VANCOUVER (CUP) — The average debt Igad for a Uni- versity of British Columbia student graduating this year has skyrocketed to $15,000, an increase of $12,000 since 1984.

And students who borrow the maximum loan amount for a four-year program face a debt load of about $32,000, including interest payments.

Byron Hender, “UBC's awards and financial aid officer says the provincial Social Credit government is allowing students to borrow increasing amounts of money, adding to. already enormous debt levels.

The Socreds eliminated the grants portion of the provin- cial student assistance program in 1984, and have made no plans to redress B.C.’s dismal state of student aid since Bill Vander Zalm was swept to power in August.

Provincial funding for stu- dent aid has sunk from $33 million in 1982 to $12.5 mil- lion in 1986. British Columbia is the only province that does not offer non-repayabe bur- saries as part of its student aid program.

Debt Load Explosive

UBC student council presi- dent Simon Sashadri called the

student aid situation ‘‘hor- rendous.”” “The government’s idea

was to help more people a lower cost when they elimi- nated the program,” said Sashadri. “But are ‘we really helping students by sending them into that much debt?”’

But post-secondary educa- tion minister Russ Fraser said the provincial government has addressed the state of student aid in B.C., and thatit is the federal government’s loan re- missions scheme that should be improved.

“None of us want students to graduate with high debt loads,”’ said Fraser.

Still student aid critics say rising debt loads may prompt students to default on their loans. New Democrat post- secondary education critic Lorne Nicholsen said the rate of defaulting loans is a “‘time bomb’? for the Socred govern- ment. #

“Students are going into personal bankruptcy under the current system. It’s a major deterrent to people who want an education,’’ said Nicholsen.

Don Holubitsky, a UBC

student representative to a re- “*As loans increase the de- cent meeting of the Univer- fault rate increases, which sities Council of B.C., called means an additional cost for on the government to use a government,”’ Holubitsky said more fair loan repayment adding a fairer system could scheme. save the government money.

ue

Lost on Campus near the Visitors Parking Lot a lady’s red scarf. Would the finder return it to Professor

-»

Lost

Rosemarie Bernardenelli, De- partment of Modern Languages, Main Building. Thank you.

Rosemarie Bernardenelli

Editor’s Note: The photograph which appeared with Robert Bodrog-Goodland’s poem ‘‘Sho ting Stars’’ in last week’s issue should not have appeared. We are featuring this poem again as it was originally intended by the author. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused to the author.

For Patricia —

who was there with me

Clusters of ancient molten matter,

Streaking through darkness in fiery descent,

They fall to earth and finally shatter

The stillness, suddenly and infrequent.

By stealth they dash across the wayward night,

In ominous motion, almost haunting;

And yes, wish we may, and wish we might,

Ina frozen instant, finitude taunting.

Yet inside ourselves as we play the game.

We hold our breath while we make believe,

Hoping it’s true, so we pray for and name

Anything the stars in heaven could conceive. Robert badrog-Goodland

of the Field and Stream Club

ONE OF CHARLOTTETOWN’S MOST POPULAR DANCE SPOTS

Monday Nights: Blast to the Past!

Music from 1965-1985 Tuesday Nights: Ladies Night: You could

win a $100.00 CASH DRAW Wednesday Night: Student Night Thursday Night: Birthday Night! Free cake for

Birthday party of five or more

Monday to Thursday — Happy Hour till 10:00 PM Super Flash Specials All Night ’Till Closing

Dining from 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM

Our 8 oz. Steak special for just $3.99 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM Daily

Lounge Opens 11:00 AM to LATE 189 Kent Street, Charlottetown

TET

October 9, 1986 ==