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The Cadre,0ct.28,l975,page 6

‘Letters to the Editor_

It’s Our Education

Dear Sir;

I'm writing this article solely because I am not pre— pared to sit back and watch

a week or more of this aca— demic term slip by while students stand on picket lines rather than go to lectures.

I feel it's time to look back over the last ten days. Maintenance workers went on strike, students boycotted classes, some students I worked picket lines, ‘ and our faculty assoc— iation met twice. At the meeting Friday they failed to state wh- ether or not conditions

‘are intolerable. Much

less are they prepared to walk out. Surely the majority of the prof— essors can't be wrong. Faculities may not be the best, yet professors are still willing to teach. Students; take a look at what we have done, or have led others do, on our behalf. Now, take a look at the results. We open our eyes to find that the strike still exists and we . wonder what we'll do next. "March to the office of the Premier!" screams one enthusiastic student. -Why march to the office of the Premier? Goodness knows there are enough minorities, and unions screaming at the govern— ment of this country' without the students of U.P.E.I. jumping on the bandwagon! Do any of us actually believe Premier Campbell is going to act immediately on the ultimatum of five or four hundred students? ‘Our geneaation speaks of peace, of arbitration, of good faith. Why create an ugly scene in front of the office of the Premier —maybe to make the news? Why not ask to speak to the Board of GovernOrs, right here, on campus, rather than go marching

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If you don't wish to sp-~ eak to, or hear from the Board of Governors and you really must march; march on campus to see the pres— ident or the administra— tion in an attempt to force them to make a settlement. Boycotting classes will not accomplish our aim. We're here for education and we'- re all paying for it. If we boycott classes, we're paying for nothing.

We've fulfilled our obligation; that is if you feel you had an obligation, and our boycotting classes is not putting money in the pockets of the mainten- ance workers. I feel stud dents should be in class; picket lines or no picket lines, I am quite convinced professors will be in the classrooms prepared to teach on Mon— day.

As President Baker aptly puts it to us in Saturdays Guardian,

" It's our education!"

Patrick Sinnott

Stop the Boycott

To the Editor: '

In reference to the stud— ent boycott of classes; I am. fully in favour of giving our

'moral support to the striking

Maintenance workers,their de— mands on the most part are justified.However,I strongly believe that the process by which this support is pres- ently being given is merely a way for a majority of students

, who taking advantage of a situation and the feelings of a few people who really want to help the strikers, take a few days off school and take a break. ‘

I base this statement on

the fact that there definate—

ly were not 480 people at the entrances and exits.These 480 people that I mention ' were those in favor of boy— cott.This being the case,I make a suggestion; if every person who voted for strike, one vote is subtracted for those who did not show up.I believe that those who voted against boycott (they number approx.251) would have a majority.Talking to the_Pre51 ident,Woozy,the night before

‘the boycott he expressed the

hope,that the students voted, "from the heart and not the pen". The turnout does not seem to be in keeping with Woozy's hopes.

I cannot express enough how I believe that this action to boycott classes is nothing more than a way for a lot of students to get time off. Furthermore,I do not believe that the fact that we do not attend classes will speed up. negotiations.We aren't forced

to go to classes;Profs. are now getting paid for work they are not doing and we as students are losing out.True, we are halting the education— al process of the University

‘and that will make somebody take notice,but are they the right people and if so do these people_really give a damn if we go to classes or if we don't?I don't think so.

Thus,I suggest that sup— port for the workers be done in free time,upon which time the statement will prObably arise that nothing will be gained or proven.I suggest that-just as much,if not more will be proven if we support in our free time,as our support will be given on an indiv- idual,volunteer basis rather than a gang follow—' ing,like sheep,the ideas; of a few.Wouldn't an idea such as this: _r 'Hey,I got some time so I can come over and help" be better than; . "They wouldn't listen so damn them we took the time off anyway,here~we are."

In summing up again I say that our boycotting proves nothing other than the fact that because 30% of our'student body puts:

a check by an "X" (most

of whom I think wanted

time off) wegact like

sheep and boycott,in the words of one notable "until

Christmas if necessary!"

I think Tom got a little

carried away on that state—

ment;sure1y he realizes

that if the strike did go /

on until Christmas the

novelty would have worn off long ago.This is,in effect what this strike is,&‘ novelty for the students. For a final point before . closing,one should consider that there are1,485 fulltime students and 880 parttime students who pay approx. $1.50 per class.Thus,fu11— time students lose around. $22.50 a week and parttime students lose $9.00. Do some figuring and one will come to the conclusion that if ,_

‘referendum no onegwasédé‘ ‘

all classes are boycotted for a week,i.e. no_c1assm at all,we pay the admin~ iStration approx.$36,932.50 which they aren't earning Would you hurry if you are making that kind of money for doing nothing?

Thus, I suggest that the boycott of classes be stopped,for I believe nob ing is gained except alot of wasted time.

A PICKET BOYCOTTER

They Need Us

To the Editor;

I am writ ing this leu to commend the efforts of

~ fellow students in the as&

istance and support.given to the Maintenance workas in their strike. _

It has been said that this strike is of no conu to us,and as‘a result we should have nothing to do with it. I disagree in Hut anyone existing on subsis- tance wages should be of concern to us. This may sound idealistic but it B still true. One may resom that wecannot support even one by boycotts and to thh I agree. I do feel, howeva that this strike, being on our campus, not only desav but demands that we suppon it by action of a concrete form.

It has been said that H we strike we will get band in our work amd hurt only

2 ourselves. I disagree with

this for two reasons. Then is nothing to say that we have to go to the claSSesm keep up with our work, ant secondly, I feel this tobé an extremely smug attitude To say"lets get our degrﬂ and our secure jo "and to neglect someone who,exists in an insecure‘job that we could allieviate would bea disgustingly selfish attitude.

It has been said that because only six or seven hundred voted, and only four hundred ofthese voted insfavor of-a boycott,that these four hundred are im" posing their will upon the majority. However, in the

1

nied a vote, and if a“ student did not vote it cannot be concluded that he was against the boycotL Those thatrdid not vote a“ are against the boycott haveonly themselves to

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