1

SYMMS'IWI szwm/omuzzp ‘

By Kevin Gauthier Well, I don't really

.know where tobegin. I

snppose one should open a colum on Symposium '79 by heaping pages of ridn'ly-l deserved "Congratulations!" and"'Ihank you's!!" to the ‘ members of the Symposium Cormittee who gave 18 the opportunity to look inside ourselves and our university. But at the same time, one should also take time to berate two groLps of individuals: a) those

who did not attend Synposiun and (b) the staff of that traditional and predictable Island paper, the Evening Patriot who, for reasons unknown to this writer, labored under the illusion that Symposium '79 was a conference on alcoholism

at U.P.E.I. and communicated that misconception to the world on the front page of the Nov. 7 issue.

At present, let us push on with our enjoyable task of showeringrxgratitude on our committee whilst recalling the activities and tlnemes of the exercise. The very idea of the Symposiuu was a courageous one, and I admit of nothing but unbridled admiration. for the students who had the stuff and pluck to proceed so boldly with such a precarious venture. 'Ihe potential for absolute failure that threatened the endeavour iron the very beginning must have given some very anxious motents to the organizers, and caused, I'm sure, more than one observing student to shake their heads in wonder at the kamikaze tenacity of that stalwart few. But, as a lesson that determin-

ation and dedication to an

ideal can overcome all obstacles, the cotmittee pressed on until, on Tues— day and Wednesday of last Week, the rich fruits of their labor were realized. Bravo!

The-events and themes of Synposium '79 are dealt with elsewhere in this revered publication and need not be dealt, with in depth here. Suffice to say that general concern was registered by the parti— cipants ovar (a) the need for a core curriculum of some sort; (b) the need for better physical facilities at UPEI; (c) the need for student access to course evaluations and (d) perhaps most telling of all, the need for'an orbudsman to assist , individuals in dealing with the university ad-

' ministration and, in some ’

instances, faculty. A call was also made for the Symposium, or something similar, to continue on

an annual or..bi-annual basis. It Would seem desir-

' able to organize some sort

of follow—up to Symposium ‘ '79 in the near" future so that something concrete will result from our efforts, but the wisdom of holding a Symposiun every year is questionable. What would be worth more consideration would be conducting such an exercise in the high schools so that students will have some idea why . they are going to university before they get here. Another positive aSpect of Symposium, at least for this die—hard Artsie,.was that science and business were placed in perspective. University educationwas identified as an inter-

disciplinary process, involving arts, humanities, sciences and professional studies. It appears as if the cotpetition and animosity might well be in the process of being torn down.

So, Symposium '79 was an unqualified success. It is unfortunate that some . people chose to ignore this occasion for reflection and self-evaluation, for they will probably not have the opportunity again. But those of us who attended the exercise are beginning to realize its value, and no donbt will become even more aware of its real worth as we reflect and ' reconsider in the days to come. .

As an aside to Symposium, I cannot let pass this

’qaporttnity to content on

,.

Io- PER, CENT STUDENT DISCOUNT

UPON PRESENTATION OF STUDENT I.D.

4 DAY PROCESSING

ON MOST COLOR PRINT FILMS

DROP IN AND TALK SHOP

55, QUEEN ST; QHARLOTTETOWN, Rei- 392-5107,

the story that appeared

in the Patriot headlined "U.P.E.I. Breeds Alcoholics" 'nnis article, snpposedly ‘ written about Symposium as a news story, distorted the purpose and message of the day entirely out of 3 context. The Patriot's / desirev'to sell papers,

in instances like this,

THE UPEII SUN, Thursday, ‘ November 715, 1979,‘ page 2

a

does irreparable harm to

'this university ' s reputa-

tion and image. ‘ Can one lay claimto responsible journalism when the facts of a story are sacrificed for the sake of sensation- alism? I think not. While discnssing this matter with the editor of the ‘ publication, I was told that everybody at the paper office knows alcohol is

a problem at U.P.E.I. , so what was our cotplaint about the story? Sinply this. Symposium '79 ’was not about alcOhOlism‘on canpus, and expanding one content made by one speaker through the whole day out of all proportion is not, in my opinion, fair, respons— ible, or“ justifiable. Simply because the staff of the Evening Patriot have certain preconceived ideas about UPEI and its sttdents is no cause for expanding

those misconceptions at fine

expense of accurate- reporting and our reputation. Students at UPEI , and particularly the organizers of Symposium, have good reason to feel shafted by our carpetitiol downtown.

A 5£NIQK5WI5 yap/(fare:

GRADUATION PICIURES WILL BEWTAKEN IN THE 'AIDMxII OFFICE ON THE Borroa FTOOR OF KELIEY BUILDING FROM mm, NOVENBER19 TO FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23. YOUMUST MAKE AN Appommam‘no HAVEYOUR PICI'URE TAKEN BY SIQJING YOUR NAME (NINE son:er ON THE BULIEI'IN BOARDIN LIBRARY. A SITI‘DIG FEE OF $11 MUST BE PAID WHEN YOUR PICTURE IS TAKEN, PLEASE cIOOSE YOUR APPOINI'NEWT‘PND SIGN 'IHE soIEDUIE BEFORE MDNDAY, AND DON'T FORGET 'I‘HEL$11! I . A r F FARM » i g TEE FIRST SENIOR CLASS PARI‘Y OF THE YEARWILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY, NOVEmER 30 FROM 8:30 4 12:30 ON THE SEOOND FIOOR OF THE BARN.

ARAFFIEWIILBEHEIDFORSIIJZEN.

SENIORS, TcawE ALONG AND BRING A FRIEND!

CLASS OF 1980 ll!!!