Remembering Riverdale High in 75' page 17

EDITORIAL

Students Voice November 1974
pg.2

There is a piece of good news to the begin with this month. Mr. Boutillier, teacher and Pierrefonds Town Councilor, has informed me that the efforts of many students a year and a half ago have paid off. I'm referring to the old P.A.R.C. a committee formed to preserve the land along the river behind the school and along all of Pierrefond's land fronting on the river. Mr.Boutillier tells me that he intends to propose a bill to the council to preserve these areas. Surveying of the land has begun and upon completion of the survey the bill will be voted on by council. Mr. Boutillier rates the bill being passed as quite good but every little bit helps. If you live in Pierrefonds and you and your parents agree with the proposals put forth in the bill, ask them to call up their town councilors and tell them how you all feel about the issue. In this way you can help preserve the land in its natural state. In the article on the Student's Union by Lillian Serrouya changes in the organization of the S.U. elections are laid out. The changes are overdue, something should have been done years ago. But now that the changes have arrived they are definitely changes for the better. It is about time that nominees are given the chance to gain valuable experience before they are elected. The changes also give the candidate a chance to pull out of the race if they no longer want to become President. One element which was not mentioned and should, in my opinion, be included in the amendment is some sort of report to the student body on the performance of the nominees, their attitudes and their sense of responsibility. It has has been a common complaint amongst dis-gruntled ex-candidates, myself included, is that the choice of the students must be based upon only one speech. There have been those who favor taking voting privileges away from Cycle 1's. This proposal has its merits since cycle 1's cannot be expected to know the candidates well enough to make the best choice. Too often the best orator wins. But since the school is theirs as well the cycle 1's should be allowed to vote but they should be better informed and made aware of the responsibility that they have. The changes by the Students Union offer a perfect opportunity to do something to improve this situation.

Letter to the editor of The Student Voice

November 1974 Issue
pg 2.

Dear Editor,
The obvious function of a school newspaper is to stimulate the interest and enthusiasm within the student body with respect to activities in the school. On this note you have quite masterfully fulfilled this purpose in your previous issue. As in every administration of the type in which I am involved, one must be willing to accept constructive and perhaps destructive criticism under the right context. Myself and the rest of my executive acknowledge your efforts to advise us and the rest of the student body of the existing political situation in the school as you see it. However, with direct reference to your previous letter, I feel that your intended aim (or what I thought to be your aim) was slightly distorted. In an academic setting I feel the one holding a position such as yours should keep in mind the importance of your statements and the effect they may have on your readers. As president of the Riverdale Students Union I feel that co-operation of the press with the student executive is a necessity. In order to effectuate a successful and meaningful operation we must have the strong and complete support of the people for whom we work. The "Students Voice" is one predominant factor which can help to motivate and guide students in the direction of our operations. In our present position we feel that many of your statements were valid and well supported. However, on touching upon a subject as delicate as the reputation of the student executive I feel that everything said against us must be well supported and well researched. It was my opinion that several of the issues which you brought up were unsupported and misleading. The recruiting of the Blue and Gray members was a good example of that effect. The following is a quote from the editorial from the last "Students Voice". 'This year all applicants were admitted. One wonders how much screening was actually done' In addition you also spoke of misconsidertation of priorities with respect to campaign promises made last spring. I submit that you have misconsidered your priorities as serving as editor to the school news paper. To further clarify the manner in which the Blue and Gray applicants were selected, all I can say is that each member was interviewed by myself and my executive as well as one of my two staff advisors (Mme. N. Serrouya and Mr. G. Boutillier). All procedures were performed within the boundries of the Blue and Gray Constitution. Large problems cannot always be solved by confronting them directly. It is often the case that the consideration of smaller issues is the key to the final solution to more elaborate problems. Orientation Week, a dance early in October along with the revival of the Blue and Gray Society helped to instill the necessary spirit which the school often lacks at the beginning of the school year. In summation I wish to acknowledge your concern with respect to Student Union activity and I would be more than pleased to hear any of your questions or even problems which may arise. I would also welcome any letters from the students of Riverdale.

Thank-you,
David Barsky.
Student Union President.

Note: for ironic photo of Student Union see memories page 11
http://www.geocities.com/riverdale75/RHSMemories11.html

RESPONSE FROM THE EDITOR

I would like to thank you for your letter and your interest in the affairs of the newspaper. Unfortunately our opinions of the function of the school newspaper differ considerably. In my opinion the function of a school newspaper is not to generate interest in activities but to inform the students of the school of things which they otherwise might not be aware of. The reports on sports and other activities are an essential part of the paper but not the most important. If, by means of the paper, the student body can be made aware of the actions of the Union and take a greater interest there-in I consider that one of may aims as Editor has been accomplished. In the editorial of the first issue just one paragraph deals with the Blue and Gray Society. In your letter close to 1/4 is devoted to this issue. What about the other points I raised? Finally I would like to congratulate you on the success of the first two dances and the entire Student Union on having the foresight to plan Carnival Week well in advance. My congratulations also to you personally on your mastery of the technique of writing letters in the style of a true politician.

EDITOR

AD PISTOLUS PETUS VECTORIALUS, CCCXLIX

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