I have just sat through a Political Science III lecture which must rate as the most revealing I have ever endured.

As an introduction to a theme, Professor Roberts offered a fifty minute tear jerker, tracing the development of New Zealand politics from about the turn of the century through to the present day, as illustrated through the life of his father. A novel and interesting approach (at least for the uninitiated) that involves no small amount of soul bearing, to be sure.

In true shop floor fashion (floor pacing, dramatic pauses, prolonged staring into space with glazed expression etc) Roberts added woof to his historical warp with an impassioned plea for committed study and action from intending political science students. Taking side-swipes at just about everybody including himself the student masses, various political movements and the country as a whole—all of which at various times he labelled soft, corrupt, bourgeois, decadent, fat, lazy and apathetic he predicted not only the demise and imminent dissolution of our political system as we know it but also the collapse of our entire social organization, which, he added, "is rotten to the core."

It was in this fashion that he continued unabated for some fifty minutes. Stunned at this unprecedented outbreak of honesty and integrity from a lecturer the audience sat rather subdued. Almost at time embarrassed. Not a note was taken.

"Surely" I mused as the crescendo rose "surely there has to be a climax soon. After all it's 10.55. He's only got a few minutes left. What would be his final blow? A telling acid comment to end all telling, acid comments? An alter call, demanding mass repentance from political sins? An exhortation to stage revolution, over throw the Studess Exec and occupy the cafe?

Which of the options, if any, Roberts took, I shall never know. Alas! What proved to be his final, most gesticulated, eye glazed and presumedly empassioned piece of rhetoric, was all but drowned when, dead on the hour, three hundred students simultaneously rustled their papers, clicked their ring binders and began to shuffle out of the lecture theatre even before he had finished.

Muggeridge asserts that the death knell of twentieth century man will be the gentle whispering of thousands upon thousands of lift doors opening and closing upon their empty, air conditioned, muzaked interior. I beg to differ. Surely it will be the deadly rustling of millions of papers, billions of clicking folders and zillions of shuffling students, who, having done their obligatory fifty minute life time, have to leave for their final lecture.

I was present at one of the recently held Assessment—meetings. I must say that I thought that the people there seemed really concerned with what seems to me now, to be a big problem.

I'd never really thought much about the way our marks are used, but now I'm angry it the way things are done.

I hope that those people working on changing the present system can get it done very soon.

Concerned student.

Professor Norrish of the French department proposed to the Professorial Board in 1974 that a new scheme of evaluation called Double Chance should be introduced to Victoria to ensure that each student is given the best possible recognition of his/her work for the year.

This method has yet again been brought to the fore with the recently held Education Assessment Forums attended by representitives from all Faculties in the Varsity.

At the meetings, held last Tuesday and Wednesday, members present included both the President of the New Zealand University Students Association (Lisa Sacksen) and the President of the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association (Lindy Cassidy). The topic for discussion was "Assessment".

The meetings discussed and debated the problems outlined by delegates present.

Numerous anomolies within Faculties's were found with respect to Registry and Departmental Exam and Assessment techniques. VUWSA President Lindy Cassidy chaired the meetings and on both occasions outlined the basic need for a better understanding by all students of the present and proposed Assessment systems.

The Seminar decided to pursue a general policy of passing on information to all students on the nature of the problem and possible solutions.

Lisa Sacksen, President of NZUSA, stressed the urgency with which the situation must be treated.

The New Zealand University Students Association has embarked upon improving the assessment atrocity within NZ Universities as its No1 priority.

VUW's newly elected Education Officer (Robert Moore-Jones) explained that this situation involves all students and requires the immediate attention of All.

It was decided that another full meeting of all student representatives would take place on March the 22nd, to set up machinery for handling the numerous problems being brought up by 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students.

The Forum has called for elections in all Student Lectures and classes throughout the Varsity.

To date some classes are still in the process of finding representatives.

Many have expressed the worry that the solution may not be found in time, can it be done in time?

"Lindy Cassidy: "Yes! We must, it is a question of survival!"