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NEWSPAPER OF THE STUDENTS' UNION NOVEMBER 23rd, 1961 THREEPENCE
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LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS & POLITICAL SCIENCE - UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
MISS LSE	BACK PAGE
A VIEW ON PRESS	COUNCILS
	PAGE TWO
CUBA —OPINIONS	
PAGE THREE	
"KING OF KINGS	II
	PAGE FOUR
LSE PROMINENT AT MARGATE
DRAMA SOCIETY ATTEMPTS STREETCAR' AND 'ANTIGONE'
The Drama Society attempt this year two different and difficult productions. They bring Tennessee Williams to the Old Theatre in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and have the privilege of being the first to produce Christopher Logue's 'Antigone'.
The producer of 'Street Car' Mike Lucas, reports that he expects a very good effort indeed from a really first-class cast. From information picked up during rehearsals, the transparent gauze will be in-
May Clarke as Stella
sufficient to mask the power, the dialogue and the sexual symbolism of the play. May Clarke, a fresher, plays Stella, Stanley Kowalski's wife, the husband being portrayed by the irrepressible Graham Buckley. Jeannette Weitz as Blanche should convince, in a difficult role. The supporting cast is good and the music should be a highlight of the production.
Mr. Logue
It is a pity that Tennessee Williams cannot be present at the performance! But Christopher Logue will be there to find out what he really meant when he wrote the modern
version of Sophocles 'Antigone'.
The veteran Liz Swain plays the title role. A newcomer, Stanley Katz, does Creon and from all reports he should excel. Haemon is played by Lawrence Isaacson and Tessa Blackstone plays Is-
Liz Swain, right, as Antigone
mene. The supporting cast includes yet another fresher, Brian Meadows.
Potential
'Antigone' is produced by Kishore Bhimani. He reports cryptically, "there is a lot of potential and we hope to exploit it'.
Experimental?
Set in modern times 'Antigone' assumes the nature of almost an experimental play. Machine-guns, a chain-smoking Creon and earthy metaphors make it a great play of the past, but by no means out of date.
Trophy Winners?
Both plays are entered for the national competitions and will be produced at the end of this month or the beginning of the next. We wish them every success.

PRESS COUNCIL MOTION THROUGH CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS DEBATED
Graham Buckley, Stanley
Jeannette Weitz, Blanche
The LSE delegation at the NUS Annual Council Meeting had to fight to restore democratic procedure in it.
"At first the Executive showed great power to influence the passing of motions", said Union President, Tom Evans.
"The floor was lacking in initiative, drive and imagination.
"There was general dissatisfaction at this; we felt that something must be done.
"The LSE and some other delegations worked against the situation", Tom said. "By the later stages of the conference we had marked success in returning the initiative to the floor".
An LSE motion crticising the Executive was passed — after the Executive had amended it,
J
Amended Criticism
The motion passed read, "Council, recognising the unique ability of the Executive to obtain information about student affairs abroad, and reaffirming the responsibility of the Executive to Council, asks that the Executive should present all available facts relevant to their international motions at Council".
It had originally called on the Executive to present the relevant facts to constituent Unions as soon as possible, and said that Council felt that the responsibility of the Executive to present a full factual background to Council when presenting a motion had occasionally been forgotten.
Executive Responsibility
An LSE motion to establish a Student Press Council to facilitate and improve student journalism was carried after a good debate in which it had great support.
NEWS FLASHES
The Men's Hockey Club beat University College for the second time in tWo weeks when they beat them 3-0 in the first round of the University Cup competition. Scorers were our University players Wagle (2) and de Villiers.
The game was hard and well played, but insufficient use was made of the wings. Some of Wagle's brilliant runs brought the UC defence to panic stations; for the first ten minutes of the second half in particular UC rarely looked dangerous.
The match was a considerable improvement over that on the previous Saturday against Queen's College, Oxford, when a team very much weakened in defence lost 4-1 after an inept performance. Only Burrows, at left-half, had a good game.
On a poor pitch LSE only managed to win by 1-0 their second match in the University League, against UC 2nd
XI. Lack of decisive clearing and finishing were apparent. Nevertheless, LSE go forward with maximum points, if somewhat shakily. The goal was scored by left-back Scott from a short corner.
KENYA APPEAL
The famine in Kenya is reaching very severe proportions. Help is urgently needed. It has been decided to launch a Kenya and Tanganyika Fund so that LSE may be able to contribute to the effort to alleviate the starvation and misery that accompanies famine. Will all those who would like to help with ideas, collections or any other way, please contact me or Mr. P. K. C. Atuwo of the African Society.
The Students' Union is also expected to take up the matter officially.
We ask that everybody contribute as much as possible to the Fund.
Two other LSE motions were passed. One recommended that sixth formers should have pre-University courses so that they should be well orientated before beginning higher education.
The other sought to promote greater participation by students in non-university education. This seems particularly relevant after recent allegations that many LSE students take correspondence courses (see p.2), although the motion was not directed at that.
Southampton
One of the most important and controversial motions was tabled by the University of Southampton. It envisaged the reconstitution of the structure of the NUS on a federal basis. The motion was strongly debated, and eventually rejected.
An emergency motion expressing concern "lest the provisions of the proposed Immigration Bill should adversely affect the free entry of overseas students wishing to study in this country" was carried. The Executive was instructed to unequivocally oppose any such effects.
There was a long constitutional wrangle on a motion to approve the "recent action of teacher training students in their support of the Teachers' Professional Salary fight", and to pledge the Council's suppon to teacher training students who declined to stand in for teachers who had withdrawn their labour. The motion was eventually ruled out of order.
Emigration Bill
International motions carried included two expressing concern at the continued oppression of Angolan students by the Portuguese authorities, and at the fact that six months elapsed before the Czechoslovakian authorities revealed that Dieter Koniecki, Vice-President of the International Federation of Liberal Students who disappeared in Berlin, had been gaoled for ten years.
Another hoped for the emergence of a unified and universal student movement.
The LSE delegation arrived home on Monday evening, exhausted because the Sunday evening session of the Council ran until 2 a.m. on Monday, and was followed by more strenuous debating that day.
The delegation consisted of Tom Evans, Sally Aubin. Allan Segal, Des Jones and Dave Packard.
"We played a big part in the Council, considering that there were 200 delegations there", said Ton'. Evans.
2
BEAVER
November 23rd, 1961
PRESIDENT'S
COLUMN
leaver— 14
I !
Editor : Kishore Bhiinani Assoc. Editor : Jon Azrael Sub-Editors : Mark Harris, Mike Cunningham News : Pat Tan, David Rudnick Features : Jacqueline Fisher, J. Bevin
Sports ; Dave Sheasby Arts : Mark Diokson, Barry Tomalin Business : Mike Keenoy Circulation : Graham Stevens Photos : John Davenport
Staff : Margaret Garey^ Hallina Grubert^ Gillen Kirkwood
Correspondence Courses
It was distressing to read about 'rumours' of LSE. students resorting to correspondence courses, in a leading newspaper last Sunday. In an effort to present a student viewpoint, opinions were sought and forthcoming. Categorical assertions on the subject cannot be made. We felt, however, that there were several reasons why a student might be tempted to turn to a postal course, and that none of them were relevant to the absence of institutional facilities.
For a student of limited endeavours, the question-answer nature of a correspondence course, precludes the necessity of comprehensive research on the topic. It seems a generally accepted fact that a student with any academic ambitions can, if he wishes, follow the large number of general and specialised lectures and further intensify his studies by attending the classes, which are in any case compulsory.
The vast and diffused nature of the institution and the relative insignificance of the student personality often serve to dampen enthusiasm and create a 'get-through-the-exam' mentality.
The absence of a university atmosphere, the harsh realities of the city of London, and the large number of distractions, financial, accommodational or otherwise, create an environment one might reasonably call unique. And although it calls for every ounce of effort and stoicism, it might very , often not materialise and the second best is easily accepted.
^
LSE goes to the polls again next week. The vice-presidential elections constitute the first of the Council appointments. It is hoped that when comments like 'the best man won' are uttered, it really is so, and that the maximum number of people exercise their right of casting a vote.
LETTERS
COMMEMORATION BALL
Dear Sir,
I would like to draw your attention to the uncalled-for splash attributed to the Commemoration Ball in the last issue of the 'Beaver'.
Although it is the social event of the year, a relatively small number of people participate in it and as such, a large number of people feel
TO THE
that it was a very disproportionate instance of journalistic 'pegging'.
Apart from the fact that the articles were lacking in any sort of general interest or literary merit, it was a violation on any other topic of interest which might have been included.
Is the 'Beaver' to remain a mere glorified publicity institution or will it ever assume the standard of a university magazine of repute?
Yours,
M.S.
It is in an effort to prevent the 'Ball' being an affair of 'a relatively small number of people' that a campaign to popularise it was undertaken. 'Disproportionate instance' and 'journalistic pegging' are self-contradictory. As for the 'literary merit'^ it could have been written in blank verse, but we preferred it prosaic. All articles of standard on any 'topic of interest' are
The publication of this Column comes in the middle of a very busy period for the Students' Union. Last week WUS International Week; at the weekend the NUS conference took place in Margate; finally tomorrow evening sees The Royal Festival Hall filled with the LSE students (plus) on the occasion of the Commem. Ball.
To begin with, WUS week went off with a tremendous swing. The interest and enthusiasm shown by the WUS Committee was reflected in the enjoyable week it turned out to be. I should like to thank everybody involved, on the WUS Committee, and from the societies which turned out to lend a hand. Particularly, perhaps, our thanks are due to those brave and charming girls who took part in the Miss LSE Competition.
NUS
At the time of writing, it is impossible to say anything about the NUS Conference, since the difficulties of printing (or perhaps the 'Beaver' Editor?) dictate that the Column should bs submitted a week before publication. However, a full report should be submitted to Union next week.
The Commem. Ball needs little comment, except to say that tomorrow the highlight of the social year takes place.
Elections
In addition, nominations for election to Council for the next two Terms close on Monday. The elections take place at the beginning of next week. This is, of course, an important time for the successful functioning of the Students' Union, and I hope that it will
EDITOR
published and more are always welcome.—EDITOR.
LETHARGY
Dear Sir,
As an aggrieved newcomer to the School, may I point out that apart from the enrolment spree at the beginning of term very little activity is displayed by a number of the societies, and all the promises and plans don't seem to materialise.
In a large institution of this kind we look with great expectations to political seminars and activities of general interest but it is difficult to discover anything of value.
Yours,	'FRESHER'
Once you have been here long enough the problem will be one of what not to do. Keep an eye on the 'today's events' board.—EDITOR.
We have received a number of other comments, and they will be printed at the earliest opportunity.
Tom Evans
receive the appropriate priority, it deserves and needs, in your minds.
Maiden
Yesterday the Rugby Club played a very important Cup game against UCL. Although it is somewhat posthumous (?), may I wish them all the best and put in a plea for their future games. It makes a tremendous difference, when playing a competitive sport, to have support along the lines. Although
The ' American ' Way
The idea of a Press Council uniting most of the College newspapers in Britain in an exchange of views and facts has been a subject of great interest before the National Union of Students meeting, which ended this week at Margate.
The attempt to give the student press in this country some sort of national context stems, it seems, from a deep desire on the part of many British student editors to achieve the professionalism which is almost universally lacking in their publications. And although it might be a minor blow to their nationalistic pride, most editors quickly admit that they would like to approach the degree of organisation and importance which many American college papers maintain,
American Press
The position of the American college press is indeed an envious one. The main reason, although by no means the only one, for this jealous gleam in the eyes of the British editor is dollars, lots of them.
By comparison to their English counterparts, the American college newspapers are loaded. Nearly all the campus publications in the States receive generous grants from the university administration, and all of the bigger papers supplement these funds with a vigorous and successful canvassing of out-
Maiden is a long way out, the AU are prepared to make it as easy as possible to get there. This indeed could be the answer to those who breathe only Houghton Street air and who miss meeting people. Anyway, I hope some of you will pop down to Maiden to give your fellows a cheer occasionally.
Dram. Soc.
Whilst I am in the mood, may I also give a plug to another reliant on popular support, the Dram. Soc., for their forthcoming production.
I think that it is a very important feature of university life to realise some sort of identification with the corporate activities going on around you. The Dram. Soc. have, for many years, set a high standard of enthusiasm and production, both in the School and on their foreign tours. All of these societies and activities contribute to the name by which LSE is so well known, and it might be just as well to find out who you are. Go to see their next production. I am sure you will enjoy it!
side advertisers. As a result, the majority of college newspapers in the USA are published at least every week, and some even daily.
Advantages
A few papers, for example the daily publication of Dartmouth College, have a 'natural' advantage. Since the college is located in a sparsely populated area of New England, the 'Dartmouth' is the major newspaper in that section, and thus maintains a wide circulation outside the college community itself. Like many such papers it carries international and national news as well as reports of strictly local events.
NSA
Add to these advantages a staff of reporters some of whom are majoring in the field of journalism, a National Student Association which supplies reams of news releases about anything from Freedom Riders to football games, and hundreds of agencies buffetting the editor's desk with loads of beautiful photographs and well-written copy, and one can see why the British editor feels a bit frustrated.
Ideas like the Press Council are vitally important, even if they aren't championed with immediate and startling success, for they are certainly a move in the direction of realising the potential dormant in British college newspapers.
College Newspapers in USA
November 23rd, 1961
BEAVER
3
An Enquiry though Opinion
Thomas
@ Fidel Castro is interested not only in his position within Cuba, but in his influence throughout the world, especially in South America.
This was stated by author Hugh Thomas when he reported on his recent visit to Cuba, in the Research Common Room last week.
"He has already spoken of transforming the Andes into another Sierra Maestra (Castro's guerillas' mountain base)", said Mr. Thomas.
Mr. Thomas characterised the Cuban Revolution as a constantly changing phenomenon, For example, in 1959 Castro called the revolution 'humanist", while he now refers to it as "socialist". The July 26 celebrations this year were described as the first "socialist" 26th of July in Cuba, and Cuba was called the first "socialist" country in America. It is a socialist country in the style of the Iron Curtain countries, differing from them only because of its geographical location and the Cuban character.
Elections
Castro's policy about elections has also changed greatly. In 1959 he promised elections within 18 months. In 1961, after the invasion, he revoked this statement, declaring his fear of political corruption in electoral campaigns, and pointing out that Cubans themselves, in mass meetings, have declared that they do not desire elections.
Mr. Thomas thinks that Castro does not want elections at present because he is interested in the consolidation of his revolution through a state dictatorship. He considers Castro a political genius who utilises his long speeches to interpret governmental policies to the Cuban people.
Fidel Castro is not a communist, said Mr. Thomas, but the Cuban Communist Party (PSP) does control the ideology and administration in Cuba today. The leaders of the PSP, such as Carlos Rafael Rodriguez and Juan Marinello who were Cabinet Ministers during Batista's presidential term 1940-44, did not in fact join Castro's revolutionary group until 1958. In 1959 there was an open dispute between Revolucion, the 26th of July newspaper, and Hoy, the communist newspaper.
The Press
The press in Cuba is completely controlled by the government. A questioner asked whether, if a conflict arose on a major political issue between Castro and the PSP, Castro would be able to win. Mr. Thomas thought that he would, citing in his favour the literacy campaign being carried out in Cuba.
Mr. Thomas considers that the Cuban economy is controlled by the state, since 85% of her industry and 50% of her land is managed directly by it, the land through state farms, not co-operatives. The country's natural resources, plus massive Soviet aid, have helped to maintain a high economic level in Cuba.
The emigration of the managerial and professional class has not paralysed the economy, he said.
Trade
The present shortages of food and imports will probably be overcome during
TWO VIEWS
1962, Cuba's "Year of Planning". Mr. Thomas considers it possible that in 1963 Cuba may become the showcase of Soviet economy.
The development of trade with the Soviet bloc was motivated by the freezing of trade with the United States, and the curtailment of that with other Western nations. Mr. Thomas thought that Castro has not been eager to promote a reconciliation with the U.S.
Communism in Cuba
He said, in reply to questions, that the discipline and organisation of the PSP had achieved the control of Cuba. He considered that the triumph of Communism in Cuba had been encouraged by the United States, but events within Cuba towards the end of 1959 determined the communist path of the revolution.
Mr. Thomas emphasised two aspects of the revolution as being very positive. First, the literacy campaign which aims to eliminate the illiteracy of 40 per cent, of the population in one year; and second, the raising of the standard of living of the rural population achieved since the revolution.
Justice
The administration of justice in Cuba is "terrible", said Mr. Thomas. He cited the trial of Huber Matos, head of the revolutionary army in Camaguey in 1959, when he was gaoled for 20 years without any proof, merely because he was opposed to the appointment of communists to the military command of Camaguey.
Another Visit?
Mr. Thomas was asked whether he would be able to return to Cuba after speaking at LSE. He answered that British subjects are not restricted from visiting Cuba.
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Presented on this page are two diverging views on the topical and controversial subject of the economic and political significance of the revolution within Cuba and its repercussions. Mrs. Rob'nson's rscent treatment of the subject at the London School of Economics comes into focus and meets with various degrees of appreciation and criticism.
The views of Mr. Hugh Thomas featured in the other article, also come under the microscope of the insatiable quest for political enquiry.
Cuba was an important feature in international diplomacy not very long ago and it continues to hold a vital place in the ideological warfare. Is Castro a genuine revolutionary or a power-crazed and power-corrupted adventurer? We can merely hear from those who know and form our own opinions.
Mrs. Robinson
9 If prominent economists come to address the School through the auspices of the Economics Society we, as economic students, have the right to expect some perceptive analysis and a reasonable attempt at truth from them, instead of a jumble of personal impressions, irrelevant anecdotes and misleading answers to our questions.
This is all the more essential when discussing such important tapics as Cuba, and Mrs. Joan Robinson should have been informed of the serious nature of her commitment before being invited to talk on this subject.
Cold War?
In her talk last Thursday she attempted to disarm her critics by accusing them of cold-warmongering, whereas she alone resorted to this cheap political device as a means of evading the questions put to her.
May I, as a visitor to Cuba more recently than Mrs. Robinson and as one who knows the Spanish language colloquially and can thus read official Cuban publications, answer some of the questions she failed to answer.
In response to the question of 'bureaucracy' she retorted that Cuba needs more bureaucracy. In this she is strongly at issue with Fidel Castro himself, for in a speech to the bank workers in Havana on October 3, 1961, he attack-
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that most students take out Life or Endowment insurance shortly after graduating.
IT IS NOT WELL KNOWN that undergraduates may enjoy the full benefits of insurance upon terms within a student's means.
FOR DETAILS of what a modest monthly outlay can provide, write to
D. S. Morris, 26 Cheyne Walk, S.W3.
ed the growth of bureaucracy in Cuba. He mentioned 8,000 bureaucrats who are drawing salaries and doing no work, while others kill themselves with overwork.
In reply to the question on available tanker fleets, Mrs. Robinson should know that at least 150,000 tons of British and Greek tonnage have been made available to Russia, in
ON CUBA
addition to Russia's own tanker fleet, to carry Russian oil to Cuba.
Mrs. Robinson was at her most evasive and cold-warmongering worst on the question of absenteeism among Cuban workers. This is a serious problem in Cuba, sufficiently so for the Cuban government to have called a national conference on absenteeism at Banta on September 14, 1961.
Questions
If she had given correct answers to her questioners, and had painted a more accurate impression of Cuba's revolution, one wonders whether the applause she received at the end of her talk would have been quite so enthusiastic. Most of it came from the students from under-developed countries. They should take more heed of Mrs. Robinson's words on the incomparably favourable assets with which Cuba starts out on her road to economic progress, and less to her misleading comparisons with India and Africa.
If they are socialists, they should learn from her remarks that socialism came about almost over night, and that Cuba by a 'political accident' switched from economic dependence upon the USA
to economic dependence on the USSR, and they should ask themselves whether India, Africa, Indonesia or Brazil could ever benefit from such an un-Marxist or un-Leninist road to socialism. That such a politically accidental switch was in no small way due to the American government I have no doubt, nor do I doubt that Castro could have prevented it.
Cuban Socialism
This political accident, plus the fact that Cuba is now largely state-planned, seems to be the only evidence upon which Mrs. Robinson can draw in defence of her definition of Cuba as socialist, or moving towards socialism.
Such a socialism, achieved without the Cuban working class, which is still not allowed to take part in it, and in which the Cuban people as a whole have no part in planning their road ahead, can only, by its complete divorce of economic means from political ends, lead to a continued and greater outflow of refugees, and at some point in the future to the start of perhaps a really socialist revolution.
Unless lessons are learned from Cuba's mistakes, in the words of the Guevara, dark days await the Latin-American continent. Mrs. Robinson should at least do something to try and enlighten its peoples.
N. P. Howard
"A
STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE"
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1
4
BEAVER
November 23rd, 1961
SERMON IN CINEMASCOPE
KING
of
KINGS
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The
Unauthorised
Version
To make a motion picture about the life of Christ need not be a wrong thing to do; but to make a 70mm. super-technirama epic filled with thousands of extras and featuring a nymphet Salome and an Ivy League Jesus is verging on blasphemy.
The producer and scriptwriter of this film, however well-intentioned they might
be, simply have no conception of the significance of Jesus Christ to the Christian faith. He is portrayed as a great teacher and prophet, a healer of the sick, a man who calls
"Let all things be done decently and in order".
Epistle to Corinthians 14, 40
God His Father but there is no allusion throughout the film to any concept of the Holy Trinity or to Christ being Divine. Perhaps it would have rendered their task more impossible to attempt to bring home to their audience this
ROMAN TWILGHT


Julian (Joseph O'Connor) and Serena (Josephine Wilson) in B. C. Sheriff's play at the Mermaid Theatre
"Like Pilgrims to the appointed place we tend
Life's an inn, and death the journey's end . .
Famed for his brilliant play "The Journey's End", one might have expected as great a dramatic content in Mr. Sheriff's later play. In "The Long Sunset", however, all that seems to stand out is a few well-written speeches well delivered, a few directional touches, and little else.
The brochure tells Us that the ending seems to touch, once again on the theme of the futility of the journey or at least on the pathos of its termination. It is, however, with a sense of anti-climax
that one observes the play end on the note of a commercial. It is a matter of conjecture whether the author intended the play to end in such a manner, but someone definitely went wrong. All action stopped and one was faced with the spectacle of a disbeliever, turning to God as the last resort. Nothing amiss about this, except that there was never anything in the plot to lead up to it.
The commanding voice of Arthur is convincing, so are the sets, but very little else is. The music is superb, but the action does not live up to it.
KB
most fundamental point of the Christian's theology in such a brash commercial setting.
"Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the oith", says Jeffrey Hunter and on the strength of his performance it would be presumptuous to try and portray Christ as a great prophet let alone as a supernatural being. The words of the Gospel are rendered meaningless, delivering them as he does with neither feeling nor great comprehension. No matter how much Mr. Bronston assures us of Mr. Hunter's great integrity and humility, any true humility would have led him to refuse the part.
The true star of the film is not Jesus but Barrabas who, according to the Gospels is a mere thief sentenced to be crucified at the same time as Jesus, but according to Mr. Bronston, he is a fiery Judean nationalist leader who heads a revolt against the Romans which precipitates the crucifixion of Christ.
Perhaps this divergence from the Scripture can be
excused on the expedient grounds that it provides some excellent opportunities for pitched battles between Romans and Jews to provide some exciting relief from the more conventional aspects of the story.
Judas does not betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver but
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal".
Epistle to Romans 13, 1
as former follower of the 'Jewish Garibaldi', Barrabas, he feels that Jesus, to prove that He is the Son of God, will now have his hand forced and save not only himself but also deliver the Jewish nation from the tryranny of the pagans. In fact, as the film progresses, one begins to wonder whether the script-writer has ever consulted his Bible at all before setting his pen to paper.
Many people might feel that a film such as this will do much to present religion in an acceptable and easily
digestible form to many young people who would otherwise be ignorant of it. These are largely the people who advocate rock-and-roll versions of the Nativity story or that the Ten Commandments should vie for a place in the Hit
Parade.
? ? ?
Do we really have to lower ourselves to the point where religion has to sink to the degrading level of Elvis Presley in order to compete with him? Many clergymen seem to think so, quite apart from the producers of this film.
But leaving aside for the moment, if possible, the religious implications involved, the film is loud, brassy and nauseating. The quasi-religious music is of the sort guaranteed to provide a headache within half an hour and one wishes that the 'choir' of 'angels' would, for once, accept their eternal rest.
The only advice that I can give to you, the prospective viewer of this 'epic', is that your time might be better spent reading the book of the film.
Mark Dickson
S t r i c 11 y for the Birds
To criticise the deficiencies of "Francis of Assisi" is automatically to suggest that in some respect it has merit. Cinematically indifferent, dis-. regarding the potentialities of wide screen photography and colour, "Francis" is one of the shabbiest examples of cheap Hollywood glamour that I have seen for a long time.
If the New Testament can be re-written for film production little hope remains for the son of a bourgeois cloth merchant, but the substance of Louis de Wohl's novel has been obliterated leaving a plaster saint in place of one of the oddest and most exciting men who ever lived. Insipidly played by Bradford Dillman, Francis, 'gay-lad' son of a wealthy merchant, dissatisfied with life joins the crusades with a friend. Count Paolo de Vandria (Stuart Whitman), but feels almost
psychically the compulsion towards religion inbred in him by his devout mother.
On the way to battle he hears a voice telling him to lay down his sword and build, so he deserts. Here is the basis of a conflict between Paolo, short-sighted and worldly, and Francis, earthily courageous and spiritually ambitious, which could be effectively exploited but which is allowed to crystallise into a struggle over a girl, the Lady Clare (Dolores Hart), in love with Francis and loved by
Paolo.
? ? ?
There follows a notorious scene in which Clare sighs, "When I am dancing with him (Francis) it is like dancing with a ghost": at which Paolo, crude seducer but gallant, whips her off to the nearest ante-chamber and in the inevitable clinch, growls, "It's no ghost that's kissing you now". "Please take me home!" cries Clare. Really, at
times this film reminds me irresistibly of "Where the Boys Are".
Francis builds churches, founds an Order, leaves it to remonstrate with the Turks, nurses a girl burned as a result of the crusaders' excesses in Damiotta (perhaps the one effective bit of cinema in the whole film), reforms his Order, becomes a hermit, receives the stigmata and dies; with Dillman showing saintly bewilderment, faith, and trusting love ("Hello, Brother Duck!"), at appropriate moments.
Francis of Assisi, described as 'The Rising Star of the Renaissance', is portrayed as a characterless medievalist^ blessed with the epitaph, "The lark who flies high, and falls, falls to the beloved mother earth below". Let us face it Producer Skouras — This film never got off the ground.
Barry Tomalin
November 23rd, 1961
BEAVER
LSE ATHLETIC SUCCESSES IN GERMANY
# Football stars are Habeshaw, Hoyle and Robinson; Webster top athlete •
Several LSE sports teams again visited Mannheim University, Germany,, this year. Except for table-tennis, which invariably fails to make good on its foreign visits, the results were extremely praiseworthy.
The football club beat Mannheim by 4 goals to 1, in a hard-fought, if somewhat bitter, game. The 'bitter' also came before the match, when,
on the previous night, our soccer players were liberally supplied with German beer.
If the Mannheim students had never heard of 'Newcastle Brown', at least this did not prevent them from providing excessive quantities of beer and wine to the first eleven members. If you were not in the 1st XI then you had to purchase the stuff yourself but this meritocratic discrimination did not prevent our soccer team from accepting everything that was put before them until most sank gently to the floor in an excess of pre-match nerves.
Hat-trick
The game itself proved remarkably successful for LSE,
considering the state of several players the night before.
Outstanding players were Habeshaw, who scored a hat-trick, Hoyle, who played an exceptionally brilliant game in goal, and a new stand-in fullback, Robinson, who, with strong tackling and quick anticipation, proved a noticeable deputy for the regular back.
The Germans were unable to contain P. Blood who frequently dribbled right through the opposition defence.
Seeing double
Jacobson scored LSE's other goal. At the same time he was seeing double owing to a hefty clout on the side of the face from a large German boot. Luckily he picked the correct goal and scored without trouble.
The football team thus repeated last year's success at Berrylands, when they won 5-4.
The athletics team, also experienced notable success, in both field and track events.
Ran well
In the 3 x 1,000 metres relay, Healey and Bagshaw ran the first two legs well enough to give Gus Schumacher — a 1.52 half miler — an easy final run.
In the continental relay, the Schumacher - Treacher - de-Boltho - Edwards quartet took LSE to another comfortable victory. The track events thus proved an easy win for the School.
In the long jump John Weir just managed to clinch first place by an inch over his German rival. Adrian Treacher was third in this event, also after a hard fight, with the German who finished
fourth.
t
No trouble
The javelin and discus events were both taken by Webster without any trouble. This was a truly excellent performance, and it clinched the victory for LSE in the field events.
Compared with the match against Mannheim last year, LSE had considerable success.
Mannheim were probably not so well-represented, but, more important, LSE have greatly improved. Athletes like Schumacher and Webster provided a cheering lead to the School's consistent but more average performers. Revenge for last year's defeat was accordingly taken.
Unprintable ?
Perhaps the table-tennis result is better left unprinted, but the Mannheim University team is one of the top college table-tennis teams in Germany. The result of 15-1 in Mannheim's favour was, however, an improvement on last year, when the result read 16-0.
On the social side the Mannheim visit appears to have been a little mixed. The soccer players had plenty of beer before the game, but towards the end of the visit many of our delegation were buying their own meals.
Sightseeing
Sightseeing tours were not planned and the visits to places of interest, like Heidelberg, were spoilt by weather and lack of organisation. The trip appears to have been rather dull from the point of
ROUND-UP of SATURDAY'S SPORT
Football
1st XI beat Trinity College Cambridge by 5 goals to 3. Sabeshaw scored yet another hat trick. This was a very good win in view of the fact that Trinity are the best Cambridge college team this year. Perhaps at last the 1st XI football team have overcome their bad patch. The 2nd XI lost to St. John's College, [Cambridge, by 2 goals to 1 in spite of a storming game by B. Cranage.
Cross Country
Nov. 18th. Beat Queen's College, Oxford, and Goldsmiths College, London, by a good 15 or 20 points. Nov. 12th. Lost to Shoreditch.
view of social entertainment. The sight of steadily falling rain and several hundred American soldiers — also attempting to make some form of entertainment—made many wish that the trip could be a little shorter in duration.
Ties
Others fell back on the well-known but always pleasantly agreeable task of buying ties. Apparently the range of design was endless and the prices noticeably cheap.
This report is only based on the general remarks made by those who went on the trip. In spite of the rather uneventful social side, the visit was a noticeable success for LSE sportsmen. It is extremely pleasing to be able to report such a successful series of events.
Ambitious
The Mannheim trip is one of the most ambitious of LSE's sporting schemes. Visits to foreign universities not only provide the opportunity to see places and things of interest, they are also a welcome break in the middle of the term. The spirit of such trips, and this applies to rugby and cricket tours, is anti-
Rugby
1st XV beat Queen's, Oxford, 27-0 (A, Thomas scored 3 tries).
2nd XV won.
Runners Stay Ahead
The cross country team continues to put up good performances both in their own events and in their contribution to the London University running section.
Bagshaw and Heck continue to dominate the team's performance with Terry Harvatt, another athlete hailing from Sheffield, providing consistently strong support. In the 'Poly-mob' match Bagshaw was placed 4th and Heck 6th. Heck was placed 7th in the match between London and Cambridge and in the fourth division Harvatt was an easy winner. Both Schumacher and Smith ran into good places for the London 'fourths'.
Heck has now really hit top form. He ran an excellent race against United Hospitals at Barnet, smashing the course record by 20 seconds.
Every team has its bad moments and it appears for the cross country team such a moment was the Exeter relay match on Saturday, Nov. 4th. LSE finished 16th out of a field of 23. The race was filmed by Westward TV and the glaring arc-lamps put many of the School's athletes out of their stride.
The prime objective for the rest of the season is the defeat of IC. With this college beaten LSE would certainly be at the top of their success.
library and anti-graft. Perhaps the chief value of the Mannheim trip lies in the interesting comparison which can be drawn between British and Continental university sportsmen which can be made on such visits.
This year the comparison was far from odious to LSE who returned to London after five days in Mannheim having succeeded in far more events than they failed.
D. Sheasby
RIOTOUS RUGBY TOUR
N or+h taken by storm
This year's Rugby Club tour proved to be the usual admixture of anti-social activity, predatory scrums and inexorable rugby football.
The teams made their presence felt wherever they went, both on and off the field, but at last returned to London, leaving behind them a trail of ruin and one of their own party who was last seen lying on the floor talking to an elderly member of the indigenous population of Leicester.
Keele were defeated 3-0, and although Aylestone Athletic 1st XV easily beat LSE 2nd XV, revenge was gained by the defeat of Athelstone 'B' by our own 'B' team.
The social side of college rugby football allows for no half-measures. Compromise is a word unknown in the front row.
Disarming
For the civilian population, this attitude is always rather disarming. One must either enjoy oneself with the players or make a hasty exit murmuring something about 'vdfe' . . . 'must go now' . . . 'pictures always on Saturday'. For those who stay there are several alternatives.
During the tour the club had occasion to visit several pubs, and although, as far as is known, none of the local population were actually injured physically, many were subject to some noticeable examples of social nonconformity.
In some taverns residents were seen flattened against the wall, eyes white vnth terror. Others smiled thinly and watched solemnly as the furniture was removed piece by piece.
Sense of fun
Only those who joined in themselves were able to appreciate the wonderful sense of fun of which a slightly inebriated pack is capable off the field.
When the barrels were empty, out into the night went the teams, intent on spreading happiness to thousands of unsuspecting, God - fearing Staffordshire citizens.
The couloirs of the law were trodden dangerously but everyone (or nearly) made the coach when the time came to return to London.
The ' green and carefree ' mob returned — this is surely what Dylan meant — to Tavistock. The rugby club tour drew to a close in a new wave of sickness and laughter.
In the North the name of Thomas was famous among touch-judges, and irate Chinamen threatened to close their restaurants and go into the laundry business.
READ THE
M
R
CLARE MARKET REVIEW
6
BEAVER
November 23rd, 1961
NATIONALISATION JUST WINS AT CMP
Nationalisation was the main topic at the opening session of the Clare Market Parliament, held on November 6th. The debate, presided over by Dr. B. T. McKenzie, was on the Queen's Speech produced by the Labour Party, which formed the Government.
Proposals included the nationalisation of the aircraft, iron and steel industries, and road transport undertakings. The Rt. Hon. W. Quinn, the Minister for Nationalised Industries, saw this as the
Full House For Samuelson
Professor Paul A. Samuel-son, the distinguished American economist and adviser to President Kennedy, delivered the Stamp Memorial Lecture in Senate House this year. So many people turned up to hear him that Beveridge Hall and three other rooms connected by a loudspeaker were full. In spite of this some of the people — including some of the economics' tutors in LSE—had to be turned away.
Although the official title of the lecture was 'The Problems of the American Economy', Prof. Samuelson spoke mainly on the role and usefulness of economists in the government. His main point was that modern society cannot do without the science of economics and that economics could only be effectively applied by the economist.
He especially praised the use of advanced mathematical economics which enabled economists to ask the right questions about any policy and to forecast correctly to a high degree, in fact better than any other group in society. In fact, 'America's business was the economists' business'.
The whole speech was highly humorous and couched in fine phrases. Many people also described it later as 'totally irrelevant'.
Jack Handa
road to industrial efficiency, better working conditions and the end of strikes.
"There should be greater distribution of wealth in industry", he maintained. His opponents replied that such a programme had been rejected by the people three times, and that Labour's records in nationalising coal and the railways was far from good.
" Nationalisation is the means of reaching the heights of the economy, and not an end in itself", said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Alun Williams, P.C., M.P., on his belated appearance.
"Many members of the House had shown dissatisfaction with the state of the economy", he said, "some urging that we should invest more overseas, cut our European commitments, and cut down on our Defence programme".
In Education, the Government advocated the integration of public schools within the State system, the immediate raising of the school leaving age to sixteen, and a Royal Commission for the universities, dealing particularly with methods of entrance to Oxford and Cambridge.
"All this will help to revitalise our languishing educational system", said one spokesman.
This was strongly opposed on the grounds that those who can afford to send their children to a public school if they fail their eleven plus should be allowed to do so. The raising of the school leaving age to sixteen would force, rather than encourage, ruffians to stay on at school and is incompatible with the present number of teachers available.
Half-pay on retirement and free National Health were also proposed. "Too costly" and "tie pensions to the cost of living", were the replies, while it was held that increased taxation would be needed for the Health Service.
Voting was 41 for the Speech and 39 against, with 13 abstentions.
Alan Kay
Demonstrators Indebted To Police Civil Liberties Sec.
A close up of the attitude of the police towards the public was presented by Mr. Martin Ennals^ the General Secretary of the National Council of Civil Liberties, in a speech at the first meeting of the Law Society this term.
Mr. Ennals holds that the British tradition of public demonstration and the liberty of speech are the consequences of police tolerance, as any kind of demonstration is theoretically illegal.
"I note, however", he said, "that the police stand firm against conduct which might lead to a breach of the peace".
Even places like Trafalgar Square may be booked for demonstrations; but he also added that Parliament's Sessional Order forbids all public demonstrations within a square mile of Westminster.
The Secretary admitted one fault in the police system: a person may not sue for mal-
treatment by a policeman unless he knows the policeman's identity. The Police Force, as a whole, is not liable in such circumstances, as it would be responsible for investigating its own liabilities.
Mr. Emials concluded that the establishment of an independent tribunal system to deal with such injustices may eliminate this fault.
A discussion regarding various forms of justice followed the talk.
Curvacious Economists raise demand
SULTRY NIGERIAN IS MISS LSE
One looks enviously at the capacity crowd on such an occasion, and wishes that the Old Theatre could look so filled more often. There was the usual panel of celebrities, resplendent with wit and warmth, as much an attraction as the reluctant and demure maidens who walked up and down the stage as if they had lost something^ and ha\ing found it, departed; and the paper darts, so indispensable on such festivals, carrj'-ing with them goodwill and bad aim; and the redoubtable hecklers on the balcony, doing their best to reduce the coy contestants to hysterics.
The compere, Mr. Buckley, pacing the platform like a pensive Brando, juggled from Kimono-clad shoulders, disarming dialogues and the balcony revellers. And then the ten minutes between the parade and the decision, filled in by swirling sackcloths, commercials and corny cracks, and 'voilsi' the count-down, fifth. Miss Angela Carpenter as confident as a seal before a circus interview. Fourth Miss Kozuko Okura, Oriental and mysterious as the new School building; third. Miss Tessa Blackstone, elegant and with the 'judges don't matter' look; second. Miss Angela Green, with the Kensington walk and 'silent' wit; and on top of the list, a good-priced outsider, the sultry and silent (sound of trumpets) Miss Frances Boco, from Nigeria.
The petrified judges includ-
Miss LSE
Skiiers Set Plans For Winter Vac.
Some of the finest ski-runs in Europe will be used by the university skiing party which leaves London on December 16th for St. Anton, the leading Austrian holiday resort.
The party will be based in the village of St. Pettnen, on the edge of the town, in a comfortable hotel, renowned for its "apres-ski" facilities, and three thousand four hundred feet high. Skiing instruction will be given by a leading ski-school.
The party plan a hectic New Year celebration before returning on January 2nd, from what should prove an exhilarating experience—and all for less than £40. Thirty people have booked, and there are a few places left.
eon
8 6 KINGS WAY, VV.C.3
BLAZERS -
HOLborn 2240 BADGES
ed Mr. Christopher Logue (from lily-white boys to lily white girls), Mr. Klappholz, from demand curves, to . . .
well . . . demand curves, Mr. Dickie Henderson, Miss Barbara Kelly and Mr. Tom Evans.
Official Suppliers to the Students' Union
The finalists. Miss LSE
k
GRAHAM HUTTON:
Prosperity is within Britain's grasp
JO GRIMOND Liberal successes— and what we now plan
ARTHUR SELDON : How to deal with the Welfare State
All in tomorrow's THE STATIST — the journal with the completely new outlook and coverage.
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