THE UPEI SUN,Thursday,April 19,1979,page 5

cont'd from page 1!

Dansm a moustadie. Nor have I ever heard the Popmar Phrase 'Brother Barney is watching you' I Spoken with a German

accent.

We here in this group feel IVE. O'Connell's emphasis on the military option was misplaced- After all, out of 39 projects around the country, (not 30), only a fraction of them are forced to wear uniforms. The rest are trained for 9 months, (not 10), as undercover agents and aaboteurs in Katimavik's unflagging battle against creeping socialism, in 'the small towns in which we are situated. In these deathcamps we '2 are instructed: in sudi "War.— fare methods as: debarking communist birch trees, teaching the goose step to school children, hm to pass poison into homemade granola, the various methods of a field stripping a swede saw, and, if you are especially obedient, the method of circulating propoganda in two languages.

I must disagree with Ms. O'Connell‘s conjecture that our living conditions are inadequate, The holes in our group's LWinter pup tent provide us "adeqaute of the camp's barbed wire and gun turrets.

In conclusion, I would again like to praise Can- rade O'Connell's efforts and extend to her a sincere

invitation to visit us here at Dixon House, if she can make it past the

guard dogs ° Bradalbane Project Dear Editor: As a former Katimavik participant, I feel obliged to respond to Kate

‘ O'Connell's letter of

commination re Katimavik which appeared in the March 22nd edition of the SUN. I feel her blatantly false statements and sadly ’ distorted ideas do a grave injustice to the program.

I strongly disagree with NB. O'Connell. If any—

‘ thing, I believe that the

Katimavik experience tends to shock its participants cut of their smug bourgeois assumptions concerning how our "just society" functions and what is important in life. While in the program I and the others in my group were expected to go out into our host communities to do volunteer work with young and old, the imprisoned , the sick, and the mentally and physically handicapped. Often we didn't like what we saw but our encounters with those who are often forgotten by the mainstream of our society certainly increased our awareness of social problems, and of ourselves as individuals. 'If indeed it 15 the government's intent to change young people's ideas, then they may yet

succeed, but not in the

through a number of crises and misadventures-

I would just like to say that anyone who has a sense of adventure, is willing to forego some of the comforts of home, wants to face challenges and have new experiences, travel and meet new people, will find that Katimavik can offer a full and riot. year. Personally I view Katimavik as a worth— while educational experience carplementary to university education by virtue of its practicality. In closing

I would just like to briefly list some of the experiences I had so that readers will get some

idea of the diversity inherent in programs like this. During my year I taught English to Franco— phones, and improved my

own French. I travelled coast to coast, spent two weeks on an Indian reserve in Saskatchewan, did survival camping in the momtains of B.C. , worked with school kids, prisoners and hospital patients,

took my turn planning menus, shopping and cooking for 30 , planned and hosted a TV show, received basic canoeing instruction, lived for 3 months each in a railway station, an orphan— age, and a cabin, and most importantly shared these experiences with new—found friends from every part of Canada.

manner which Ms. O'Connell suggests.

Katimavikers do not merely do work that others "refuse" to do; hOWeVerr they do benefit commmities by accomplishing tasks which otherwise could not afford to be done. While it is true that they sometimes face some extreme— ly boring work, they also sometimes do tasks which provide scope for all the imagination, creativity and ingenuity which participants are willing to give. As participants are volunteers, they receive only $1.00 a day but most work hard because they have freely chosen to make and keep a commitment to the program, to other group members and their host communities. For many, this sacrifice of money and comfort for ideals is high— ly preferable to the sacrifice of ideals for money so often witnessed in our society.

For myself and many other participants, the most important aspect of our nine months was group ' life. Living, working, eating, and socializing with thirty others from diverse backgrounds continu— ally is intense. Initially it seemed as if we had more differences than commonalities; however, with time we were able to build a identity and Yours tru 1y, ffehng Wthh tOOk us Eileen M. Donahoe.

looking back over the recently completed year in the Student Union, the y student body can be proud of how things turned out, at least from a financial point of View.

The Union began the year in financial trouble and budgeted for a $19,000 defecit. However there are indications that the Union will be only $8,000 to $10,000 in debt.

Getting into specifi<s the Union saw a number of areas work out very well monetarin speaking.

Both Fall-Fest and Winter Carnival held their own

and the Panther lounge

was a booming success. a The bar profits will exceed $5,000 this year. 'Ihat figure represents the highest since the Union Opened the operation..

'Ihe student radio Station, CINN, was not as costly as anticipated

UPEISU:A Financial Success

butthatwasduetothe

with the necesaary funds.

All in all the financial picture is not great but considering the times it is not that bad.

Union fees will help the Union to wipe its debt off; make its annual contribution to the capital savings plan; and continue to provide the assorted clubs and activities

fact that it was not operating for the better part of the year. The

SUN was more expensive

than previously anticipated but that was as a result of a lack of outside advertisi ng.

Perhaps the biggest plus was the amount of money that was paid out to our own students in wages. 'Jhe final figure will be in excess of $22,000. This is the highest ever and means that over 30% of fees are being paid back in wages.

" We are very pleased with the amount that we were - able to return to the students this year. It was a goal in the change of the Barn and it appears that in that sense it was a success," commented treasurer John Neville.

looking ahead the Union will be more stable than originally thought. The necessary increase in student

Nms' rmsfl— Mother <- Packed House For Our

UPEISU General Meeting!!!