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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 1. 28th February 1973

Handbook Sour Grapes

Handbook Sour Grapes

The Editor Salient

This year, many active university clubs have been excluded from the Orientation Handbook, such as the Ecology Action group the University Feminists and the Young Socialists. Clubs were not informed of the deadlines for submissions to the Handbook, as has previously happened. There has been considerable confusion and disorganisation during the production of the Handbook. The Publications Officer, in response to inquiries about the deadlines, gave dates which were far later than the actual deadlines. This has effectively removed from many campus groups the opportunity to publicise themselves in a Student Union publication which should be open to all groups, whatever their views.

The quality of the Handbook leaves much to be desired. For example, the cover depicts a fist smashing rugby players. Surely the Student Union policy is to oppose apartheid and does not extend to support violent disruption of rugby matches?

Some of the articles in the Handbook are of little informative value to new students. For example, the contribution of the Labour Club makes no mention of activities of the group and, in fact, tells students with any inquiries to ring Keith, who is not a member of the Labour Club but is the editor of "Socialist Action", a newspaper which is distributed at university by the Young Socialists. Apparently this means that members of the Labour Club have no perspective for any activities during the year. And yet they have been given space in the Handbook while clubs which are going to be involved in university life, are excluded!

Jill Harvey

Secretary, Wgton Young Socialists