Student Profile

Slannorn Vourikern talks vfa VPE, lane O'Connor

ara O’Connor is a fourth year arts student majoring in an- thropology. She also holds the position of Vice President Ex- ternal of the UPEI Student Union Executive. The VPE has several duties, including serving as a liaison between the SU and any organization outside of the university. The most important organizations Tara works with are the provincial and federal governments and the Canadian Federation of Stu- dents (CFS). Tara has just returned from a national CFS conference in Toronto where students were able to exchange ideas and opinions about the October 25 election.

This election has been Tara’s (al- most) sole occupation since early Sep- tember. Her advice is to get informed and VOTE. Although Canada has an excellent voter turnout record, stu- dents do not. To help you along the way, there is a candidates’ forum in the Pit Thursday, October 21 at 12 noon. (Go. Ask questions. Insist on answers.) Five of the candidates run- ning in Hillsborough will be speaking, representing the Conservative, Lib- eral, New Democratic, National and Natural Law parties. Tara recom- mends getting to know the individual candidates and their personal policies before making your x. For example, when meeting personally with Tara, George Proud (Lib. Hills.) admitted he saw a university education becom-

dering what action he had in mind. Tara has also sent out questionnaires to Island candidates asking the following questions: Do you feel that the funding currently available through student aid is adequate? Do you feel that it is realistic to expect students to begin loan repay-

ments immediately upon leaving school? Do you feel that there is an adequate supply of employment for students during the summer months? It is interesting to note that Tara has only received three responses.

Along with Todd King (President) and Andrew MacPherson (VP Internal), Tara has in her office a file of election materials. This material is available in the Barn for any student who wishes to become more informed. Talk to Tara for information about issues and each party’s stand on the problem of education becoming less and less of a possibility for more and more of the population. For example, the PC party plans to increase the actual dollar amount offered to each person awarded a student loan (generally considered a plus) BUT wishes to implement arisk- sharing policy where banks will con- tribute to the decision of who gets a student loan. This would mean factors such as previous credit rating and col- lateral may become important, and the student who is most in need of aid may not be able to receive it.

Tara suggests talking to Todd if you need to know the mechanics of how to vote. There have been some changes to the election act since the last federal election. For example, you can now mail in your vote if you are living in one riding as a student and wish to vote in your home riding.

For more information regarding this very important issue, keep reading the X-Press, and to quote the CFS slogan

ing more elitist but he left Tara won-

Tara O'Connor: SU human

- make your mark - Vote Education!

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boxes’ will your gi

20/X-Press/October 14, 1993