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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 15. July 4 1977

Executive

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Executive

Executive header

Imagine you had to write a sociology essay on crowd atmosphere and reaction at a rugby match and you were the only one who turned up. You wouldn't have much to write about would you. O.k. so sympathise. After the warm-ups (apologies, minutes etc.) things got off to a bad start.

Reports

Maybe he's a regular Welsh coal miner and he's just shy. (Gerard hasn't given a cogent report since he became an exec member). Whatever he is Gerard Couper has an amazing ability to appear as if he is doing amazingly little as Publications Officer. In my not on his report I didn't get past his name. A slow writer you say? Whatever. He is either clandestinely doing great deeds, unrecognised for the Association or he is $300 poorly spent. Gerard Couper is a forgotten face in Salient and he's the Pub's Officer!

Other exec members occupy their days doing nothing also. Peter Thrush and Peter Gilkinson weren't present so they don't get ground by my blunt and broken teeth. Both appear as if they're in the mood for the old length on two of barbed wire around the wrist trick. Absenteeism is also rempant in the halls of power. I've been to more exec meetings than most exec members Which is pretty damn courageous on my part and pretty slack on theirs.

Sue Hanna gave a brief report which (blow me down) for an exec member didn't seem to do her justice. Sue organised the Co-Action dinner which was a roaring success. Her report said the Anthro Soc was under way. All in all she seems to be off to a good start. When she had finished, Lindy tilted her head slightly back, adjusted her cravate, blew a smoke ring, turned slowly to Neil Gray and said:

"Your turn Comrade."

"Guess what," said Neil opening his report.

"I've won a three week, pay your own fares and expenses trip to China!"

Once the cries of "Yahoo, The commies have got him!" had died down Neil requested and got leave of absence. Still on communities in the Manawatu Neil went to Massey to encourage the exchange of sport, thought and culture between ourselves and our country cousins.

I don't seem to be able to thread this pearl of information onto the string. I have already strung so, what the hell, here we go: The most pitifully aware of all the licentiates on humble scholars here assembled whould be aware that the Pol Sci Soc has organised a series of lectures. One is held every Friday in the Theatre foyer at midday. The theme which links the various speakers is the possibility of political, social change in New Zealand. At least that was the gist of what Neil said, Michael Monogue is this weeks speaker.

Next came Kevin Swann. He hadn't been up to much by the sound of him, but what he had was very heartening. He had attended the rally/picket here in Wellington over the threatened seizure of Maori Land at Bastion Point, Auckland. He had also helped organise Native Forest Action Council activities and was leaving for Bastion Point to strengthen links between the Association and the rightful owners. He and Sue, admittedly not in tremendous quantities, are involving themselves in issues which many students see as important.

Law is a Bean Bag

Reclining in his bean bag, Steve Underwood reported that CASS (Commerce and Administration Students Society) along with its bean bag enterprise had ended. Salient thanks its special correspondent W.P. for his/her investigative journalism whilst CASS was running. But as they say a bean bag isn't as good as a suit(e) so it's doom was inevitable.

LACKS SUBTELTY I'D SAY NOT A PATCH ON THE LAST ONE DEFWITELY DERIVATIVE Loan

Steve was at the last University Council meeting. A motion was passed limiting the number of law studnets able to enrol in 200 level Law classes to 170. Council also decided that 'Law in society' 'Legal Sustems' and 24 non-law credits were prerequisites to Stage II Law. This seriously effects students intending to do a law degree or even simply a few units. Steve believes that this will lead to a reduction in the number of graduates. Also expressed was the feeling that to reduce the number of graduate merely to tailor for the market (which is low at present) is a pretty shallow move by Council. He suggested that if this was the case then the Law faculty could be moved to Polytech.

Lindy felt that if Council was struck by reefer madness and did reduce the size of the courses then the Law Faculty should follow the Religious Studies and Anthro departments who give preference to students intending to major in the subject.

Lindy reported that she had been at National Exec, bought a pair of dingarees, been to a couple of pickets and that her mother was fine. She said that it was agreed on at National exec that if Muldoon didn't come through with the goods (not to be confused with bacon, sausages and other small goods) a bursary demonstration would be held after the budget.

Explosion

It must be a bit tough being an Exec member. Every fortnight you'd feel like a decrepid old aunt in her smelly old house. Come Christmas all the grand nieces and nephews roll up soley in the hope of a hand-out. Tonights applicants were Canwar and an anti-abortion (you try to say it) couple. I always notice this about visitors to Exec They all sit at the far end of the table, near the door. Ready for a quick get-away I guess.

Rod Prosser and Alistar Barry of Canwar thought it would be very noce thank-you very much, if a 1976 loan of $370 due this week could be converted into a grant. Steve Underwood got a fact or two wrong appeared to have a nuclear explosion in the brain and lunged at them in a most fiery manner. When corrected as to the facts he withdrew his less moderate statements. Eventually, when it came time for the sheep to baa, Canwar got their grant.

The money is for a film Canwar made. Rod Prosser promised the Exec that it would be ready by the end of the week, complete with shots of the destruction of Wellington by a nuclear bomb.

Nono Abortium

Next up was the anti-abortion people, hoping to collect the $15 promised at the AGM to such a group. They wished to affiliate a club in order to be eligible. Unfortunately they were unaware that they had to fill out a form with twenty signatures on the back on triplicate. That was the cardinal mistake anyway. They intend, however, to mend the errors of their procedure and come back next time.

Lindy gave a 'President's Report' on the executive. Once read, there were a few whimpers and everyone was ashemed of themselves and they all promosed to come back next time new members (I don't know if that's got anything to do with the By-election or not).

Salient and the Executive wish all students a happy and productive term.

Bonsoir

— Eugene Doyle

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A rare photo of Peter Thrush —Sports Officer and ex-Council Rep.

A rare photo of Peter Thrush —Sports Officer and ex-Council Rep.