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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1933. Volume 4. Number 4.

"Would Be" Intellectuals

"Would Be" Intellectuals.

Although small in numbers a group of "would be" intellectuals at Victoria CoIlege, who delight in assuming the roles of Radicals, no matter what the question involved, are stirring up enough dust to haze the whole University.

No matter which Club these pseudo-intellectuals join, they immediately endeavour to use it as the means for shrewd propaganda. We have seen their mark on the Free Discussions Club, whose publication, "Student," whilst it lasted, was about as "free" as a night at the Grand Opera, and on the Debating Society at its regular debates, and notably at the Plunket Medal Contest. Here one of the competitors made it so pronounced that even the Judges commented upon it.

The remedy lies in the hands of the Students and of the Clubs concerned. The Executive of the Students' Association rightly, we consider, took steps to see that the Free Discussions Club placed their house in order and demanded that the unofficial publication, Student" have the approval of the Association before making its bow to the Student public. No matter what the views expressed, a magazine bearing the name of Victoria College should be subject to this restriction, since not only are the sponsors of a V.U.C. magazine affected by matter contained in it, but the whole College bears the brunt of any trouble that may arise. We are advocates of Free Speech, but we do not advocate the type of Free Speech of which "Student" made such a fetish. Under the gentle censorship of the Club's Editors, this magazine gave the impression that the College was a meeting-place for the Friends of the Soviet Union.

Victoria College is just the same as any other University. It suffers from the acts of a few youngsters, who, on arriving at the College, seem to desire very suddenly to appear intellectual, and have the spot-light of fame focused on them. And we suppose tnat this is about the only way they could ever achieve their ambition.