blah blah blah 2 THE STUDENT Thursday 19th April 1984 -news... Philip's tribal factor NEWS IN BRIEF On Friday 9th March at factor. From birth, he asserted, we are forced to accept a particular Well-oiled? 2.15 pm a large crowd group as "ours" and everyone who assembled in the Upper is not a member of that tribe A STEERING COMMITTEE has Library, Old College to belongs to another one, and so been set up by the Vice­ hear the inaugural con flict occurs. Chancellors ' Committee to Typical examples of Ph i I's tribal investigate how efficient or not Chancellor's lecture. It factor included sport, racism and Universities in Britain actually are. was very much a press relig ion. We got elaborate The committee is being financed occasion with a sur­ descriptions of the tribal factor by £300,000 from the DES operating in each of these fi elds authorised by Sir Keith Joseph prising number of which managed to include a dig at who is reported ,to be in a photographers and communism, a dig at South Africa satisfactory condition in a mental reporters present. Among and one at Northern Ireland. One institution. A sample of couldn't help smiling when he them was Michael Devlin. Universities will be selected to spoke of aggressive nationalism come under the eagle-eye and More staff than students were in leading to the "unscrupulous probably the hammer. So attendance at this all-ticket affair. people seeking more and more remember - don't waste money in Everyone stood as the Duke of territory." But I'm sure neither the public! .Edinburgh entered, accompanied Great British Empire nor the by Dr Burnett, and Rt. Hon. David Falklands crossed anyone's mind. Steel. An embarassing silence connection with 1984, claim ing argument really tor a Royal to Forty-five minutes had passed ensued, eventually broken by the that the 40th anniversary of peace make - think about it). and when everyone began to get a principal, Dr Burnett, addressing in Europe after the Second World Still no mention was made of little restless, the Chancellor Novel lecturer the audience. War was much more important. Andrew, let alone the tribal factor. finished his speech. Questions GRAHAM MARTIN, a Senior In a rather strained and Startled by its ignorance of this But it came soon enough. It was were asked for and eventually Lecturer in the University of uncomfortable introduction to the ,monumental anniversary, the the tribal factor, according to Phil, raised. Philip dealt with these Edinburgh's French Department lecture (possibly suggesting a audience visibly sat up straight in which caused most human extremely well, including the one has just published his third novel. less-than-dry lunch?) Dr Burnett their chairs and rearranged their co nflict; t he willingness of from Burnett which was, to say the Th e book, entitled The Soul explained that this was the first collective year. individuals to form power groups: least, poorly phrased and Master is published through Allen Chancellor's lectu re because Phil (may I call you His Royal "This tribal factor provides a embarassingly aggressive asking & Unwin and is the sequel to "unlike some chancellors, this one Highness Prince Philip, Duke of temptation to solve conflict by "What can we do about it?" Phili Catch/ire and Giftwish which were is articulate." No one laughed - Edinburgh?) was quick to pain.tout using group violence." answ ered t hat the " mere both children's novels. The Soul everyone writhed. ihat there hasn't been peace in At this point the Prince settled knowledge and awareness of the Master is also a fantasy novel, but Then the Duke himself took the Europe in those forty years, but into his stride and recovered from tribal fa ctor is helpful." is aimed at an adult audience. It is lectern (a new one-donated by rather that "the horrifying stories his rather stumbly opening into a More questions from the floor set in the mythical land of Tethesta city-first time used-designer of human conflict" continue to clear, well-delivered speech. He ensued. The word "tribe" was said where "the laws of the universe no in attendance - didn't look like dominate our news. began to appear approachable so often that the entire event longer operate" - no doubl anything special to me - etc etc.) Nuclear war, he claimed, is not a an d intelligent - two attributes began to feel a little bizarre. One written on personal experience of Philip, looking great with a recent problem since it is only a which we tend not to associate began to care less and less about the French Department' announced that the subject of his possibility and so we should with his wife and kids. th e existence or non-existence of lecture would be "the tribal concentrate our efforts into He went on in this casual, tribes and think more and more of factor". What?!? controlling and ending the wars friendly manner to discuss "us and getting out of the building. He began by playing down the that are rather than the one which them situations" which he felt, had Eventually, after a standing Terms of importance of the George Orwell may or may not come. (Silly a great deal to do with the tribal ovation, we were allowed to do so. Resignation EWEN HAWTHORNE, TEVIOT Row House Chairman, announced his resignation at the end of last NUS survey: Parke urges term. The official reason given was "work pressure" but rumours abound that he had the forth­ surprising result coming Students' Association elections In mind. Some also say A survey has recently 3-6 miles away and the remaining accommodation that Roddy Manson may stand for been conducted by NUS 10.4% live between 6 and 15 miles Senior President and Hilary O'Neil away. for Union President. which reveals that These figures reveal a lot about government proposals to regional differences in travelling scrap the reimbursement distances when they are broken rethink Energy prize of student travel costs will down. In London 24% of students Those of you who, as first years, are faced with a fOurney of over 6 had some kind of problems with by living out. THE FUEL CONSERVATION cause more hardship than miles and this compares with only living out, be it in lodgings or " The obvious solution to GROUP has announced a has been previously 20% of students in Scotland who bedsits, will be relieved to hear insecurity and loneliness," says competition designed to save predicted. Michael Devlin travel a similar distance. that the SRC is to try and persuade the report, "is a community money around the University. Th~ enviro nment, such as that reports on the new Another question in the survey the Universit y Accommodation competition is aimed "to promote concerned th e moneh which Committee to face facts at last. provided by the Halls and Houses a consciencious attitude to energy survey, a copy of which students spend on travel every They will be presenting a report residence system." Herein, of usage and generating greater has already been sent to day. 25.3% said that they spent no highlighting the problems and course, lies the problem - there energy savings in all parts of the higher education minister money at all travelling from their possible solutions at the are not enough places in the Halls University." The competition term-time accoml'Tlodation to their committee's meeting in the foltrth and Houses. organisers are looking fo r an Peter Brooke. place of study. 31.3% spent less week of term. The main proposal in the SRC's energy conservation idea which The survey was cond ucted than £3 per week, 24.3% spent Once accurately described in a report is an increase in the will prove to be workable and cost amongst a random sample of 1723 between £3 and £6 per week, 8.9% Sunday newspaper as having minimum percentage of first year effective. The best idea wil l receive students in the 1983 spring term. It part with over £6 and under £9 for accommodation "fine for those places in the University Halls, i.e. a prize of £25 to an individual and concerns student income and their weekly travel a11d the who can look after themselves", Pollock, Masson and Mylne's £100 to a department. For further expenditure and contains some remaining 10% spent over £9. Edinburgh has probablyoneofthe Court, to 65% . This would also information, please contact Mrs L. surprising results about student These costs exclude the costs of scantiest supplies of student mean shifting the priority given to Paterava, Buildings Office, Old travel. For instance, it was season tickets which are accommodation among British final year students away from the College, ext. 4321. (Catchy revealed that London-based purchased by 40% of the public universities. Although there's little hall s and increasingly towards a extension number, eh?). s tudents will be harder hit by the transport travellers. The figures prospect of a complete solution in type of housing they tend to prefer government's proposals than their are in r ea l i t y, th e refore , theimmediatefuture,theSRChas - student flats. counterparts in Scotland where considerably higher than the attempted to ease the st rain on the For th e same reason a 50% first the old system is to be retained. percentages shown. If the price of two sec tion of the student year intake is proposed for student Dodgy Coaches Speaking about the survey, Neil season tic kets are taken into community considered the most H ouses, as well as th e suggestion THE ORIENTEERING CLUB is Stewart, Presiden t NUS said: "The account, then the cost of weekly vulnerable _ Freshers and first that allocation should be made by to ask the Sports Union to hire Its number of students who will suffer travel works out at around £5.55 year overseas students.