Russia

In the Soviet Union there is tremendous emphasis on the rebuilding of liberated universities. Students and prefossors work together to restore the universities at Stalingrad, Kiev, Odessa and many other big centres. Students are learning building trades so that they may in a practical way expedite the work. The present aim of the Russians is firstly to improve the quality of training "by making the students, take the responsibility for their own work and lay less responsibility on the shoulders of professors and lecturers."

Question 1: What are actual student needs in liberated countries?

In Paris 3,000 students need rooms; at Toulouse 600 students need supplemental meals. The University of Caen must be rebuilt. Books and whole libraries have been destroyed. Blankets, laboratory equipment and furniture have been wrecked or stolen by the German army. Pencils, paper, ink, chalk, blackboards, must be supplied. Nor will money alone help. Only actual supplies from abroad will meet the shortages.

Question 2: Won't physical needs be cared for by the nations themselves?

Yes. WSR cannot rebuild the University of Caen, nor restore university libraries or laboratories. But students are tackling problems of immediate aid. A student foyer with a fire (I discovered how utterly precious a fire can be) in every university centre will not take the place of rebuilding the university itself, but it can be the centre for a programme of mutual aid which no other general programme of relief will ever provide.

Question 3: Will liberated countries insist on doing their own relief jobs?

Question 4: Won't WSR be snowed under by huge inter-government programmes?

No. The danger is that this type of control will be too slow to meet the need. Voluntary agencies with roots in the country will be called on to the maximum.

And finally, there is no use talking about student responsibility for helping to build a new world order of justice and co-operation unless students in the favoured countries—America, Canada, Australia, Britain, Sweden, etc.—do care enough to provide the money that is needed, the blankets, the shoes, the clothing, the books, that will enable their fellow students in Europe to live and study this winter.