4 UPEI News

Quiet general meeting in Pit

*Continued from page 3 “we don’t give a [crap]!”

“We work for you,” Tran later asserted, and entreated the crowd to make sugges- tions and participate in discus- sions surrounding Council and its sub-organizations.

In addition, candidates for the upcoming SU election were given the chance to speak to the crowd.

Not all of the nominees were present, and not all who attended spoke. When prompted by Tran, scattered applause by the crowd fol- lowed each speech and intro- duction.

Although seven people are running for the two vacant science representative posi- tions on Council, only three candidates took a turn at the microphone. Lara Yammine, Tim Haines, and Alan McAlduff all expressed their willingness to take onthe posi- tion, and indicated their affec- tion for UPEI.

The lone Senate com- mitteenominee, Patrick Young, urged the students present to vote. Voter turn-out in SU elec- tions is consistently low, hov- ering around ten to fifteen per- cent.

Other candidates indi- cated their desire to partici- pate in the university commu- nity, ratherthan simplyto com- plain and to remain inactive. Information, or lack thereof, was also a theme in the speeches of Jason Gourley, Board of Governor’s repre- sentative nominee, and Chris Gaudette, arts representative nominee.

After the speeches, Gaudette seemed particularly vehement on the need for stu- dents to be informed. He has several strategies in mind for this aim, including classroom speaking, posters, the SU no- tice board, the media, and oth- ers.

Gaudette also spoke about the reasons for students’ lack of knowledge around rel- evant issues.

Some students simply do not want to be educated about SU activities and concerns, he felt. He added that often those who have knowledge constrict the flow of information.

“The Union is more im- portant than Council,” sums up Gaudette’s position. Every full time student at UPEI is a member of the Union, whereas Council is a collective of this body’s elected representives.

Aside from the candi-

dates’ speeches, the General —

Meeting also heard brief re- ports given by each member of the Executive. Each gave a general orientation to her or his position, selected work sum- maries, and some plans forthe

future. Vice-President. Fi-.

nance Stephen Lewis deliv- ered the report of Vice-Presi- dent Operations Tyler Dougan, who was writing an exam. Announcements were also made about an upcoming alternative calendar survey, a planned Battle of the Bands, and the Halloween Pub. A

wn

brief sketch was given about ’

the progress of the Student Union Building project (SUB 2000).

After the general meet- ing, Vice-President External Stephen Hann commented on an engagement with the Pro- vincial Minister of Education, Chester Gillan. SU President Matt Grey and Stephen Lewis were also presentat this event.

Some of the topics dis- cussed with Gillan were the cost of textbooks and tuition fees. Although the SU Execu- tives asserted that they did not want to see a rise in tuition, they did not ask for a tuition freeze. No cuts to the univer- sity budget are expected next year, so the Union representa- tives felt a freeze request would be unnecessary.

The SU general meeting began shortly after 12:30 and lasted roughly half an hour. It adjourned with little fanfare and with little disruption in Pit activities.

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