Holland College is burdened with a large financial deficit, one which oppresses students with high tuition rates and fees.

Most students know about the problem, and the fact that Holland College students are paying a tuition rate comparable to that of a well-respected undergraduate university. The college's debt has been well advertised recently in local media, and the information on the financial report can be easily accessed by all students.

A greater problem exists in the apathetic nature of most Charlottetown Centre students, which is evident from the small amount of student participation in school government, activities, and events.

Charlottetown Centre's student council acts as the student population's voice in the college, as well as the community at large. It must be difficult to act as this voice however, if the student body is generally unaware of bi-weekly meetings. Students are allowed to attend council meetings, but the frequency of their lacklustre attendance rivals that of certain council members themselves.

The student council recently introduced a new president, a very capable vice-president before her promotion. Her position was filled not through a student vote, but by acclamation; there were no other candidates. The new vice-president has been absent from two meetings, at a time when the student council needs to show solidarity to address a number of pressing issues within the college.

Student voting for council elections at Charlottetown Centre have not been well attended by students recently. Student council will address the recent announcement of Holland College's operating debt, and the council president hopes to get all students involved in a dialogue to lower tuition rates at the college. It should prove to be an interesting attempt.

In most schools, whether it be elementary or post-secondary, activities are provided by members of staff or other students. The intention of the activities may be to educate the student population on a particular subject, or provide an enjoyable activity that allows students and staff to have a bit of fun in the academic atmosphere of the school.

More often than not, these activities are received extremely well by students and staff, merely because the activities offer something different to an otherwise routine work or school day.

At Holland College's Charlottetown and Royalty Centres, the student activities coordinator provides numerous activities ranging from lunch hour sports to off-campus social events. Also, the student services department presents conferences, seminars, and guest speaker opinions on such things as student and faculty health awareness, student job prospects, and various information sessions.

The most recent endeavor put forward by the college is ŚWellness Month', provided by a joint committee of student services representatives, computer and human services representatives, and the activities coordinator. Activities range from healthy eating seminars to recreational events on and off campus, and is intended as an awareness event, where students can find useful information on healthy recipes, and take part in fitness activities.

Unfortunately, these activities have not been well received by students and staff of the college. Granted, there has been a recent increase in attendance of the sports-related events, but turnout has been generally poor for seminars, lectures, and information meetings.

The events are well advertised by e-mail, posters, and pamphlets distributed throughout the campus. Yesterday, a student was overheard complaining about the increased e-mail pertaining to Wellness Month, saying the messages were thrown into the trash without reading them.

It seems student involvement in school activities is slowly dwindling at Charlottetown Centre, and although activities are well advertised, a gap exists between those providing the activities, and those who do not take part.

Student services representatives commented on the fact that most Wellness Month information sessions took place around noon each day, and students may have been reluctant to sacrifice this time for the sake of a healthy eating seminar. Somewhat ironic, given many students' eating habits.

Resources are available, and numerous activities take place every day on each of Holland College's campuses. It is unfortunate most initiatives taken by student councils, activities directors, or student services departments are so poorly received.

One cannot help wondering what kind of extra-curricular activity will stir student interest, or what type of crisis will light a fire under an otherwise apathetic student body.

TS