January 13, 1998

The Cadre

Students for Literacy Organization Starting at UPEI

By Sandra Williams

The beginning of 1998 may forever be remembered for this event - the initiation of a literacy organization on cam- pus.

Finally the University of Prince Edward Island will join other instititutions from British Columbia to Newfoundland in the Students For Literacy (SFL) effort.

SFL isa program started by Frontier College, a Canada- wide, volunteer-based literacy organization. Back in 1899, Alfred Fitzpatrick, a Maritimer, decided to help improve the lives and of hard working but minimally edu- cated Canadians. His solution came in the form of Frontier College and soon drew na- tional acclaim through its La- bourer-Teacher initiative.

This concept sent volun- teers into the workforce to toil next to labourers during the day, and to assist them with their literacy goals at night. The tradition continues now among railway extra-gangs and migrant farm workers. Noted

icipants include former ier Joe Ghiz and Van- couver MP Svend Robinson.

Since then, the univer- sity effort has moved to return to the community with the one treasure we stu- dents have: the gift of knowl- edge. In the of course, it is the students of UPEI that will be receiving a gift, know- ing that they have enriched another’s life, and miracu- lously, their own.

Because literacy in our society has become such an essential tool for personal growth, it is currently more

others acquire it.

As Cynthia Brown elu- cidates, “Learning to read is a political act. Ina literate soci- ety being able to read is a necessary step towards mak- ing decisions and sharing power. A non-literate person may be very powerful within a non-literate sub-culture, but within the dominant culture a nonreader is marginal. Learn- ing to read gives access to information, ing against fraud, and participation as a citizen”.

Anational survey of adult literacy in Canada reveals that illiteracy increases as one

from west to east. There is still need for literacy work here in the maritimes. One of the most exciting no- tions of beginning a Student For Literacy chapter at UPEI, it that Sado a the op- portunity to program to fit our community’s needs. It will be this first group of volunteers which decides whether it wishes to help chil-

There will be an infor- mation night held on Wednes- day, January 28th, to inform

opening evening for all in-

volved. It will take many hands to build SFL at UPEI. Watch for flyers announcing specif-

ics, orcall Sandraat 569-3025

CFS to sponsor nation-wide protest

By Peter Gillis with files from Rachel Furey (Toronto, CUP)

On January 28, CFS will organize a nation-wide protest against rising student debt. Stu- dents across Canada will par- ticipate marches and rallies to increase public awareness of the debilitating costs of higher education.

The protest is an impor- tant step in CFS’s long-term strategy to develop a system of national grants for post-sec-

students. Currently, Canada is only on of two in- dustrialized nations which does not have a national system of student ts. By compari- son, a $3.5 billion increase in education funding was recently announced in the United States, with individual student grants increasing by $300.

“We wantto senda strong message to the government leading upto the federal budget that st ts will no longer tolerate government inaction on the issue of a publicly-

Sindan

Fall 98 Job Available

funded system of post-second- ary education,” Brad Lavigne, national chair of the federa- tion, said.

The average Canadian student’s debt load currently sits at $25,000. And student bankruptcies have almost tri- pled since 1993, rising to 12,000 in 1996 from 4,500. Lavigne says he hopes the Day of Ac- tion will lend credibility to the federation’s previous lobbing efforts.

“Meetings with govern- ments and our research has limited impact unless the gov- ernments believe our message has widespread support. Na- tional Days of Action help il- lustrate that widespread sup- port,” he said.

Though CFS will mainly target the federal government, university and college students in every province are also tar- geting their provincial coun- terparts.

At several schools stu- dent leaders are planning to tabulate the total amount of debt shared by their entire stu-

What are we talking about?

Are you are looking for a job that best suits your scheduale? One with no limit to potential earnings? If so then maybe you should consider applying for the Advertising

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What does an Ad Manager Do?

An Ad Manager is responsible for all Advertisements in the student newspaper. He or

dent body and use these amounts to send a signal to governments and administra- tors about the “walls of debt” students will face upon gradu- ation.

At Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, students are planning a teach-in on Janu- ary 24 toraise awareness about globalization and the growing corporate presence in post- secondary education. Another teach-in is slated for January 21 in Winnipeg.

In Saskatchewan, stu- dents will be focussing their

rotests against the Royal Bank, which has a monopoly on student loans in that prov- ince. And at Memorial Uni- versity in Newfoundland, stu- dents are organizing an indoor rally-style “Cuts Carnival” fea- turing speakers, games, thea- tre and other activities centering around student debt issues,

Students at UPEI will also be taking part in the event.

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TTY

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she is to insure all soliciting of Ad’s for the paper are being done properly and fairly. He or |

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will be provided this semester as you work as a volunteer with the current Ad Manager . Fo Further Information please contact the Cadre at 566-0629.

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