ote: this is a commen- ary not a news article.

SU election pason is upon us once gain. Who would ave known?

After last bring’s election, and

drew Peppin’s

ensational’ campaign, ttle can be expected om this year’s ballot. he two candidates in e presidential race, phn Desrosier and phn Fleming, seem to ave little to offer or in

y case, if they do, are ceping it a secret.

With a few rab posters tacked parsely around cam- us, this fall election ertainly lacks the

Hervescence of the

fh

previous race to office electrified by Peppin’s “Nude Photos” and “Just Do It” gusto.

UPEI students are unlikely to run to the ballot box as they did in March with a record breaking 25 per cent voter turnout. Student Union Execu- tive, candidates, and a few hungry souls haunting the ‘pit’ were the only ones who attended last Wednes- day’s twenty five minute General Meet- ing . Did anyone know there was a General Meeting? Did anyone care?

Due to arduous class schedules and midterms, only one candidate, Mr.

Fleming, was available to answer my ques- tions.

“T can’t guaran- tee anything,” starts John Fleming, “but my objective would be to listen to the students. I have picked up what they told me, and will bring it to [Student Union] Council. | am the middle man.”

When asked about his plans to work toward a tuition freeze for UPEI (as advertised on his posters), Fleming explained that the high cost of education is a worry on the mind of every student but that like every prospective Student Union Presi- dent, insists that he

VC,

PE

GF LUaAAY

inother Student Union Election with little to offer.

cannot promise such a thing [tuition freeze], but will try to get the tuition-meter to drop a few notches.

Awkwardly, government lobbying, which goes hand in hand with such an ambitious project is not high on Fleming’s agenda.

“T think it [government lobby- ing] is very important but I think that there are other issues,” says Fleming who wants students to get in- volved in their campus politics before worry- ing about external matters.

How will Fleming, who is prepared to put his

PPE AEE) a EO ete ty]

duties as President ahead of his academic work, do this?

“T want to make students more involved in the [Stu- dent Union] Council and Student Union activities. I don’t think that meetings are enough because a lot of people don’t know about them,” says Fleming, who claims that even the present Council seems to know little about their Own activities.

Fleming has little relevant experi- ence with on-campus organization except for a few fundraising endeavours and cameo appearances with the UPEI debating society. Unfortunately, he who appears ill informed of the operations of the campus

radio CIMN

and newspaper, advertises the intention of giving greater attention to university me- dia.

« I am not sure

what happened to the radio station [funding cuts and eviction from the Stu- dent Union Building], but I asked a lot of people who said

by sara murphy NEWS EDITOR

that they didn’t care one way or the other. They just don’t care about the radio sta- tion. It is unfortunate that we lost it [for now]. It was an asset to the community, but it people don’t want if...”said Fleming. “With the radio station gone, it is even more important to have the paper. Other- wise there will be no way of informing the campus.”

Fleming added that perhaps a good way to inform UPEI students of Union events would be to print notices in the Cadre. FYI: it has always been done.

Advanced polls have scheduled for October 12" and 13", followed by the regular polls on October 14" and 15". All full time students are encour- aged to cast their vote, for better or for worst.

I extend my congratulations and best of luck to both candidates. A lot of work awaits, work which should be done right . And don’t forget us, students of UPEI. We are the ones who walk up (or don’t walk up) to the ballot box to elect you. We can get rid of you too.