News briefs: The future of parking, a $36,000 METIman, more missing-women news

News October 19, 2011

Students can help shape Camosun’s parking future

Camosun College is surveying students and faculty about their thoughts, experiences, and ideas regarding getting to and parking at Camosun until October 30. The last time the Camosun community was surveyed was three years ago, before the college’s transportation and parking management plan was developed. The first year of that plan has now been completed, and the college is looking for feedback to learn what, if anything, has changed. The surveys are emailed out to all Camosun students and staff, and three participants will win $50 dollar gift certificates to the Camosun bookstore.

Camosun purchases $36,000 METIman

After receiving generous donations from the Telus Victoria Community Board, the Sisters of St. Ann, and Camosun alumnus Robin Bridge, the Camosun College Foundation purchased a $36,000 “METIman”—a computerized human-like patient simulator. The METIman is designed to help train healthcare students in medical emergency situations. It is fully wireless and features a web-based interface. A touch screen with medical scenario software allows virtual medical situations to be generated. The simulated situations can be anything from routine to life-threatening, including adult emergency care, medical, surgical, mental health, and community health-care scenarios.

Human rights organizations pull out of Missing Women Inquiry

Two of Canada’s leading human rights organizations recently pulled out of the Missing Women Inquiry hearings. Amnesty International and the BC Civil Liberties Association announced that they would no longer be participating in the scheduled hearings, citing that participation would be seen as supportive of a flawed process. “At its very heart this commission of inquiry is grappling with critical concerns about access to justice and human-rights protection for some of the most marginalized communities in the province,” Alex Neve, secretary general for Amnesty International Canada, said in a recent press release. “But it is going forward in a manner that only adds to that longstanding sense of exclusion and discrimination.” Go to bccla.org for more information on the pullout.

Copyright modernization hurts students

Campus Stores Canada, an organization of postsecondary retailers, recently released a statement concerning absolute protection of digital locks, announced in the reintroduction of the The Copyright Modernization Act on September 30. The act, commonly referred to as C-11, is aimed at modernizing Canada’s antiquated copyright laws. Digital locks may prevent legally purchased material from working in all jurisdictions by not allowing for any kind of circumvention. This could mean that students might have to pay more than once for the same material. Either that or break the law.

Auction offers students cheaper alternatives while supporting charity

CampusAuction is hoping to make the world a better place by offering an online auction where college students can get new, brand-name products for cheaper-than-retail prices. All the proceeds from sales go to charities selected by the CampusAuction members. Check out campusauction.com for more information.