Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 44 No. 9. May 4 1981

Capping Creates Conflict

Capping Creates Conflict

Exec Hears Complaints

The Executive meeting last Monday 27 April saw the partial resolution of two complaints laid against the organisers of Capping.

Earlier in the same day, one of the Capping Controllers had seen fit to destroy the Anti-Apartheid booth in the Union foyer — breaking the table, spilling beer and covering the floor in a sea of ripped down posters.

AA Club people were undoubtedly at fault for covering over capping material on display without informing the capping organisers. However, as the letter to Exec from AA Club president David Murray pointed out, the area had been booked for the club's booth and, more importantly, discussion rather than destruction would have been a more sensible approach.

David Murray also made the point that "such action reflects badly on capping, too" and that in a week with two important Association activities, "the AA Club wanted to co-operate with the capping people as much as possible."

Several Exec members were also quick to stress the need for prior discussion and arrangement; and that taking the law into one's own hands was no solution.

'Rape Legal'

Woman Vice President Lesley Huffam also raised the issue of the capping organisers' disruption of the rape forum held the previous Friday. She claimed they had "interrupted the speaker and called out the slogan 'rape is legal during Capping Week'."

Unfortunately having to struggle against laughter from the Capping Controllers, Huffam claimed the disruption was "quite unnecessary," and that an apology, especially for the 'rape legal' slogan, was wanted.

While one Capping Controller stated they were not prepared to withdraw the statement — "it was just a joke" — Secretary Paul Cochrane claimed that "they must have known many people would be offended" by it, and that capping promotion should be less offensive.

David Murray said he considered the rape forum behaviour worse than that in his own complaint, and asked the controllers if they would make the comment to a Maori Club meeting that 'racist acts were alright during Capping Week.'

"Yes, they would still do it," came the reply.

Finally an Apology

However, oil was poured on the rising wave of frayed tempers when controller Barry Cutcheon offered an apology on behalf of the Capping Controllers, and the hope that it wouldn't happen again. Thankfully, Capping and May 1 organisation did proceed through the rest of last week without further conflict.

Quite obviously, both sides should have put more effort into informing each other of what they had planned. It will be a sad day when the Association cannot run more than one major activity at the same time.

The rape forum incident is a little different. Capping will always be based on students casting aside a few inhibitions and having a lot of fun. However, students (and especially capping organisers) must learn that this does not provide an excuse for everything. Sexism is no joke; rape is never fun.

Stephen A'Court