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UNIVERSITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

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. NOVEMBER 21, 1969

EDUCATION 4- WHUT, ME WORY? I

It is apparent that the level of involvement at U.P.E.I. is not great by any means. We, as members of the Education: Committee do not see this as a problem of apathy on the part of indivi- dual students; rather, it is a reflection largely of the powerlessness that students experience here. We are not actually able to determine to any real extent, through our present structures, what happens to our lives. For ex- ample, on the question. of open residence, both Stud- ent: Council and s t u d e n t Senators were impotent by themselves.

The reinforcement of pas-

sivity can be seen through- '

out the educational system

as well as the society of

which it is a vital ingred- ient. There are repressive structures and habits, but they are forgotten through distractions of many kinds. We are dissatisfied with this, and feel that education should be a critical and ful- filling process.

The Education Committee is drawing up a program, in- tended to develop aware- ness. Awareness, we must understand, does: not only take place between the hair and? the neck. Awareness, or understandin , come s about through a process of activity coupled with con- stant reflection. Meaning can become attached to an idea only through testing that idea in practice. Our intentions, then, rest not

only at the level of pound- ing out information. That information must be made public, discussed, and action proposals formulated. That is when the flaws of an edu- cational experience become real. For example, a teach-

' in on poverty should be fol-

lowed by concrete steps to alleviate it.

That the, Student Council plays a role in the building of awareness on campus, there is no question. The Council, however, has rath- er limitations — their his- tory believes their aims. Councils in the past were little more than the admin.- istrators of a social and athletic clurb. In other parts of Canada they have begun to see their function as

broader than that, by tak- ing their role as leaders—- political leaders -— serious-

‘ly. The contradiction of

Student COuncil then begins to emerge. The system of representatives democracy, upon which. Student Coun- cils are basedL encourages apathy. 1A check-mark on a ballot requires no particular understanding. The result- ing council makes decisions for the people, rather than encouraging them to guide their own lives. If the Council is serious abou t wi s hing involvement, it must recognize that their work as catalyst is insuffic- ient. To administer the busi- ness of a large compulsory union and simultaneously develop a critical, under- standing among students is

a time-consuming af f a i r. Besides, to actually be cri- tical brings into the lime- light one’s degree of repre- sentivity, i.e. whether one has travelled in a straight enough line to satisfy the interests of various consti- tutients. On the basis of principle, then, a Student Council, for that matter all students, should "encourage- critical activity within their community such that real dialogue can. take place. The college newspaper, the Ca- dre, is one element of this; some colleges have a politi- cal affairs- commission; oth- ers have a communications committee; We propose an Education Committee.

Reg Phelan I Jock Mackay

FACULTY ASK - - - - - “FREE TUITION FOR FAMILIES”

Two weeks ago the Facul- ty Association at U.P.E.I. discussed the report of their committee on fringe benefits. The report recommended a 50% discount on tuition for all members of faculty fame ilies who wished to attend UPEI. Saul Silverman mov-

ed an amendment to the re- commendation which would change 50% to 100%. He stated in a phone call that he felt Education sh ould be available to all who qualify. He said he supports the idea of a tax funded university, in which students would not

have to pay tuition. He went on to explain how this pro- gram should be carried out. Jim Rigney, Chairman of the Faculty Association, said “This was merely a request being made to the administra- tion concerning fringe bene—

y fits.” He stated that S».D.U.

The

CADRE Still Needs Staff ,. REPURTERS .TYPISTS‘ -PHOT0*-GRAPHERS

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CHARLOTTETOWN

had a 50% discount for fac- ulty families but only one

. person used it.

Apparently there was come concern at the meeting about what the reaction of the

students would be to such a request. According to our so u r c e discussion centered around this for some time. In the end the amendment pas- sed with a majority of 5.

Milton Acorn. Places” Self on R.C.M. P. List

The following letter was written to the editor of the

- Varsity, student paper at the

University of Toronto, by poet Milton Acorn, who read here earlier this year. Acorn is 1a Charlottetown native; Sir,

‘ Now that the turn-on pre- mier has become the turn-in premier, and} we are instruct- ed by the premier in person to inform the RCMP of any subversive persons we know:

CARNIVAL BEGINS

Your Winter Carnival Com- mittee is hard at work in an attempt to make this Carni- val the highlight of «thersocial year. Success or failure rests not only in our hands but in yours.- Through this media we plan on keeping the stud- ent body aware of activity and progress on all planned

events upcoming in February.

It is consistent with this policy to offer the University some sort of choice in main

May I urgently request that Milton Acorn, 404 Palmer- ston Blvd., Toronto 4, makes up his own mind about every- thing, arrives at his own con- clusions, and follows the dan- gerous uncanadian practice of acting upon his conclus-

. ions; no matter what authori-

ties may say. In other words Milton Acorn: is a dangerous subversive; and in accord- ance with the pre-mier’s in- structions I do so report him.

Milton Acorn

COMMITTEE \ SURVEY

entertainment around which the Carnival is based, there- by preventing med} i 0 cr i t y from once again rearing its

7 ugly head at our Carnival.

The following survey will at- tempt to indicate to us What type of entertainment the student body wants for its carnival. Please, for your own good, fill in the survey sheet below and deposit it at the box marked “SURVEY” at your nearest coffee shop. Don’tlet $10,000 go to waste.

1. WHAT TYPE OF ENTERTAINMENT DO YOU PREFER?

POP

v COUNTRY & WESTERN ........................ .. .......... ............... ..

OTHER .............................. ..

2. PARTICULAR REFERENCES (not necessarily in order of choice)

................ .. 3. ................

1.. ..... .................... ..2. ..... 3. ARE YOU: '

MALE .......... .. FRES‘HMAN .......... .. JUNIOR .......... ..

FEMALE ...... .. SOPHOMORE ...... .. SENIOR .......... ..

Note on Apathy:

Should the results of this survey tend to

prove what has already been said about you people time and

time again no more opportunity of this type will be afforded ,

you and the Carnival Committee will surge onward in its re- lentless quest without your kind assistance.