Swimming pool

Salient claims ". . . almost 6000 people at Vic . . . could use a swimming pool." No doubt. And the same 6000 could also "use" a lot of other things that are not envisaged at the moment.

However, your argument is that student "need" rather than "could make use of" this particular facility, and it is this claim that I wish to question.

A swimming pool is no more necessary to a university than squash courts, indoor skating rinks, or any other of the much-vaunted but patronised-by-the-few sporting facilities.

If Victoria was a completely residential university, as many are overseas, where students are required to live on university grounds in residential halls, then the claim for a pool might be a just one. But this is not so, and with available finance for universities and education in general so obviously scarce and begrudged, there are many projects more worthy and less selfish than this one, in spite of the fact "we are not too parochial".

J. M. Dey.

• Salient didn't claim anything. The article, which through an oversight was not attributed, was concocted by interested persons, including the sports editor.—Ed.