The Cadre +

9 February 1999

The M.A.P.U.S. Connection

for Mature and Part-time Students

BY JANICE MUIR

“It takes only one person to listen. It only takes one per- son to advocate. It only takes one person to feel kindness. So it doesn’t take all that many people.” This selection comes from Pat Worth’s book, The Language of Pain - Perspec- tives on Behavior Manage- ment. As an advocate for peo- ple with mental health needs, Pat has approached the discus- sion with a perspective that is often forgotten... that is, we all need a hug or word of encour- agement some time. The dif- ference is that some of us need these kinds of support systems a little more than others.

From a mature and part- time student point of view, | believe it is important to re- member that in the midst of the hustle and bustle of juggling crazy schedules, there is help available if things get tough. There are supports in place and a network of friends who are willing to help. The Mapus Lounge is a good place to go if you want to meet other ma- ture and part-time students, and to ask questions. We cer- tainly do not have all the an- swers, but we can attempt to find out. The Lounge is located in the Robertson Library 106.

There is no word yet on the Revenue Canada tax infor- mation session but we will keep you posted. A criteria for awarding Mapus scholarships is in the works and if you would like to have input into the discussions, please let a member of the executive

know. The spring break is -

coming up and hopefully, the weather will continue to be spring-like.

Registration numbers for the winter session are down from last year and this may lead to increased tuition rates

in the future, according to the

Senate report from our last meeting. This may be a prob- lem that Mapus members may want to discuss at the Annual meeting next month. Many of us are already walking a finan- cial tight-rope while budgeting family needs and education, and tuition rates are an impor- tant factor on the decisions that we make.

If you think that you are ‘working like a dog,’ Snoopy from the Charlie Brown cartoon series has a thought of the week to add.

“Yesterday, | was a dog. Today I’m a dog. Tomor- row I’Il probably still be a dog. <sigh!> There’s so little hope for advancement.” Just what you needed to hear, right?

Finally, the joke from Laugh-a-Lot is probably one of the best of the oldies, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.

After church, Johnny tells his parents he has to go and talk to the minister right away. They agree and the pas- tor greets the family.

“Pastor,” Johnny says, “I heard you say today that our bodies came from the dust.”

“That’s right, Johnny, ! did.”

“And I heard you say that when we die, our bodies go back to dust.”

“Yes, I’m glad you were listening. Why do you ask?”

“Well, you better come over to our house right away and look under my bed, “cause there’s someone either coming or goin’!”

Have a great week!

The Mapus column is dedi- cated to promoting the ideas, suggestions and concerns of mature and part-time students. For submissions, please con- tact Janice Muir at:

or (902) 853-4042.

Campus 15

UPEI hosts

debating tournament

Teams come from across canada to debate

The UPEI Debating So- ciety will be hosting the fourth annual Lucy Maud Montgomery Cup the week- end of Feb. 19 to 21.

The Lucy Maud Montgomery Invitational Tournament is, as Chris Bent- ley, president of the Debating Society, says, “one of the most widely-regarded and classy tournaments around.”

Organized debating has a long tradition at El, stretching back to the days when St. Dunstan's University and Prince of Wales College were two separate institutions. Today, the UPEI Debating So- ciety has almost a dozen full- time numbers, and numerous associates. In 1995, the Lucy MaudMontgomery Invitational Tournamem was founded to give UPEI an invitational debating tourna-

+’ Environmental Management

ment of its own.

This year, over a dozen teams will come from all over North America, eee teams from Ontario an Québec and two teams from the United States, one from Columbia University in New York and another from the University of West Virginia. A joint, or “hybrid” team with one member from Columbia University and another from the University of West Vir-

inia, is the sixth highest rat- ing team in the United States debating circuit.

To cope with the large number of teams, this year, there will be a total of seven rounds of debate before the semi-finals and the final round. There will also be rounds of public speaking competitions.

“(Both debating and

+ Ecosystem Restoration

+ Environmental Assessment

+ Geographic Information

Systems

These two-semester (eight-month) programs start in September

Our NEW CAMPUS located in

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONTARIO PR eee ee eel cee

and facilities to complement our 68 acre on-site Living Laboratory.

public speaking] are im- promptu,’ Bentley explains, ‘but debating is one team against another, while public speaking is one person argu- ing something. This is really impromptu.”

Students and teachers from around the UPEI com- munity are invited to attend the open semi-finals and the final round of both public — and general debate. Members of the university community are also invited to help judge the debaters. Sessions will be offered before the first round for prospective judges, and judges don’t have to stay for the entire tournament.

If you would like more information about the debating

tournament, you can contact Chris entley at ccbentleyigupel.ca=. or Danielle renette at <afrenette@upei.ca>.

www.niagarac.on.ca