mi” ' V

editorial

P

By John Cairns

week.

Our academic semester has been shortened by a A proposal adopted at a February 29th university Senate meeting moved the end of classes

from April l8th to April llth.

the Business Department.

The change came largely because of pressure from Business professor J. J. Revell, also a senate member, was Supported by his' department in insisting that the reduction in class ,‘time was necessary to equate UPEI with the closing dates of other universities and to make our students more competitive in the summer job market. At first Senate hesitated, but eventually the measure

was pushed through. .

January. reconsideration was also turned down. advocating the early vacation next called an emergency meeting of Senate, but once again they were refused reconsideration. tactic emerged which was at best sneaky and at

A new motion was introduced to achieve the same end that Senate had already three Based on the precedent of class cancellation from last semester's SympoSium r79, it was proposed that the final week of classes simply This Senate approved by a narrow two

worst Unethical.

times rejected.

be abolished. _ vote margin. Professor Revell and his backers, among them our own student senators, refused to accept no for an Their new motion was, against the intention if not the word of democratic By crackity, it all reminds me of the Quebec Like UPEl's term cutters, Premier l-ll-Ill-II-lIl-lIll-II-lI-III-

" 0m 50M

answer.

law. Referendum.

I.

When I say I'pushed through”, I mean exactly that. A shorter semester was discussed and dismissed in Then on February 2i a request for

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Rene Levesque intends to ask his question until the .answer pleases him. ‘

Business Professor J. J. Revell - it was he who proposed the change in class time to Senate and then worked to have the change adopted.

Those

As a result, a

What creditable university can justify lopping a week off an academic year already 75% completed? By late February both professors and students should have their schedules tightly planned.

Every week, nay even every day, can be precious if

deadlines are to be met and courses completed. UPEl's lost week will mean extra year end headaches for us all.’ There may be some truth in the arguments that other Maritime universities finish before us and that our students need extra time to find jobs, but ' scheduling adjustments should have been made for

next year at the soonest. _

The UPEI community expected classes to continue until April l8th. \By adjusting this date the university has violated a contract, and legally we probably should receive compensation. Would students, for example, not be justified in demanding partial refunds on tuition and residence fees?

After all, we are getting a week less than what

we paid for in January. Well administration,r

how about it? I The Senate acted with the best interests of our " I ‘ students at heart. I doubt, however, that the

majority of students agree either with their

deCision or with their reasons for making it., I do know that some students are violently opposed to the shorter term, and that their grumbling may grow loud enough to be heard. Thus, while the Senate may think that what is done is done, such may not necessarily be the case. ' ' r

it seems to me,

Dateline re}

The :Stafi‘fineeting is every,Mbnday at T‘PM in W's office, fourth floor Main,

A sincere thank you'

Maureen Hartman

John O'Brien ‘ DenNin Banks

Catherine Wilson

Todd MacLaughlan

Pavid MacFaydgen

Classes off whenever I need them - Now that is my kind of school. .;J

for 511 the work they

Editor - John Cairns \ Layout Manager - Maureen Hartman Photographers - Darwin Banks, Todd MacLaughlanv ‘_ Richard Lee ” Advertising Managen,* Kevin Gauthier Typist - Catherine Wilson b

I l I did enthis week's, l | I