A Lonely Student's Response toa - Possible Professor's Strike

y .lama lonely student because I am single - I am a single student. I say this because it is true - I am only a single student, and as such I would not want to speak for any student(s) other than myself. I am nothing more than a single lonely student, because I do not know what other students think about the possibil- ity of a professor's strike, but I would like to find out. What I would not like is to remain a lonely student forever- more, and this vision haunts me at night, and I can't sleep - not even with my special blanky and my seventeen year old pet donkey. So I need a few friends to talk to, to help me out of my loneliness. We students need to talk about what is going on concerning the possibility of a professor's strike, and what role(s), if any, we students might consider taking.

While the issue remains

unclear and the pressure continues to build, a large bunch of single lonely - students are trying to do their school

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work, and keep their heads in their books. The professor's must keeps their thoughts on teaching, as well. Already over-loaded with work, they must now think about this dour possi- bility, while some also dedicate large amounts of time and energy to the actual negotiations. This only helps to distract them to a larger degree from giving us students the quality of edu- cation we are here for and which we deserve. We are already over-paying by far too much, and will be paying by far too much more if the profes- sor's get what they want - the adminis- tration does not have any money for the professor's and someone will have to foot the bill.

Instead of money, there is the new Student Center which has failed to act as a central hub for campus and create a sense of community. It shuts down in the summer and over break, instead of keeping the campus alive with activity. There is also the Aquatic facility which is late and over-budget. There was a re-sodding of rugby field over the summer, which was ruined before it was used, and simply because it was not taken care of. Along with this, there are plans for a

UPEI Cadre January 8, 2004 page 5

new dormitory next year in light of the destitute condition of Marion Hall - at the same time, UPEI is having trouble keeping their dormitories filled, though the condition of Marion Hall may be a factor. This-year the Kelley Building has seen renovations done inside, while the tradition of replacing it's roof continues on every year. I also noticed work being done to the library's breeze-way, and the of the Duffy building, either on one of it's outside walls or it's roof. The admin- istration has no money left, none to give to the professor's, and if the pro- fessor's do get what they're asking for, you can guess that it's going to be us students coughing up ever more money next year - we will be in no need to hold on to our already famine ridden wallets. We students have been caught between a piece of petrified wood and something really, really hard and angry.

But could it be that the admin- istration may have guessed it would be the students paying for these problems in the end? I would almost say that I hope not, but then I would ask myself, what is the alternative? If the adminis- tration could have foreseen such a thing, then there is a blatant problem here in the form of disregard towards the student body. If the administration could not have foreseen this, then there is an even bigger problem - if the administration does not actually know how their actions are going effect students in the future, then who does? How much foresight does administration really have here? I would like to know why they would see fit to expend so much money while facing suck large and escalating problems with the faculty association, which has been going on for almost four years now, if I am correct.

But surely there are reasons for this expenditure. The administra- tion is likely trying to "build" on cam- continued on next page...