LETTERS FROM THE EDITORS

Universally speaking

The Cadre hates free speech.

Well, maybe not the Cadre as a whole, and maybe not free speech as an ideal. I speak for myself here. I have issues with free speech being used as a defence for voicing one’s opinion. Someone who has a weak argument or who is inherently biased will often find themselves using free speech as the foundation of their opinion: ultimately, what they revert to is a helpless plea that their voice be heard.

A weak argument is often found- ed on free speech, and is crippled by its own misinformation.

I say this, of course, in reference to the posters that were placed in the Student Union building pur- porting the Cadre as missing. Aside from the fact that there were members of the Cadre’s own board of directors involved with the posters - a point I will not expound on here, as my thoughts can be found in the story itself - the per- son who was caught putting the posters up was doing so on behalf

of other students, who feared they might get in trouble for doing so. When asked for the reasoning behind the posters, it would allege that they were put up as an exer- cise in free speech.

In this case, of course, the easiest way to find out where the Cadre was would have been to come into my office and ask me. I would have gladly informed the con- cerned parties that the Cadre had in fact gone to print the day prior, and that their concerns had actual- ly been addressed. Alas, one would assume that a member of the board of directors would have done so, but unfortunately in this case pro- tocol was skipped in favour of sen- sationalism.

You see, free speech really isn’t unless it is anonymous.

In this case, it would have truly been free had the poster-putter- upper not been caught. Perhaps the anonymous poster man would have been a champion of the peo- ple, a delightful Zorro-like vigi- lante who would traverse the coun- try posterizing every late publica- tion in the land.

Instead, having been caught, the would-be just rogue has been caught and, red-faced, must justify his actions, and in doing so has fallen upon that favourite catch-all of the wrong, free speech.

: Oct. 24, 2007

Now that he must justify his actions with free speech, the Posterizer is forced to realize that free speech is only free when you don’t have to associate your name with your ideals, and thusly can avoid any outcome, be it good or bad. It is when anonymity is lost that one truly recognizes the price of free speech: consequence.

At a newspaper, it is our business. We attach our name to everything we print, and as such we are bur- dened with the responsibility of the outcome. We accept the conse- quences and soldier on. With the posters, whose life span was a mere matter of minutes, it was what the paper failed to print rather than what it did that resulted in the reaction of the Posterizer.

So am I mad at the Posterizer? Not at all. The actions were futile, and with regards to the newspaper itself, they were basically inconse- quential. It made for an amusing little story and some interesting debate as to what the actual pur- pose of the posters was. It gave us an idea for the cover of the paper. And perhaps most importantly, it let us know that there are people out there who are concerned about the paper, even if they are too shy to say so. In effect, I suppose the posters were a good thing.

All hail free speech.

Feelin’ my age

Lately I feel as though I have really noticed how many younger students are on campus this year. Some 600 first year students have taken to the UPEI halls, campus, and unfortunately, the Wave.

Now, I know I am not the only one to notice and be slightly annoyed by this huge influx of young people. I'm not sure if I was annoyed because a) they make me feel old or b) I am jealous that I can't get away with the behaviour of a fresh 19-year-old.

Either way, it was starting to become irritating. That is, until a friend of mine suggested that I, along with the rest of the aging UPEI student population embrace the good things that come with youth.

What are they do you wonder? Well, after a few dirty martinis (cougars drink of choice) my friends and I came up with a rough

compilation of sorts. Firstly, you should try to make at least one ‘first year friend' in each of your classes. From my experience, most first year students somehow manage to do all their homework, I mean every single reading, chapter assessment or class handout. Also, they seem to actually take the time to learn the concepts presented in class, so they're usually handy to answer a few questions that I'm sure you could have easily looked

- up on your own.

First year students aren't only good for academic purposes, they're the perfect kind of person to date. I'm sure guys already know all the benefits of dating a younger girl. For example, you can take them out on a date and bet that they will order a salad, for fear of gaining the ciated fresh- man fifteen.

And, if you see the girl you like

at the wave, it's a definite probabil- ity that she really only needs you to buy her one Rev. And I'm posi- tive that there are a few of you guys that have simply have to date a younger girl 'cause you've run out of girls your own age!

But ladies, c'mon, let's take a cue from Demi.

Younger guys may perhaps be a tad more immature, but you have to admit, they know how to have. fun!

Most of them already think you're way cooler than the girls they know, cause we're supposed to be mature and worldly. Plus, there's a general opinion that young guys just love to please, and here's the great part... they're willing to learn! Gasp! So from now on, don't give the first year students such a bad rap.

If this old memory serves me, we too were once considered fresh 19.

FENCING 101

Tuesday 8:00 10:00 P.M.

STARTS NOW

UPEI FENCING CLUB, SPORTS CENTRE

A SIX-WEEK INTRO TO THE SPORT OF FENCING, BASIC THEORY AND PRACTICE ALL THREE DISCIPLINES (FOIL, EPEE, AND SABRE) WITH AN INHOUSE TOURNAMENT WITH. ELECTRICS TO ROUND OFF THE COURSE. EQUIPMENT SUPPLIED