’re listening

UPEI‘ students are still

y Jonathan Orlowski

w is it thaLthe Netted Seems not very p0pular g UPEI students? It is se of its content? 4 recent survey, the staff d that some students we have swung from c right to extreme left 0m printing anything Verything (Sun’s motto) ng a very serious paper. dirt please, we want a paper” sort of motto). , the staff, thought that re doing the right thing, ~ ve seem to have picked new.range of readers

e 1, Number 12

who didn’t read the paper before, at the same time losing the faithful readers who read the'paper all the time. .

“There should be some kind of medium between the 'Netted Gem and the Sun,” said one student. “The Gem as it stands, not including the Winter Carnival Coverage is far too serious. It needs more humour!”

Another student joked, “It needs a centerfold and a calendar to go with it.”

Most of the interviewed students, from the Blanchard

' li of a modern Prince Charming to awaken a modern Sleeping Beauty On second t, let her sleep. She’s probably appreciate it more. (Photo: Grimmer) ,

“Off the Record”

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Hall residence, agreed that the newspaper needs a light humourous touch. Some suggested a whole page of comics or a “joke of the week” format.

High on the request list of “lighter side of life articles” to be brought back are “Rumour Math It”, “Pro, fessor’s Diary”, and “Roses and Thorns”.

The majority of students interviewed agreed that the, “Rumour Hath It” column was getting too personal, so that only a handful of stu- dents understood the private

tudent newspaper of the University of Prince Edward Island

6 Netted Gem

February 16, 1984

ts ireCOrds for callers s

. John Pendergast N’s open line radio 0W “Off thefiecord” d a multitude of phone February 7, the day the CFS referendum. Show has obviously a long way sine its I 1982. - r . Malcolm/Reid and annan were the CIMN Ckeys responsible for ‘IODen line‘radio show

v station Manager Baker and SU 'Vice- I Internal Jimmy have decidedto con- th the radio show~and it.

first show on

Tuesday, January 17, re- ceived a dismal four calls. / HOWever, the second “Off the Record” stated at/ 6:05 pm. and ran until 7 pm. The talk show concerns have some popularity. ‘ The talk :show concers itself with 'any important issue happening around campus. However, the topics are flexible and callers can

' discuss any relevant issue on

the show.

Crank calls coming over the open line are simply dealt with by a cut—off switch which Kenny Baker keeps handy.

Feedback about “Off the

. Recor ” has been very posr—

tive. People on campus enjoy having an outlet to voice their concerns.

As mentioned earlier, the_ most contraversial topic of the show this year was the CFS referendum.

Other topices have been the changing of the drinking age on P.E.I. and the per-

‘ formance of UPEI’s athletic

teams. In the future, the, Student Union executive elections for next year will be a prominent topic.

Baker and Mutter hope

7 that the show will carry on

in the coming years. Na- turally, this depends on sup- port from students both' on and off campus.

/

r he Netted Gem

jokes.

The student newspaper is supposed to cater to the university as a whole, not just to certain individuals. Ac- cordingly, the column, while not really dropped like a hot potato, was allowed to die through lack of contributions.

A possible solution to the

cliquish problem was sug- .

gested by one student: “Rumour Hath It” should 'be centred around people and events at basketball and hockey games or at Main Events, where eVeryone knows what is going on.”

But as one student put it, “Your articles are too sophisticated. Garbage is what readers are looking for.”

More comments: “The opinions expressed in your articles are subjective, not objective.” Every Gem I’ve seen had articles that were always against some- thing” “I like the format of the newspaper. It’s neat, not scribbly like the Sun.”

One student said, “Stu- ‘ dents are more interested in

" Net-picking

what’s going on around them than in outside_ things, a possible reason for all those leftover newspapers at Blanchard, Bernardine and Marian.”

the sports page was next on the list. Students think it is a good idea to expand the sports section to two pages.

Some suggested pictures and interviews of the male and female athletes of the week. _ Statistics are highly favoured among the students -- “Since we are becoming more sports oriented, Stats would give use some self— identity and we’d be able to see how we stand up against other campuses,” said an obvious sports enthusiast.

Another one added, “I think it would be nice to see stats because the Panthers are

.near the top and in the thick

of things.”

Columns are next on the request list. Some students were all for having the faculty columns back, but others were more skeptical.

“It’s questionable whether

or not to start them again ' because they (the columns) will get out of hand. Then the tough part comes, de~ ciding what does and doesn’t need to be edited.” “I avoided the Engineer’s column when it was in print because it was nothing but trash," said a concerned student.

“I never read the news- paper unless there are catchy titles on articles or an unusual photograph,” said a candid person. In this vein, some think there should be a Ben Wicks-type graphic on the front page. Others disagree.

Other suggested topics?

Subject to class critiques, not maligning the professors; rock video reviews; movie reviews; horoscopes; a regular gossip column; list of the activities of campus clubs and organizations; and inter- views with graduates to give valuable inside advice on different professions.

And yes, the students are“ still complaining about our name. Life‘s like that.

Faculty questions effectiveness

Student‘Senators pull seres of “no-shows”

By Carolyn Ryan

Questions have arisen .on the effectiveness of student Senators at UPEI, following discovery that three of the six student reps have not at- tended a Senate, meeting yet this term.

One faculty Senator admitted, “I didn’t miss them.”

He added that it’s “diffi- cult to be thrust in amongst a bunch of professors, especially when they’re not. always dealing with .student- related topics.” '

Elected student Senator Ken Baker says his absence has been “a matter of poor timing and frustration with the way they do things.”

Prior commitments as radio station manager have kept him from the 'Friday afternoon meetings, he says, as has the changing of the meetings from Thursdays.

“None of us ever speak out,” says Jim Mutter, whose position as SU Vice-President lntern‘al places him auto- matically on Senate.

Like Baker, he attended most meetings throughout the summer and “first se- mester, but has been absent

'since December.

Mutter attributes the pro— blem to difficulties with the VP Internal job, which is dividied into an academic

role (Senate) and a social organization role.

“This term‘ we’ve been emphasizing the social aspect,” he says, adding that the Winter Carnival, Senior Week plans, and the estab-

'lishment of a SU Telidon’

program have occupied most of his time.

“I go when I’m asked by students to represent them on important issues,” Mutter finishes, and says that he always reads the minutes and checks the » agenda to see what’s being discussed.

Sentors have “noticed” the absences, says Dean of Arts Vemer Smitheram, who isn’t sure how credible the missing Senators will be when they next show up.

He too mentions the fact that student Senators seldom speak at meetings, but thinks they have a valid role if they can truly represent their con- stituencies, noting that at a recent meeting, an objection from a student led to a motion being tabled.

“Senators have taking student seriously,” he says.

Senate secretary Michael Hennessey says Senate has no restrictions on the number of meetings a Senator can miss without losing his position.

“In the past, students have been elected and never shown up,” he says.

been Senators

He thinks students make “fairly valid points" at Senate, but often don’t know the background or signi- ficance of matters not particularly relating to stu— dents, and feel uncomfort— able in speaking or asking questions about them.

“They may not care very much” about these things, he adds, noting that some faculty Senators who attend all the time never speak either.

The third missing Senator, Kent MacKay, could not be

reached for comment by presstime. Senator David Weale

thinks there are too many student Senators, but “then again, there are too many Senators”.

Hennessey believes this could be improved by giving one or‘ two of the Senate positions to part-time students, who have needs and concerns different from those of full-time students.

The final verdict?

Weale: “They agreed to take on the responsibility, and they’re letting down students.”

Smitheram: “They have to make an effort to establish credibility.” '

A student who heard of the - absences: “I would say they’re not ver good student Senators.”

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