Marcu 30, 2005

THE CADRE @ 15

Students Upset About Decision to Shuffle Student Newspaper, Yearbook

Matt Campbell

NEDO

The UPEI Student Union has recently released an executive decision to re-assign the Cadre office to student bar management. However, several

points of contention have been raised _

regarding the decision. Talks between the parties involved were not included in the decision-making process, leaving some student staff of the newspaper and the yearbook worried about the future of their operations.

The Cadre, UPEISU’s official student newspaper, currently has a staff of 12 students and numerous contributors. Currently, the student newspaper's operating room is located inside the student union side of the Student Centre. The move transfers operations management of “The Wave” into the room. The Cadre would then be moved down to hall to where the yearbook has been operating for a number of years. Subsequently the yearbook staff and its six members would be transferred into the former Wave office.

Philosophy student Brad Deighan had a number of concerns regarding the issue. “The biggest problem is transparency in the decision- making process. If changes need to be made, all parties should be informed. In this case, that would mean Kirk (the Wave manager), the yearbook and the Cadre should have a meeting with the student union to discuss the issue rather that just the executive making decisions by themselves.”

Clare Henderson, SU President, refused a formal interview but agreed to answer written questions Provided by the Cadre.

Henderson's response read,

“The UPEISU is shuffling offices in the Student Union side of the WA Murphy Student Centre because of space concems involving the Cadre, the Nexus Yearbook and Operations Management staff. To move offices is merely to take better advantage of the limited space that is available in this building. The move makes sense if one is to examine the number of staff in each group and the level of day to day office usage.”

Henderson refused to comment on why parties were not engaged in the decision. In addition, Henderson revealed the decision was made by the UPEISU executive. However, a member of the executive who was approached before publication claimed the decision was made last year, before the particular member stepped into his position. Moreover, Brandon MacKenzie, 2003-2004 Student Union president was unaware of the decision when asked by the Cadre.

Mike Wint, UPEI’s yearbook editor, was surprised about the shuffle. “No one is in the Wave office half of the time. Frankly, how much space do they need?”

_ Wint, although upset that his

workspace was being negotiated

without his input, spoke mainly on spatial issues. “The Yearbook Room is full. We have six members on staff.” Wint anticipates frustration between

workers if the room changes as planned. “It doesn’t make any sense. Sitting here thinking about it, I can picture a very bad scenario. Six people scrunched together, getting on each other’s nerves. It certainly would not work.”

Cadre reporter Jamie McGuigan was sceptical in regard to the executive perspective. “I'm not sure if the Student Union Executive is misinformed or arrogant over the value of the Wave. I don’t see the point of putting in a permanent staff member in the Cadre office rather than 12 students. The management certainly doesn’t require three rooms. I’d say the bulk of the work is done in the Wave itself. Maybe that’s why there are so many problems in the Wave these days... because they're not down there near enough.”

McGuigan agreed with fellow students about input on the decision. “We should have a voice in the matter. They can’t just pull the blanket out from underneath us.”

“It seems too sneaky... overly sneaky,” said Wint. “I wish there was something I could do. It’s my office and Ihave no say.”

Deighan felt action should be taken to review the decision. “A lot of students are concerned and you would think the student council president would be concerned because of that.”

Student Voices Heard in Duffy Kerfuffle

Continued from page 3

a class quiz there today, and what a difference from the last one! It was quiet, well lit, and clean! I finished in under a half hour. I hope that every other class that has been moved is having as good of luck. I just wish that we could have been there all semester. Tam sure it would have had a positive effect on my grade.”

Henderson told the Cadre Thursday that progress can be a double-edged sword, because with change comes inconvenience for some. Any other students, who feel their grades and sanity are at risk with the noises and inconvenience construction has caused, are advised to tell someone from the UPEI Student Union.

« “Itisanew and exciting time to be at UPEI — the face of which seems to change on a daily basis. However, in this case, with change comes construction, and we were very disappointed to learn that students were being disrupted by the renovations that are ongoing in Duffy. After contacting Facilities Management, we were pleased to hear that the construction schedule has been changed to better accommodate class time. We hope that this is a positive solution for students as it allows for learning and renovation.”

“If students still have ongoing © issues with the construction, I would encourage them to get in touch with myself, the executive, or any council rep, and we can forward your concerns

to the right places.”

So, the moral of the story, when it comes to dealing with noise at UPEI, the squeaky wheel always gets the grease. Those wishing to contact Henderson regarding noise complaints can reach her at suprez@upei.ca.