Green College, University of British Columbia

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Green College is one of two residential colleges at the University of British Columbia. It provides a community for about 92 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. It has a special academic emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, and traditionally has had a great deal of self-governing by the residents.

Green College was founded in 1993 thanks to a $7 million gift by Cecil H. Green and Ida Green, which was matched by the Province of British Columbia.

Residents at Green College eat together at ten meals a week served by the Green College Dining Society in the Great Hall.

Contents 1 Activities 2 Location and facilities 3 Organization 4 History 4.1 Green College role in APEC meeting, 1997 4.2 Housing Contract controversy, 2006 4.3 Dining Society replacement controversy, 2006 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Activities

In 1997, Green College was evaluated as "[surpassing] goals" by an independent review committee. Then-Principal Richard Ericson singled out "the creativity and enthusiasm of the Dining Society", a resident-led non-profit society which runs the meal program, for praise. Over eight months of that year, the college served up almost 200 separate events -- two or three a day -- including seminar hosted by the college, nine interdisciplinary study groups, lectures by a distinguished visiting professors, artistic performances, or receptions.^[1] The College's "stimulating program" earned a Peter Larkin Graduate Program Award from UBC in 1998.^[2]

The College's coat of arms features two cougars grasping a flagpole above a shield, and includes the college's motto "Ideas and Friendship". It was registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on January 15, 1996.^[3]

[edit] Location and facilities

[edit] Organization

[edit] History

[edit] Green College role in APEC meeting, 1997

In November, 1997, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting was held in Vancouver, with the final gathering at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. Great controversy arose when politicians instructed RCMP officers to use force and pepper spray against non-violent protesters. Green College was located near the Museum of Anthropology, directly adjacent to the official motorcade route to the APEC venue there. Green College resident and Law student Craig Jones^[4] was arrested and held for 14 hours when he displayed signs reading simply "Free Speech", "Democracy", and "Human Rights" on College property. Green College residents displayed protest banners from the windows and walls of the College. Green College residents were among those doused by pepper spray by the RCMP. Also, starting six months before the APEC summit, Green College provided event space and logistical support for an "APEC-University Forum", to discuss both sides of issues raised^[5].

[edit] Housing Contract controversy, 2006

In order to pay for mounting maintenance costs, the college entered into an agreement with UBC Housing and Conferences during the 2005-2006 term for Housing to take over some of the administration of Green College. On 28 July 2006, residents received a new contract with terms that many residents found objectionable, with the order to sign the contract by 1 August 2006. Many residents did not sign the new contract. The deadline was pushed back several times, but eviction notices were given on 28 August to at least twenty-three of the residents.

[edit] Dining Society replacement controversy, 2006

Traditionally, meals have been provided by the non-profit Green College Dining Society, run by students. The new contract provides for the possibility of dissolving the Dining Society and replacing it with University Food Services. The proposed residential contract stipulates that if the meal plan is changed, the residents must subscribe to the new meal plan (regardless of the expense or quality of the food served).

[edit] References

1. ^ Kelly, Sean. "Graduate college not only meets, but surpasses goals, review finds", UBC Reports, University of British Columbia Public Affairs Office, September 4, 1997, pp. 9. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. This issue of UBC Reports is also online in PDF form.
2. ^ "Award winners improve students' lives", UBC Reports, University of British Columbia Public Affairs Office, October 29, 1998, pp. 1-2. Retrieved on December 23, 2006. This issue of UBC Reports is also online in PDF form.
3. ^ Canadian Heraldic Authority (1996-01-15), "Green College of the University of British Columbia", Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada III: p. 63
4. ^ British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) (November 25, 1997). Student member of BCCLA executive arrested!. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-09-06.
5. ^ Pue, W. Wesley (2000). Pepper in our Eyes: the APEC Affair. Vancouver, Canada: UBC Press. ISBN 0-7748-0779-2.  Map of Green College on motorcade route, p xii. Green resident and Law student Karen Pearlston told "no signs and no people" on Green side of route, p. xiii, 145. RCMP arrests Law student Craig Jones and hold him for 14 hours for displaying signs reading simply "Free Speech", "Democracy", and "Human Rights" on College property, p. xv, 8, 145, 210, plate 12. Green College resident and PhD student in Pharmacology reports RCMP assault a person telling of alleged RCMP misconduct, and pepper-spraying Green College residents and others listening to the speaker, p. 7. Green College residents Jenn Baggs and Todd Tubutis, with PhD student Mike Thoms, display protest banner in front of Green College buildings, plate 5. Green College provides "major logistical support" and hosts events for APEC-University forum starting May 1997, per Arnab Guha, pp. 201-203.

• Green College (September 2005). Residents' Guide. Vancouver, Canada: Green College, University of British Columbia. 
• Green College (2004). Green College: Handbook and Annual Report, 2003-2004, Production by Carolyn Andersson, Vancouver, Canada: Green College, University of British Columbia. 
• Ericson, Diana (June 1998). Green College, UBC: Its Architecture and Historical Background. Vancouver, Canada: Green College, University of British Columbia. 
• Ericson, Richard; et al. (2004). Conversations. Vancouver, Canada: Green College Society. 
• Ericson, Richard (Fall 2004). "Past Principal's Corner". Conversations Four (Fall): 4-5. 
• Boei, William. "Graduate students fight eviction at UBC", The Vancouver Sun, CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc., August 30, 2006, pp. pp A1-A2. Retrieved on December 22, 2006.
• Boei, William. "Some progress made in UBC college dispute", The Vancouver Sun, CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc., September 2, 2006, pp. p B10. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. (Subscription required.)
• Rupp, Shannon. "Ontario author files suit against UBC over harassment policy", The Globe and Mail, Bell Globemedia Publishing Inc., October 13, 2006, pp. S3. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. (Subscription required.)
• Burkholder, Carolynne. "Green College principal tenders resignation", The Ubyssey, The Ubyssey Publications Society, October 24, 2006, pp. pp 1-2. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. PDF version of article also available online.
• Fowlie, Jonathan. "Principal of UBC residence to resign post", The Vancouver Sun, CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc., October 26, 2006. Retrieved on December 22, 2006.
• Green College Resident Association (August 29, 2006). UBC Evicts Leading Graduate Students from Green College. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
• Green College Resident Association (September 5, 2006). Green College residents make headway on contract issue, focus shifts to governance. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
• Green College Resident Association (September 2006). August 2006 Contract Crisis. Green College Resident Association website. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. Lists objections to the process and content of the August 2006 proposed contract.
• Green College Resident Association (September 2006). July-September 2006 Contract Dispute. Green College Resident Association website. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. This web page summarise the GCRA's view of the 2006 contract dispute, and points to related documents.
• Green College Resident Association (2006). Green College Residents Association (GCRA). Green College Resident Association website. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. This is the top page of the GCRA's web site.
• Green College Resident Association (May 2006). About the Green College Residents Association (GCRA). Green College Resident Association website. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. This web page describes the history and leadership of the GCRA.
• Green College Resident Association (December 2006). The Reading Room magazine. Green College Resident Association website. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. This is the top page of The Reading Room magazine, written by Green College residents and alumni.
• Blog postings by Kaitlin Duck Sherwood about Green College
  • Sherwood, Kaitlin Duck (August 28, 2006). UBC Green College eviction notice. Best Webfoot Forward. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. This is a blog posting by a Green College resident about her eviction notice and her view of the 2006 contract dispute.
  • Sherwood, Kaitlin Duck (September 21, 2006). contract status. Best Webfoot Forward. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. This is a blog posting by a Green College resident about her view of UBC's contract changes in the 2006 contract dispute.
  • Sherwood, Kaitlin Duck (October 13, 2006). Green College press coverage. Best Webfoot Forward. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. This is a blog posting by a Green College resident about her reaction to the (Rupp 2006) newspaper article, specifically disupting many claims by the Principal from that article.
  • Sherwood, Kaitlin Duck (October 16, 2006). Update on Globe and Mail Green College article. Best Webfoot Forward. Retrieved on December 22, 2006. This is a blog posting by a Green College resident with a minor comment on one point in the (Rupp 2006) newspaper article.

[edit] External links

• Green College website
• Green College contract (2006)
• Green College Dining Society (2007). Green College - The Dining Society. GCDS website. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
• Green College Residents Association (2007). Green College Residents Association. GCRA web site. Retrieved on April 4, 2007. Also at greencollege.ca.