High school students right at home in university

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For eight teenagers from Alexander reserve's Kipothaka high school, the giant University of Alberta campus has just become friendlier.

On Jan. 21, accompanied by teacher Franklin McKenzie, they came to have a close look at the academic city within a city and to see what university has to offer.

After joining up with Native university students, who were their host/guides, the Grade 10 class sat in on various lectures to experience a typical campus routine.

"It's a big campus," remarked student Rod Yellowdirt, who plans to visit campus more often, so he can get used to the place.

Yellowdirt believes university is a must for his plans to enter the world of entrepreneurship.

"This Native thing they have here is really good," he says, referring to the on-campus Native Students Services, Native student lounge, study area and the Aboriginal Student Council.

Neil Courteoreille, who wants to study journalism, joined Yellowdirt in the English 210 class, to hear a "heavy" discussion about a novel on Japanese internment camps during the Second World War.

Shawna Paul, another future journalist, took in the introductory Cree class instructed by Emily Hunter, in a small room crammed with mostly non-Native students.

"It's so hard to believe that they speak our Native tongue and that I could understand them," says Paul.

Barry Augibelle and Kenny Arcand were reluctant to sit in on what they thought would be a boring class on statistics.

"They were studying new methods of math," exclaimed Augibelle, who was also impressed with the professor's teaching style.

Shannon Loyer and Tammy Arcand went to watch a swimming class in action, at one of the pools in the spacious physical education building. All were impressed with the size and the huge mob of students crowding the hallways throughout the facilities.

The tour of Canada's fourth largest university, with a 30,000 student enrolment, was co-ordinated by Native Student Services.

Doreen Richardson, community liaison officer, reported that other Native student groups, mainly from northern communities, will be visiting the university to experience being a student for a day.