Letters

Dear Fellow Canadians |

Now is the time to get MAD. The new term for democracy is “Say what you want but do as you’re told.” The GST is a blatant tax grab. Rather than make the government more effi- cient they make us pay, pay, pay.

Did you know:

GST in England (called VAT) is 15% on Everything.

GST in Ireland (called VAT) is 25% in Everything.

GST is being charged to char- tities on all money collected. When Canada follows so closely in the tracks of England, are they going to try to tell us it will stay at 7% here?

The middle class is being eliminated. Our next generation of children and maybe this gen- eration will not buy houses. The rich, now holding and building revenue and rental property will prosper again. The government wants to keep us broke because it is the low income earners that pay all the taxes. We cannot afford the investments etc. that lower our taxes. Have you got 7% more of your wage to give away. 7% next year maybe 15% the year af- ter. The only way to stop a snow- ball is to not make it or allow it to be made to start with. We are bowing under the pressure of ev- eryone in our back pockets now. Our arrogant government is al- ready hiring a new secret service of tax collectors before it is law.

We an still change this. Even if the mission seems hopeless. We have one hope left. To sway our MPs to vote a no confidence vote against their own party. To vote with the people. We the people have to exert this pressure on our own MPs. We have to stand up and be counted. It is time to protest this atrocity by action not apathy.

We want to form a_pub- lic demonstration across Canada. This is our war. A nation wide, exact same time protest.

We are asking for volunteers in each community in Canada to head their demonstrations. We will picket the city halls and town

offices across the great country all at the same time.

A housewife, a businessperson and student it doesn’t matter.

Just get mad and do it!!!

Write to me now and help co- ordinate this public outcry. It won’t be a big job. Just get the

Letters to the Editor

word out to your people. This has to be done soon. Please please do it now. The time is short. Write today.

Mrs. Debbie Dunn

4802A-51 Avenue

Red Deer, Alberta

TAN 4H3

Phone (403) 346-1240 or FAX 346-2545

Make yourself the reason who made the difference.

Watch out for

Fred Flintstone ARS AT

Is everyone glad that the snow will finally be gone? I know that I will because I’m tired of park- ing in the back forty. As most of us are aware, there is a park- ing problem here at the Univer- sity, but when there is snow on the ground, the parking problem increases two-fold. Many igno- rant parkers feel that they need at least two parking places to park their cars because of the snow. They leave spaces between their cars which are almost large enough to park a Chevette or an- other tiny vehicle ... but not quite. These people are lucky that no one parks their car into these spaces like Fred Flintstone would. To all those ignorant parkers, next time the snow falls, remember — other people would like to park close by too. Don’t hog the spaces.

signed — Fred.

Conversation with Freshman Students

Forbidden ite RRRORNETAGAR TALE 9 ws NEES

Director of the University of Prince Edward Island Com- puter Center, James Hancock, [allegedly] said that conversation with freshman students through the Universities Vax computer system is strictly TABOO.

Since the beginning of the computer era, the main purpose of computer technology (so we’ve been told) is to aid mankind in the repetitious and predictable tasks in our lives. We can speed

up simple arithmetic processes which take up considerable time in our often busy schedules. Also we are able to sort, view, and

manipulate vast amounts of data at the touch of a few keys on a computer. As computers begin to flood into the nation’s house- holds, it only makes sense that the act of simple communication, a communication which is guar- anteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, should be made accessible to all who wish to make use of it.

Basic political, educational, economic, and business decisions which are crucial to the welfare of this small world we live in, are now being decided by the touch of buttons; buttons who’s homes lie on the keyboards in many business offices, and house- holds throughout the world. In- stant information can be sent VIA telephone lines, information too vast to hear and understand through simple verbal communi- cation, yet as accurate, and pre- cise us the original data. What could happen to today’s world if this vital link were to be~bro- ken. James Hancock, Director of the University of Prince Ed- ward Island’s Computer Center would know better than anyone else here at U.P.E.I.

Mr. Hancock, in his infinite wisdom, has seen fit to decide which UPEI students should and shouldn’t be able to communicate using the University’s computer system. He, of course, wasn’t brave enough to remove it from all students, but rather picked on just freshman students; not ali freshman students, but most. It appears that the few fresh- man students that he has deemed more important than others, were overlooked in his communication crackdown. One Student, Tracy Smith, was [allegedly] granted Mail privileges as long as she promised not to persist in her complaints to the Student Union.

As for me, I wasn’t so lucky. Af- ter standing up for what I believe is right, I not only had my mail privileges revoked, but access to my personal account which I use for school projects, was also de- nied. I was writing a program, in my spare time, which would allow freshman students to com- municate using the computer fa- cilities. Unfortunately, according to Mr. Hancock: “...Freshman students should not be communi- cated with...”.

It’s time we, stood up as a whole, and pro- tected the rights we have earned.

We should remind faculty that as students we pay the bills around here, and decisions like removal of major communication devices should be at least dis- cussed among the students be- fore they are implemented. They should not be done behind the students’ backs, and they defi- nitely should not be done with- out the students approval. The Computer Center solved a diffi- cult problem (slow response time on the VAX) with a fast inappro- priate solution.

They have decided that their power is absolute and GOD- LIKE, and they will continue to pick on minorities until all stu- dents are tco discouraged to even turn on the computers. They will continue to prey on the weak, and ignorant unless the weak get strong, and the igno- rant more educated on the sub- ject. It’s time we, the students of UPEI, crumble the bureaucratic pedestal which people like James Hancock and the staff both be- low and above him so almightily sit upon!! Stand up now, for who knows what minority they may discriminate against next....

Lloyd F.J. MacDonald

as students,

is

ally!!

Rally!! Rally!!

Rally!! Rally! Rally!

Buses leaving at 12:10 and 12:25 PM Bring a friend, bring your mom Bring your little sister and brother Bring your neighbour to Province

House Friday, April 6th.

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Editor-in-Chief: » Terri Lyn Hall Production Editor: Dave MacKinnon Advertising Manager: Jim McGrath Photographer: Sue Rigney Typesetter: Simon T. Berge Chief Technical Liason: John Doucette

CUP Editor: Matthew Willis Graphics Editor: Liam Whitty Feature Writer:

Candi Mackie

Circulation Manager: Ian Wood Layout Personnel: Kheng-Wee Wah Submission Policy

We reserve the right to edit submissions due to taste and/or space limitations and not to print submissions that are submitted after the dead- line of Monday at 3:00pm. Submissions to the GEM be- come the property of the GEM unless other arrange- ments have been made. All submissions can be submit- ted to the GEM through the GemSlot on the office door in Main Building Room B06 or through the VAX to account GEM. (We cherish typed submissions.) Those which are libelous, racist, ho- mophobic, or attempt to in- cite violence or hatred toward a particular person or group will not be printed.

Any member of the uni- versity community can make a contribution to The GEM, but the editor also reserves the right to print submissions from outside the university community.

The staff of the GEM can be seen in their natural habi- tat in their basement office in Main Building, room B06. We can also be contacted by voice by calling 566-0629, oF leaving a message with out secretary at 566-0530.

The GEM University of PEI 550 University Ave. Charlottetown, PEI CINAPP