz agreed. He credits the program for his job in an-up-and-com- ing software firm which was recently purchased by HootSuite.

“They filter out employers that aren’t in your field, so you get to apply what you’ve actually learned in the workplace setting which is very help- ful,” said Cruz. “And the program helps you build connections with your employers and those that they work with.”

Part of this success is due to the pro- gram’s approach to writing resumes by focusing on accomplishments.

“Many people just list their experi- ences. Employers want to know how a person has contributed to their work- place and their impacts on it.”

This is facilitated through the cre- ation of a master resume. A portfolio that can range 10 to 15 pages, it follows the student throughout the program as they add to it.

“When you look at your folder at the end of the semester, you literally go ‘wow,” says Carbonneau. “It starts with almost nothing, but you build it up as you go. You really feel great when you see what you’ve done.”

The Co-Op course, BUSM 2300, is un- like many others at Langara. Prepar- ing students for the real world, re- sumes are combed over by peers and teachers and midterm exams are inter- views.

Students that pass and become em- ployed are paid for their work.

An event on March 29 is being held to celebrate the anniversary. Former students are invited to meet in the caf- eteria to reconnect with old friends and network with new ones.

Co-operative Education