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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 27, No. 10. 1964.

Our First ISC!

Our First ISC!

For Over a Decade the national unions of upwards of 60 countries have held conferences in different regions of the world. The last, the 11th International Student Conference was held at Canterbury University, the first time ever in New Zealand—and probably the last time for many years.

The member nations, who meet in order to act in the common interests of thousands of students in oppressed and well-off regions of the world, have a programme of activities which includes an International Student Press service, a series of seminars and regional groupings of national union leaders. International Work camps, Illiteracy campaigns. Cultural gatherings, as well as arranging for travel concessions in many areas.

The Conference, which meets every two years, this time made history for itself by changing Us structure, giving more power to its executive body. This body, "Cosec," until the present time only had the power to implement the commands of the conference; now it is able to initiate policies consistent with the spirit of the principles of the ISC, expressed in the new charter.

Consistent with these principles the conference has in the years of its existence condemned and opposed many of the oppressive regimes the world over, whose proliferations were testified to by the numerous resolutions of the conference. These areas (particularly notable in recent years have been South Africa. Spain. Hungary, Paraguay and others) arc studied pragmatically and carefully by a select team of students of the "Research and Information Commission." The work of this commission gives a solid, reasoned basis to any decisions of the conference. Their reports are published and are available for student perusal.

The International Student Conference is not the only international student body. The other main one is the apparently Communist-dominated International Union of Students (who were refused the right to send observers to this ISC). This ISC, recognising the disadvantages of the split, has resolved to seek closer co-operation with them. The IUS was the original international student body; the ISC broke from it in 1950 when the executive group showed lack of action over manifestations of Communist aggression.