The Cadre -

6 April 1999

News 3

Insurance policy up in flames

UPEI Student Union smokes Barn’s fire insurance

By SARAH MURPHY with files from K. Rawlines

The phrase “burn, baby, burn — disco inferno” will earn you no popularity points at the UPEI Barn thanks to a recent decision made by the UPEI SU council.

At their last meeting, the council announced that the current fire insurance coverage of the barn will not be renewed for the upcoming year.

Student union ex- ecutive explains that there are two reasons for not re- newing the current fire in- surance policy.

“There has already been one fire, back in the 80s, and if there were to be another, it would be un- likely that we could get in- surance on the new Student Union building,” said Pauline Tran, Vice Presi- dent Internal.

Tran adds that the cut also has financial ben- efits. “By cancelling the in insurance we also save $3000.”

The Barn has been used as a “temporary” home for the SU for over 20 years. During this time, it has been victim to the abuse of several genera- tions of students. The con- struction of the new build- ing is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2000.

Winston Tremere, a representative of The Co- operators, Charlottetown, believes that it is unlikely that an insurance company

would refuse to insure the new building, and that al- though not necessary, fire coverage on such a struc- ture would be safer than none.

“There is no reason why the Student Union could not get insurance on the next building,” maintained Tremere. “Just because there has been a fire [with the Barn] isn’t reason enough.”

Some students are concerned about the safety of the building.

“You would think they would come up with a better way of saving money,” said one student. “Cancelling fire insurance on a building where stu- dents smoke and drink isn’t a very smart idea.”

Another student questioned the Student Union's ability to hold a

liquor licence in the event that the fire insurance cov- erage was to be cancelled.

Ken Hicks of the Liquor Control Commis- sion says that UPEI SU is not forced to have such in- surance to hold a liquor li- cence. “There is no require- ment for fire insurance to obtain a liquor license,” he says. “It is up to the estab- lishment, although it

would be foolish not to have any.”

Students also com- mented that they “feel un- easy” at the thought of fre- quenting the building, fear- ing that if a fire was to oc- cur personal injury may result from the incident.

“If someone was to be injured, they [the Stu- dent Union] would prob-

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CIMN funding partially reinstated

management guardedly optimistic about station’s future

By KAREN RAWLINES _

Following three years of operation on a shoestring budget, UPEI’s CIMN radio is now looking optimistically towards a new year of broad- casting with more money than they've had since a Stu- dent Union cut funding in 1996.

At a recent SU coun- cil meeting, CIMN manage- ment put forward a request for increased funding in the amount of approximately $9,000. Although they did not receive this full amount, most were pleased with the allotted $5,350.

Jason Gourley, the sta- tion’s general manager, is en- couraged by the funding in- crease, noting that the re-

cently approved budget is $3,850 more than their pre- vious one.

Over the years, the sta-

tion has been plagued by stu- dents’ criticism regarding the * Continued on page 4

small range of transmission.

OS a a er ee better connection in the Pit.

-Photo by Richard Haines