Swan Song for this Year

When a newspaper reachs its last issue for the year it has a valid excuse to look back upon the events in the year which have been bound up in its history. When we were appointed to the editorship of Salient things were not whet they might be. The staff was almost non-existent; the sales were negligible; co-operetion and amity towards the paper were both nearly indiscoenible except amongst those who saw in Salient the continuation of a tradition—which has been rejected by the majority of students. The policy of Salient was thought to be able to be stated only in terms of politics. Is Salient socialist or chartist? The answer in the past was too often "socialist." Too often we say because the political policy of the papar was reflected in the sales and the losses from year to year. In 1948 and proceding years this policy was responsible for much of its success, but as the tenor of world and university opinion has changed so must Salient. This change hat been left too late. Even at at the beginning of this year Salient was called a "redreg" by the ignorant so, we suppose, will it be called a "red rag" again by the same ignorant because the editor holds well-known progressive views.

We heve built up in this year a non-partisan policy. We have a staff which is both politically and religiously well-balanced. Our policy has been in essance the simple one of informing and entertaining the College. Thus it will become known not as a "red rag"' but as a "rag." We make no apologies for the standard of literacy—or illiteracy—offering in Salient. We think that the College has been entectained and informed by Salient, and so our policy has boon successful. This may be shown by the item of a circulation which has risen from 300 in 1951 to 600 in this year.

What does nest year offer? These really interested will find the answer in the editor's report, to the Executive. In brief, next year should offer a weekly paper of four peges, with at least blocks on every page, and a wide selection of types to make the appearance more interesting. The emphasis should be on personalities, and the furthering of the corporate spirit of university life. This could not have been dona and will not be able to be done with a partisan political policy. This is the first time in many years that the editor of a Collage publication has boon flooded with so much copy that he has been considerably oversat at the end of the year. The public feeling towards Salient within that large group of people with which the Editor comes into contact has increased favourably. The interest in Saliant now is quite overpowering. For this interest we thank you and promise next year an even batter, brighter Salient.

The editor of Salient is indebted to and grateful for the help he has received during the year from, primarily, his staff. In particular Mr. Cody, who obtained for the Association over £125 worth of advertising in a period when this is hard to get st all: to Mr. lennane, who was largely responsible for the unprecedented sales; to Messrs. Some net and Rich (two freshers) whose drame and film reviews respectively contributed over 50 per cent to the popularity of Salient; and to all the other members of the staff without whom this publication might not have boon possible Especial thanks to Mr. Galvin, who raised the level of sports reportable to the highest it has been in many years. Extra-mural thanks go to Mr. Price, who twice a week took the copy down to the printers in the early hours of the day; to Mr. Rountree, on the "Evening Post", to whom we ere indebted for some copy, and especially the many blocks which he obtained for us; Miss Dougherty in the office, who put up with us so well in our innumerable requests for assistance; to the Eiecutive who provided us with the money to spend and the subject of many an editorial; to the hosts of subscribers and contributors who really did the work; and finally but by no means the least, our printer, Mr Lord, who, having to break in a new editor, put up with him and is responsible for the rest of Salient's success.