“Who do you say I am?”

Searching for a new university President is much like

seeking a Saviour. We look for someone above the ordinary, ,

with divine presence, shining goodness, supreme wisdom, and the power to instill blind adoring faith.

These days, incidentally, we must also look for someone who can multiply loaves and fishes (known in the business as federal and provincial transfer payments) to provide for the starving hordes of students?

Not always, but that is not today’s lesson.

Thisweek’s lesson. c“ :he occasion of the visit of the first candidate for the office of President to UPEI is an examination (don’t shy away from the word, it isn't obscene) of what such a magnificent presence is supposed to be doing.

What indeed? Our present incumbent, Dr. Meincke, by his own account concentrated on promoting the university to outside agencies and bodies, in hopes of building our reputa- tion and resources, and spent what little time remained in internal administrative duties. In consequences, some dis- satisfaction was expressed at his lack of close contact with the university community.

This seems to reveal that people want the President to be a warm, caring, visible parent-figure.

Then again, don’t other people, more pragmatic perhaps, call for a President able to balance a budget? Or able to charm politicians and alumni into showing the warmth of their hearts and wallets? Or able to act as a role model of the ideal academic, to show students what one in pursuit of true know- ledge looks like?

Who knows what people want? Certainly not people. Can we move instead to what the President’s duties are in light of law, and choose a leader who can at least do what the University Act of this province, passed in 1969, requires?

The requirements are as follows:

“The President shall supervise and direct the implementation of the educational policy and general administration of the Uni- versity, faculty, officers, employees, and the students thereof. The President has power a) to implement senate regulations for the safe and orderly functioning of the University; b) to recommend to the Board the appointment, promotion or removal of members of faculty, officers and employees of the University according to the procedure established (herein); c) to recommend to the Board the suspension or dismissal of any member of faculty or any officer or employee of the University and to expel or suspend any student for any period, and shall forthwith report his action to the Board and give the Board a statement of his reasons therefor; d) to recommend to the Senate the establishment of new Faculties, schools, institutes, programs and projects; e) to examine all the activities of the University; f) to recommend to the Senate regulations to govern the activities of the Faculties, schools, institutes, members of faculty and students; g) to establish presidential committees to study and to recom- mend action on matters affecting the University; h) to summon meetings of the members of faculty or of a single‘Faculty, school, or department or of two or more Faculties, schools or departments when he considers it necessary to do so and to take the chair at any such meetings; i) to exercise such other powers and duties as may be assigned to him by the Board."

What does this say, besides that the President should preferably be male? It says that the person chosen for the job has quite a lot of power over us all, and for the survival of the university, must be competent.

It is best to remember this as we listen to the remaining

candidates lecture, in the next five weeks. By Carolyn Ryan

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LTTERS

Dear Editor:

Flora MacDonald, the Minister of Employment and Immigration has announced her intention to unveil a summer work program within the next few weeks. Why is the federal government promising to introduce a work program after cutting Canada Summer Works two short months ago?

The answer is very simpTe — students from across Canada have been very vocal about their opposition to these cutbacks that would involve the loss of jobs for over 70,000 Canadian students. The government, consequently, has been forced to replace the Canada Summer Work program with a program to be announced.

The question that remains to be answered is how much money is the government willing to earmark for youth employment. It could be $3 million or it could be $83 million — depending on how much pressure is continued to exerted by students. The more pressure that is put on the government, the more jobs there will be next summer.

The Soup Kitchen was a step in the right direction but we, the students of UPEI must continue to work with students from across Canada to ensure that the new program is as large or larger then the former Canada Summer works program. Do your part by signing the postcards that the Student. Union will be sending to Flora MacDonald.

Cathy Campbell PEI rep for CFS

T“? N etted Gem

January 24, 1984 Vomme 2, Issue 15

Hi Ho from the merrie land of Gemmiedom, and hail fellow w met, etc.... This week we are: Katy Baker, Howard Beattie, R9be Bodrog-Goodland, Glen Boswall, 'Kaberi Dasgupta, Carol Dom) Lori Anne Heckbert, Ross Hartinger, Jim Lai, Ron Lewis, BH' Linkletter, Brian MacLeod, Jonathan Orlowski, John Pendergz (sorry we forgot you last week), Nancy Ross, Carolyn Ryan, Shadow, Bob Stanley, Phil Stanyer, Jill Warburton, Dave YorstO and Michael Zinck. ‘

The Netted Gem is a full member in good standing with Canad‘ University Press, a collective of 57 Canadian student newspape The Gem is the student publication of the University Of Pr”. Edward Island, publishing weekly in the fall and winter terms V" a circulation of 1300.

Views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Stud Union, the staff, or anyone in particular. We reserve the rig” edit copy for space, style, or legal reasons. Letters to the editor m be typed, double-spaced, and submitted before noon on Mondays. letters must be signed by their author(s), but names may be W‘thh upon consultation with the editor. Phone 892-4121. extenswn 3 Staff meetings are Mondays at 6 p.m. All students are welcome join the staff.