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On the weekend of October 6,7,8, the University of Prince Edward Island had the privi- lege of hosting the Atlantic Re- gion Canadian University Press (ARCUP) conference. We also had the privilege of hearing uest speaker and journalist Valerie Kilfoil describe her experiences in a foreign country.

Kilfoil spent over a year in Turkey as a journalist, and the in- formation she brought back with her is astounding.

Turkey wa Kilfoil’s first ex- perience working as a journal- ist in a foreign country. It was also her first experience work- ing in an “undemocratic” coun- try. Although Turkey claims to be democratic, it definitly is not. It is a country where the press is dominated by fear, intimidation, and torture, says Kilfoil.

Accordin to Kilfoil, the num- ber of journalists persecuted each year for “crimes of thought” is staggering. In the five years since the end of the military rule in 1983, more than 2000 journalists have been tried. At least forty one journalists and editors are now in prison, for articles which were written before the military coup in 1980! These articles were perfectly legal at the time they were written. Most journalists re- ceived extremely harsh sentences after being found guilty of such non-democratic charges as: com- munist propanda (this denies the journalist’s freedom of speech); insultin state authorities; and in- citing a crime. These two charges are favorites of the Turkish gov- ernment which they use to intim- idate the press about any unflat- terin articles against the govern- ment.

Kilfoil herself was warned by the government to be careful of what she was writing. This _warnin came after Kilfoil quoted a European Community Concel- lor as saying: “Turkey won’t en- ter the EC (European Commu- nity) before the year 2000”. Ai this time the government propa- ganda was that Turkey’s appli- cation for entry would be ap- proved by 1993. “The Councel- lor I quoted was also called to the foreign ministry and told off” says Kilfoil.

The absurdity of Turkish law and its justice system can also be seen by the sentence given to a journalist named Veli Yilmaz. This man was sentenced to 1086 years in prison for an article he leally wrote before the 1980 coup. Upon eppealing this sentence it was reduced by 300 years. Ac-

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cording to Turkish law, Yilmaz, who is 39, will serve a maximum of 36 years.

Kilfoil told a story about a journalist who she mat during her stay in Turkey. “The man, 25, was picked up by police last fall while covering a rally. He was held for twelve days without be- ing charged, and was tortured ev- ery day. In Turkey, the police can hold someone without charging them, without letting them see a lawyer, and without lettin them see another person. This journal- ist is still working for a left-wing magazine called ‘Ikiki Adoru’. ”

“T also know a woman journal- ist who was forced ta watch her daughter be tortured, and a male journalist who haz trouble sitting down for long periods of time be- cause of thins done to him while he was in priser.” Kilfoil also mentioned two «iusr journalists who will never be the same as a result of torture. One journalist drools and stutters while he talks, and another walks with a perma- nent limp. ,

If torture and manipulation are not enough to control the press in Turkey, the government has other ways, says Kilfoil. The government owns all of the radio and television stations and can tell them whatever it wants them to know. Interestinly enouh, there is a very high illiteracy rate in Turkey, so the only means of getting the news for many people is through the television and ra- dio.

The government also has a monopoly on both the supply of news print and its price. Al- though Turkey’s inflation rate has ranged between 25-80 percent over the past few years, the cost of news print has risen 390 per- cent between 1986-88. “Opposi- tion leaders cail tl:e rises vzage- ful and unnecessary. ‘Helsinki Watch’ reports that where the government is angered by sto- ries, the price of newsprint can rise overnight” reports Kilfoil. Through the control of business in Turkey, the overnment also controls approximately 40 per- cent of ads placed in newspapers.

To be a geod journalist in Turkey, Kilfoil seys one must be- lieve in human rights and free- dom of the press, or they are in daner of becoming a mouthpiece of the government. However, to express one’s beliefs by writing stories that the government does not want, one runs the risk of be- ing forced to surrender one’s ba- sic human rights and freedom.

As Kilfoil was leaving to come

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Turkey: Not What it Seems

back to Canada, she was stopped by the airport police and told she could not leave because of prob- lems with her Visa. “I can’t even begin to describe the moments of panic, rage, and complete help- lessness I felt. They eventually let me on the plane after takin all of my money.”

Right be- fore Kilfoil left turkey, she wrote an article on “Freedom of the Press”. She interviewed leading journalists and quoted from re- ports of International Human Ri- hts Groups. “My newspaper re- fused to run the story because they said it would cause too many problems.” Here are the first. two paragraphs of the story:

“Journalists will agree that there is freedom of the press in

Turkey if you’re willing to pay the price.

And the price can be high. Harrassment, criminal charges, hundreds of years of prison sen- tences, and torture are the stan- dard costs.” os

during Kilfoil’s speech she added, “If the government gets wind of what I said today, I doubt if I would be welcome back. If I was in Turkey, I would most likely be imprisoned, or asked to leave the country.” Kilfoil said that as a Canadian she always felt she had some protection. However, the Turkish journalists don’t have any. It is their own government that persecutes them.

After hearing all of this I re- ally wondered if I should write this article. Kilfoil said the gov-

ernment would probably just ass this article to the file they have on her. They watch newspapers all over the world, scanning for arti- cles about them. ‘Their eyes will probably even reach the ‘GEM’ here at UPEI. It sounds incred- ible, but it is true. I am just glad that because of Valerie Kil- foil I am able to give our readers this important information. So if any of you reading this arti- cle are planning on working as a journalist, Turkey is definitly not the place to go!! As Canadians we have rights, and we shouldn’t let the Turkish government have the chance to push us around and take those rights away!

by Terri Lyn Hall

The UPEI Tutoring Service

The tutoring service of UPEI provides educational support for its university studets and for individuals in the community. Vicki Johnston, part-time coor- dinator of this organization, had a background in Special Educa- tion teaching in Calgary for 3 years. She went back to univer- sity to recieve her masters in Ed- ucation and became the director of a private learnig center in Hal- ifax. Meanwhile, the director of Student Services, Jum Griffiths, expressed ann interest in an or- ganized tutoring service for PEI. Jim had been recieving calls for help from students i grades eleven and twelve, as well as calls from university students. Vicki agreed to come back and help out. She performed a feasibility study to determine whether or not the tu- torig service was a real need. It was found to be in great demand. As a result, two years ago, the tu- toring service was begun.

There were no real set up costs. Vicki had a lot of ma- terial including material for chil- dren with reading problems. Stu- dents coming to be tutored bring in their assignmets and books and the tutors work with them from there. This reduced costs of pur- chasing text books for the tutors to use.

At the busiest time for tutors last year - November and Febru- ary to April, there was over 150 clients with fourteen tutors. This year there are seven tutors and this number is expected to in- crease as enrollment increases.

When a student from the university applies for tutorinng help, a conference takes peace to

Thursday, October 19th, 1989===

discover the student’s strengths, weaknesses, and other abilities in the cours. For studets who are not attending UPEI, their school history, their strengths and weak- ness in the course, as well in- formation on’ physical, mental, health, family and social factors will be obtained.

The student and tutor meet before their first tutorial session to discuss the student’s needs and different methods for teach- ing. After each session, the tu- tor records the students perfor- mance and progress made during the session. For students attend- ing UPEI, the tutoring costs are ten dollars an hour, and for non— university students, the costs are twelve-fifty an hour. Sessions are usually a hour in length. The tu- toring hours are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from four to nine pm. there is a need for more math 101 ad more clculus tutors at present.

To become a tutor, applicants must reach and talk with, Vicki Johnston. Each potetial tuto will be interviewed, if they are suit- able, they will the be hired. Af- ter each session the student will let Vicki know how well they got along with their tutor.

Generally, the tutors are third or fourth year students. The tu-

By Candi Mackey.

tors are all highly qualified. there is a chemistry tutor who has his masters and is working at the vet college at present. There are as well a couple of tutors who have their bachelor of education. Tutors are paid seven dollars an hour.

As of this week the tutorig service has developed new pro- grams. They are now offering a preschool computer program for four annd five year olds. As well as afer school computer shills pro- gram is being offered for students in grades on to three. There is also a junior and seior high school studies program.

According to Vicki “The have been excellent success rates — (it has been) extremely, extremely positive.” Basically most stu- dents who complete the program will fill out a questionaire to give the tutoring service some feed back. The tutoring service is also growing — because of a wider range of referals. Initially referalls came only from parents of student being tutored. Now referals are also coming from the school system and professors on campus. There have also been a lot of referals from guidance counsellors.

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