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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Students' Newspaper. Volume 31 Number 14. June 25, 1968

[introduction]

One of the standard methods of protest is the newspaper advertisement.

Liberally sprinkled with the names, degrees and designations of the scientific and academic illumination, a full or half-page spread in The Times or The New York Times, will put the world right on the moral issues involved in "the bomb" or NATO, Israel or Vietnam.

Indeed, on almost any major controversy, a seemingly impressive swarm of Ph.D.'s will hasten to tell us why a democratic decision, once taken, is wrong.

What is the aim of this barrage of academic qualifications, directed in salvos at any festering trouble-spot in the minds of our intelectuals? Why the smoke-screen of university degrees, so carefully listed? Is it done to" impress?

Unfortunately, that seems to be the motive, and many people are very impressed.

Seeing that the Chichele Professor of Early Slavonic Studies has seen fit to unburden his soul (and his wallet) to give them the benefit of his views on Mr. Wilson and Rhodesia, there must be a good reason, thinks our Mr. Average Man-in-thc-street.

But, Mr. Average forgets that when he did his National Service, or was in his school cadet unit—if he ever was in one—a brutish sergeant probably yelled at him the old army motto: "Bull Baffles Brains".

Although the whole of our scientific mafia would draw back their academic gowns in horror at the thought of comparison with any nasty militaristic intentions, their actions are the same.