AIDS Project Director Resigns

After interviewing UPEI Stu- dent Union president Lisa Mur- phy, it has been brought to my at- tention that there are many fac- tual errors and inconsistancies in the following article:

Student Polictics: AIDS Project Director Asked to Quit

Wolfville N.S. (CUP) — An AIDS awareness campaign, run by Nova Scotia’s student federa- tion will go on, despite the dismissal of its co— ordinator.

The federation’s AIDS Educa- tion committee asked Sid Tobias to resign as executive direcctor of the National Post-Secondary AIDS Education campaign in late August, after being dissatisfied with his work.

The project, funded by the Federal Department of Health and Welfare, is based at Aca- dia University and produced this year, among other things, a plain-language pamphlet on HIV/AIDS and prevention.

Students Union of Nova Sco- tia chair Lara Morris said the federation still stands behind the pamphlet.

“It’s written by students, for students and written in everyday language, which is why we’re be- hind it, and why it was funded in the first place,” she said.

The pamphlet will be dis- tributed to students at Atlantic colleges and universities this year, and the project may expand to the rest of Canada.

Morris said the pamphlet it- self was fine, although she noted that federal officials had com- plained about the language used and the pamphlet’s layout.

“(Tobias) wasn’t fired for the pamphlet, he was fired for his conduct around the pamphlet,” she said.

Murphy says, and I agree, that it is very important for the students to hear the true facts about this issue.

First of all, the AIDS aware- ness campaign was not solely run by the Nova Scotia Student Union, although they did admin- ister this campaign. Universities throughout the maritimes had in- put into the production of the pamphlet.

The next problem with this article is the statement that Sid Tobias was dismissed. Tobias, who was the executive director of the campaign, resigned, he was not fired. The AIDS Education Committee asked Tobias to resign after supposedly being dissatified with his work. This was not con- firmed because the discussion be- tween the committee and Tobias, prior to his resignation was com- pletely confidential.

“Students Union of Nova Sco- tia chair Haramonis said the fed- eration still stands behind the pamphlet.”

Murphy agrees that the lan- guage in the pamphlet is graphic, but she adds that this leaves room for no misinterpretations.

It is more dangerous to be misinformed. We must be armed with ed- ucation.

In the original article, it states that federal officials had com- plained about the language used in the pamphlet. Murphy says there was a slight problem with the layout and presentation of the pamphlet, however there was no mention of the language used.

Murphy says that the issue of the pamphlet must be kept as it was meant to be: a means that al- lows for students to talk with stu- dents candidly about the issue of AIDS. “It is unfortunate that we are forced to deal with such a hor- rible disease, but it is more dan- gerous to be misinformed.” Mur- phy says we must be “armed with education”.

Supporting the pam- phlet was never the is- sue.

According to Mur- phy the pamphlet was never the question. SUNS, not the “fed- eration” always did supposrt the pamphlet as much as they do now.

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“Tobias wasn’t fired for the pamphlet, he was

fired for his conduct around the pam-

phlet.”

It is important to note that Sid Tobias was not fired, he was asked to resign for reasons of con- fidential nature.

Lyn Hall ;

By Terri

(ists

Letter To The Editor

Dear Editor:

This letter was written as an attempt to try and clear up some misapprehensions about Marian Hall; it is also an-attempt to clear the-air in the building itself. The name of Marian Hall has, over the past few years, meant a great

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deal to many students at UPEI.

Many people have considered us to be little more than party ani- mals, prospective alcoholics who last barely a year at university before moving back to the sticks for a lifetime of UIC: benefits. Some others know us only by the reputation we have as goons, la- bels that were stuck on by oppos- ing hockey teams and their fol- lowers. These misapprehensions, unfortunately, do have some ba- sis, but they are somewhat unfair. If you’re not ready to take a hit in

~ arough sport like ice hockey, then

you have no business on the ice. As well, there have been students that have made the Dean’s list four years running who mangaged to do so while living in Marian. Ido not deny that there have been substantially more first-year washouts, but no more propor- tionately than any other resi- dence or apartment complex.

I am trying to clear up these misconceptions for a reason; they have to be straightened out be- fore we can attempt to clear the air with Student Services. We consequently hope that this will help clear the air in the building itself. There was a time when we liked to think of ourselves as be- ing Loud and Proud. Two years ago, the pride that we had in our- selves and in our building went beyond Marian Hall house par- ties. Last year wasn’t bad, either. This year, we have a problem.

The basis of the problem lies in the fact that some folks’ ideas of what residence should be are not concurrent with those of other folks. One must under- stand that a residence like Mar- ian is one that is occupied by young adults; the age of the aver- age Marian Haller is about 19 to 20 years of age. By law, therefore, Marian Hallers are adults. One of the main problems is that we are not treated as mature members of society. For most young men at- tending university, it is the first step on the road to independence; this means that now that he’s on his own, a young fella stay- ing in residence wants to enjoy some freedom. He wants to have a good time, now that Mom and Dad are no longer looking over his shoulder. He doesn’t want authority figures putting him to bed when he’s had a fair bit to drink; neither does he want them barging into his room at 12:00 on a Saturday night to un- plug the stereo (he feels that if his neighbours don’t see it nec- essary to complain about loud music, then nobody else has the right to do so). He doesn’t need them needlessly hanging

over him while he’s partying with his friends; he doesn’t want them walking around the halls and making themselves look conspic- uously authoritatitive when there is no need for them to. Most of all, he doesn’t need to be treated like a child; he doesn’t look kindly upon being subjected to lectures, and then invited in for cookies and punch immedi- ately afterwards. He doesn’t look kindly upon being mildly scolded at 9:30 on a Saturday night for being loud, when he knows that the can-be as loud as he wants, since Quiet Hours don’t take ef- fect until midnight. He realizes, mind you, that they are being sin- cere, and are trying to do a good job. He doesn’t want them to va- cate the building entirely and let it be torn apart; he would just

like them to show a little discrec- sion in their dealings with resi- dence matters. In short, if he had wanted parental figures, he would have stayed at home.

We respect the role that Stu- dent Services has in residence throughout the year. We know that they do a great deal more than organize ski trips or bowling tournaments. Residence, how- ever, is a great deal more to those who live there than just some- where to sleep between study pe- riods. It is our home, and it belongs to us as much as it be- longs to Student Services. It is strange that, as adults, we have suprisingly little say as to our freedoms and restrictions. It is strange that our House Commit- tee can get overruled on matters which are ultimately their deci- sion. Why, for example, can we not borrow the House’s stereo equipment when a) we showed copetentcy in using it inthe past, and b) the House Committee it- self gave its consent?

There is no doubt that there has to, be some rules and re- strictions enforced; it is how our society functions. Neither is there any doubt that we have to act sensibly, in accordance with these rules. There is, however, some doubt as to the capabil- ity.of some of those with author- ity to use some common sense in enforcing these rules. We’re not asking for a major upheaval in the system. We just want some freedom to move around and have some good, clean fun, without the danger of getting lec- tured or spanked. Essentially, we

need some respect as competent adults.

Thank you, Marian Hall

— _—_—— Thursday, October 19th, 198

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