The Cadre +

16 March 1999

Something old, something new

Six polling stations open on Wednesday

By KAREN RAWLINES

Poor voter turn-out has plagued the UPEI Student Union elections annually. This fall’s by-elections, for example, brought out a mere five per cent of UPEI’s full time students to the ballot boxes.

In an effort to remedy this, the SU is stationing polls in six areas across campus for Wednesday. Students will be permitted to vote in their re- spective faculty’s designated building.

In the past, voting has only taken place in the Breezeway of Robertson Li- brary.

Fourth year anthropol- ogy student Joanna Williams has never cast a ballot dur- ing her years at UPEI.

“I’ve never voted,” she says. “It’s always been in the breezeway, and I just don’t end up in that area.”

Pauline Tran, UPEI SU VP Internal thinks that the extra polling stations will

serve the campus well in in- creasing the numbers who out to cast their ballots. § realizes the small risk asso- ciated with this new tech- nique, but feels it’s for the best.

“I think because it’s the first time, it'll be a little tricky,” she says. “We're just getting the ball rolling.” She adds that the SU hopes that future elections will also of- fer this benefit.

It’s difficult to predict how well the stations will work in getting students out to vote. Although they may offer the convenience that many desire, the polls may not overcome the general

apathy.

Williams, for exam- ple, admits a indiffer- ence to the le affair.

“I’m just trying to - through my courses,” she says. “I just want to gradu- ate.”

Students are reminded to bring their ID cards order to cast their ballots.

CYNTHIA DENNIS

be = coca Pi to in it last odncete during the UPEI Student Union annual general meeting may have no- ticed a variety of things going on.

First of all, the whole meeting, equi with its of-

0 a high school pep rally, as om posed to a forum for discus- sion. A majority of the proximately 125 students in attendance were cither there to cheer on their friends or to boo their — Sone na

to unch. ews Aiko teat the mixture of feelings that permeated throughout the crowd, there was an abundance of commen ae a

atforms present

Candidates.

There were plenty of people actually running this ear, apparently more than lost, but everyone had basi- cally the same initiatives: in- creased communication be- pose Se ee students, decreasing costs in a number of areas.

Numerous references were made to the still some- what ambiguous “tuition freeze,”

News 7

‘Student Union general meeting: a

breeding ground for controversy

dates, LaurieBoswall and S Hann.

Unfortunately, in some cases, students witnessed can-

my: x3 f i

be able to fulfill his term should he be elected. Although Peppin at- tempted to respond to this question, the debate was

SU prreident Natt Glan whe is d doubling as Co-chie Re-

that the qualifications are there.”

cea

a 7