’ mm 2
Dear Editor, ‘ r H
I am writing in reply to the letter written in last week's SUN by Barry Friesen, a highschool class mate of mine.
For all the talking that the engineers do, Barry's letter sounded a little paranoid. Barry seems convinced that someone in the Student Union is out to get the engineers. Why? Because someone with a little~ taste chose to edit the View From the Top on occasion? Some things, in very bad taste were printed on this page.
Here, I'm referring to the section published in the Jan. 13, 1983 issue of the SUN: "Grace hell": Bring 'em Back Alive" Kelly School of Driving— Leave the Dying to us." Barry says in his letter that the engineers page
’ contained amuzing jokes. This instance of so-called humour is in very bad taste, not very humourous at all.’ This seems to be the humour of some very sick minds. To my mind,,that blub should have been edited.
In the Nov. 25 issue of the SUN, Cranston Snord's ending paragraph of The View From the Top says it all: ,
"View From the Top
is a weekly public— ation of the UPEI Engineering Society
and is consistently sexist prurient, in bad taste, and sloppily produced without vise ible concern for prof- essional standards."
Barry states that the S‘N, as it presently is, is "very boring and out of touch." The SUN, as a _ 'university paper, provides information relevant to UPEI campus life, as well as articles on other univ- ersities and their happenr~ ings. In doing so, the» SUN helps to keep UPEI students in touch with life on other university campuses.
Why the attack on "a few whimpish artsies and professors as well as over—protective outsiders." Because they chose to voice their Opinions? Because the editors Chose to
Cdit a paper so that it will!
. /
appeal and interest its readers. A page in the SUN is a priviledge, not
a right as~Barry seems to think it is. An editors job is precisely that, to, edit a paper so that it will appeal and interest its readers, not offend and degrade then. Barry says that some View From the Top articles are ed~ ited because "someone is afraid of someone or something." Then he says "well, all I say is either grow up or go home wimp(s)." Barry seems to be saying that people should not voice or express their_ opinions and should
leave the engineers alone. (Very paranoid thinking
to me.) Why shouldn't someone express their opinions on what is taste— ful, informative, and humourous or not?
I agree with Barry when he says that reading the SUN is a welcome 'change from reading text books, but when articles become offensive and in bad taste, I, for one, would much rather read a textbook. , '
In the final paragraph of Barry's letter; he wants anyone who has an opinion ‘ on the contents of View From the Top not to voice it. Engineers are not above reproach. I'm sur- prised that more students have not written to the* editor about the sometimes offensive, rude, and exploi-
tive nature of View Fran the.
TDp. I think Barry should reevaluate his reasons for attending UPEI. If he's doingsso to merely "read our newspapers" then why is he here at UPEI. V
As to his final comment on "what better way than through our newspapers for us to prove to you that Engineers rule the world." How do they do this? By inuature, offensive, and ignorant articles in our SUN? By errecting offen- sive snow sculptures on the roof of our library? Hot in my books. *
The engineers ' con— stant attack on Arts students are taken in good stride, wheras att— :acks_on engineers by others
w... , ,..¢..
‘.time.whentsfihdent‘dem+<ng
are taken, by the engine eers, as persecutory attmth's to knock then,
off of their self—erected pedestal. Some engineers ‘ should realize that there ’ is more to education and knowledge than surveying ’ geology, statics and dynamics. What about history, psych— ology and English? Educ— ation and knowledge is education and knowledge.
No one subject is above
any of the others, but’
. many engineers fail to
see this fact. .
In conclusion, having a page in the SUN is a priviledge not to be* abused, as the Engineering
a Society has done with
its offensive and immature-
articles. I'm not saying
View From the Top is
totally not worth printing,
merely that sane articles
that have appeared in the :‘
SUN should never have been
printed. ' \ Finally, I invite Barry,‘ -
or\any engineer, to clarify‘
a few things for me: - ‘
1. What is a wimpishnartsie?s
2. How and Why do engineers rule the world? ’ ‘
Mark Jewell 3rd year Psychology.
E
FEDERAL TRANSFERS TO ‘POSTSFCONDARY EDUCATION.
The Association of UniVersities'and Colleges of Canada welcome the ann- . ouncenent Hade by the Hon.‘ lMarc-Lalondé,’Minister.of Finance, that the federal government will continue to support the core fund— ‘ ing of postsecondary ed— ucation in Canada for the next two years.
The Association is' Very concerned, however,
' that the increase in the per capita federal cont- ributions to postsecond— ary education will be lhnited to 6% in 1983-
84 and to 5% in‘l984-85: \ The need for restraint is recognized by the univ- ersities-and they are pre- pared to do their share. In fact, they have been' subjected to severe fin- ‘ancial constraints over the past ten years at a
'itional students came
and for university edu? , cation has continuéd~tOQV grow.-Over 20,000 add-cg. ‘~ into the systenlin 1982- 7
83 and still further in-
” creases are clearly in: .
ndicated by Current appéf" licatiOns for 1983-84. The Association ur-
'ges the Governuent of,
Canada to spend in the_- university sector the '* annountfwhich‘would have '
Tbeen intended for post— '
secondary education had
~the restraint program .' \
nOt been applied to the EPF transfers. There isv
. an obvious recognition
on the part of students, parents and a concerned
'VCanadian public that
the vigour of our camp— etitive capability in i' I the energing new world "
‘ is directly dependent up—
on the honing of young ~
minds within our Can— adian university systen. Many areas in our univ- ersities are in-dire- .‘ gmsdxcfuarxprtiséiEE-g:
mit than. Itqpmeeetgss- 4.;
challenge. Physicai?1c .
plants are in disrepair.,
Library aquisitions are, A,
not being‘maintained. ,
Scientific equiptment needs
to be updated or replaced. _The two—year extension
f ofxthe EPF arrangements: - should be used by the fed—- \'
eral and provincial gov— ernments to assess the needs of the university syshen and‘to-devise-a formula that will inSure
‘ that theSe needsfare met. >A
This opportunity must
not be lost. A.mechanisn must be develOped that *- will allow the university
‘comnunity to partiCipate,
actively in discussions pertaining to these matters.
'The wellJbeing of our societywisiinextricably tied~to the health of' ~ ’ its inStitutions of highr
_ er education. It is essé .-
ential that the'univer+'- sities be provided with the financial resources that will enable then to
'meet their obligations
to Canadian Society.
For further information V / contact Mr. Robert ” -? .
; Patry, Directorq.Govern—
mentS‘Relatiqn81vat,thef U‘cc in‘OttswaMBt r s
F” V. ’{I'.. ,,.«