Surprise At "Discrimination In Varsity Sport" Article

We read with some surprise your article "Discrimination in University Sport." Your correspondent B.G.R. apparently has not thought very deeply on the subject, nor has he read on understood the New Zealand Universities Sports Union (NZUSU) Constitution.

Perhaps he feels that Tournament and NZU trips overseas should be open to all who wish to go, not just those who merely support the club through good times and bad and in particular those who do the work required to organise these trifles. Did B.G.R. assist the Vic Club throughout the season? Do the students he wants to go to Tournament contribute to the welfare of University sport? If these questions cannot be answered in an unconditional affirmative, what right have these people to the "perks"?

Does Salient and the Student Body consider that, say, a member of the Marist Brothers Old Boys' Association, who has, of course, paid his subscription, should be eligible for their annual Easter Rugby Tournament though he chooses to play for University in the Jubilee Cup? Or perhaps you consider that the schoolboy who plays club sport against the school should play in the Inter-collegiate matches?

The Constitution lays down that a person to be eligible must not have competed against a University athlete in outside competition. This does not preclude associate membership, or training with other clubs, it precludes open competition and only that.

Varsity students are not compelled to compete for University clubs, and this is well borne out by people like B.G.R. The point is that University students who choose to compete elsewhere also choose not to compere at Tournament. We agree that "any varsity student should be eligible for Tournament." What a pity there are students who choose to be ineligible by not supporting their own club.

As for coaches' hard work, what coach of calibre objects to the Individual competing for the club of his choice? To suggest that he only coaches specific members of specific clubs savours of professionalism. Who has B.G.R. tried to coach seriously who could not do just as well in a University club?

The article also ignores the fact that the NZUSU Constitution is at present being revised, the eligibility requirements being one section on which every University sports club has been asked, if they wish, to submit their views.

The four points In the paragraph "Little to offer" do not offer much real thought.

"(1) The University year has ended before the athletic season begins and by next year the season is almost over."

As far as this goes it is true. But the implication is that the University club should therefore not exist. Yet in recent years the Vic. Club has been one of the strongest in Inter-club competition. The club, among other things, provides a meeting ground over the summer for people who wish to keep in touch with the University circle in addition to the top class competition provided.

"(2) Many students move away from Wellington during the holidays."

True, but this has not stopped the club functioning. The NZUSU Constitution provides for a person to compete for a non-university club when outside university centres.

"(3) Facilities and coaching are almost non-existent."

The facilities at Boyd-Wilson field are probably as good as most clubs can provide and will be improved. If some of the athletes who could help joined the club, coaching would be better, anyway the provincial record speaks for Itself.

"(4) The result is a poor club spirit."

Imagination!! The club spirit at Victoria is extremely high, and no doubt the Athletic Club will reply to these allegations.

University clubs are not interested, we are told! Does the high standard of the recent NZU team in Australia and the performances at national and local championships not speak for itself?

Under the heading "Poaching," B.G.R. says no self-respecting athlete would change clubs for the sake of getting a "blue." This criticism is like moaning because the attendance badge of the Presbyterian Harrier Club is not available to Olympic Club members. Only the Individual can choose what club he belongs to but the awards of a club are only available to the members of that club. An athletics blue is for University club athletes.

The remainder of "Poaching" seems to he an attack, without reason or logic, from a person who wants all the plums and none of the work of picking them. He seems to forget that the University clubs exist for the benefit of their members, to provide a means of getting the inter-club competition, not just to provide inter-University competition. Like each other club they have club nights on Thursdays and compete at Hataitai on Saturdays.

An anomaly exists in that a member of an outside club is regarded as a genuine student. An education is not just passing units, it is also partaking of the University life in as full a way as possible.

The conditions Imposed by the NZUSU Constitution are not unreasonable and provide that In exceptional circumstances persons not complying with them may be deemed eligible.

If any student wishes to inspect the Constitution it is held in the

Students' Association Office, but may not be removed.

If B.G.R., or any other student, feels that he (or she) is getting a raw deal the matter can readily be discussed with the committee of the sports club concerned or, if necessary, with the Association's Sports Committee.

The discrimination is not by the University or the clubs; it is by the people who try to belittle efforts to build up University sport. The clubs welcome any student who chooses to join, but will not force anyone to do so. It is a choice for the individual.

Reply to Brooker and McBride.

It is pleasing to note that you tend to agree with the main points of the article in question. 1. "That the N.Z.U.S.A. Constitution is at present being revised, the eligibility requirement being one section …" To be revised there must be something amiss or anomalous in the Constitution. Could it be that the Tournaments are not fully representative of the constituent Varsities? 2. "You agree that any Varsity student should be eligible for Tournament," then why discriminate after the fresher year? Why allow full student participation in inter-faculties and in the fresher year at Tournament, but not thereafter? The rules are very queer, at this point.

In reply to the minor points:

1. You do not fully understand the "poaching" situation because you choose to disregard it without serious thought and your unwarranted reference to my personal reasons for writing the article shows very poor taste. The Varsity athletic clubs do not provide preuniversity student membership yet they expect an athlete belonging to another club to just automatically change clubs and compete at Tournament. This is " poaching," and shows a blatant disrespect towards the ethics of athletics.

2. If the University clubs exist for the benefit of their members, then why doesn't the University Students' Tournament exist for the benefit of the entire studentship? Why should some students (of standard) be excluded from their Tournament?

3. "An anomaly exists in that a member of an outside club is regarded as a genuine student." Here you again show yourself unreasonable. To propound the doctrine that to be a genuine student one must participate in only Varsity clubs is absurd.

4. Please be assured that the last Tournament was not organised and conducted entirely by yourselves. B.G.R. has assisted the Vic. Club in competition—and with his own equipment. But why this personal reference to me? My personal feelings about competing myself are not the Issues at stake.

5. The analogies concerning the Marist O.B.A. and inter-collegiate matches are proof that you are not fully acquainted with the original argument. The Victoria Students' Association Constitution states "Upon payment of this sum (i.e. Students' Association fee £3/5/-) the student shall ipso facto become on written application and without any further payment a member of all University clubs and societies provided he agrees page 7to abide by their constitutions and rules." But these rules and constitutions make things appear in a different light. The Students' Association takes the fee but doesn't allow every student a chance to compete at Tournament. Instead the clubs "prey" on outside clubs for members but offer no membership until one is attending Varsity.

6. The 4 points to which you refer show that you realise little. (1) Why is the Athletic Club so poorly numbered with juniors, seniors and women? In the winter the Harrier Club which does not have a women membership has over 50 members. This is the effect of having the Varsity closed in the summer season. (2) True the Varsity Club functions—but only just! If you read the article fully your other point of confusion will be cleared up. (3) Yes, your facilities have improved and are not as good as most clubs can provide.

(4) Read the reply to B.P.D. on this point. (See Page 5).

It is necessary to rebuke both writers for entering into a field —coaching of athletes—in which they possess no qualifications. Their criticism is of no consequence because they know nothing about the subject. To say that "a club coach coaching his own club athletes savours professionalism," exhibits a dire lack of sensible thought.

"Who has B.G.R. tried to coach seriously who couldn't do just as well in a University Club?" you ask. Here you make one of your biggest blunders. The answer is, unconditionally, every single athlete (about 40 odd) B.G.R. has coached.

—B.G.R.