THE SUN .‘ Thursday}. Septeirher ; "- 1981*,7’E3acjé 4

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‘ Editorial

by Tom Schneider

University students around the world have, at times,

been noted for their activist tendencies.

Pr< xtest .

marches and sit—ins were an integral part Of univer—

sity life during the Sixties.

More recently , in

Iran, it was the university students who initiated

the American hostage saga.

The list could go cn,’

but the list is not as important as the origins Of the political and social activismlwhich periodically emanates from university campuses.

It seems that the university environment fosters a certain healthy idealism which is Often critical

Of the status quo.

And rightly so;

being a student

affords any person the rare Opportunity of being relatively free fromlthe obligations of work, family and the other establishments of life. This uniquely objective position offers the student a brief ap- proximate of the vita contemplativa which Aristotle found so valuable for becommdng a fulfilled human being. University life is a chance to think crit- ically and an Opportunity to voice those thoughts either through the writing done for courses or in

Thank

Dear Editor:

I would like to take this Opportunity to publicly thank the members of the Orientation Committee and the Shine— rama Committee for their hard work in making UPEI Orientation '81 a most successful event indeed

Special thanks go to the respective Chairpersons Nanci Jean Waugh and Heather MacLeOd for their leadership qualities which are truly needed

Dear Editor:

Well, Orientation “Eek is over for anOther year and although I may be a little prejudiced I feel that Orientation '81 was the most success— ful yet. TherefOre I would like to say a great big thank-you to those who made it such a success - students, faculty, and last and most importantly, fresh— men.

Over the summer months many, many students, too numerous to mention, gave up summer sun to attend meetings and make plans for orientation events. Another large group of students arrived on campus early to help out in the actual activities. I would ever so much love to personally identify each and everyone of you but as I look over my list there is over 50 and I am scared that I might have missed some so I will just say thank—you.

you

Notes

for events such as this. UPEI is lucky to

i have people such as Nanci,

Heather and other members of the two committees who gladly gave up their spare time in order to make incoming Frosh feel at home and provide an excellent start to four years here at UPEI.

Thank you, Terry Palmer President , UPEI Student Union.

Another thank—you goes to staff, faculty, and administration ( I hope that takes in everyone) who helped out by :Opening up buildings, countless questions, participating in events and by being just cooperative. Thank—your one and all.

Freshmen, thank-you too for your partici— pation and the good sportsmanship which you proved throughout all events. Without you none Of the events would have happened or have spurred the committee on. If your participation and enthusiasm in orientaion '81 is any indication of your future activity at university then the class Of 1985 will be dynamite.

Thank—you one and all — and have a good ~year.

Nanci Jean Waugh Orientation Chairperson

/.

group movements protesting unfavorable conditions.

In the Sixties, there was a certain naivete which accompanied the protest groups, and the idea that the actions Of the establishment could be changed by protest marches died almost as quickly as the Students killed by the National Guard. At that point, student political activismlmetamorphosed into political terrorismxand also left the campus Chry— salis./ The WEatherman, the Symbionese Liberation Army and the Yippies took up the political idealism sparked by the students. Meanwhile, the students themselves retreated into some formtof academic seriousness, perhaps having realized that the estab- lishment could not be bullied.

It is unfortunate that protest groups turned out to be somewhat of a fad because, however idealistic the protest actions were, the important thing is that a political awareness existed which was not afraid to make itself known. Non-violent group action is valid and is effective because it nurtures an awareness of unsatisfactory conditions for both the interest group and the establishment, but it is only the starting point towards any kind of change.

Now our own university is being seriously threat— ened by federal government cutbacks in post-secon- dary aid. The opportunity to receive scme kind Of education is becoming more of a luxury, affordable only to the economically privileged. As a university student, what could be more worth protesting about than the threat to purSue your own interests. On that note I hope that some students will make an effort to become more kncwledgable Of the present situation, and active in protecting the right to attend uniVersity at a reasonable cost.

.newspaper published

I Charlottetown. Contents are the Cynthia King responsibility of the editors. Opinions are Anne MCEWGD

cThe Sun

jlhe UPEI su_1\_1 aims to be an independent

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weekly throughout the year by the UPEI Student Union, printed by the 7 Williams & Crue, Ltd., in

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dtaffers ~

Tom Schneider Typist — Cathy Parkman

MaryrDriscoll

Rob McConnell Katy Kelly

Frankie Smits

Nanci Waugh

for their help this week.

‘Graphics — Paul Robinson

,‘Ad Manager — Dave McInnis v 894-3031