rains DS SAA aa Na Si ein and nie

EDITORIAL

As the grey area on the facing page states, Jim Lai has resigned as Editor of the Gem. My name is Lori Anne and it is I who has assumed the position of editor. I expect to remain on staff in that capacity, in addition to my usual production duties, at least until Christmas. At that time, the Student Union and the Gem will come to a decision regarding formally filling that position. ,

Concern has been expressed by many members of the University Community about some of the material included in last week’s issue. A common question has been, ‘‘Are there any guidelines for the editor to follow regarding offensive material?” _ There certainly are. The Gem; as a member paper of Canadian Universities Press, has a duty to uphold the following principles: @ That the major role of the student press is to act as an agent

for social change assisting students in understanding and mobilizing against exploitation and injustice wherever it may be found, and emphasizing the rights of the student; That the student press must, in fulfilling this role, perform both an educative function, and support groups serving as agents of social change;

That the student press must present local, national and international news fairly, and interpret ideas and events to the best of its ability; and

That the student press must use its freedom from commer- cial and other controls to ensure that all it does is consistent with its major role, and to examine the issues which other media avoid.

The statements above were included in the 1977 CUP Editor’s Manual. Below you will find duty #10 of the 1977 Manual’s summary of the Duties of a CUP Editor:

@ #10. Ensure that the newspaper is aware of and respects the CUP code of ethics, with particular attention to ensure that the paper will not publish racist or sexist advertising and copy.

The statement of Principles first appeared in 1959, dealing with the principles of CUP, abuses of newspaper freedoms and papers’ rights and duties. CUP was then seen as a market- place for ideas.

In 1966, the phrase ‘‘agents of social change’’ appeared. At that time, CUP was committed to an anti-racism policy, but sexism was not yet mentioned.

By the mid-1970’s, CUP committed itself to being an alter- native press. Students were recognized as an interest group, and papers were committed to defending students’ interests. Social change was defined as education and mobilization of students against exploitation and injustice wherever it may be found. CUP was thereby committed to an activist function. As well, a new commitment to sexism was entrenched in the principles. Since that time, an anti-homophobism policy policy was included in the principles (that means that CUP is opposed to discrimination against gays and lesbians).

As you can see, we are guided by extremely clear policies and _ principles set by CUP. Policies and Principles are subject to never-ending re-evaluation — the Gem office’s file cabinet is full of information generated at past conferences regarding these matters. ; oe

Now. The next question is, ‘‘How did all of this information get overlooked?’’ I shall not presume to speak for Mr. Lai, but I would venture the opinion that an ignorance of the informa- tion’s existence, combined with the lack of editorial existence, led to last week’s disastrous issue.

And so we pick up the pieces. I hope I’ve been able to answer some of the questions of the hour. I am very encouraged by your response to last week’s issue, and I hope that you will continue to send letters and comments to the editor regarding future issues. As editor, I now have ultimate control over and responsibility for what is printed. If you are happy with the paper, please tell me —n one loves a compliment more than me. If you are not happy, I’d like to know that, too — perhaps something can be done. It’s been an exhilirating experience thus far, and I trust it shall so remain. ENJOY the paper. It is, after all, for you. :

Lori Anne Heckbert The Editor

eh ight a Raed be nit Set 9 ent er heh ae ater ati ait tape nin id lh eiceoba ange snes thsb sical

ee a ly te a eh th te

EDITORIAL &

ae Me 4

Seid ptrmp hod behets

YOUR COMMENTS

Dear Editor,

Is it necessary for a univer- sity newspaper to print any- thing, no matter how vile it may be, that crosses its desk?

Is the Gem so desparate for copy that it must print the result of a mental maturbation exercise carried on by a group of adolescent minds?

I refer to the Engineers bi- weekly section which has out-

done itself with an entire page of sexist drivel which can be called nothing but offensive. If someone believes that people actually want to read this shit, let them post it beside a toilet.

I suggest the next trip to the printers include a stop at the dumpster, if you wish people to take this paper seriously.

Sincerely, C.K. Stevenson

Dear Editor:

Last week, concern was ex- pressed in the Gem about the invitation list to the Academic

Stop The Graffiti at U.P.E.1.

Dear Editor,

Someone at U.P.E.I. is writing graffiti over the walls. Most of the sayings have a religious affliation. You must have seen them; you cannot miss them. It make the walls look disgusting. The writing cannot be scrubbed off the walls because it is written in marker. This means that the walls will have to be painted in order to cover up the mess, which will likely cost the U.P.E.I. students.

Would the person who is writing this graffiti, please stop. If you are the christian

you claim to be, then you should know that christians don’t deface their neighbor’s property. Secondly, you are breaking the law by destroying public property. Writing over a vall is not age appropriate behavior for a person who is attending university.

Here at U.P.E.1. if someone has a message to get across, you write it down on paper and post it. So stop using the walls and start using the bulle- tin board.

Sincerely, Patricia Kenny

Awards Dinner.

In the past few years, invita- tions have been limited to stu- dents who have achieved Deans’ List standing in the 2nd semester. As your writer pointed out, this meant that students who had been on the Deans’s List 1st semester but not in the 2nd semester were

“not invited to the Dinner,

while students who were on the List in 2nd semester were invited regardless of whether they were on the List in Ist semester.

The Deans have been con- cerned about this and had pre- liminary discussions last week. I can assure all students that changes will be made in order to prevent this apparent discri- mination, effective with the Awards Banquet in the fall of 1987.

J. J. Revell

Dean

From the Editor’s Desk

Dear irate Vet student:

I have received your article entitled ‘‘Why a banana is better than a male UPEI engineer.

I have read the article, and I will not print it.

Irregardless of what hap- pened last week, the Gem is still governed by the principles of CUP as outlined in the editorial on this page. If you read that editorial, you will

- understand that we have a

duty to uphold a policy of anti-sexism. Sexism is a two way street.

Although it is not my re- sponsibility to apologize to you about last week’s issue, I feel compelled by conscience to do so. Last week’s Engi- neer’s submission ought never to have been printed. I’m sorry that we, women and men alike, had to read such of- fensive material. I’m sorry that you felt such anger and grief over this distasteful com-

parison of women to objects, and that you felt compelled to respond in the way you did. I share with you my deepest regrets.

I am not out to ‘‘get’’ the Engineers. They are free to submit what they please, when

they please. I do warn that unless considerable care is taken to improve the quality of their submissions, I shall not print them. That is my

right and duty.

In solidarity, The Editor

Views expressed in the Gem are not necessarily those of the editor, the Gem, or the UPEI Student ; Union. The Gem is an equal

opportunity newspaper.

The Gem is a student newspaper supported by the UPEI Student Union.

Staff Members: Don Lane, Brian Linkletter, Laura Bain, Darrell Cole, James Connolly, Kaberi Dasgupta, Jayne Emery- McAskill, Mathiew Hatvany, Kim McNeill, Sam Okello, Oliver Twit, Chris Vessey, Derrick Webber, Debra Wright. Contributors: Inge Dorsey, Holly Good, and others omitted Advertising Manager: Danny Mullen * Production Editor: Lori Anne Heckvert

Photography Editor: Shelli Wheator ;