CFS web site centralizes home services

By Adam Grachnik, Ottawa Bureau OTTAWA (CUP) -A new website is centralizing the registration of home services and trying to prevent students from drowning in flyers companies flood campuses with this time of year.

The new site, Hookupservices.com, is a joint opera- tion with the Canadian Federation of Students, Canada's largest student lobby group. The site literally hooks students up with services like Internet, hydro and cable for their pads.

Through negotiations with companies such as Bell and Rogers, Web site officials say students can select their cities online and are pre- sented with options of what are the best deals available in their area. They register and the services are installed.

This venture highlights a dif- ference between Canada's two nation- al student lobby groups — CFS and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations.

"Traditionally on campus there's been a movement to block companies so students don't get inun- dated," said Cam Carver, the site's director of operations. "I say let's use collective power to get better deals

for students."

The CFS owns six other stu- dent services, including Travel Cuts, the International Student Identity Card, the Studentsaver Card, Homes4students.com, the Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP), and the National Student Health Network.

"Students are getting robbed blind by for-profit companies," said CFS National Chairperson Ian Boyko, adding that Travel Cuts is the only for-profit corporation CFS operates.

Boyko said the approach of CFS is to offer students cost-saving services, and to lobby government.

"We want to make student life easier on a day to day basis," he said.

As the CFS launches another student service in their growing arse- nal, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations say they're not interested in owning businesses, just lobbying government.

"We've decided to do one thing and do it well," said Rob South, CASA's government relations coordinator. He pointed towards the last federal budg- et, which, he said, included some CASA policies, including allowing students to earn more income before it counts against their loan eligibility.

UPE] Student Union By-Elections

It seems as though elections on PEI are contagious. Not only do we have impending Provincial and Municipal elections, but soon Island political leaders will have to fight for space for election signs with candi- dates running in the Student Union By-Election, called for October Ist and 2nd by a unanimous decision from Student Council. Held to fill vacant positions on Council, By-Elections are traditionally low-key com- pared to the general elections held in March of each year. This year, how- ever, proves to be different as a large number of candidates have regis- tered themselves for the 11 remaining seats. Further, the elected Executive Vice President resigned over the summer to pursue studies in law, opening the door for a new second in command. By closing of nominations last Friday, four candidates stepped forward with their nomination papers: Aimee Arsenault, Jeff Grandy, Nick MacDonald, and Nick Policelli. Good

luck to all candidates.

Brandon MacKenzie, SU President

.:page [18] September 15, 2003:.

South said he respects that the CFS has a different vision and wished them luck.

Hookupservices.com says they make money each time a student signs up and the money is filtered down to the CFS and other involved parties. Carver wouldn't discuss rev- enue, but said a "very small" portion from each activation fee is earned.

"We work with CFS and have students in mind. We're making sure we have access to the best offers," he said, when asked how students can be sure that they're being offered the best deals, not the provider that pays the company the most money.

Carver said it's been difficult earning corporations’ confidence in the site, because traditionally students

are known to have bad credit or repu- tations for not paying bills. He explained that corporations must know that if they treat students well now, they'll be customers for life.

The site is operational in Ontario and officials are working to have the rest of the country hooked up soon. In some areas where services aren't finalized like in rural Saskatchewan or Manitoba, students are presented with a database of the options available to them.

A former Dalhousie University student, Carver is also the creator of Home4students.com, which he sold to the CFS a year ago.

Welcome Bienvenue

With another school year underway, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of you to the beautiful University of Prince Edward Island.

By taking the initiative to pursue your education, you are not only investing in your future, but also in the future of our country. So have fun,enjoy the experience while you can and good luck with your studies.

- Wayne Easter, P.C., M.P Solicitor General of Canada and Member of Parliament for Malpeque