se hecrhictes

TO AN ELITE

A debate presented by the

Wednesday October 28 at 8:00 pm AVC Lecture Theatre “B”

OTTAWA (CUP) — It’s time for the hard sell again as university P.R. depart- ments wind up for Na- tional Universities "Week, and once again students are being left on the side-lines.

"It’s a university cele- Ken- neth Ozmon, co-chair of the National Universities Week programme and president of St. Mary’s University in Halifax. * We’re not trying

bration,” said Dr.

to get involved in student or faculty issues specifically. It’s not a political activist type of event, so that’s why students take less of an in- terest.”

This is the third time the MBsociation of Universi- ties and Colleres of Canada (AUCC) has organized the Week, which is set for Octo- ber 23 to November 1. The two previous Weeks, held in 1983 and 1985, were criti- cized for not involving stu- dents enough in the plan- ning and the events.

Ozmon said that stu- dents were involved in plan- ning the Week this year through the participation of the Canadian Federation of Students.

Bue CFS In- formation Officer Catherine Louli claims CFS “had only minimal involvement in the planning of National Uni- versities Week.” She said CFS will be a participant in the Week, *but a minimal participant.

In fact, Louli questions whether students have any cause for celebration, con- sidering government under- funding of universities, ac- cessibility problems, over- crowding and high tuition fees.

“My question is, if stu- dents were involved in the Week, would they be call- ing it a celebration?” said Louli.

Louli added however that the CFS Policy Man- ual encourages its members to participate in the Week.

“We are encouraging our locals to hold forums or debates or whatever works. We think it’s a good thing that people will be focusing on post- secondary educa- tion,” said Louli.

This year the schedul- ing of the Week has also created problems. The Na- tional Forum on Post Sec- ondary Education in Saska- toon is set for October 25 to 28 — right in the mid- dle of National Universities Week.

“In some ways (the Overlap of the Forum and the Week) will be benefi- cial. Qn the other hand.it, might drag a lot of people away Who would have been Organizimg events on their

campuses,” said Ozmon.

“It has created an over- abundance of problems,” said Less McAfee, who was hired by AUCC ‘Yo coordi- nate a Speaker’s Bureau for the Week. “Of the 31 Whe Versity presidents who of- fered to participate in the Bureau, 25 are going to the Forum.”

He Said most of the presidents had to schedule speaking empagements out- side of the Week because of the Forum.

MeAfee said the presi- dents are being booked by Such Community clubs as Rotary and Kiwanis but that student response to

the project has been weak.

*We have heard noth- ing from any stu- dent groups, which is sur- prising because we antici- pated they would ask one or two of the presidents to come and debate on cam- pus,” said McAfee.

The Week is being mar- keted heavily by AUCC through glossy inserts in Maclean's and L'Actualite, 30-second spots on radio and television networks, and print advertisements and fillers in major daily newspapers and other na- tional publications.

Public partments at the differ-

Relations de-

ent campuses are expected to organize specific events during the Week, while AUCC will host the official launching in Ottawa on Oc- tober 23.

But the emphasis seems to be on improving relations be- tween the community and the administration, rather than students. Ozmon said St. Mary’s University im vites. community members

to attendiclasses during the Week and hosts a “Block Party” for people who live near the university.

”*We have hotdogs and hamburgers and peo- ple bring their kids. We get a magic act and elowns tor the kids and miy wife amd I walk around afid meet the people. It’s ustially a very pleasant day.” a

Pacwery SEMINAR SERIES

presents

A VIEW FROM THE HILL

a slide presentation of

& personal expression of what means to live on Prinece Edward Isla

= Page 10

Thursday, October 22