Students: Get Mad!

Parking! Sounds trivial doesn’t it? If so, the recent faculty parking proposal could be termed, ‘Trivial Pursuit’. But, take notice. Get mad! This directly affects YOU!

Picture this: You drive to your 8:30 a.m. class in mid- January in your beat-up Pinto. The heater doesn’t work. The passenger-side door window has not been rolled up in three years. After circling campus in search of a spot, the only one you can find is at the Farmer’s Market. Already late for class, you must now run up the hill with the north wind whipping through your body. You slip on the ice and the paper you spent all night writing falls in a puddle. You then have to wade up to your knees to retrieve it. Wet, cold, and angry, you arrive at class dripping from every body cavity, totally exhauseted. Your professor on the other hand, enthusiastically bounds in, warm, dry, and rested. The mere site of this disgusts you. And why is your professor warm, dry, and rested? Because he has driven to campus in his new, posh Cadillac (which has a functional heater and windows that work) and gone directly to his reserved parking spot, only a 30 second walk from the building in which he works.

Sound fictional? Maybe not. If a recent Parking Committee decision is implemented this will become a reality.

The Parking Committee has recommended that new parking lot near the Vet College be entirely reserved for faculty and staff. This will, in effect, create, or more appropriately, perpetuate a double standard for students and faculty and staff. Are we, as students, prepared to accept this? You can bet you sweet ass we’re not!! It’s time for students to stand and fight for their rights.

Students must be heard before an irreversible decision is made. So, make some noise! We don’t have to take this crap! Sign the Student Union petition against this recommendation. Write to the editor of the Gem. Complain to Council members. Express you disgust to the faculty and staff.

Recently, when speaking to and about students, our wise president, C.W.J. Eliot proclaimed ‘*You [the students] are the reason we [the university] exist.’’ Let us ensure that this

i remains the of the phi of this institution.

Rob Kelley, SU President Paul Ledwell, SU V.P. Academic

Smoking Areas

Dear Editor:

I appreciate your publica- tion of my letter to the Gem, despite complaints by some readers against my honesty and frankness. I mentioned my personal life because I wanted to humanize the Gem.

The anti-smoking _ policy document by the UPEI Faculty Association stated that ‘‘the onus is on smokers to have smoking areas identified in- stead of on non-smokers to identify smoke free areas.”” Even though I have an ex- tremely high IQ, it took me a long time to fully understand the significance of this state- ment.

As generally understood, neither smokers nor non- smokers are allowed to smoke in a non-smoking area. How- ever, smokers may smoke in an area that has not been declared a non-smoking area.

By the principle of sym-

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metry, smokers and non- smokers are required to smoke in a smoking area, and non- smokers have the option of not smoking in areas that have not been declared smoking areas. Smokers still may smoke in non-designated areas. If this is the intention of the assignment of smoking areas, then I support this smoking ban policy. I also like a good

argument. Kevin MacLean

SELF-INTEREST

Editor:

“Some time ago I discovered that human behavior is purely based on self-interest.””

— Kevin MacLean

Well, I certainly agree in Kevin’s case. I make no point about the smoking ban and the constant dribble put forth on the subject. Rather, I would like to point out that it’s in

From the Editor’s Desk

The most important aspect of a university is that it is primarily an academic institu- tion. All else should be con- sidered secondary.

To show that we care about student academic performance we are printing the Dean’s honours List in this issue. The Prize List has been omitted since it was printed last week in the Guardian.

Some students have com- plained about the making of the Honours List. We agree that the List should include marks from both first and

“Path,

Dear Editor,

As I write this, I’m sitting in the UPEI Barn. It is a Thursday night, and The Web is playing to a pathetically small crowd. Why? Every- body here is enjoying the band they have played a lot of danceable, Top 40 music. They haven’t played anything you would not hear on a typi- cal night at Jim’s. Which brings me to another question, why is there a lineup down there right now? The prices for drinks are cheaper here at the Barn, it’s just as close to the campus, and there is something going on here tonight that not many

Mr. MacLean’s best interest to deny that smoking can harm him. He performs an action almost certainly dangerous to his health (unless he is in 100% perfect health which no one is) and he needs a rationalization to re-assure himself that he is right.

That Mr. MacLean would presume ‘‘that cigarette smok- ing is a harmless habit’’ be- cause doctors want us to be sick is at best a humourous syllosgism because of the idiocy of the statement. It’s at worst flagrant slander of pro- fessionals who work to keep us all alive. I honesty believe that doctors don’t just save lives so that people can become sick again. The idea is preposterous and may simply undermine the confidence of some uncertain people who are afraid to see a doctor about a potential pro-

blem. James Connolly

second semesters.

The Gem invites students to write for the newspaper. With- out your contributions, the quality of the newspaper can- not be improved. We espe- cially welcome articles which are educational and academic in nature. We invite students from each department to talk about their program, their ambitions, and their frustra- tions.

We also invite students to make suggestions on how to improve the caliber of the Gem. Get involved! There must be something on campus

people on PEI seem to appre- ciate — a LIVE band! It is very, very, uncommon to see a good live band here in Char- lottetown. The Barn is one of the few places left where you can get a break from the club scene.

The Web has amazing stage presence, and they are putting on a great show despite the small crowd, Frankly, I can’t believe how lucky we are here tonight. We have this band all to ourselves.

I’ve been here for four years now. I still can’t figure out the attraction Jim’s has. I can’t say I’ve never had fun there, but let’s face it, the place is getting run down (not to men- tion over-run with under age kids). At least when you go to

Shooting Stars

Poem Praised

Dear Editor,

Robert Bodrog-Goodland’s poem ‘‘Shooting Stars’’ which appeared in last week’s Gem was one of the most eloquent poems I’ve read in a long time. It was poignant, moving, and beautifully expressed the

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that excites you, depresses you or pisses you off. The Gem may be. the outlet for your creative genius, allowing your friends and enemies to realize how absolutely brilliant you really are. So far, we have produced a Kevin MacLean.

There are only six issues left in this semester. Get some- thing published before we | publish something about you! Bios beware!

Due to the Thanksgiving | holiday, there will be no paper next week.

the Barn you are supporting your Student Union. You are supporting yourselve, because you are the Student Union. What is the friggin’ big dif- ference between the Barn and Jim’s? The fact that there is cover charge is not a valid reason. The drinks are cheaper ’ here, so in the end you're spending the same amount of money. ‘‘Everybody goes to Jim’s”’ is another answer. But why does everybody go to Jim's?

I’ve seen student apathy in varying degrees over the last four years. Tonight it has hit anew low.

Yours Disgustedly,

Holly LeLacheur

P.S. Wade and Shakes say they agree.

range of human emotions we all feel at one time or another. My congratulations go out to him on a job well done. Keep up the good work!

Peter Howard Freshman Arts”

Banquet Offensive f

Dear Editor,

On Oct. 2nd the Deans List Banquet was held. Students who made the list 2nd semester but not Ist were invited while those of us who were on the list Ist semester but not 2nd

were not. Is our achievement of less value? Is Ist semester of no importance? Is this a case | of educational discrimination’? Can they not afford the extra meals?? Let’s get the scoop! M.I. Unimportant t

October 9, 1986 Z

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