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Students Unite
In the last three issues of the CADRE there has been at» least one letter to the Editor which has condemned, ridiculed or just bitched about about the Student Union executive and'the council. Such terms as "the elite" and "power trippers" have been used to describe position holding mem— bers of the Student Union. The Council has been ridiculed by .people saying that members of council are making rules for their own benefit and all the council members are padding their pockets from vast mon- etary outlays from the Union. These preceeding comments are common from people who have never come to a council meet—l ing and never darkened the ,doorgqf the Student Union off— icesaillil be? shat 9c99t of 10 People“ that;are doing all the complainingahave never asked an executive or council mem— ber why they offered themsel— ves for the positions and what they would like to see acc- omplished. No, it's much eas— ier to complain than become ‘ involved. Involved — that's a dirty word on\this campus.
It's funny, people can do dope,
_they can get drunk three nites
a week and sleep around like it's going out of style; but if somebody gets involved, especially in the Student Union they end up being the topic and focal point of mass criticism. I'm not saying that S.U. executive, Council and committee people are infallible but at least they're trying
to make a students' life on campus a little better.
Now I can hear people saying "Those people are only there because of the money and the prestige." Well‘if you are one
that thinks that, just ask these
"elitist power trippers" and hear what they say.-I'm sure you would be surprised at their
~response. Any person on council
would probably give up their position in a minute if some— one else came along and off-
ered to do it. About 90% of the people who work in the Student Union (council members, committee heads and members), don't get a red cent for their efforts. They have offered themselves because they feel they can put some of their
Get involved to find out what's‘happening
Granted, most people of a
be slack, while others excell.
bouyant nature go through their And this is not an attack on periods of wildness at Univer— )these organizations. It is dir—
sity. Perhaps its the weather, perhaps it's their moods, or maybegit's the full moon. Who knowS?‘But¥one€thing that is strOngly objected-to is the fact that a certain number of people in positions of auth- ority on this campus get away with murder as far as rowdi- ness goes. Yet these same peo-
ected towards the individuals who are Egg doing their jobs. Perhaps a lot of this irr- esponsibility can be thrown back to the students themselves An aura of uninvolvement and I pure apathy has always envel- oped the vast majority of the
~student body. U.P.E.I. is
known for being a "good time"
‘Ple become the picture of beaur-university, which has it's
ocracy and pure crap when it comes to their official duties, taking some kind of glory in wielding their authority. This
assets, but there is more to higher education than a good drunk or stone Thurs. and Sat. nights. Conceded, the Univer—
is not a sign of power, this is sity years are the best Gt
angabuse of responsibility for which the people in question SUffer n0 repercussions.
The main beef, perhaps, is the fact that there are peeple Who get paid for duties which do not even come close to be- ing fulfilled. This fact is aPparent in most organizations
one's life, (or so it hasv been said). Security, in hav- ing a circle of friends, the friendliness of the campus itself is a good excuse to
-want to become a professional
student forever. But Univer— sity society is a distorted reflection of the Big World
Of this campus, — Student Union,0ut there that everyone is Radio station, social Committee,going to have to face at the
Campusskolice,-etc.<0f~course,v 1n larger organizations there
end—sfimfourvmfiveyorueven six years. (Some people have even
usually are areas that tend to been known to stretch it to
.1500 students all by them-
"‘”~(‘."
THE CADRE,
energies into constructive work for the benefit of others and not only themselves. The only recognition they usually get is a letter of appreciation or sometimes a pen from the Student Union for their year's effort.
Nobody can get any satis- faction if they don't make known what things they need to be satisfied. When you have a complaint or a sugg- estion, go to your council 4rep., or to the S.U. office or to the council meetings.
‘Everybody is heard, even at
the council meetings. The executive wants and needs your ideas. Those five people cannot come up with suggest— ions and ideas for the other
selves. The twenty three coun— cil members can't either.
Get your two cents worth in to the Union. we all pay $40 and we all have the right
x“. Li‘ ‘
mom.
'OCTOBER 22, 1974, PAGE 5
as Union members to find out what's happening and not just guess about it. The council is running out of ideas of how to find out what the maj- ority wants. Don't tear them .apart just because they are on council. You voted them there - tell them what you ‘want done. They'll do it or- see that it gets done.
Students out-number all
others on campus about 20 - 1 Let's make ourselves be heard as a united body.
This week' "Poke in the Ribs" goes to Sandy Gauthier from Student Services. On October 9 she was nominated "Toilet - Paper Queen" and the crowning was held on her anniversary 01 one years' service to the Student Services department. Congratulations?!
- one day we'll have to make it to class!"
_seven for a bachelors degree!) The people who have made it
to the upper echelons of stu- dent organizations, did not have to use serious ruthless— ness or skill to get to the top. Usually its a blend of popularity and experience. And once there, where is the strong competition that is part of
the outside society? This is why you will find certain peo- ple sitting on their asses with a position and a paycheck and this is why nobody really gives a shit about this just as long as involvement can remain confined to reading a few art—
yicles in the CADRE of listening
to a few announcements on CSUR. To come right down to it, as
long as apathy remains at an all time high the not — so- commendable behavior of some of the individuals involved (and the term is used loose— ly here) in campus organiz- ations is not going to ch— ange. Student Union money and everything it controls and everyone it pays boils right down to the student. Maybe monetary matters hit closer to home, but as stu- dents do you care enough about your money to see how it is being utilized? Get involved, and you will find out things that both shock and please. But, if you don't get involved, well who cares anyways?