July 14, 1967

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of VUWSA.

Intellectual arrogance

Student intellectual arrogance has risen again, this time in NZUSA's "Focus." A commentary in the latest issue on the NZBC coverage of Congress this year claims...

"The Broadcasting authorities have rarely been kind to students, being content mainly to foster the general image of a boozing boisterous mob of bearded, pipe-smoking youths and duffle-coated mini-skirted, promiscuous girls.

"Yet nothing could be further from the truth, especially at Congress. What then is the NZBC's motive in portraying a false image?

"Jealousy? The general mistrust of intellectuals? or just plain incompetence in the top NZBC echelons? ... it was not until the leader gave a personal guarantee that he would do his best to see the correct impression was given that permission (to film) was granted.

"The integrity of the camera team is beyond doubt. The integrity of those who handled the film later certainly isn't.

"From start to finish the TV coverage mocked both the aims and activities of the Curious covers.

"Students must never again allow themselves to be filmed without a written guarantee from the Director-General himself that they will have the right to preview and, if necessary, censor the piece until the Corporation has proved itself capable of treating students as people and not as troublesome rabble."

There is no evidence to suggest the NZBC is anti-student. It employs many graduates and uses many academics from the universities on its programmes and goes out of its way to be impartial on all matters.

Carrying the argument to its logical conclusion, Messrs. Holy-oake and Kirk should edit the TV coverage of their respective party conferences. Perhaps they could answer their own questions also in order that the "correct image" may be got across.

Clearly NZBC producers must be permitted to interpret the events as they see fit without fear of outside interference from political parties or pressure groups.

Talk of students censoring programmes is an insult to the many graduates who run the corporation, matched only by a Public Relations candidate at the recent elections who promised to call applications to fill the position of producer on 2YD's Varsity show.

Students are beginning to believe they are above the rest of society —that they deserve special treatment. Their paranoic attitude to the news media is about as ridiculous as the international Communist conspiracy.

If students want to be irresponsible (and they often are) then they will gain the appropriate image. The fact is students are not perfect. Many are lazy—living largely at the expense of the community, some look scruffy and very few are the well educated person many delude themselves to be.

The New Zealand student is an individual who has indicated a level of academic ability which will probably ensure his contribution to society, both culturally and materially, will be greater than most of his contemporaries outside the university.

This does not make him a superior citizen—merely one who is better at academic work than, for instance, repairing motorcars. It is in society's interests to ensure both students and their contemporaries have the facilities to realise their potential.

Students should make the best of the opportunities society makes available and stop asking for special treatment.

B.G.S.

Members fail UN

Israel is a young state, yet in less than twenty years she has been involved with the Arabs in three major skirmishes. Her recent effort lasted for six days and her territories trebled.

The most significant point about the Middle East crisis is that the great powers just barely managed to avoid involvement. International politics are now so constructed that even the smallest of wars among the smallest of states is likely to lead to multi-national involvement.

Nuclear conflagration is a constant promise.

Modern communications bring an awareness of the most distant political events. Modern weapons ensure an involvement in those events. The politics of isolationism are no longer viable.

In such a tightly constructed political atmosphere it is instinctive to look to a world body that could resolve national frictions over the conference tables instead of on the launching pad. It is this Middle East flare-up that points to the critical lack in the ability of the United Nations to perform its peace-keeping tasks.

Secretary - General U Thant withdrew UN troops from the Gaza Strip a few days before fighting began. It was obvious that such a token force could not deter the Arab build-up and desire for war. A desire that is at least understandable in historical perspective, though this does not amount to justification.

After the cease fire, the UN could not even bring down a motion as to the conditions of settlement. Not one out of five tabled gained sufficient approval.

Following this failure the usual criticism of the UN was widespread. The real failure is not with the UN but with the national units themselves.

Sadly the concepts of nationality still form the basis of world politics, even though they may often take the guise of regionalism. The goal of supra-nationality still lingers beyond reach.

If we are to look to a better future in human relations we must place the notion of "world" before that of "country." Just as a man places "country" before "town."

Only when political maturity has reached such a stage will the UN be assured of sufficient military power to police the world, and sufficient finance to provide for its heavy responsibilities.

Until that time, never say that the UN fails the nations. Say rather that the nations fail the UN.

G.P.C.