Throne speech plan to boost int’l student enrolment

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by JoanaDraghici in News

Humber President John Davies said the college could meet the provincial government’s goal of increasing international student enrolment by 50 per cent over five years if Queen’s Park provides the necessary capital.
“Can we grow that amount? The answer is yes,” Davies said. “I’m an optimist in terms of government funding.”
The McGuinty government’s throne speech on Monday pledged to “aggressively promote Ontario post-secondary institutions abroad” to meet its goal.
Its five-year plan also promised to add 20,000 spaces for domestic students at all Ontario colleges and universities.
This is in addition to the increase of spaces designated for international… ... [continue reading]

Mayor Miller encourages youth involvement in politics

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by JoanaDraghici in News

Greg Burchell
News Reporter

David Miller urged students to actively participate in politics and social justice issues and make their voices heard, in what could be his last talk at Humber before his post as mayor of Toronto ends in December.
“I want to encourage you to use your energy to truly get involved because it makes a difference,” Miller said. “If you don’t vote, you don’t get involved, you don’t fight for what you believe in, it can disappear overnight.”
Miller was elected mayor in 2003, but his relationship with Humber and its students took off… ... [continue reading]

Davies positive about fed budget

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by JoanaDraghici in News

Andrew Ardizzi
News Reporter

The new federal budget could significantly benefit Humber students that do research programs for various companies, said Humber president John Davies.
The budget proposes to increase federal funding for its college and community innovation programs, nearly doubling its initial $18-million investment in 2008 to $30 million.
Some of that money could be funneled to applied research programs which partner Humber students with industry, Davies said.
“Our basic motivation is to get people jobs,” he said. “Our students get to be more innovative and become more employable, and they get employed by the companies… ... [continue reading]

Prez ends tenure with promises half fulfilled

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by JoanaDraghici in News

Jon Hembrey
News Reporter

During last year’s election, Humber Student Federation president Shugufa Kaker promised to make the organization more student-friendly, a goal she said she has accomplished due to workshops with staff.
“I let them all know what I wanted to see here were smiling faces when students come in,” she said.
HSF executive director Ercole Perrone said this made an impact and was an important success.  He said full-time staff often “lose sight of the human focus” of the organization over efficiency and process.
Kaker, whose $34,000-a-year position ends on May 1, also promised to… ... [continue reading]

Greenbelt extension may include college

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by JoanaDraghici in News

Catherine Labelle
News Reporter

The city’s proposed expansion of southern Ontario’s Greenbelt may include Humber’s North Campus arboretum.
“Humber needs to engage students to a greater and greater extent around environmental initiatives and the inclusion of the Humber River Valley in the southern Ontario Greenbelt will certainly give us an increased number of ways to do that,” said academic vice -president, Michael Hatton.
Since the majority of the arboretum is a conservation area, the bulk of the land, particularly waterways and flood plains, is protected against development, said the arboretum director, Melanie Sifton.
Outside of these areas… ... [continue reading]

Posters tarnish elections

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by JoanaDraghici in News

Meg Banks
News Reporter

Some candidates in this week’s Humber Student Federation election think a new campaign rule has turned the election into a beauty contest.
“It’s an explosion of posters everywhere,” said Stephanie Butler, running for VP Administration at North Campus. “It’s a bit of a popularity, beauty contest sometimes.”
The new rule means for the first time candidates have been given free rein on their posters and where to put them up.
Butler said the rule made it hard for candidates to get their point across.
Presidential candidate Bryan Tran, who is the current VP… ... [continue reading]

Safety advocate gives students a taste of reality

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by JoanaDraghici in News

Scott Money
News Reporter

A blind worker and workplace safety advocate warned Humber students about the dangers of workplace accidents during a talk organized by the Career Centre.
“All in one second my life changed and I don’t want that to happen to anyone else,” said Ray Smith, a community outreach specialist at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
Smith lost his eyesight 20 years ago when he was working as a janitor in a factory.
A large, broken piece of wood struck him in the eyes after falling backwards while lifting a box of garbage, he said… ... [continue reading]

Lack of space not an issue, VP says

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by JoanaDraghici in News

Romi Levine
News Reporter

A large increase in applicants to post-secondary schools leaves Ontario colleges scrambling for ways to accept more students, but Humber will be able to accommodate the influx come September, said John Mason, vice-president of student and corporate services.
“Applications for Humber College are approximately 13 per cent ahead of last year,” said Mason. “I believe that we will have sufficient space to address most of the demand.”
Senior communications officer for Colleges Ontario, Sally Ritchie, said the increase in college applicants is linked to the economic downturn.
“People are seeing a strong link between college… ... [continue reading]

VP candidate related to prez

Posted on 03. Mar, 2010 by JoanaDraghici in News

Simon Rice
News Reporter

When Humber students vote in the Humber Student Federation election next week, they may recognize a name on the ballot.
If first-year business administration student Shabana Kaker, 19, is elected Vice-President Administration for North Campus,  she will follow in the footsteps of older sister and current HSF President Shugufa Kaker, who previously served as VP Campus Life.
The two sisters live together and are very close, said Shugufa, 22.
“She’s like a best friend.”
Shabana,  credits her sister for getting involved in college politics and seeking the $18,000-a-year position.
“I see how much dedication she ... [continue reading]

Last push for presidential candidates

Posted on 03. Mar, 2010 by JoanaDraghici in News

Jon Hembrey
News Reporter

As they wrap up their campaigns in advance of next week’s vote, the four candidates for Humber Student Federation president agree they enjoyed the opportunity to speak directly to students.
During the two-week campaign that ends tomorrow, the candidates were able to promote their platforms by answering questions at forums, plastering the campuses with posters and handing out flyers.
“It’s not just about sitting at home saying you’re going to do this on a poster,” said a first-year police foundations student, and presidential candidate Gurpreet Dhillon, 20, who added he wanted HSF to help those ... [continue reading]