Letters Dear Editor: Bravo on your choice of headline story for the Sept. 11 edition of the Gem. Vidal is concise and courageous in his assessment of a critical turning point in history while his sub- ject remains in the recent past — his words have an almost prophetic nature. The Model United Nations Group at UPEI is taking its first bold steps in preparation for next spring’s National Model United Nations con- ference (NMUN) in New York City. Each year, approximately 1300 delegates from an aver- age of 130 different univer- sities and colleges across North America, Japan and Puerto Rico participate in the national conference. In the five previous years in which UPEI has sent a dele- gation to the NMUN in New York, UPEI students have re- presented Ethiopia and Zim- babwe (1982); The Byelorussian SSR and The Mongolian People’s Republic (1983); Nicaragua (1984); Algeria (1985); and Yugoslavia (1986). UPEI delegations have won consistent praise from NMUN staff, as well as from the faculty advisors for competing delegations, for their faithful representation of the policies and concerns of the nations they have simulated. As a result of past efforts, UPEI’s delegations have been rewarded each year with the opportunity to represent suc- cessively more _ influential nations. In a study of expert opinion performed by Univer- sity of Carleton professor Peyton Lyon, Algeria and Yugoslavia were ranked seventh and sixth respectively in terms of influence at the actual United Nations. September 25, 1986 Through the use of articles such as this, you elevate the quality of our paper about what is perceived as creditable journalism on the Island today; you have used honesty and integrity to achieve what money and monopoly has not — quality. Please give us more. Andrew MacDougall The NMUN is the largest and oldest simulation of inter- national politics in North America. It traces its roots to the Model League of Nations, which was formed over sixty years ago. Each student-delegate is as- signed to a committee of the United Nations, or to another international agency (such as the World Bank) or regional grouping (such as the Organi- zation of African Unity). The size of these bodies ranges from 20 to 162 mem- ber nations. These committees operate with a great variety of working formats. Special features of the New York conference include brief- ings of ‘delegations by top- ranking diplomats from the country which the delegation is simulating. Briefings to each individual committee are per- formed by members of the UN Secretariat, as well as by diplomats who work on the actual committee or agency. Last year, a major highlight for several of UPEI’s dele- gates was the chance to ob- Dear Editor: I accept your full apology presented in the third issue of the Gem immediately after my complaint. The present editor seems, to be a fair-minded person who can quickly recognize great- ness among writers. At this rate, he will become the best UPEL editor in thirty years. I pity Mr. Linkletter, who attacked my sanity in his smoking ban. Knowing he was unable to win the argument with me, he resorted to calling me mentally retarded. All my friends know I am a self-disciplined person. In serve the actual UN Security Council debate on the Libyan crisis in the Gulf of Sidra. Work is intense for most of the five days of the con- ference. Committee sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. and con- clude at 11:30 p.m., with two hours each for lunch and supper. , This is not to say that the NMUN is all work and no play. New York, the city. of “half a million things to do, all at a quarter to three’? — Huey Lewis and the News, does not disappoint; inimit- able shopping, excellent sight- seeing, fine cuisine, and New York’s legendary traffic cer- tainly add to the glamour of the Conference. This year’s delegation re- quires participants with a wide range of academic back- grounds and skills: last year’s delegation included students with specialities in economics, history, business administra- tion, home economics, English, philosophy, as well as many political studies majors. An information meeting for all interested students will be held .this coming Monday, September 29 at 3:00 p.m. in the Political Studies Lounge (Main 326A). The delegation for NMUN ’87 will be chosen by the end of October. Coun- try preference will be deter- mined, and the UPEI Model UN executive will be named, at the same meeting. Lori Anne Heckbert my twenty years of life, I have never smoked more than a pack of cigarettes a day. I Jackson, who now sleeps in a life-prolonging oxygen-filled chamber. HA! expect to outlive Michael Kevin MacLean OFFICE HOURS The hours for the editor of the Gem will be: At the Main Building 4th floor office: Monday: 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM Tuesday: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM In the Robertson Library student lounge: Fridays: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM If the editor is not in the 4th floor office, “aca or messages may be left-by placing through the door slot at the office or may be left at the Barn S.U.B. Submissions for the Gem should be made no later than: 1 PM Monday on the week the submission is to be published; Sub- missions should be typed and double spaced. Early pubmiisions are much appreciated. Regular staff meetings are held Monday at 6:00 PM at the 4th floor office. * Views expressed in the Gem are not necessarily those of the Gem staff or the UPEI Student Union. The Gem is an equal opportunity newspaper. The Gem is published by the UPEI Student Union. Editor: Jim W. Lai Production Editor: Lori Anne Heckbert Photography Editor: Shelli Wheaton Senior Staff Members: Robert Bodrog-Goodland, Don Lane, Brian Linkletter, Danny Mullen Staff Members: Elinor Anderson, Laura Bain, Geoff Clark, Darrell Cole, James Connolly, Karen Cullen, Kaberi Dasgupta, Jayne Emergy-McAskill, Lisa Goulden, Anne Irving, Sandy Jardine, Kerry Lafferty, Alan MacEachern, Kim McNeill, Sam Okello, Kelly Redmond, Bonnie Ryan, Angela Seaman, Oliver Twit, Chris Vessey, Derrick Webber, Debra Wright ~ Contributors: David Gallant, Holly Good Advertising Manager: Danny Mullen Eee | - The Militia Reserve your future Work part-time, earn extra and get experience from professionals the Reserve of the Canadian Armed Forces! For more information. contact % 1 It's xo Punce Edward island Regiment Queen Charlotte Armoury choice, P.O. Box 1480 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island hailtetown 892-2612 01 (00 an See Anorside 436-2281 Ext, 537