by Sarah MacDONALD
The elusive fifteen percent is under attack. As school-goers struggle with finances, economies wane . . . it’s easy to see why there may be a problem with student tipping in restaurants and other fine establishments. Despite this, many at UPEI are sticking by their guns claiming, “Hey, I can pay.”
Many questions arise when dealing with tipping. In a society that happens to have the custom, we are met with issues: Social expectation is more prevalent than anything when it comes to the matter. While students are sometimes looked at as the poorest of the poor in society, some wonder why they have to bother tipping. It is generally viewed that students do tip less. With that said, should we not tip at all? The Semantic explores the issue around UPEI.
Justin Douglas, a 5th year Honours student, believes that there’s a bit of leeway. “It depends on the restaurant,” he claims. Some establishments cater specifically to a certain clientele, and some of those are for students. Douglas also mentions the point that students are quite often those serving. “It’s probably a student working. If you’re tipping it’s probably to other students who need them.”
Some view the issue as perhaps even insulting to students. As it’s typical for students to tip less, it gives them a bad reputation in restaurants and bars. “If a waiter or waitress sees a group of teens walking in [they] know they won’t be getting a tip so they feel no need to go out of their way and help us,” explains 1st year Arts student, Chris Francis. He goes on to explain, “…it just casts a negative shadow.” With stigma attached, Francis believes this isn’t fair to the servers. “Why should we be any different? [They] do the same work they would for older folks.”
Tristan Gray, a new student to UPEI, claims that there’s a reason why there is a typical percentage for tipping and not a dollar amount. “Since you’re a student,” he argues, “you’re probably not getting a full meal.” Appetizers or snacks cost less and therefore would result in a smaller tip if measured by the usual fifteen percent. This accounts for students having less money than the usual customer in a restaurant.
There seems to be the delusion that tipping is mandatory. It is a gratuity based on the service provided. You, as a student or any other member of society, are giving a token of thanks for how courteous, friendly and efficient the server is. Gray argues and further claims, “Really, you should start at fifteen and either go up or down depending on the quality of service.”
Despite all of this, there are those who sympathize with students’ strife. “I think you should tip but only as much as you can afford, if you can afford it,” says 4th Year Business student, Asher Fredericks. Fredericks explains that there are people who cannot pay, and it is not obligatory to, in fact, give a tip. It seems that servers may take this into account as well. “Waiters, I think, do assume that certain patrons may be students and their tips may not be large,” elaborates Mike Carver, fifth year History student.
The general consensus on campus appears to be – do what you can. While servers may know you’re a student and cut you some slack, tipping is socially expected. The people waiting on you are providing you with a service no matter who you may be. As best put by Carver, “Tip what you can, for they will be less likely to spit in your food.”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Library Science Power Up
Robertson takes on two huge projects this semester
UPEI’s librarians will be busier than average in the upcoming months. The university has decided to undertake a couple of huge commitments.
The projects, called Island Lives and Island Newspapers respectively, aim to publish hundreds of years of island texts on the internet.
The first project, Island Newspapers, will include scanning some 70 years worth of Guardians and former Cadres. The Semantic very much wants to be included, please.
These newspapers will be accessible via UPEI servers. Chief librarian Mark Leggott is quick to note that there is nothing new about digitalizing newspapers, but that he thinks it will greatly enrich the island community.
The second project, Island Lives, aims to digitalize more than 300 community histories. This includes histories of many local churches, founding families, and education. Many self-published books will be included.
For students, this newly available research will be invaluable. Easy-to-operate searched will facilitate quick searches. One insider claimed that it would be “Easier than Wikipedia”
The Semantic is skeptical.
UPEI’s librarians will be busier than average in the upcoming months. The university has decided to undertake a couple of huge commitments.
The projects, called Island Lives and Island Newspapers respectively, aim to publish hundreds of years of island texts on the internet.
The first project, Island Newspapers, will include scanning some 70 years worth of Guardians and former Cadres. The Semantic very much wants to be included, please.
These newspapers will be accessible via UPEI servers. Chief librarian Mark Leggott is quick to note that there is nothing new about digitalizing newspapers, but that he thinks it will greatly enrich the island community.
The second project, Island Lives, aims to digitalize more than 300 community histories. This includes histories of many local churches, founding families, and education. Many self-published books will be included.
For students, this newly available research will be invaluable. Easy-to-operate searched will facilitate quick searches. One insider claimed that it would be “Easier than Wikipedia”
The Semantic is skeptical.
UPEI: Significantly Better than Average
Or so claims Controversial Macleans Undergrad Ranking Issue
by Kate McKENNA
Two Thousand and Eight saw a slight jump for UPEI in the Macleans Magazine 18th Annual University Rankings. UPEI tied with Lethbridge University as the seventh best primarily undergraduate school in Canada. Mount Allison rose to the top, ousting Acadia, with whom Mount A shared the prime spot, for the number one seat. The issue hit newstands in November. Since 2000, UPEI has steadily risen in the rankings, peaking at 5th in 2005.
Consensus among students is that the climb has been deserved. Most students point toward the friendly and engaging faculty as reason for the steady climb. First year business student Matt MacKay is pleased with UPEI’s result, saying, “I don’t know why people say it’s a bad school”. Discussing the criteria for which UPEI did well, he elaborated: “. . . I would not be comfortable being in a class room with 200 plus people and being known by number and not by name. I know I need to let go of high school, but having the one-on-one relationship with my teachers is what helped me get the marks I needed to get into university, and it will help me get through university.”
Second year arts student Fierah Livingstone agrees wholeheartedly with MacKay. “I've been at UPEI for three semesters and I'm still surprised at how caring my profs are,” she said, “...out of the 13 different professors I've had, there are only two or three who didn't call me by name and make conversation with me. And many of them went far above and beyond basic responsibilities to make sure I was understanding the material [and] getting assignments in.”
UPEI Alum Eagan Boire was quick to agree. “I've gone to UPEI three times by now, so it must be doing something right - both in the Engineering and Business faculties. What kept me coming back was definitely the small class size mixed with the quality of teaching staff. I couldn't care less if the basketball team was losing, I was going to school for education not entertainment.”
Of course, not all institutions look favourably on the Macleans rating system. The judging - including a merit based on student/faculty ratio, feeling of inclusiveness, engagement, and general student satisfaction - inherently favour smaller universities. Lo, a great number of Canadian Universities have opted not to participate directly in the survey, including institutions such as McGill and University of Ottawa, Dalhousie, Queen’s, and Carleton. Since those universities, and a great few more, do not give information directly to Macleans, some concern has been raised over the quality of the information used in the survey.
UPEI was less receptive of the survey in 2000, when it placed 18th. Then, said president Wade MacLauchlan, “The general sentiment in my discussions with colleagues is that this does not reflect either the absolute or the relative quality of UPEI.” Oh, how times have changed.
by Kate McKENNA
Two Thousand and Eight saw a slight jump for UPEI in the Macleans Magazine 18th Annual University Rankings. UPEI tied with Lethbridge University as the seventh best primarily undergraduate school in Canada. Mount Allison rose to the top, ousting Acadia, with whom Mount A shared the prime spot, for the number one seat. The issue hit newstands in November. Since 2000, UPEI has steadily risen in the rankings, peaking at 5th in 2005.
Consensus among students is that the climb has been deserved. Most students point toward the friendly and engaging faculty as reason for the steady climb. First year business student Matt MacKay is pleased with UPEI’s result, saying, “I don’t know why people say it’s a bad school”. Discussing the criteria for which UPEI did well, he elaborated: “. . . I would not be comfortable being in a class room with 200 plus people and being known by number and not by name. I know I need to let go of high school, but having the one-on-one relationship with my teachers is what helped me get the marks I needed to get into university, and it will help me get through university.”
Second year arts student Fierah Livingstone agrees wholeheartedly with MacKay. “I've been at UPEI for three semesters and I'm still surprised at how caring my profs are,” she said, “...out of the 13 different professors I've had, there are only two or three who didn't call me by name and make conversation with me. And many of them went far above and beyond basic responsibilities to make sure I was understanding the material [and] getting assignments in.”
UPEI Alum Eagan Boire was quick to agree. “I've gone to UPEI three times by now, so it must be doing something right - both in the Engineering and Business faculties. What kept me coming back was definitely the small class size mixed with the quality of teaching staff. I couldn't care less if the basketball team was losing, I was going to school for education not entertainment.”
Of course, not all institutions look favourably on the Macleans rating system. The judging - including a merit based on student/faculty ratio, feeling of inclusiveness, engagement, and general student satisfaction - inherently favour smaller universities. Lo, a great number of Canadian Universities have opted not to participate directly in the survey, including institutions such as McGill and University of Ottawa, Dalhousie, Queen’s, and Carleton. Since those universities, and a great few more, do not give information directly to Macleans, some concern has been raised over the quality of the information used in the survey.
UPEI was less receptive of the survey in 2000, when it placed 18th. Then, said president Wade MacLauchlan, “The general sentiment in my discussions with colleagues is that this does not reflect either the absolute or the relative quality of UPEI.” Oh, how times have changed.
Letters to the Editor
Editor,
What the fuck - I logged on to facebook the other day and half my friends list had Semantic vs Cadre statuses. Is this some sort of harebrained Semantic marketing rouse? I don’t get it. Both of the newspapers deny a rift. The Semantic refused to go on CBC to talk about it - why? How about both newspapers just grow the fuck up and stop writing about yourselves? This kind of senseless bickering is what made the Cadre suck as hard as it has for ten years.
Louis Yetinski
Alumni
Louis - Lou, baby, let’s talk this out.
First, let me congratulate you for having an excellent facebook friends list. I don’t doubt that you are a popular man with many literate, articulate friends . . . many of which probably write for The Semantic.
Addressing the issue at hand, there’s not - no, really - a rift between the newly christened Panther Post and us. I was going to go onto the radio and say as much, but I figured it would fuel more of that “senseless bickering” you so loathe. I suppose there’s been published animosity on both ends, but we try and keep it light-hearted. Who wants to read a newspaper that writes about itself? Who wants to read a newspaper that writes about other newspapers? Surely not you, Lou. And surely not the rest of UPEI. Sadly, few care of the politics of student newspapers . . . we felt it best left unreported. Hence our decision not to go forward with the CBC interview. That, and I sound like a dweeb on the radio (see: September interview with Matt Rainnie).
I believe, in an exercise in faith, that there’s mutual respect from both newspapers. Lucas (PP editor) and I are friendly. Our tones, obviously, are quite different. And I’m sure you remember, Lou, it’s not as though university students have enough to read already . . . har.
All the best,
-Ed.
What the fuck - I logged on to facebook the other day and half my friends list had Semantic vs Cadre statuses. Is this some sort of harebrained Semantic marketing rouse? I don’t get it. Both of the newspapers deny a rift. The Semantic refused to go on CBC to talk about it - why? How about both newspapers just grow the fuck up and stop writing about yourselves? This kind of senseless bickering is what made the Cadre suck as hard as it has for ten years.
Louis Yetinski
Alumni
Louis - Lou, baby, let’s talk this out.
First, let me congratulate you for having an excellent facebook friends list. I don’t doubt that you are a popular man with many literate, articulate friends . . . many of which probably write for The Semantic.
Addressing the issue at hand, there’s not - no, really - a rift between the newly christened Panther Post and us. I was going to go onto the radio and say as much, but I figured it would fuel more of that “senseless bickering” you so loathe. I suppose there’s been published animosity on both ends, but we try and keep it light-hearted. Who wants to read a newspaper that writes about itself? Who wants to read a newspaper that writes about other newspapers? Surely not you, Lou. And surely not the rest of UPEI. Sadly, few care of the politics of student newspapers . . . we felt it best left unreported. Hence our decision not to go forward with the CBC interview. That, and I sound like a dweeb on the radio (see: September interview with Matt Rainnie).
I believe, in an exercise in faith, that there’s mutual respect from both newspapers. Lucas (PP editor) and I are friendly. Our tones, obviously, are quite different. And I’m sure you remember, Lou, it’s not as though university students have enough to read already . . . har.
All the best,
-Ed.
Letters to the Editor
Editor,
Is it just me; or is the percentage of overweight kids in this country rapidly getting higher? It’s a puzzling thing really, it seems the deadly sin of sloth is making a comeback, and with a vengeance. With the popularity of “Real TV,” and the raging excitement of the internet, no one really needs to get off their fat asses anymore. Kids are spending an average of 20-30 hours in front of the TV per week. Nearly 10 times as much as they average kid spends on homework, or doing physical activities. But they aren’t the only ones, the average American adult watches 6 hours of TV a day.
Don’t get me wrong, I love TV and internet, but why spend hours on end sitting there doing nothing? Can we please ride bikes, and not just sit inside all day? We’re letting the “fresh” Canadian are go to waste. The US is ranked the most overweight country in the world, at 30% of the people being overweight, and the percentage is still rising. But who’s to blame? Is it the fast food companies who push and shove us around into eating their crappy fast food? No! Is it the uninterrupted TV we can watch 24 hours a day ; 7 days a week? No! Is it the fact that we can get everything we want, when we want, just by pressing a few buttons causing us all to be lazy slobs and have no motivation to do anything? No! It is we, the people. It is our decision to eat the food. It is our decision to spend hours sitting on the couch watching TV or surfing the web, and it was MY decision to get off my ass, and do something, and everyone should be making that decision. I’m not asking you to get up and run 20k a day. I’m asking you to turn off the TV, and get some exercise for half an hour a day. That’s all it takes to make a difference. Walk the dog - play catch with the kids; anything. It all helps. So I’m inviting you, my fellow North Americans, to come play some ball. Take it or leave it, it’s your heart attack, not mine.
Matt MacKay
1st Year Business Student
Dear Matt,
Duly Noted.
-Ed.
Is it just me; or is the percentage of overweight kids in this country rapidly getting higher? It’s a puzzling thing really, it seems the deadly sin of sloth is making a comeback, and with a vengeance. With the popularity of “Real TV,” and the raging excitement of the internet, no one really needs to get off their fat asses anymore. Kids are spending an average of 20-30 hours in front of the TV per week. Nearly 10 times as much as they average kid spends on homework, or doing physical activities. But they aren’t the only ones, the average American adult watches 6 hours of TV a day.
Don’t get me wrong, I love TV and internet, but why spend hours on end sitting there doing nothing? Can we please ride bikes, and not just sit inside all day? We’re letting the “fresh” Canadian are go to waste. The US is ranked the most overweight country in the world, at 30% of the people being overweight, and the percentage is still rising. But who’s to blame? Is it the fast food companies who push and shove us around into eating their crappy fast food? No! Is it the uninterrupted TV we can watch 24 hours a day ; 7 days a week? No! Is it the fact that we can get everything we want, when we want, just by pressing a few buttons causing us all to be lazy slobs and have no motivation to do anything? No! It is we, the people. It is our decision to eat the food. It is our decision to spend hours sitting on the couch watching TV or surfing the web, and it was MY decision to get off my ass, and do something, and everyone should be making that decision. I’m not asking you to get up and run 20k a day. I’m asking you to turn off the TV, and get some exercise for half an hour a day. That’s all it takes to make a difference. Walk the dog - play catch with the kids; anything. It all helps. So I’m inviting you, my fellow North Americans, to come play some ball. Take it or leave it, it’s your heart attack, not mine.
Matt MacKay
1st Year Business Student
Dear Matt,
Duly Noted.
-Ed.
Reunion Tour for UPEI?
Students Demand Not Being an Aside, Want Band at Our (Re)construction Site
Rumours of popular indie band The Weakerthans playing at UPEI have been rampant since the band posted Maritime tour dates on their official website. The band is playing in Halifax, Saint John, Sackville, and Fredericton over the course of March 19th through 23rd. The tour does not include a show on the 24th, however, the band has another show booked in Quebec City on the 25th. Immediately the issue was brought to the Student Union in hopes of the band being booked in Charlottetown.
Student Union President Justin Douglas declined comment, claiming, “When more becomes solidified one way or another, I will be sure to pass the word along.”
As far as is officially announced, nothing is planned for The Wave that night. Weakerthans fans must remain patient until the Student Union makes an official announcement.
Rumours of popular indie band The Weakerthans playing at UPEI have been rampant since the band posted Maritime tour dates on their official website. The band is playing in Halifax, Saint John, Sackville, and Fredericton over the course of March 19th through 23rd. The tour does not include a show on the 24th, however, the band has another show booked in Quebec City on the 25th. Immediately the issue was brought to the Student Union in hopes of the band being booked in Charlottetown.
Student Union President Justin Douglas declined comment, claiming, “When more becomes solidified one way or another, I will be sure to pass the word along.”
As far as is officially announced, nothing is planned for The Wave that night. Weakerthans fans must remain patient until the Student Union makes an official announcement.
Don't Write in My Honesty Box
an exercise in human nature as explored by Connor Simpson
I spend a lot of time on Facebook. I have a problem. It's an addiction, like crack or heroin. I need my fix, and I'll break promises and friendships to get it. Are there meetings I can go to for this kind of thing? In peak creepiness, I can figure out who wrote in my Honesty Box by cross referencing the writing style to who I think it is, and then checking the time stamps of the Honesty Box message and the other Facebook activity of my suspects. I probably watch too many detective shows, but that's for a different time and place - and possibly an example of denial. The point is, I have a problem, and unlike Dexter, there are not hot women who can sponsor me in my addiction.
Like crack and heroin, my addiction is detrimental to my social life - don't worry, it’s not because I'm selling myself for friend requests or wall-posts. It's because I'm starting to know people before I even meet them.
I went to Dal last semester*, so, you know, I didn't live here. I did, however, grow up here, go to school here . . . so every time I looked through my friends' photo albums, there would be new faces with whom I’m completely unfamiliar. So, being a curious person by nature, I would click on their profile if not set to private (and seriously, who doesn’t have their profile set to private these days?). Who are these new people? Are they good enough for my friends? I would ask someone on MSN who they are, what they're like, where they came from, who has crushes on them, etc. etc. But then I'd start asking myself things like, "Am I being replaced? Is there still room for me when I get home? Will people even remember me?" Flashback to grade two, sitting in the sandbox alone - Shut up, Connor, I'd remind myself, people love you.
Back to my problem. Once I came home from school, I was confronted with actually having to meet these people. But I already knew them? I knew their names, where they're from, what people find annoying about them. It’s like we'd already met. I made the mistake of saying to one of them, "Oh hey, I recognize you from Facebook." That was a bad idea. As a heads up, social stars, saying, "I know you from the internet," to someone is the creepiest thing you can possibly do, regardless of how innocently you meant for it to be. "But you're in all of my friends photo albums!?" Doesn't matter. You can't win. That person is going to look at you like you farted for the rest of the night. Take it from me, gentle readers. Facebook etiquette, as you no doubt know, is imperative in contemporary internet society.
I quickly learned that the best thing to do is play dumb. Act like you've never heard that person's name before. "Hm, you're who? I've never heard of you ever before! You hang out with my friends all the time now?! This is news!" And I can continue to live with my addiction in peace. I think I've met everyone. But its not like I'd actually tell you that. I've never met you before in my life. You're who?
*Say hi to me on campus, please. I'm new and don't know where I'm going. Directions are appreciated.
I spend a lot of time on Facebook. I have a problem. It's an addiction, like crack or heroin. I need my fix, and I'll break promises and friendships to get it. Are there meetings I can go to for this kind of thing? In peak creepiness, I can figure out who wrote in my Honesty Box by cross referencing the writing style to who I think it is, and then checking the time stamps of the Honesty Box message and the other Facebook activity of my suspects. I probably watch too many detective shows, but that's for a different time and place - and possibly an example of denial. The point is, I have a problem, and unlike Dexter, there are not hot women who can sponsor me in my addiction.
Like crack and heroin, my addiction is detrimental to my social life - don't worry, it’s not because I'm selling myself for friend requests or wall-posts. It's because I'm starting to know people before I even meet them.
I went to Dal last semester*, so, you know, I didn't live here. I did, however, grow up here, go to school here . . . so every time I looked through my friends' photo albums, there would be new faces with whom I’m completely unfamiliar. So, being a curious person by nature, I would click on their profile if not set to private (and seriously, who doesn’t have their profile set to private these days?). Who are these new people? Are they good enough for my friends? I would ask someone on MSN who they are, what they're like, where they came from, who has crushes on them, etc. etc. But then I'd start asking myself things like, "Am I being replaced? Is there still room for me when I get home? Will people even remember me?" Flashback to grade two, sitting in the sandbox alone - Shut up, Connor, I'd remind myself, people love you.
Back to my problem. Once I came home from school, I was confronted with actually having to meet these people. But I already knew them? I knew their names, where they're from, what people find annoying about them. It’s like we'd already met. I made the mistake of saying to one of them, "Oh hey, I recognize you from Facebook." That was a bad idea. As a heads up, social stars, saying, "I know you from the internet," to someone is the creepiest thing you can possibly do, regardless of how innocently you meant for it to be. "But you're in all of my friends photo albums!?" Doesn't matter. You can't win. That person is going to look at you like you farted for the rest of the night. Take it from me, gentle readers. Facebook etiquette, as you no doubt know, is imperative in contemporary internet society.
I quickly learned that the best thing to do is play dumb. Act like you've never heard that person's name before. "Hm, you're who? I've never heard of you ever before! You hang out with my friends all the time now?! This is news!" And I can continue to live with my addiction in peace. I think I've met everyone. But its not like I'd actually tell you that. I've never met you before in my life. You're who?
*Say hi to me on campus, please. I'm new and don't know where I'm going. Directions are appreciated.
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