May Council's Education commission succeeded in becoming wrapped up in one of the most emotionally based arguments I have ever heard. Objectivity went out the window, as the majority of delegates embarked on what can only be called guilt trips.

Following an excellent report to a joint Education and National commission meeting by Norman Tuiasau on the subject of domestic racism, people became wildly ecstatic. Seeing that they could possibly make some attempt to combat this problem, they immediately suggested ways of doing so.

Unfortunately, nobody seemed to be interested in the area Norman claimed to be most responsible for this problem; that of pre-school and primary education. Instead delegates became consumed with the desire to totally wipe out racism at a university level. But most distressing was the way they proposed to do this.

Not the Sole Answer

NPR's were seen as the answer. "New Perspectives on Race" sessions were suggested as one possible way of enlightening students as to the extent of domestic racism. Unfortunately, these sessions were immediately assumed to be the sole answer to the problem, and a motion was passed to the effect that they would be toured throughout the universities in the second term.

No one outlined the structure of NPRs, other than saying how "great" they were. "They are a really harrowing experience; it takes you three days to recover," was one comment. No one seemed concerned that they did not know what happened in the sessions other than the fact that "you play power games designed to bring out a typically white racist response" and "you come out knowing you're a racist".

Vic Alone

However valuable these sessions may be, they cannot be left as the only means by which racism may be combatted. Something must be done as a follow up. Unfortunately none of the constituents seemed concerned about this fact; except Victoria. Our caucus generally agreed that merely knowing you're racist is not enough. For this, "Victoria was accused of being racist and not interested in the welfare of a large number of it's members.

The whole situation became ludicrous when one delegation (who had voted for NPR tours) wanted a definition of the word 'racist'.

Gravity Racist?

In the heat of the moment, another idea was introduced; to introduce anti-racism education in all university studies. Victoria questioned whether all university courses were racist. For example, how can mathematics or physics be 'inherently racist', as some delegates had been arguing? No real reply was given; instead some people became rather agitated, arguing that one had to be consistent.

Unfortunately, the domination of this commission by the issue of domestic racism resulted in some important issues such as assessment, student representation and funding being almost ignored.

Peter Hassett

NZUSA could find itself without a WRAC Co-ordinator if the position of Women's Vice President is not created before August Council.

For the third council running, delegates debated this issue when the present Women's Rights Action Committee (WRAC) Co-ordinator, Denese Black, submitted a report to a special plenary on the second day of May Council.

The report contained two motions to be voted on at the special plenary. The first was to the effect that an NZUSA Special General Meeting to be held on July 12, if the necessary 28 votes to make a constitutional change have been reached, to amend the constitution to make provision for a full time Women's Vice President.

The position of WRAC Co-ordinator is a part time one. However, many people believe - including the WRAC Co-ordinator - that the amount of work to be done requires a full time officer.

During Women's Commission Denese stated that WRAC could not continue to function without a WVP. She described the Co-ordinator's position as a "facade" and admitted that the main reason she stood as WRAC Co-ordinator for a second time last August was to push for a WVP. If such a position is not created, Denese says she sees no point in continuing in her present capacity. When asked to elaborate on this comment Denese said she was considering resigning but had no definite plans.

In the past, it has been argued that while in principle the creation of a WVP is desirable, NZUSA has needs that take a higher priority. NZUSA is chronically short of clerical staff which affects the work of both part and full time officers.

NZUSA is not in a particularly healthy financial position and it has seemed just not the right time to create the position of another full time officer. However, Denese pointed out in her report that it would cost each student only 46 cents a year to finance a WVP.

The present situation is that all campuses except for Otago, Lincoln, and Victoria have voted for the creation of a WVP making a total of 26 votes out of the 28 that are needed to make a constitutional change. A motion was put to Victoria's students last year to support the creation of a WVP but was lost.

Three Campuses to Vote; or Seven?

The second motion put to the special plenary related to this. It urged Otago, Lincoln and Victoria to hold student meetings to re-assess their stance on the question of a WVP before the July SGM.

There was much discussion over the date set in the first motion. Victoria's delegation felt it left them too little time to organise a campaign before the SGM because of the two week study break. August Council was suggested as an alternative, but rejected because it left no time to advertise the position.

The motion was finally amended to read that the SGM be held on July 26 and carried.

The second motion caused even more debate. An amendment was moved by Victoria and seconded by Otago that the issue be discussed and voted on by all seven campuses because of new economic conditions and a new student body this year.

Undemocratic comments like, "we won't do that because we might not get it through a second time," flew around the room. A member of Victoria's delegation, Roger Tobin, pointed out that it was not just policy but genuine support that campuses needed in actioning such a constitutional change. The meeting broke up while delegates caucused. When they returned, the amendment was lost.

A further amendment was proposed by Massey - that the issue be raised again for debate on all campuses but no new vote be taken except at Otago, Lincoln, and Victoria. The meeting eventually decided to lapse the second motion and simply leave it to constituents to decide what sort of action to take.

Michele A'Court

"The Question Is..." - this is the stunningly provocative title of NZUSA's campaign leading up to the general elections this year.

The title, presented by Auckland's delegation, instantly filled the meeting with startling enthusiasm and answered all prayers for a gimmicky, universally acceptable slogan.

It was presented at Election Plenary on the third day of May Council after several hours of full and frank discussions both there and in commissions. Delegates were looking for a title for an umbrella campaign about students in the elections.

The campaign is designed to give context to the work that is already being done by NZUSA and its constituents rather than generate more work, Research Officer, Ian Powell assured the meeting.

Despite a comment from one Otago delegate to the effect that National Office was too busy to be socially progressive, delegates believed that NZUSA should get involved in the general elections.

Human Rights Beats Economic Crisis

It was debated whether the campaign should be based on human rights or on the economic crisis. Denese Black reported that in Women's Commission they had taken the overall framework of violence against women and the Working Women's Charter with abortion as a priority.

"It fits more into human rights than anywhere else," Denese said.

Brian Small reported that a combined Education and Welfare Commission had decided to focus on unemployment and human rights. Colin McFadzean reported that National and International Commissions had not had a chance to discuss it at that stage.

Victoria's Chief Delegate, Virginia Adams proposed drawing up a Youth Charter - a manifesto of students' position for the elections to be done in co-ordination with other resource groups such as the Wellington Unemployed Workers' Union (WUWU).

This proposal was rejected because of fears of "treading on other people's toes" as this had already been done successfully by the YMCA.

More proposals were presented and rejected - Otago suggested organising a youth conference, and Research Officer Mike Waghorne urged constituents to not think bit but think really big. Indecision caused the plenary to adjourn for discussion in commission.

Hit! Pow! Zap!

In somewhat of an anti-climax, Victoria's slogan "The Cost of Crisis: Who Pays The Price?" was thrown out by the after dinner Election Plenary, and Auckland's "The Question Is..." was adopted. For some inexplicable reason, having slept on it for a night, delegates seemed a little less enthusiastic about the slogan during the remaining days of council.

This change was reflected at Budget Plenary on the last day of council. Auckland's proposal of "Zap Paks" - a seemingly integral part of "The Question Is..." campaign - was zapped.

Zap Paks is the name given to a set of coloured folders which would hold information on a variety of areas to be covered by the election campaign. They would cost $1 each to be produced and were intended to be distributed to people working in specific areas at constituent level, for example a Zap Pak on Women for the campus Women's Rights Officer. About four hundred Zap Paks were to be produced.

The whole idea of special folders was almost scrapped with the information to be presented in ordinary manilla folders, but instead delegates voted to have the Zap Paks sold to each campus at $1 each and they could then decide whether to sell or give them away to the appropriate people.

No doubt "The Question Is..." is such a snappy little slogan people will be queueing up at the Studass office to buy their Zap Pak.

Michele A'Court

National Commission discussed what a national commission usually discusses. With a lot of policy amalgamated to condense NZUSA's stance in relation to particular areas, the meeting generally mentioned topics raised as a result of an earlier joint commission with Education.

To come to terms with the problems faced by Maori and Polynesian students, it was felt that there was a need to formulate specific action proposals. It was stressed that any moves to combat domestic racism should be taken only after consultation with those who were suffering under this discrimination. This would avoid the possibility of action being taken in the wrong areas.

Instead of just leaving things up to the NZUSA National Officers, it was felt that a structure should be set up whereby policy created in this area could be actioned by te individual constituents. Another line taken was that NZUSA policy should be scrapped and new policy must be formed based on sound reasons, reflecting its concern with breaking down 'institutional racism' on a tertiary level.

It was realised that within existing university power structures, Maori and Polynesian students have no real representation. This creates problems in areas such as the appointment of lecturers, and the structuring of many courses so as to give a multi-cultural approach to their subjects.

Environment

Issues concerning energy development and foreign control were discussed, with particular reference to the proposed second aluminium smelter, and other projects likely to threaten the country's environment.

Handbook

The idea of a campaigns handbook covering all aspects of campaign work, to be produced by National Office for distribution to constituent officers, was agreed upon as a positive step toward actioning policy.

Peter Hassett

One important feature in the area of National policy was the Stop the Tour Action Committee (STAC) meeting. This discussed proposals of action for the second term, concerning the proposed Springbok Tour. With the results of the recent Heylen poll being particularly favourable, the possibility of an extremely large turnout is now definite. Compared to the 75,000 New Zealanders who marched on May 1, we are now looking at well over 100,000 for the next day of national action.

July 3

With this being the next (and last) big national mobilisation before the Boks are scheduled to arrive, it was felt we must show a concerted effort. It was generally agreed that build up action would be organised on a constituent level. This will involve building on, and consolidating the support developed so far at Victoria.

In a report by one of the organisers of STAC at Vic, Roger Tobin outlined the major reasons why support has so far been so high. The large turnout of students (1500 to 2000) on May 1, was due to the quality of the campaign, he explained, This included "the quality of the political content of our work. We were able to bring to the fore, support for the Black Liberation Movements."

"The organising group itself drew in a large number of campaign activists and developed into a hard working body."

One aspect of the campaign which gave "people an excellent understanding of the nature of apartheid as a vicious tool of imperialism" were the Azanian Study Groups. These, along with the main structure of organisation will be continued this term, and all students are invited to attend these meetings.

After July 3

After Friday July 3, a united cry will go out that the Government has only 'three weeks to save the country'. With a Cabinet meeting on the following Monday and caucus that Thursday, the pressure will really be on them to take some positive action. If by some chance the tour does proceed, action will not just end, but will become concentrated on areas where the Boks will be.

The preparation by the police is one area which tends to reflect, perhaps unnecessarily, what they believe will be the direction of that protest. "It (the police force) really is now a para-military organisation. It won't be pleasant if this tour comes," pointed out a Hart representative at the STAC meeting.

Other Tours

With July 3 build ups including workshops, forums, and several important speaking tours by people such as Donald Woods, Canon John Osmers, and Andrew Molitsane, support will undoubtedly grow. A vital feature will be Donald Woods' tour. Ex-editor of the Daily Express, he will discuss South African propoganda, and how to evaluate it to obtain factual information.

Peter Hassett

A move to exclude the press from covering the Finance and Administration Commission during May Council has set a dangerous precedent for NZUSA.

Banning all members of the press - both student and "real" reporters - raises many questions about the rights and responsibilities of journalists.

The subject under discussion was the Student Travel Bureau (STB), probably the most important issue at council. The continuance or otherwise of STB affects all students.

But at an F & A Commission specially set aside to discuss STB a motion was put to exclude all members of the press from the discussion. The motion was seconded by Victoria's F & A delegates and passed unanimously. We packed our notebooks and left.

Initially, we were all 'shocked and stunned' by the way we had been treated. There had been no hint from our own delegates that the meetings would be closed to the press, yet what we had just witnessed smacked of a well planned army manoeuvre.

The Price of Information

However, speaking to delegates later it was clear that the STB discussion was a sensitive one, and obviously could not be splashed across the pages of any student newspaper or you could kiss goodbye to STB forever.

The list of Journalistic Ethics which all journalists are supposed to adhere to says that journalists should not publish any material that is contrary to the good of the masses. The break down of negotiations and the consequences of this are certainly contrary to the good of the masses.

But this doesn't mean that the press had to be sent from the room, especially in this particular situation where the boundaries of delegate, reporter, and observer are ill defined.

The problem became more acute at Ratification Plenary, the last session on the last day of council when almost all delegates, reporters, and observers were present.

Motions regarding STB had to be ratified like all the rest and when they came up, Victoria moved that the press be excluded once again, because publication would weaken negotiations. But this time the motion was not bulldozed through.

The editor of Otago's student newspaper, Chris Trotter, started the debate saying delegates should rely on the good faith of student newspapers not to report the information, and proposed that the meeting move into committee of the whole (the information would be confined to those present and could not be taken from the room).

This would mean that once information was allowed to be published, reporters would understand the background of the issue and be less likely to present motions out of context or distort the information they were given.

Who Should Leave?

The ridiculous part of excluding the press is who should leave the room? Observers would be able to stay - and all members of the student press are also accredited observers because they are members of NZUSA. Many people at the meeting often write for their student newspaper, though they weren't there in that capacity at the time.

Some F & A delegates themselves were intending to write reports for their student newspaper. So who was supposed to leave?

In the end, no one did. The motion to exclude the press was passed but nobody moved. Vic moved an adjournment while delegates caucused and, upon their return, moved into committee of the whole.

After the meeting moved out of committee, all papers relating to STB were handed in to the chair. Chris Trotter suggested that NZUSA's policy motion of freedom of information be stricken from the record.

Without question, it is true that it would be damaging to students, STB, and its employees to publish anything that would give the kiss of death to negotiations.

What is questionable is the method of stopping publication and the attitude of some people involved towards the student press. Any responsible newspaper would not publish damaging information, though to be fair to F & A delegates there is no way they can be sure that all student newspapers behave responsibly.

Very little is, or can be known about recent developments in relation to STB except that the Rennie Proposal has been taken up with some modifications and a new company called "Campus Travel Ltd" has been launched. The rest remains shrouded in mystery.

Once negotiations are completed and information is made available, Salient will attempt to provide as comprehensive a picture as possible.

Michele A'Court

Almost one hundred white, male, middle class, heterosexual racists met just over a week ago for a weekend of flagellation and self flagellation at Massey University.

The weekend was held in place of May Council 1981, which had to be postponed at the last minute because delegates felt they had to come to terms with their role of oppressors of women and racial minorities first. No date has been set for May Council to take place. It may have to be cancelled.

This is perfectly understandable because the problems delegates were facing cannot be solved overnight. In fact, it would seem they cannot be solved at all.

You see, there are some things that you just can't change. Like, if you're a man you are naturally an oppressor of women. It's all tied up with having a cock. That's why feminists sing about "Free castration on demand". Progressive men who understand about this cock-thing smile and clap.

At council dinner they did a mime about domestic violence and showed a mock castration on a man. His wife was really angry because he'd been getting on her wick for ages. Then she read this book called Womannuel about being liberated and everything and when her husband pulled out this candle she chopped it off. We all know that castration is the answer to domestic violence.

The Double Oppressors

Another thing you can't change is the colour of your skin. What we have to learn is that because we are white we are naturally oppressors of Maoris and Polynesians. It has nothing to do with class or economic exploitation. Racism is purely an emotional issue. We must admit we are guilty. We must recognise that gravity is racist. And so is counting up to ten.

To help us do this, they have these NPR groups - New Perspectives on Racism. Everyone plays power games which are designed to make you say racist things and it takes you three days to get over the trauma. They sound really neat.

They set up one of these groups at Massey for Maori and Pakeha students. But after a while they found it just didn't work with both races so they set up two groups - one for the Maoris, one for the Pakehas.

They called the Pakeha group Fair Fight Against Institutionalised Racism.

We all felt pretty guilty about being heterosexual too, so quite a lot of us wore "We are everywhere" triangles as a token of our support and a sign of our guilt.

About the only thing we didn't feel guilty about was being middle class. Class awareness isn't 'in' this season. That's because there is something you can do about class oppression. Just ask any Vic delegate.

The lonely minority who just couldn't get into self flagellation were said to be guilty of "wallowing in cynicism". When they claimed that what was being discussed during the weekend just wasn't relevant to the average student, they were quickly pooh-poohed by the majority. At times, it got quite oppressive. And why should we feel guilty if it wasn't relevant to the average student? They're all white, male, middle-class heterosexuals anyway.

Michele A'Court