Green team opens doors

Students looking for summer employment, take heed: the provincial government is looking for applicants willing to hire university and high school students.

Not-for-profit organizations throughout the province and municipal governments are encouraged to apply for grants for the Green Team Program. The funds allow the hiring of students for various community development projects such as housing rehabilitation, riverbank cleanup and public education throughout the summer.

Each organization may hire up to four youth between May 4 and Aug. 21.

For more information on the Green Team Programs, go to http://www.gov.mb.ca/opportunities/summer,careers.html.

Porn is a plague, says author

Michael Leahy told a crowd of University of Manitoba students that pornography is a plague on society, responsible for ruining relationships and jobs.

A U of M student group, Campus for Christ, recently invited 50-year-old Leahy, the author of Porn Nation, to speak with students on how his infatuation with porn cost him his 15-year marriage, two children and his job after his boss had found he spent most his time surfing the material.

The Winnipeg Free Press reported Leahy correlates the increasing sexualization and objectification of people in society with pornography.

In addition to having anti-porn lectures at universities, Leahy will publish two books this year.

Problems won’t be ignored at Sask. aboriginal university

A recently released provincial report into the First Nations University of Canada is giving critics a new sign of hope for changes at the failing institution.

The report looked at the university’s administrative and programming, reported Canadian Press.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers recently expressed concern about the school and its funding if the review was ignored. Fuelled by their statements, Saskatchewan’s advanced education minister Rob Norris announced he will not allow the report to be disregarded.

Tough economic times call for more students

Instead of joining the workforce, many students find themselves pursuing a graduate degree—and Canadian universities are taking notice.

With many entry level job postings already down 25 per cent, Canadian graduate schools are preparing themselves for an increasing number of potential candidates, reported Maclean’s OnCampus.

The University of Toronto has seen a nine per cent increase in grad school applicants, whereas the applications for the MBA program at Queen’s University have doubled in comparison to last year.

The increase in graduate applicants will heighten competition for students interested in graduate programs.

Profs postpone retirement

Since the elimination of mandatory retirement in many parts of Canada, many professors are sticking around.

Between a third and half of faculty members are deciding to work beyond the age of 65, perhaps spurred by the downward economy, reported University Affairs.

University administrators admit this delayed retirement may cause budgeting problems as many senior faculty members get paid higher salaries. Having them stay longer than expected disrupts plans to hire new members.

When asked about his reasons for staying, 64-year-old Professor Robert Adamec told University Affairs that those in their 60s today are in better health than previous generations.

Published in Volume 63, Number 17 of The Uniter (January 22, 2009)