Vancouver Island University

[handofash]

You would think being university students and all that you would already know there is no room for rationallity. In the eyes of politicians, the important people to please are :

1. The people who can make or break you

2. People with greater financial influnce

3. The people that got you their in the first place

You westreners are funny thinking you live in a truly democratic society. Now find a quiet corner where you can keep quiet and tell youself your vote counts!

[ravensdreams]

It is continuing to amaze me how many views these videos are getting. The Ministers of Liberal Party have all been personally emailed links so far no direct response from any of them.

[ravensdreams]

Another very good point....

"NANAIMO, British Columbia, June 25, 2007 - On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, Dr. James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni, today announced that the municipality of Nanaimo has been designated the 2008 Cultural Capital of Canada in the 50 000 to 125 000 population category."

[ravensdreams]

commented above posted from ospreylookout on the other video.

[ravensdreams]

Nanaimo has been named Canada's arts capital for 2008! It would be appropriate if we had a BA Visual Arts Major approved for our university. Ravensdreams, you know how to make art speak--way to go!

[ravensdreams]

thank you gailbeer for contributing this info on the other video! Hope you don't mind I posted the comment here.

[ospreylookout]

If you want to upset your stomach, read today's Letters to the Editor in the Nanaimo Daily News.....I think this guy was in the MUC auditorium for Campbell's announcement....whistling between Campbell's every breath....do these folks think for themselves????? I mean, does no one see that these announcements are simply window-dressings to fool the public into voting a certain way?? Where is the money that the universities need to actually operate like a university?? This rings so hollow.....

[ravensdreams]

Perhaps the next video installment needs to speak to the sugarcoated gifts that disguise whats under the surface!

[ospreylookout]

Amazing in a short time how many people can view your video....I count over 700 right now. And of those 700 people and counting, how many people put together the fact that cut-backs and lay-offs are occuring in many, if not most post-secondary institutions in BC.....so, all the fanfare over becoming a university is the government's attempt at a pre-election sugar-coating. It is insulting not only to students, but to all of us (well, cronies excepted).

[ravensdreams]

After some people made it known that the text was scrolling to fast to read (WOW! PEOPLE ARE READING IT!!!) I Responded by making another version and slowed the scroll speed down. Check out Vancouver Island University (slower version)

[coopstah]

I love the fish part. Let's keep raising a stink over this bad decision. Good video.

[ravensdreams]

Thanks for taking the time to comment! Check out the new video when you have time...its all about art and sheep! ha! More students need to take the time to get involved with their future education in Visual Art Major!

[ospreylookout]

Hey, your new video is really amazing......Maybe the BC Liberals should hire you as their ace media artist!! I hope you are sending it to folks....I know have some teacher friends who would L-O-V-E to see this......

[ravensdreams]

Please send the link to any teacher friends you can think of! Do you think if they hired me I could drink coffee and stay in my pajamas until 4pm? Or maybe they will just pay me with an Approved degree to shut me up! I'd be happy with that *wink

[ospreylookout]

Perhaps you need an agent...?

[ospreylookout]

I thought I posted a suggestion to link to MySpace and Facebook......

[ronfham]

Thanks lookout, they are among Ranevsdreams favorite destinations for letters and stuff

[ospreylookout]

I might suggest that you send this video to each of Nanaimo's city councillors, as well as MLA's Leonard Krog, Ron Cantelon, Rob Fleming, Carole James, Ida Chong, Maurine Karagianis, Doug Routley, and of course, Stan Hagen, Murray Coell, and Gordon Campbell.

As well, any new videos on this topic, I am quite certain the above-mentioned would all love to have the opportunity to respond to....so send them the next installment!!

[ronfham]

great! just what we need, I will explore those options, Thanks for the ideas

[ospreylookout]

Heck, you said it, what about a nice peaceful protest?

[ospreylookout]

What about further afoot? Maclean's magazine has an excellent education section, the Vancouver Sun keeps tabs on post-secondary education issues at the provincial level.

[ronfham]

We appeared before Nanaimo City council on Mar. 31 to see if they would support our protest. They did with a motion in Council. We got stories in 3 local papers. The Nanaimo Daily News has published several articles on the protest and program as well as letters to the editor (4). The announcement of the University status has brought some attention but we have FURThER ACTIONS planned as well as a final exit strategy. We will not go away.

[ronfham]

The student union advised us that it was too hard and would take too long to achieve our goals. They did offer some information and local scuttlebut.

[ospreylookout]

What about the local newspapers for those not savvy to electronic media? Some good, old-fashioned "letters to the Editor" might do some good in enlightening folks....as the expression goes, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant"....

[ospreylookout]

Well, for what it is worth, in the political riding that VIU is in, the MLA is NDP, but the folks who made/make these decisions are not. For things to change, this kind of message needs to gain much more traction than poor old Nanaimo can muster, try as it might. This has to reach a much broader audience. What has the student union said?

[ronfham]

They will have a hard time getting positive press around here unless they pay attention to the suffering artists of Old MalU. We are not stopping this protest and intend on being an irritant until we get some respect and honest answers concerning our futures. What the heck? We are paying for the education we want. It is up to our government to provide the programs we desire. Why has the proposal not gone to quality review? Because the program is sound and has rigor and would be approved!!

[ospreylookout]

The next provincial general election will be held on May 12, 2009. Between now and then, whether the issue is post-secondary education, K-12 education, health care, or any of the other vital social issues that every civilized, democratic society faces, it is up to the individual to make their vote count!

[ronfham]

Politicians care about their position and public perception. They are looking like bullies here and it is going to reflect badly on them.

[ospreylookout]

I love your attempt, but I think you are naive to think that the ministers responsible for this really care. You might want to crank up the volume a bit....turn up the heat, so to speak.....

You are artists....I can't wait to see the next You Tube instalment....I love it!! Democracy lives!!!

[ravensdreams]

HA! I am fully aware they don't care and that political decisions are made so people can *look good* in the eyes of the public. We will continue to get progressively louder. At the same time we want it to be known that we are not attacking the University because we feel the FACULTY have done everything they could to make this happen. Now its up to the President and Vice President to step up to the plate and fight for their* current and future students.

[ospreylookout]

If, as the institution says, and if, as Gordo says, such decisions are made to truly benefit students and the future of this province, then put your money where your mouth is and stop with all the rhetoric and jockeying for political points before the provincial election!!

[ravensdreams]

Thats PRECISELY what we want! Its merely the action of someone taking a rubber stamp and stamping APPROVED. I posted comments below to further expand on the argument. Theres more under the surface that a 1:40 minute video does not allow time to disclose. Thanks for taking the time and effort to post comments!

[ospreylookout]

One way or the other, it is the students who get the poopy end of the stick. When you hear big-wigs telling you that it is all for the students......what do you think?

[TehKhyras]

The only problem I have with the whole argument is that if you're working towards a degree/designation that was not approved/certified before you started said program, there's always an inherant risk.

I agree though... it's a little strange that Emily Carr gets University status for said program but the Mal got overlooked.

[ravensdreams]

Whats really strange is Malaspina had/has full art facilities, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, painting etc. As well as fully qualified staff to teach all the courses on campus. There was no extra cost to university or government for adding this degree. Everything was in place before approval was denied. The *reason given for denial is that there are enough art programs on the island. Enough for whom? Residents of Victoria and Comox? Thanks for your comments!

[ravensdreams]

Further: Yes, a degree of risk (no pun intended)existed. We saw no valid reason to deny this degree. If the denial was rational and logical instead of political, we would not be making this argument public. The other institution on the mainland faced the same difficulty. Fraser Valley students did not want to travel to Surrey, Burnaby, Vancouver to complete degree. At first approval was denied then granted with a stamp.

[ravensdreams]

One has to think, if students @ Malaspina knew that the college up island (2 hours away) received approval for a BFA program that involved ferrying instructors, and putting them up in hotels, having them teach in makeshift rooms it wouldn't appear that there was much of a risk that the ministry would deny the larger population of University Students a stamp of approval for a program completely functioning and operating at full capacity!

[ronfham]

Why is there so much bad abstract art as the background to tv shows?

[ronfham]

Why is there such opposition to a seemingly straightforward decision? Is it that Art programs are political plums besowed only on Liberal Ridings? This is really unfair, I can't afford to loose this fight, we are being bullied by the Ministry and have been given no respect and no accountability. I will not shut up and go away.

[thescreendoorslams]

It is funny how they have money for university status, but they are laying off faculty and staff and cutting classes!

[ravensdreams]

I agree, which is the subject of another video just pre-election perhaps? Thanks for your support!

[Surely57]

Was there a reason for the denial? It would be interesting to know what that was.

[ronfham]

The reason for the denial as stated by spokeswoman for the Ministry of Advanced Education Linda O'Conner was that Comox was in proximity to Nanaimo. That is not good enough. It is over a 200 k round trip from Nanaimo and many of us live south of town which makes it farther. We are trying to curb our use of energy aren't we? This is all politics. It seems any art degree is considered a plum and only handed out to Liberal Ridings. We are choked.

[ravensdreams]

Some of us live in the cowichan valley 300k round trip. There is no rational reason other than a rehearsed answer.(and the desire to force students to relocate to comox valley) The BFA offered in Comox/Victoria is a completely different program that includes a focus on business aspects of art...an applied program in a sense.

[ravensdreams]

Additionally, the other reason was that art programs are already available. These other programs are BFA's which focus more on studio art making. The difference with the BA VISUAL ART MAJOR is the inclusion of Business of Art (grant writing/management/curating) as well as a deeper concentration on Art History and the study of Contemporary Art. The reason for the denial is to FORCE students to enroll at other campuses to take an entirely different program, its a case of political back scratching.

[saforartmajor]

Excellent message...Let's hope Mr Hagen is held accountable for putting money into North Island College. It must be nice for those NIC instructors from the city getting paid for riding the ferry and then driving to NIC...how green is that...very green for them since everything would be paid for!!! Yikes, shame on you Mr Hagen.

[ronfham]

Is Hagen the same guy that was in charge of the dome when it started disintegrating?

[phyrefaery]

SWEET!! This is what we're talking about! We have a voice and we're using it. We will not just quietly go away. this is our future and our education. I can not drive from Duncan to Courteney to attend North Island college. It is not an option. This program has to go through!!!

[gailbeer]

We have the Vancouver Island University here in Nanaimo to provide educational opportuniities for students--allowing them to pursue their education in a wonderful environment and community. The BA Major in Visual Arts provides a unique course of studies for students wanting a diverse education with a visual arts focus, not offered anywhere else on Vancouver Island. Approval of the proposed BA Major in Visual Arts meets needs of students and the community. Let it happen!

[ravensdreams]

Thanks for the support! Using art to speak is what we are trained to do no? *wink

[ronfham]

Thank you Ravensdreams! This is how the artist responds to unfairness. A creative and entertaining way of turning up the heat on these bullies. It is time for them to rectify this obvious error and give students the respect they deserve by fast-tracking this program through the approval process and granting us our credentials.

[ravensdreams]

Well said, and precisely what this is about...the rectification of unjust treatment and unfair politics at the expense of POTENTIAL VOTERS...there is an election coming soon. Does the Liberal party support higher ed or not? Do they walk the talk? Or just throw out crumbs to pacify those who are willing to be sheep?

[Mytwinandi]

thanks for speaking up, lets spread the word.... we need the BFA at Vancouver Island University....

[ravensdreams]

Thanks for the support...this hopefully will get some attention to get the Art Major approved!

[gailbeer]

Well done. The message is spreading

[aniela1969]

Raven, it is awesome when kids have tempertantrums.... keep stomping those feet.

[ravensdreams]

Thanks for the support! Tell fellow students send the link, we need the powers that be to know we are not going away quietly nor will we be swept under the carpet!

[ravensdreams]

Come out to play kids!!! This is just the beginning!

[ronfham]

This video kicks ass

[ravensdreams]

Malu and Vancouver Island University Students PLEASE post feedback!!!