Does Salient Stink

Debating Society Answers "No"!

After a lot of unseemly wrangling on debating rules, caused perhaps by the fact that none of the committee members knew more about the club composition than they ought to, Mr. Twaddle opened the debate. He defined student opinion as those held by the majority of students, asserted that Salient represents a mere handful, that the ideas presented are one-sided and in many cases of no interest to students even alleging that the articles are often totally unrelated to student life.

Mr. Milburn countered this argument well, in spite of being rather disconcerted by rude interjections from the floor. As 85 per cent of Salient is on student topics, as with three exceptions in three years all letters and contributions have been printed. Salient represented at least the voiced opinions of students. Salient is more than an organ, it is a leader of student opinion.

Mr. Campion, bland and debonnair, began with a bedtime story—proof that Salient is really run, not for students, but for a mysterious octopus with red tentacles. This is shown by the presence of copies of the People's Voice and pink scribbling blocks in Salient room.

Mr. O'Leary's arguments were cohesive, his manner agreeable, if slightly didactic. He pointed out that the feature articles were on the most important aspects of student life and that even if the number of contributions is not great, all student activities are covered.

Mr. Duncan, an efficient debater, described the effect of Salient on an outside observer. To him it must appear a red rag, as left-wing Ideas dominate all political articles, film and book reviews, and even some club reports.

Mr. Mabbett, on the same line but less convincingly, claimed that Salient represents only a few Communists. Catholics, Christians and other cranks, Mr. O'Brien, pleasantly self-satisfied, claimed that even if Salient does not represent everyone, it is still an organ, as opposed to the organ of student opinion, As the selection of staff is made on a basis of those who are interested enough to take part, there is little chance of a vicious circle gaining control of the paper.

Supporting the same side Mr. Williams referred to the speeches for the affirmative as imitations of oratorical gibberings, delivered as if to a statue of a half-wit, Whose fault is it if red opinions predominate? His own, he said, and all others who disagree.

Comments by other speakers: —

Miss Marshall: "At risk of boring you I would say that the affirmative is just plain nuts."

Mr. Dawe: "Hold on while I disperse my thoughts."

Miss Martin: "There is one thing in Salient 1 agree with."

Mr. Gaird (ferociously): "There's nothing worth reading in it and it costs too much."

Mr. Mabbett (replying to Mr. Hartley): "No I never."

When the new blood had all been spilt, some older speakers ventured to express their views. Expressed concisely, we heard:—

Miss Matthews: "The affirmative would have it just a gossip rag."

Mr. Ziman: "Why does Salient stink? The editor works very hard."

Miss O'Flynn: "If the views do not please the students then why don't we hear more about it?" And in reply to an interjection: "I can't hear you and I don't think I ought to try."

Mr. Hartley: "The cafeteria used to give you indigestion but Salient fixed all that."

Mr. Jack: "Salient is a better journal than I have yet known it. Students always express themselves with flambuoyant abandon and ardent conviction, and as the Scriptures say, 'The sins of the students shall be visited upon their paper, even unto the third and fourth pages."

Miss Crompton apologised for the editor's absence. "Mr. Twaddle and Mr. Campion asked to be thrown out of Salient room as it would lend colour to their argument," And in reply: "No articles from non-students." "Reporting where possible by non-members of clubs."

Put to the vote, the motion was lost. The Judge, Mr. D. Cohen, a veteran of scores of Varsity debates, placed the speakers as follows:—

New speakers (points towards New Speakers' Prize): Mr. O'Leary, Mr. O'Brien Mr. Twaddle. All speakers (for Union Prize): Mr. Jack, Miss O'Flynn. Mr. O'Leary, Mr. O'Brien. Mr. Ziman.