FEBRUARY 14, 2007

CAMPUS

__THE CADRE + 7_

UPEI Rainbow Alliance in Danger

of Shutting Down

The school boards are doing what they can to help high school students come out in a supporting environment - but what about the group that helps UPEI students?

Martha MacIntyre Reporter

For young adults, coming out of the closet can be uncomfortable and many feel they are not supported well enough in making the decision.

As a result, the Eastern School District is currently considering a program that would help young adults who want to come out as being a gay or a lesbian. Many young people often debate the idea of coming out simply because they do not feel that there is enough support in high school. They might even feel scated in their own school.

UPETI has a society that is 100 per cent confidential and helps give support to the University’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.

The Rainbow Alliance is a society that offers support and help to anyone who

is not sure if they are ready to come out. It was also created to help educate the UPEI community on issues related to sexuality and gender.

Meetings were usually scheduled every week and usually attracted about 15 people during a regular meeting and over 75 people during a special event. Chris- topher Gillis, who was the coordinator of the Rainbow from 2004-2006, said anyone could attend a meeting.

“The meetings are open to anyone, the alliance should be about creating a com- munity, not alienating it,’ he said.

However, this group is really struggling and many people are unsure if it will go on for any longer.

The Rainbow Alliance hasn’t received a penny from UPEI. As a result, the alli- ance had to fundraise for everything they used in their society.

They organized The Sound Bites

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speakers series that attracted speakers such as, the one and only, Gavin Craw- ford from this Hour Has 22 Minutes. Besides the Rainbow Alliance at UPEI, there are many other groups for young gays and lesbians. The Abegweit Rain- bow Collective is a volunteer organiza- tion committed to providing support, education and advocacy to bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgendered, two-spirited and

questioning Islanders and their own families on P.E.I.

ARC for youth are currently located at 144 Prince St. (AIDS PEI Office build- ing)

Office hours are Monday to Thursday 8a.m. to 4 p.m.

They can be reached at 367- 3408 or toll free 1 877 380 5776 or by email at youth@arcpei.ca

Red Wooden Silhouettes, representing women who were killed by their partners or

spouses, make up the Silent Witness Project.

Silent Witness Project comes to UPEI

Andie Bulman

Assignment Editor

A traveling exhibit of life-sized silhou- ettes, each representing an Island woman killed by a partner, husband or acquaint-

ance is going to be on display Thursday, Feb. 15 from 10:30-1:30 at the Breeze- way in the Robertson library.

The Silent Witness project is organized by volunteer Wendy Allen who said the exhibit serves several important func- tions.

“Tt’s an opportunity for Islanders to remember and mourn these women as well as to bring the issue of domestic violence to the forefront.”

Researcher’s estimate that 51 per cent

of Island women have experienced some form of domestic violence and Allen

is especially concerned with the silence around this issue.

“Domestic violence often goes unre- ported, people don’t speak up about it, ot don’t think it’s their business. Eight women have died from it since 1989, this project is all about raising awareness.”

The silhouettes will be taken down at 1:30 to be presented at a public address in the ITEC Lecture Theatre in the Rob- ertson Library.

“The presentation will be very moving, the speakers will talk about what these women were like, how they died. These women no longer have a voice.”

Panthers stay alive with huge win over Acadia

Josh Lewis Sports Editor

For the UPEI Panthers, the importance of picking up defenseman Iain McPhee over Christmas was never more apparent than Friday night.

McPhee scored 2:27 into overtime to lead the Panthers to a crucial 5-4 win over the Acadia Axemen at MacLauchlan Arena, keeping the team’s playoff hopes alive and well.

Craig Foster added two goals for the Panthers, who sit one point back of the Axemen for the final AUS playoff spot going into Saturday’s game with St. Mary’s. Jeff MacDermid and Aaron Dawson also scored.

Acadia had trouble staying out of the

penalty box all night, and the Panthers took advantage with three power play goals. McPhee’s overtime winner came just as a tripping penalty to Andrew Bergen expired.

It was a team effort for the Panthers, as four players had multi-point efforts, including MacDermid’s three points. They outshot Acadia 42-28, including a 16-5 edge in the third period.

UPEI captain Josh Patterson made his return to the lineup after missing nine games with a broken jaw suffered in a Dec. 29 exhibition game against Aca- dia, assisting on Foster’s first goal in the second period.

Goaltender Paul Drew missed his third straight game after aggravating a knee injury Jan. 31 against Moncton.