As might be expected, American universities, too, are overcrowded, and admission at present is largely on a competitive basis. And when you hear of a student "working his way through college" by washing dishes, it's an even chance that he's a star footballer, that his dishwashing consists of about five hours a week, and that his pay is some 95 per cent. "subsidy" from the wealthy alumni (old boys, to you) of the college. Academically, of course, he must still satisfy the university authorities.

Fraternities

This brought us to those peculiarly American college institutions, the fraternities, whose nation-wide organisation, power and influence make them appear to be highly commercialised and yankeefied version of "the old school tie." Each fraternity sets its own academic and social standards for potential members, who must be nominated, voted in, and initiated after the manner of lodges and friendly societies. Race or religion is a frequent bar to membership. There are numerous all Negro fraternities, particularly in the South, and these, ironically enough, follow the same pattern. Significantly, Lloyd mentioned that his athletic fame had provided the entree to several of these, but that his "dollar shortage" would prevent him from keeping up with their wealthy members. So he rents a room in downtown Los Angeles, instead of living in a Fraternity House. Incidentally, although Lloyd is taking a general science degree and will probably be a teacher, his secret ambition is to get into Dental School, which is apparently as Utopian as hoping to get into Otago Med. School.

It was now Lloyd's turn for the bath, and McKenley was somewhat less loquacious though equally friendly. The University of Illinois, where Herb, is doing Physical Education, has 20,000 students. Campus City has its own shops, theatres, garages and Mayor and streets and streets of Student Hostels, Fraternity Houses, and common boarding-houses. Imagine a world inhabited almost solely by 'Varsity students!

A character was mentioned who after twelve years at University, during which he has completed degrees in Arts, Science, Law and Commerce, is now looking for new excuses for staying in Campus City. He fears that that fragile flower, his freedom of self-expression and the wide scope permitted his political activities, would wither and die in the bleak climate of today's American community. (Does this apply to anyone you know?)

And Intolerance

Their attitude to race troubles was novel to me, but it indicates the real depth of the problem. They were quite emphatic that they personally had never been involved in any racial strife, but they attributed this partly to the particular circumstances of their lives. Both went through school and high school in the British colony of Jamaica, where classes might contain 20 black and five whites. Their families were of the middle class (McKenley's father is a doctor) and in USA they have lived only in Northern States, though they have competed athletically in Texas. Said McKenley: "Most race trouble is caused by individuals going around with a chip on their shoulder."

They suggested that racial segregation was maintained in the South as a sort of final defiance of the North, for the sake of tradition rather than principle. In the Universities, it is neither the students nor the professors who support it, but the ubiquitous politicians and college governors. Miscegnation, education and toleration are the only ultimate solution, said La Beach.

... in films too

They deplored the Hollywood tendency to cast Negro actors in roles which strengthen the myth that the typical Negro is a lazy, servile, halfwitted buffoon. Some actors, they said, were now refusing to accept roles which lowered the dignity of their race. It was mentioned in passing that "Tobacco Road" and "The Southerner," two films that faithfully and brilliantly portrayed the lowest strata of white society, were banned throughout the Southern States, and had only private screenings in the Universities.

On their European tour last year Lloyd said he met many American students at the University of Prague, who told him they had no intention of returning to the States; that they liked the new regime, that the elections were free and fair, etc., etc. Lloyd said they must have been Communists, but he didn't say why. Me? Well, how would I know?

We also discussed our own political views, but the times being what the are, we won't go into that.

For light reading on the plane, and to show their friends at home, I left with them two years' issues of "Salient," "Spike" and "Cappicade," and with a last wistful glance at those bright floral underpants, I took my leave of two admirable gentlemen, whose world travels and international fame have not lost them the wisdom of being willing to learn.

Francis Gawn.