JANUARY 11, 2005

Presentation on Assessment of Learning Disabilities, Jan. 24

A meeting of the Learning Disabilities Support Group will take place in the Faculty Lounge, Main Building, on Monday, January 24, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm (storm date: Monday, Jan. 31.) The guest speaker will be Ellen MacPhail, a registered school psychologist. She will address issues related to diagnosis and assessment of learning disabilities. All interested students, staff, faculty, and members of the public are invited to attend. For further information contact Sandra LeBlanc, Learning Disabilities Association of PEI, (902) 368 —3620, Idapei@hotmail.com

Island Insurance Company Supports UPEI Priorities UPEI recently received a shot in the arm from the Prince Edward Island Mutual Insurance Company. General manager Terry Shea made a special visit to learn more about the major renovations and expansion under way on the historic campus, and to provide a $37,500 boost to the Building a

Legacy Campaign.

“UPEI is very pleased with this commitment from PEI Mutual. With support from the entire PEI community for the Building a Legacy Campaign, UPEI is enhancing programs and facilities for future generations. We are thankful that PEI Mutual is playing a leadership role,” said UPEI president Wade MacLauchlan.

Donors to the UPEI Building a Legacy Campaign may allocate gifts to a particular area that holds special meaning for them. The areas for support identified as most important by the university are expansion or strengthening of campus facilities and programs, great teaching and research, and deserving students.

Looking back... Way Back, at 2004 Continued from page 3

The federal election in June, originally thought to be a Liberal cakewalk, turned into a real contest out of the wake of the Sponsorship scandal. The election was marred by American- style attack ads by both the Liberals and the Conservatives. However, people should question if these dirty tactics actually work. Liberal attack ads were followed by a decline is support, which was reversed by a ridiculous attack by the Conservatives

that Paul Martin supported child .

pornography. In the end the Liberals won a majority government, but both parties should consider replacing their strategists because junior high kids running for student president have had better campaigns.

Going from bad campaigns to worse, we go to the US election. In November 2004, the efforts of countless celebrities and musicians teaming up to oust George W. Bush and his war in Iraq failed, as Bush was re- elected as President of the United States by a majority of American voters. The result is a reminder that even in America, celebrity has its limits, as it rightfully should. Ashton Kutcher campaigning against Bush would cause any sensible person to think twice, not about voting against Bush, but instead about listening to Kutcher.

Indeed, the state in which he campaigned the most, Iowa, was a rare state that voted for Bush in 2004 after voting Gore in 2000. Coincidence? I for one, think not.

Then, there were corrupt elections in the Ukraine, a country

whose previous claim to fame was being labeled weak during an epic battle for world conquest between Kramer and Newman. Fraudulent results were beaten by the peaceful protests of the Orange Revolution, as Viktor Yushchenko was elected in a re-run of the election, giving a sense hope to the world close to the end of the year. However, 2004 was not destined to end on a happy note.

The end of one year often leaves us with the hope the next year will be better. This is painfully true of 2004 as it ended with a horrific tragedy extremely hard to comprehend, as the tsunami in Southern Asia could leave over a quarter of a million dead. 2005 has begun with a campaign by relief agencies throughout the world to help the victims of this terrible disaster.

UPEI Business Student Wins Top-Level Millennium Award A third-year business student at the University of Prince Edward Island was recognized recently by the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation. The Foundation awarded Matthew O’Halloran a top-level in-course scholarship valued at $10,000 over two years. Only 100 Tier 1 awards are given

out each year across the country.

The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation is a private and independent organization created by an act of Parliament in 1998. It encourages

Canadian students to strive for

THE CADRE e 4

UPEI Raising Funds for Medical Relief in Sri Lanka

UPE is taking the opportunity to build on a personal connection to the tsunami disaster in South East Asia. The university shared the joy of Dr. Wimal Rankaduwa, from the department of Economics, who recently received word that his family members are alive and well in that part of the world. The university is now using this connection to the disaster in a direct and meaningful way. Dr. Rankaduwa’s two brothers (doctors), two sisters (nurses), brother- in-law (doctor), and their associates have been doing medical relief work in Galle, Matara, and Hambantota in Southern Sri Lanka and Kalmunai in Eastern Sri Lanka. The University has arranged to work with them directly, to channel donations to support this medical relief. A special fund has been established for this purpose.

One hundred per cent of every gift will go directly to the area in Sri Lanka where Dr. Rankaduwa’s family members are providing relief. UPEI will issue a charitable tax receipt for all donations, and will provide updates about where the funds are going and how they are being used. In addition to accepting donations, the University will be generating additional funds through activities organized by students, staff, and faculty. Check the UPEI website periodically at www.upei.ca and local media for details. For information on how to make a donation, please contact Rose Barbour in the UPEI Department of Advancement Services at 566-0615 or rbarbour@upei.ca. :