Nuclear Exploitation in the South Pacific by Pam Muir The location is the Marshall Islands, which are a small group of islands located in the South Pacific. Why, you might ask, should we be concerned about these small islands that are only dots on a global map? It is because this area has been and is being used by the United States for a nuclear testing pro gram, and the effects that this testing is having on the residents of the region are horrific. According to Mrs. Darlene KejuJohnson, a native of the Marshall Islands, the people of the South Pacific are also extremely concerned about plans by the U.S. and Japan to begin dumping radio active waste onto the ocean floor (similar to the dumping which occurred off the U.S. east and west coast between 1946 and 1970). Keju-Johnson’s involvement stems from first hand observation of the health and cultural damage to her own
they would be abnormal. KejuJohnson relates stories about “ babies that have come to be known as jelly fish, because they are hideously col oured and resemble bags of jelly...” Although these islands are corn-
people, resulting from the testing in the late 40’s and 50’s. When she was three years old, testing began on Bikini Island. She grew up downwind from this site. She now has 3 tumors and is afraid to have children for fear thaï
parativeiy very small, what is happen ing there involves the world as a whole. These people are not only suffering health-wise, but are also being denied continued on page 2
Report to the Clubs of McGill quest forms. We are bringing up the subject now because April is bound to be a busy month and many clubs will have wound down by then. If you have any questions about budgets or fun ding, Jon Shifman (at Students’ Socie ty) will be pleased to answer them. Room Bookings A reminder — you may book rooms now for next year AND you will not have to pay for them now (or ever, we expect)! Beer Money Another reminder — the money generated from the increase in th price
Club Budgets The success of the Students’ Society fee increase referendum will no doubt make everything a lot easier for the clubs next year. In addition, Yat K. Lo, next year’s VP Internal, strongly supports club funding. At the same time, it is crucial that clubs which are eligible for funding get their budgets in on time (April 30, 1984). Last year, clubs got stuck without money because they failed to get their budgets in before the deadline. In the near future you’ll receive more information on budgets and how to fill out budget re'T
of beer sits and grows while waiting for organizations to ask for some of it. As far as we know, no organization has made a request. Please speak to Scott Keating if you have any questions regarding a request for funds. And... We are still available to answer any questions or help with any problems (although very few people ask). Put a note in any one of our boxes, or giving us a call at home. Marcy Vigoda Scott Keating Amalia Martinez
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McGill Tribune P ub lished by the S tu d en ts’ S ociety o f M cG ill U n iversity, M on tréal, Q uébec.
The Continuing Saga of Athletics Facilities by Tom Duffy Two years ago, McGill students voted to assess themselves an annual fee which would be used to pay a por tion of the construction and operating costs for a new and vastly improved athletics complex. The annual assess ment, which is to last for fifteen years, will eventually add up to close to four million dollars. There is one catch in the referendum, however. In the event that no decision is reached by June 1, 1984, the money collected thus far will be used to renovate the present facility. Needless to say this deadline is quickly approaching, and there is much doubt as to where and how the new facility will be built. There is no question that the present facilities are sadly lacking. The exam ple of the squash courts probably best illustrates the present state of those facilities. With squash growing in popularity every year, it has become nearly impossible to book a court. Also, as a result of the almost constant use of the courts, many of them are in desperate need of repair. Squash is not the only area where the facilities fall short. Athletics Director, Bob Dubeau points out that more than thirty intramural teams (read 300 students) were turned away because of a shortage of gym space. The construction of a new complex would certainly go a long way toward eliminating these inadequacies. Plans for the new complex call for the addi tion of five squash courts as well as two raquetball courts. Furthermore, in creased gym space would effectively double the indoor games area, accor
ding to Dubeau. This extra space would allow the Athletics Department to improve and broaden both its in tramural and instructional programs. The Athletics Department will not be the only beneficiary of the new facilities. The proposal also provides for an athletics hall with a seating capacity of 2000. While the main use of the hall would be for basketball and in door track and field, it could also be
Sharpeville Remembered by McGill South Africa Committee This Wednesday, March 21st, members of the McGill South Africa Committee will be handing out infor mation leaflets and black armbands in the lobby of the Student Union Building in commemoration of the 24th anniversary of the infamous Sharpeville Massacre. This incident shocked the world at the time, for it revealed the government of South Africa’s complete lack of respect for the most basic human rights of its black citizens in an unprecedentedly baltant and violent manner. The Sharpeville Massacre took place on March 21st, 1960, when several thousand Africans in the township of Sharpeville marched peacefully to their local police station with the intention of offering themselves up for arrest. In defiance of South African law, they were not carrying the humiliating documents of identification, known as Passes, which every black person over continued on page 2
used for lectures, concerts and perhaps convocation. Another aspect of the proposal with applications beyond the athletics department is the provision for a sports medicine-science center. According to Dr. Robert Wilkinson of the Department of Physical Education, this center would be an expanded ver sion of the sports injury clinic with research capabilities which the present facility lacks.
The University is currently consider ing a number of proposals for the con struction of the new complex. The original proposal — and the one most satisfying to everyone involved — calls for the complex to be built on top of the existing gym. The expense of this proposal, however, has forced officials to examine other alternatives. The continued on page 7