The Lonsdale scholarship

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33912, 4 August 1975, Page 12

The Lonsdale scholarship

Sir, — I read with interest the decision of the University of Canterbury to end its involvement in the administration of the Lonsdale Scholarship. The reason implied is the racist terms of the scholarship, which I agree are undesirable. But what seems to be more abhorrent to me is that the scholarship is sexist — males only. I am surprised that this was not mentioned in the article. This discrimination is less explicit in the terms of the scholarship than the racialism. As a seventh-former I applied for it and was refused consideration on that count. If the terms of the scholarship are to be reviewed, I would urge that this sexist discrimination be reviewed also. — Yours, etc., M.J. August 1, 1975. Sir, — I read with amazement that the university authorities are having nothing more to do with' the Lonsdale Scholarship! labelling it “racist” because recipients must be of “British Stock.” What about the

countless scholarships for those of “Maori stock”? I am all for them. But are they not equally racist? Does the university wash its hands of them? Or is there a double standard about racism at the university? In any event, if Mr Lonsdale had, for reasons best known to himself specified that he wished his scholarship to be only fbr “Red-headed Eskimos,” racist though this might be, why thwart both his wishes and red-headed Eskimos from the benefits of his scholarship? Is this another example of university people, brilliant though they may be in their specialised fields, being so out of touch with reality that they give the appearance of being unthinking? —Yours, etc., J.L.C-H. August 1, 1975.