(No. 16)Craccum-1977-051-016.Pdf
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Auckland University Student Newspaper Volume 5l No 16 July 18 1977 * SUMC, I’d rather leave that to an AVP, or Voting begins today someone else competent to do it. The (Monday), and continues to Presidency’s a hard job, a thankless job, but morrow, in this year's if you can see some tangible product com Presidential elections. The ing out at the end of it you can say I’ve following is the result of an done this, this, this and it’s made students hour's discu ssio n b e tw e e n th e MONDAY better people for it, it’s made society better candidates and FRANCIS STARK last week for it. Then you can say you’ve had a good as they entered the final straight. After time doing it. reading these, you will be admirably suited to placing your money on the combatant of How much do you feel at the mercy of your choice. All members of the Auckland students ? University Students Association are eligible JR: The Association won’t be able to carry to vote at one of the polling booths which shouldFLASH be working more in the interests of out the campaigns it should, or I think it will be spread over the Campus. students. In my campaign I’m stressing a should, unless it has some measure of stu number of key issues, which I think the dent involvement. A lot can be said for association should be taking up. First is things like forums and educational activities education. I would want the Association to which can educate students. You can get organise such things as the Bursaries March, students interested and involved in issues but I don’t only want it giving support, I and in that way you can hope to change want it to actually involve students in students opinions so you’re not necessarily fighting these things. ham-strung by what appears to be the The second issue is that of overseas dominant student opinion at the time. student cutbacks and other things which I’d like to see a lot more political life on affect overseas students. Thirdly, there’s campus so it is running less like a machine. the issue of abortion, specifically the Royal Commission Report, which I have been How do you see the role of the President V active in opposing. Obviously, these issues M.P.: Very much of a leader and admin affect students as members of the wider istrator; as the colloquial ‘somebody you community. And then there is Bastion Pt, can talk to and something’s gonna get done about it.’ I’m not going to be pursuing any thing I know I can’t succeed in - 1 won’t be overextending myself - and that I’ve learned from experience. I see the president as a spokesman for the masses and being a What do you see as the main issues of the representative of them. Basically, I’ll be 1977 Presidential Campaign ? aiming at the social issue and I’ll be trying David Merritt: The main point, obviously, to do this on a personal level. is education, concentrating on assessment, bursaries, limitations on enrolment plus an What would be the primary goals of your overall view of the part students play in presidency ? society. I think at the moment that if we J.R.: Getting the Association to take more are to get anywhere, we are going to have of a stand on the political issues, and to look back at ourselves and say ‘Well, if getting students involved in campaigns we get rid of the cafeteria, if we get rid of around these issues - particularly bursaries. the financial side of the Students DM: By the end of next year to have Association, then just what function are students able to see what the Association we going to serve ? As far as AUSA is does for them, and what they can get it to concerned, obviously it has a great relation do. ship toward NZUSA, NZUSA can only be MP: By this time next year, we should have politically as strong as the campuses are. At a bloody good night life and from that in the moment they have progressed too far turn we should have bloody good and left the campuses behind. activities on campus. I think social life will have to improve next year, capping and orientation are the two main tangible benefits the student gets Are y ou going to win ? out of the Stud Ass .... and for $22 that’s J.R. Who knows ? I hope that-students not very much. It would be naive to say will support the policies I’m putting for that the President has no real political pull ward and will vote for me. because he’s chairing a meeting. M.P.: It’ll be my friends and people I’ve been involved in anti-apartheid work, that actually know me who will, in turn, campaign against nuclear warships, things convince other people that will put me in. like East Timor, I think we have two main D.M.: Policy-wise, Janet and myself are objectives ... to act as students in the very similar. I think it will probably come University environment, and as members of down to sheer personality differences. society as well. Merv. Prince: What I am running for President for, is increased social life on Campus, and in turn, by collectively getting people on campus and discussing ideas, will which because of the small number of hopefully be able to discuss education. Maoris on campus, leads people to say Basically the aim is to get people together “What’s it to do with students ?” But then, to enjoy themselves. To do this I am draw that’s an issue of being NZers. ing on my experience at O’Rorkes on the This also brings up the whole question o social committees there, through flatting, what the University should be for, how the through social committees, and I’LL keep University should be functioning. As my eyes on the Engineering scene .... the students, I think we have to stand together most successful on campus. So I’m drawing with other sectors of society because if we from a wealth of successes, and also from don’t stand up for their rights they mistakes earlier on this year. won’t stand up for ours Janet Roth: The main issue to bring up is How are you going to face the frustrations what role the Students Assoc - should be of the job ? playing, whether it should be in its old DM: llie committee and beauracracy side “traditional role of just looking after the is an unfortunate trend of the last few catering, caretaking etc, or whether it years. I don’t intend to chair PAGE 2 CRACCUM JULY 18 No Confidence Dear Jan, Dear Jan, L-H. Smith s comments in June 27 Craccum are very constructive. As a recipient of such educational aid I ETTERS quite agree with him. This concept of educational aid l am writing this letter to explain why there is a No is something which every overseas student ought to Confidence campaign for president this year. This know. The questions are; how is he going to confront it campaign was initiated by myself. I have no animosity and how is he able to benefit from such an education toward any of the candidates and have seen them all without being turned into an instrument of colonial work effectively as portfolio holders on executive this exploitation ? These questions have to be answered by year. However, I feel that the position of president each individual for himself. requires qualities which I am unsure the candidates As an ardent reader of Sartre, I must point out that exhibit. In my mind, the present organisation of the Sartre has a flare for generalisation. Not all overseas executive requires that the president be heavily involved students have their self integrity destroyed by such in the administration of the Association, even disregard cultural imperialism. Some arrogant western comment ing the running of the Union complex, hence that ators used to point out that Chou En Lai was so urban person must be fairly apolitical. The person needs to be because he was educated in Paris. But what is Paris diplomatic, as they are the figurehead of the Association compared to Peking ? In order to benefit from such and deal with the University and public both privately and publically. education offered by the west, one must be able to combine different cultures in the right proportions. One I will stress again that this is not a personal attack. must bear in mind that true education and culture are Students should take these elections seriously and part of the heritage of humanity, and every human consider the consequences of their vote. being has a right to it. It is the task of the educated to ensure that. Yours sincerely, Jos Gibson However the starvation problem which is confronting two-thirds of the world’s population, is more urgent. We are all responsible for the miseries of our fellow beings because as beings-in-the-world our existence always has To Whom It May Concern, repercussions on others. I hereby notify you that I have withdrawn from Yours sincerely, A. V.P. 78 elections. S.W. YEE Jillian Frewin D e a r J a n , Dear Jan, Dear Jan, I find myself grossly displeased at the absence of a review for the poetry reading by J.