Yea r n Review ...continued from page 9

provinces schools for the purposes of political organization. ©

The Students’ Councils of UPEI and Holland College recently ap- proved a constitution that would form an incorporated provincial component of the national federation of students, CFS.

The Councils have opted out of the student fee levy of, say $2.00, at this time and prefer to go the route of a two-year trial period. I presented a proposal for funding assistance from the National Executive of CFS which was unanimously approved in principal. _If all the members of CFS agree to the request, at the Annual -General Meeting in May at Brandon, Manitoba, PEI students will receive an assistance grant from CFS members of $9000 for the startup of CFS*PEI (over a two year period).

There is no doubt that a formal structure is needed, over and above the work of the Councils, to adequately represent student’s concerns at the government level provincially and federally. We can no longer base lobby efforts and political organization on reactionary or ad hoc fashion. To date, our membership with the Canadian Federation has benefitted us. Our fellow Canadian Student organizations in CFS want us to have an even stronger voice and their support is greatly appreciated.

. Government Lobby Efforts

I could write a small novel on all the petitions, letters, post-card campaign, press releases, and interviews that the Union has gen- erated this past year. Don’t worry. I won’t. It’s a frustrating business to convince the powers that be on the importance of education. As we all know, funding decisions are made by politi- cians that deem budgetary priorities based on perceived needs of society and based on their political survival. This precarious position is therefore subject to electoral pressure and the respon- sibility of the National government to provide Canadian citizens with quality accessible education. Our job, then, is to educate the public voters on the importance of education and to keep the funding and provision of education on the political agenda. No easy task!!

Virtually all of this type of Union work was done with the assis- tance of CFS research and resource people. The April 6th Stu- dent Demonstration at Province House was the culmination of year long lobby efforts and I am told we definately got our points across to government types and the public-at-large. I believe we made the difference that we can measure on that day. I also be- lieve that our constant lobby efforts paid off when the PEI Minis- ter of Finance, Gilbert Clement, announced that the province will make up the $4 million dollars needed to allow a 6.9% increase in government funding Health and Education in PEI for 1990/91. Ghiz’s government also announced a $250 increase in Student Aid Program bursary allotments to needy students.

Student Union Profile

This year’s emphasis on communications between the Union and the students, the University community, the media, the politi- cians, and the public-at-large was an effort to increase the profile of the Union and Education. You will be the judge of how suc-

cessful we were with this goal.

I hope that we have developed and maintained effective links with the various groups involved, contacts that will take the organi- zation comfortably into next year. I also hope that we have sat- isfactorily created awareness on educational issues such as the proposed GST, the announced 3% tax on student loans, the fed- eral government funding cuts, and the cuts to VIA and student summer employment programs. Again, only you can judge that.

IX. Services

— The SU introduced a new typing service and facsimile service this year The student newspaper, The Gem, produced its publications adjusting to new office and production areas in the renovated Main building CIMN, student radio station’s management and volunteers campaigned for increased radio profile and introduced new training programs for technicians and DJ’s

Alcohol Awareness Program funding proposal to Canada

Health and Welfare was denied

We are waiting to hear back about funding assistance from

the SEED 1990 program to create a student summer job that

would coordinate a provincial discount solicitation program

for next year

The Union has begun work on next years Student Hand- book/Calendar. The handbook was a big hit and we want

to ensure an even better book next year

The new Coat Check at the Barn served to better protect student’s property while at Barn functions

Lisa Murphy talking to students at April 6 demonstration at Province House. Photo by Heather Morrison.

X. Other Notables

STUDENT CENTRE COMPLEX

This huge project is well underway. We made formal presenta- tions of our proposal to build a $3 million, 30,000 square foot