The Cadre -

16 March 1999

Opinion 21

Letters to Editor

Greetings from

& Labrador,

The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Students represents the 30,000 students study- ing at all public post-secondary institutions in New- foundland and Labrador.

Since 1990, college and university tuition has increased by about 250%. This has obviously had detrimental effects on our students. In par- ticular, it has assured student poverty and higher student debt.

Three years ago, when Federal funding changes indicated that this trend would continue, student advocates here started work with the Ca- nadian Federation of Students to lobby our offi- cials for a tuition freeze.

In January of this year the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador did just that, they im- plemented a freeze on tuition freeze. For students at the College of the North Atlantic, the Fisheries and Marine Institute, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College and Memorial University of Newfoundland, tui- tion will NOT increase for the next two years. This result was not achieved easily.

Our lobby for a tuition freeze was success- ful for a number of reasons. | guess the main rea- son was because the majority of our elected stu- dent representatives cared enough about the issues to put their hearts and souls into it. They weren't interested in getting elected because they wanted an office or because they wanted to be popular or because they thought it would be cool. We were fortunate to have a majority of true student activ- ists—students who are genuinely concerned about the well being of the students they represent.

These devoted people worked at it. —

Although it was never easy, it doesn’t look that difficult looking back. We used three basic ingredients: 1) a consistent and coherent argument, 2) the media, and 3) a hell of a lot of meetings with government officials.

I hope that the student union at UPEI can take something from our success and achieve like- wise for you.

Good Luck!

= Kirby Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Students

Newfoundlan

Editor:

March 11, 1999, and I'd like to explain why. informed them that the om captions on Andrew Peppin's camps

I called the Guardian on Wednesday,

‘misused. ae cee eae oe

Oe, |

ene,

the —

A+ for UPE! Student

Dear Editor,

We are writing you in response to a letter posted in the front page of the Thursday issue of the Guardian. This letter depicted the efforts of a particular student who is running for president of our student union. With all of the important issues facing students these days; such as increas- ing tuition and student loan repayments etc. we feel that the time put into writing such a useless letter should have put into a letter that would help students. Mr. Peppin is trying to get peo- ple’s attention because here at UPEI we have only a 5% turn out of student voters. When we saw the poster with the title “Free Nude Photos” we stopped to see what it really was about be- cause you know these kinds of posters are only a ploy to get the readers attention. From that poster we became aware of the upcoming clec- tion. Unlike all the other posters around campus Mr. Peppin politely advertised the voting dates and times, something that most students are not aware of until they see the so called voting sta- tions in the breezeway. What we still can’t fig- ure out is why Miss Daley is so offended by the posters? It is only increasing attention about the election. For once students are having fun with the election and really competing with one an- other. Miss Daley, we believe that you should spend your time more wisely and not pick on something so minor. There are more important issues out there to talk about than a measly poster. I conclusion, we would suspect that Mr. Peppin would thank you because you have put his name in the spotlight and everyone will know who he is and that he will win the election because of you. Mr. Peppin, good work and good luck! You have our votes!

Patrick Ross Aaron Smith