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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University Students Association. Volume 40, Number 3. March 14, 1977.

President

President

Drawing of an angel with a sword

Assessment.

This year it looks as if the Assessment campaign is really going to get out of the Union Building at SRC's and Forms, and into the lecture theatres, classrooms and tutorials. Last week there was a series of preliminary meetings to organise a comprehensive system of student representation.

Each class will have a representaive who is to co-ordinate with the Association in the assessment campaign. Once this is established it will provide for invaluable feedback between each class and the Students Association.

At the meetings already held some first year students were not aware that they had any role to play in determining their assessment. Their lecturers handed them their assessment all nicely typed on two sheets of paper and it was assumed that they would nod their heads and place it in their bags. It was accepted that assessment was the lecturer's decision — students merely being the subjects to which it was applied. However, students are now trying to democratize the academic process and are demanding a more flexible system. The demands that are being raised are not unreasonable. For example, what justification is there for a 40% minimum requirement in a registry run exam. A student may get A grades the rest of the year but because he failed the exam gaining a mark of 35% he has failed the whole course. Is this fair?

Sharpeville Week

This week is Solidarity Week commemorating Sharpeville and Soweto. The Sharpeville massacre on 21st March 1960 shocked the world and is still remembered with shame. A peaceful and unarmed crowd of demonstrators was attacked by South African police killing 69 Africans and wounding 180. But Sharpeville was not an isolated incident. Both before and after, South Africa has been the scene of intense activity by the opponents of apartheid. The events in Soweto have again highlighted the inhumanity and cruel injustices practised by the South African regime.

But why is this important to New Zealand University students? It is important that we do not forget what is happening in South Africa.

We must let the South African regime know that we will not tolerate their injust practicies. The oppression must not continue.