Intellectual arrogance

Student intellectual arrogance has risen again, this time in NZUSA's "Focus." A commentary in the latest issue on the NZBC coverage of Congress this year claims...

"The Broadcasting authorities have rarely been kind to students, being content mainly to foster the general image of a boozing boisterous mob of bearded, pipe-smoking youths and duffle-coated mini-skirted, promiscuous girls.

"Yet nothing could be further from the truth, especially at Congress. What then is the NZBC's motive in portraying a false image?

"Jealousy? The general mistrust of intellectuals? or just plain incompetence in the top NZBC echelons? ... it was not until the leader gave a personal guarantee that he would do his best to see the correct impression was given that permission (to film) was granted.

"The integrity of the camera team is beyond doubt. The integrity of those who handled the film later certainly isn't.

"From start to finish the TV coverage mocked both the aims and activities of the Curious covers.

"Students must never again allow themselves to be filmed without a written guarantee from the Director-General himself that they will have the right to preview and, if necessary, censor the piece until the Corporation has proved itself capable of treating students as people and not as troublesome rabble."

There is no evidence to suggest the NZBC is anti-student. It employs many graduates and uses many academics from the universities on its programmes and goes out of its way to be impartial on all matters.

Carrying the argument to its logical conclusion, Messrs. Holy-oake and Kirk should edit the TV coverage of their respective party conferences. Perhaps they could answer their own questions also in order that the "correct image" may be got across.

Clearly NZBC producers must be permitted to interpret the events as they see fit without fear of outside interference from political parties or pressure groups.

Talk of students censoring programmes is an insult to the many graduates who run the corporation, matched only by a Public Relations candidate at the recent elections who promised to call applications to fill the position of producer on 2YD's Varsity show.

Students are beginning to believe they are above the rest of society —that they deserve special treatment. Their paranoic attitude to the news media is about as ridiculous as the international Communist conspiracy.

If students want to be irresponsible (and they often are) then they will gain the appropriate image. The fact is students are not perfect. Many are lazy—living largely at the expense of the community, some look scruffy and very few are the well educated person many delude themselves to be.

The New Zealand student is an individual who has indicated a level of academic ability which will probably ensure his contribution to society, both culturally and materially, will be greater than most of his contemporaries outside the university.

This does not make him a superior citizen—merely one who is better at academic work than, for instance, repairing motorcars. It is in society's interests to ensure both students and their contemporaries have the facilities to realise their potential.

Students should make the best of the opportunities society makes available and stop asking for special treatment.

B.G.S.