{LETTERS} continued... their holier than thou morals on the majority who want this link built?

I’m a recent graduate of this university, and I’d very much like to stay on the Island to work. Butifthere are few jobs here, what else can I do? I’d have to move off island, and I do not want to do that.

In short, I think its high time people stopped their self righteous whining, and got on board. Change is always a risky game. I don’t dispute that. But if we let a bunch of backward looking “‘FRIENDS OF THEISLAND”’ constantly dic- tate what is in keeping with this ‘‘ISLAND WAY OF LIFE”’ (whatever that phrase means), then we will continue to be an economic basket case and people will continue to leave the Island. Don’t be afraid of change- the challenge is to use it wisely.

LET’S BUILD!!! Junior Gallant

A letter of thanks

I am a sophomore here at UPEI. I had little trouble adjusting to ‘‘university life’’, and] am really enjoying my time here. However, it was not long ago that I was just becoming a fresh- man, and was not at all sure I would fit in here. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all freshmen to UPEI, and I would also like to thank someone who helped me to feel both welcome and confident last year:

I attended last year’s FROSH week activi- ties, and I had a lot of fun; however, one night, while enjoying the festivities, my doubts and insecurities (not to mention the horror stories my high school teachers had told me) got the best of me. I left the barn and sat on the bench outside for over an hour (And, I must admit, my eyes were not dry throughout those 60 min- utes!).

Then, suddenly, he appeared. Who is he, you ask? Well, without violating his privacy, I can only tell you that he is a guy I will never forget. He came over to offer his ear, and he told me how to develop the ‘‘thick skin’? UPEI would demand. Yet, throughout his advice, he kept his tone comforting and his words on the positive and reassuring side. He- a total stranger- gave me a gentle hug, bid me goodnight and good luck, and headed on his way. And, except for a couple of times in passing, I have not seen him since.

Ifhe is reading this, I want him to know that without his encouragement, my attitude would not have started out so positively. He truly helped me to make my first year at UPEI a year I will want to remember.

I still sit on the benches a lot, but now, at least most of the time, I don’t shed many tears. So, to the guy who cared enough to show it, demanding nothing in return but a smile, THANKS A MILLION.

The Girl On The Bench

14/X-Press/October 21, 1993

A message from the SU

President A topic came up on council with which I would like some direction from the students at UPEI. While chairing the Student Union Hiring Board review committee, it became apparent to me that the Student Union had a policy which precluded part time students from being consid- ered for employment unless no qualified. full time students had applied. The policies in ques- tion read as follows. Eligibility

Only students who will be full time during the anticipated period of employment are eligi- ble. Hiring of part time students shall only occur when no qualified full time students can be found to fill the position. Further, this policy pertains only to seasonal positions; however, the SU Speaker is reserved for full time students only.

Two-year policy

Employees shall be hired, in term positions, for a maximum of two, one-year terms, in the same position. Persons may be hired for an additional two, one-year terms, when the posi- tion to be filled is a supervisory one. Past employees must re-apply for positions and be available for the interview process.

I trust that everyone can figure out what these policies mean, so I won’t bother spelling out the implications of imposing them. I will only say that council has chosen in the past to be lenient concerning this policy.

Since stressing on council that this was presently policy and that the hiring board would have to adhere to it until changes were made, I have been bombarded with complaints that what I am doing is wrong and reassured that what I am doing is right. There are students who agree and disagree with the principle of the eligibility policy: I have heard next to nothing regarding the two-year term policy. I expect, however, that students will also be concerned with its implications.

I must first and foremost stress that these are hiring policies, not firing policies. Regardless of whether or not the hiring board in choosing our employees for this term followed these policies, and regardless of whether or not current employees should have, under these policies, been hired, they are currently employ- ees of the UPEI Student Union and they will stay employees until their term is up.

What I am looking for from students at UPEI are opinions on these policies. I would like to know whether our membership feels that non-fee paying part time students should be considered on an equal footing with fee-paying, full time students. I am bringing fees into the picture here because I feel that full time stu- dents have the right, if they so wish, to reserve Student Union Jobs for fee paying members. The inflows relating to the operating budget of the Student Union break down as follows.

Total:

Provincial Deposit Receipts $100,000 Student Union Fees $243,800 Video Vending and Pool tables $ 6,000 Panther Lounge $ 5,000 Interest $ 5,000

Summer Barn Rentals $ 1,500 $360,500

You might notice two things. 1. Student Union Fees make up the greater portion of our operat- ing budget. 2. Part time students do not pay fees to the UPEI Student Union. The Student Union belongs to its members. Thus, if the member- ship chooses to reserve jobs created by the union for fee paying union members they have the right to do so. And this is just what they did. The problem arises when non fee-pay- ing applicants such as MAPUS students are not considered foremployment. They feel wronged ina university community which already makes them feel like outcasts. They are, without a doubt, being discriminated against. The ques- tion is whether or not they are being justly discriminated against. Yes, there is such a thing as just discrimination. What I am asking you to decide is whether or not this is a case of just discrimination. Whether you feel that it is or not, talk to your student council representative, write a letter to the X-Press voicing your opin- ion, or drop by the Student Union offices and let me know why you feel the way you do. Ido have an opinion regarding this matter and you can be assured that I will argue with you if you have a ~ contrary position. But my opinion as President matters no more than yours when it comes to Student Union Policy, it is simply my opinion. Our policies should reflect the way our mem- bers feel. This is why I am asking you to voice your concerns. I do not wish to see anything changed without first being convinced that the opinions of our membership are known. I donot _ feel that changes to SU policy regarding sub- jects as important as employment should be made without a comprehensive consultation of our membership; I hope that you agree with me on this point. Sincerely, Todd King, President, UPEI Student Union

X-PRESS MEETINGS!!! Every Tuesday at 6:30. All are

welcome to attend. —