Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 11/99) - When university student Moira Vane returned to Yellowknife this year, she found herself in a tax limbo as a result of complications arising from the loans she received from student financial assistance.

Instead of getting angry, she decided that it was the right time to organize.

Along with fellow university student, Tawanis Testart, Vane organized a meeting with other post-secondary students and on Tuesday, June 1, they held their first meeting at the Yellowknife Public Library to discuss ways that they could improve their situation with the NWT student financial assistance department.

"We're not trying to attack the department but rather work with them for constructive change," Vane said. "We're really excited about it and we feel the department is really excited about working with us."

Tentatively calling themselves Students Take Action, the group has set a goal for the summer to establish themselves as a liaison between SFA and NWT students so that better communication between the two bodies can be co-ordinated.

"Our biggest concerns are with funding rates for student tuitions and general service issues," Testart said. "The funding rates are no longer comparable to rising tuition rates and it's often difficult getting a hold of SFA operators when we're down south. It always seems like our loans are late when it comes time to pay our tuition."

Other complaints from students have been different criteria for travel reimbursement and a vague appeal process on loan recalls.

Vane also mentioned the need for an organization that NWT students can contact throughout the course of the school year.

"The problem is that Northern students tend to scatter when they go to school," Vane said. "If we can have a group of students that are identified at the beginning of the school year, who remain in contact with the department throughout the course of the year, then we can solve problems better.

"The end result when the system doesn't work is that kids drop out and kids don't get their education."

Education Minister Michael Miltenberger, who had met with Vane, was in support of the fledgling group when reached for comment.

"We had a productive meeting," Miltenberger said. "We wanted to have direct real feedback with students and know how to offer better services for students.

"We want to establish a customer-service mentality within our department to meet the needs of the students and look at the issues of timeliness, availability of agents, and travel issues. As soon as we get the specifics down on paper (from Students Take Action) we will be sitting down to see how we can address this problem maybe at the end of July or early August."