4_UPEI News Women's Centre key supporter of AIDS PEI

By MELISSA DOUCETTE

This Christmas, the UPEI Women’s Centre is re- newing its commitment to AIDS PEI. As in previous years, the Centre is selling tick- ets for the 12 Days of Christ- mas, and fundraising project of AIDS PEI.

The 12 Days of Christ- mas project is unique to the Island. The idea was gener- ated almost ten years ago by an individual at The Dunes, a gallery and restaurant located in Brackley. The project has been gaining momentum ever since.

Now, over 150 Island businesses contribute to the endeavour. Their donations of gift certificates and prizes all go towards twelve daily draws, beginning December 7 and ending December 18.

On each of these twelve days, the top winner receives over $1100 in prizes.

“The tickets sell them- selves,” comments a repre- sentative from AIDS PEI.

Since its inception, the 12 Days of Christmas draw has raised anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000 per year.

Being involved with AIDS PEI is important to the

Women’s Centre for a number ofreasons. Although it promotes the positive im- pact the Centre has on the Island community, the AIDS cause also touches a per- sonal note with many people.

As well, the fastest

The fastest group of people living with AIDS is women.

growing group of people liv- ing with AIDS is women. But the 12 Days of Christmas project is only one connection the Women’s Centre has with AIDS PEI. At this year’s annual Walk for Life, held Septem- ber 27, the Women’s Centre was named the top fundraiser foran educational group. The Walk is another fundraising tool for AIDS research. The Centre raised over $500 at this year’s Walk, the third year the Centre entered a team. Centre

volunteers

were enthusiastic when the ideal of participating in the Walk was discussed. It cata- lysed an “automatic positive

response,” according to one vol- unteer.

Despite the bad weather, the team of Centre volunteers walked the full seven-and-one- halfkilometres. Although the rain kept some people from attend- ing, it did not affect fundraising efforts.

Support from the Island community was evident at the Walk. The participants. were given a police escort, and were provided with food and drink. Local radio station Magic 93 played music for the walkers, and door prizes such as teddy bears and kites were donated by local businesses. An aerobics instructor from a local fitness facility led the warm-up, free of charge.

Trish Daley, a Centre vol- unteer, initiated a 50/50 draw to raise money. The person who won immediately donated the money back, without prompting from anyone.

Tickets for the 12 Days of Christmas fundraiser cost $5 each, and are available at the Women’s Centre until Friday, December 4. Anyone wishing to help support AIDS PEI can contact Ruth at the Women’s Centre, or call AIDS PEI at 566-2437.

UPEI Women's Centre, an active member in the fight against AIDS

-photo by Richard Haines

The Cadre +;

New Student Building at UPEI

¢ Continued from page 3

17 November 1998

up for lack of experience in this area.

In eee the site, the committee kept certain issues at the forefront. The union wanted the new centre to provide better services to students in a more convenient setting, and be more than a place people go to at night. At many universities, the student centre is the heart of campus life, and the union wished to move in that direction.

Eventually, the university and the union agreed upon the tennis courts for the site for the SUB 2000. In Spring "98, Dr. Elizabeth Epperly, then university president, officially offered the site to the union.

With the site taken care of, the SUB 2000 project is read to move into its next phases. Fundraising has to be completed, a design needs to be chosen, building space has to be designated to on-campus groups, and more.

The year 2000 is when construction is estimated to start e the new building. Once completed, the Barn will be torn

own.

The new student union centre will represent the end of one era, and the beginning of another.

Author's note :thanks to Heather Love for her assist- ance.

UPEI Centre for writing

Established to provide students with assistance in their academic writing skills

By ERIN FAGAN

Anew UPEI Centre for Writing, currently situated in the Learning Assistance Centre in the Robertson Library (room 106), has been established to peer students with assistance in their academic writing skills.

Through the initiatives of Professor Wendy Shilton and Linda Meggs, an English-as-a-second-language (ESL) instruc- tor, the centre has been providing volunteer coaching with Faculty of Education students since mid-September. ,

“We are hoping it is the precursor of a bigger centre in the near future,” said Meggs while describing the project.

She added that Shilton is currently putting forth the proposal for a permanent home.

“We would like to have a comfortable lounge for stu- dents to work on prec, a computer lab, and eventually a conferencing room. Working with other [education] students hopefully will make the process seem less intimidating [for studentale Meggs explained.

“T think everyone, to a degree, experiences angst sur- rounding academic writing.” Beer: ;

Some of the inspiration for this new initiative, according to Meggs, came from her own experience as an ESL instructor. Her class focuses on writing improvement, as well as on communication skillsforforeign students. ==

“There had not been much support until this point,” she explained. ,

Currently, there are several volunteer coaches who are available in the Learning Assistance Centre, Monday Grengh Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. However, it has been suggested by the volunteers that hours from 4 to 6 may be more accessible for students. ;

As volunteers are “anxiously awaiting” participants, Meggs expressed a need to get as many informed about the Centre as possible.

Meggs also stressed that the centre would focus on the writing process as a whole, and would refrain from simply revising student’s papers.