Harre Orates

Sir,—It is tragic to see a democratic organisation degenerate into a bureaucratic one, and then into an authoritarian manipulator.

It would seem the Students' Association is in the last stage of this progression. Consider the identity cards, complete with photo, that are so typical of a military State.

See the successful take-over bid for Salient and its decline from a student voice to a propaganda medium for the conservative oligarchy who, it would seem, have a desire to force Vic students into the Cam Oxon mould.

Various sub-organisations also use Salient as a propaganda outlet. Notice the Levenbach article in the first issue. Mr. Levenbach was drawn as the benevolent supplier of food; almost a father image. This was reinforced by the happy "cafe degree" article. Neither mentioned that Mr. Levenbach with a guaranteed clientele and charging more than the "Lantern" down-town for an equivalent meal, consistently runs at a toss and will not show his books for general student perusal.

The Churchill donation illustrates the exec's distant nonchalance with student funds. A donation of £25 and yet "none of the exec members seemed to be very familiar with the purpose of the fund" but supported D. Shand's motion on the grounds "that it would be good for public relations."

However, my faith in students has been held firm by the sight of piles of Salients lying untouched in their boxes.—Yours, etc.,

Hard as we look, Mr. Harre, we cannot "see the successful take-over bid for Salient," and your faith in students must be destroyed by our Distribution Manager's announcement that 95 per cent of students are collecting their copies.—Ed.