Professor Focus By Nola MacDonald

Last week I was fortunate enough to talk to one of -UPEI’s more interesting professors: Peter Trnka.

Professor Trnka was born in Prague on March 21, 1964. He lived there on and off for 4 years while his father worked in Iraq. In 1968 he move to England where he stayed for 6 years. Then he moved to Washington, D.C. for junior high and high school.

He went to university at the University of Toronto.

At university, Professor Trnka started his under- graduate degree in philosophy, English, linguistics, psychology, and zoology. He decided to stay with philosophy because he could do it without much work and he could have fun. He planned to get a 3 year degree and then go to filmschool, however he was forced to go back for a 4th year towards his degree. After his B.A., Professor Trnka decided he would like to go into social work, so he went back to England. Since he did not have any formal training in that field, he could not geta job, so he came back to Toronto to attend Graduate School. He is still finishing his Phd on the relationship between theories of knowledge and

politics.

When! asked him why he was teaching here, he replied that when he wasclose to finishing his disser- tation he started applying for jobs. He had been here before; he likes the Maritimes and the ocean. He was f ranted an interview, which went well, and was then offered ajob. He found himself teaching here and

th inks that it is a really cool job.

p ofessor Trnka would like to teach courses in philo- Sophical feminism, political theory, critical theory, and introductory philosophy. He will know if he’s ioming back to UPEI next year ina few weeks. One if the reasons he might not be back is that his wife Oni lives in Toronto. Toni isa lawyer in refugee Mmigration, andcannot move to P.E.I.

F atare his friends and students saying about him? eter Trueman and Peter Mutch were at the interview. fueman said that Professor Trnka should quit his job id zo to Toronto to have lots of babies. They both ced on several points, Professor Trnka is an excep- Hnal cook, buthe makes too much spicy food; he is Mtremely friendly and a snappy dresser; he isa good

Professor I rnka likes living in Charlottetown. It is the first small town that he has lived in. He likes to go to the Olde Dublin Pub, the Black Forest Cafe, and the Playhouse. He likes Punk-Rock and Industrial Music. He plays squash and tennis and beats Peter Trueman at Badminton. He wants to go swimming at Brackley Beach this April.

In reference to CIMN, Professor Trnka thinks that they need an FM license or at least it should be piped into the student bar, and other public places. He likes all of their music.

He also had a few comments about the X-Press. In particular he talked about the Backlash articles. He said that they deserve merit in the fact that they make the X-Press worth reading; however, the authors like name calling, and their objects of concern are rather strange. Professor Trnka feels that criticism of political movements are good, but that there are other important things to be concerned with. Healso feels that more people should be involved with writing for the X-Press as the paper may seem one-sided if not many people contribute to it.

February 13, 1992