What they said about Movick

So, with Lee wanting nothing to do with anything except fights, and Macindoe wanting an apolitical association, the meeting moved onto the Movick controversy (see front page). Lee had another go. He claimed Canterbury had specifically asked at the time of Movick's appointment [unclear: wheth] whether the latter would be allowed to stay, and had been told by NZUSA President Lisa Sacksen that he would Sacksen denied this, claiming she had said at the time that there might be a fight.

Lee stuck to his guns. "We said at the time we weren't prepared to join a major campaign to save an NZUSA political heavy." Furthermore, he added, Movick had "an academic record which looks like an intellectual fucking bunny." Lincoln's attitude was quite different. Said Macindoe "I suppose it is government interference in political affairs, but we aren't keen to make a statement on it one way or another." In the end everyone voted for the motion and the campaign is underway.

Not everything discussed at the meeting has been covered here, but separate stories will be appearing on many of the issues. Two last little things. Judging from Sacksen's report of a recent meeting with Les Gandar, the minister has taken up dialectical thinking. He has decided that there can be no such thing as a reformed bursary. Like everything else, it is in a constant state of development and modification. In real terms, that means an increase has been budgeted for 1979. And to demonstrate their ever self-effacing nature, the National Executive are holding their next meeting on April Fool's Day. At Canterbury.

Simon Wilson