FEBRUARY 8, 2005

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE CADRE @ 5

Dear Mr. Editor,

I wish to express my concern about the current events concerning the Centennial Scholarship at the University of Prince Edward Island. I am a second year student at UPEI, and I do not believe that there is as big of a problem as the administration has made the public to believe. The administration has tried to tell the public that one of the reasons they are getting rid-of the Centennial Scholarship is because the undergraduates (student’s like me) have raised complaints about it. I personally had never heard of the scholarship until Thad heard about it being closed. I do not see the reason for its end. The Centennial Scholars may not have to pay tuition, but they do have to pay for textbooks, parking and their living quarters. However, they are not allowed to file for student loans, so they are forced to pay for these things from money they have previously made, or from their pensions. I don’t think this is right to begin with, but then to say that they can’t even have their tuition paid for when there is no other altemative given for how they can'come to university without the scholarship. This doesn’t make any sense to me. If the administration has had complaints

about the Centennial Scholars, I would |

like to see some more concrete proof of it because I’ve never heard any student ever complain about it. I would think that having a Centennial Scholar in one’s class would add insight and wisdom to the class because of their years of experience. In conclusion, I

would like to say that the administration —

should make sure that all of or the majority of the student body agrees with their statements before they say them and claim they are from us. Thank You.

Amalia Peripoli Dear Mr. Editor,

This letter is in response to the selfish acts of the University of Prince

Edward Island and it’s president, Wade Mac Laughlin in the recent discussion about getting rid of the Centennial Scholarship, a program that allows seniors to attend the University without the paying of any tuition.

, Until this week, I knew nothing of this incident, but I find it very disheartening that the University could do such a thing to these people. I have also been told by other concerned students that the main reason Mr. McLaughlin and the University wishes to do so is because the younger, undergraduate students of the University are losing seats in particular classes because of these people. I find it rather funny that I have not been asked about this issue, and I have gotten into all the courses that I wanted this semester, as well as next, so I can’t see how the seniors of the island have taken my seat. I also wonder to myself, and I ask this question, who are these students who have expressed their anger about this issue, and WHY has Mr. McLaughlin been saying that ALL students are upset about this? I have talked to a number of other students who attend this University, and I have not had one student agree with this statement. I think that unless Mr. McLaughlin and university officials don’t have any solid references to back up their statement , then I believe they need to re-evaluate their decision and base it on actual facts.

The Centennial Scholars are part

_of this University for a reason, the

reason being they wish to better themselves and to learn. The majority of these people are retired and want to

do something productive and interesting |

with their lives, so they can’t be enrolling here to get a.career, so why turn them away? Growing up here on the island and attending all of my schooling here in Prince Edward Island, I have always been taught to do things for myself, excel in what I want to excel in and always ask questions and let my mind

wonder, and it doesn’t matter what age you are, you are never too old to learn, so why is this an issue now? We are also supposed to be living in a country that allows us to have freedom, but

-obviously this isn’t true if these

Centennial Scholars are going to be turned down by the University to further their education.

These Centennial Scholars should not have to pay tuition, after all they have been paying taxes for so many years, they have worked for a number of years, raised children, and sent their children to educational institutions, some have probably even sent them here to the University of Prince Edward Island. Also, it isn’t like they are getting away with paying absolutely nothing, they still have to pay for parking passes, and books, and they definitely are not cheap.

Mr. McLaughlin claims that this is a “great, small university’, well ifthis is to remain a “great, small university”, allow these students to stay on the Centennial Scholarship, and continue to make a great legacy here, instead of ruining that. This university has a lot of potential, but it is the variety of students and cultures that make this university great, please do not ruin that. These students have a lot to offer so many of us, especially the younger undergraduates, let them continue to do so, after all, university is more about more then just classes and studying, it is about having fun, meeting new people and growing as a person...

In closing, I would like to thank all of the Centennial Scholars here at the University of Prince Edward Island for making my two years here great, and don’t give up, you have many undergraduate students out there who will support you. To Mr. McLaughlin and the University, please re-consider this situation, there are many other ways to work around this.

Jessica White

Dear Mr. Editor,

Okay, I’m not usually one to write into a campus newspaper. Actually, out of my time at this campus, including this letter, I’ve done this once. But when Iread the comments made by Lauren Warbeck regarding the decision to ban the calendar at St. Mary’s university, I felt compelled, no make that obligated, to speak my mind. When the hell is this whole topic of dehumanizing women going to end? Explain how these women are being exploited if they chose to be in the calendar themselves out of their own free will, because it’s a rationale I would LOVE to hear. The only dehumanizing act here is the fact that some people choose to shoot their mouths off completely unfounded, putting down a guy who was trying only to make some extra cash (and in quite a good way, there’s a guaranteed market for the material in question). Fire stations regularly put out calendars of male firefighters, and not a word is said. Add a couple of pounds of fat on their chests, and this is supposed to make a big difference? I could drone on and on about how ridiculous it is to think that gender equality on a University campus is decided by one student selling a calendar portraying college girls, but I think you summed it up nicely yourself, Lauren, whether you realized it or not. Your “kudos” to Chuck Bridges for creating a “gender-neutral” environment is completely undermined - by the fact that you wish to take away the free will of the women involved in Pederson’s project, as well as the freedom of speech and expression that is so sorely needed in today’s society. Don’t worry though, I have your back in one regard. The second I find a suitable eunuch-versity, I’1l make sure to mention your name. I’m sure that they’d love to have you.

Tan