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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1936. Volume 7. Number 6.
The College Cockpit. .
The College Cockpit. . .
A Blade for Weir
Sir,—
I will not reply directly to "Stop that Humbug" by answering his objections, but will carry the war into the enemy's camp and analyse his state of mind.
Granted for the moment that the Weirties behaved like children in being carried away by the eloquence of the Executive members, it still remains that the mental condition of our opponents is infinitely worse. They are bound by the chains of a false tradition. They have observed that the students' right to play the fool is traditional, hence they conclude, if any event should clash with our revelry, then the revelry comes first; but here is where their minds misfunction-it does not follow that if a student is entitled to be rowdy, that he has nothing else to do but to be rowdy. He comes to the University first and foremost to train his mind and if he cannot take a full and comprehensive view of his college as a whole, his intellect is certainly not trained. A student should be able to apply his superior powers to any and every situation; for instance, he deduces that a certain amount of pomp and dignity enhances the value of a University, he realises that on certain occasions he must be dignified and solemn and he knows that ceremony is an integral part of human existence. Contrast this perfect student to the conventionalist of the Haeremai Club who says: "We must always resist authority whether we are in the right or in the wrong, just to gratify our petty pride."
I might also add as another proof of their low mental age, that they see the world in black and white. The Profs. are tyrants who are always wrong and they are the suffering heroes who are always right.
Again, public opinion is the opinion of those who have an opinion. If individual personaldo not havean opinion, then as a whole they have no opinion. Similarly with V.U.C., most of its members take no interest in it at all, so its public opinion is formed solely by those who lend support to its activities. And of these Weir House forms the majority. Therefore Weir House opinion is Varsity opinion.
That means, of course, that Weir House has a mandate over the rest of the College, and it is right that this charge shouldbe administered till there is sufficient energy forthcoming from elsewhere-so until then, Weir House is the
Arbiter.
Weighing-in of Boxers.
Sir,—
I should like to draw attention to one Tournament event which requires modification-the weighing of boxers. For some unknown reason it has been the practice for boxers to weigh-in at 10 o'clock on Friday, before fighting on Saturday. This procedure, followed by no other boxing club in the world, obviously leaves too big a loophole for overweight boxers. By fasting for a few days and indulging in Turkish Baths, it is customary for men to weigh in correctly, recover from the effects and enter the ring half-a-stone overweight.
Everyone admits that weighting-in has become a farce, but this precedure is justified or rather excused on the ridiculous plea that it is the long run, no advantage is gained by any college. This is possibly correct, but one would expect regulations drawn up by a N.Z.U. Tournament body to be reasonably foolproof.
There have been half-hearted complaints made for years and it is now high time that some definite move was made.
If those in charge talk the usual bilge about not wishing to interfere with recognised customs, then "Smad" should offer a prizeto anyone drawing up a more rafferty set of rules relating to weighingin, with the help of which Ted Blacker and Alec Armour may next year be brought together in flyweight division.
Yours, etc.,
The Fasting Turk.
Nutshell Nonsense
Sir,
In your issue dated April 1st, there appeared an article headed "Nutshell Knowledge," which claimed to direct feshers in matters of intellectual discussion (otherwise difined as "intensely glamorously interesting" conversation). Now, sir, while I appreciate your desire to fill your columns with readable matter, I suggest that the proposed series of articles, taking their first as a representative example will be both valueless and dangerous. I am not concerned with the presentation of other possible "intellectual" topics.
In the first place, the article is valuelessbecause it is a "nutshell" version of the subject. Though I suspect a satirical intention on the part of the writer, he must realise that it is impossible to compress an intellectural subject into the compass of an article half a column in length.
If "Smad" elects to pose as the mentor of the new student, let him first see to it that his advice is adequate. If space will not allow a more comprehensive treatment than that "Smad" might well revert to the practice of recording rather than of directing the opinions of the student body.
The article is dangerous because it does not fulfil its aim of providing adequate matter for intellectual discussion. By purporting to be complete, moreover, it could easily mislead the unsuspecting novice into an unwarranted self-confidence. In fact, the writer of the article himself, might eventuate-the emergence of more intellectual "poseurs."
Yours etc.,
S. G. Andrews.