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Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association. Vol 40. No. 7. April 13 1977

Malaysian Letters

page 11

Malaysian Letters

Letters can be handed into the Salient mailbox just inside the door or in the Studass office, or sent to Salient, Victoria University of Wellington Students Assn., Private Bag, Wellington.

Letters must be double-spaced and written on one side of the paper only. Please keep them concise and short.

Malaysian Letters

More on the MSA Sketch.

Dear Editor,

Being a tint year student and Katherine from the put two weeks' letten, I am surprised to discover that I too possess political or even 'Marxist' view which I dread to think so!

Those letters really confused me with what is political and what is Marxist. Does it mean that the normal or natural feeling of an ordinary person towards the Malaysian sketch, may it be good or bad, carry with it political Marxist views?

In other words, does it mean that the natural feeling that it is no good to laugh at others or make a laughing stock of others (whether they are hawkers or not) is equivalent to possessing a political-Marxist view? If that is how it's defined, then I am sure most Malaysian students as well as other overseas and Kiwi students have political-Marxist views.

May I ask "unsigned" (1) how much he knows about what is political- and Marxist? (2) What is His Purpose in putting a Marxist hat on anyone who sympathises towards the hawkers?

To end my letter, it seems to me that many students (including myself) still do not know or are unclear about what politics are, even though they are university students. As a result I hope someone could explain to me what politics are.

Shocked.

P.S. Does the Political Science course include the topic "what is Politics" in the teaching?

Dear Editor,

The reply from MSA to critics of the Malaysian sketch is not at all satisfactory. Maybe MSA has no intention of misrepresenting any group of people back home, but certainly it has provoked some students here. The ignorant belief of MSA that the sketch has no social implications, obviously deserves some criticism. In the case of the hawker's son I do understand how he felt after having being offended. I therefore call upon MSA to apologise sincerely to the hawker's son and others.

Joe Tan.

Dear Editor,

I would like to clarify my points for "Unsigned" who classified the Hawker sketch as a "slapstick comedy." I am sure that all sensible people who are aware of our social environment would agree with me that the sketch didn't portray the True life of the Hawkers. Is it fair to say that those who are able to see the real situation at home are holding to a wrong view?

It doesn't really matter whether the sketch gives a good or a bad impression to the audience, but it should show the true picture of what it is trying to portray — in this instance, the Hawkers' life.

By sticking to a narrow viewpoint and using general terms like "white world", "pakehas", I am afraid "Unsigned" has fallen into the racist category. What we should oppose are the Oppressors, regardless of their race.

A Common Malaysian'

P.S. I agree with 'Guru' that "comedy is a part of culture," but I believe he has made the same mistake as "Unsigned" by playing on sentiments — mixing up the true exploiters with the ordinary tourists.

Dear Editor,

The letters that appeared on March 28 amused me very much and I was very surprised they were written by the so called highly educated ones.

I can't see how some of the replying letters related the critics' letters (as appeared on March 21) with Marxist ideas.

We, the lucky ones who are able to come here should be bright enough to know the root- cause of the widespread poverty at home. Nevertheless, the bright suggestions to solve the problem as suggested is to engage the "bright ones" in cutting more throats or "the Char Koay Teow hawker should charge a thousand pounds for a single bowl of that delightful dish.

If they believe that will solve the root- cause of the poverty at home, those bright people should pack up their bags and go home. For they are wasting their time studying here.

A very surprised

1st year Malaysian.

Dear Editor,

As a 'freshie', it was an experience for me to see MSA in action during the International Evening night. As I recall, the commentator started with — 'This sketch represents a typical scene. . . 'The sketch went on to display a language difficulty, the competition between hawkers, the cut-throat business, and the readiness to thrash the tourists if they did not pay up. Unfortunately I lost catching the last part because like the others I was laughing at the way they acted.

However I have never seen such an incident at home. I know the hawkers to be poor. Come to think of it, I think MSA has made a mess out of the sketch. The people involved had either gone deliberately to show the hawkers in a very bad light or they are so naive as not to know hawkers' lives at all. I wonder whether MSA is going to charge me as having a view seen through 'a narrow and politically tinted glass.' (I pick that phrase on your reply to those people who criticise you in the previous issue — Can you please elaborate on that?) I am very scared by politics.

I think MSA should not disregard the criticism in the previous issue as criticism that 'does nothing but demoralizing well-meaning people who have sacrificed their time and efforts to promote a richer and more meaningful life here on the campus.' I would support people who criticise on the correct grounds. It is only through this means that MSA can improve its future programme.

Finally, although MSA is usually right, it has done wrong in this circumstance by not accepting criticism and not apologising to the hawker's sen. If it is going to continue to maintain this attitude. I don't think it is going to have the support of the majority of the Malaysian students.

Yours sincerely,

Neutral Guy.

Dear Editor,

I felt very intolerant that MSA does not appreciate and welcome constructive criticisms by other Malaysians. Instead of facing the objective realities, MSA is drumming up support for its wrong doings and trying to slander and smear the constructive criticisms.

It will be encouraging to see Malaysians participating in healthy non-academic activities, so that our talents and creativity can be tapped and transformed into artistic forms to express the aspirations and hopes of our people. But on the contrary, our people (in this case, hawkers in the sketch) were being portrayed misleadingly and made into a laughing stock. Is this what the MSA committee tries to promote as a healthy activity and hence a meaningful life?

I am sure the majority of the Malaysians here disapprove of what MSA has done. Knowing that we come at the expense of many others, we have a responsibility not to betray that trust that others have placed on us. We should come together with open minds, ready to explore new ideas to nurture our talents, if they be, for the betterment of mankind.

Ali from Sarawak.

Dear Editor,

Power struggles are often the dominant scene of Malaysian politics. This time in the match were Harun faction who employed the same old tactic of accusing the people (like Samad Ismail etc who belong to the Razak faction) of being communist, subversive elements. Hence once again the McCarthy Spirit is now seriously haunting the Malaysian political arena. This evil spirit from Malaysia was brought into this land of "sheep and milk" and is trying to create white terror amongst the Malaysians. By accusing the critics of the sketch of being identical to the "Chiang Ching" sort of culture, the writer was trying to devoid the sketch of the main issue. To me he was employing the same old dirty tactics of Harun.

I personally felt that, after all what's wrong with the critics advocating the true life of hawkers in the sketch, which you as Malaysian intellectuals are quite familiar with.

I think criticism through rational reasoning is good for us, because only then can we improve our work. So by using the smearing tactics on our critics, we just simply bare ourselves behind the curtain of ignorance, which is of no use to the improvement of our work. So I hope as a rational intellectual, that next time we may argue with sense, and stop the silly, dirty smearing.

Malaysian Observer.

Dear Editor,

What else can be more disappointing than to see such a negative response from WMSA regarding the sketch. I would have expected the MSA executive to have considered seriously the damage they have done to hawkers, rather than having accused others of being politically excited. By pointing out their humiliation and insultation from the hawkers is a political commentary on its own, tell me what else is not political?

Throughout their reply they make no attempt to clarify the four points that I raised. Instead they childishly hope for sympathy from fellow Malaysian and Singaporean students. Have they not got the guts to face what they have done? It is pointless to tell me what the structure of MSA is and how it functions, after all I did not challenge its existence. All I am interested in is why WMSA staged such a provocative sketch that humiliates my parents, relatives and the majority of my country men.

Do you realise that my people have to start work at around 6a.m. to finish at mid-night, everyone in the family works flat-out. And all they get in return is a meagre income, just enough to keep their families going.

On top of that, rocketing inflation hits the hawkers and workers the hardest. With rapid increase in prices of ingredients, it is hardly profitable to produce, even at a higher price. But there again, higher prices are bound to meet with inevitable complaints from customers who then will stop buying eventually. In addition, policies and gangsters come regularly for money. On a number of occasions, my parents were at the point of giving up the business but where! Where to go from there??

As intellectuals and future decision makers, we should sympathise and help to Improve their living standard, and certainly not turn them into a laughing stock. You may call it a light-hearted sketch, but inside it are the blood and tears of hundred and thousands of our fellow country men.

Hawker's Son.

Dear Editor,

In response to WMSA's reply to criticisms, I would like to bring forward the following points.

First of all, I would like to ask the MSA committee, what their definition of 'non-academic activities' which are natural and normal to us is? By claiming that the WMSA's activities are like those of the University of Malaya, is completely misleading and doing the student union at home a great injustice. The students in the University of Malaya are concerned with community problems and their living conditions. They have been involved in various social issues like the squatter problem in Tasek Utara and supporting the Baling people. On the other hand, just take a look at the sketch, does it reflect the lives of the hawkers or voice their aspirations?

W.M.S.A. as an organisation which represents Malaysian students in Wellington should be open to criticism and suggestions from its members instead of overriding them. I see nothing wrong with criticism. To say that we've already suffered enough of our social ostracization here in New Zealand is really trying to shed responsibilities.

Where comes the suffering? If a W.M.S.A. person is doing the right thing, he will have the support of the members, and have no fear of criticism or whatever.

The phrase "to promote a richer and more meaningful life on campus" is very vague. What is a "richer and more meaningful life" supposed to be? What sort of 'normal' and 'natural' activities will lead us to a more meaningful life? I suppose the sketch is meant to be a healthy non-academic activity, but are our lives made more meaningful by the amusing of ourselves with the plight of the poor hawkers? It is anyone's guess whether the theme of the sketch was played with or without intention. However, is the WMSA committee so ignorant as not to realise the consequences of the damage and injustice done to our people?

MSA put forward the great philosophy of 'ideals.' May I ask what sort of ideals have been practised? If WMSA is not in the least prepared to take constructive criticisms. I wonder what elitist ideal keeps them going?

Malaysian ABC.

Dear Editor,

It is disgusting to see the apathetic "unsigned" building up arguments, distorting facts in some instances, and largely deviating from discussing the truth the "truth" of the hawker's life.

It is an interesting thing that "unsigned" can make up stories like "Marxist class analysis" on the "slapstick comedy." I think any responsible Malaysian will know the "true" life of the hawker since it is so common in Malaysia. Or to put it the other way - - what is it like to be a hawker? Do those at home need "a Marxist class analysis" to know the "truth" of a hawker's life?

To state the hawker's sketch was purely "slapstick comedy" is purely a LIE. In fact the sketch itself did portray a social comment — "Hawker's Life'", but has been distorted by the "well meaning people who have sacrificed their time and efforts. . . "(refer to WMSA reply to criticism letter, paragraph five.) If it was merely "slapstick comedy" why doesn't the hell. WMSA perform a sketch on corruption which is so common in Malaysia (e.g. Harun's corruption case) instead of founding a Mockery on the hawkers.

If "unsigned" has no feeling for the masses, I doubt he is "waiting for the real test?" I suppose, "unsigned" must have already joined the system.

Char Koay Teow Hawker'

P.S. Would "Unsigned" clarify 'the real test" as required by the Salient editor.

General MSA Criticism.

Dear Editor,

I make it clear from the start that I do not speak for the critics of the hawker sketch, nor am I part of the MSA gang. I am writing solely in the interests of overseas students. It was the MSA reply to criticism which compelled me to write these thoughts.

"Our Association is not a political party nor a political organ." Muldoon used this politicing "Sport, not politics." There are some Kiwis who believe HE is right! Do you belive him my dear Malaysians? You have come from a place of a politically most conscious ground. Malaysia. You know just as well as I do!

I was a close associate of the MSA once. But it did not take me long to understand what sin the association had. The association while providing members with solely social activities and boosting Malaysian prosperities is subtly preventing and misleading the students from becoming more aware. MSA was in the past very active in Government promoted activities, and some even went so far as siding with the Government. Issues like the cut-back, the Baling hunger strike, and the Tasek Utara squatters were not paid the attention and concern they merited. The present association has not taken a different course, judging by its present presentations. (Bear in mind I am not blaming the present MSA by referring to the past.) To me, the association owes a debt to the Malaysian students here or rather a debt to the people back home, by not participating in the student movement. (Don't tell me to join the association so that I can do something about it. I won't be able to do anything alone. This is rather an all Malaysian affair including the MSA's executive members.)

Another point of interest here. Suara Siswa has an article in the features and reviews of Vol. 3 No. 1 — "The role of Students and the task ahead." a workshop paper of FUEMSSO's 13th Annual Delegates' Conference 1976. I cannot understand why this paper appears in Suara Siswa. If the association has a determination to play a role in the student-movement, then it did a right thing. Otherwise. I can only say, this paper has been used to mislead the students: i. e. to pretend that the association is concerned with social issues. Therefore I am asking MSA to clear up this point, to me as well as to all Malaysians and Singaporeans. MSA committee members are all energetic young people. I am sure they can face criticism and make self-examination of association's policy. Deeds are needed for one to deserve one's fame.

R. Buchnan.

Comment on Gurunathan

Dear David Murray,

Behold, Gurunathan Krisnasamy, the half-baked Malaysian trotsky is in a state of great confusion. Teetering on a shaky platform, he is stumbling after every passing bandwagon. His political stand sways like dirty linen in Wellington winds. During his pangs of activism. I urge students to tolerate his ravings and hullaballos on campus.

In Vol 40. No. 4 of Salient, none of the writers had aimed at winning the favour or sympathy of the Kiwis. The basic issue was to get the facts right and to educate those who erred (distorted the truth). Judging from his comments. Guru is clearly much divorced from the social problems and the true life of the working masses back home. Or maybe he lacks the insight and hence ability to distinguish between the "typical" and "extreme" scenes.

Secondly, his narrow minded argument on the "morality of np-off" is clearly aimed at stirring up chauvinistic sentiments. This extremely political suicide approach defeats the idea of uniting the many. Who are our enemies and who are our friends? This issue is a question of class not racial chauvinism. I reckon it is Gurunathan Krisnasamy who is suffering from acute colonial hangover, resulting in a highly feverish and confused mind, and has thereby gone amok in his attacks. Instead of recommending him to a Bomoh. I suggest he do his homework. It is pathetic to be watching a lone ranger jumping at the wrong gun.

Barefoot doctor.

Pen-Pal Wanted.

Dear Sir,

I'm a Japanese girl. I want to have a penpal in your country. Would you please send me the name and address of a girl or boy about the same age?

I am,

Name: Eriko Suzuki. Sex: Female.

Address: 19-3,1-chome.

Takasaki Tagajvo-shi,

Miyagi-ken,

985 Japan.

Age: 20.

I would appreciate it if you would answer to my letter soon.

Yours truly,

Miss Eriko Suzuki.

P.s. I enclose an International Reply Coupon.

page 12

A Day in the Life.

Dear David,

ALAN TRUCKS HOME AFTER A HARD DAY AT 'VARSITY'

After a soul-destroying Astro Physics lecture in the Van Zedlitz building, I made my way through the rain and fog to the cafe, in the hope that a few soggy chips to the soothing accompaniment of Radio Active would cure my frayed nerves.

I was to have no such luck.

I started by public spiritedly placing myself at the end of the queue. Twenty minutes later to my utter surprise and total distress I found myself not one iota closer to the chip counter. Looking up I noticed all the other students were facing in my direction. I was about to give this comical situation some serious thought when some impudent coxcomb of a fresher barged up to me with a wide grin on his stupid face and proudly announced that I was at the wrong end of the queue. "Oh my God!" My face was so red blood was spewing out of the eye=sockets, but gethering my wits about me I wasted no time in choosing the only option left open to me. I would go to the library.

As I surreptitiously approached the Rankine Brown building I was shocked to find my progress blocked by pigs who had cleared the vicinity in the expectation that the building would be blown sky high by a bomb. At this point in time I reflected momentarily that surely anyone intelligent enough to make a bomb would be intelligent enough to put it under Weir House. The bomb obviously wasn't there. Anyway, now that I am approaching the end of this letter I would just like to pose the reader this searching question. If one is prevented from reading, eating and cannot extract any pleasure from lectures, what is the point of being at Varsity?

Yours sincerely,

Acrid Smell.

Country Joe Revisited

David,

ALL AROUND HIM HE SEES POVERTY AND DESPAIR

The above tour was organised by NZSAC on a sale to campuses only. What each campus made of it's 'purchase' was it's own problem/responsibility. The situation at Massey is considerably different to that at Victoria.....
a)being a small campus they needed more public support and
b)having inadequate facilities in their Union they needed a different venue downtown to cater for that same public.

In Wellington it is impossible to book a venue or a well-known support act for a Saturday night particularly at short notice. With their concert being on a Sunday they faced fewer problems in both respects.

As far as the support act went, we felt a low key act would be more suitable given the nature of Joe's music. For the same reason ie. more personal atmosphere, our own Union Hall was considered a suitable venue.

We may have erred on these points - but if audience response is assumed a fair measure - then support act. venue and show as a whole proved popular.

As for the price - trying to break even was our only concern. Bearing in mind that Massey were relying on greater patronage. Although I cannot give figures I understand that with an only slightly larger audience. Massey lost only marginally less than did Victoria.

We attempted to play host to an international act as a finale to Orientation. For those who were there I'm sure that the price was acceptable and the show worth the effort.

Yours Faithfully,

A. Moore-Jones

Ode to Fascism.

Dear Editor,

I have had several complaints brought to my official notice about the increasing activities of degenerates and sexual deviants on campus. This is not good enough. It is part of the general social trend towards anarchy that I mean to correct now! I intend to act swiftly, under the Internal Security Act to purge society of this curse.

With the authority of Section 6A I shall implement dawn raids on deviants rounding them up en masse. Clause 2 subsection E will sec the punishment of those twisted individuals after a fashion sure to repress their fun loving movement. One by one they will be personally dealt with by me in my never ending quest for New Zealand the way you want it. I will extricate them one by one from the huddled group of terrified bodies and strip them naked, except for their socks. After they have been lashed to oak stakes with blue nylon that digs deeply into their white flesh, I shall whip them alive; whip them until they cry out for mercy with every ounce of strength left in their puny bodies. I shan't stop until the big red weals on their backs are oozing red glistening blood which trickles down between their creamy white buttocks!

Be warned. I am coming to get you!

Yours Regally,

R.D.M.

Executive Taking us for a Ride?

Dear Sir,

WINO'S DRUEGEG PERVERTS LUNER, PUSHERS

You too can rip off your fellow students. Join the V.U.W. Student Executive and you become entitled to your share of the $6,000 plus pie that the executive pay themselves from our student association fees.

As President you rake in $3,000. The treasurer collects a $1,000 while the rest rip off another $300 each. And it's all tax free. You'd think that this would be enough for such a band of dedicated "Marxists." No way! They're out for More much more.

At the Annual General Meeting held on March 30, our association secretary was gunning for an 80% rise to $500 p.a. from his present $300. It was only the resulting student uproar that stopped the other little fat hands of our enterprising executive members from reaching out. Rather than scream down the opposition and roll through their pay rise, they cunningly decided to "refer" this matter to a Special General Meeting. At such a meeting far fewer students usually attend. There the executive anticipate an easy time in upping the levy for their services.

It is interesting to note that during the first 65 years of the student association only the President and Treasurer received money and these were small token payments. It is ironic that self appointed Marxists should change all this and institute such a pitiful exploitation from our student association fees.

It's only your vote that can stop this new round of "Marxist" executive greed. Do your best to be at the Special General Meeting that will be called in the near future.

Yours faithfully,

Sick of "Marxists."

P.S. If any of the figures in this letter are incorrect I challenge the executive to reveal the correct ones.

(As a footnote it may be worthwhile to realise that the number of Marxists on the V.U.W.S.A. exec, could be counted on the finger of one finger. — Ed.)

More Free Time!

Dear Editor,

James Bertram said on TV last night that while studying at Oxford Uni England in the '30s the morning was devoted to lectures Or the writing of essays, the afternoon was devoted to the pursuit of some sport And (for God's sake) the evenings were Free! Those same people who led such a time free from work are now the people who are our lecturers and who expect us to attend lectures in the morning And afternoon, and to write the week's essay in the evenings. Where is our sport and free time???

Oh yes, I know the argument that we're privileged to go to university and so we should work as hard as we can while there to pay back our debt to the taxpayers of N.Z. but so was James Bertram a bloody privileged person. He had to pay back a Rhodes Schoalrship!!!

I thought slavery was abolished in the 19th century, but it seems academic slavery has just begun We've got to abolish it and return to the age of Free Time!!!

Yours,

ces,

Where have all the Bursary Payments Gone?

Dear David,

ALAN SEES DRWNKARDS, BUMS, THIRVES, IDIOTS, GUNMEN

It must have become painfully obvious that the present bursary system is, by now, woefully inadequate, and unlikely to be increased.

We hear from our leaders that the Minister of Education Mr Gandar is very sympathetic to our cause (increased bursaries) but what we need is action not platitudes. His Budget is not to be announced for some time now, and while the debate about what we should be doing as a body of students goes on, there is a lot that can be done on an individual basis.

As the levels of your personal bursary payments affect you and not anyone else, why not write to your local M.P. and acquaint him with the gory details? After all our members of Parliament are not clairvoyant and they must be confronted with your own personal story. You know — how you are "able" to flat on $13 per week; how you "manage" to live at Vic. House paying about $31 per week when your bursary is in the region of $24 per week; or how single female students for example manage to live on no bursary at all.

Why not bombard the local Press. After all they can't ignore a flood of letters the same way that they can ignore and distort the report of a student demonstration, can they?

So what about it? Forget the overdue assignment. You can't eat that; they don't taste very nice, and write to these people. After all one can ignore some people for most of the time, but one can not ignore a lot of people all of the time. We also have votes.

Kevin Swann.

Thirsty Work

Dear David,

BUT NOW HERE JUST NOW HERE

I've looked in the library (HL 9000-9999), Lecture Block, the Gymn, the Cafe, and the Union Hall. I've pored over every issue of Salient. I've spoken to the President, Secretary, and Man V.P., the lady in the upstairs coffee bar, my lecturer in BUAD 201 and my male who's been to Akaroa. I've even written desperate pleas on the toilet walls in Easterfield ( ground floor, 2nd cubicle from the end) but nowhere have I found the answer.

In desperation I write to you my last hope in an uncaring world. Please tell me, someone please tell me before I fall into oblivion—tell me

Are we having a Pub Crawl in Capping Week?

Desperate for a beer.

Malaysian Students Enigma

Dear Editor,

Recently I've noticed even colder relationships growing between Malaysian students and their Kiwi brothers, and this is a fact that should not just be of concern to me. Apparently, Air-Commodore Gill's remark last year relating to so-called "marriages of convenience" achieved what it was supposed to —i.e. to not only indicate National Party policy towards Malaysian students, but also to even further alienate Malaysian students from their friends here. According to Malaysian Monthly Review, the NZ Government's 'decision to make cut-backs, was "an expressed desire of the Malaysian Government in responding to the growing outspokenness of Malaysian students over the prevalent Injustices in Malaysia." and also was connected directly with the student demonstrations in Wellington and Auckland over Tun Razak's visit. In addition, a continuous increase in the level of political consciousness among Malaysian students in NZ has concerned the Malaysian Government for several years, but until now the NZ Govt has not collaborated as conspicuously with the Malaysian Government in its attempt to intimidate Malaysian students by helping to demonstrate the power of the Malaysian Government.

Yes, as far as I can see, both governments have succeeded in their goal to increase the internal conflict in the student community. The one-eyed Malaysian student sees NZ in it's true colours as being a patently racist country, with public opinion behind Gill's cleverly hatched scheme to the letter. The Kiwi student fails to understand the position that his brothers and sisters are facing. In fact most average NZ students try and avoid the issue entirely, some preferring to say it's a non-issue— others merely apologise for the Government attitude, mumbling something about "priorities," "the national interest" "fair's fair" and other really broad minded shit.

Anonymous New Zealand student.

????????????????????????

Dear Sir,

I would like to congratulate Patrick Mulrennan on his excellent letter in last weeks Salient and I would like to take this oppurtunity to follow his lead and complain about the fictitious letters that have been appearing under my name recently.

I cannot understand why the perpetrator of this fraud could have believed that he could get away with it as everyone knows that I cannot read or write and have to dictate my letters to my seeing eye dog who has only lust returned from his trip to Australia. My only explanation is that someone must have been sorting through some old Salient's and seen my name and decided to use it.

Yours,

Bruce Robinson

What is WRAC?

Dear Editor,

I should like to make a few comments about the WRAC meeting (see 'WRAC Report' Salient April 4, P. 9)
1.)It may be useful to explain what WRAC is. At the 1976 May Council of NZUSA a Women's Commission met to rationalise NZUSA policy on women's rights. The body set up to action that policy was the Women's Rights Action Committee (i.e. WRAC) — comprising a representative (Women's Rights Officer) from each campus.
2.)The WRAC Report failed to mention two decisions made at the March 26 meeting.
a.)A delegate from NZUSA will attend the WON A AC national meeting to be held when the Report of the Royal Commission on Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion is released.
b.)It was requested that V.U.W. prepare a report for WRAC on the success/problems of the Vic 'Women in Society' course.
3.)Regarding "the lack of any real organisation on most of the campuses," I should like to inform those students who do not know, that Vic has a Women's Rights Officer. However her effectiveness and the effectiveness of WRAC in turn, greatly depends upon the willingness of women on campus to devote their time and energy to women's rights. In concrete terms, this involves setting up a number of Action Groups, under the auspices of the W.R.O., to work on specific areas — e.g. creche facilities, abortion action. Domestic Purposes Benefit, Women's Studies, Women-Against- Apartheid, discrimination within university faculties, gay women's rights etc.

If any woman on campus feels she would like to contribute to any Action Group, or work on any area not mentioned above, see the W.R.O. Leonie Morris.

CAN HE FIND BIG EARS.

Signed,

Virginia Branney.