Evaluating Squeeze |

group of people got together recently at the Skeena

Health Unit auditorium and took a run at it anyway. .

©The subject: wag an evaluation of Project “Squeeze,”

the effort by Skeena Theatre Arts'students to create a ~
-set.of dramas that would try to make sense ‘out of the .

reality of adolescent alcohol abuse. Most of the ™-

1 '? ae : :

40-odd people present were students, parents, teachers,

the production, i
.. The-greatest uncertainty centered ‘around the effect:
of-the productions on their young audiences. Brian.

officials and advisors who were directly involved in -

- Koven, the theater arts teacher who directed the plays,

read letters written by elementary school students in
response to the plays, including one from a girl who |

“t's pretty hard to quantify the impact of art, -but-a -

swore she’d never drink after seeing “‘Squeeze’’. But .-]-.

as Koven pointed out,-abstinence wasn’t really the :
message, and most of the audiences for the major pro-
duction, ‘Juice’, have had around 14 years of social

indoctrination into the use of alcohol and it would be.

unrealistic to expect a lot of immediate changes in
their attitudes as the result of a two-hour play. © _

- ‘There was no uncertainty, however, about the effect
- onthe students who were directly involved in the pro: °
ject. One after another they described the unique bond
that had grown within the cast and crew during the ex-

_hausting course of putting the plays together. Feed-
_ back from their fellow students was ambiguous on the
alcohol issue, -but admiration and enthusiasm were
and the realism of the script. .
‘The result is that the Theatre Arts program at -_

Skeena is packed to overflowing for the coming year.:
Whether or not the project struck a blow against -
alcohol abuse is a question that may. never be

answered, but it certainly struck a blow in favor of the:

dramatic arts. In view of the galvanizing effect that
Koven has on his students, the project was successful
for that reason alone. — ——-

" Squeeze will be subjected to prolonged scrutiny and
analysis by.a whole range of scrutineers and analysts
in the months to come, but one conclusion that.
doesn’t take a lot of analysis is that it has
demonstrated beyond question what happens when a
courageous and dedicated teacher involves his students
with unbending intent in the pursuit of a worthwhile
goal. The results can be truly astonishing. °

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rampant for the professional quality of the production: |

The Terrace Review is pleased to introduce this week our new cor-
respondent in the legislative and political labyrinth of Victorta,
John Pifer. We've been admiring John’s freelance work. from a
distance for some time, and we're pleased to have it as a regular
‘feature on our editorial page. We're certain our readers will be bet-
ier informed on the activities of the provincial government as they
affect Terrace with the benefit of John's insight and first-hand

ae fe

observations, co,

we rene}

by John Plier |

VICTORIA — To many of the
MLAs and ministry officials
here in the capital city, Terrace -
is “somewhere up north’? — a
place which occasionally comes
up when government handouts
are being’ given across the prov-
ince, and rarely at any other
time. oo,

But to me, it brings back
memories of three or four dif-
ferent treks. down Highway 16
some years back, and the pleas-
ant people I met during those . .

trips amid such a. splendid set- —

ting. .
Now, to have the chance to
contribute a weekly column to
your central-B.C. (not “north-
ern’’, I know THAT much!)
community is a welcome op-
portunity. ;

All you need to know about
me is that I have about 24
years Of journalistic experience

.

“under my belt, including stints |
as editor of daily papers in

B.C. and in England, and as a
reporter on everything from
politics to films and theater.
For the past two and a half
years, I have been a freelance
columnist and reporter at the
Legislative Press Gallery,
following the antics of Premier
Bill Vander Zalm and his gov-

-ermment. As you will ap-

preciate, dear new readers, that

jn itself has been a fascinating

30 months of chaos, confusion,
conflict, and occasionally, pro- —
gress.. . ,

Many of the commentators
and columnists covering Wild
Bill — including me — have
been accused of being Vander-
bashers. I don’t deny that I
often find myself writing with
amazement at this ‘premier’s -_

cavalier attitude toward conflict
of interest, his ‘‘vision’’ of how
government should operate
(which is often contrary to .
common sense) and his pen-
chant for. foisting his personal
views upon the people; but I do

try to point out some of the

advancement and worthwhile _
government programs and pro-
jects that are being achieved
despite the messianic carping of
the leader.

As for Terrace, the timing
for me to be in the Review is
great, because your MLA,
Forests Minister Dave Parker,

_is about:to be put into the hot

seat when his minisiry’s -
estimates come before the
house. Parker, himself a
registered professional forester,
faces assault from everyone
from the tree huggers to the -
IWA loggers and all in be-

_. tween, as he tries to administer
_ a sensible middle line which

will protect environmentally
sensitive woodlands, whilst
maintaining a viable industry.
Later this week, Parker will
be unveiling the Socreds’ new
forest strategy, which will lay
the groundwork for a compre-
hensive plan for the next 10

years. The content is top secret

until the press conference on
Thursday or Friday, but it is
said it will reflect some of the
issues and concerns raised dur-
ing consultation and discussion
with all sides of the industry, —
especially the eight information

-sessions on Tree Farm Licenses’

held throughout B.C. in the
past few months. .
Stay tuned.

As for the current tedious
session of the Legislature, it

_ may be almost the end of June,

The view from Victoria

but the province’s 69 MLA’s os
will have to wait another two:
or three weeks before they can -

“even start to think about enjoy-
.ing any summer holidays.

‘ This long, dragged-out ses-
sion still has a few surprises yet
to come, the most notable of
which will be legislative —
changes to the Medical Services:
Plan. é
The health ministry is being
tight-lipped about the details of
the legislation, but two senior ~
officials have told me that it
will be highly controversial,
and that doctors in particular
will not like it, which suggests
that they will be receiving less
money, or at least will be made
to provide more detailed
accounting of their charges.
Chances are the average man

_ and woman won't like it either,

as it is certain to mean yet
another increase in rates.
While it is true that MSP.

_ program changes this year have

seen greater assistance being
given to low-income sub- —
scribers, it also is a fact that
the government is projecting an
increase of more than $32
million in revenue from the
plan during the current fiscal
year. And guess who supplies.
that extra money? Yes, the tax-.
payers. -
When this government came
to power at the end of 1986,
MSP premiums accounted for —
revenue of $380 million.
Government estimates for the
1989/90 fiscal year show
revenue expected of $612
million. Now, we know that.
B.C.’s population is growing 2: -
steadily, and that more people — —
are being covered by the . ;
Medical Services Plan, but

believe me, that $232 million.

extra is not coming solely from. .
the newcomers. It’s from thee -
and me, dear reader,

‘Both Health Minister Peter .

_ Dueck and Finance Minister

Mel Couvelier have repeatedly _

~ stressed the need “‘to bring

health care costs under _
control’, While it may be
- - gontinued.on page 7

coFop