For Students in Need

During the war when the need for relief for students in many countries was recognised, W.S.R. (World Student Relief) was formed. This organisation was an alliance of I.U.S. (International Union of Students), World Student Christian Federation, Pax Romans, World Union of Jewish Students and I.S.S. (International Student Service). W.S.R. was the governing body, and the technical administration was entrusted to I.S.S.

At Victoria, all relief funds have been collected by the I.S.S. subcommittee of Exec., with delegates from all interested groups—Catholic Students' Guild, Evangelical Union, Student Christian Movement, Weir House and Socialist Club. Two years ago this committee found that the national I.S.S. Committee was elected by nobody, responsible to nobody, and self-perpetuating; it had on its own authority published a booklet, apparently to raise funds, but which, in the unanimous opinion of the V.U.C. committee could only lose them; there was no satisfactory evidence that the money raised at this college had been used for relief. I.U.S. received complaints from many nations, so held an inquiry. The report on it is the basis of this article and may be studied in the Exec. Room. The I.S.S. has at its head the I.S.S. Assembly, which is not a representative body and is responsible to nobody. The I.S.S. Assembly aims not only at material relief, but also (and increasingly) to devote money to seminars, conferences and study-tours. The I.S.S. administration spent money raised by all organisations affiliated to W.S.R., on these "cultural" activities, whereas the people who raised the money have thought it was all going to material relief. Possibly the worst example—in 1949 a majority of delegates to the W.S.R. voted the entire relief sum for the Philippines to pay the salary of an I.S.S. officer (a minister of religion), so there were then no funds for this man to distribute when he got there.

Last year disagreement arose between I.U.S, and I.S.S. I.S.S. believed material relief was no longer necessary, wished to terminate World Student Relief, and to inherit W.S.R. funds. I.U.S. wished to continue W.S.R., believed relief still necessary in a number of countries, and wanted as the only change that relief funds and relief campaigns be separated from the funds and campaigns for I.S.S. "Cultural" projects. Although I.U.S. suggested several possible compromises, I.S.S. refused, and the majority of delegates to the W.S.R. voted for its termination, and to give the funds to I.S.S.

It is now time for students to decide which they wish to support—cultural projects or material relief for students in need.

The I.U.S. has now formed the International Student Relief to continue collecting funds for material relief to be distributed solely according to need, without political or religious discrimination. The relief is to provide textbooks, scholarships, equipment, food, medical supplies, endowment of hospital beds for T.B. students and four sanatoria for students situated in France, Czechoslovakia, and one to be built in Brazil. Administration coats are to be kept to a minimum. The new W.S.R. has one representative each from the I.U.S., the Co-inordinating Committee of African Student Organisations, and the national unions of France, Brazil, India, China, Czechoslovakia and Poland.

If the students of Victoria wish to give money for "cultural" projects in which they do not share, they should support I.S.S. If they wish to provide material relief, they should abolish the I.S.S. Committee and form an I.S.R. Committee. Then they should work for it.

—E.G.M.