With all the controversy over AIDS in society today, one would think universities

ould derive a policy to de- ermine what happens to a student who contracts the disease.

However, UPEI as of yet has not formulated a policy even though almost all Mar- itime Universities have.

Dean MacMillan, Stu- dent Union President, said

e brought up the idea of formulating a policy to he President of University,

illiam Eliot , in Sept. However, Eliot felt it was ot the time for one:

“He (Eliot) told

e (MacMillan) there was no need for one at the time.”

The Student Union then ormed a Health Awareness ssues Committee in early

AIDS Policy at UPEI

October. The committee consisted of MacMillan, Earl Byrne, Jennifer Bartlett and Laura-—Lee Kilfoil. Its main purpose was to look into the idea of an AIDS Policy as will as putting condom ma- chines on campus.

They did come up with a proposal; for putting con- dom machines in the bath- rooms at the barn. MacMil- lan said the proposal was discussed and approved at a Student Union meeting.

“It was decided that ma- chines would be put in the barn and they are going to be ordered.”

Sid Tobias, Atlantic Co- ordinator for the Canada Youth and AIDS. Project was invited to come to UPEI in early January. He came and discussed the idea of an

Practice Safe Sex

AIDS Policy with President Eliot. The Student Union and Jim Griffith, Director of Student Services. MacMil- lan said the presentation was quite interesting:

“It was quite enlighten- ing and he made some good points about AIDS.”

MacMillan also said that the UPEI Administration, in particular Jim Griffith, is now studying the poli- cies of other universities and MacMillan feels this is hope- ful.

He also said that al- though his part in formulat- ing a policy is almost over, he assumes that the Stu- dent. Union next year will continue to work with the Administration to try and formulate an effective AIDS Policy.

HIV Positive Student Barred From Class At York

TORONTO (CUP) - A third- ear music major at York Univer- ity was barred from his singing nsemble course last month for missing five classes because he ests HIV-positive.

“All we have is the student’s ord that he has AIDS,” said Pavid Mott, chair of the music €partment. “Anybody could say hey have AIDS.”

Mott said the fine arts faculty ommittee decided to expell Ron elly from class because he had

ve unexcused absences”. At- ndance is vital because the class ust work as a group, and a pol- y states that three or more ab- Foces result in a failure.

“We offered him a chance to hake it up (in private) with the Ocal teacher,” said Mott.

A doctor’s note stating a stu- fut is “medically incapacitated”

the only allowable reason for Pence. Mott said Kelly did not tnish this note.

Kelly said he did furnish med-

‘l proof. On July 29, 1987 he —

nt a letter to the fine arts de- tment stating he had tested Positive. Kelly included

his doctors’ phone number. The administration never called that number.

“] informed the course direc- tor, Patricia Wait, each and ev- ery time that I was absent from the class,” said Kelly, who is also the president of the York Council for the Prevention of AIDS. The student group runs an AIDS in- formation hotline and operates a drop-in centre.

“I made it clear to her that I was willing to make up the work. At no time was I asked by the course director to submit any form of documentation to verify my absence,” said Kelly.

Marshal Swadron, Kelly’s lawyer, says politics is behind the administration’s decision to expel Kelly from class.

“Our fear is that the ab- sences that were previously ex- cused were changed because of

“pressure by students that he

would be given special treat- ment.”

Kelly said he was often ig- nored and treated coldly by the instructor. On January 3, a let-

ter from the fine arts department _

told Kelly he couldn’t go to class because it would be too physi- cally demanding.

“I’m not allowed to physically attend my class, but I’m allowed to do a recital which will deter- mine 75 per cent of my mark. I’ve been asked not to attend the class due to the ‘physical strains’ which it will put on me.”

York University does not have a policy on dealing with HIV- positive students or staff, but William Farr, vice president of fi- nance and administration is writ- ing one which will be released at the end of this academic term.

“Under the new policy, a stu- dent ill from AIDS would be con- sidered no different than a stu- dent with anything else unless it could be medically proven that the student was a danger to oth- ers,” said Farr, adding that it is the university’s responsibility to prove that the student is a dan- ger to others.

“I’m sorry, I can’t be dramatic about this subject,” said Farr. “We have so far handled the fear of AIDS in a low-key way fairly

successfully,” adding that custo

- Cents Search Duncan

dial staff at the university were given instruction on the subject of AIDS.

Memorial, Concordia, Car- leton and Dalhousie universities and the universities of Toronto, British Columbia, Ottawa, New Brunswick’ and Calgary have adopted policies which state they will not discriminate against staff and students who test HIV- pos- itive.

“The basis of (the University of Toronto policy) is the human rights code, which prohibits dis- crimination against, or harasse- ment of, any individual on the ba- sis of handicap or preceived hand- icap, including that caused by an illness such as AIDS,” said David Gorman, director of environmen- tal health and safety at U of T.

“What we’re trying to do is prevent what just happened at York.”

The HIV virus is believed to cause Acquired Immune Defi- ciency Syndrome, or AIDS, and can be passed on through semen, vaginal fluids or blood.

Ontario Federation of Stu-

strongly disapproves of Kelly’s expulsion.

“Banning people from class because of AIDS is kind of like re- verting back to the 19th century notion of quaranteen. AIDS vic- tims shouldn’t be quaranteened. They need compassion and the ability to conduct their lives like anybody else.” he said.

Meanwhile a student kept out of dental school because he tested HIV-positive is suing Washington University for $3 million.

Dental school dean David Bensinger dismissed ‘John Doe’ — as he is referred to in court doc- uments — in August after finding out the student had tested pos- itive for antibodies to the HIV virus in March or April of 1988.

Norman London, the dis- missed student’s lawyer, argued in the lawsuit filed in Decem- ber that his client legally is handicapped, and that the den- tal school’s action amounted to discriminating against a disabled person.

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