TRLBOTRKE GLASGOW GALLERY HER-ALD Old College I MODERN PRIMITIVES AWARD 26 Oct-23 Nov An exhibition of paintings and WINNER sculpture of a highly personal STUDENT nature by self-taught artists. Mon-Sat IO am-5 pm 1985 21.11.85 Edinburgh University Student Newspaper A strong attack was made against the "enemies of light in our society" in this year's Ken­ neth Allsop Memorial Lecture, given last Thursday by Donald frelford, editor of The Observer. He attacked espe­ cially the present governmeht for their apparent obsession with secrecy. Terry and In a hard hitting speech under the title of 'Pressures on the Press', Mr Gerry Trelford made a detailed survey of both the obvious and the hidden threats to Press freedom. Mr Trelford opened his case by citing the phrase 'the half free Press' , coined by former Times and Sunday Times editor Harold Evans to contrast Press freedom in Britain !Wi th that of the United States. "But , if ten years ago, our media had half the freedom of the US", Mr Trelford said, "no one can seri­ ously doubt that our rating now is consiflerably less than 50%." "Lonnie Donegan?? Never heard He continued by describing how of 'im!!" - so claim Terrr and Gerry. those Jpveable pionCers of this freedom was being subverted the radical new musical genre tha~ by "the slow creep of bureaucratic Photo: Dave Yarrow 1he kids on the street are ca lling regulations that go unchecked", e Observer editor attacks government SKJFFtE. and mentioned in particular legisla­ tion such as the contempt of Court Act 1981 and the Police and Crimi­ -page6 nal Evidence Act 1984. Mr Trelford said that the former Hitting Hard Common­ had "worked in a more restrictive way than anyone intended, forbid­ He went on to launch a strong informed about what the governors told in official briefings, rather than wealth Games ding Press coverage of many more attack on 'the present Govern­ are doing in their name and _with checking with other sources: "no cases than ever before, with no ment's attitude to the Press, and their money." one has the time to ask where the right of appeal. " how this was influencing others in However, he said that this free­ truth lies." Meanwhile, he said that the latter authority to "gang up" on newspap­ dom is in peril from current repres­ In response to a question from could now be used by the Police to ers. sive political attitudes, and there the audience. Mr Trelford said that force newspapers to hand over would be little public sympathy for .ideally the ownership of newspap­ photographs of riots to be used in In particular, Mr Trelford sing­ the Press if the latter did not put its ers should be diversified, but due to evidence. The police are already led out Mrs Thatcher's attitude own house in order first , "by aban­ the "ludicrous" production costs of routinely approaching the Press for towards journalists. He saidthat doping trivilisation, politically Fleet Street. newspapers were not this purpose , "and some of the pap­ she sees those not reflecting her loaded news presentation, and dis­ seen as good investments. so prop­ ers, I'm sorry to say, are handing own vision of the world as "ill inten­ honest methods of enquiry. " rietors were often attracted for evidence over," Mr Trelford said. tioned and irresponsible. She is But even more alarming than other reasons. Thus newspapers Mr Trelford referred to the unable to recognise any honourable these tabloid practices was the sometimes become "playthings o( rece~t ban on the Press covering motives in her oppon~nts." shocking gullibility of much of the the powerful man with a need to be Zola Budd·s presence will be just nots m South Africa, noting that "if Mr Trelford said that freedom of 'serious' Press , Mr Trelford said. understood by the world." one of the contentious issues in the run-up to this summer's Common­ editors are obliged to hand over the Press did not mean special Due to convenience and the pres­ . Alastair Dalton wealth Games in EdinbuTl!h. The pictures here, we won't be able to privileges for newspapers , but "the sures of deadlines, many journalists (See editorial - page 5 Spor1s Pages examines th; appa· cover riots in Britain either." right of the governed to be kept merely passed on what they were and feature - page 14) rent lack of agreement between 1he various organisations involved. Edinburgh University • Conservatives expel MacMillan -page 15 bankrupt by 1989 Embarrassment Norman "The Government is going to invested in education which gives MacCaig make universities bankrupt." tangible results, such as scientific Controversial far-right Conser­ Stockton launched an attack on That was the radical response research, whilst neglecting cultur­ vative students have taken a further Energy Secretary Peter Walker·So One of Scotland·, leading_ poets ally and artistically educatitmal step to alienating themselves from gas privatisation plans whilst actu­ was 75 lasl week. Amidst the celeb­ of EUSA President Mike rations. including a mara1hon subjects. the mainstream of Conservative ally sitting beside him . ··If you Devlin to the announcement Party opinion by launching an abu­ could have seen the film of the din­ event in the Queen·s Hall on Mon­ This view was echoed by Mike day night. Jacqui Brown and Ishbel last week, of the planned Gov'. Devlin who is, at present, writing a sive attack on former Prime Minis­ ner, he was dribbling all over ihe Matheson talked to him about his ernment spending on univer­ pamphlet showing the value of Arts ter Harold Macmillan. other speakers and was just an !i(C as a poet. sities over the next three years. Degre!)s to society, which may be embarrassment.•· Devlin believes that if the handed to Education Minister, Sir The ninety-one year old Lord government carries out is Keith Joseph. Stockton has been life patron of the "Harold Macmillan:· Mr Mac­ -page14 Proposals then Edinburgh Although · the government 1s Young Conservatives since 1976, gregor said, "is now an embarrass­ but FCS chairan Mark Macgregor could be one of the first univer­ making major cuts in the grants for ment to the Conservative Party and universities, for the moment, stu­ said earlier this week that he was a to the country. There is a growing sities -to be pushed "over the dent grants appear to have at least "senile old fool. " The Times diary private view now within Downing Contents edge" into bankruptcy, possi­ partially escaped the Conservative had revealed on Monday that Street that his economic policies, as News 2,3, 4 bly by as soon as 1989. axe which was hanging over them. Young Conservative cronies had Prime Minister are directly respon­ Comment 5 Scientific research, in particular, Plans for the scrapping of man­ decided to scrap the former Tory sible for many of the underlying Letters 4,5 appears to have re·ceived the datory grants altogether, have been Premie~'s . position because of -problems which the government is Music 6, 7 most encouragement from the gov­ shelved and it appears that this recent, and well publicised, attacks tackling now ... What"s On 8, 9 ernment, receiving an extra £1-5 proposal will not reappear until at on Mrs Thatcher and her hard line Film U> million in each of the next three least after the next general election. monetarist policies. Arts 11, 12 Years. The financial turmoil which uni­ The former Prime Minister's Pri­ Classical Music 11 This news was greeted with the versities are being pushed into by vate Secretary also.spoke to Student Exhibitions 11 expected angry reaction from the government is very obvious at Speaking to Student from Con­ about the Times diary art~le. "Oh Theatre 11 ~~mbers of the Faculty ·. of Arts at Edinburgh. servative headquarters in Lon- is that in the Times? I haven't actu­ Features 12, 13, 14 tut~nburgh . Graham Townsend, a Staff who have either left or don , Mark M r said "Harold ally seen it yet, but the Earl of Opinion 13 g r tn modern history, called the · retired from the university have not Macmilla isgustihgly Stockton has no comment to make I Writings 15 , overnment "011.,-sided in what it been replaced due to a lack of senile, st era." fear." Small Ads 15 16 · seen as beneficial for society, and funds. MrM a recent Sport stated h t at the Conservatives only Phil Parr party Lord Devin.Scobie 2 STUDENT Thursday 21st Novembt:r 1985 AGM amendments for three motions Scottish science • f acuities gain . made available in coming years to Making motions Scottish Universities received a welcome boost to their Science increase student places at Scot­ EUSA Secretary Robbie Foy Faculties last week in gaining a land's technical central institutions. laughed off suggestions that large share of a £43 million Govern­ Mr Younger endorsed the gov­ ment programme aimed at increas­ ernment's policy of increases sup­ the Association's Annual Gen­ port for the Sciences with his eral Meeting on Monday might ing the output of graduates in engineering and technology ·to emphasis on the government's con­ herely have a quorate atten­ meet the projected needs of indus­ cern for "concerted action to alleviate the prospect of serious dance of 300, and then said he \J~N't<'ll 0 500 ,oc.lY-JAPIN~ HAl>'APS TO l'ILI. try as it moves into advanced man! shortages of skilled engineers and was "expecting over one TO CJ\l'llc:ltY "'NO l'UITS ON fR\Pf\Y .1" Noy.