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IIIIIIIIIIlI—II by: Kevin Gauthier

Harken back, Dear Readers, several issues of l The Sun and recall, if ya‘ will, the Student Union President's State of the Student “Union Address. In that articulate, well inten— tioned communique from the office of our student leader, we were informed that all is well with the Union and their future holds nothing but prcmises of bright sunshine and happiness for ' all. Well, begging the PreSident's pardon, I must disagree. .

Having been closely connected with the union during three of my 4 [years at UPEI, I am quite familiar with how. it should function and how it really does. And believe me, there is littleuof the former in the latter. President Walker's ‘ assertion that the Union is in good shape is wrong; dead wrong; the Union is sick and dying slowly. ‘

Evidence? You want evidence? I'll give you evidence! First of all, I'll bet that, of the roughly 850 students who take the trouble to begin reading this article, 700 have turned-to the next page before this sentence. The mere mention of "Student Union" is enough to either send most students into par0xysms of yawrfing or ‘ make them wonder what—the—hell those idiots and rip—off artists in The Barn are up to now. _ Hardly a healthy attitude. For an organization that claims, .l,350 registered members, it speaks poorly indeed that less than 60 knc'w enough about it to be inter— ested in playing an active part. Hardly a healthy attitude. And for the past three years, more and more elected positons in the UniOn are being filled by acclamation, even though most of them involve

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editorial

III-IIIIIIIl-IlIl-Iii-IIIIIl-Ii-IIII-Il-llllllllIII-lull

UPEIJS'UM,

Déadline for all submissions is Monday noon. V » i v

' The Staff meeting is every Monday at 7 PM in M's office,

a fourth floor Main,

'_ East end. ' '

_ A sincere thank you' and a. helluva. lot _of gratitude to: 4 '

by The UPEI SUN'is a. member ' ’of the Canadian University Press (CUP) with exclusive national advertising , rights held by Youthstream, ,310 Davenport Road, I Toronto, Ontario. The UPEI SUN aims to

,be an independent

' newspaper published»

, weekly throughout the academic year by the

UPEI Student Union, '

I printed by the Journal- Pioneer in Simerside and distributed throughout ‘ the campus. ,

Contents are the responsibility of the editor. Opinions are. those of the persons expressing them. All ‘letters and articles _ _ . _ .must be signed even . for all, the work-they if the name is to be I did on this week's

from publication. ‘, issue. '

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Alan Buchanan Maureen Hartman' Derwin Banks Todd MacLaughian Richard Lee George Barry Catherine Wilson

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Editor - John Cairns ‘ Layout Manager — Maureen Hartman Photographers — Derwin Banks ' ‘ Todd MacLaughlan Richard Lee

Advertising Manager ’- Kevin Gauthier‘ / Typist — Catherine Wilson

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financial shape. We have a substantial debt, with ‘ foreseeable future: Our fixed expenses devour.

capital savings plan that presently claims 20% of

‘Weeksk at least during the second semester. Yearbook . fees should be doubled. Medical plan-fees should be

deposits, should be_ undertaken. find, most p

‘ therUnion Offers than. ' have been alternately. disappointed, depressed,

’ enthusiasm and support for the Union anmg its

_ force in our lives at university, and a necessary

‘ to know better. ~

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' So take off the rose—coloured glasses, and either find

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». THE UPEI SUN. Thursday; February 1h,,1980; pege

.SLTUDENT‘.‘ *um‘o'N 'INf ’TROUIS‘LE

nothing more than attending one meeting every two weeks. Hardly a healthy trend. ‘ ._

The problems that afflict the Union stem basically from two causes: apathy, and finances. 'Ihe second one is most easily dealt with, so let's approach _ p that one first. The Student Union is in poor

no inmediately available way to retire it in the

approximately 80% of our fixed revenues. We have_..a . our revenuefran fees. Our revenue-generating activities are increasingly beccming drains on r. . the treasury as fewer students attend events and. spend less money when they do attend. Now, before we proceed further, I must confess that this writer did play \a part in putting us in this uncanfortable: spot, having been President when the capital savings plan was introduced. _, Although I- strongly believe that the plan itself was and still is a necessity, it must never be allowed to cripple today's Union for the Sake ‘of tomorrow's. And I sincerely hope future ExecutiVes will not allow it to do so. Expenses must be cut and revenues increased. Salaries at the Onion (which currently run, upward of $25,000 yearly) must be cut as soon as possible. Radio CIIVN has to be closed until we can afford to operate it properly. «The SUN must increase its ' advertising rates, but- this will only work if students support the businesses who support us.

Pig "N" Whistle should be held only once every three

increased to provide additional revenue. Sane intelligent investing of capital, other than term

of all, an arrangenent Irmst‘made'Witl’r‘ithemi; Versity so. that at least half the cost cf’hiaintai‘riing' The Barn will be assured by «then. We gaVe them “ $100,000 for that building, which til-5y otherwise would have torn down, and it's about time some of that money came back to us. .Of‘fice expenses have to be cut or held in check. Liquor prices have to go up, and less expensive means of providing enter- tainment will haVe to be :found. It all makes for very tough nedicine, but it's needed if the Union is to get back onits feet. ' ’ _ But all this will be for naught if Student Union matbers to ignore the benefits

At various times through past four years, I

dejected and disgusted by the total lack of

manbers. It's true thatapathy was ahall‘markj _ of the 70's, and will probably be even more soin the 80's. But the Student Union is a positive

element in our broader education. If weéallon it I to die for lack of interest, we will have to; throw away a vital tool in our efforts to educate ourselves, and university students are supposed

So, although it is understandable thata retiring President would" wish to complete 'his'term on as pleasant a note as possible, I think that Mr. Walker and the rest of his Executive should not bow too grandly. Neither should I disclaim any responsibility for this unpleasant situation. Nor should you.

None 'of us can afford: to .delude ourselves any longer. The Student Union is siCk and‘the treatment required is of three parts: first, the surgeon's knife, to

cut off the diseased strengthen the as I _ yet noninfected areas; second, Scme careful monitoring after surgery to ensure theinfection does not. spread? and third, sane Warm affection and constant attentiOn from the loved ones. .And that's where you Came in. .

a cure or pull the plug.

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