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In Salient
Capitalism, I suppose, means amongst other things, the right to own private property (Patent goods etc.), the right to do with that property more or less what you will including selling it for as much as you can get, or refusing to sell it at all.
No one seriously objects if a businessman sells his product for as much as he can get, or refuses to sell it because he can't get his price for it. No one objects if an investor withdraws his investment from industry, or refuses to invest at all. Indeed such people may gain a reputation for being good Capitalists even though, in the case of the investor, such activities may lead to bankrupt industries and mass unemployment.
Let the worker however try to be a good capitalist and try to sell his property - his labour - for as much as he can get; or indeed refuse to sell it, or withdraw it by going on strike - such an outcry, such villainy. The State steps in; laws are applied; men are jailed, or threatened with jail; troops and police are mobilised. The worker is not seen as someone seeking to exercise his normal capitalist economic rights. Far from it.
It is true that the State also seeks to regulate the activities of businessmen. Such regulations however are usually badly policed or are ineffectual as in the case of price controls. Or they take the form of subsidies, tax incentives and other such benefits paid by the state to 'encourage' or 'provide incentives' to business.
Certainly the state never uses the police, or troops to force businessmen to do business. Can you remember the last time the state sided with the worker in an industrial dispute?
The fact that the worker, through his union, is not allowed to operate as a good capitalist is a measure of the degree to which capitalist economic rights are not meant to be rights for everyone. And the degree to which capitalism and the state exist to serve the interests of a small minority only.
Re the letter about Phil 101 last week. The student who wrote it has obviously not yet grasped the aims of the course, as you are meant to ask questions and argue with the lecturer. So, I put it to you that this "girl" is not wasting time, and that the other "normal" students will not fully appreciate the art of philosophy until they too join in and try to prove that they, "know more than the lecturer," who is indeed "a nice enough gentleman".
The aforementioned red-headed, feather tafted young lady of a weirdo isn't so bad. It's just that there was an accident when she was conceived; God forgot the brain but added a turbocharger for her mouth.
To be fair the nice enough gentleman of a lecturer gets boring and/or patronizing at times and comic relief is necessary. Her probing thrusts are sometimes pertinent and even witty. However the majority of her "air time" is spent in cheap patronizing points which the rest of us have thought of ourselves, and dismissed as being petty/irrelevant. Cut the crap sister, and we'll love ya. One question. Do you dress like that by choice, or is your mother an Emu?
PS. Wonder why she wasn't at Monday's lecture.
Last Monday I came hurtling at a tremendously ginormous colossal velocity up the drive from Salamanca Road making an H-Iine (no, not B-line, H-line, as in passing in front of the Hunter Building) towards the Union Building (the reason for my fanatically fast fleet footedness was due neither to the imminent danger of falling Hunter bricks nor to the tantalising aromas wafting from the cafe, but because that wonderful paper 'Salient lay within the confines of the aforementioned Union Building) when suddenly, lo and behold, I slowed to a complete standstill, my feet immobilised.
My first thought was that some large-mouthed gum-chewers had sat up all night chewing black gum and then spatted it all upon the ground, or, hang on, was it a large burnt-on-the-outside-gooy-middled pancake? No! some persons, unknown to me, had asphalted the area I was stuck upon. Who authorised this expenditure? Do the ignorant sods not realise that the path from the Union Building down towards Victoria Book Centre is still holed, rutted, uneven and bloody dangerous (not to mention the red and white unfortunate height metal pole) at night, or, is it going to have to wait until some poor bastard trips over and breaks their neck?
As I dragged myself through our rag this morning, it struck me that some controversy was needed to liven it up. So where is this 'New Right' I've been hearing about. Are they a fiction? Arise, oh Right, and stand up and scream, or at least write an article for 'Salient'. I'm sure our infamous editor will stop the worship of his Marx photo long enough to correct your grammar, even! How about some of you pro-tour nerds scribbling something between downing pints and beating up Hart protesters. Please, we need some entertainment or at least some humour in the rag. Something to laugh at.
P.S. What am I supposed to have for breakfast if there's no chips?
Yours Temporary
I believe it's high time all these 'stop the tour' chanters sat down and gave a bit of thought to the benefits of a South African tour taking place. Forget all the reasons why it shouldn't happen, we've all heard them too many times already.
I am strongly anti-apartheid, I don't think any thinking New Zealander can be in favour of any form of Racial Discrimination, but I don't believe that refusing to play with the 'kids next door' is going to change a philosophy under which he has become accustomed to, to quote Pauline McKay (Pres. HART) "... the highest standard of living in the world".
By far the best way to change a persons actions is to change his attitudes. By mixing on an equal basis with Blacks and Coloureds it is possible to change the attitude of the White South African sportsman. It can be seen in New Zealand that the strongest "anti-Black" feeling comes from those who have no regular contact (be it work or play) with Islanders and Maoris. A change in South African apartheid laws would be far more beneficial when brought about by the benefactors of White South Africa than when it is forced upon it by outside parties.
If the government is so hell bent on crusading for the plight of the Black and the Coloured South Africans then why don't they attack the basis of South Africa's existence, their economy. They surely can be far more effectively crippled economically than morally.
If Pauline McKay really believes that the Springbok tour will be called off she's got her head up her arse! The National Government is not going to stop the tour. A complete change in attitude by the Government in an election year is about as likely as the successful completion of 'Piggies' economic miracle and Merv. Wellington's chances of being elected as President of NZUSA, and it must be clear to anyone with at least half a brain that the Rugby Union is not going to back down. Anyway how could anyone expect a government to honour the Gleneagles Agreement any more than they have done so when they were blackmailed into it in the first place.
I hope the HART supporters have the good sense not to continue with such pranks as those tried at the Veteran Games in Christchurch. Rugby supporters tend to be a lot more physical than Veteran Games supporters and competitors, and lets face it broken bones will help no one.
I am interested in corresponding with people from New Zealand as penpals.
I am a 24 year old female and a full-time art student studying advertising. I also have interests in graphic design, painting, reading and dancing. I am interested in corresponding with people, preferably males, in the age group of 24-29 years.
If you could help me, I would be most appreciative.
If you are interested, see Editor for details.
I don't know if I like you any more you didn't publish my letter last week. Poor Stephen published all the letters I submitted to him last year, all Twenty-three of them, so I direct my letter mainly to hoping Stephen gets better so he can continue to publish our Sallyant with my correspondence,
Here goes, Please get better Stephen, Please. Cause as well as printing me letters you also a good mate and I don't like to me good mates sore. One comment that was made in last weeks Sallyant about myself is completely false and inaccurate. I am not a "Marxist" and if I had the month (I haven't because I'm a "Student") I would fight you in the unjust courts, that we have. Also Arshole; Orientation was great and I congratulate the best ever NZUSA president (Simon Wilson) and Paulette for their efforts and attitudes as yours to Bursury and Sharpville give rise to the radical right wing racist-fascist organisations like the national front.
Anyway to get my main topic get, please get better Stephen, Pretty please.
Good luck in the interim Geoff.
This morning I was disgusted by the Cigarette Machine in the Cafe, which gobbled up 50 cents and refused to take the other 50, so I couldn't get any smokes. Pressing the reject button several times failed to return my 50 cents. And... the coffee is too expensive. And... people park in the student car park without stickers making it impossible for paying students to park.
My friend can't stop eating cheese sticks and our love lives are extremely dull and boring. What are you going to do about it?
The university library is one of the real pivot points of the university campus. It is a valuable resource for students in many capacities. It supplies us with a mind-boggling election of books and periodicals, slides, records and tapes, as well as a variety of services such as the interloan and request systems. The library is also the place to go to do a little study or relax with a book or Salient copy, or look at the current art exhibition or perhaps listen to a record (when installation of new equipment is completed). The view of the harbour from its windows can be stunning enough to warrant a visit on some days too.
The library's importance is not always acknowledged by those who decide on its funding, and in the past it has suffered cutbacks in its budget and staff allocation. Victoria Council still gives a smaller proportion of its budget to the library, than any other university in New Zealand, according to student numbers. This year is generally seen as being a little brighter, although it is doubtful that prospects for the future are as brilliant. Mr Sage, the head librarian, has given figures that the University Council grant for
These figures all mean that at least there will be no cutbacks in services offered this year and that a reasonable growth in library stock can be expected. Mr Sage believes that the standard minimum of 18,000 new volumes each year for a healthy library growth should be comfortably exceeded. A lamentable feature of the budget is that 30% consists of non-recurring money, that is money which was unspent in various areas of the university in
The greatest problem for the library this year, and probably in years to follow, which the budget has not been able to remedy, is in the lack of staff. In fact the situation has been improved since last year, with the unfreezing of 4 of 5 positions initially frozen in
A centralised computer cataloguing system could reduce the more mechanical work of librarians, but it is unlikely that finance will permit such a scheme for a long while. The introduction of benefits from a technological age are not necessarily labour saving, as Alison McCloud has discovered with the new electronic exit system in the library. With its arrival, one staff position was cut, believed to be no longer necessary, but it is quite apparent that a staff member is still needed to supervise the system and put the books through the new processes involved.
The library is fast moving into problems of shelving new stock, which is to the detriment of all library users and especially students who use study areas. Already, student seats have been lost this year on Floor 5 to make room for new shelves.
This year should see a real growth in the number of books purchased by the library and the maintenance of its services but this is being accompanied by an increase in work for staff, but no long term plans can seriously be considered because the uncertainty of its future funding.
Despite the poor attendance at a meeting held at 5pm on Monday 23 to discuss the Education Fightback Campaign, all is well with plans being made.
A Hardship Office has been set up in the Treasurer's Office of the Union Building, to be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 2pm. This will be manned by those at the meeting and will provide advice for students filling out hardship applications, and also help in appealing against Department decisions.
We hope that this service will be of help to students, that it will arouse interest around campus. We ourselves will be able through this to assess more accurately the plight of those students who are being refused hardship.
It was suggested that a Forum be held, with guest speakers being a National MP, a Labour MP and a spokesperson for NZUSA. Although the date tentatively set aside for this was Wednesday April 1, this has proved to be at too short notice for most of our Honourable Members... so we should see the elusive Forum on Tuesday April 7, up in the Union Hall. The subject will be:
"Should tertiary education be financed by the student, or should it be the responsibility of the taxpayer?"
Monday, March 30, sees some street drama about bursaries in the quad outside the library. Leaflets will be handed out. That week we start the countdown to April 8... banners, posters, leaflets and talks will all be given. How else are people going to know what we're fighting against?!
Other activities for the week 30 March to 3 April are not finalised, but could include a tent-out for unaccommodated students, and/or a soup kitchen for starving students. We'll let you know!
Finally, the march is on April 8 - well, you've seen the publicity! See you there!
Come and tell us about your incredibly skungy flat - we'll send someone around to take a photo... the grottiest flat picture goes up on our display board, and you win a mystery prize. Let's see your hovel now!
Unless otherwise stated, all concerts take place in the Memorial Theatre, commencing at 1.10pm, and admission is free. Wednesday, April 1 University Memorial Theatre, starting at 1.10pm
New Zealand Musical Composition Since 1950. A 50-minute audio-visual survey which introduces the work of over 30 New Zealand composers. Designed by Jack Body, with images by Paul Jones, the survey was commissioned for the League of Asian Composers' Conference, in Hong Kong in
April 2 Dance Room, Recreation Centre Encounters (Jack Body
Encounters is an exploration of the rituals of greeting; juxtaposing familiar greetings with those from other cultures. The former are presented by a group of people, and the latter by a tape recording. This piece was commissioned by the Central Regional Arts Council for their conference in
Ian Shearer Minister for the Environment will be holding a Public meeting on April 1
Civic Square Mercer Street.
Wed. April 1: Noon
Wed 1 April 2.15pm.
Murder on the Orient Express
GB
The best of the multi-star, Agatha Christie adaptations. Hercule Poirot is entrusted the task of discovering who-dunnit. Ingrid Bergman got an Academy Award for her role.
Thur 2 April 5.00pm.
The Deerhunter
US
"Presumably the audience has to guess the point, if any; meanwhile it may be repelled by this long and savage if frequently engrossing film." (G. Halliwell).
For a film claiming to be the definitive word on the American experience in Vietnam, the failure to explore any of the moral questions involved is, to say the least, questionable. More valid as a statement about wars in general, perhaps.
After last weeks visit to The Shining, we were adamant that we would never, ever review a scary movie again. Owing to circumstances beyond our control, we are now in a position to do some sort of a review of Mr De Palma's
And what's inside the chocolate box? Sadly, a soft centre. The plot is magnificently inane, wandering about aimlessly, killing off the main character at the end of the first half, and having its most satisfactory sequence in a dream!! This went out with the ark; the plot proper ends at 9.45pm when the murderer gets packed off to a looney-bin, and then there's a whole half-hour sequence when he escapes and comes to do his captors in, that transpires to be a nightmare. It's as if De Palma ran out of things to say and needed an extra couple of thousand feet to make a commercially marketable product, so he tacked this bit on; ironically it provides the only two exciting bits in the whole movie. About the only intriguing thing is how he managed to get two reasonable performers (Angie Dickinson and Michael Caine) to have anything to do with such a turkey, and how he managed to get two such lacklustre performances out of them.
Basically, if you want to go to the movies, avoid this one and go and see The Shining or
From the simplest of song-structures, a floating, wistful acoustic backing, Paul Weller and his cohorts have created something of ethereal beauty. The amount of overlaid embellishment retains and enhances this simplicity: dreamy backing vocals that echo A Day In the Life and, towards the song's end, an electric guitar striving in vain to slip through the acoustic wall.
Other than that, it is the Jam doing what the Jam (currently) do better than anyone else - Weller's plaintive voice wrapped around some ugly images, Foxton and Buckler carrying the rhythms perfectly through the song's peaks and lulls.
An immaculately rendered song, and a single of only slightly lesser dimensions. But a massive cop-out. Pulling singles off albums is the oldest sales trick imaginable, but when it's of such a sure-sales-fire (sic!!) nature as is so painfully obvious here, it reeks of contempt.
The previous Jam LP Setting Sons only had
That's Entertainment parallels
Stunn records continue their policy of making the otherwise-unobtainable readily accessible: The Cure, The Passions, now The Associates. The Affectionate Punch is, so the saying goes, 'from the album of the same name'. Derivative? This group sounds more like Bowie than Bowie himself does these days, turning the clock back to the time of
The lyrics aren't much help, either. They give the impression of having been pieced together ('Cut-up'? Bowie again) without any unifying vision or fusion. The Affectionate Punch draws blood, but conforms too readily to its own boundaries.
A thoroughly unsatisfying song, but not necessarily unfulfilled - it just doesn't slot nicely into any pre-conceived ideas, that's all. No reason to ignore it, and every reason to suss out the long player when the opportunity arises.
Having seen this band three or four times, I was maybe expecting a little too much when I went to the Terminus. The band hasn't changed in the time I've known it and I think that any band that relies on original material must keep the momentum going with new songs, and new developments as a performing unit. Frankly, the band looks stale and rather bored - I'm not surprised really, I can remember most of the songs and very little has been added or amended. I get the impression that Taste of Bounty feel they have paid their dues, which they probably did in their four-year stint as
However, success in the music world isn't an automatic result of work put in multiplied by desire to be famous - the band obviously wants to grow and be successful but they seem to me to be relying on a sound which they feel is original, but unfortunately is not. Their approach is puzzling in that they used to make great play on the fact that their songs were self-written. I say 'self-written' rather than 'original' because despite the good points of this outfit (great vocal skill, good on-stage band rapport, strong instrumental skills and tightness) the songs don't sound original. I'm no expert on soul, R'n'B or funk but I know I've heard most of their riffs, arrangements and style before. Sure, the songs are new, but they could easily be mistaken for a band like Rufus, if you shut your eyes and just listen. The lyrics and subject matter of the songs are good, but musically the band seemed to tack one hard rock/R'n'B/soul/funk cliche to another as the songs rolled on without change in sound, instrumentation or approach.
Everyone I know loves this band, I'm aware of their good qualities and I respect them, but I can't seriously regard them as a new musical force. For example, several of the numbers end on the same vocal harmony fade-out (eg schoolgirl patrol). This is symptomatic of the band's limitations. They rely on a solid, dependable sound consisting of two guitars (one pyrotechnic lead, and one clean, santana-like rhythm), a bass which occasionally goes into funky phrasing and soul-disco rhythms with the drums. Vocally, the lead singer has a style not unlike Chaka Khan, and with some excellent harmonising from the lead guitarist, bassist and drummer, they manage to achieve the standard funk-disco vocal arrangements, while in the rockier numbers the vocal sound is astonishing similar to Jefferson Starship (Slick, Kantner, Balin etc).
The gig was an average one, lights were OK, sound rather poor. An expensive sound desk didn't appear to be meshing well with the onstage gear - crackles, feedback (especially on echoed vocals) and rumbles emanated from the stage while the un-miked drums faded away with the rhythm guitar much of the time. Vocal mix a little overdone.
As a total act, the band is a family, and they look like that. There is a closeness onstage, but this may not be an adequate substitute for full-on professionalism in stage presentation and discipline. The onstage feel did not match the moods of the music.
If you like soul, and hard-rock as you've heard from bands like Renee Gayer, Rufus, etc, then you'll enjoy
Please note: Typesetting error in the Pop Mx review - "Dixie/soul" should read "Dexy/soul" as in "Dexy and the Midnight Runners". Apologies if confused.
The much-acclaimed Foreskin's Lament gets its impact from sound writing which enables it to take off as a play of ideas. Too few New Zealand plays to date have been able to achieve both these things; either they have been intellectually unsatisfying, or too theatrically or structurally weak to carry ideas. Not so with
It is a play which, for once and for all, dispells the egalitarian myth - it affirms class differences in New Zealand and unashamedly looks at the bitterness which results from the differences. As Clean, an archetypal rugby player says to Moira, a lawyer, "The distance between me and you is a fucken world".
Like David Williamson's The Club, which has also been widely performed in New Zealand,
But by the end of the play, his belief in this myth has crumbled. He discovers that the nitty-gritty is a charade too, and the increasing chaos and violence in the last ten minutes of the play bring about the final disintegration of the myth, culminating in the smashing of a TV set showing a rugby game, and Foreskin launching into his climactic lament for the inadequacy of both the rugby and intellectual standpoints. Thus there is no resolution, and Foreskin's final question of "Whaddarya?" is to the audience - What are New Zealanders? Without the egalitarian myth to hide behind how can we have a national identity?
This ending is very theatrically powerful and is made all the more provocative by McGee's careful arguing of ideas throughout the play. He uses characters representing different social positions, (most obviously, Moira as the intellectual, Clean as the rugby man, and Foreskin caught between the two), and in the second act plays off these representatives against eachother. This is done unobtrusively by setting the conversations on a balcony outside an off-stage party. This enables him to group various individuals together for confrontation.
However, the characters are not merely types. Like Arthur Miller in Death of Salesman, McGee exposes characters enough to make us hate them, and then justifies them because they are human beings. Miller has Linda say of her husband: "I don't think he's a great man... He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being... Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person".
In the same way, it would be easy to despise the chauvinistic, animalistic, Clean, but McGee shows that he has been a victim, and Foreskin defends him against Moira in saying: "If you haven't had to wonder where your next buck is coming from, then you've missed out on the major preoccupation of the waking hours of the Western world."
Less obviously, but also importantly, the play is about individualism, and its defeat. The team ethos is at the expense of the individual, so that Ken is expected to play for the sake of the team regardless of his injuries, and his eventual death is the sacrifice of an individual to the idea of the team. Foreskin loses in both the academic world where he finds it has all been said before ("What could I possibly say that was original"), and the rugby world where he is told he is too much of an individual and must conform. (This rugby phenomena has been satirically elevated to myth in Vincent O'Sullivans novel. Miracle). Also, the language and attitudes of the rugby world work against individuals in its terms of abuse against minorities, especially women, foreigners, and homosexuals, and its inability to see these people as people.
It is a pity that there are not more parts for women in Foreskin's Lament, but it is an excellent play which is funny as well as stimulating, and will be well worth seeing in its Wellington season. Hopefully the quality of its writing and content will provide a model for more and better New Zealand plays which are not afraid to deal with ideas.
What is this pretty book with the red cover I asked myself as I sniffed around in the Salient editor's office looking for the petty cash. A Lamda anthology of verse and prose, came answer. It is supposed to be being reviewed.
My curiosity was aroused; what the hell is a Lamda? Some obscure eastern religious sect perhaps? NO!!! Lamda is the 'London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art', and this is an anthology of pieces intended for use in examinations conducted by that organisation. It's an elocution book.
Now elocution is, despite the ridicule with which most people speak of it, something of which many students have some experience; a quick scout round among my friends revealed that most of them at one stage or another had had something to do with speech and drama classes. Certainly the thought of 'speech and drama' brought many images crowding into this reviewer's head; competition festival mothers with bright red lipstick, loud voices, and precocious eight-year-old Oliviers and Glenda Jacksons; the sweat pouring off as I waited outside the Door of the Examining Room for the Examiner to summon me in to say my one or two prepared pieces and answer a few simple questions on enjambements, inflection, and the neutral vowel. It was really not so much a hobby as a way of life, and for all those hundreds of students who have been through the mill a glance through the Lamda anthology will probably provide quite a nostalgic experience.
But the book is not really aimed at the reader so much as the serious teacher of speech and drama. I know of several
students at this university who find tutoring the offspring of latter-day Mrs Worthingtons to be quite a lucrative source of income. For them this book could be quite invaluable. It contains a good selection of verse and prose extracts graded for difficulty, beginning with a little number by 'Anon' for children and ending with a prose extract from Virginia Woolf. It could save a teacher a lot of time in fereting around in books looking for nice children's poems, and although it contains no drama extracts for 'character sketches', the prose pieces would be ideal for say a prepared reading class, or for training in sightreading. It is a damned nuisance having to hunt out short, self contained chunks of prose from novels, and this anthology provides a good number of them for the teacher.
Lamda do not, as far as I know, conduct examinations in New Zealand, but their centennary anthology is none the less a book which many teachers of speech might find a useful part of their bookshelf.
From an exhibition held last week at Pipitea Marae, organised by the New Zealand Maori Artists and Writers Association (inc).
Henry Isaacs, permanent Pan Africanist Congress representative at the United Nations, provided the highlight of the HART regional conference held in the Union Hall on Saturday 21 March. He warned of the danger of the New Zealand Anti-Apartheid Movement being outflanked by the Pretorian regime: "Even if every apartheid law was repealed tomorrow, it wouldn't make any difference to the economic position or political rights of blacks."
About 200 people attended the conference, from New Zealand's central regions from Nelson up to Palmerston North.
Much of Henry Isaacs speech content was similar to that he gave in the Union Hall the previous Thursday. He outlined the necessity to support the Black liberation movements of Azania (a word meaning Black Nation, used by the Black South Africans to describe their country), and warned against opposing the tour solely because of the abhorrent laws which help to maintain the apartheid system.
Apartheid extends beyond laws. Apartheid is the scheme within which the continued exploitation and oppression of the Azanian people occurs. He stated there was a possibility of some of the apartheid laws being revoked, but this would not mean an end to the liberation struggle. The face of apartheid may change, but its essential character will remain the same. The South African government will manuoevre, as it has done in the past, to maintain its position of power, and to cotinue its exploitation of the Azanians. While this minority rule persists, there will be no justice in South Africa.
Isaacs affirmed the need to support the Black nationalist movements as a whole and was critical of the Soviet Union support for only the ANC, while ignoring the other legitimate liberation organisations.
He also outlined a probable economic agreement between southern African states to reduce their present economic reliance on the Pretorian regime. This would allow the calls for economic boycotts to be far more effective than they have been to date. The biggest threat to the boycott comes from western imperialism, especially multinational corporations with interests in South Africa.
He reaffirmed the necessity to prevent the Springbok tour taking place. This would be a further step towards the international isolation of South Africa. It will aid in weakening the structure of apartheid, and thus contribute, in a small way, to the liberation fight. He ended by saying that victory and liberation of Azania is inevitable. It is only a question of when.
The morning session of the conference was taken up with speeches by Trevor Richards, and the two fulltime National Organisers Pauline McKay and John Minto. Trevor affirmed that the tour is indeed stoppable. He highlighted the fact that the degree of anti-tour sentiment is higher at this stage of the campaign than in any other previous campaigns, even
Pauline and John outlined the campaign situation nationally, and gave some details of resolutions passed at the Auckland regional conference. The one point of dispute with the northern conference resolutions was on the question of a national petition. A resolution supporting this had been narrowly passed there. However it was overwhelmingly rejected by the Wellington conference. Reasons given were that it would require a large deployment of resources away from the May 1 mobilisation preparations and would be of doubtful effectiveness anyway, no matter how many signatures were attained.
The early afternoon session had been put aside for activists. It consisted of a series of workshops, run by specialists in particular areas. They were designed to pass on skills to as many people as possible. The skills were those regarded as being vital to the running of a campaign. The specific workshops included media relations, publicity, legal aspects, drama, and political strategies. The general feeling was that these were of value and most people gained something appreciable from them.
My main complaint is that any new spectacular ideas for the May 1 Mobilisation failed to appear. Perhaps, on reflection, it is indicative more of the degree of experienced, talented people within HART: The New Zealand Anti-apartheid Movement, rather than of any failure to grasp opportunities. The conference served to consolidate people in their conviction that the proposed '81 Springbok tour can, and must, be stopped. No effort, time, or energy will be spared until this end is achieved.
Anyone who has seen an anti-abortion march organised by SPUC will now be familiar with their main statement of belief, namely that 'Abortion is murder', that 'Abortion kills'. It seems such a fundamental and basic statement that many people are momentarily stunned by it. We all have a horror of murder and violence, and so we react to such a statement with emotion. 'Murder of the unborn child', increases this feeling since it is directed at our feelings of love and sympathy for children. We should look carefully at the arguments behind these statements because they expose the way in which antiabortionists manipulate our emotions, and exploit our real feelings towards children.
The basis of their argument is the assumption that a foetus can be equated with a human being, since murder is defined in our society as 'the unlawful killing of a person' (Oxford Diet). Certain biological and social facts deny that the foetus is a human being; for at least six months it lives off the body of the pregnant woman, and cannot exist independently. It has no contact with the outside world, or with human society, and therefore it cannot be said to have human thoughts or emotions. The distinction between the potential humanity of a foetus, and the full humanity of a person is recognised by both Church and State. Governments issue certificates confirming date of birth not conception; pregnant women's passports acknowledge only one travelling, not two. When a miscarriage occurs neither the legal profession or the medical profession consider that a human death has occurred, and no death certificate is required. The abstract nature of this equation between foetal life and human life becomes increasingly obvious when we consider the vast numbers of miscarriages that occur.
The Roman Catholic Church in particular, insists on calling a foetus 'an unborn child', a human being complete with legal rights from the point of conception onwards, and yet shows up the contradiction in its thinking by denying that the foetus has a 'soul' and refusing to bury it in consecrated ground.
We would never deny that the foetus is potentially a human being, but that does not mean we should lose sight of the difference between our rights as women and the potential rights of the developing foetus. The humanity it has is abstract, and cannot be compared with that of the pregnant woman without devaluing her life, her needs and aspirations.
This imagined humanity of the foetus has to be deliberately concocted in our minds by anti-abortionists. They show pictures of six month old babies together with horror pictures of aborted foetuses in their publicity material, because they know that unless they do this, it would be difficult for us to really see the foetus as a human being in miniature. That is also why they always attribute human movements and emotions to what can only be considered as the normal physical movements of any animal embryo.
There is nothing abstract about the humanity of the pregnant woman, however, who wishes, in the interest of her own life to make the decision herself, as to whether or not to continue her pregnancy. We never hear anti-abortionists talk about women's needs - the main aim of all their attempts to 'help' pregnant women is to save the life of the 'unborn child' - in fact many of them deny these needs altogether by saying that foetal life must always take precedence over the woman's life whatever the consequences. The Pope said in
This adulation of basic foetal life is surely just another way of telling us that our lives are worthless, except in so far as we carry out one 'historic' purpose as the breeders of the next generation. To equate our lives in worth and value with that of the unborn foetus is to reduce women to the status of non-thinking, non-speaking, non-communicative entities. The nature of our lives as women is hardly touched upon by anti-abortionists. They never mention battered or unwanted children, or the fears and despair of women faced with unwanted pregnancy. They do not mention the inadequacy of contraceptive methods, and the lack of a really safe, universally acceptable contraceptive. Our real concern that children should be wanted by their parents, that they should have decent living conditions to grow up in, is turned on its head to reveal a mythical picture of women as the destroyers of human life. It is because masses of women throughout the world know the value of life that they take the control of their bodies into their own hands, and demand the right to have abortions.
Women want the right to abortion because it matters very much to them to be able to make decisions about their own lives, their work, their education and their contribution to society.
We recognise that some people sincerely believe that abortion is morally wrong. Some women for religious or other reasons would never consider abortion for themselves and we respect their right to make that conscious choice. But, no-one should have the right to coerce another into acting against their will and the dictates of their conscience. Anti-abortionists have no right to force their brand of morality onto the rest of the population. To deny women the right to choose whether or not to have a child is merely to reinforce and bolster the entire social repression of women.
You can call it killing an unborn baby or you can call it terminating an unwanted pregnancy. What you are talking about is abortion. Some people believe abortion is sinful and therefore seek to restrict or prohibit its availability. Other people think that the decision to have or not to have an abortion belongs ultimately with each individual woman and that restrictive or prohibitive legislation denies women the right to choose.
The people fighting for safe, legal and freely available abortion are not advocating abortion as a rule, they are fighting for the principle that it is a woman's right to choose whether she wants an abortion or not. Women who seek abortion are not a 'silly' promiscuous minority but are on the whole women who have already had children and women who, through inadequate contraceptive advice or contraceptive failure, conceive.
There is no evidence that restrictive legislation lowers the number of women wishing to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. All it does do is make an abortion hard to obtain and adds to the trauma of an already difficult decision. Women in New Zealand are still choosing to have abortions despite the increased emotional and physical costs. Support groups like SOS (Sisters Overseas Service) are working to help women escape New Zealand's restrictive legislation and obtain abortions in Australia but the cost of approx. $850.00 is prohibitive to most. Other groups, in particular WONAAC (Women's National Abortion Action Campaign) seek the repeal of all abortion laws, fighting for abortion as a real choice and not just theoretically possible under law. This is so that any woman who wants an abortion can get one without fear of being prosecuted as a criminal; without risking her life with a backstreet abortionist and without the legalised inquisition and harrassment by a series of specialists.
Obviously the decision to have an abortion is not made lightly, but it is a decision that the woman involved should have the right to make. Nor is anyone suggesting that there are not alternatives to abortion eg: pregnancy help and adoption, but again the choice must be each individual woman's to make.
The right to choose is basic to the liberation of women and feminism. It is more than just the choice to have an abortion or not. It means that a woman has the right to determine her own future, to make her own choices about her life and direction, without the constraint of law, traditional sex role stereotyping or attitude.
The right to choose means that women have the right to decide to have an abortion or not; to have children by choice; to work regardless of whether they have children or not which means freely available childcare; to determine their own sexuality without legal or cultural discrimination; to go out at night without fear of harrassment, attack and rape.
Women have the right to fulfill their full potential without the constant struggle against a system which discriminates against women. Whether your analysis sees capitalism, the patriarchy or consumerism as the cause in our society women are denied the right to choose. They are subject to the decisions and actions of others. Until women are genuinely free to choose and have full control of their own bodies our system remains a repressive and restrictive one. The right to choose is the beginning of the basic human right to personal freedom. As a piece of graffiti last year read:
The difference between pro and anti abortionists, is that pro abortionists don't say everybody has to have an abortion, but the anti abortionists say that nobody can!
a vicious torture used by the Chilean military
female comrade
Last week Salient ran an article outlining the situation in El Salvador - especially with regard to the church and its position in the struggle. This week, I aim to provide a picture, more specifically, of the liberation movements.
Almost all of the groups opposing the ruling Junta and its manipulators, the '14 families' and US investors, are united in a strategic alliance under the name 'Revolutionary Democratic Front (FDR). This alliance includes members of almost every social class; students, intellectuals, workers, peasants, small businessmen. All these groups have their own separate organisations but work to achieve, firstly, the revolutionary programme of the FDR, the basic points of which are; national independence, political non-alignment, support for private enterprise, freedom of religious belief and legislative, economic and social reforms.
Because the fascist Junta, along with the Right Wing terror squads controlled by the oligarchy, are conducting such a brutal campaign, the FDR recognises the need for armed overthrow of the present regime. In line with this, the FDR supports and works closely with the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), an umbrella group unifying the principal guerilla groups.
The FMLN recently launched what was hoped to be a final offensive, but although it succeeded in the destruction of a large air-base and capture of large quantities of arms it did not succeed in toppling the Junta.
The guerilla groups work mainly from their base amongst the peasantry. Because most of the land originally owned by peasant communities has been expropriated, especially the fertile central region, the peasants are forced to leave their villages for several months of the year to work on coffee plantations or in cotton fields. They work for a pittance of only $3 per day. This forced yearly movement is the only way they can survive but even so, the food intake of peasant families is the second lowest in Central America. A real problem associated with this mobile existence is that of organising, as the communities are constantly being split up. This is aggravated by the terror tactics of the fascist army and private militias of landlords.
But even under these harsh conditions, two peasant organisations have been set up - the Salvadoran Christian Farmers Association and the Union of Farmworkers. These now have a combined membership of 250,000, and are active in the struggle.
The creation of a common market in Central America in the 60s, between El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, opened up a market of 12 million inhabitants, thereby allowing a certain degree of industrial development.
The United States, which was behind the creation of the common market, built ties with the Salvadoran oligarchy to exploit the local manpower, the cheapest in the region.
Fleeing the misery of the countryside, many peasants flooded into the cities. The working class grew from barely 12 percent of the active population in the
As well as having strength in numbers, the working class was relatively concentrated. Industries set up by imperialsts employed hundreds and sometimes over a thousand workers. They were generally concentrated in industrial zones which was conducive to organisation and discussion.
From
Workers fought back by occupying plants and striking against layoffs and wage freezes. Today the unions have joined the revolutionary struggle to overthrow the junta.
The working class plays an important role in the FDR through its organisations like the Federation of Revolutionary Unions (FRS) and FENASTRAS (National Federation of Salvadoran Workers Unions).
These two major groups, the industrial workers and the peasants, are assisted in their struggle by all the other groups making up the FDR and will eventually succeed just as the nearby Nicaraguan people succeeded.
Following last November's Pengkalan Kota by-election in Penang, the defeated opposition party (DAP) candidate filed a petition to the court, claiming that Malaysian Finance Minister Tunku Razaleigh Hamzah, during his campaigning tour to Pengkalan Kota, told a crowd of more than 1500 people in the constituency: "If the National Front (ie the ruling party) wins, I will personally give more money for development." According to the DAP candidate, this was an inducement that constituted bribery. The basis of this statement was a report in the leading national newspaper, the New Straits Times, which quoted Razaleigh as making the remark. Razaleigh denied the claim but did not seek any correction from the paper. He however explained that what he actually told the crowd was that "If we (the NF) win, we shall make an allocation to bring more development for the benefit of the people of the area." Tunku Razaleigh was later acquitted of the charge because "his committing a corrupt practice is not proven", as the judge put it. The case foundered due to firstly, the reporter's admission that he might nave misheard Razaleigh's words and, secondly, the failure to produce any witness from the meeting.
The court case generated extensive interest. By his own words, Razaleigh said that there would be development if the NF won. The logical conclusion is that if the NF had lost; no, or less, development would have been forthcoming. The court did not consider whether such a conditional pledge might induce voters to support the government lest they lost development money.
Another argument that was not raised in court is whether a minister can use taxpayers' money to further the cause of one party against another. In Rengkalan Kota, Razaleigh followed the all-too-common practice of making on-the-spot, specific commitment - M$600,000 (US$264,000) allocated to Chinese education!
In court, Razaleigh maintained that the pledge to bring development was a national pledge that was continuous. But, what people at his meeting were told was what would happen in their area if the NF won!
Early last week Salient was granted weekly accreditation to the Parliamentary Press Gallery for staff reporter, Michele A'Court. This means Michele will have ready access to press releases, the debating chamber and other parliamentary facilities, and, more importantly, to Cabinet Ministers and their Private Secretaries.
It is hoped that because of this, Salient will be able to give greater coverage to national political events, especially to those of particular interest to students.
Once again this year, the Prime Minister has plumped for the "safe" methods of charity - this time joined by the leader of the Social Credit Political League.
Mr Muldoon this week recommended that New Zealanders could "do their bit to assist those in the Third World" by supporting the World Vision appeal, and so "playing their part in the war on want".
A couple of days later, Social Credit's Bruce Beetham echoed the Prime Minister's statement.
In New Zealand, World Vision has been involved in wars other than the one on want. Its motives for and methods of giving aid have been much criticised and so has the government's preference for the American based World Vision ahead of our own indigenous aid groups such as the Christian World Service, the Catholic Commission, and CORSO.
World Vision was imported to New Zealand half-way through the 70's and is described as being built along the lines of a multi-national. It is administered by a hierarchy involving about 100 people - compared, say, with CORSO's full-time administrative staff of ten.
A significant percentage of World Vision's funds are spent propagating hardline Christian views in the Third World. The Milk-biscuit-and-bible approach of World Vision aid is criticised because it does nothing to get to the real roots of poverty and hunger. Convert someone to Christianity and give them a milk biscuit on Sunday, they'll be hungry and Hindu again on Monday.
The fundamental criticism of World Vision is that it does little or nothing to explain the causes of oppression and poverty in the Third World. Its image is that of the starving child and its method of appealing to the public is based on guilt - "... she has so little ... we have so much."
We are asked to sponsor an individual (usually a child) to "change his/her life forever". Unfortunately this often means the child becomes a member of a privileged elite, educated as a doctor or lawyer who is then totally divorced from his/her original community.
The avoidance of dealing with the root causes of oppression means that, in effect, World Vision is propping up the status quo and perpetuating the poverty. People of the Third World become dependent on charity, instead of being helped to help themselves.
Rumoured links with the CIA aside, it is most probably World Vision's political conservatism that has kept it in the New Zealand government's favour. In
People who support the methods of aid groups like CORSO believe it will take more than what Mr Muldoon calls "the natural generosity of New Zealand citizens" to "speed the day of victory" in the war on want.
Well, joke it bloody was too. A'Court skives off up-country and last report I heard 'ed decided the sweet life's for 'im. Thinkin' about stayin' even! But it's gonna take more than a dainty pair of painted scars on his knees to stop me from hauling 'im out of is hand-made four-poster with the natty little curtains. And if 'es got any funny ideas about glun' 'imself down, i'll take a six-ton railways crane and bring the friggin' lot! So 'ere I am again on a Wednesd'y night with an editorial to write. Curse this bloody responsibility!
Well there's three issues I think need to be discussed this week. Firstly something close to us up here on the Hill - namely the healthiness of the student body.
If you've been down to Student Health lately you may have noticed the poor staff down there running around like chickens with their heads cut off. It's not surprising considering they have lost one doctor from the staff. And that doctor, Margaret Sparrow, resigned from overwork.
Last Wednesday the Appointments Committee met to appoint another doctor, or was it half a doctor. They are replacing one doctor with half a doctor. This person will only be employed for 57% of a full-time week to cut costs - what will this mean for the health of students. You pay a Welfare Levy for the first time and the service is reduced. This situation is certainly no fault of the Health Centre staff but rather the blame lies with the funding system. Next week in Salient we shall make an expose of Student Health to explain this issue more fully.
Now for the second issue for discussion - the Springbok Tour. If someone every says to you that this is not a big issue then they're talking through a hole in their hat. All sorts of groups, from the Unions to the Church, have discussed it, the majority coming out against the Tour.
But is this enough. Evidence that this is not enough is shown by the recent Post-Primary Teachers Association discussions on the matter. The PPTA recently spent much time and energy to conduct a survey of their members which showed that the majority were against the Tour. But what happens then. They bury their bloody heads in the sand and say they won't take a stance as an organisation.
The only way the tour will be stopped is by Mobilisation of the public feeling against it. This means that people who do oppose the tour have to be prepared to show it and actively work to spread information and harness public opinion into a strong political force. If we are serious about striking a blow for the black people of Azania then it's the time to act now!
Last on the list of issues, and least, is the visit of our dear Prince Charles, to wave the flag amongst all his colonial plebs from down-under - that's us. Well "Fight for an Independent Republic of New Zealand" I say and get those bloodsucking inbred excuses for wax model hand-wavers off our backs.
Actually, we're more under the control of the "Crown" than one might at first think. The Govenor General, the Queen's Representative, must sign all acts of Parliament before they can become law. He has powers reaching as far as the power to dissolve parliament or declare a state of emergency.
Mr Kerr, Govenor General of Australia, exercised these powers a couple of years back when he dissolved the Parliament of Gough Whitlam. So in a state of crisis, like a general strike or something, our darling Royalty across the oceans can exert direct influence over us, and who exerts influence over them? Besides all this Prince Charles is about the biggest state beneficiary there is. Talk about living off the fat of the land. (Not much fat for the unemployed though).
The carpark was bleak and windswept. Even the gravel looked lonely. A solitary gas lamp was the only relief from the cold eerie darkness. A tall angular figure walked with purpose into the circle of light, a great-coat draped from his bones, the collar scraping the ears (which was no mean feat). The figure puffed at the stub of a cigar, in the process frazzling the remains of his moustache.
A second figure emerged from the shadows. Similarly bony but shorter in stature, he wore a hat pulled down over his curls, and his eyelashes were cropped as an attempt at masculinity.
The two figures eyed each other for a moment "Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?" said the short one.
"Quit fooling kid" said the tall one. "A message has been passed down the line and Mr Barrowman says this is the big one."
The scene changes abruptly to the Salient Office. Nobody would suspect these personable little rooms inhabited by quiet spoken shiny people like Kathryn Irvine and Ruth Laugesen of being a cover for an extensive organisation. An organisation involved no less in brain washing the masses, perverting the minds of Catholics and (shock, horror) a side interest in illicit second hand car dealing. Jonathan Taylor, for instance, never looks as though he could cover anything.
Nevertheless, on this particular night the air was filled with expectancy. Tonight was indeed the Big One. The heavies were out in force. Even Peter "big boy" Beach had turned up and stood alternately cracking his joints and picking his nose with a scalpel. Geoff Adams kept poking his head through the door and retreating back to his office like a nervous penguin muttering "When will he come back?" He was referring to Stephen A'Court, the proverbial Godfather of the outfit who was still recovering from kneecap wounds received in the last debacle.
The lightweights were there as well. Neil, Lorna Massof, and Jean McKay fluttered round the fringes lighting cigars and pouring stiff drinks. But no one could call Helen McNaught a lightweight. That make-up wouldn't fool a dog. Even Jessica Wilson couldn't hide her seediness in spite of lending her black leotard to a group of would be musicians. Not to mention that cool dude Stephen Danby. Dressed impeccably in white suit, panama hat and shades he reclined in a chair and played a nonchalant game of Russian Roulette.
Just at that moment the door burst open and Michelle A'Court strode in. "I've got news" she said. "Big Brother says it's all a mistake. The deal must be called off." But it was too late. At that very moment Paul Wiggins and Andrew McCallum were speeding down The Terrace in a stolen '59 Austin with 396 fuelie heads and a hurst on the floor.
You don't believe it? Well, it's all a case of mistaken identity.
Salient is edited by Geoff Adams (for want of anything better to do), published by VUWSA and printed by Wanganui Newspapers Ltd, Drews Ave, Wanganui.
Last week's SRC was somewhat lacking in gusto as a result of minimal, or no, opposition to elections and motions. This, however, was decidedly advantageous for the prompt handling of business.
The Orientation Controllers' report was presented by Simon Wilson; the financial aspect of his report being rather heartening. What initially appeared to be a loss of nearly one thousand dollars is now altered, with the appearance of more recent figures, to a small surplus. However, Simon did bemoan the lack of a Cultural Affairs Officer for the Controllers to work with, adding the hope that once the vacancy was filled moves would be made to reorganise activities, such as the Beatles Evening, which proved a success.
A motion was put demanding that student opinion be canvassed on the issue of layout of the academic year, and that alternative means of layout be made available to the students. This motion is a means of countering any hastiness on the part of the University in moves toward the suggested semester system of two main terms. There was a quick discussion of the apparent inadequacies of such a system and the motion was passed unanimously.
Another motion carried with very little difficulty was that VUWSA donate $100 to the Wellington Tenants' Union. A brief recapitulation of the Union's activities was given, justifying the sum of money proposed.
Roger Tobin informed the meeting of an anti-apartheid activity for April 9, involving a protest outside a meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.
A motion, put by Jessica Wilson, that the graffiti 'Whites Only' written on the back wall of the Union Hall be removed was deemed the responsibility of the Union Management reps. These newly-elected representatives are among a number who gained positions of varying responsibility at this SRC.
Shelley Hibbert was elected to the position of Education Officer, as well as representative for the Bursaries committee. Representatives elected to the Union Management committee were Paul Cochrane, Tina Lash, Chris Barry and Brian Pike. Martin Broad was elected to the Timetable, Exams at Entrance Level and Victoria Book Centre committees. Stephen van Bohemen was elected to the Library committee, and, with Yvonne Weeber, to the Library usage committee. Yvonne also took the position of Environmental Studies rep. John Henderson was elected to the Teaching Aids committee.
Hi, still here — but only just. A vicious Hawkes Bay clique is making moves to take over the Executive — a first step towards controlling the whole of the Association I fear. A plea to all students of Taranaki origin to come forward and make their presence felt — we're getting out-numbered. We'd even consider allying with members of other provinces who share a similar dread of the consequences of Hawkes Bay domination. And SRC could do with a bit of provincial rivalry to liven it up.
Speaking of the Student Representative Council (that's the meeting where you can decide what you want the Students' Association to do — meets every two weeks in the Union Hall) it was a bit quiet last week, for some reason people are not getting up and giving their views on things or voicing their concerns.
I know the thought of speaking through a mike in front of a whole lot of critical students and hardened politicos can be a freak-out, but after the second or third time you actually come to enjoy it. And why should you let someone you violently disagree with get away with doing all the talking? So come to the next SRC!
Last week seems to have been "Week of the Under Twenties" down at the Association office. We've had quite a few under twenty students storming in furious that they have received nil or very little SHG, and have been told by the Education Department that their parents should be dishing out some sort of allowance. Obviously, the SHG is not designed for what I would imagine to be the majority of those students who wish to be independent. Under twenties' resourcefulness is expected to constitute the ability to get parents to help out. It's either that or trying to find a part-time job or live on cheese and toast.
Well, that's all my resourcefulness and cigarette supply will allow this week. Hope your first assignments have gone OK.
Progress has been steady since infantile days when the Victoria University Radio Club used to broadcast from one small room into the Cafe. In
Martin Fowler, Radio Active's Station Manager describes Radio Active's role as primarily an ''information and entertainment service for students." He justifies its existence "In the past printed media (Salient) has been sufficient for the flow of information. With increasing technological advances it has been an obvious progression to a radio medium." Another dimension has been added to student expression. Fowler stresses this point, "Radio Active is an access for student opinion and expression."
There are however limitations to what Radio Active can broadcast. Freedom of speech and expression is not a phrase to be taken literally! IN the interests of impartial and non-partisan, Radio Active cannot broadcast any religious, political trade union or controversial matter. Fowle points out the paradox that although Radio Active is the offical VUWSA radio station it is not able to promote many of VUWSA's views. Any disregard of the restrictions would result in a severe rap on the knuckles from the Tribunal.
The Tribunal is the Government authority which monitors Radio Active and grants it the licence to broadcast. Originally all applications for licences went BCNZ but with the mushrooming of private radio, a separate body was created - the Tribunal's Division of the Justice Department. Every time Radio Active go on air, a 20-30 page application is made for a temporary licence. This year it applied for 2 weeks in August, 2 weeks for Capping and 4 weeks for Orientation.
Radio Active doesn't model itself on the standards of other radio stations, especially the slick style of commercial radio eg 2ZM. Fowler says, "Radio has become very robot-like. Stations are becoming very systematic." Radio: Active aims to restore the human element to broadcasting. Says Fowler, ''We aim to sound friendly, easy to communicate." He also points out that students are easier to cater for because their musical tastes are fairly homogenous.
Students' musical and radio preferences were ascertained by a survey held during Orientation
Radio Active staff are all students working on a volunteer basis. The Radio Board appoints the Station Manager and the Business Manager. In the very important area of programming there is a Programme Director, Assistent PD and Music Director. There is also a schedules clerk who coordinates all advertising. The news staff of about 7 people are controlled by the news editor. (Radio Active pays about $700 for international news from the NZPA). On the technical side there is a Technical Director, 2 or 3 technicians and a Chief Engineer. In the field of business there is a Promotions Manager and 2 or 3 Sales Representatives who sell advertising for a 10% commission. And then of course there are the announcers - about 10 or 15 of them. A large staff.
Despite this, lack of staff is always a problem. Being a student organisation staff turnover is high, with people getting their degrees and leaving university. Therefore every year a new intake of staff is needed. Fowler points out that people are scared or reluctant to volunteer because they see some mystique surrounding radio broadcasting. He stresses that no experience is needed to join Radio Active as training is given. This is not to say that Radio Active are unselective about who they let on air. Apparently training makes a big difference to a person's voice and style. If however your voice to come up to required standards there are also 'off the air' positions available on the technical, news and administrative side.
This year finances have not been a major problem. Advertising revenue has supplemented a student levy (80c per student towards the funding of Radio Active. In fact revenue from advertising is double the amount gained from the levy.) The levy however would have to increase substantially if Radio Active goes full time. If Radio Active provided a full year service they would expect a corresponding levy to Salient's $4.20 per student. Says Fowler, "If students want a radio station they have to pay for it".
One of the biggest problems, which also thwarts Radio Active's aim to run all year, is lack of space. The area Radio Active currently occupy in the student UNION Building is cramped to building of a production studio is essential if Radio Active is to increase its productivity to a full year service. Fowler points out however that the Union Building is not designed to expand at all. Lack of experienced technical staff also poses a problem. Says Fowler, "Victoria doesn't have an Engineering Department so there's no budding engineers around to help." Another problem related to finances, lack of space and experienced technical staff, is equipment. (With more money, space and technical staff, Active could build or buy better equipment. Active is comparatively limited in this sphere as it operates on only l/10th of the buying capacity of other stations.) As Fowler puts it, "things have to be done on the cheap."
Radio Active could overcome these problems and if students were willing to pay a bigger levy, running full time would be viable in the near future. Fowler says, "There's a lot of scope which we haven't yet explored, for example in the area of current affairs and talk back shows."
Can be claimed at Circulation Desk, University Library.
1 Grey duffel coat
1 Light grey jersey
2 Brown pullovers blue & white ski hat
blue parka
yellow raincoat
1 blue umbrella (push-in handle)
14 club name tags slide rule & container
3 pencil cases
1 opal ring
2 parker pens
1 pr. sunglasses
1 brown zip purse with small amount of money
gold fob watch
degree, BA with honours,
1 fawn & tan scarf.
The Hohepa Homes and Schools would like to hear from students who would be interested to work with groups of intellectually handicapped young adults over the holiday periods.
The Homes provide residential care, work and recreation facilities for intellectually handicapped children and adults based on the indications given by Dr Rudolf Steiner. Students who are interested in philosophy, teaching, craft and/or music could find the experience of assisting at Hohepa very worthwhile.
There will be no May Course in
During the week, 11 to 15 May inclusive, however, we are issuing an invitation to those who are interested, that, they participate in a work and recreation week. Activities will include the preparation of food and cooking, work in the orchard and garden, craft activity, painting, eurythmy and some lectures and discussion groups. It is not proposed to charge a fee, but visitors will be asked to contribute $25 towards the expense of their board and lodging.
As everyone will be living in the Home School itself, would you please advise if you and/or any friends will be coming, in order that accommodation may be reserved. (Address from Salient Office).
The noticeboard outside Salient on the 1st floor of the Union Building has traditionally been and still is, for the use of sporting clubs on Campus.
As such, as from Friday April 3 all non Sports Club notices will be removed.
These may be collected from Studass if anyone still requires them for distribution anywhere else.
It has often been maintained that whenever you have a system of means-testing you will inevitably also have a range of anomalies. This is because means testing is essentially an arbitrary procedure invariably implemented by people whose value judgements can often differ from those who are being tested.
(This casual connection between means-testing and anomalies is more than evident in the experience of the Supplementary Hardship Grant (SHG) in
Last year Waikato University conducted research into the operation of the SHG at that University. The study concluded that there were three main causes of anomalous decisions. The first was simply straight-forward administrative or secretarial mistakes. For example, the applicant's budget may have been added up incorrectly.
Secondly sometimes specific criteria was misapplied. For example, income from A or B Bursaries could have been taken into account when assessing eligibility for SHG assistance; it is not supposed to have been taken into account. This could be attributable to the massive saturation of SHG applications.
Finally there were cases of inconsistent application of general criteria in cases where the assessor was required to exercise judgement. An example of this situation is in the case of whether a student who had used vacation earnings to repay loans taken out in the previous year should be "penalised" for having made insufficient effort to save for the current academic year.
A major difficulty faced by student applicants and university bursary administrators is that the criteria used by the Department of Education for assessing hardship applicants is secret to the Department. The Waikato study actually worked out what the criteria were in ...less than half of the 'anomalous' decisions were challenged mainly because the students concerned had insufficient knowledge of the basis on which the original assessments were made." (emphasis added).
The most common complaint about hardship anomalies involved many cases in which students in similar circumstances got quite different grants. NZUSA suspected for a long time that the Department of Education worked on the basis that there was a fixed budget for its hardship expenditure and adjusted its allocations throught the year accordingly. That is, the Department amended its criteria. These suspicions were reinforced by figures on hardship awards announced in Parliament, on
Tables Two and Three provide some insight into this trend by looking at percentage weightings.
Given the trend of smaller awards as the year progressed it is not surprising that the major complaint about the SHG, apart from the delays and associated uncertainties, has been the number of anomalies. Amending the application of criteria simply in order to spend less can only create anomalies; they cannot be avoided.
If you are under 20 years, you may have less chance of getting any SHG. Not only are your own financial circumstances assessed, but also those of your parents, as they are expected to contribute to your upkeep. While some parents may not mind supporting their adult "children", what about students whose parents can't or won't do so? Perhaps they already have too many financial obligations, or, for any number of reasons, are unable or unwilling to help.
The Department of Education says that it takes such factors into consideration, but why then are students whose parents refuse to sign the form being denied any grant at all, and why are solo parents and those on Social Welfare benefits being asked to provide more money? One student was even advised he should move out of his mother's house where he was helping her by paying rent, so she could get a more lucrative boarder, and so assist her son.
Under the present scheme, the more money you have saved, the less money you are likely to get during the academic year. On the other hand, if you were unable to get a job, you may be told you should have (never mind the fact that the country is facing its highest level of unemployment since the Depression) and so still get nothing. Furthermore the Department of Education expects applicants who had difficulties getting a job over the long vacation to provide documentary evidence of prompt registration with the Department of Labour. However, the Department of Labour refuses to supply this evidence.
Some groups are particularly disadvantaged by the Department's policy on savings. One example is students who have Farm Ownership Accounts or similar investments. Although the whole object of such long term investments is to be able to set aside money which cannot be touched, the Department expects such students to live off these savings, and so jeopardise their future plans, and even their reason for being at university. Likewise, students whose parents have set up trusts for their education are being told to break in to the capital investment.
Students commented, in
While so many anomlaies have occurred in the administration of the bursary scheme, it would be wrong to place the major blame for this on to the Department of Education, although its failure to formulate an efficient and reliable means of processing applications certainly hasn't helped. Instead, it is the Government and its financial wizards who dreamed up this unworkable scheme, and who persisted in implementing it despite all advice to the contrary, who deserve the blame.
Although no bursary system administered on such a large scale can be expected to be completely anomoly free, widespread means-testing, such as the present schemes involves, encourages anomolies and dishonesty, while at the same time costs a great deal more to administer than a scheme which ensures a reasonable basic level for all students, and where hardship grants are only required for a minority of students.
You or your friends may have been a victim of the sorts of anomolies outlined above. If so, NZUSA would like to hear from you, as we need much more information on how the scheme is affecting students. Send us a letter c/- Education & Welfare Vice President, NZUSA, PO Box 9047, Wellington, giving us as much information and documentation as you can. Your identity will be kept confidential if you wish, although the more students willing to go public the better. And while you are waiting for us to sort out the hassle why not join in the National Day of Action against the whole scheme on Wednesday 8 April.
The AGM of the VUW Sports Council Inc. will be held on Wednesday 8 April at 7.00pm in
Lounge and Smoking Room University Union Building
Business of the meeting will include the presentation of the Chairperson's annual report and the presentation of the audited financial statement for the preceding year.
Unfortunately due to a cancellation from our bus company, Easter Tournament travel has had to be altered. Dates for some sports have also changed so here are the latest arrangements.
To Dunedin: Wednesday April 15, 6.40pm ferry sailing then an overnight bus trip to Dunedin, arriving at approximately 8.00am.
From Dunedin: Tuesday April 21, 8.00am leave on a bus trip to meet the 10.00pm ferry arriving in Wellington at approximately 3.00am.
Also unfortunately the cost has increased and the return fare will be $70.00 (This includes all registration costs in Dunedin).
Money must be paid by Friday April 3 (this Friday) and eligibility forms must also be returned by this date.
Seats will be open to supporters on Monday April 6 and will be allocated on a first in first served basis until all seats are filled.
Sorry about any inconvenience to anybody.
Would all people Interested in going to Easter Tournament please contact Owen Hodgins 883-924 as soon as possible.
Players required urgently for Easter Tournament in Dunedin. Good swimmers preferred but not essential.
All enquiries ring Bruce 796-335(H).
Would all people interested in either competing or helping to run an athletics meeting involving an Australian Universities Athletics team on Saturday 11 April please ring Owen Hodgins 883-924. Billets for 22 are needed for the weekend of April 11/12 urgently.
It would be in the interest of anyone who would like to tour Australia with a New Zealand Universities Team in the near future to support this visit.
First run of the season on Saturday April 4 starting promptly at 2.00pm from the Recreation Centre. Running packs (groups) to suit all standards. Everyone most welcome!
Also, there is a weekly casual run for women held every Wednesday at 12.30pm from the Recreation Centre. Come join us!
This year, the sport event will be held from 17 to 19 April. The games include indoor soccer, badminton, table tennis, sepak-takraw, basketball and volleyball. Get organised and send in your entries to Ong 753-063 or Cheong 850-332.
Game controllers for indoor soccer, volleyball and sepak-takraw are still needed. If you are interested to help, contact the above mentioned person(s).
All division and rep. players interested in representing Victoria University for the Winter Tournament in August 1981 and for the Australian University Tour in September 1981 are to write in stating level of proficiency, availability for training, and other relevant information.
Please address all correspondence to VUW Badminton Club, c/o Victoria University of Wellington, Private Bag, Wellington or pop it in the Club's Pidgeon-hole mail-boxes beside the stair-case, near the Studass Office.
Applications close end of
The club is having its third meeting of the year on Tuesday from 11 till 2. The following members are asked to attend; D. Leith, R. Powell, G. Heise, R. Sapsford, P. King, B. MacKay, T. Penman, H. Molloy, M. Burrower, J. Dewhurst, G. Blackshaw, M. Harding, P. Donovan, P. Doole, M. Gourley, M. Franklin, N. Fitzpatrick, A. Wooding, R. Mansfield, F. Mohammed, A. Pointon, T. Roper and A. Aldridge. We meet in the Clubsroom above the Salient Office.
All sports clubs are required to re-affiliate for the
Re-affiliation forms are available at Studass Office or Stephen Dawe (Sports Officer).
Lesbians-Gay Men
Friends is an informal group for gay students to meet, talk and make friends. Join us at 1.00pm on Sunday 5 April for a wine and cheese afternoon. New students always welcome. Please ring Rod 845-754 for details.
Note, Friends will be hosting a Gay Rights Conference over Easter. Please ring Rod, or Mike 893-428 or write to Box 9561 for details. Have a gay day.
When?: 18 to 20 April.
Where?: Porirua
Cost?: Appr. $17.00
Programmes?: See the country beauty;
Try the Maori Hangi'
I aste the Maori's culture.
Who?: All members welcomed, but priority is given to 1st year students.
Contact?: Miss Koay 850-332.
This is a small ecumenical group open to Christians and people of goodwill. Study/tea Tues 6 to 8pm, 8 Kelburn Parade.
Discussion/lunch Mon and Thurs noon to 1pm, SCM Cabin behind Library.
Members are reminded of the Tertiary Christian Studies Programme, 5 to 6pm Tuesday, in K629, and are urged to support Powell social concern cellgroup Wed 1 to 2pm in SCM Cabin.
At 12.10 sharp on Thursday, 1 April we meet in the Executive Boardroom, 1st floor, Union Building.
Agenda includes marketing visits, Asian Regional Congress, the IBM open day tour, our national quarterly magazine with tea and coffee.
Further information ring Chris 738-958, Robert 836-220 or Dave 888-381.
Put your spare time to advantage with Aiesec!
"The responsibility of the Media"
TVNZ producer Bernard Kennes will speak on this topic after the 5.15pm Mass at 8 Kelburn Parade on Thursday every one is invited and there will be tea afterwards.
Other Mass times are: Tuesday 8.30am 8 Kelburn Parade, Wednesday 12 noon R.B.819.
The Law Faculty Club is holding a "Freshers Nite" for all First Year Law Students.
Finish your assignments and come along to meet the staff and students.
Wine and cheese.
7.30pm Thursday 2 April Restoration Cafe.
Meeting Monday 30, 12 to 1 pm Student Union Lounge. Sue Lytollis self defence instructor will be at the meeting to meet and talk to women. Women from Rape Crisis will also be speaking. Special self defence workshop for university women 7 to 10pm Lounge/Smoking Room. All women welcome.
Our Cultural Evening is coming up on the 1 April, so be sure and try to keep that evening free. We start at 7.30pm in the Union Hall, and continue well into the night with a festive programme of dance, wine, song, food, films, and with our guest speaker, Mr Yaakov Morris, who is giving an illuminating talk on Israeli Archaeology. He is the author of a comprehensive book on the subject, and will be well worth hearing. A glass of Israeli wine is included in the cover charge of $1.50 and the food as well. So come along!
Tuition Evening:
Come along and learn the mysteries of making black and white prints.
At 7.30pm Wednesday 1 April in the Exhibition Foyer (at the entrance to the Memorial Theatre). Bring along your own (B & W) negatives to print and some of your photographs.
Cheap Black and White film on sale.
Biblical Studies Programme:
"In the Shadow of the Cross" - The farewell discourses. Speaker - John Evens Wednesday 4 to 5pm, Lounge and Smoking room.
Study 1: "The Towel and the Basin"
Prayer Meetings: Mondays 12 to 1pm Ramsey House Chapel.
On Friday we'll go back to the first Easter with Prof. Arnold and "The Resurrection .... A Fairytale?"
5pm in the Coffee Room (Union Hall), Dinner $1.50.
Meeting: 5pm Thursday April 2
Lounge/Smoking Room. Jim Kebbel, Regional Organiser for the Wellington area, will discuss our prospects and strategies in the coming months.
Discussion Group meets every second Wednesday to discuss issues raised in books, films and articles. Meeting this Wednesday 5.30 to 8.00pm. Contact Victoria 723-548. All women welcome.
Students of Maori descent are eligible to apply for assistance from the MEF. Application forms and information sheets are readily available from:
Mary Poipoi,
36 Kelburn Parade,
Maori Students (Extension 812)
Pacific Island students may also be eligible for grants under the Pacific Island Education scheme. Please come and make enquiries if you feel you may be eligible.
Saturday April 4 1.30pm
Crossways, 48 Brougham St
This afternoon is jointly organised by Hecate and WONAAC. The programme includes an Australian film called "A Matter of Fact". This file follows a woman through her abortion experience at a feminist Abortion Clinic in Australia.
All women welcome to come to the seminar.
This week there will be survey of Recreation Centre use. Well, not really a survey; more a head-count (small-scale arch-duke) I suppose. What I mean is, if someone accosts you with a clip-board in the sauna or rides up enquiringly alongside your exercycle, please keep your head (still) until it's significantly counted. A wink is as good as a nod but both are distracting. You don't have to declare your lack of income or interest. Silent majority status will be respected.
Of course I know that recreation is sort of, you know, qualitative. When people say:
What they wanted at all was a statement issued in good measure. People who give their heads to be counted have a right to that. So here's a statement looking for issue.
Surveys of usage have tended to suggest that about 20% of students enrolled at Victoria University visit the Recreation Centre in a typical week.
Male/Female numbers reflect the university roll ratio.
The Science Faculty provides more than a proportionate share of users.
Lunch-times are hectic.
Typical weeks are becoming rarer.
That's the sort of issued statement that finance committees and long-term planners need. In the end, we must all render a count. Ours is due. Take note but take no notice.
Women who use the pill or are contemplating its use, should be well informed regarding the risks and benefits, advantages and disadvantages involved. Some users, through experience, may be aware of some of these already.
Firstly and most importantly it prevents ovulation (production of the female egg). Secondly by thickening the normal mucus secretion of the womb (uterus) it prevents the passage of male sperm into the womb where it may be fertilised. Finally the pill alters the lining of the womb making it hostile ground, inadequate for the growth of a fertilized egg should the first two barriers be eluded.
The theoretical effectiveness of oral contraceptives is about 99.9% i.e. 1 pregnancy per 1000 women per year of regular use. Lower dosage pills may be slightly less effective. Effectiveness, however, is dependent primarily on whether the pills are taken correctly. The absorption of all the ingredients of the pill, by the gut can be affected by the healthiness of the gut lining. If there is infection there (gastroenteritis) and the patient is vomiting or has diarrhoea this absorption can be reduced. This is especially important when low dosage pills are being taken. Other medications in the gut at the same time can reduce absorption.
If taken according to instructions it is very reliable and simple to take. Heavy, painful menstrual' periods, premenstrual problems and acne are often improved. The incidence of some abnormalities of the breasts, uterus and ovaries appear to be lowered by the pill.
As one particular hormone in the pill appears to cause most of the side effects the woman is usually prescribed the pill low in this. If side effects develop or persist after three months this should be changed according to the particular problem.
As the name suggests, it contains exceedingly low amounts of the hormones. Ovulation is affected less than half of the time and so the pregnancy rate is increased, as the pill's effectiveness is dependent only on its other actions previously mentioned. The taking of the mini pill is more difficult in that timing is very important. It must be taken at the same time daily, begining on the first day of menstruation and continued without interruption. If a pill is missed or it is taken more than three hours later than usual, protection is reduced and other non-hormonal forms of contraception should be used. While certain women find this pill useful, cycles are difficult to control. This means also that menstrual periods may be irregular.
If doctors recommend commencing the pill on the fifth day of menstruation, as is often the case, although not always, its effects cannot be guaranteed for the first cycle. Other methods of contraception should be used at this time.
As soon as a user realises she has missed a pill, it should be taken, even if it means taking two in one day. If two consecutive days are missed, protection for that cycle cannot be depended on. The remaining pills should be taken, but once again other contraception should be used. A missed or late pill may lead to breakthrough bleeding.
Take the pill for three weeks regularly no matter what! If you commence bleeding a bit during the month, forget it. When you start a packet you should commit yourself to taking all pills regularly each night until the pack is emptied.
There is still more to discuss on this subject and we will continue next week.
This is the third in the series of Chinese cooking recipes, and I hope you have had some success with the previous recipes. You may have noticed that I had not mentioned any entrees or dessert - it is not that there are no Chinese appetisers or desserts, but that they are not normally served. But I will give a few recipes for them in the future.
Normally after a Chinese mean, hot Chinese tea is served without any sugar or milk. You can buy Chinese tea from the Chinese commodities shops like Ocean Commodities in Taranaki Street. A heaped teaspoon of Chinese tea leaves would make a potful of tea for three or four people. I would recommend Jasmine tea or Oolong tea for they taste quite delicate and give a nice scent. A cup of tea after the meal is most refreshing and it helps to wash down the oil from the foods.
Pork is the favourite meat used for Chinese cooking, for it is a tender meat with a subtle sweet and delicious taste. It can be cooked in any manner, and what follows are some of the popular and easier to cook pork dishes.
This is probably the most famous pork dish outside China. I have tried many variations of this dish, some with more sauce than others, or with more vegetables. Recently I tried the Sweet'n Sour Pork cooked in the Ming Dynasty Restaurant in Lower Hutt, and that is my favourite version. The recipe for it is as follows:-
Ingredients:For Sauce:Method:
Located in the Squash Centre across Kelburn Parade, Raquets Restaurant is a comfortable and pleasant cafe with a great view, tasty food and open all day. Opening at 7.00am, the menu offers both a Continental breakfast and the traditional bacon and eggs. The basic menu continues all day with quick snacks and takeaways available also and the range covers steak and salad at $5.00, vegetarian, cheese or meat salads at $2.80, soup and garlic bread at $1.40, and coffee or tea at 50c.
The food is simple, fresh, well-prepared and wholesome. The salads are crisp and dotted with delicacies such as walnuts and raisins. The steak is well cooked and a respectable size. Although not gigantic, the helpings are enough to satisfy all but the most ravenous hunger, and the restricted variety is largely the result of low patronage, an easily solved problem.
The Restaurant is open until 7.00pm, but if there is sufficient demand these hours may be extended. As part of the recreational facilities the rest of which are open until 11.00pm, this cafe could easily become an evening facility for those sentenced to long hours in the library.
All in all a pleasant and unpretentious experience, well worth trying.
The Annual General Meeting of the Victoria University Students' Association Incorporated will be held on Thursday 9 April at 12 noon in the Union Hall, University Union Building.
Business of the meeting will include the presentation of the Annual General Report doe
Further motions for consideration should be handed to the Secretary in the Students' Association Office before 4.00pm Wednesday April 1.
We are still awaiting confirmation from the Australian Universities' Sports' Council as to the teams that would be available to compete against Victoria University in the various sporting codes. Sports Council has gone ahead and made provisional bookings with the airlines for the sports team to travel to Sydney on August 31 and return on September 6. At present It is envisaged that the contingent will be made of rugby, men's hockey and basketball teams, although final arrangements are to be made as regards the sports team. Any other sport that may wish to be considered for part of the team should contact their Sports Council Liaison Officer this week. Accommodation in Australia will be provided through billeting with students of Sydney and McQuarrie Universities and the University of NSW.
Of the $304 ticket price, there will be a Sports Council subsidy per member to offset part of the cost. Further efforts to offset this ticket price will be made in the form of sponsorship, Recreation and Sport grants, hops and a Sportsperson of the Decade Dinner.
To enable the sports teams to raise funds of this nature, there will be required the support of the student body in any attempts to raise funds for the trip. If a member of the Victoria University Sports Team, the same eligibility rules apply as those of Tournaments:
It is hoped to be able to announce the team to travel to Australia in the near future when information regarding the itinerary has been received from our Australian counterpart. Any fundraising activities will be advertised at the earliest possible time so as to enlist your support for the team. Any enquries please forward to your Sports Council Liaison Officer.
Winner: "Same rules as last week." Eric Quail
Runner-up: "Spot the Ball" David Adams.
The winner may collect the chocolate fish from Salient Office.
Eva Street. Off Dixon Street. Opposite Pigeon Park and The State Opera House (watch your head).
Upstairs but easy to find, this small simple place with a fairly cheap limited range blackboard menu, offered a suggestion of a good place on a student income to have the occasional (small) splash out.
The waitresses, ready to explain the dishes and the pronunciation without fuss, were casual and friendly throughout the meal although outnumbering the patrons But it was a Monday night.
We chose Cannelloni and
The sweets were beautiful. (Banana Fritters appealed but were already unavailable). Especially good was the super sweet
There didn't appear to be anything particularly Italian about the operation. The whole set-up could be characterised as dull. Decor; travel posters and brown checked table cloths.
Food and service without flair. Greek musak and a totally unjustified $4.00 minimum charge.