On Wednesday February 22, a "referendum" will be held to decide whether we as a Student Union will continue our membership in the Atlantic Federation of Students. _

(he of the greatest con- cerns regarding a referen- dum is that the students are not aware of the facts surrounding the issues. It is my intention in this ar ticle to provide you with shose facts and hopefully they will encourage you to , vote on REFERENDUM DAY.

The Atlantic Federation ‘ of Students is a student ., organization with its head office in Halifax, Nova Scoti Membership is Open to any student association at a post-secondary educational institution which; is demo- cratic, student controlled and authorized to represent the general interests of its members. .'Ihe studentasso- ciation must agree to con- tribute such. fees as have been determined by a plenary session of the AFS; which at the present time- is $1.00 per student and in terms of total amount at U.P.E.I. $1550.00. Our Student Union has ful- filled the above criteria and therefore are active

members until September 1978. At that time, if we meet

the required standards, of the Federation, pay our fees, and have received your (Student mion) approval we will remain active mem- bers for another twelve month period. Your approval or disapproval will be voiced in the results of the referendum. In P.E.I. there are two co—ordinators of A.F,S, ac- tivities. me person is aPPOinted by the U.P.E.I.S.U. to act as campus co-ordinator and the other person is aPPOJ'nted by the Active AFS organizations within their province. Since U. P. E.’ I. is the only Active member, both representatives have in the past and present been students of this university. A F S has an approved - budget and at present is financially stable». The financial records are audited and approved by a Halifax Chartered accounting agency. A full—time staff person Was hired in January to help maintain the co—ordinationU and ccntinuity of the Fed— ?ration. Some of her duties lnclude head office managing, research, organization of $111dents and visiting member Institutions to help carry Out A F‘S policy. ,‘

In A F 8' words, there is an A F S because; the issues that affect univer- tionale for the existence Sity and college students in the Atlantic have a very real and sometimes painful consistency to them. With the government determining policy andassistance levels for the institutions from a regimal perspective, ‘un- exployment running rife

throughout the Atlantic, and

changes in the Student Aid plan being considered from national and regional view— Points, the levels at which decisions that affect stu- dents are being made are caning more into, focus than ever before.

'Ihere should be little or no question that the grow- ing manifestations of the effect of regional issues are the single biggest factor providing a ra- of an Atlantic student union. If students ever expect to have a voice in matters that affect them as students and residents of the Atlantic area, organizing at the regional level is the most realistic way to go about it. To accept i-for a} ' student representative ' group at any level in the first place, implies in the Atlantic, an Atlantic Federation of Students.

The key—note for an or- ganization such as AFS is co-ordinaticn, co—ordination at the regional level of work that should be pro- ceeding at the individual campuses, in the areas of research, policy making, _ mobilization, action, and continued effective lobbying.

In reference to A F S policy, there are some im— portant issues confronting Atlantic students that AFS has no hesitation in meeting head—on. ‘Ihose issues are as follows: government cut- backs, especially in regards to their refusal to accept I the MPHEC recommendation of a 14% increase in univer- sity budgets, unemployment, student aid, student housing, and many other areas.

Presently the structure of AFS is solid and work— able. 'Ihe weakest link between AFS and the students right now is the student councils, especially ours. U.P.E.I.S.U. has established some excellent policies in reference to administrative issues, but in regard to policies on issues such as cutbaks, student employment, housing and etc. there are

The UPEI SUN,'Ihursday,Feb.l6,l978,page7

DOLLARFOR AFS’

none. ForAFS to be of any

ateamtowardsthe

value to UPEI students some changes have to be established. ‘

a. Either U.P.E.I.S.U. accepts AFS policy and works along those guidelines.

b. U.P.E.I.S.U. get out of the political business and remain a glorified , social committee and allow AFS to run the political show.

0. 0r preferably: establish policies which are workable with AFS policies and work as

same goals. It is your option to choose either a,b, or c., and to make your choice known to the student . council. You have one more option will

be indicated on the ref— erdum ballot and available to you on "REFERENDUM DAY" February 22, to be held in the Robertson Library. PLEASE VOTE AND

EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS. Ray Shalala

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