Vic's own grand establishment

Salient Reporter

The Grand Establishment has finally arrived at Victoria. After careful investigation I have finally identified the local organisation.

It Is the little group which huddles in the corner bar of the Midland. Last week I captured one member alive, propped him up with glass in hand, and asked the crucial question:

What the hell is the Grand Establishment?

"Grand Establishment." he said loquaciously, "has been formed to combat the evils of student life: Student apathy and public antagonism.

"We intend to attack these on four levels," he said.

Here is GE's four-point plan:

• • GE believes in interstudent communication — best done at the social level. To this end, it runs GELPs (Grand Establishment licensed parties).
• • GE believes that an active campus leads to an active student body. GE will promote the more traditional aspects of student life, especially in the field of capping activities. GE is prepared to assist in the running of Procesh, Extrav. Cappicade. stunts, pub crawls, and the like.
• • GE is also interested in promoting the activities of cultural clubs.
• • GE believes that a strong student association can only exist when the majority of students participate. To help accomplish this, GE will actively publicise elections, enabling students to get to know the candidates. GE will encourage students to attend general meetings and serve on subcommittees.
• • GE believes that positive steps should be taken to bring to the public's notice facets of student activity not normally recognised, in an endeavour to promote towngown relations. To do this. GE is willing to assist in charity collections and 48- hour calls.

The member paused, his glass empty, his eyes glazed with the fervour of his cause.

"Victoria is the second university to have a Grand Establishment," he volunteered. "Auckland's GE is now an integral and dynamic part of the university. Amongst its more significant episodes have been the taking over of 1ZB. the placing of the GE flag over Parliament Buildings at Winter Tournament 1965, and the drinking dry of Auckland's City Club Hotel—which won a £60 donation to charity."

GE members can be recognised by their badge —green with a silver stein. The stein symbolises the spirit of GE's motto—"Drink Apathy Under the Table."

I turned to suggest that most GE members would rather drink the grog on the table — but the member had fled.