Liam McKenna

Editor in Chief

It was sometime over the summer when I was listening to my iPod and receiving text messages while I checked my Facebook and chat- ted on MSN that I realized it. The technology that I was using in the hopes of furthering my contact with society was doing just the opposite. In the hopes of staying connected with the world around me, I was pushing society away. My professors, approaching me in the library, had to speak several times or make actual physical con- tact before I would remove my headphones and notice they were even there, let alone trying to speak to me. Meanwhile, I was busy communicating with people who were not even in the room as I was - and possibly not even the same province. It says a lot for what our generation has become: so guarded by our own commu- nicative devices that actual, face- to-face interpersonal contact has become a luxury of sorts. We've lost ourselves in front of countless backlit LCDs and deafened our- selves with headphones.

I got rid of my cell phone about a month ago, and I wish I could say I didn't miss it. Payphones have become incredibly scarce in the wake of the satellite technology and it is drastic change to suddenly

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR. a $a i Universally Speaking

Oct. 12, 2007

Breaking away from the day-to-day

not be able to be contacted at any point in the day. The phones I use now have actual cords that connect them to the wall, and when I write sometimes | even try to use a pen. It's archaic.

It's going in the future kicking ands screaming. There's a unique freedom in the old fashioned way of doing things. Life suddenly seems more leisurely. I walk to work and school without the worry that anyone can reach me. I leave my laptop in my office so it doesn't bother me at home. My iPod, though, that stays in my ears. You won't take my music away from me.

I suppose with all the steps back I've taken over the summer that I have managed to make a pretty big step forward. It's in the communi- cations department too - mass media. I recognize the Cadre as probably the most important form

‘of communication available on

campus. You should, too, for a few reasons. Firstly, the Cadre has a reputation. You should know, though - it's a shitty reputation. Actually, people hate the Cadre. Over the past few years, the paper has had more ups and downs than Barry Bonds. It's been funny, lame, controversial, and damn near crim- inal. It's been pulled off shelves by eager readers and furious publish-

ers alike. This year, the paper has been totally revamped - there are several new staff members, a few familiar faces, and a different focus. While the Cadre has always been marketed as a voice for the students, this year we're aiming to exploit that title in a variety of ways - we're looking to entertain you, to inform you, and to hear you out. The Cadre isn't here exclusive- ly to tell you what's going on or to make you laugh; it's here for you to say your piece too, and I encourage it. If you - the student, the faculty member, the concerned reader, the bored guy on the. can - if you can listen to me then I can listen to you. Write something down and send it in. Don't be lazy.

The second reason you should use the Cadre? It's an important forum, sure, as I mentioned as my last point. The reason you should use this forum though is simply because it's so accessible. One thing that hasn't changed about the Cadre over the years has been that, good or bad, it gets read. For some reason, no one is able to resist walking by a stack of Cadre papers - without picking one up and either groaning or laughing. If you want some of the attention or you want to see what all the fuss is about, write for us or pick up a copy.

Note from the editorial staff:

Due to various issues withg the staff and production of The Cadre, its appearance on newsstands has been delayed. We apologize for this inconvencience and sincerely thank our aidienk readers and. diligent contributors. | Anyone seeking information concerning the paper can attend meet-

ings on Monday at 4 p.m. in Room 218 of the W.A. ee Student

Centre.

Letters to the editor and other contributions can be sent to

upeicadre@gmail.com.