The Cadre + 2February 1999

By MARC MACDONALD

Allis not well in the cur- rent state of Island radio. The stations that can be heard throughout Charlottetown and the rest of the Island do not play the music that many young people listen to. The one sta- tion that plays music that a lot of young people love, CIMN campus radio, cannot be heard on all parts of campus — let alone in Charlottetown or other parts of the Island.

The four main radio sta- tions broadcasting out of Charlottetown are CBC, CHTN, CHLQ and CFCY, and all seemingly target their programing for adults. CBC is mainly talk radio, while CHTN plays all “oldies” hits and CFCY is a country music sta- tion. CHLQ (more commonly known as Magic 93) does play

-some music that many young people enjoy but targets their music tothe 18 to 44 age group.

Finding a radio station that appreciates the varied in- terests of its listeners is diffi- cult.

Magic 93, for example, plays practically no hip hop music. The station’s program manager explains that this is “probably because we don’t have enough urban people in the area for rap music.” But Charlottetown is not known as a rodeo town and there are not an excessive number of cow- boys on the streets either, yet there is still a country music station. While it is true that Charlottetown is not a large urban center, hip hop music !s universal and cannot be lim- ited to large cities.

Magic 93 also justified the fact that they do not play rap music and many hard rock acts by saying that they play only “top 40 hits.”

The charting system used by the station is the American Radio and Records (Rand R) system. RandR

Our ears can hear

may not chart much rap music but other major media is the States such as MTV (the top music video channel)and Bill- board (a major charting sys- tem)are consistently filled with hip hop. Magic 93’s program director also noted that rap was not a major demographic.

However, two of the three larger record stores in the Charlottetown area, Radioland and R.O.W. (Records On Wheels) men- tioned hip hop and “top 40 releases” as their top sellers.

Radioland and R.O.W., does not give rap its own area and for some unknown reason put rap in the Rock/Pop section.

The question remains: what are music fans to do if they are not pleased witn «'. large Island radio stations?

There is really only one alternative. Music fans’ only other option is CIMN 700 AM campus radio. This is a station that appeals to all ages and all musical tastes — including a weekly, hour-long hip hop show.

___UPEI News 5

Put the music where

gives people something to lis- ten to that they normally wouldn't hear on corporate radio.”

Although the station's es eis still lim- ited (mainly UPEI’s three dorms) they hope to be hooked upto the pit sometime the week of Feb. | to 7.

Maclsaac explains that an “AM or FM transmitter” would be needed to expand the station’s range throughout Charlottetown. The stations’s goal of going FM cannot be

give support to the radio sta- tion, but there is no amount of money we wouldn't accept,” Maclsaac noted as he com- mented about the station’s fi- nancial situation. “It would be great if we could also get money from outside sources as well,” he added, but contin- ues to say that it is important that the radio station look at ways of making itsown money. One of the ways CIMN hopes to accomplish this is by getting advertising once the range is increased.

Black Cat Music’s manager “We playanalternative reachedoneofthesetransmit- If you are not happy commented that when itcame topopularcommercial radio,” ters, whichcostaround$10,000 with other stations, prepare to to sales, rap was not thathigh. explains Rob Maclsaac, each. tune in to CIMN 700 AM: the But Black Cat, unlike CIMN Program Director. “It “Thestudentuniondoes Island’s only alternative. go in EdGcaon ' Master of Science in the developing stages

ired to take a total of students, which may require But some people are

By MELISSA DOUCETTE eight aris Seis diieaaaanecadi ony curious why the Faculty of

Intwo months, UPE] will be running graduate programs. The newly created Master of Education(MEd) program will begin teaching its first students in March. The expected course complement is 21 students.

According to Dr. Ed MacDonald, Coordinator of Graduate Studies for the Fac- ulty of Education, the MEd is intended primarily for practis- ing teachers. People from other backgrounds may attend, as long as they hold what MacDonald terms a “profes- sional degree.”

The MEd is conse- quently a part-time program, although full time studies may be available at a later time in the program’s development. The program is a combination of course work and a thesis, and is projected to take two- and-one-half years to com-

lete. One course is offered in each of the fall, winter, and summer sessions, and students

Tuition for each course is set at $480.

The cost is higher than undergraduate fees, a practice that is standard for graduate programs. Tuition fees will be used as cost recovery. Among other things, new library hold- ings necessary for the MEd will be purchased.

MacDonald insists that the MEd is not intended to bea revenue generating program.

The Faculty of Science is also proceeding with plans for graduate degrees. The de- partments of Biology and Chemistry are currently in the developing stages of Master

of Science (MSc) programsin gree

these areas. “It’s basically a cost- neutral program,” says Dr. Roger Gordon, Dean of Sci- ence.

He anticipates that ex- isting faculty members would provide courses to graduate

portat the undergraduate level. Another possibility for MSc students is to make use of existing courses at the Atlan- tic Veterinary College (AVC).

The Faculty of Science is already teaching graduate students at UPEI. Several stu- dents are completing distance education MSc degrees at UPEI. Officially, they are reg- istered at another university, but all of their actual studies are completed at UPEI. None of their tuition is paidto UPEI, but they are supervised by UPEI professors. Asa result, little cost is expected in offer- ing the MSc as a UPEI de-

“I can say with all con- fidence that graduate pro- grams will not raise undergrad tuition,” states Gordon.

He also feels that the new MSc “will generate a much livelierresearch climate” at UPEI.

Arts is not intending to offer any graduate programs.

Dr. Phillip Smith, Dean of Arts, contends that no de- partments in Arts have come forward with a request to of- fer a Master of Arts (MA) program. Some Arts profes- sors have indicated interest in having an interdisciplinary MA at UPEI. However, the feel- ing isevident that library hold- ings would need to be signifi- cantly increased.

Some students are still left wondering why Arts, the largest faculty on campus, is not proceeding with plans for an MA. They feel that Arts is an undervalued program.

“People are really into the ITI—nobody is into educa- tion for its own sake anymore. That’s a travesty . . . People are so driven towards becom- ing some thing instead of some one,” comments Jennifer MacPhee, fourth year English student.