it a more cosmopolitan. environment.

In initiating such a program, UPEI hopes to attract more external funding, bringing about greater opportunities for it’s students and faculty members.

“Tt is a win for the faculty of the university

unless you have the op- portunity of supervising graduate students, the funding agencies are not going to provide you with the external funding to run the research pro- grams.”

McLauchlan thinks that it will not only ben- efit the university commu- nity but also the Island as a whole.

The programs will be research-based, with

oping students’ re- search and communi- cation skills.

an emphasis on devel-

“These two new programs will have a positive impact on the local economy in terms of direct expen- ditures,” says MacLauchlan. “As well, highly-qualified

personnel with train-

because it will enhance the research effort at UPEI,” continues Gordon. “At all universi- ties, graduate students, play a vital role in making sure that research is done. A lot of the exciting research is being done by graduate students, and

ing in chemistry and biology are needed on the Island to sustain and develop both high tech- nology and the primary sectors.”

Little opposition was met in the development of the M.Sc program.

“There was some [opposition], but not within the university, says Gordon. “There was a

small

amount

of oppo- sition which we had when we made our

pro-

posal.

Most of :

the scientists at the vari- ous research centres around here were very supportive. People in the community were very supportive. The level of opposition was very low.” Although confident that this new program will be a success, no plans have been made to expand the M.Sc. program to a Ph.D. in the near future. Gordon wants to take things one step at a time. It has taken the university many years to evolve this graduate program.

“We don’t believe in wanting to expand for the sake of it. Mind you, I think that if it is done in a very methodical way, indeed down the road, it would be a useful thing to derive [Ph.D pro- gram].”

A student registered in the Master of Biology program can choose to specialize in one of three areas: ecology & wildlife biology, neurobi- ology & stroke, or plant science, molecular genet- ics & biotechnology. Those enrolling in the Master of Chemistry program can choose to specialize in inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, or bioorganic chemistry & biotechnol-

ogy.

The Cinephile

by Jeff Coll The Thomas Crown Random Hearts Affair Directed by Sydney Directed by John Pollack McTiernan

An internal affairs investigator (Harrison Ford) for the DCPD and a New Hampshire congresswoman (Kristen Scott-Thomas) discover that their spouses were having an affair before getting killed in a plane crash. They console each other with unease as they both have to deal with crises in their respective careers. With

A bored million- aire (Pierce Brosnan) steals a painting for the sheer fun of it and an insurance investi- gator (Rene Russo) tries to prove he stole it. The investigation turns into a game of cat and mouse and things get steamy between the two. The Thomas Crown Affair is a remake of a Nor- man Jewison film of the same name, which I have not seen. Un- able to compare it to the original, I will say that this 90’s update is quite good. Russo and Brosnan are sly, and the capers bookending the film are well-executed and fun to watch. The film succeeds on the level it was intended: As a good old-fash- ioned Hollywood entertainment (B).

enough plot for three films, Random Hearts is an overlong, emotion- ally-detached mess. Ford underplays to the point of nonexistence and Scott-Thomas is almost as bad. Director Sydney Pollack is an old pro at this sort of film, but they are usually more energetic and the characters certainly have more charm. Dave Grusin’s score is the film’s only bright spot

(D).