Letters to the Editor

A couple weeks ago, my boyfriend brought to my attention the "Take Back the Night" March denouncing violence against women and children. This story is truly ironic. First of all, it was my boyfriend who told me about the march because a notice inviting UPEI students to take part in this demonstration was shoved under his door in Marion Hall, the male residence. So we went to the March, but after being there a short while we discovered that it was not really UPEI students who were urged to attend, but rather female UPEI students. My boyfriend was asked to leave (not until after he had made some very attractive placards for people to carry, though.) As we prepared to leave I was urged to stay. Suspecting

that my boyfriend might be asked to leave, I had-

previously decided that, should this happen, I would leave, too. After all, I know he would not stay anywhere I was not welcome.

I will end this account of our rather negative experience on a positive note by extending a very sincere thank-you to the group of students from UPEI who made us feel very welcome. Thank-you girls, you know who I mean! (They even put a picture of my boyfriend in last week’s newspaper). I do believe that this problem of violence against women and children will go away when, and only when, women and men stand together on this issue. Discrimination, in any form, including reverse gender-based discrimination is a bad thing. It hinders personal growth for both parties. So, here is a mandate to you -_ get rid of the expression "battle of the sexes" and stand united for what we all really want - to be comfortable with and maybe even proud of who we are, male or female. We should not have to defend our maleness or femaleness. The time we spend doing this is not spent on reaching our full potential, nor on making the world a better place.

The negative experience was overshadowed by a feeling of hope for the future because our

generation, better than the one before us, sees the importance of a unified front (men and women) to change these harmful attitudes. Pleasee, let’s all show a little more respect and take mutual perspective taking a little more seriously.

Michelle Pineau

Dear Editor:

Hey seniors and future seniors: Are you aware that the scrolls that you receive at convocation is not what you expect?! It is an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper that costs you $40.00. Wouldn’t you rather have a scroll that you can frame and hang on the wall and be proud of. UPEI has a good reputation for the students it produces but you wouldn’t know about it from, the scroll it gives you.

Graduating Students spend at least 4 years here along with at lest $8000.00; you would think that the university could provide us with a respectful looking scroll. If you feel the same about this issue, please contact your student representative on the Student Union and let your feelings and suggestions be known.

October 4, 1990