incident, such as a rape, on campus, there should have been an emergency meeting of the Student Union executive to establish a position even if such talk was still considered rumour. The incident is serious enough to warrant a state- ment even if the rumour was just that. Simply put, whena rumour such as this circulates, people on campus no longer feel safe - nor should they. The job of the Union executive is to relay these concerns...even if they are just based on rumours...to the Administration of the University. Secondly the Union should try by whatever means possible to reassure their membership that they are, in fact, safe. The Union served neither of these functions.

And where is President Eliot in all of this? According to media reports, President Eliot left the University fora President’s conference in Regina after hearing of the alleged incidents. This is certainly a serious enough situation that the President should be available to faculty and students, rather than discussing administration matters in Saskatch- ewan. The President is the head of the University and his main responsibility is to faculty and students. But rather than staying and dealing with the issue himself, he left it to other administrators to deal with the concerns of those under his direction. On the chance that President Eliot left the province prior to hearing the alleged incident, he should have returned to the province as the top administrator of the University to ease the concerns over what happened at Marion Hall. These four groups should take responsibility and show some leadership in this time of crisis. The ques- tion now is: will they? The writer certainly hopes so.

Darcy MacPherson

Dear Editor,

In light of the events which have occurred on campus during the past week, I feel I must again rely on the power of the pen to comment. It is regrettable that it takes an incident as Serious as sexual assault to make people (especially univer- Sity administrators) stand up and take notice. When we left this campus last April, we left it in a state of turmoil -- fear, hostility, and anger over the controversy and surrounding events concerning the Backlash column in the university newspaper. School has been in session for all of three weeks and again these emotions are called upon and aroused. One must wonder if these events are in some way connected. One Must also wonder the outcome had university officials approached the controversy last spring in a more serious , Caring, and professional manner and dealt with the problem at that time. Would we be where we are now? Sexual assault 1S, of course, a much more serious issue and deserves the compassion and attention it is getting. However, I feel like I've finally been heard -- but it is at a very high cost. I also feel partly responsible and my deepest sympathy and regret 80 out to the victim. You are very brave. Since last year I have found it difficult to trust and have faith in the U.P.E.I. administration. I feel that women’s concerns are given very

little, if any, (until now) priority by most officials on this campus. It is difficult to understand why an institution of higher learning presents the Socrates Award to Prof. Leclair for being accused of corrupting the minds of youth in his class by showing the film ‘‘Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death’’ on the basis ofits use ‘‘as an innovative, anthropological method of data analysis.’’ This is a film which is, in the eyes of many, pornographic( starring a Playboy bunny). To handle the problem of sexual assault we must rid society of all resources that promote it. Porno- graphic material promotes the hatred, degradation and domination over women which is the basis for sexual as- sault, yet it is being shown in classrooms on this campus and a professor is awarded for doing so. It is definitely the time and atmosphere for change at U.P.E.I. Perhaps President Eliot since you are now so concerned, you will look at some of the faculty in this institution and the material they teach. I will be watching and I will remain active. Students: if you feel a professor or the material put forth in a class is degrad- ing to women please make your concerns known and issue a complaint. Stand up and be heard!

Libby Whelan, (Alumni) class of ’91

Pes: Corey, Peter and Joe- I hope you are watching.

Something told me not to attend the Rape Rally, however, I’m quite glad I did. To my surprise , I came out of it witha lot of negative feelings towards the ‘‘women’’ on the UPEI campus. I found the rally was very unprofessionally run although I realize the ‘‘girls’’ were, and still are, quite upset over the ‘‘alleged’’ rape and they may not have been thinking rationally. The only thing that came across positive to me was the show of support for the ‘‘victim’’ and her family!

The time is now for women to rise up and be noticed, for we are all as capable as men, but why can’t we do it gracefully and with professionalism. I was appalled at the way the “‘lady,’’ who is head of the Rape Crisis Centre, was cut off during her speech. She had a sincere message to get across, but she was visually rushed. Very unprofessional! ‘‘Freedom of speech’’ was suppressed. Of course, another clear example off suppression of speech occurred when the ex-chief of

UPEI X-P RESS

October 8, 1992