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EDITORIAL

Sick and tired of hearing about Quebec?

Come join the crowd

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Canadian politicians have expended so much energy trying to please Quebec that they are all tuckered out. Never mind the politicians, what about the rest of us?

I was just a young girl when Quebec had their referendum in the early 1980’s. I was a teenager when politicians gathered at Meech Lake. Needless to say I did not pay much

attention to the Quebec issue up uftil the Charlottetown Accord and last week’s elec- tion, and yet I’m already tired of hearing about it.

The main impression I am getting from my peers is that we have more basic issues to worry about, such as jobs, student loans and tuition fees. New Democratic Party leader Audrey MacLaughlan said it all when she stated that the government of Canada cannot forget about the bread and butter issues that still need to be addressed, regard- less of Quebec’s situation.

To some, especially the media, the situation in Quebec seems to be at a crisis point. You cannot turn on a radio or T.V.

without finding a discussion of this seemingly pressing issue. Understandably so, but we need to remember that even if Quebec decides to separate it is not the end of Canada. Ifthe government and media neglect the basic is- sues that face everyday Canadians, then Canada is in a crisis because one province is dominating the politics of an entire nation.

It is time to move on and focus our attention on the rest of Canada. Quebec can decide if they would like to go or stay and obviously we’ll have to deal with it. Until that time let’s get back to the basics.

Rebecca Moore Copy Editor

Dear Editor,

Regarding the article ‘‘Registration day: whose business is it? Businesses compete for student patronage’, I have to say that I was really surprised by the ‘story’ presented by Ms. Younker and its total lack of facts based on reality.

My name is Stahl MacIntyre and I am an Alumnus of UPEI (Class of ’89). I was one of the ‘so called’ representatives of the Charlottetown Playhouse asked ‘to leave’ by the Student Union on Registration Day (take note: this is research error#1). My threeassociates and I (twoof which are currently enrolled at UPEI) were never, at any time, asked to leave the campus by anyone. We were there from 9:45 am to 4:00 pm and were not approached by anyone other than anxious stu- dents, happy to be offered ‘‘something for noth- ing’. Ido have to admit that making up this tale (or, at the very least, believing a rumour and not checking its validity) does make for more “‘excit- ing copy’’.

As far as the validity of the coupons, and whether or not they were actually thought of and used asjust a way to get a free drink, well, perhaps you should have asked a few students how they used theirs. I was present at the Playhouse from 5:00 pm until close and witnessed more than a handful of ‘your’ students enjoying the benefits of using the coupon towards a tasty, quality meal.

(Research Error #2) Ms. Younker also stated that this coupon did not **...blend with the ‘It’s O.K. To Be Dry at U.P.E.I.’ Frosh Week Theme.’” Perhaps if she lifted her head up from the desk she was creating this ‘‘hard-edged’’ news story from, she would have noticed that the

Charlottetown Playhouse did, in fact, embrace -

that very theme by offering it to all UPEI students, and not just those fortunate enough to be of age. Why don’t you go down to the Barn and ask them why they have a pool tournament on witha prize ofa bar tab (which is something an underage student couldn’t use because the pub does not serve food, only alcohol.)

The Playhouse was also asked to host a CHEM-FREE pub for Shinerama which included food, 200 admission tickets, enter- tainment and paying the staff to work the event. This little gratuity set the Playhouse back over $650.00. This is an unselfish act, which could be considered a donation to the Student Union, yet it went uncommended (perhaps Shannon could write a gritty story about that). It makes me wonder why it wasn’t held at the Barn in the first place; I mean, isn’t Cystic Fibrosis a good enough cause (I smell another story!).

This article is supposed to be about the pros and cons of businesses vying for stu- dents” patronage, presented in an un-biased manner, and yet what adorns the center of this malicious piece of fodder, but an actual size copy of a coupon from the Charlottetown Playhouse (what, not enough room to show a Little Christo’s coupon? Give me a break!)

Why isn’t there an article in the X- Press about the sales tactics used by the students working for Unitel? From the pitch of "...would you sign up? I get paid for every name I get" to knocking on every door in the three residences, applying much the same

line. The unassuming student who signs up —

to helpa fellow student ends up being harassed by Unitel to enroll in a long distance calling plan. Which do you think the students would prefer? The coupon or the badgering?

Another thing about this ‘‘Geraldo Rivera’’-style of journalism that bothers me is its locationin the X-Press. Open thecover and guess what? Right there on Page 3. But this is understandable because, of course, it would have more bearing and poignance than, say, the article stuck back on Page 6, titled ‘“What does democracy mean in Canada?’’ (Can you smell the sarcasm?) One thing Ill say is if they print this letter (which I very much doubt), they sure as hell won’t put it on Page 3: A Little-Known Fact ... Ms. Younker stated that we did not ask for permission from UPEI Student Union or the University itself. This is not true. I called the Student Union Office on four different occasions, leaving my name and number on two of those calls and was never called back. I’m not accusing them of intentionally not returning my calls, I’m sure they were swamped with getting ready for the 94-95 school term, but I'll tell you one thing, I wouldn’t slag them in ‘‘The Buzz’’ about it.

We would love UPEI’s patronage and we have made an attempt to prove it. After reading this article, however, I felt like the students did not appreciate our efforts. I do not believe this. What saddens me is that this article was apparently someone’s personal opinion and not based on fact. I am a firm believer of freedom of the press and I support the ‘idea’ of the X-Press 100 per cent (I was once a writer for the Netted Gem), but just because you can hold a pen and spell words properly, does not mean you should have a forum to air your ideas without following some journalistic rules.

Yours, P. Stahl MacIntyre. Look you are on page two! --ed. note

S: Content Editor: $. Rebecca Moore anaging Editor: C.A. Schneider oduction Manager:Grace Kimpinski ews Writer: Shannon Younker ports Writer: Scott MacDonald oduction Assistant: Alex Keavney dvertising Manager: Aldera Chisholm hotographer: Kathy Giesbrecht s and Entertainment: Sean McQuaid THIS WEEK'S CONTRIBUTORS:

ike Beagon Sarah O'Don indy Cameron Marko P tacey Dunn David Ran ate Hanus Lon Ta

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