March 18, 1997

The Panther Prints

...letters to the editor

To the students of the Univer- sity of Prince Edward Island:

I. am writing on behalf of the graduate students at the University of Guelph, Local 62 of the Canadian Federation of Students. The members of Local 62 urge you to reaffirm your membership in the Cana- dian Federation of Students by voting ‘yes’ in your upcoming referendum.

: It is only with a united voice that the issues and con- cerns of students will be heard at both the federal and provin- cial levels of government. The continued membership of

voice.

UPEI students in the Federa- tion strengthens our collective It is crucial that we remain united in our opposition to the massive withdrawal of public funding for post-sec- ondary education. As a result of the Federation’s lobbying efforts, members of the Cana- dian Federation of Students have a voice both in Ottawa and at the provincial level.

At the local level, the Federation provides services which benefit every member of our student associations. The Studentsaver Card, which provides discounts at local re- tail outlets, and the Interna- tional Student Identity Card,

which provides students with access to reduced travel fares, are provided to all members of the Federation without charge. Travel CUTS, which is owned and operated by the Federa- tion, specializes in student travel and offers special fares for students on most airlines and for VIA Rail. The Na- tional Student Health Network offers members the most com- prehensive set of benefits available through a campus health plan. In September 1996, University of Guelph stu- dents joined the national Stu- dent Health Network. Since Guelph students are now ad- ministering our own plan, over-

head costs have decreased. The savings will be used to improve the plan, ensuring bet- ter health coverage for our members.

The Canadian Federa- tion of Students continues to work towards achieving a post-secondary education sys- tem that is of high quality and accessible to all. The Federa- tion’s work on tuition fees, stu- dent aid programs and student debt, and federal and provin- cial funding levels, has forced federal and provincial govern- ments to address students’ concerns, But there is still much to be done. With a combined membership of over

360,000, the Canadian Fed- eration of Students provides students with a strong and highly effective means to pro- tect and advance student in- terests. The members of Lo- cal 62 look forward to continu- ing to work with the students of UPEI as members of the Canadian Federation of Stu- dents.

Insolidarity,

Mark Thomas

V.P.Internal, University of Guelph G.S.A.

Local 62, C.F.S.