Old Sun College in financial crisis

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The Old Sun College is in a crisis situation and cannot pay its utilities due to drastic funding cutbacks by the Department of Indian Affairs and other government agencies says the school's president.

"The cutbacks are much worse than was reported in the Calgary Herald," said Marion Cleery, president of the college based on the Blackfoot reserve, east of Calgary. "The cuts add up to about 20 percent. This is a dramatic cut. We are under a great deal of stress."

Cleery explains that the school is funded on a per student basis but the school receives a minimal operation budget to cover such things as building maintenance and electrical power.

However, Department education director, Sheila Carr-Stewart insists the college will not receive cutbacks and is in fact in a surplus situation.

"They (the college) haven't received their core funding this year," says Carr-Stewart. "But they will not be receiving the cutbacks as stated in the Herald."

Carr-Stewart confirmed that the college is funded on a per-student basis but denied that this funding is inadequate. Carr-Stewart refused to release details on the funding received by the college.

However, Cleery says the college is in a deficit situation and fears that electricity to the 60-year old building may be cut off any day.

"We are funded on a per student basis but we don't receive anywhere near the funding provincial colleges, such as NAIT receive," she complained.

However, Cleery says she and other college staff are preparing for the next school year and a school closure is not anticipated.

According to college vice-president, Rachel Crawford rumours of the cutbacks had been circulating the school during the last semester.

"Many of our students began to write to their MPs about it," she said. But we never heard anything back from the government."

"We are still in business, and we are still advertising our programs. We want to encourage students to come out here," she said.

Cleery joined with Crawford's statement and added that the Old Sun had been one of the most successful colleges in the province.

"Most of our students are older people. In fact most of them are women. It would be impossible for many of them to go into the city and attend college. Here, they are close to home and to family."

The Old Sun College is located near Cleichan, 100 km east of Calgary. The 60-year old former school has housed the college for the past 16 years and offers a variety of upgrading and special courses as well as a Native campus for the University of Calgary.

Last a year a new student residence and day-care centre was officially opened along with a "Native park" displaying indigenous plants and herbs.