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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-07-26, Page 3A I1 'loads Lead to Seaforth Legion presents The Guse Family plus WHOLE LOT ORE! Seaforth District CURLING CLUB Brier Patch Lounge plus entertainment by SUSAN M'ALISTER Seaforth & Distr' Harmony rings dance with the ROYALAIRES & Cruise Draw Sea fort Agricultural Societypresents BREAFAST every morning plus 50's & 60's ANC PLUS MANY, MANY MORE EVENTS • OPENING CEREMONIES • PARADE • JAIL-A-THON • ANTIQUE CAR SHOW • FLEA MARKET • FIREWORKS • CRAFT SALES • DINNER & DANCE • TEDDY BEAR PICNIC •ENTERTAINMENT GALORE Watch for Homecoming Flyer in next week's paper! Program eases school change A local summer program aims to make the transition from grade 8 to high school a little easier for 24 Seaforth students. The federal government and Huron County Board of Education pay for it, and three identical programs at Exeter, Clinton and Goderich. Eight youths in the fust of three local, three-week camps helped Seaforth Cooperative Children's Centre with its summer program and also helped clean up in and around Maplewood Manor. Lisa Porter is the Career Experience Camp co-ordinator working out of Seaforth District High School. She says the main goals of the program are "to get students together to work as a team, to learn about the world of work and to have the opportunity to.be positively involved in the community through various work projects". The first Seaforth camp finished Friday, the second started yesterday and goes to August 11 and the third runs August 15 to September 1. Eight students are in each camp. The co-ordinator says the youth were recommended by teachers "to be those who would benefit from, and enjoy this type. of program". She urges members of the com- munity to contact her at SDHS "with any work projects the CEC students could help out with". The first camp had tive guest speakers who discussed such things as peer relationships, resume writing, communication skills, self awareness and al- cohol and drug abuse. Permit problem Property owners at 81 and 84 Main Street South have been advised they require sign per- mits by Seaforth's Local Ar- chitectural Conservation Ad- visory Committee. The owner of the former property advised the town administrator he is removing the offending sign and painting one on his win- dow. Close-up THE HURON EXPOSITOR, July 25, 1595-3 These students belong to a summer program aimed to make the transition to high school a little easier. From left: Tracy Jessome, Grant McKellar, Daryl Young, Mike Nigh, Chad Hoegy, Natalie Dale, Lisa Porter, Susan Wheatley, Mike Beuerman, Ellen Workman, GREGOR CAMPBELL PHOTO LAZY, HAZY DAYS OF SUMMER - Life is just fine in the slow lane these days at the Roxoboro dam in McKillop Township just north of Seaforth. Centralia College bankrupt, students mislead • BY PAUL CIUFO Expositor Staff Students faced turmoil last week at Centralia International College (CIC) in Huron Park as the owners declared bank- ruptcy and the school closed. Located on the campus for- merly used by the Centralia College of Agriculture and Technology, the college had been open a little more than six months. The bankrupt numbered company also owned Park Business College in Hamilton, Shaw Business College in Toronto, and St. Catherines Business College. B.D.O. Dunwoody is the receiver of the assets and is continuing operations of Shaw College and Park College. The closing of the Centralia school is the last in a long line of disappointments for 11 students who came from Thai- land, Korea and Vietnam. Last Tuesday, the day the college closed, they expressed suspi- cion about being told to pre- pare to leave for Shaw College. They said they distrust Dr. George Lewis, former president of the bankrupt company, who was scheduled to speak with them but never arrived. "Everybody not want to go. I don't believe Dr. Lewis. I want my money back. I want to go to another college. I don't want to go (to Shaw College). It might be like this one," said Panita Pattanaphen of Thailand. "I am unhappy. I can't sleep all the night. Sometimes I think, 'why did I come here?' I want to study," said Luckana Yaowapong, 19. All of the foreign students said they were given false information by overseas recruiters for the college. The students were promised a col- lege with easy access to a city and a campus hosting over 150 students from all over the world and Canada. They found an institution in a rural area with less than two dozen stu- dents. A wide range of courses with different difficulty levels their fees for tuition, room and board, etc., which they paid in advance in Thailand, went to the coffers of Park Business College and not CIC. A fax entitled "Bangkok Accounting Summary," leaked to the stu- dents by a secretary who nb longer works at the school, showed over $75,000 was sent to Park Business. College. Written by hand is the amount CIC had received since open- ing: approximately $13,000. The foreign students were shocked by the low sum since each had paid approximately $6,000 in fees for accommoda- tions, plus tuition fees. A starvation level of funds was confirmed by college business manager and campus director Lauren Sorichetti. Sorichetti said he and the teachers have been looking out for the best interests of the students, despite the neglect of the parent company. "I have been working seven days a week. We have been doing conferences and conven- tions here and that has been going to feed the students and buy them books," he said. Foreseeing the bankruptcy, Sorichetti planned to take over the college and assume the educational commitments made to the overseas students. Last Wednesday, he offered the foreign students a chance to stay at CIC instead of leaving for Shaw College. The students trust Sorichetti greatly and voted unanimously to stay at CIC. "Classes will continue. I will recruit for next year. I'll put out the biggest fires first and work down," he' vowed. Sorichetti said he had begun talks with the Ontario Develop- ment Corporation, the landlord of the campus. However, the option of con- tinuing classes was unaccept- able to the receivers and the students left on a bus for Shaw College on July 20. "Mr. Sorichetti wished to continue but we did not. The "I feel very embarrassed... as a Canadian" Centralia campus is totally closed. The students are being housed in Toronto and will be attending Shaw College," said Martin Clarkson of the receivers. Clarkson said he expects the students will soon be approach- ing him about misrepresenta- tions by Lewis' company. He said there is a bond which may were promised. They arrived to find one part-time English as a second language teacher, no planned curriculum, and no teaching materials. The English teacher said he has taught the subject through- out the world and never encountered such a disorgan- ized program. "It took four months until I was able to get textbooks. It was make it up as you go along. It is not what I pictured an educational institution would be. There was no planning. The people who put this college together call themselves entre- preneurs; well this is entrepre- neurial education. I feel very embarrassed by all of this as a Canadian," said the teacher,. who requested he not be named. Several students arrived believing that they could begin studying for a Masters of Busi- ness Administration (MBA) at the college. Promotional litera- ture given to students in Thai- land listed the MBA program, an International Business Administration degree program, • Supplier of all makes of plumbing fixtures and faucets. • Water softeners and conditioners • Water Heaters FOR YOUR REPAIR OR RENOVATION JOBS, NEW ADDITIONS OR NEW HOME Call Jim for a FREE Estimate 345-2636 and a Master of Public Admin- istration program. CIC was not a degree -granting institution and did not offer the courses described. The literature sug- gested the degree courses could be started at Centralia and completed at institutions in the United States. "Some students came for a weekend and they left after seeing the facilities and pro- grams were not what they were told. It seems in Bangkok, whatever students wanted to hear, they were told," said the part-time English teacher. The students also suspect the company of financial and other irregularities. After comparing receipts for tuition, the foreign students found they had been charged varying amounts. One woman paid $3,400 while another paid $2,500. Pattanaphen did not even sign her own name on her registra- tion form. She said it was forged by the Thai representa- tive of the college. Dr. Lewis has declined to speak to the media. John Bauld, a Canadian who recruited for the college, said recruiters in Thailand "mar- keted the college based on the college's instructions." The students also have evi- dence that suggests the bulk of reimburse the students' tuition fees. Those students who are not covered by the bond will be creditors of the bankrupt company. Beuy Scott at Shaw College confirmed on July 21 the stu- dents had arrived and were all "safe and taken care of." Ten domestic students who auended CIC and took a busi- ness administration course are also seeking reimbursement. HEALTH ON THE HILL A Review of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL $EAFORTH PERINATAL INFORMATION SESSION If you are expectant OR recent new parents, we would be pleased to have you join us at our next session: TOPIC: OB TOUR: INFORMATION SHARING - QUESTIONS/ANSWERS HOSTS: Dr. Mark Woldnik/Kay Mailloux, Reg. N. DATE: Thursday. July 27.199a TIME: 7:30 p.m. PLACE: Seaforth Community Hospital Conference Room 2 Please be advised there will be NQ EAST HURON LONG TERM CARE MTG. for the month of JULY. Next meeting will be held August 24th. LEARNING I$ CONTINUOUS: Our staff never takes the summer off. This is an excellent time to spend learning new skills. On Tuesday, July 25th, 35 staff members attended a Workshop, "Building Winning Working Relationships" conduct- ed by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The day was packed full of information and fun to help us strengthen our "people" skills. STAFF BID FAREWELL TO CO-WORKER: It is with regret that we announce the resignation of Dorothy Drake, Occupational Therapist. We wish Dorothy all the best in her new position in Oxford County Home Care Program. RECREATION COMMITTEE NEWS: DARBECUE DAYS: The delicious aroma of grilled hamburg- ers and fried onions greeted visitors at the noon hour Wed., July 19. Thanks to the Recreation Committee and the men (Don Matthews, Don Hulley, Ron Drager, Jack Bedard) who wereut in charge of barbecuing a superb lunch - including dessert put cream cones) for the staff. Due to the great success of this event, another barbecue is being planned for August. A bus trip to Toronto to see "Beauty and the Beast" in October is being planned. It's not too early to think about booking costumes now for the Oct. 28th Hallowe'en Dance Party at Seaforth Legion. NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH FRAMED WATER COLOURED PRINTS by Ron Nickles Also Available SEAFORTH'S • POST OFFICE • TOWN HALL • UBRARY • BANK OF COMMERCE • ST. JAMES CHURCH Available at: BOX FURNITURE OPEN MON. to SAT. till 5:30 pm FRIDAY till 9:00 pm Main St. Seaforth 527.0680 stAFoarH HOMECOMING OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1995 -12 - 5 PM SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 1995 -12 - 5 PM AT THE ROUNDHOUSE Come and Join us to Celebrate Homecoming & The 150th Anniversary of the Seaforth Agricultural Society - Memorabilia Displays - lntb Anniversary Souvenirs available - Collector Plates of Roundhouse, Hasty Notes and Mugs