Student Council Reacts to University Task Force Proposal

t its meeting last Sunday evening the UPEI Student Av Council discussed and reacted to the proposal for atask force to examine sexual violence against women oncampus. The proposal calls for a 15 member task force to be established under the authority of the UPEI Board of Governors. The task force would examine different aspects of the problems faced by women on campus who face or are threatened by sexual violence.

The proposal was discussed by Council for approximately 45 minutes. Council decided to endorse the task force proposal as an essential part of any effort to make real progress towards a safer campus. Although support for the task force was unani- mous on Council, concern was also expressed over fact that only three students are included on the task force as it now stands.

All the juicy details from those thrilling Student Council meetings!

It was felt that three students was not sufficient representation on the task force, in light of the fact that the vast majority of women at risk on campus are students and it was considered essential that the task force should be comprised of at least 50% womenalthough no provision currently exists to ensure this. It was decided that these concerns would be represented to the administration and to ask for an additional two students to be added to the task force.

The task force as it currently stands calls for student represen- tation to be a student from the UPEI Student Union, one from the MAPUS Association (Mature and Part-time University Stu- dents), and one student from residence. Students who have names to suggest for any of these positions were being asked to bring names forward to the Student Union or MAPUS.

The Once anc Future V.P.1.:

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by SEAN McQUAID

ick Gallant was, until recently, the Vice President Internal of the Student Union. He resigned during tt controversy over the actions of S.U. President Tracy

Arsenault, and more recently agreed to this interview to bet clarify the reasons behind his actions.

When asked why he resigned, Gallant had several reasons, | of the foremost being that he wanted to draw attention to stud dissatisfaction with Arsenault, who was criticized for inac! ity and failing to keep students informed in the wake of alleged sexual assault, resulting in her eventual resigna i after she proved unable to explain and justify her action Student Council. Prior to that, Gallant felt that, in his wo ‘‘everything was gonna be shoved under the carpet.”’ He told at that time that the petition to impeach Tracy had run

"T think it was my res ignation that mad people see this was serious matter."

-- Ex-V.P. Internal Rick Gall

of steam, and Arsenault herself apparently believed tha! had nothing to answer for. Gallant felt that the Student U Executive had stagnated under her continued leadership. nothing could be done as long as she had nothing to answe! Gallant felt that the Student Union Executive had stag? under her continued leadership, that nothing could be do long as she stayed. ‘‘I think it was my resignation that! people see this was a serious matter,’’ Gallant said. * ‘In believed in my convictions and a lot of people believed i too. Ithought that the students wanted her out.’’ That didi seem to be the case as time went on, many students acc" Arsenault of having lied in later statements regardi® actions and student concerns that were brought to her. 7 aliy,’” said Gallant, ‘‘I could not work with someone w! been caught lying. I didn’t have confidence in her 4 executive didn’t.”’