Student Struggle Emphasised

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31904, 4 February 1969, Page 19

Student Struggle Emphasised

Students of the University of Canterbury must struggle to ensure that the real objectives of a university education are not swamped by the nar-row-mindedness of the purse-strings, says the president of the university’s Students’ Association (Mr P. H. Grocott) in this year’s association’s publication, “Unicant.” introducing the university.

“The main objective of a university is not to make the student acquire as much information as possible, but to get him to think for himself and to act on his own,” he says. “This is the ideal we are defending; it is up to us to prevent our university becoming an unworthy obstacle to knowledge.” Mr Grocott says students have the chance to turn the university into a centre of controversy and diversity for the community—“which incidentally it is the university’s role to fulfil." In defiance of some of their teachers, students could begin to think for themselves and to act by themselves.

“Taxpayers won’t like it, of i course. And the mothers of I New Zealand have condemned us before we start. So i has the Government; they i find us repulsive.” | And to students he adds: i “Tough isn’t it; it appears i you’re in with a bad lot. Per- i haps you’ll survive. But that’s one decision you will I have to make by yourself.” i In his welcome, the Vice- i Chancellor (Professor N. C. i Phillips) says the first duty of a student is to study. “But, if untempted, student industry could become student apathy. The university is a place of fellowship as well as of scholarship and this is why the Students’ Association, as well as the lec-ture-room, the laboratory and the library has a claim on your time and energy.” The publication of 88 pages describes facilities at the university, organisations, developments during 1968, personalities in the Students’ Association, government, and prominent issues. Mr Robert Springborg. an assistant ’ecturer in political science and an American who has appeared on N.Z.B.C. radio and television currentaffairs programmes, says in a contribution: “Participation in the: struggle 'o radicalise a decad- i dent and complacent bureaucracy, in this case the univer- [ sity, is incumbent upon any 1

student who values education.” At present it is virtually impossible to receive adequate training at Canterbury, Mr Springborg says, and it seems as if no adequate steps are being taken to correct the situation. “If the administration refuses to press Parliament for the funds necessary for running an adequate educational establishment, students must,” he says. “If petitions are rejected, if administrators and politicians are shutting doors in the face of change, then it is legitimate for students to pack up their books and strike the university. “The administration and faculty are here for but one reason, to serve students; if they are not doing that, they are neglecting their responsibilities, and it is the duty of students to replace them.” Mr Springborg says that a lack of action by so-called responsible authorities then makes legitimate action by those most directly affected — students. “If nothing is done, it is the student who suffers; after all, the bureaucrats are not here for an education; they have had theirs.” The administration and student representation is also discussed in the publication. It notes that the Student Liaison Committee, of four University Council represen-

tatives and four Students Association representatives was formed last year to provide easy communication. “In 1968, the S.L.C. was involved in some very frank exchanges, in particular concerning student plans for a survey of lecturing standards and policy concerning the Union building,” “Unicant" says. “Essentially, it provides the means by which the chance of a major breakdown between the groups is considerably lessened.” The booklet includes an article on sex education, written by Mr R. Caird, vicepresident of the Students’ Association last year, now teaching with his wife in SouthEast Asia. In it he says that the Students’ Association has for the first time initiated a series of lectures and films. These will cover illegitimacy, contraception and venereal disease.

“By doing your best to acquire a full sex education, you will be helping yourself and providing yourself with a knowledge to help others—most young New Zealanders are sexually naive,” he says. Mr Caird says that probably no-one will ever know the attitude of the student majority towards sex, “although it is speculated that it is more conventional than that of their equals in the city.” After referring to contraceptive methods and commenting on sex and love, he adds. “If you haven't had sex already, try not to be influenced by the disproportionate self assurance of those who have, nor by the stress placed on it in the student media. “On the other hand, to make love well (an ideal frequently lost) needs patience, maturity and a good partner. None of these are got through a sense of inferiority, nor the false prestige of having sex."