RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31195, 20 October 1966, Page 34

RANDOM REMINDER

FAMILIAR RING

October is a terribly difficult month for the large section of the population engaged in university studies and conscious of the fact that they are about to be thrust into the jaws of the examination machine. In October, a young man’s thoughts turn to the lack of application he has shown throughout the academic year, to the time wasted, to the tasks undone, to the dreadful gulf between his level of performance and the insatiable demands of the examiners. October is devoted largely to clutching at straws. Simple recipes for quick

cramming are exchanged, tried, rejected. Special attention is paid to every intonation in the lecturer's voice, in the hope that it might hint at the probable inclusion of the topic in the examination paper. And every piece of advice from the lecturer is received with absorbed attention. In October, the student has to be properly organised. One of whom we heard, however, had a rather unhappy experience when going through the motions of preparing for his examination in engineering. There was a particular text book he was advised to acquire, and it

was made clear to him that he really needed this work. He could not buy it, and it was not available at the university library. He went to the public library, and inquired for the volume. Yes, they had it, they said. But he couldn't find it where it should be. They checked, with that wonderful system they have, and they said there was only one copy available, and it had been borrowed. Disappointment. They took the matter further. They discovered for him the name and address of the man who had borrowed the book.

The inquirer turned a very deep red.