UPEI Holds Irish Wake

by Chris Vessey

On the night of Jan- uary 21st the UPEI Stu- dent Union held a mock Irish Wake at the Barn to protest. the lack of support funds to students of post- secondary educational insti- Planned in con- junction with the Cana- dian Federation of Students (CFS) Week of Action, the Wake symbolized the death of post-secondary education

tutions.

in Canada.

The Student Union of UPEI had a large black cof- fin fill with postcards signed by students to show their dis- satisfaction with the current financial aid being provided to university students.

According to Lisa Mur- phy, one of the committee members who organized the week, the concept of an Irish Wake was devised by a Stu- dent Union committee of 15 members. Both Murphy and UPEL SU President Steve Wynne attended a CFS Na- tional Campaign Conference in November where a "day of mourning” for university education was suggested, in which students would boy- cott classes.

Instead of boycotting — classes, the UPEI SU com- mittee decided that a funeral would have much more im- pact, and would not require any missed classes. ©

eaper, further symbolism f the fall of post-secondary ducation. Several women appointed as "UPEI Vailers” and followed the ofin, moaning mournfully, ‘companied by blues-style piritual music, as the pro- ‘ssion slowly made its way 0 the Barn.

At the Barn Linkletter tlivered a eulogy for the de- ased. "Ed (post-secondary ducation) was a fine fellow. © opened doors for us. He

Ave us knowledge, and wis- Om.

rere

He was selfless, and ad no secrets. He hid noth- 'g from us... he was just like ‘ open book, but now the ok is closed, and P.S. Ed ’s left us.??

Mixed Witz

| ye got dq bone

to pick with

you ! a

= Thursday, January 28th

—_——

When asked if he felt the public might have negative reactions toward the Wake, SU President Wynne said, "the government has been informed, the administration has been informed as well as the rest of the faculty of what has been going on”.

When queried about the reaction of the religious com- munity, Wynne said, ”I haven’t heard word yet”. When further asked if he had been in contact with any of the churches, Wynne replied, ”*T will honestly say, haven’t”’.

no I

The Wake began at the Robertson Library Pit with a moment of silence for the dead, with Barry Linkletter

© 1987 byG

1988

a

as acting clergyman”. Sev- eral students in black robes constituted the official fu- neral procession, with a large attendance from Marian Hall residents in their Pit Bulls hockey sweaters.

During much of his speech, Linkletter ridiculed government responses to the students’ need for money in education. Many of his com- ments were accompanied by ”Hallelujah!” and Lord Je- sus!” from the audience. Lin- kletter led the audience in the singing of a hymn, ”For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow”.

After the service the cof- fin was moved down to the lounge, and an Irish Wake Pub began. 5

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