12 Campus

he MAPUS onnection

for mature and part-time students

Good news. Mapus, the student group representing mature and part-time students on campus, is working to make the organization work better. For starters, the annual general meeting is scheduled for this week for Wednesday October 21 at 4:30 p.m.. Everyone 24 years and older and all part-time students are invited to attend.

If you haven’t visited the Mapus Lounge as of yet, this would be an ideal time to drop in. The annual meeting is an exciting opportunity to meet other students, find out what information and resources are available and to find answers to questions about university life.

Items of importance include nominations for the Mapus student council position and a short orientation session to provide Mapus members with an insightful glimpse of how the organization can help you succeed at UPEI.

One initiative, implemented at other Canadian universi- ties, isa tutorial type computer program that leads to improved study skills and less stress on exams. These are specifically designed to meet the needs and requirements of mature and part-time students. Maybe we could use a similar program here. What do you think?

Ample opportunity is planned to discuss your ideas and suggestions so bring them along too. Invite a friend. And don’t forget, if you are one of the first thirty people through the door, the pizza and soft drink refreshments are free. See you there!

Onadifferent note, we really do have something to smile about. We do not have to compete with 45,000 other applicants for a university space. This is the estimated number of high school graduates Ontario will have in 2003: the year the province eliminates the grade 13 program. That is good news.

Finally, the thought this week is credited to Franklin P. Jones. He says “middle age is when you don’t have to have fun to enjoy yourself.” My sentiments exactly.

The MAPUS column is dedicated to promoting the ideas, suggestions and concerns of mature and part-time students. For submissions, please contact Janice Muir at JMuir@upei.ca or (902) 853-4042.

By CAROL YNHORTIE

lam anewcomer to PEI. Since arriving here in the early summer months I have heard an expression repeated much too often to be ignored; “Are you an Islander?” or a varia- tion of this, “You aren’t an Islander !” Now I ask you fellow students, “What is an Islander?”

I am a Canadian and | presume Islanders are Cana- dians therefore perhaps I am an Islander and simply not aware of the fact. But I be- lieve the definition has deeper roots. I have observed the Is- landers are not too proud of their status. The status quo among the young people is to obtain their education as quickly as they can and leave the Island for the glittering so- phistication of the “big-city.” Yet the Islander seems to have

The Cadre + 20 October 1998

PEI isn't Heaven to me Editorial published in the Cadre on October 20, 1969

a planted suspicion of the “newcomers” and “outsiders,” an emotion | find difficult to comprehend. They seem to take pride in pointing out the “back-country” ways and the lack of challenge offered to the graduate students here. The undergraduates are not sure what they’re going to do with their diplomas or how they’re going to use them but whatever it is, it’s going to be away from PEI.

lam being led to believe that Islanders have an inferi- ority complex. If there has been lack of challenge in the past for the trained and skilled young people this is no reason for it to continue. Why can’t PEI become a province that willattract the young, progres- sive Canadians?

But I think it is up to each of us to take the initiative to explore the possibilities of

i Pees’ P «

PEI; to understand what they are and how they can be de- veloped. I, personally, do not think PEI should be reduced to atourist resort. Nor do! liketo see the apathy by which the Islanders stand by and let Canada Packers pollute the air and water.

If my observations rep- resent the definition of an Is- lander then it is time for our generation to break the shack- les of lethargy and raise the morale to that level of other Canadians.

Ed note: Student jour- nalists did an exhaustive study on alleged air and water pollution by the com- pany mentioned above (along with other suspected city firms) the findings of this study were published by “The College Times,’ Nov’ 66 issue.

Access continues to be improved upon at UPEI's main entrance.

-photo by Richard Haines