By Kelly Mason Staff Writer

UPEI students want a fall reading week, but it might not be worth the trouble.

On Friday, December 3rd, 1999, UPEI Senate helda meeting at which the matterof giving UPEI students areading week in the fall semester was discussed. Student opinions on the matter differ.

“Tf it’s going to take away the spring break, I don’t think they should do it” student Lisa Sanperson said about the idea ofa break in the first semester. “That is atime students use to go home.”

But students like Daniel Beaulac disagree. They are in favour of the week-long break which would give time for students to catch up on their work at a time when deadlines begin to accumulate and stress is high.

“Tt would be an opportunity for students...to [take] a breather from their studies,” added Beaulac.

Philip Smith, Dean of Arts, was approached by two arts students,

faculty members, who suggested that a fall break might be beneficial. The advantages ofa break were primarily to provide

~ atime during which the

students could focus on getting their mid-term assignments or studying done. Perhaps, the students believed, and Philip agreed, this would enhance the quality of their work, and eliminate the sense of always being rushed with classes and papers during the semester.

John Degrace, Senate secretary, noted that a Fall semester break was not new at UPEI. In previous years, before a switch was made from year-long classes toa semester system, students benefited froma fall reading week.

Degrace thinks there are ways to reinstate the fall semester break, but these are unlikely to please students. For UPEI to have time offin October or November, end of classes would be delayed, along with the beginning and end of exams, which would simply push all these closer to Christmas.

Degrace added

session could perhaps be shortened, but this would force students to write more exams ina shorter period of time, adding more stress to an already very stressful part of the semester.

“Tt’snotreally worth it,” said Degrace, also mentioning that a fall break could also result in a shorter summer break, because ofan early start to the fall semester.

Degrace believes an early start to classes is likely the best way to fit in a fall break.

“By starting early, it would enable us to fit in a February break, maybe during the Thanksgiving break,” DeGrace said.

In the event that a week-long break is added to the fall semester, it would not come into effect for at least three years. UPEI, which holds conferences in the weeks prior to the beginning of the fall semester, would unlikely be able to reschedule these events which have been planned years ahead. Break or no break students will be forced to get through fall semester as dictated by the UPEI calendar fora few more years.

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Megan Miller Continued from page 7

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aan ee

volunteer program, APS, and the fight against

impaired driving are all

causes dear to Miller’s heart, but the 21 year old knows that although she will remain active within the community, she is likely going to

take on different projects as years go by.

“T think it [volunteer work] will evolve as I get involved in different things, when I will have established a career, and do that whole sort of thing,” explains Miller. “I think your interests change, your lifestyle changes,

your position in society —

to see in a presentation, having sat

through many of them myself. I know what is boring, I know what is exciting, I know what they want to hear.”

But no matter how her involvement with the organization changes, Miller insists that ~ she will always advocate safe driving.

“When you are staring out at a group ofa thousand kids at a school assembly, and you know that many drink and drive on a regular basis,” explains Miller who sees several young members of the audience snicker

changes, so you have different opportunities that arise from that.”

Though Miller sees the APS program as a lasting venture. Her involvement with the prevention of impaired

_ driving willlikely change.

“I can see myself doing that with different groups, but right now my appeal in school is that I’m a younger person,” says Miller, who can relate to her audience, as she remembers sitting through several presentations of the kind in her junior high days. “I sort of have an idea of what the kids like

as she speaks, “sometimes you just feel like saying, “why do I put myself through that.’ But my stance on that issue is that if you can prevent one kid from doing it again, then you never know if you are saving a life. It is worth it.” Miller’s presentations are very - personal. She begins with a short introduction, and follows with the story of Michael’s life. To put a face to the name, Miller shows her audience slides of pictures ofher brother

Megan Miller : Continued on page 9