NEWSPAPER OF THE LSE STUDENTS' UNION
flo. 144 NOVEMBER 4th. 1975 FREE
WOMEN UNITE
LSE/NUS Women's Festival, Nov 3-7
An illustration from the 'Women's Calendar 1976' on sale ot IMG bookstall £1
THIS week is the NUS Women's Festival Week, called in the context of the NUS Women's Campaign, to highlight the continuing struggles of the women's groups in the colleges. The Festival Week, built around the slogan of "Don't just celebrate, agitate," will culminate in the NUS Women's Conference in Bristol on November 8th, to which LSE will be sending delegates.
The LSE Women's group, with the help of Union, has taken up this call and is organising various events during the week ;
Monday, 3rd: Public Meeting on Abortion, with a speaker from the National Abortion Campaign.
Tuesday, 4th: Debate on Portugal & Women. Speakers; Sue Slipman (NUS Sec.), Linda Smith and Margaret Ren. (AH have recently returned from Portugal).
Wednesday, 5th ; Play on sex education and Socialism ; theatre workshop film ; Public Meeting at 2.00 p.m.
Thursday, 6th : Large comprehensive bookshop in Main Building, including non-sexist children's books, recent Virago publications, etc.
Friday, 7th ; Workshops all day; "Recreation Ground" workshop theatre company ; Social in Concourse Area at 7.45 p.m., 50p. All welcome.
The Women's group urge everyone to attend these events, both to participate and to learn about women's development in the LSE and nationally.
This week of national activities by Women's groups in the NUS is in part a reflection of 1975 being International Women's Year. In spite of* the emptiness of some of the events in International Women's Year, we feel that its framework should be used to highlight the continuing oppression of women throughout the world.
As part of the Women's Campaign and as an attempt to stop its isolation from the mass of the students, a Women's Network is being set up. This group is essentially a communication network with delegates from each college established to highlight the specific problems and advances made in the women's campaign.
Last year, as a result of frustration with the lack of NUS activity on the women's question, SWAG (Student Women's Action Gi'oup) was established. Consequently NUS has reacted to this by the formation of the Women's Network in the hope that there will be greater co-ordination and semination of information amongst women students.
If the consciousness of male and female students is to be raised and fundamental questions about sex roles to be posed, then there has to be campaigning around concrete issues such as nurseries, abortion, women's studies, lesbianism and anti-sex discrimination legislation. LSE's Festival Week is an attempt to do this and it is hoped that students in the LSE will contribute to both the discussions and activities this week.
RUTH BASHALL MAGGIE O'BRIEN.
Day in the life of a UGC
ON Wednesday, October 29th, the LSE received its five-yearly visit from its financiers. These financiers, the University Grants Committee, arrived to discuss the School's development statement for the five-year period 1977-82.
The programme kicked off in eaiTiest at 10 am, with the UGC, consisting of 11 professors, two knights, and one rector, discussing with the Director, the Pro-Director and the School's senior administrative officers, three topics.
The topics were money (called the "response to the financial difficulties facing the country and the universities"), the special characteristics and role of the school, and post-graduate experience and continuing education.
At 11 am the Students' Union's turn dawned; they chose to discuss academic affairs, including postgraduate courses, the move to Strand House, Union autonomy, the LEA system of financing the Union and Hulls of Residence. After their
hour the ' Welfare officers" trundled in to talk about overseas students, the health service, tutors and Halls of Residence. Lunch was taken from 1 pm to 2 pm with some of the UGC members trying to catch up on topics not discussed (eg nur-series\ and som&.pf the School and Students' Union members continuing to amplify and extend their respective positions.
At 2.10 the massed professors etc. were dragged from the trough to view Strand House, the library to be. At 2.45 they were supposed to meet members of the "non-profes-sorial academic staff" who wanted to talk about research facilities, the future size of LSE and its student-staff ratio, the Library, the future of the social sciences in British universities and the mysterious "special problems of LSE teachers''.
Following them at 3.45 pm the professors and the Librarian discussed the "problems involved in maintaining the School as an institution of international standing
during a period of financial stringency. At 5.30 pm the Standing Committee of the Court of Govei-n-nors did its bit on money, Strand House, the future and everything else. By then it was, according to the time-table, time to collapse over dinner to which the student representatives did not get an invitation. The LSE may be in financial difficulties, but it will sink in a liurri-cane of gastronomy if it ever goes down.
The SU reps would like to put on record their sympathy for the UGC members who complained that they got less than a student grant per year "for this work—and it's ta.xed''. They would also hope that the rest of the participants in the jamboree presented their case as well as the SU representatives did.
The question, what effect it all had would be interesting- to quantify. But at the very least it was interesting. Only five more years till the next one!
F.T.
15EAVKR, Nov. 4tli. 1975—Page Two
LETTERS
Executive Mandate
DEAR SIR, — Regarding the Lobby of Parliament on Tuesday, 21st October, which Union Executive Committee was mandated to organise and support, it should be noted that several of the committee were not in attendance. They were :
Robin Cooper, Dick Sales, Wynn Tollman, Dave Robertson, Pete Timmins and Simon Beresford.
In view of the mandate, explanations of their absence should be announced in Union and/or published in "Beaver''.
Any executive, elected democratically by the members of LSE Students' Union which does not carry out Union mandates, thus showing contempt for the students, must realise that the UGM has supreme authority over them.
Yours,
Z, LEE
EXPLANATIONS
Robin Cooper: "I had to meet the parents who wished to use
the half-term playgroup from 1-2, then from 2-3.30 I had to be in the Welfare Office as Elana had to attend a meeting."
Dave Robertson: "I missed the NUS Day. of Action lobby because, (a) I was not mandated to attend, (b) I felt that the meeting I had with the shadow education team on that evening achieved' more than the lobby during the afternoon. The shadow education team now accept the need to abolish the parental contribution, to review discretionary grants, and agree that the level of grant is inadequate."
Wynn Tollman was sick with 'flu.
Simon Beresford was at the doctors.
Dick Sales: "I had to appear in court at 1.30 in Greenwich — why don't you martyr me — The Catford one ! "
P.S. ; For not paying car tax — purely a protest against imperialism you understand !" ¦
Peter Timmins: All Union
Officials know that Union meetings have "supreme authority over them"; or as the constitution says "all members of the Executive Committee shall be subject to recall by a motion of censure being passed by a simple plurality of those present at a quorate Union meeting.
They also know that distortions are found out. Ms Lee gives the impression that a Union meeting mandated all the Executive to go. Not true ; in fact, the Executive Committee, upon hearing a report from its External Affairs Officer who "asked for the EC's support for the lobby of Parliament", agreed to this request.
Support, I presume, does not mean automatic attendance. And the EC recognised that, for various reasons, this might not be possible. I, in fact, had a previous mandate from a Union Meeting to produce a new budget etc. Exec, members are not rats in a behaviourist experiment, who do not think for themselves.
su
democracy?
THE proposed 5112 "tax" on post graduate students to support the union is dlscriminatorj- and undemocratic in its essence. Whilst the Union Executive claim that it is a "democratic" decision because there will be a vote on it, they know-full well that most postgraduates are so far removed from the Union political scene (it has been suggested that they are actually studying) that only a miniscule percentage is likely to turn up. The reasons are two-fold: (1) most graduate students are extremely busy, and (2) the Union does not fulfil their needs to such a degree as to warrant their participation. In other words, if the Union is a sufficiently valuable organisation, the people would pay for it voluntarily. If not, then there is no reason to support such an institution. It is my feeling that the Union is not a sufficiently worthwhile organisation. and is therefore not worthy of my support.
Yours faithfully,
E. HOFFMAN
Beaver opinion probe

What the public thinks of us !!
HAVE YOU HEARD IS THE LSE A
OF THE LSE ?
A LOCAL BOOZER:
"Well, it's around the corner. It's known locally as the "London School of Comics" ... I drink in the same pub as pi'ob-ably you do and, er, I've no objection. I found them friendly."
AMERICAN TOURIST:
"It's fantastic ! Anyone that I've known that has been there has impressed me all over the place. You're so successful at such a rotten young age" that it just discourages me."
AMERICAN TOURIST' (Yet
another!)
"Well, I've been here six weeks and I was going to write a letter to your Prime Minister and tell him that I think you've got a wonderful country — full of vitality — and I don't see what you fellas are worrying about. About the LSE ? Is that where Harold Laski came from"' (chuckle, chuckle !)"
HOT-BED OF REVOLUTIONARIES ?
LONDON BOOZER (again):
This I wouldn't like to say, to be fair, without a long discussion. My politics are SLIGHTLY Left of centre ... I wouldn't like to be critical. If whatever you do, and you seem to be out on strike pretty frequently, fair enough. Naturally, a bloke In the street like myself doesn't appreciate your problems; neither do you appreciate mine !"
DO YOU THINK THAT LSE STUDENTS ARE ACADEMICALLY TALENTED?
INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION STUDENT:
"I wouldn't say all of them were . . . certainly not those Lefties!"
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF STUDENTS GENERALLY ?
TUC MARCHER:
"Well I think it's a lot of money, isn't it, but I know we've got to have them. Well you got the Army, like . . . you got the officers there, they send them to University for three years, give them a grant of £150 plus expenses; ... so let's go in the Army and go through their system!"
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE LSE?
A COMMUTER:
"If it's anything like the Number One ¦ bus service — not much!"
U-YEAR-OLD SCHOOLBOY:
"I think it's great 'cos it's all for nothing, ain't it ? I think students are lazy, my brother's at Oxford. I'd like to get a job and not lay about."
CANADIAN TOURIST:
"As "far as I know it's excel-
lent but I think they send some radicals over to Canada who stir things up a bit . . . The Simon Eraser University was one. The leader of the revolt there was a graduate of the LSE."
A LONDONER:
"It has gone down badly since 1968; it used to "be a place where people actually did some thinking. The political activity there appears to have become almost nil. I would suggest that students adopt a Marxist perspective."
A SOLICITOR:
"... Dominated by Communists ! We need a (Conservative Government, a Free Enterprise society; education based on those of merit and the determination to take the opportunity that society has given them. We need stricter controls in the universities and we need those who are not prepared to work . . . TO BE SLUNG OUT!"
A POLICEMAN :
"As I'm on duty I don't think anything . . . J'm not doing it on duty."
Those hall smells
DEAR SIR,—I write to express my support for your campaign for a fairer system for the allocation of accommodation in the flats and halls. I would go further and press you to extend this campaign to university halls of residence in general.
From my bitter experience during the last three years I have found the "nepotism" widespread. In places like International Hall, where I have been refused accommodation three years in succession, I am personally able to name at least six people who have lived there for three consecutive years, and two who do not belong to the university at all, but are on good terms with certain members of staff. I am willing to substantiate these allegations and you may use my name if you wish, because not only does it smell, as you say, it politically stinks.
G. SEN
B.Sc (Econ)
Abortion
policy
DEAR SIR,—You report (Beaver 23rd Sept.) that the NUS National Conference and TUC Conference are calling for free abortion on demand "on the basis that without this, women will never be able to participate fully in the community, education, employment opportunities or political activities,"
Is this the sole basis, of the TUG and NUS abortion policy?
If so, please let me draw attention to the plight of those women who cannot participate fully in community opportunities and political activities because of their responsibilities for incontinent grannies and other bothersome dependents.
Surely it is time for the TUC and NUS to stand up for the right of everybody to do away with whom they want.
Yours etc.,
PETER URBAGH
CHEAP N
TASTY
IT'S the end of the week, you've got no money and only leftovers in the fridge which woiild taste ghastly if dished up together ! I
Before you dash to the chippy, try using up those scraps in the following- delicious dish. BOOZY BEEF Leftover meat or stew.
Beer or wine (to taste) O.K. if it's flat.
1 clove of garlic.
1 onion.
2-4 tomatoes.
Mixed herbs (2 teaspoons). Pepper and salt.
Method
1.	Fry up garlic and onions.
2.	Add flour and make a stiff paste.
3.	Add water slowly stirring until sauce thickens.
4.	Add tomatoes, spices and herbs.
5.	Add leftovers, or pour sauce into old stew with booze.
6.	Heat and stir until ready. Any veg. can go into this.
Serve with Spuds.
BEAVER. Nov. 4(h, 1975—Page Three
Immoderate moderacy
AT the time of writing, the present Executive has been in effective office /or just over three weelcs, with the important exception of tlie two sabbatical officers who have been in office since July. Despite this apparent shortness of time we believe that a critical appraisal of the performance and direction of the 'Executive is both possible and fair. This belief is based upon the following considerations:—
This Executive is the first where the constitutional requirement to serve as an Executive-elect immediately after election has been realised. In consequence they should have been fully versed in their jobs by the beginning of this academic year. In addition, the presence of two full-time officials throughout the summer vacation should have adequately provided the groundwork for some immediate results. Above all, the beginning of the first term sees the lowest academic pressures on the part-timers and the least erosion of their enthusiasm by the rigours of office.
In writing this article, we do not mean to minimise the difficulties of Executive work. Indeed, we both held Executive office last year; Paul Cockerell as Sabbatical General Secretary, and John Cruse as a member responsible for finance. We write from the belief that the Executive has a vital role to play if the Students" Union is to fulfil its function as a cultural, social and political focus for students at LSE.
On the Executive last year there was a majority of Broad Left mem-l>ers and, while we are fully aware of the many mistakes made by the EScecutive last year, the attitude which Beaver has so far adopted with regard to criticism of the present Executive contrasts drastically with the repeated attacks that were made on that majority last year, and can only be described as a deafening silence.
This years Executive is dominated by the arrival of the much-heralded "moderate" majority; the precise composition being; 4 Broad Left, 1 International Socialist and 7 "Independents". And any dominant majority must expect the buck to rest v;ith them when it comes to the performance of the Executive as a whole for, as Beaver wrote one year ago referring to the Broad Left majority; "The accusation Broad
Left have left themselves open to is that if there is no progress it is their fault."
The "Independents'" undoubtedly represent a power bloc on the Executive albeit an ambiguous one. Ambiguous because it would be simplistic to characterise them as a "moderate monolith". Differences there are, but perhaps more striking are similarities between these moderates independent of socialism and independent socialist moderates. Let us look, for example, at how they presented themselves to the electorate last year. Since they have given Union little indication of their politics in Union meetings, their manifestos remain the only genuine indication of their views.
"Make the Union pertinent to the LSE students"' (Sales & Cooper)
"Run the Union in the interest of the students" (Deans)
"(motivate) the apathetic majority so that student policies are not unrepresentative" (Tollman)
". . . Vote Independent to stop this Union fading into oblivion" (OBrien)
There is clearly no dispute that the Union exists to serve the interests of its members and that mass involvement is the key to Union's future, but what groundwork has been laid to achieve this?
"Better publicity for Union meetings and motions are a beginning" (.Tollman)
Perhaps the General Secretary's abject failure to do even this is based on his expressed knowledge that; "I know I represent the main body of opinion". However, the idea that Union will involve more people simply by increasing administrative operations like advertising has been proved to be a fallacy and reveals a deliberate misunderstanding of the agitational role of the Executive, viz. political mobilisation around Union policy. But even the basics of providing information about Union have been ignored; it would have helped if, over the summer, our two Sabbatical officers had prepared information for new-students explaining the importance of Union.
The only motion passed so far instructing the Executive to mobi-
lise support was for the demonstration against the education cuts on October 21st. This is precisely the kind of campaign which relates duectly to the experiences of all students at LSE, yet the Executive did not even discuss it. '
Perhaps the Cut? Campaign fails "to bring an element of realism into the Executive" (Sales and Cooper), or to provide "absolute opposition to the education cuts" (Deans), or perhaps it was just because the General Secretary "as an Independent Socialist . . . refuses to be blinded by the impractical doctrines of group politics."
We would agree with the Senior Treasurer that "doctrinaire chanting Lviz. "Fight the Cuts"! impresses few", but for a person whose "commitment to a strong Union is indisputable", Timmiris did amazingly little to bring to the students' attention the fact that the demonstration was taking place and, like four of his "moderate comrades" could not even bother to attend it.
We draw attention to this specific matter because we believe this to be indicative of the direction which the moderate majority on the Executive will, if left to their own volition, lead Union. Already we have seen the third UGM being inquorate from the beginning. O'Brien promised to "stop the Union fading into oblivion." Those who voted for him must already be seriously troubled by the practical effects of his term of office.
The low turn-out for the by-election of the Academic Affairs Officer is further evidence of the immoderate growth of inaction, disillusionment and apathy which threatens Union. The only alternative is for members of the SU to demand both collectively and individually that their elected officers' fulfil their duties and carry out the decisions of UGM. Purtliermore, the individuals on the Executive must be forced to use the administrative committees which they chair to involve ever-widening circles of LSE students.
Only this path can produce an Executive capable of leading a Union which is responsive and relevant to the needs of LSE students. The deification of passive moderacy must be buried once and for all— before it buries Union.
PAUL V. COCKERELL
JOHN CRUSE
Greatest show on Earth?
THE longest running show in the West End is "Mousetrap"-^or so they say. But if one classifies the Students' Union Meetings as entertainment, then "Mousetrap" is in its infancy'.
Afficionados of Union Meetings would put them above mere theatrical events because one of their themes is active participation. If yoy. can fmd where the Union Office (SI02) is and"'" get your "motion"" there before ) p.m. on Wednesday, then you can become a public speaker. '
If you don't want to put in motions about your poverty, the standarii of education you receive or what you think of the world, you can always oppose someone else's motions.
Maybe public speaking is not your forte, but you can vote for the motions that you want. Indeed, you can always abstain if you can't make your mind up and then just listen to the reports and announcements, so that you are fully informed about how your Union is being run.
This wide range of participatory possibiliti.es is available to every democrat on Fridays at 3.00 p.m., at fortnightly intervals. If you complain that "the Union" does not represent the students of the LSE and you don't go to the meetings, then you are a reason why "the Union" votes as it does.
Should you believe that the NUS doesn't represent you, then you will guarantee that will be so if you do not turn up and vote in your kind of delegate to NUS Conferences.
If your Union is to continue to function, then you will have to turn up to the meetings because otherwise there will be no quorate meetings and as a corollary the Constitution Committee will not be elected, preventing new Societies from being approved, thus reducing the level of activity in the School.
S& roil up, roll up—it may not be the best show in town, but it's yours.

Budget Blow
ANNUAL BUDGET 1975-76
Approx.
Budget sub-heading_actual
74/75
1.	Central Admin................ £15,572
2.	Welfare ........................... £4,425
3.	External Affairs ............... £2,817
5.	Receipts and Hospitality ...... £1,379
4.	Publications ..................... £3,511
6.	Societies ........................... £3,668
7.	General ........................... £466
TOTAL ....... £31,838
Estimated
75/76< £25,785 £14.315 £4,574 £1.76(j £4,790 £5.500 £680
£57,404
On Thursday, 30th October a meeting was held in the Old Theatre to discuss the above budget. Such an important matter could only draw about twenty members of Union, which, looked at any way, can only be described as pathetic. So pathetic was this turnout, that it was decided without opposition to refer the vote until a further meeting when an attempt will be made to involve more in the decision(1). This further meeting will be held on Friday, 7th November at 3.00 pm in the Old Theatre, and should anyone wish to see a complete run-down of the budget they can collect a copy from Peter Timmins.
Basically, the Senior Treasurer is working on the presumption that the School's contribution will be £33,000 plus the possibility of another £7,000. The Students' Union also has reserves of £20,000, and this plus expected profits from the Bar and , Florries of £2,500, will cover the estimated budget but a problem arises from the
fact that £1,000 of the reserves is in Treasury Stocks and not redeemable until 1984. Although it appears that the Union is tottering on the brink of insolvency, the budget is based on last year's services and so represents no progress. Furthermore all this will only finance the SU up until July 31st, 1976, when the Union enters upon its "cash flow problem period". Between the beginning of August and the time in October when income is coming in, the Union needs about £8,000 — £10,000 to keep itself running. "The School, however, has promised to bridge this gap with a loan, but details are yet to be worked out.
From this, it would seem imperative that a representative number of students attend the next Budget Meeting to either accept this Budget which works just within the Union's financial capabilities or to oppose it on the grounds that the Union's income is insufficient for the students' needs. Either way it is your decision, so come and make it.
S.D.
The>0reek Month J In London
MUSIC FILMS, ART LITERATURE ARCHITECTURE DISCUSSIONS
Aspects of contemporary Greek culture
LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
WED., NOV. 13, 6 p.m. RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY
Panel discussion with four Greek M.P.s:
"Srannis Charalambopoulos, M.P., Leonidas Kyrkos, M.P., John Pesmazoglou, M.P., Helen Vlachos, M.P. Chairman: Peter Archer, Q.C., M.P. (Solicitor General). Admission free. MON., NOV. IT, G p.m. GREECE AND EUROPE : PROBLEMS OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION.
Panel discussion with George Catephores, George Krimbas. Costas Sophoulis. Chairman: Professor John Spraos. Admission free.
TOTALITARIAN TRENDS IN MODERN GREECE -
Panel discussion with Vassilis Filias, Nicos Mouzelis, Gerassimos Notaras, Ph.D., Theodore Pangalos. Chairman: Professor Richard Clogg.
For full details of Concerts, Films, Art Exhibitions, Book Exhibitions, Architecture, Discussions, etc., contact The Institute of Contemporary Arts, Nash House, 12 Carlton House Terrace, S.W.I. 01-930 0493.
MON., NOV. ;Z4. 6 p.m.
BKAVER. Nov. 4th, 1975—Page Four
International Whose
A woman's right
IT is a widespread belief that with the end of the last Pailiamentarj' session and the collapse of James White's Bill, the threat posed to the 1967 Abortion Act has been removed. This is not the case by any means. Sunday's (October 19th) demonstration illustrated the support which SPUC and other forces of the anti-abortionists are able to call up. On Tuesday, October 21st Barbara Castle reported to the House on the recommendations of the Third Report of the Select Committee, established after the Lane Report to look into the workings of the 1967 Act. She expressed her support for various items of restrictive legislation, and, with supposed "defenders" of the 1967 Act on the Committee prepared to compromise and evade the issue of demand for freely available abortion, this does not bode well for the future, particularly if, as is probable, the Select Committee is reconvened.
Aims of NAC
In this context, the expansion and the unified purpose of the National Abortion Campaign is increasingly important. Since its inception last March, the campaign has had as its aim the establishment, as a right in law, that any woman to choose whether she continues a pregnancy or has an abortion — a legal right which must be backed up by practical legislation. Consequently, the campaign has adopted as its slogan "Abortion on Demand — A Woman's Right to Choose". The reality of this choice depends not only on the availability of abortion, but the provision of essential social facilities. such as nurseries, job oppor-
tunities, acceptable housing, social benefits, and so on. The NAC can thus be seen both in the context of wider struggles but also with its own particular focus and characteristics. Not least of these is the fundamental and indispensible support of local groups involved, which are in an ideal position to use their particular knowledge and contacts to ensure that the struggle
•	against the threat of restrictive legislation is carried out effectively on a local basis, and from their experience others are able to learn. This has drawn an increasing
•	number of people into the campaign — from 100 members at the founding less than a year ago, to 20,000 people from all backgrounds and levels of political experience who formed the demonstration on June 21st.
Over 800 such individuals registered at the first NAC national conference, held on October 18th and 19th at Imperial College. The purpose of this conference was to draw together as many people as possible in order to discuss and decide proposals relating to the aims and structure of the NAC and its future actions,	—
Conference resolves
In summary the resolutions taken at the conference were as follows. It is intended to build a mass national campaign to defeat all restrictive legislation on the basis of a woman's right to choose about termination of pregnancy, a right in law and in practice, with abortion freely available throughout the NHS, improved clinic facilities, and research funds. Any restrictions on foreign women receiving free



abortions on the NHS will be opposed. It is an interesting point that at a time when the abortion laws of other countries are being liberalised, our own are under attack. It was also decided that NAC would not actually affiliate to any organisation having a broader programme of aims than is established through democratic discussion and a vote at a National Conference, though it is hoped that local groups will continue to grow, based on boroughs, towns, universities, colleges, schools, work places, the NHS, the professions, and Trade Unions. There was a call for an Annual National Conference, to be open to all supporting NAC aims. Action proposals included a call for a National Week of Action against the re-constitution of the Select Committee, starting on Nov. 17th to coincide with the first week of the parliamentary session. Actions suggested are public meetings, lobbying of MPs both in Parliament and locally, street meetings, hospital pickets, work place meetings, petitionings, local demos and rallies.
Labour support
It is also intended to draw in the Labour Movement, following on from the TUC resolution of support at its own conference. It is suggested that Local Constituency Labour Parties should impress on Labour MPs the crucial point that they themselves wield the power to create the framework of choice essential to all women. They should vote against restrictive legislation and the reconvening of the Select Committee. A day of action focusing specifically on the NHS is to be arranged, in order to raise the issue of the implementation of the 1967 Act and the attitudes of gynaecologists and hospital workers. Last, but not least, is the need for finance, and it is intended that a National Fund Drive be initiated.
^Details of these actions will be made known as soon as possible, and we will be actively petitioning during the next few days).
Women undet
WOMEN in South Africa suffer first and foremost from the oppression of Apartheid. For, although the privileged white woman faces the discrimination ''-faced by women in Western so<Seties, African women are virtually stripped of all human rights. Not for them the highly idealised goal of mother and family so forcefully espoused by the South African media; under Apartheid they have no right to live with their husbands or create a family unit.
The entrenched policy of "migrant labour", central to the economy's principle of a cheap labour reserve, adversely affects family life. This policy intends to trans-foi-m the entire black work force into migrant labour — foreigners in their own land.
Africans are only temporary residents in European (vfhitei areas, and only as long as they offer their labour. These European areas constitute 87 per cent of the land, including all industrial centres and arable agricultural land, plus lands containing. An official circular from the Department of Bantu Administration states categorically that: "Bantu in European areas who are normally regarded as non-productive and have to be resettled in the homeland area are; (a) the aged, the unfit, women with children, etc; (b» professional Bantu such as doctors, attorneys, industrialists.
Under South African law, cohabitation of husbands and wives is virtually illegal except during the annual two week holiday when mi-
grants may visit their wives on tlw reserves.
Forced removals _
In order to ensure that 87 per cent of the land remains "white', the South African Fascist regimt enacts the policy of forced n-movals. For example, African women may work as domestii labour, but as soon as one Bantu woman begins a family she belongi to the homeland.
In a land where if you are blacl and a male you will be referred to as "boy", even at 70, black women find themselves in a somewhat different position. They cannot be^'.v referred to as "girls" because to be called a girl in white South Africi is an attribute indicating youl and sexual appeal. — hence the] are referred to as maids, in strict keeping with their primary role ai labour units.
Black women find themselves in the most vulnerable position in thij apartheid state and they have beeni forced to embark upon a struggl that takes them beyond their ovvi specific oppressions. Women choo! to fight alongside men for full civi rights rather than against the mi for legal and social equality.' Women have played a leading roll in the liberation struggle and mai today are rotting in South Afric; prisons. One such woman is Dorothyi Nyembe who was imprisoned iin March 1969 for harbouring free-i dom fighters and assisting two co-defendants. She is due to be released in 1984.
A book which deals with the nature of South African racist andl fascist policy with particular regard to women is "For Their Triumphs and For Their Tears" by Helda Bernstein. We salute her and all | those who daily experience and op- : pose South African fascist rule. ;
Support the Anti-Apartheid Week of Action — November I0th-I4tti.
TM
School's responsik
IT may interest you to know that amongst all the colleges in London, only University College, the Architectural Association, and Goldsmith's College have nurseries. In the case of LSE, we have been fighting for seven years, some years with more militancy than others, to gain such a basic facility for students in a college where 50 per cent of the students are postgradates. One of our main arguments in the nursery campaign has been that it is the School's responsibility to provide the facilities required by the people it admits to courses.
We have said that without this there is an inherent discrimination in the admissions procedure against parents of young children,- who would either be unable to take up a place they were offered, or else not consider applying here in the first place. Those who do come here must often put up with inconvenient and inadequate facilities in their localities.
Naturally, in a society which allocates the responsibility for children solely on to the shoulders of the women who produced them, with very few exceptions, the fight for a nursery is one aspect of the fight for women's liberation. The widespread provision of nursery facilities would enable women to go out to work, or continue their education, as well as having children, if they so choose. However, at a time
of general cutbacks in public expenditisi as we are witnessing today, the nurserj-ld: programme is suffering and existing [Kit are inadequate ; waiting lists charactetiipi cil nurseries, and extortionately hi.ghfch acterise private nurseries. We are ledtdic that the money just isn't there, but ds? 1 war years, in an economy of rationing, ner were built nationwide to enable wonieo to work. Think of countries like Northin: and Cuba — hardly known for their iulc wealth—where nurseries have been It cater for the needs of women and diitn these countries.
Here at LSE, the School has applied ipl; ning permission to convert the top floodlll Parish Hall, described as a "rather groHjUi ing," into a playgroup for fifteen childia^ 2-5 years. This will not be open until mid^e ber, a date we were told in Septembeihc ever, at the end of October conversion k 1 still not been started. An annual s# £5.000 (less £1,000 which goes to repaysr charges) has been allocated towards tol; group's running costs.
The most recent figures from the Sdl dicate that fees would have to be £7 ;we per child for students, and £14 per w : staff. PLUS £2 per week for food. Thesttu: will be re-examined and updated bytlSi
tear?
r apartheid
' A devastating catalogue, almost a handbook, of the oppression all women suffer in South Africa/' Observer
unembroidered account of what the policies otwhite South Africa have done and are doing to non-white women "
ijusra/ar}	*
"A beautifully written emotional but unsentimental account of a verv unbeautiful situation." /r/sh Times	'i a vory
extensive study on these women. Clear and concise."Morn/ng
The descriptions it contains of the conditions of women undef ipartheid and of their courageous struggle for their basic rights undoubtedly represent an outstanding cdntribution to the International women s Year, and a moving tribute to their cause." Sadruddin Aga Khan Med Nations High Commissioner for Refugees	'
'For their triumphs fid for their tears.
EN IN APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA BY HILDA BERNSTEIN
Ai/ailable from: Information Department, International Defence and Aid Fund, 104 Newgate St., London EC1A 7AP
Please send me..........copy/copies of FOR THEIR
TRIUMPHS AND FOR THEIR TEARS
Name_
Address_______________
I enclose remittance of .
ire, such builiing roviiions se coun-'03 tkar-) bdeve ring the luraries !n tigo Vietnam fabrious buii to Idra in
for jian-r olthe ;y hild-•en,?ed -Novim-r; ,b)w-i'oiihas )sidy of interest tie play-
.'hool in-er TOk ,'eek for 2 figures he Sub-
Committee of the Student Health Sei-vice Committee at its first meeting which should be within the next week. However, it is fairly safe to say that unless those figures are somehow reduced, the number of people who can afford to take up places at the playgroup will be minimal—two or three at the outside. There remain all those with babies under two years old who are simply not catered for, because not enough money is forthcoming from the School.
So, while we have achieved more this year than in any other year of the nursery canipaign
bearing in mind that we do not as yet have anything concrete in the form of an actual'play-group — we must recognise the inadequacy of the measures the School proposes. The cutbacks in education have seen to it that the School's perennial excuse of not having the money is actually true this year — so that it is the parents, particularly women, and their children who are being forced to bear the brunt of the crisis, a crisis which they did not create. Are we in the Nursery Action Committee prepared to accept this ? How do we begin to fight this scale of attack ? These are the questions we must take up in the Nursery Action Committee : this committee is open and everyone is welcome to attend.
SUE LANDAU
The present Women's campaign is choosing this moment to highlight through women's festivals ALL that hasn't happened in a year allocated to women by the U.N. It is also necessary to counteract the ideas which have been propagated by the media about women and the nature of International Women's Year. The theme of international Women's Year must be taken up by progressive forces and wrested from the hands of conservatism and reaction.
Therefore don't celebrate—AGITATE !
Little problems
DECIDING what to do with YOUR life and YOUR body when you are told that your pregnancy test is positive can be overwhelming — what will your parents say, how do you feel about the father, what about your studies? Suddenly you have to make decisions, lots of them, quickly, and it's difficult to know where to go for advice — ADVICE, not the recommendations of somebody trying to make your decision for you, which the personnel in many organisations will give. If you want a detached viewpoint, try the Society for One Parent Families (formerly the Society for the Unmarried Mother and her Child), 255 Kentish Town Road. Here you will be helped to decide for yourself whether you want abortion, adoption or motherhood.
First decision is whether or not to continue your pregnancy —. try talking things over with the staff of the Health Service in Con-naught House and if you decide you want an abortion, it won't be too difficult to obtain. But don't have one unless YOU feel sure it's what YOU want. After the initial surprise, most parents do come round to accepting an unmarried daughter and her child.
Continuing your pregnancy means adoption or keeping your baby. Adoption is the alternative if you feel you could not have an abortion on moral grounds and yet still feel that your parents would never understand, or that keeping a baby would wreck your chance of getting a good degree or a job.
Keeping your baby, and continuing your studies may sound difficult — it is: but adjusting to having a baby around is difficult for anybody, not just an unmarried student, and help is available if you know where to go to get it. Throughout your pregnancy, the ante-natal clinic will tell you all you want to know about what to e.xpect regarding childbirth and once you get out of hospital you will be visited by a Health Visitor and encouraged to attend baby clinics.
Once you have your baby, there are many practical problems, the greatest of which is housing. Here, the Society for One Parent Families can often help, and if you are in danger of becoming homeless, go and see your Housing Aid Centre (if you don't know where yours is.
try the one on Euston Road, next to N.U.S. travel). If you feel able to share, look for advertisements for other single parents wanting accommodation, or put an ad. in yourself. Major problem here is that you're not recognised as a homeless family until you've actually got a baby, by which time it's more difficult trying to look for a place. But as soon as you know that you are pregnant, put yourself down on the housing list and make sure that the first thing you do when you move is to get yourself down on your new local list, if you want a council flat.
Financially, you are not entitled to any kind of maternity grant or allowance unless you have worked and paid insurance stamps. But there are still quite a few things you can claim: go round to see your local Citizens' Advice Bureau to find out what you can claim from Supplementary Benefit — milk, prescriptions, etc. If you are an undergraduate on a grant, it might be difficult to start claiming for a child from your second or third jear (this depends on your local authority). However, you can claim from the Students' Unit of the D.H.S.S. at Norcross, Blackpool if you WTite directly to the Controller and tell him of your circumstances and that your authority is not giving you an allowance for your child.
Coming back to studying is getting easier, slowly. U.L.U. run a nursery Monday-Friday, 9.30 to 5.30 for children over two (it's best to get your name down as soon as possible as there is a waiting list), L.S.E. should, at last, get its own" nursery in the near future and
C.E.S.	has a creche and nursery which takes the children of L.S.E. staff and students. Your Health Visitor will know of any other facilities in your area.
If problems seem to be getting on top of you. make a visit to the Social Services in your area and obtain the services of a Social 'Worker. She will be able to deal with such things as accommodation,
D.H.S.S.	etc. and may be able to arrange for a free' place in a nursery.
All official organisations vary la'om one area to another. In case you are unfortunate enough to meet with little response from official bodies, or if you prefer not to have anything to do with them, two unofficial ones which will keep ,vou in touch with othei" single parents, as well as fill you in with the latest developments regarding your legal position and what's happening in Parliament, are Mothers in Action and Gingerbread. The address of both is 9 Poland Street, W.l.
JAN DAVIES
BEAVER, Nov. 4th, 1975—Page Five
Women and the TUC
THE discrimination women suffer at work is certainly not the major nor the only discrimination they suffer. Discrimination at work cannot be eliminated until there are wider changes in social structure and the sexual division of labour — but the workplace is a good place to start fighting for women's rights.
Trade unions provide a form of collective organisation not readily achieved by women outside work.
Their collective power and strength can and must be directed towards women's problems and needs.
True, the record of trade unions to date is not inspiring. But things are beginning to change. Unions are beginning to work out specific policies for women members. ASTMS probably has a better record than most unions in this area, and their new programme for women members, published in this month's journal, is wide ranging. It includes industrial demands on pay, training, the right of women to work, and not to be discriminated against in redundancy situations. At the same time it recognises that social changes are required if the roots of discrimination against women are really to be tackled, Women's right to abortion on demand through the NHS is stressed, and the need for women to be relieved of their sole responsibility for the social function of child-rearing, through the provision by local authorities and employers of child-care facilities.
Clearly, official programmes, however admirable, won't in themselves achieve anything. 'We have to organise and fight for their implementation, and this can only really come about through grass roots action. In Division 15 of ASTMS, to which the LSE group of ASTMS belongs, an Action Committee of Sex Discrimination was set up in October, 1974 to help organise and co-ordinate such activity and ensure that official ASTMS programmes become a practical reality. A major success of the Committee to date has been to organise a creche at the Annual Delegate Conference of ASTMS at Bournemouth. It is only too obvious that, until such facilities are regularly provided at all union functions — branch meetings, conferences, training courses — women can never play a full and active part in the imion and ensure that union policies reflect their needs. The Charing Cross branch of ASTMS, to which LSE belongs, has for some time regularly provided creches at its monthly branch meetings.
The Division 15 Action Committee has also organised lunch-time meetings at workplaces throughout the Division, in addition to weekend and evening schools. The stress is on practical demands — on training, maternity leave, child-care facilities, the right of women to w'ork — demands that women can press immediately in their work situations. There' are already signs of progress: the first successful industrial action on maternity leave within the London area of ASTMS took place at Oxford University Press, Neasden, last month. It is only through successful struggles of this kind that women will become convinced that their existing social role is not Inevitable, but can be clianged.
R.E. LSE ASTMS Group Charing Cross Branch
BEAVER. Nov. 4th, 1975—Page Six
Crossroads for India
IT'S time for the peoples of the West to stop thinking of India -as a good boy gone bad. The happy notion that India had to be on the right track simply because it was "the world's largest democracy" was never more than a cruel illusion, as Indians themselves are only now beginning to recognise. For during the past 28 years of independence, India has been neither a democracy, nor has it been on the way toward solving its problems.
We are. understandably blinded to the possible legitimacy of Indira Gandhi's "revolution" because it began not as an answer to national anarchy, but as an excuse for the Prime Minister to stay in office. Few would argue that Gandhi's motives for scrapping "democracy" were anything but base and contemptible. At the same time, however, we must ask whether Indira Gandhi has, albeit for the wrong reasons, done what was needed to save India.
But did India need salvation ? The country must first be judged if we are to be able to judge Gandhi's "revolution."
Consider freedom. Freedom has been a salable commodity in India for years. In a society where a suffocating blanket of bureaucracy touches almost every aspect of life, a society where liberty is therefore dependent upon one's relations with bureaucrats, rupees have determined who is free and who is not. Almost every level of government is notoriously corrupt.
Consider human equality. Despite constitutional prohibition of Casteism. Indian society remains a ladder of discrimination • along caste lines. Indian-style "democracy" itself has kept
that ladder in place during the past 28 years. Candidates for parliament, for example, run to represent the interests of their particular castes and resist efforts to deal with India's peoples on an equal basis. And the untouchables, the only people without a stake in the system, are too busy with survival to argue otherwise.
Consider economics. Gandhi's Congress Party has been preaching a socialism so full of holes that the big money businessmen who form the. backbone of the Party, control almost as much of the economy as they did in 1947. Land reform acts have had little effect on reducing the 56% of the arable land owned by the top ten percent of the population. Poverty of course, is the norm in India, a poverty whose dimensions have not decreased significantly-under 28 years of Congress Party rule. Hinduism still discourages the belief that man can influence his own fate, still therefore frustrates economic growth. Agricultural development has been slow and inadequate. More and more people starve every year.
In sum, 28 years of independence under a parliamentary form of government have seen little or no progress in forging a united, just, powerful and developed India.
What we in the West tend to forget is that democracy is a means to certain ends, but not an end in itself. We cannot expect the starving masses to be consoled in the knowledge that they are starving democratically. Certainly there was a free press, and certainly people got to vote every few years. But "democracy" forgot that it was there to accomplish something, and not merely to exist. So that if India was "the world's largest democracy," it was also the world's largest democratic flop.
There is a Western parallel to
the Indian political situation. The American Declaration of Independence states that if a nation's ideals of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" cannot be met under an existing form of government, "it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish" that government. The American people did exactly that when they scrapped the inefficient Articles of Confederation for the Constitution after thirteen years of independence. India today is at a similar crossroads. The Prime Minister is engaging in double-talk wher* she claims that the state of emergency was mandated by the irresponsibility of the Opposition. The truth is that the Congress Party has jailed its opponents in order to expropriate their arguments. The Party has recognised that 28 years of failure provide good enough reason to "alter or to abolish" the parliamentary experiment. It is unfortunate that it took such a base excuse as Gandhi's personal political survival to jar the Party into that realisation.
The best course for India now is to convene a Constitutional Convention. to hammer out an answer to the question "where do we go from here?" It is likely that if the Congress Party can fully commit itself to the good of the nation and not just to the enrichment of its big business contributors, the country will be sealed off from the world. Some very basic, very cruel and very difficult surgery might be performed on the nation's institutions. In any case, the time of laissez-faire government is over; an attempt at extremist government is likely to iollpw.
We shOul(5 recognise that Indira Gandhi is getting away with her "revolution" only because India was ripe for radical change. India did anrt does still need salvation. It now remains to be seen whether the ever-popular Gandhi can trans cend personal ambition and convert the end of parliamentary government iiito the beginning of a new-hope for Injlia.
STEPHEN M. DAVIES
Two years after the coup
ON September 11th, 1973, right-wing military forces toppled the democratically-elected government of Salvadore Allende. The murder of Allende in the bombed ruins of the Presidential Palace opened up what has become the bloodiest chapter in the recent history of Latin America.
Since the coup, over 40,000 Chileans have died. The majority of these were Trade Unionists — many killed as they occupied their factories during the coup. A state of siege has existed since then, and is still in force today. All basic Trade -Union and political rights have been outlawed; the Chilean . TUC is banned, as are the major • political parties of the Popular ¦ Unity Government. Arrest without charge or trial is common, with over 390.000 Chileans believed to have been detained at one time' or another since the coup. Torture is widespread and the barbarities practised by the Chilean secret police, espe-
cially on women, are perhaps unrivalled. Even by the Inquisition.
For the mass of Chileans, two years of' military dictatorship have brought widespread impoverishment. Inflation, always a problem even under the Popular Unity Government, reached new heights last year. The World Bank estimated that Chile's rate of inflation was 600 2- Under the military rule all the safeguards which had been instituted 'oy the Allende Government, such as automatic cost-of-living increases, wage adjustments etc., have been abolished, and the real income of the average Chilean has now fallen by 60 o since the coup.
Not surprisingly, the im-poverishment oi' the Chilean-working-class has led to the collapse of Chile's domestic economy, and with this collapse has come widespread unemployment. On the day of the coup 150,000 Chileans were unemployed : the present level is 809,000 out of a total working population of 3.5 million.
Despite the continued savage repression, the opposition to the junta inside Chile is growing. This year there have been 2,500 strikes and protest actions including sit-ins, despite the fact that 'strikers face the death penalty and 100 Trade Union leaders have already been executed for leading strike actions The Chilean TUC has survived the savage repression launched against it and now has full-time organisers in every province of Chile. Resistance committees exist in most of the major factories and wor.ving-class estates. May Day was celebrated this year throughout Chile with mass rallies and demonstrations, and clandestine radio stations have now been established this year.
Chile two years after the coup is a country which has experienced massive repression and suffering, but it is also a country in v/hich the mass of the population are united and fighting back.
For further details on Chile contact Emma Hamilton-Brown, at the S.U. Office.
KEN HULME
Snidelines
OUR old friend John A. Carr seemed to be a little upset at the idea of being missed out of an issue of Beaver. Well, John, here's your weekly mention. By the way, we were saddened at the news that your presence would be gracing our doors once more this year, but it would seem that certain of the secretaries who work in the NUS, especially around the International Department, hold more attraction for your magnetic personality. Shame, we were so looking forward to seeing you lose yet another election.
Red Ents
The Ents Committee has finally been hoodwinked! Hot on the wires from the NUS Social See's Conference last weekend we learn that a gentleman named Ken Spencer is not really an Ents piss artist at all, he is none other than a Broad Left hack of the first order! It is a pity that the Ents do not understand what this could mean in terms of concerts. The Red Army Band are to play here next week, and they will be demanding a percentage deal or full LSE membership of the Communist Party. Hard luck, Ken, your true identity could lead to an end to the deification of passive socialism, which must be buried once and for all if the Ents Committee is to survive.
Following the great loo paper crisis at Carr Saunders we now reveal the reinforced plate-glass door scandal. Twice in four days the main door has been ruthlessly and systematically stove in by the application of a boot. Luckily good old Chris Wells captured the second window-smashing squad who, on grilling by Ed Kuska, Chris and the local fuzz, revealed their true identity—UCL rugby players. If they can't beat us, beat our windows in ?
Our sympathies to S.K.! .His profits must have plummeted so much in the current economic crisis that he has even left his deposit book in the Beaver office. If he plans, therefore, to hit the intellectual front instead, perhaps he would care to pick up his old school books also littering the aforesaid. A shrewd observation by an ex-teacher might prove helpful: "Your obsession with property detracts enormously from the value of your work."
Cheeky Chops
The visit of Al Stewart to the LSE this week seemed to be hailed by a good deal of anticipatory drooling in certain quarters. However, the main attraction of the LSE to Al, our pld friend Alastair Coe, has now removed to live in Exeter, so perhaps Mr Stewart is again "turning the other cheek".
Eyebrows were raised last Friday as a London Weekend Television crew filmed Brian Griffiths, a member of staff in the Economics Department. Ralf Dahrendorf's moustache was seen to be twitching nervously as his jugular vein performed Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Fairies". Indeed, steam was seen to be spurting out from his collar. When asked what the matter was, he ran off. Later, the attractive Information Officer, Shirley Chapman, revealed all. "The Director is a bit hot under the (expletive deleted) collar. He and the Bursar are annoyed that LWT did not ask permission to use the School's electricity." The interview was about the control of public expenditure.
Schnidelines
As a consequence of last issue's Schnidelines concerning Schling being schlung out of Carr-Saunders for over-indulgence, he has claimed that he would schlue Beaver if it were not a Union publication.
Schlue away, Schling!
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BEAVER, Nov. 4th, 1975—Page Seven
ENTSNEWS
Chapfnan Whitney Streetwalkers - LSE Nov 15
THE break-up of Family two years ago seemed like the end of an era. The tragic demise of one of the first "underground" bands who went on to make numerous brilliant albums and hit singles (including "The Weaver's Answer," "My Friend the Sun" and "Burlesque") was a sad blow to British Rock. However the founder members and nucleus of Family, Roger Chapman and Charlie Whitney, predictably bounced back with a new band-^"Streetwalkers." Two fine albums and many stunning live performances later they retain the old charisma and energy plus a new dimension with Mel Collins on sax. Their present line-up is Chapman, and Whitney, plus ex Jeff Beck band guitarist, Bobby Tench and Jon Plotell on bass (ex Casablanca),
Streetwalkers are truly dynamic on stage. Their set is likely to include old favourites as well as material from their excellent new album,
"Downtown Flyers" which has received ecstatic reviews in the music press. Assuming Roger Chapman attains his usual state of alcoholic intoxication, this will certainly be one of the most spectacular concerts you are likelj- to see for a long time. There is no doubt that Chapman Whitney are one of the hottest bands at present touring the university circuit. We are holding admission to an absolute minimum of £1 (as per Ents policy)—can you afford not to be there ?
We are at present negotiating for a date with Ian Carr's Nucleus, one of Britain's most consistent and respected Jazz-Rock combinations, for November 29th.
Ents needs typists—well paid, interesting, rewarding work!!! See Mike (Social Sec.) in Ents room any lunchtime.
Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers -'Stunning live performances'


Nice one Theodore: Roszak's Pontifex
IF you only read one book this year try to make it "Pontifex". Set some time in the next decade, it's about a revolution in an American town, about which the revolution politicos, nature lovers and liberationists of all descriptions talk. There is a spokesman/woman for every conceivable idea of making the world a better one and you will recognise your friends, fellow students but most importantly yourself in the list of characters.
The plot entails the advent of a man who. strips away the veneer of polite behaviour from everybody's animal natures and sparks off looting and fucking in the streets and general disorder that groups from extreme left to hippy idealism try to use for their own ends of building a Utopia. And on the other hand there are the drug-pushers and military leaders who try to maintain the status quo. The whole scenario develops against the background of the destruction of the city and the collapse of civilisation as the inhabitants of the town know it.
As the stoi'y unfolds it becomes increasingly clear that the revolution everyone is so anxiously awaiting is for the multifarious characters to achieve the same end—happiness.
The Marxist-Leninists, the women's liberationists, the Black Power movement etc., all want happiness. But the wanton self-expression that the riot provides is only the counterfeit of the real thing. The real thing that Pontifex alone, a monk among materialists, enjoys.
The book is about politics, people and this planet; but only superficially. Basically it is about good and evil and the need everyone feels to try to turn unhappiness into happiness. It provides no answers, but only because the one lesson every thinking person has ever learned is that there are as many solutions to personality problems as there are people ; and that personality problems cause the confusion we can see all around us.
In a way this is the kind of book almost everybody would have liked to have written. It's funny and frightening, cosmic and very personal, optimistic and despairing, totally objective but coloured with the writer's own impressions ; it's got prostitutes and saints, artists and barbarians, killing machines and lovers. In short, the stuff our world is made of. Roszak has beaten everybody else to such an ambitious work, but the next best thing to having written it is to read it.
JB,
Cheap culture
THE idea of spending your time in either London's theatreland or the aisles of the Albert Hall seems ridiculous from your pocket's point of view. It is indeed at first sight, but a second glance reveals entertainment well within the range of the student budget. The Aldwych, a venue for the RSC, and the National Theatre at the Old Vic, offer student "standby" reductions. This means that, on producing one of your many student cards, you can buy any seat in the house—either on the day of the performance for 90{» at the Aldwych, or one hour beforehand at the Old Vic for only 60p. But if this is still beyond you, there is always RADA up the road at Malet Street, opposite ULU Mausoleum, which is very cheap for the wide repertoire. All in all, I rate the Old Vic for its prices and informality—not to mention the basement-bars on whose TV late arrivals can watch the first act!	___
For music-lovers there are many unpricey lunchtime recitals, notably St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, where you can hear cryptic solos or duos every Monday and Tuesday at 1 p.m.^what's more admission is free! The same goes for concerts of our very own Music Society, which has an impressively large list of artists billed for the next two terms—watch for notices.
However, for music of a more juicy nature, the concert-halls are the only real resort. Although tickets for standing at the Albert Hall can be as little as 60p, 5'ou are left with only a pinhead view and, moreover, the acoustics do not make up for this. Cancellation tickets are usually available just before baton-down at the Festival Hall. The cheapest is rarely below 90p, but the sound is first-rate wherever you sit.
To sum up briefly, your musical as well as your dramatic tastes can be reconciled with your means if you are prepared to sift around the mixed-bag. The national dailies are bad guides for budget concerts, and ignore suburban theatres, but you can often spot a lucky winner in either the "Sunday Times" or "Observer Review." So good hunting!
The Communist Movement; Claudin
IN this volume, the first of three, Fernando Claudin elabcyates in grea;t' detail and at great length the history of the Communist Movement from the dissolution of the Third International in 1943 and the problems which preceded it to the death of Stalin. The author is primarily , concerned with uncovering the crises of international Communism aritT" the mistakes made therein. It is significant that he prefaces his work with a quotation from Lenin, namely, "We must not conceal our mistakes from the enemy. Anyone who is afraid of this is no revolutionary."
Claudin himself makes no secret of his past history and affiliations with the Party. Indeed, he was expelled from the Spanish Communist Party in 1965 after continual struggles with the leadership. Although critical of the Communist International Movement he remains ideologically Marxist and this explains the dialectical manner in which he approaches his writing. Throughout the work there lies a hope that out of the crisis of the International Communist Movement will arise a new revolutionary Marxist vanguard.
Claudin has written an important chronicle of the crisis years of the International Communist Movement, well documented and containing voluminous notes, and as such deserves reading. The most daunting prospect facing psosible readers must, however, be its price: £4.75 is rather extoTtionate for a paperback of its kind.
SD
One hell of a fi
PRANK (Warren Dates) and Roger (Peter Fonda) are friends and partners in a motorcycle shop called "Cycle World". They, together -with their wives,, set out for a cross country vacation through Texas. They decide to camp for the night by the banks of a stream. Their attention is caught by the antics of a group of strangely clad men and women. Closer observation reveals all (literally). A young girl is hoisted into the air then a tall figure emerges from the shadows, plunges a knife into her chest, and reaches deep into the wound to remove the still beating heart. All good family stuff this! Unfortunately Frank and Roger are spotted by the group and the chase across Texas begins.
The rest of the film is fairly predictable, i.e. one can expect to see more than one spectacular car chase. Nevertheless Richard Hel-mer's special effects deserve sonlu praise even if they are as old as the film industry itself! And to some extent they compensate for the weak, if not puerile, script by Joyce King.
The last sequence is rather chilling and I left the cinema feeling uneasy and annoyed, but this was mainly due to the fact that someone pinched my cigarettes. So if you are not holding on to your seat by the end of the film, make sure you are holding on to your bag.
C.L.
BEAVER. Nov. 4th. 1975—Page Eight
Wasting away
EVERYONE knows that uni-vetsities are currently under severe financial pressure, and consequently are being forced to do rather more with considerably less. At the LSE this has meant economies in almost all directions — in the general services provided, the size of the Student Union budget, the Athletic Union facilities, in books purchased for the Library (a j-eduction of 32.2 per cent in expenditure over the past two years), and so on. Staff cuts are just one aspect of this bleak and gloomy picture.
In all it's economic wisdom the School has a declared policy of "natural wastage" so, although the total reduction of all staff employed has been about 3.1 per cent, the reductions in certain areas, where working conditions ensure a high turnover of staff, have been of the order of 12 to 14 per cent. And which areas are these? No prizes for guessing — the
Library and the catering services.
Let's face it. Academic Stafi' have a knack of retaining their position and numbers; in the past year, their total number has declined by the devastating amount of 1, from 303 to 302. In the Library, on the other hand, the number has fallen from 75 to 65 (a reduction of 13.33 per cent) and most of those cuts have come in the "library assistant" and "library assistant Grade 3" range. Could this have anything to do with the queues in the Teaching Library almost every lunchtime, or the increasing unavailability of books in the Main Library? In the catering department the picture is much the same; of the 11.9 per cent reduction, this is mainly a decline in counter-hands and porters (though an increase in the waitress service!).
And how much longer does this go on? This point was raised at a recent Undergraduate Studies Committee, but no reply was forthcoming. Apparently we can all go on wasting until we waste away!
NT
Floppy Rag?
DICK SALES SPEAKS :
"WELL, folks, time drags on and we've only got until the 5th Dec. to get the thing together. What have we got so far — a lot of ideas but very little concrete work done. Reaction so far has been pretty well non-existent. For years people have been criticisirrg the LSE as being dead, and here is the golden opportunity for the average non-political, beer-swilling, fornicating student to do something which we're all supposedly in favour of. What happens — sweet F.A.!!
"Here are just a few of the things we hope to put on — a revue a ball with real DANCE bands, a bar night with cheap beer, free music and a king-size darts and table-football competition, a street carnival/fair and a silly, piss-about "sports" match against King's. Sounds good doesn't it! Well, why don't a few of you lazy bastards do some bloody work towards it?
I hope I have made the point that help is needed, so please come and contact me through the Union Office, and let's do something properly (for once).
14+ trial
ON Monday, 27th October, a picket was called by the LSE "ad-hoc" BWNIC Defence Group, and, at very short notice, some 30 odd people came along. On arrival, they were told by the Police that they could not stand outside the court itself, but would have to go 100 yards up the road, outside the public toilets. Although the picket then passed off smoothly, it hardly had mass attendance. So perhaps the most important lesson learned on Monday, was the need for closer links between our plans and those of other sections of the Student and Labour movements.
An ideal opportunity for this is offered by the mass picket of the court, organised by the BWNIC Defence Labour move-
ment, on November 20th. Trade Union branches, trade councils, and constituency Labour Parties in the whole of the London area have been contacted, as well as the Student Movement and Left groups. A delegation of Labour MPs and Trade Union leaders, including Charles Clarke, president . of the NUS, will be taking a letter from the picket to Downmg Street, expressing the disgust of the Student and Labosr movement with the trial of the 14.
The LSE "ad-hoc" BWNIC Defence Group meets on Fridays, 1 pm in S.177, and everyone is welcome to come and discuss how we can build for this picket, and best defend our fellow-gtudent, Paul Foot, and his 13 comrades.
Lonely Aliens
IN view of the poor attendance at the Overseas Student Committee on October 22iid, it seems necessary to communicate information about foreign students through the wider contact of Beaver.
The issue of higher fees for foreigners has been fairly well publicised but there remain even more basic problems. It is sometimes asked why foreigners are not more forthcoming, particularly in the political activity of LSE. Certainly they face problems of visas, work-permits, and must carry a police permit known as the "Alien Registration Card", which creates a reluctance to participate in public demonstrations which might attract police attention, and believing themselves thus to be isolated, internalise these problems, reinforcing their own loneliness.
But British students must also take part of the blame; how many of them could, but do not, offer to take a student home for the holidays, especially when the alternative for the foreign student, if living in a hall of residence which closes over Christmas, is to pay
£2 per night to pass away a season of festivity locked up in a hostel or boarding-house.
Often the older foreign student is married, and thus under increased pressure so that, for the accompanying wife or husband there is virtually no opportunity to share his or her spouse's life. If children are in schools or nurseries, the spouse has to seek employment permits without formal assistance from any institution. Further, there is the question of examinations and reading in a foreign language—no small trauma for anyone!
If you dislike or want to change this situation, there will be a work ing party In the TV Room on November 18th. Bring your drinks and sandwiches, and meet other students to exchange ideas and launch a constructive programme for the year.
Elana Ehrlich
(Welfare Officer)
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ANYONE INTERESTED m
forming an Entertainments Society aimed at providing a service to students in advising on London Entertainments, prices, quality, availability of tickets etc., please meet Mike Stubbs in the Ents room, S118 at 1.00 pm on Friday, November 14th. Could be good — yeah ?
Lonely in London ?
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31 OCT if?!
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Welfare
EVERY half term we have a play-gi'oup for kids on holiday. If you like playing with Lego, painting, reading stories or doing Nature study (say no more), then please come and tell us. LSE is going to have a nursery next to the White Horse pub (handy for the kids!), opening soon and we need people to help in getting names together of interested parents, and generally publicising it. We need people to raise money for the CES nursery, which we use, so if you can run a disco, jumble sale, or organise a pop festival, then you're WANTED! Presumably most of you can read, but not all LSE students can; no, it's not a sudden increase in LSE student illiteracy, but because we have a number of blind students •who need reading to. We have meetings to attend, conferences to go to, accommodation and jobs to find, a community room to run, to name only a few of the things the Welfare Office in SlOO does. What we need is people who can spare an hour or so a week, to help out and organise things. So next time you're on your vi'ay to Plorries, please come in and make yourself known — there's lots to do, and we need lots more people to do it!
R. COOPER,
Exec; Member (Welfare)
SSCs
THE machinery of the StafE-Stu-dent Committees is at last beginning to pick up some speed. Wonder of wonders, some departments have even held a meeting and the following are those to be held in the near future:
Law; 6th Nov.
Sociology; 4th Nov.
Geog.; 5th Nov.
Int. Reilations: 6th Nov.
Apparently, the Administrative Secretary of the Philosophy Department is leaving and so the arrangements for a meeting of the SSC is up to the Students — you have been warned.
The date of the Undergraduate Studies Committee still hasn't been definitely fixed, but reasonably reliable sources think it to be November 5th. It is important that each department should elect a representative to this committee, so make sure this has been done. If you have any problems or queries, do get in touch with Ken Hulme, the Academic Affairs Officer on the Executive.
S.D.
THIS "Beaver" was produced by Sheree Dodd, Mary Butter-worth, Mac MacDonald, Richard Blackett, Nikki Tait, with help from Mungo Deans, Anton Chapman, Wynn Tollman, Claire Lynch, Julia Davenport, Munju Taylor and friend etc. Thanks also to the Women's Group.
All opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writers.
© London School of Economics and Students' Union, 1975.
Printed by Ripley Printers Ltd., Ripley, Dei^by. Published by London School of Economic.^ and Political Science, Students' Union, St. Clement's Buildings, Glaremarket, London, WC2A 2AE.