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The Panther Prints

Tell it Like if Is

by Lorne Caborn

Before I get started I would like to take a moment and welcome back all those who followed my column during the first semester and apologize for not keeping it up during the second. For those who've never read one of my opinion columns, this is my personal forum where I get to say what I want, how I want.

This being the final issue of the Panther Prints for this year I felt it would be appropriate to focus on the paper itself, since everyone else can't seem to stop talking about it. When I first moved here from Halifax and joined the paper my first thought was that student journalists were pretty weird. True, I still think this of most of them, but at last it makes for an interest- ing paper.

From the start not many people -- staff, students and professors alike, took the paper very seriously. We used a news magazine format and the first issue contained mostly articles such as this one I am writing now. It took a while before the paper was transformed into what you're reading today, and I think that transformation was long overdue. Our production editor, Mike Beagan, has self-styled the paper so that it rivals the look of other professional newspa-

pers. Our contributors have submitted some excellent articles focusing on student issues and our news/sports editor, Amy Gallan continues to write informative and provocative stories.

The most respect however should go to our editors, Marko Peric and Aldera Chisholm, who have allowed the staff and contributors to print the kind of stories the students at UPEI want to read. Aldera Chisholm, who has been a target of late, should really be’congratu- lated on standing behind the staff and as a direct result of that, producing a first- class news publication. Let's hope it carries over to next year's staff and the paper continues to give students some- thing to talk about (It would be a shame and a disgrace if yet another student media source was forced to shut down because a small group of people believe it to be unnecessary).

Congratulations to all the staff and contributors and everyone else who was involved in making the paper what it was this year. Also, a fond farewell to those leaving us, including graduates Jennifer Caseley and Steve Ellis. Let's hope you continue to hear that the Panther Prints is still making noise as the student voice of UPEI.

NOTICE

Documentation Centre For Harassment Charges

Many individuals in academic settings have been the target of sexual or racial harassment, under guidelines adopted by most institutions of higher education in Canada. In order to document such cases, SAFS has estab- lished a Documentation Centre for Harassment Charges. The aim is to catalogue as many cases as possible, to make them available to the media and to those who have been accused (where the individuals involved have given permission for such publication and circulation) and to provide a research base for study. Please send any material you have which is rel- evant, including newspaper clippings, to the Centre’s archivist:

Prof. Heinz Klatt,

P.O. Box 270029, 60 North Centre Street

London Ontario, Ontario N5X 3X5

Initial contact can be made by email: hklatt@julian.uwo.ca

All information will be held in strictest confidence unless and until the

April 2, 1996

Dig This!

The Soc/Anth Newsletter

by Michael Drake Well folks, it is that time of the year yet again. Work is at our doorstep.

Careers call our names like banshees in their death throes: minimum wage is a pacifying agent that enslaves us, chains us to the ever-turning wheel of trying to pay for higher education. If debt were a dangerous industrial machine, we'd all be coal- dusted child labourers missing multiple limbs. Ah, William Blake, where are you now?

Remember that democracy is the cornerstone of our society, mes amis. Just to prove your democratic sensibilities, drop by the lounge and put in nominations for your choices for next year’s executive. All positions are up for grabs, right from Vice President to PR Rep. Keep in mind that the society can not operate without a properly informed and democratically chosen group of leaders.

Now it is time for a tangent, folks, it is the last time I have the chance.

I personally am disgusted with the Student Union of UPEI. Having spent a lot of time on SU executives myself, I realize how hard it can be; however, the job of the SU is to represent the students. The recent decision to cut funding to CIMN bla- tantly disregarded student opinion. It saddens me to see an organization, supposedly “by the students for the students”, not do their job but rather stick the ideal of student democracy into the toilet.

Students like myself, who are involved in many aspects of University life, all have the same opinion. When the Student Union (based on the opinions of a few)

wished to break away from CFS, we heard and saw rhetoric based on the struggle for good leadership and involvement. The SU was disgusted with student apathy.

Rather than attempt to counteract apathy through great support of UPEI sub-organi- zations, the SU cuts them down. It makes me angry.

“Change your policy or resign” someone once said to Prime Minister Jean Cretien. Who gets cut after CIMN? We protested against the cuts to education not long ago. Perhaps we should hold a march on the Barn next.

NOTICE Poo

Volunteers Sought by Yvonne MacKean

Well, this is the last official PSS for this year. I hope that I have reached some people and made others laugh. I would thank all those who read, and the rest, you don't know what you have been missing. Raters

The final notices that I bring to your attention is don't forget to think about next year's society and executive. Secondly, watch e-mail, listen to profs and watch for posters about an end of year Political Studies Society party. Details are not finalized, but there will be one, so stay tuned.

In its efforts to support the increased demands for patient services, public education, and fundraising programs, the PEI branch of the Kidney Founda- tion of Canada needs to in- crease its volunteer base. If you or your family members, friends, neighbours or col- leagues are available to assist the foundation with any of our projects, we would be grateful if you would contact the Branch office at (902) 892-9009. Your help would be appreciated. _

individual gives permission for release of information to others.