EDITORIAL & OPINION .

On the Ban

Dear Editor:

Much has been written lately about smoking, and not much of it has been positive. First medical doctors and scientists, then the public at large, and then politicians have become worried about tobacco smok- ing. Why? Because studies have suggested a link between cigarette smoke and lung cancer, and also that cigarette smoke affects non-smokers as well, therefore infringing upon their rights to a healthy envi- ronment.

I am a non-smoker, but I don’t support the UPEI Faculty Association’s proposal to ban

Letters

up’? And as for its usefulness as a pacifier, I would sug- gest that most smokers would be better off learning how to better handle everyday pro- blems, rather then hide from them behind a cloud of smoke.

smoking on campus strictly for that reason. I favor the ban because I can see no prac- tical purpose or advantage to cigarette smoking; only serious and potentially harmful dis- advantages (for both smokers and non-smokers). The most common excuses for smoking have been to improve your social image — to help you ‘belong’ — or to act as a pacifier, a way to relax. To start with, nowadays smoking — at least to the best of my and will continue to promote knowledge — rarely improves their point of view. But, hope- you social standing, and it fully, future debaters at isn’t the ‘cool’ thing to do. U.P.E.I. will be able to argue When’s the last time you saw in a smoke-free environment. an international athlete ‘light- Malcolm Gorrill

Undoubtably, the smoking debate will continue no matter what the outcome of the pro- posed ban. Many on each side are, for one reason or another, convinced that they are right,

ENGINEERS No Fun

Dear Editor:

Why is it that U.P.E.L Engineers have the reputation that they do? I haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary since I got here two years ago. Thave heard of some one engi- neer’s pranks from many years ago, but all of those students are long gone now. The engi- neer student-turnover here is three years, and so far, these engineers have not done any- thing unusual yet. So what if

Dear Editor:

This letter is to applaud the way your paper has been handl- ing itself over the ‘Kevin MacLean Letters.’’ Ever since he first started putting his foot in his mouth in The Gem, I have eagerly awaiting your response. In fact, your letters section is the first part that I read.

Does anyone really . care about Mr. MacLean’s broken love life with his pushy, girl- friend? This girlfriend threat- ened to break up with him if he didn’t attack an earlier Gem article on_ personality traits. This reminds me of an old M*A*S*H episode where

Page:

they put orange-fungal growth on their heads for Halloween, or panties on skeletons, or go fishing in Lake Blanchard! Any artsie with an artistic flair could have comé up with the same silly stunts.

pared them to some real engi- neers from where he came from.

So show us some flair and technical know-how, instead of these childlish, dress-up schemes. Perhaps more people to last year’s engineering ban- would come to your pubs if quet, and they told me that the they knew how ‘inventive’ you U.P.E.I. President, Willy Eliot, were. practically called them unima-

Some friends of mine went

A disappointed,

Editor:

Some time ago, I discovered that human behavior is purely based on self-interest. I con- clude from here that the medi- cal doctors do not want us to be always healthy. If we are never sick, they will go out of business. Now, all M.D.s are for a smoke-free society. Hence, I presume that ciga- rette smoking is a harmless habit and its ban will not hurt the health care business.

Just ten years ago or so, if one went to a doctor and the doctor could not diagnose the problem, he would invariably tell the patient to take two aspirin a few times a day for several days. Now, doctors use different tricks. Today, they would simply tell the patients to quit smoking. Of course, this is as useless as taking aspirin. I am curious to know what kind of worthless panacea witch doctors would prescribe

a thousand years ago.

Mr. Prunesquallor must be a sadistic old fool who is bent on ruining the fun life of young men and women. After reading his grotesque theory of love, I have recurring night- mares. Recently, I have a new interest, but now I’m not sure what to do with her.

Even if his theory of love has a grain of truth, I do not want to hear anything about it. What right does the old fool have to destroy the placid atmosphere at UPEI? I beg the editor to forever censor Oliver Twit’s future articles.

Kevin MacLean

Editor’s Note: As of noon last Monday, eight responses were received to the recent questionnaire on the Faculty Association’s proposed smoking ban. Seven were against the proposal, while only one was in favor.“

The hours for the editor of the Gem will be: At the Main Building 4th floor office: Monday: 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

In the Robertson Library student lounge:

ginative wimps when he com-

Smoking

Margaret Houlihan threatened to break up with her wimpy boyfriend, Frank Burns, for the same reasons. Is there a link? Hhhhmnmmmmm...? Is this girlfriend worth keeping?

Here are some more memor- able quotes from Mr. Mac- Lean’s letters: ‘“‘Smoking may be detrimental to some unfit people, but it is a healthy habit for most of us.’’, and ‘‘People who are anti-smoking are anti- everything’, where does

* this guy get his delusions?

I enjoyed the drawings that. were placed beside his letters. They were fitting for his dero- gatory, complaining comments.

fun loving student

I wouldn’t have called him a jerk in such a subtle way, though, It would have been better to say that he simply “‘writes like a jerk.””

In closing, I would like to add a final quote from Mr. MacLean’s Sept. 11th letter: “If the Gem does not mend its ways, I will not write any more letters to the Gem in protest..’” Does your continuing barrage of complaint letters mean that the Gem has mended it’s ways, or does it just mean that you don’t live up to your own claims?

Ilike a good argument, Steven Anderson

Fridays: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM If the editor is not in the 4th floor office, submissions or messages may be left by placing through the door slot at the office or may be left at the Barn S.U.B.

Submissions for the Gem should be made no later than 1 PM Monday on the week the submission is to be published. Sub- missions should be typed and double spaced. Early submissions are much appreciated.

Regular staff meetings are held Monday at 6:00 PM at the Ath floor office. ~

_ Views expressed in the Gem are not necessarily those of the Gem staff or the UPEI Student Union. The Gem is an equal opportunity newspaper.

The Gem is published by the UPEI Student Union.

Editor: Jim W. Lai

Production Editor: Lori Anne Heckbert

Photography Editor: Shelli Wheaton

Senior Staff Members: Robert Bodrog-Goodland, Don Lane, Brian Linkletter, Danny Mullen

Staff Members: Elinor Andrée’ £46t2°Bain, Geoff Clark, Darrell Cole, James Connolly, Karen Cullen, Kaberi Dasgupta, Jayne Emery-McAskill, Lisa Goulden, Matthiew Hatvany, Anne Irving, Sandy Jardine, Kerry Lafferty, Alan MacEachern, Kim McNeill, Sam Okello, Kelly "Redmond," Bonnié Ryan, Angéla»Seaman, Oliver Twit, Chris Vessey, Derrick Webber,-Debra Wright

Contributors:Inge Dorsey, Holly Good, and others omitted

Advertising Manager:-Danny Mullen? 2.0

October 2, 1986