LONDON STUDENTS REMAIN DEFIANT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 11

LONDON STUDENTS REMAIN DEFIANT

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, March 16. Two hundred defiant students today began their fourth day of protest over disciplinary measures after a third all-night sit-down vigil locked inside London’s School of Economics.

Thirteen of them continued a hunger strike over the suspension last Monday of a South African and an American at the school, which has 3500 students from 30 nations. A disciplinary board imposed the five-month suspensions for the students’ part in a demonstration against the appointment as college director of Dr Walter Adams, former head of Rhodesia’s University College. Dr Adams, who succeeds' Sir Sydney Caine at the Lon-! don School of Economics later 1 this year, has been attacked by some students, complaining that he was not critical enough of the lan Smith regime. 60 EJECTED The students’ anger increased yesterday when police were called to eject 60 students—all later suspended for three months—who invaded the school’s administrative block to start another sit-down strike there. Moves have begun for a setlement of the increasingly bitter row, which has divided both students and staff over the suspensions imposed on the South African, Mr David Adelstein, 20-year-old president of the Students’ Union, and the American, Mr David Bloom, president of the Graduate Students’ Association. A Labour M.P., Mr Eric

Ogden, who made a “think again” appeal to both sides yesterday, planned to discuss the dispute with the Minister of Education, Mr Anthony Crosland, later today. Two groups of teachers at the school have put forward peace plans to break the deadlock, although some spokesmen for the striking students have vowed “a fight to the finish.” DIRECTOR BOOED Hundreds of students booed and hissed Sir Sydney Caine last night when he put forward terms for ending the dispute. He said formal appeals against the suspensions would be heard without delay. Meanwhile the education

departments of local authorities in London and the surrounding counties of Kent, Surrey and Hertford have threatened to stop financial grants to any of their sponsored students who have been suspended or who boycotted classes.

Education authorities are worried that the trouble in London—which is already being supported by groups from other nearby colleges—will spread throughout the country. Militant student action, which has been a feature of college and university life in the United States, parts of Europe, Asia and other countries, has been increasing in Britain in the last year The students’ bodies themselves, such as the National Students’ Union, have been split by disagreements between the moderates and militants. “STOP GRANTS” A Conservative M.P., Mr Kenneth Lewis, said the students threatening to strike should have their grants stopped. If industrial employees struck, then they did not get paid, but these young people will still get their grants. “They ought to realise that (they are privileged to secure places in a university—and the school is part of the London University.” he said. “Other young people who have not been able to make the grade would like a chance to take their places."