THE CADRE, Oct. 2, 1973, Page 4

LETTER

I Dear sir:

" I read with interest K.J.Mc Neill's article on enrollment in the September 25 Cadre, but I disagree with Mr. McNeill's interpretation of the diminish— ing student body and its impli- cations. . -

In my judgement a heavy decline in full time enrollment from the peak reached in 1971 was inevit- able, and it came as no shock to me.

There are several reasons for it. First and foremost is the dep- ressing white collar employment situation in Canada. Its impact on university students hit the Maritimes with full force two or three years after it had surfaced in the rest of Canada and the U.S.A. With Ph.D's hav— ing to take temporary jobs as taxi drivers and short order

A little Trouble in the morning...

Trouble

AH“. 5m?“ AW“ pg5dﬁh ‘ 4 FL "1

man suave I mrs rumor I 4 Fl. 0“

After Shave and Cologne with a _ distinctive, disturbing fragrance that can give

1 a whole campus Trouble up to 8, 10, or even 12 hours!

and you've got Trouble all day. ’

cooks, and owners of Master's and Bachelor's degrees being turned away by employers as "overeducated", the economic value of a university degree has depreciated. ~ - A secOnd reason for our fall— ing enrollment is the fading novelty of U.P.E.I. Any new- college or university is like— ly during its early years to.

' have a growing student body,

one larger than an established institution would normally have. High hopes and ambitious eplans create a euphoria certain to be deflated as the harSh realities. of university politics clashyand grind. Bright young men are att- racted to the faculty of a new school. Their ideals blunted and their schemes suppressed, they soon drift away, leaving behind disenchanted colleagues and stu— dents who pass the word that the experiment is a failure. This haS‘ happened here, as those associate ed with UPEI since 1969 will tes- tify. ’ " “ Many people on the Island have never forgiven the provincial' government for destroying the old religious colleges, and they have' made UPEI the scaoegoat. Many fam— ilies refuse to send their sons and daughters to the consolidated university if they can afford to send them to a mainland institute ion. During its first three years; most students who had started university at P.W.C. or S.D.U. chose to continue at U,P.E.I., but

in numerous instances their broth-'

ers and sisters are not coming here. It is my impression that the middle class Protestant families who once patronized Prince of wales COllege were the most Offen- ded by the amalgamation and re— main irreconcilably bitter. But’ many Catholic families also dis-'g patch their offspring to St.F.X.

_~ and other R.C. schools across the“ Strait. ‘ " /

PRESS BON‘FEHENGE "

-\continue their studies

»UPEI is its poor morale

‘ belief that enrollment

:_to closeﬂdown the unive

It was noted by Mr. Mc part time enrollment co rise. In a period of in ’threatening unemploymen on the Island--a shaky ural economy, many youn prefer to take a paying

side. This is partiCula to the upwardly-mobile -Who ordinarily seek a u degree. They are determ ' maintain or raise their ption levels. It is no fashionable to live-fru a student while postpon expectations. t. y ' Not least in importanc rfactor in declining enr

“ causes requiring much s elaborate, U.P.E.I, has achieve the image of dy sion and challenge that nger and others associ the new university hope developed. Very early in of the university a pall ation, depression, and a led upon the Student bo ially. It has never lif is not known as a swingi

Given these conditions,

tinue to drop until it 1 at about 1200 full time Part of this slack will up by\part time enrollee numbers I predict will s ‘-increase, though more sl the general decline. Does this mean, as Mr. claims, that the univers be extinct in five years certainly not, for at le reasons. One, it would mission of failure and ' ence by the Campbell go

created, which in any.c lone of the chief symbols Island autonomyl'Seeond, ‘much public money has b ed into the campus and as a capital investment

r“

spending_the majori atime on oampus.T. Mr. Gram Allen.

Last year three students from UPEI's padre attended the Atlantic Regional Can; University Press conference grepresentative for at Memorial Unigersuty 1n Region-non'living 1

, Newfoudland. At the conference will be the guest 8

UPEI was choosen to host this

years delegates. .

\ \ October 26,27&28 are the “dates set for representatives like to attend any 0 of all the Atlantic University seminars feel free papers to get together and “~ The locat‘on n? the discussdiferent aspects of will be puplished 1a

Askus abouta Studentloan. Itpays to getan education.

InanagerabOutas dentloan. He can help you get it. And,

Education costs a bundle. At the Commerce, we know.

And,we can help lighten the load. he can help you keep it in check ‘ Talk to a local Commerce

with proper. money management.

writing. staff problems and .4 * news in general. . _. g r‘- t 'Kathy The students will be staying . Vice;

in our new apartments and

CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE

ion and the Commerce. 'Ibgether we’re both stronger.

38 University Avenue ' RDOWCIDC WIII‘OM: _