Comment

What of N.Z.U.S.A.

Another Easter Tournament has ended, and still 17,000 odd New Zealand University students are no wiser as to the real importance and function of Tournaments. To the New Zealand student, Tournament, along with Executive organisations, N.Z.U.S.A., N.Z.U.S.U., and similar bodies, remains an enigma. That Tournament is a meeting ground for the respective Universities to do battle in the extravert activities of cricket, rugby, athletics, etc., most students realise. Realisation too, of the social importance of Tournaments is seldom lacking in the average Joe Blow student. What is missing in the appreciation of Tournament value, is the knowledge that it is here, the national student body, the New Zealand University Students' Association convenes.

The business and duties of N.Z.U.S.A remain hidden from all but a handful of people. It is not known that in N.Z.U.S.A. each and every student in the country is being represented at a national level on such international bodies as World Assembly of Youth and International Student Conference. It is not known—to the average student—what policy decisions, what directives, what representation on important issues, are evolved by N.Z.U.S.A. The organisation (as is the case with many Executives at a local level) is an impregnable hostel of secrecy, incorporating in subtle politics, skilful backstabs and an overblown status-conscious officialdom.

That N.Z.U.S.A. has an important role to play in local and international student affairs is obvious. Too seldom however, does notice of the machinery of N.Z.U.S.A. appear before the student public. Indeed, there is no available means through which the New Zealand student can acquaint himself with the workings of N.Z.U.S.A. It produces no Newsheet as do other national unions: it is a voice seldom heard in the journals of Coordinating Secretariat, International Union of Students, I.S.C., etc. Its sole, direct mediation with the student is through the constituent New Zealand student newspapers —this is far from adequate. N.Z.U.S.A. remains a closed shop to all but the "exclusive brethren".

Thus with the local Executive, thus with the national Association, and, once again, thus with the international groups. One may reflect; if N.Z.U.S.A. poses problems for the student, what of such organisations as Cosec, I.U.S., and W.A.Y.? To ninety-nine out of every hundred New Zealand students, the answer must be—"who the heck . ., !" It is not realised in this country just how important international student bodies are: their operations and meetings are shrouded— as are those of N.Z.U.S.A. Whether the student in this country wants to know about other students in other countries is here, begging the question. The fact is, there is no opportunity for him to make such acquaintance—excepting through overseas publications which come direct to our own student papers Should it be the task of our national union to bring to the notice of the student public, business concerning ourselves, as well as business of vital importance overseas? We think it is not the task, but the very duty.

In a forthcoming issue, Salient will be featuring an article critically evaluating the functioning of N.Z.U.S.A.

M.J.W.

Copy Closes for Issue 7 on Friday, May 28, at 10 a.m.