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By Josh Skinner There are always scars from the wounds. This is the feeling of the staff at CIMN, UPEI's radio station. Meaghan Reid, who is involved with management and on the business plans committee, says although the latest student union trustees have remained on friendly terms with the station, the wounds created by budget cuts and conflicts will take some time to heal. "We've had a rough time. A few years ago, there were some major problems between the student union and CIMN," says Reid. "They cut our budget quite a lot." There were other difficulties which eventually lead to mutual apprehension. The student union became dissatisfied with CIMN management, resulting in a backlash from the staff of the station. The student union, which also controls the the radio station's funds, cancelled a major CD order by CIMN. Because the order was cancelled, CIMN had to pay a fine to the record company, causing a fracture between the two departments. Reid, recently elected to student council, sees no conflict of interest between her responsibilities at CIMN, and the student union. "The student union is much more flexible this year. Plus, the station manager is in the student union, so we have a lot of representation." Reid said the student union is more open-minded this year, and has let CIMN act as a separate body rather than a minor branch. That doesn't mean the storm won't brew again. Reid predicts difficulty when CIMN decides to pitch its idea for a new satellite dish. The student union still has the official say in all aspects of the the station's operations, especially its finances. "Right now all our money comes from student union," says Reid. The proposed dish would put CIMN on Island-wide FM. That would mean more listeners and more advertisements. "The dish will cost about $10,000 or more," she said. This is a major decision in which CIMN cannot avoid the student union. For the moment, all is quiet, and relations between the two factions seem to be improving each year. Reid says she will continue to be involved with both operations to try and find mutual understanding. "We've had some major problems in the past, but hopefully with some hard work we'll be able to become more part of campus life."
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