The Cadre * 24 November 1998

Editorial

Grubby, lazy, irresponsible students.

We deserve that title, don’t we?

Many voices shout “yes!” Students don’t want to work, even when it’s available, they say. They take their loan and spend it on beer, nintendoes, and pizza. They sleep all day. And then they have the gall to say they’re poor! ; ’

Of course, many students have counters to these opinions.

They point out the fact that the average student debt load for a single person was $25,000 for 1997 graduates. They talk about the projected debt of $40,000 for graduates of the year 2003.

They might also point out that minimum wage is $5.40 an hour, and that without connections a higher paying job can be hard to find. It takes sixteen 40 hour work weeks to earn $3,500 (before taxes and deductions) they answer. Not even enough for tuition, let alone books and rent. ; . 892-1113

We treat ourselves to beer, food, and treats sometimes, they admit. Should we feel guilty to contribute to the economy? Besides, if we have a maximum student loan, we are still $4,000 Charlottetown

behind the poverty line.

The naysayers retort that they know people who wasted their student loans away, who didn’t spend a cent of it on tuition, and who are too shiftless to work. This minority is seized on, and madesinto a symbol, an “everystudent,” -- the epitome of all scholars.

This portrait is believed by good and bad people, by the nice and the mean, by the compassionate and the cruel. Many genuinely think that students are careless, and don’t really understand the life of a student. This uniformed opinion is not excusable, but at least understandable.

Itis more difficult to reconcile these beliefs when it is our fellow students who clutch them

Speciale —

Re: Campus Thoughts with Ryan O’Connor, Cadre, Nov. | 7-

It was heartening to see this student address the very serous question of government's restrictions on freedom of speech and peaceful protest. This artic le should be published all across the country. Today, citizens’ freedoms are truly in jeopardy. From the “pepper-spray students, to the jailed “pro-life” activists, some of whom have faced jail-time, heavy fines, and even strip searches, prove this erosion of freedoms cries out for strong voices for fairness and justice

As Ryan said, killing abortionists is wrong. They, like pre-born babies, have a

God-given right to life, and no one, short of God, has the right to take their lives. d strident media greatly increase the likelihood of more

And, pro-choice governments and strident me ws f violence by effectively “silencing opposing views. Peaceful protest are legitimate avenues 0

ublic expression. sie : inthe USA, to stand silently/praying before and abortion clinic can be a federal offense,

underthe 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances ( FACE) law. And,a contributing member 17” PIZZA ofa pro-life group can risk being prosecuted under the RICO law (Racketeering Influenced and (3 Toppings) $10.99 + plus tax

Corrupt Organization Act). Both these abuses have occurred recently.

In Canada, to stand peacefully/prayerully — one a ee bubble zone”, the fefty 17” PIZZA & 12” GARLIC FINGERS metre area surrounding abortion clinics, is to risk ing jailed or ined. : (3 Toppings) (3 Denair Seance) As Ryan points out, to “expand bubble zones” in BC is to further restrict any abortion $13.99 + plus tax

clinics anywhere. Abortionists were shot at their homes. But, all Canadian abortion clinics use

i i ers as their private security guards. PEt ckecadetead the right ofa <a to end the life of an unwanted child, and current “THE PIZZA FEAST” 2.17" PIZZA & MED GARLIC FINGERS

laws bort it. She had the freedom to choose. ; ; aw Te ics protesting: “unjust” laws that permit the taking of innocent life, (3 Toppings) ape

and, they cannot in conscience support them. They compare the situation to the “slavery” laws

in th Public protests feed those enslaved).

cain ee a aaa in the abortion issue are at cross-puroses, they both want freedom

to choose their expression peacefully. This is aa Ryan O a s message is important, to i trictions on our oms in Canada. ale

eae oa: Sea caved students to the jailed pro-life citizens, soctety needs intellignet

new vices calling for justice and fairness.

Millie Trainor, Charlottetown

ee ee Ses SEE A eed . > ene