A Portrait of Miss Okman

Because we think that the promotion of goodwill between New Zealanders and New Zealanders is the worthiest of worthy causes, "Salient" will print, from time to time, an interview with various undergraduates who have arrived only recently in New Zealand.

It was a case really less of "Salient"' thinking up this idea than of the embodied Idea approaching "Salient"; in other words, and before this metaphor is mangled to death. Miss Hanya Okman asked our assistance, and from there—well, you know how these things catch on.

Miss Okman is a White Russian from Magnitogorsk, a prominent city somewhat to the right of Moscow on the map. Miss Okman says she is extremely happy in Now Zealand, likes the country and the people and thinks a New Zealand steak is heaven after the diet they had at the salt mine on the Kirghiz Steppe. The story of her escape from this salt mine, and her trek down to the Caspian Sea and subsequently to Turkey, and her adventures there, are extremely interesting, and may be published in "Salient" at some future date.

At the moment, the main issue is the point which was worrying Miss Okman. This concerned the Bachelors" Club, proposed some weeks ago by Mr. Bernie Galvin. and advertised in "Salient." Miss Okman was already worried by Mr. Garvin's proposal; but when we told her that he has Just been elected secretary of the executive, she gave a cry of horror. "How terrible!" she cried. (We will not endeavour to reproduce Miss Okman's idiom, which contains some Americanisms, nor her accent, which is most attractive, but difficult to reproduce, even phonetically.) "To think of the influence he will no doubt have on those young men!"

We endeavoured to soothe Miss Okman, but in vain. She was afraid that Mr. Calvin was actuated by deviationist tendencies; but we assured her that this was not so. She was also afraid that the ultimate effect on the birth-rate may be disadvantageous; but although we pointed out that it is already unhealthy, Miss Okman would not be comforted. She argued that only immediate and drastic counter-action would be effective, and is prepared to convene a Spinsters' Club, to meet on the same evenings as what she calls Mr. Calvin's undermining tactic, and in an adjacent room; indeed, if Mr. Galvin's cohorts meet on one side of the common common room fire. Miss Okman is prepared to line up her forces on the other side.

Miss Okman said that she is confident that the young ladies at Victoria will support her in this venture. She concluded this interview with a loud but effective rallying cry which she said was much used by the White Russians, and also proved useful to her in Turkey. It will no doubt be heard around the college in future.

Any young ladies who are interested in Miss Okman's proposal are asked to leave a note for her in the women's common room.