Places for Overseas Students

In a letter published in Salient under the editorial sub-heading: Registry Mistreats Malaysian Students, Mr Ah Tong complains of alleged mistreatment of seven Malaysian students arriving in Wellington to enrol for the BSc degree and majoring in Information Science. The account given in Mr Ah Tong's letter is a distortion of the actual situation and the (one of the letter, and its heading, quite alien to the generous spirit in which members of staff at the University, Registry and otherwise, provided counsel and practical help for the students. I would like to set out some details to support this.

(i)	Your readers may not know that overseas students applying to study at this University must first make application to OSAC (Overseas Students Admissions Committee), a committee of the University Grants Committee and not a part of this University's administration at all. It is this committee that makes initial offers of places at New Zealand universities to applying students.
(ii)	Victoria has previously requested OSAC that no offers of places be made to students for enrolment at Victoria after 31 January in a year. This year OSAC cabled offers to the seven students concerned in the middle of February, at the time our enrolment procedures were about to begin. This University cannot be happy that offers were extended at such a late stage and understand that OSAC will not do this again. But the point to be noted in this context is that the late offer of positions was not due to delay by this University.
(iii)	The written acceptances of the offers of placement at Victoria were received from the students by this University from 19 February onwards. The important aspect of this OSAC offer is that it only makes a commitment to a place to study for the BSc degree. It does not guarantee a place in specific subjects or courses, even though applying students may express a preference. In the case of the seven students only two stated a preference for Information Science in their written acceptances to this University. Nonetheless even for these two students the date on which these acceptances were received was too late to be taken into account in the complex process of selecting 200 applicants from over twice that number wanting admission into the first year Information Science Course.
(iv)	The students arrived at the University during the opening week of term. During that period many staff members, including senior members of the Registry staff, gave them (and to student colleagues asking on their behalf) considerable time seeking to make satisfactory arrangements for them. It was the iniative of these staff members through phone enquiries to Otago, Canterbury, Massey and Auckland Universities that finally enabled the students to receive offers of placement in the first year computer science courses at Auckland University. In addition alternative enrolments were suggested at Victoria whereby the students could apply for entry into second year Information Science courses from first year courses other than Info 151.

I think I have written enough. Sir, to establish my basic argument. It is that while the University regrets the circumstances the students found themselves in on arrival at Victoria (and will make representation to OSAC seeking a change in its procedures) yet the circumstances were not of its making, moreover, the facts of the case establish that the students received the fullest and most sympathetic help, not least from Registry staff, in achieving satisfactory arrangements for their degree studies.

Spirited Defence of MSSA

A spectre is haunting the Malaysian student community - the spectre of rumour and slander by a handful of Malaysians against their Association. All these years, the community wearily but quietly put up with this washing of dirty linen, as the gentle decent folks we are, in order to maintain a facade of unity, especially important in face of the discriminatory policies we are subjected to. But unfortunately, the unholy crusade against MSSA were so blatantly vicious in the past few months that it warrants a public exorcism to flush out these demons.

The main reason for this fluster of ghastly haunting is probably due to the death of 'rival' sister organisation, MSA. To all intent, MSA and MSSA were already betrothed, but the marriage was aborted by none other than some over zealous MSA supporters. These arch conservatives stubbornly clinged to their farcical pride and illusion and vehemently refused to amend the MSA constitution and quorum inspite of the changing objective realities. As a consequence, 3 unsuccessful AGMs were called due to a lack of quorum and MSA was eventually wound up. Let me remind those calling vengeance, the murder was committed by their own bloodied hands.

Beaten in wit and facts, these fanatics have stooped to the lowest stinking tactics salvaged from the cesspool. Their main indulgences are malicious innuendo, insinuation, surreptitious character mugging, lies, distortion, and slander. They go around charging MSSA to be anti-government, extremely political and that the committee are dangerous elements with ulterior motives that should not be associated with. They even cook up and contort stories to smear individuals. Their victims are usually the innocent new students who are unaware of what's going on. The ones who they can easily cow and instill fear into and thus, create a prejudice against the Association.

The community has nothing but spite for such cowards. Cowards who can not substantiate their wilful charges. Cowards who dare not publicly repeat what they slander behind the back in the gutter. Cowards who dare not front up with the Committee in an open forum.

There is another but more venomous kind of coward - those with double face and that double cross the Association. Outwardly they appear helpful but stab you at the back when you turn.

Where were all these low-taste pariahs during the MSSA AGMs? Why don't they voice their opinions, or question the committee about the Association's 'inappropriate' activities and policies in a democratic way?

For those who had encountered or are encountering such person and subjecting to their 'scare tactic', I beseech you to look straight into their cowardly eyes which will betray their lies. Critically analyse what you heard and more importantly observe for yourselves - an action is better than a thousand words.

Student Union Reminiscences

The spectacular headline last issue applies equally to the exorbitantly high level of Student Union fees - over $50p.a.

Its 21 years since I first enrolled at Victoria. Ever since a large minority of students has objected to the student union fee being compulsory.

As an ex-member of the Union Management Committee I accept that a reasonable proportion of the fee should be a compulsory contribution to the availability of facilities. The rest of the fee should cover the use of services and should not apply to worker students whose employment and time limitations prevent them participating in student activities. There should be provision for conscientious objection to paying student union fees.

Having paid these theft-level fees, I have a right to object to the non-availability of a clean cheap cafeteria. The main campus caf is overpriced and disgusting. I can buy cheaper food in central Willis St in hygienic premises. As for the "Sunflower Seed" - its prices are a rip-off. At least in the '60s for a much lower union fee we got subsidized food in a clean cafeteria.

God Save the Queen

Your claim in last week's Editorial that Prince Charles is living off the fat of the land and there isn't much left for the unemployed is

I Find it hard, however, to understand your sentiments regarding the powers of the Governor-General and Royalty. To claim they as really the Governor-General or the Queen act on the advice of Parliament and must be seen to remain neutral in political issues. Their positions are mere Figure-heads - real power lies in Parliament.

However they are able to act on their own initiative should the situation warrant it but this is very rare and Kerr's dissolution of the Australian parliament is a lonely example. It is interesting to note that had Whitlam advised the Queen to sack Kerr before Kerr sacked him the boot would have been on the other foot. As it was Kerr cooked his goose anyway, as would the Queen or any Governor-General who took such action. Governors-General, at least, hold their position at the whim of Parliament and the Prime Minister and would probably lose the job if they so much as refused to sign a bill into law.

It is nice to know that should a Prime Minister and his crowd go too far there is a chance that the Governor-General will consider it worth the sacrifice and beat the PM to the draw.

Abortion Attacked

I am writing in reply to the article on El Salvador by the Catholic Society and to thank them for informing us in a very well balanced manner and the stall in the cafe foyer also added to the overall presentation. It is great to see such a group in campus activities, even in the gym. I wasn't going to write this letter but after the way their beliefs were made fun of as in that Abortion article by Denese Black, I felt I had to write and tell Ms Black that it was in very poor taste and if Black and Quade cannot present a case or argument without resorting to smear tactics which are totally incorrect, then I would suggest that they go back and take a few credits of logic. After consulting with a member of the Catholic clergy I have found that the Catholic church has always said that the foetus has a soul as it is a human person and that the refusal to bury a foetus in consecrated ground is completely incorrect. Pro life people have set up Pregnancy Help and other caring groups for pregnant women and the pro life people to me seem to try and cater for the women in need at all stages of pregnancy. Perhaps we in society have lost our sense of values especially the value of life which is given to us on trust???

Right to Choose Challenged

Despite Denese Black's insistence - life does exist in the womb. If she is so fond of the Oxford Dictionary maybe she should look up the definition of life "the state of functional activity and continual change peculiar to organised matter", as any fourth form science student can tell you "functional activity and continual change" begin at conception when cloning and differentiation occurs.

Unfortunately Denese Black is misinformed about the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church which insists that not only does the child in the womb have a soul but if it should die it would be entitled to burial in consecrated ground.

If the dependence of the child on its mother is a case for abortion, dependence on others for life such as those fitted with a pacemaker, diabetics etc are all cases for murder for all but the most perfect of human beings.

Laws against prostitution, drug taking and drinking excess and driving are all restrictions placed upon us all, women and men alike, by the society in which we live. They are rules prohibiting the right to choose what we do with our bodies, breaking the theory that abortion is a woman's right to choose.

Victoria Quade is wrong. The right to life is the beginning of the basic human right to personal freedom.

Abortion and Killing

The article on Abortion was so full of lies that one is reminded of propaganda leaflets which are used to distort the truth just to try and win at any cost. Even, I as a non-Christian believe in the [unclear: santity] of life and that your facts on the Catholic Church are wrong. Both articles end up using only emotions as their key facts are so far wrong that they cannot be used to defend their argument. The Royal Commission on Abortion did come to the decision that the foetus was a human being as from conception, and that therefore the foetus is a person.

We are dealing with a person's right to Life and what gives Denese or Victoria or anybody the right to kill another person just because you cannot see that person?? I do not say that a woman has not the right to choose but in the case where this right sets out to break both moral, natural and civil law as well as to take away a human life, then a woman cannot make her own choice. If she does then I conclude that she is being selfish and setting herself up as a law unto herself, without any regard for the rights of others which she disregards to get only what she wants. Both articles annoy and disgust me as a woman, as both of them disregard important issues and rely only on emotional lies especially about the Catholic Church.

Yes, Denese and Victoria you cannot gel away from the truth that abortion is murder? No matter how much waffling you may do,

Viva SASRAC!

A matter of grave importance has been distressing me since the beginning of the year. As each week goes by I find the level of my anxiety and worry steadily increasing. The cause of my condition is the low patronage SASRACs are receiving. You don't have to be a piss-sinking slob to come along, in fact they're actually a rarity at SASRACs (at least this year) and I have yet to see a 'beery motherfucker'. What it amounts to is just having a nice quiet social drink (or, if you want, getting pissed) with whoever and whatever you want, even yourself. Furthermore although alcohol tickets are sold in lots of three for two dollars, they can be separated and remain the same each week, hence your two dollars can last three weeks at the rate of one SASRAC/week.

For 'a very frustrated student and her friend' and others in a similar set of circumstances I would recommend a Thursday SASRAC, there's plenty of lonely guys (try approaching them, they're shy) and then, at five most weeks, you can head off together to a film in the Memorial Theatre, after that, well that's up to you.

So why not support what social activity is organised for students, have a good time, improve your love life, and put my tormented mind at rest.

My My, Hey Hey

Not belonging to that auspicious group known as the "Arty Farty" and not having a musical fibre in my body I had something of a novel experience when last Saturday I went along to my first NZSO concert.

The class and type of person there fulfilled every stereotype I had of arty farties and musical buffs so you can imagine my complete surprise to see even these of the "haute societe" licking ice-creams during the interval! However this was not the only surprise I received that eventful evening. On returning to my seat I was most dismayed and cut up about the fact that my programme was missing! My faith in the morals of the "haute societe" disappeared there and then when I realised that not even these paragons were above the pettiness of programme nicking. Verily, the unsavoury elements of human nature do indeed transcend all class distinctions,

Feedback at Last

One might have expected that a student newspaper of today would have had some political bias. Not so with Salient! Indeed, this publication's major articles boast such profligate impartiality and balance that it prompts one to ask is there any sway to the right or left.

Week after week, without exception, we see views subjected to a deep and penetrating questioning and then a searing analysis so that a sound conviction can emerge. This is what makes the articles so entertaining.

Yes, dare I say it, Salient stands like a marble pillar of unchallengeable truth in the decaying ruins of our society. At last a newspaper that treats its readers as fully-grown apes.

Library Hours

Is this bloody place a centre of learning and other scholarly pursuits or not?

I came up here on Sunday morning to prepare for a seminar I have to give in the near future - keen eh! But - the Library was closed. Desperately searching for somewhere to work I tried Cotton, Kirk and Union. The only place not locked or being used for conferences was the Union Hall, which, unfortunately, was liberally sprinkled with homogenised Chateau, Rothmans and DB mixed-up-and-ground-into-the-floor with regurgitated Watties food products, and therefore uninhabitable.

Back to my moan about the library. Surely an institution which can afford to have $7000? spent on that edifice in the Quad (affectionately dubbed '2001, son of 2001 and return of 2001') can open its doors at suitable hours during the weekend!