"Salient" Revisited

Sir,—The level of awareness of students of this University resembles that of an intoxicated caterpillar. There is little interest or awareness of student politics, or questions of importance in present day world affairs. What are we who are being trained to participate to a considerable degree in our national life going to base our opinions on; how are we going to formulate opinions? Are we going to have opinions or rather are we going to drift with the stream? An achievement within the abilities of dead dogs.

I welcome the appearance of "Ulysses" as a stone cast in the stagnant pool of University thought, as an indication that not all the caterpillars are intoxicated. Surely however, the people behind this publication should rather be using Salient as a forum for the airing of ideas, controversies, pet grudges and prejudices. That is what Salient exists for isn't it? Further Salient has a far wider coverage of University affairs which, although it might well do with some redirection, does at least offer a more complete picture.

If the distressed protestations of McNeill Stone and Flude were utilised as contributions to Salient it would not only ensure a still further completeness in that paper's coverage, it would ensure that more people read it.

It is contributions of this kind which would make Salient more widely read, and a factor which I hope the 1961 Editor is aware of. A further thought for that gentleman is that Exec. not only expects criticism, it welcomes it (criticism as distinct from abuse). It is an indication of life. The absence of attention to this subject in Salient columns over the past year is an indication that it is time for student thought to be resurrected from its tomb of vegetation and get weaving!!