Tuition to increase five per cent

Ontario’s current tuition framework has been renewed for another year, meaning that tuition can increase by an average of five per cent at Ontario colleges and universities for the 2012-13 academic year.

Yesterday, the Ontario Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities released a statement announcing the extension of the tuition-increase cap, which has been in place since 2006.

Tuition will rise by differing amounts depending on the program, but Queen’s ultimately has the power to decide on tuition costs, providing it works within Ontario’s framework.

In February, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), an undergraduate lobbying body, presented a report to the provincial government that aimed to reduce tuition increases.

AMS Vice-President of University Affairs Kieran Slobodin is an OUSA member and said institutions have typically raised tuition to the maximum amount allowed by the framework. He said he doesn’t expect the next academic year to be an exception.

“For OUSA, it’s a disappointment that the problem wasn’t addressed, but it doesn’t mean we won’t continue to work in the next foreseeable future,” Slobodin, ArtSci ’12, said.

The tuition framework will be reviewed again in a year’s time. Slobodin said OUSA will continue to lobby for a different framework.

“The government’s announcement was an extension as opposed to a four-year strategic framework for tuition, so it means that there’s work to be done for next year.” Queen’s will release its new tuition figures in May.

— Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Kingston high school faces possible closure

The City of Kingston is entering discussions that could lead to the closure of a Kingston high school.

The Program and Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) was struck by the Limestone District School Board to assess the state of enrolment in Kingston high schools.

Preliminary discussions with PARC included the possibility of closing either Queen Elizabeth Collegiate and Vocational Institute or Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute — located near campus at the corner of Earl and Frontenac Streets.

In response to declining enrolment, closing a school would be a cost-saving measure.

At city council on Tuesday, councilors voted to have more input in the final decision.

Council will become more acquainted with PARC’s mandate and present a position at next month’s meeting.

PARC will review public and city council input before finalizing a report and recommendations document, due July 10. The decision to close a school would ultimately be made by the School Board’s Board of Trustees.

— Catherine Owsik

Red Bull comes to campus for paper-plane contest

On Wednesday a paper airplane building competition was held in the main gym of the ARC.

The event, which was sponsored by Red Bull, drew a crowd of about 20 people.

From 1 to 4 p.m. participants at the ARC folded regular sheets of paper into airplane designs and competed in three competitions: longest flight distance, longest flight time and most creative flight.

Each competition had one winner that will now go to Toronto at the end of March to represent Queen’s in a national competition.

The winner of the Toronto event will go on to represent Canada in an international competition held in Austria.

Alex Cavasin, the student brand manager for Red Bull at Queen’s University, said students were given the opportunity to practice their designs prior to each competition.

Records for longest distance and time were 37.8 meters and 7.94 seconds respectively.

He added that the engineering aerodesign team judged the creative flight competition.

— Catherine Owsik