NEWSPAPER OF THE LSE 21st FEB., 1979 ISSUE No. 179 BRITISH URSARY 1 1 APR J984 OF P JLfTlCAl DIRECTOR AGREES TO BALLOT Concessions granted over secret disinvestment survey By CAROL SAUNDERS Professor Dahrendorf, Director of LSE, has agreed to allow the Students' Union to conduct a secret ballot of LSE staff on the question of disinvestment. He conceded to the Union's request on Monday after a technicality in the Students' Union Constitution had been pointed out to him. Part 1 Section 3:3 of the Constitution states explicitly that all members of the School's staff are to be considered "associate" members of the Union unless they specifically request to be excluded. Will Richardson, General Secretary realised the implications of this clause late on Monday afternoon and immediately telephoned Professor Dahrendorf to point out that as General Secretary of the Union he should have access to th6 addresses of his associate members. It was, in fact, the lack of these addresses which Tories back down by S. G. Rayment AT ULU drunken LSE Tories told Beaver informants that they planned to support the Economist Bookshop Staff Association against the strikers. Subsequently a draft leaflet was to be circulated headed •Smash the Strike" which argued in favour of the EBSA and urged students to break the picket line and buy books at the Economist Bookshop. However the leaflet which FCS has actually produced does no more than state a few "FACTS" on the dispute, which take up only a quarter of a leaflet which ranges over disinvestment, a free press, and the results of the NUS delegation elections. Even so the Tories have got their facts wrong. To put the Staff Association in perspective, no way would it become a registered staff association effectively prevented the Union from carrying out its survey. After an hour considering the Genera] Secretary's request Professor Dahrendorf tele-phoned the Union to agree that in view of the Constitution this request could not be denied. The Union is now considering the best way to conduct the survey. The Students' Union hunger strike over disinvestment was suspended on Friday, 16th February following a meeting between the Students' Union and the School authorities. The hunger strike had begun on 8th February and support mounted after the weekend, including many students on strike for shorter periods • offering moral support.to those who had stuck by the strike from the beginning. The meeting, arranged by Union Sabbaticals Julian Ingram and Will Richardsow made no firm decisions, but it was agreed that negotiations over the Students' Union request for a secret ballot of all School staff over the question of disinvestment would continue. •<« Fears for the health ol the hunger strikers, especially - in the case of those also on liquid strike, had been heightened by the collapse of striker Tony Fernandes during the Union meeting held on Thursday, Rushed to hospital, Tony was subsequently discharged following medical tests. Despite warnings he continued liquid and hunger strike and had to be taken to hospital once more on 15th February. Quotas threat as .it is tar from independent of the company. The executive of EBSA. which wields absolute power consists of management boys. Eight out of sixteen workers at the Camden Mail Order depot belong to EBSA. significan.tly perhaps from accounts and publicity, with little or no knowledge of conditions in the bookshop. Only three of its members at the shop worked there before the strike, the others are blacklegs from other departments. Significantly two heads of department have not joined EBSA. The eleven strikers have nothing against the establishment of a staff association representative of the interests of Economist Bookshop workers, and feel that such an organisation would not conflict with their claim for trade union recognition. by Ed Walker THE threat of racist quotas has once again been raised as the way out of the government's failing universities grants and admissions policy. A "strictly confidential" letter from the Universities grants Committee to the Vice Chancellor of the University of London reveals the intention to impose stricter controls on the intake of overseas students. This letter was prompted by a parliamentary reply by the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Oakes, who restated the government's policy to reduce the number of overseas students from 1978-9 onwards to 67,000 by 1980-1. This compares with a total of 75,000 in 1975-6. The number of overseas students attending British universities has risen steadily over the last four sessions to 18.100 undergraduates and 18,400 postgraduates for the session 1978 9 (figures based on provisional returns). This compares with the expected figures for 1981-2 used by the UGC as a basis for the allocation of the recurrent grant of 14.000 undergraduates and 17,000 postgraduates. The total student population is expected to be 310,000. The argument run" that if the number of overseas students continues to rise, either the total number of students will exceed 31C.C00 or the 'number of home students will fall, rather than .increase as was hoped. If.the latter is the case, the provisional grant may be cut. If the final figure exceeds 310,000, this may result in a future pattern. of reduced resources per student. The letter continues: "The decision on the limitation of overseas students affecting the whole range of higher education establishments ... is effective in terms of the resources made available to the university system". It concludes, "it is the committee's expectation that the serious financial effects which I have described will occur to the extent to which overseas students exceed the levels of 1975/76 (my emphasis). The committee advises universities to "exercise more restraint in this area." In reply the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals has stated that in the face of a progressive erosion of universities' recurrent income it would be unrealistic not to be concerned about the rising number of overseas students. (Continued on Page Three} P. 2 . . . Your letter. P. 4 . . . Dahrendorf's phoney arguments exploded. P. 5 . . . Return of Beaver star columnist Anton Chapman after 18 months' absence — Union sketch. P. 6 & 7 . . . Reviews of Tommy, opera and films. P. 10 . . . Apology and AU. PLUS—In your bigger, better Beaver: morq titillating spine-tingling trash. And a free cruise on the QE2,12 Rolls-Royces, six country mansions-^just a few of the things you can get if you're very wealthy. CONTENTS PAGE 2 DEAR GANG OF 3 Christians on disinvestment Dear Beaver, The Christian Union has been asked what attitude we take to Apartheid, and to the dis-ir.vestment issue in particular. I would like to use the columns of your paper (in the absence of ."The Times") to make it clear where we stand on this issue. In many ways it seems to us that this is the wrong question to ask a group of Christians ¦because we see our prime responsibility to L.S.E. as a spiritual one—to proclaim what Jesus called the Kingdom of God. The Bible makes it clear that mans fundamental r/ Volem is his disobedience to God and to his laws, and t'vu the solution to this problem is found in a renewed relationship with him through what Christ achieved or; the cross. This new relationship opens up the possibility of changing men because in its context Gad makes his power available, to make us more ana like- Jesus—the perfect man. who was always obedient to his Father. However, it is also clear that this disobedience to God is not only characteristic of individual men and v/ men, but also of many of the social structures which T<"e create for ourselves. An especially blatant example of the injustice which mankind is capable oi is the ¦3 ".-jailing discrimination embodied in the system of Apartheid. Therefore we, as a group of Christians, have r;y hesitation at all in denouncing that system: we do so because of the very clear teaching in the Bible that ouoression earns God's judgement, and that those who fcfep silent in the face of it share equally in the guilt. When we met recently to discuss this issue we all agreecx that this teaching was inescapable, as is the fact that tt applies to the present policies of the South African, government. We were not able, however, to agree on what practical and political action should be taken to bring this system to an end. The biblical principles are clear. i?ut we see that they could be applied in more than OEre way. Christians do not all belong to the same political party and on issues of this sort political loyalties are transcended anyway, as each of us tries honestly to see what the Bible's teaching requires from us in the way of action. Because of this it would be wrong for me as an individual, or for us as a group. Tory scab Dear Beaver, Do your readers really support the Economists' Bookshop strike? There are 20 members in the Economists' Bookshop Staff Association, a registered trade union, against which seven members of ATCSS are trying to force the management into recognising them as a union with sole bargaining rights. The strikers have already rejected an offer of a fcn.'.lot of the staff on the issues for which they are striking and also turned down a management offer for individual recognition. Surely sole bargaining rights should not even be giv«n to EBSA as they themselves only represent about haLi the workers, let alone to ATCSS with its seven members. Is just less than £40 p.w. take-home pay unreasonable for a worker with less than one year's experience. In fact E.B.'s pay rates are rather higher than the average in the bookshop trade. The strike has already halted expansion of what is -our" bookshop. Ask yourself the question which group represents the undemocratic forces of oud country. Think again before you shop elsewhere. Rob Hampsom, LOVE IN THE AIR There is a lilt within thy voice That makes mine heart at times rejoice —Bui then thy iove with silent voici Implies thine heari hath made no choice, Yet if thou knew how much mine heart Could love but thee—thou wouldst imparl That song of love within ihine heart To sing with me in counterpart. (5 N. Racine-Jaques, 1979 to lay down the law about what Christiahs do or do not think on the disinvestment issue. Some of the members of the Christian Union will support the hunger strike, some not, but in this we act as individuals because we are not a political group. We are bound together not by our party loyalties but by a common belief that changing economic and political structures will never be the complete answer to man's needs. Yours sincerely, Huw Williams, Accountant's view on disinvestment Dear Beaver, First of all let me declare my opposition to the despicable racism that exists in S. Africa. Disinvestment is supported by many people at the LSE who believe that this will help to achieve a victory in the fight against Apartheid but what will disinvestment actually mean for the LSE ? Disinvestment involves a shareholder selling his/its shares in a company, and hence relinquishing any form of control it had as a shareholder. When we consider the monetary side of disinvestment, this action is not going to cause any reduction in the finance available to the spurned company. These shares have already been fully paid for. so the companies have in fact already received all they want. With the threat of trouble in South Africa, the share-price will have dropped. Thus, when the LSE sells its shares in companies associated with South Africa, it will be selling at a loss. Some organisation which is totally unsympathetic towards the anti-Apartheid cause" will make a killing on the purchase of the LSE's discarded shares, smugly sitting back to await their high yield. The LSE, meanwhile, will have incurred a loss, which will affect its ability to grant financial aid to beset students. Remember, the LSE is a non-profit-making body and a large proportion of its income goes towards helping students. Not only will the LSE incur a capital loss, but it will also, in effect be passing the buck. For, if the LSE. with other UK companies whom together constituted a fair shareholding in South African-associated companies, were to pressure such companies. I am sure that some changes could be effected, improvements be brought about. But if some disinterested firm acquires the shares, it will just sit back and reap the benefits of "exploitation industries." David J. Mapley. STOLEN PROPERTY On Tuesday, 13th February, someone stole my guitar from the Ents room (S118). Although the guitar was not worth much, it was very dear to me as it was my first electric one. It was a Columbus strat. copy (sunburst finish) with three bushes missing from the machine heads and "bloodstains" from the DV's Three Tuns gig. I would be extremely grateful if it is returned ; no questions will be asked. If, however, it is not returned, I will seek awful revenge on the thief. Steve Bradbury. Several articles and. other items have also "gone missing" from the Beaver Office. At first we thought this was probably due to our own incompetence but, after 'a series of thorough checks, we are forced to come to the conclusion that someone has got it in for us. The "gang of three" would like to say that whilst vve admit to certain failings we utterly deplore such adventurist tactics—any complaints should he communicated through proper and correct channels. Why sparticists are anti-disinvestment Dear Beaver, The recent campaign for disinvestment in South Africa, initiated by the hunger strikers of the Anti-Apartheid Group gained the support of the Liberal Club, the Socialist Worker Student Organisation (SWSO). and the International Marxist Group (IMG) in a characteristic cross-class alliance. This campaign is an example of how the LSE "left" stands on the traditions of its Fabian founders, those indefatigable reformers who sought to administer capitalism at home and abroad in a 'humane' and 'civilised' manner. The campaigners for disinvestment maintain that by investing in South Africa, British capitalism ' legitimises' the apartheid regime. Therefore pressure must be put on British capitalism to withdraw i t s shares— presumably investment in Northern Ireland would be preferable. This strategy is based on siding with 1 good? capitalists against 'bad'; while it can foster illusions in the ethical superiority of British capitalism, it can in no way further the struggle of the African masses against apartheid. The bourgeoisie would only respond to such reactionary-utopian appeals in the context of growing inter-imperialist rivalry as a prelude to renewed inter-imperialist war. For some, undoubtedly, support of disinvestment expresses a genuine desire to show solidarity with the victims of apartheid. We seek to win these elements to a communist perspective of organising actions of political protest and labour solidarity aimed at winning concrete demands to advance the struggle of the proletariat and oppressed masses in South Africa. The refusal of British dockers to handle military goods for South Africa would represent an important act of class solidarity (as well as a mobilisation against the union-bashing British bourgeoisie) A strike of British Leyland workers in support of union recognition at the South African subsidiary would bring the strength of the British working class behind their black and 'Coloured' class brothers and sisters fighting for democratic rights. Unlike the Anti-Apartheid Group and their co-thinkers who believe that the struggle against apartheid can be waged from the ivory towers of LSE, we understand that it is the international working class which has the social power to come to the aid of the South African masses. While it is hardly surprising that the Anti^Apartheid Group and the Liberals choose to perpetuate the reactionary-utopian policy of pressurising British imperialism with moral argument and 'popular opinion,' it is truly grotesque to see self-proclaimed revolutionaries — such as SWSO and IMG, arm in arm with the Liberals, so enthusiastically , joining in the chorus. However if the fake left wish to stand with Beatrice Webb and Bernard Shaw, so be it. We will continue to stand with Lenin and Trotsky. Fraternally, LSE Spartacist Society BRINGS ^ VOI AN LSE POPULATION STUDY ggQUP ONE: SWOTS AVAILABILITY: Ifoat cooncn in thir^ tern but hardier sp--ecimens can b® seen all year round. HABITAT : Library, Halls. HABITS : Has tendency to speak in ita own native dia -lect. Wfficulfc understand. CROUP TV/0: HACKS /$K£) ~fyoUHO LisV Vycs.ffus AVAILABILITY: Tao frequent HABITAT: Union offioaa, KGS conferences. HAftITS: flowing rhetoric. Haa a permanent wor- -ried expression and is llablo to contract ulcers by the a*« of £0. ggPUP THgEE: ALCOHOLICS AVAXLABILITYi Ceaaoa all year rouod, but soae tond to «lfr>ta to Library in aid-May. : Three Tuna Bar. (}Je genuine aleoholioa the Beaver's Retrost.) ! DrinJC* Old Brewery, Strong Pale or Gtiinaea*. Rare speclasns prefer Newcastle Brown. Tends to fall over on Saturday n&ght*. Plays ruyby, HABITAT habits .A VATLABIXIIY: Common. HABXSAIfVell-spread over Xondoa. HABITS ; Mostly .falling ur.d extent. The matter of principle is answerable more easily:— Hunger striker ALBRECHT ROTHACHER explains why refusal to disinvest is a political stance Principles and effects of academic institutions are inseparable from their societal environment. Then-values and standards are inherent in their embodying culture, and academic values in turn affect societal values. In the decisions about what research interests to follow, which speakers to invite, from whom to seek donations, how to design examinations and what to teach, moral and finally political judgments are inevitably involved. This simply reflects the fact that any human and consequently institutional decision implies moral positions. In its application to specific issues any moral stand has political implications: the basic assumption of human dignity leads, for example, to the notion of racial equality and in its implementation to concrete demands for non-discriminatory policies in housing, education, employment, etc. Moral principles and politics are inseparable. Against all evidence one could certainly claim to pursue "value-free" science, or as an institution declare not to be concerned about the political implications of one's actions or nonactions. Deliberate ignorance or neglect, however, cannot relieve responsibility. The awakening of nuclear scientists after Hiroshima —initially having been unaware of possible consequences of their research—was bitter and existentially desperate. The silence—if not deliberate collaboration—of the non-emigrating German academic community (1933-45), with the Nazi system could not relieve guilt and responsibility either. (FREEDOM? WE MOST [CtRm/VLY SUPPORT me KhMTiOhis of rut U kokk masses ia> \ SOUTH fihX!CA..u _ Ult-IEh' tdt tCti The issues Wt I fuecwM fiOMtOS T FACE, HOU/cOER'. \: M£U)0 /l\ is ' i cab ~ hiCTtiiwrc >1 V /)/?£ COMPLEX.1AIST/,/UC&^'JL ' CLE/?R j '/"ti g- " x- £i m &. ..THE CIVILE irrrftMZ '¦ /]| f!^ t > w IT 7 ' J& j. p! A LITTLE COTTAGE BY THE SEA... HIGH Street, Kensington is one of those curious spots in London where counter-culture and high fashion stroll hand in hand. Rows of impeccably dressed mannequins, donning the latest from Dior and Lord John, peer disdainfully out at potential customer and disinterested student alike. Just west of Hyde Park, the street's pubs and wine bars are crowded with fur-clad ladies and blue-jeaned youths jockeying for a place to sit. I was in Jimmie's, one of the more popular wine bars, talking to a young lady with blue streaks in her hair. She was an artist, or rather an aspiring one, and we and a few friends sipped Soave while waiting for our guest of honour. The occasion was a going-away party for one of the blue lady's friends, who was returning to her home in South Africa after four years in England. Melodies from Joplin and Dylan. Tendered by a solitary folksinger perched in a cloud of smoke, fought the noise of the Saturday night patrons. After four bottles of wine, our South African friend arrived with a lovely young black lady in tow. The black woman, it turned out. was from Rhodesia. She and her South African friend, who was not white but of Indian descent, had met during their four years together at college. Yet Denise was not planning to go back to Rhodesia in the near future; it was not difficult to understand why. "You could say that I'm one of the most privileged blacks in my country," Denise told me. "My father managed to succeed with his small business, in ' Salisbury, and with only two other children to support, he was able to save enough to send me away to school. Thank God for that. I'd be lucky to get decent training in Salisbury just for secretarial work, and even luckier to get a good job." Denise studied African history here in England; she hopes to continue in a graduate' programme. "All this talk about our new constitution is nonsense," she continued. "and I'm glad that most people here realize that. A black vote won't mean much when white people control the economy and the military and the police. It wouldn't be too bad, I guess, if we could get a fair education and better jobs. But do you think they want to work with us? They work above us. and that's where they want to stay." "Democracy sounds good, and I favour it completely. Who's going to enforce it though: who's going to make it fair? The white police? I'm not a fighter, which is why I won't be going home soon. I don't like violence; I could never be a guerilla; I'd probably end up an innocent victim. But it's like one of your sayings, 'Those that live by the sword die by it.' Me, I'll wait until the swordplay is over." "I went to visit Denise's parents two years ago," Shari, the South African, broke in. "You wouldn't believe the hassles! It took me more than four hours to clear the border, because Indians aren't sup- posed to have any "legitimate business'' in Rhodesia. It was worse when I got to Salisbury. An Indian just isn't supposed to be on the streets in a black ghetto. White policemen kept harassing me, checking my papers, trying to make me feel like shit for being there. Who are they to tell me who my friends can be?" "If Denise came to South Africa, it'd be even worse," she said. "We've got four racial categories—whites, Indians, coloureds, and blacks— and they're not allowed to mix. Take our Morality Act, for instance: if I fell in love with a black bloke, or even a white bloke, it would be impossible for me to marry him. That Morality Act applies to all sorts of inter-racial relationships, and they can use it whenever they want to. Denise and I couldn't eat in restaurants together, or go to bars together, or what have you." With her big. brown eyes, Shari looks at me earnestly and says, "All I want is a little cottage by the sea, and the freedom to invite whoever I want, whenever I want, to come and see me. No policemen looking over our shoulders, no government telling me who my friends can and can't be—it's as ' simple as that." But she knows that it will be a long time before things become that simple, and she isn't going back to search for a quaint little cottage for when that time comes. Unlike Denise, Shari is a fighter, and she can't fight from England. She certainly doesn't look intimidating. with her delicate frame and slender build. Yet her eyes, at once sincere, betray a fierce bitterness when she describes the daily injustices of South African society. The millions of non-whites living in In just the same way, an explicitly non-political stand by LSE implies a fundamental ipolitical position: one favourable and supportive of the socio-political status quo. The decision not to disinvest is a decisiofl^tiot to object to, and to continue %>fiting from, racist exploitation. Dahrendorf himself stated the inseparable connection between political values and academic teaching (in: Pfade aus Utopia, Munchen. 1967), and it would certainly not prove difficult to find some nice-sounding Dahrendorf quotes on the social and political responsibility of universities. The decisive question now is to what extent academic institutions should take political positions. For individuals it is a matter of private conscience. For institutions, it seems to be up to the smallest common denominator of their members' aggregate consciousness. But academic institutions should be expected to react more sensitively than industrial corporations whose managing members' morality consists primarily of profit considerations. To assess an academic institution's moral responsibility certain issues seem obvious in Western societies: for example, to give access to students on a non-discriminatory basis: to deny criminal wrong-doers in one's discipline international by TOM MILLER poverty, with nowhere to go. Hie inferior education that they receive. The pitifully meagre wages that they can eam. The legislation that divides families, forcing black males to work for corporations in the cities and their dependents to remain on the tribal homelands. The list goes on. "And you Americans," she admonishes me, "always seem to be ' on the wrong side. You supported the Shah and his murderous troops, ; while your press denounced his opponents as communists and religious fanatics. You claim to ; believe in freedom of religion, and ' yet you condemn 95% of the ' Iranian people as Moslem reac- ' tionaries. It's the same in South ' Africa. We hear you talking about \ democracy and human rights, but ] you do nothing to help my people. ! I am not a communist—but if . Russia will help us, should we say . no because they are communists? j You turn your backs on us, and . then call us communist for trying , to help ourselves." . I'll probably end up in prison sooner or later," Shari said. "That's something I'll have to face. I guess. " when it happens. I don't think ' things will change in my lifetime, ' but if I don't start fighting now, " they'll never change." Unfortunately, our blue-haired ¦ friend was reacting negatively to ¦ the alcohol, which they had stopped -serving anyhow. As we all made ¦ our way out into the freezing ¦ night, I was at a loss for words to • express my wishes for Shari. Good ¦ luck was certainly too pathetic, i All I could say was that, if the ¦ time ever comes when she will be -thrown behind bars. I would try " to be there to report her story truthfully to the rest of the world. " recognition and status (e.g. Soviet psychiatrists "treating" dissidents are banned from international congresses) ; in hiring staff most universities are ready to give preferences to scientists who were expelled ok political grounds from their home countries. In democratic institutions decisions on moral positions cannot be made in abstracto but by consensus. Therefore we think the question of LSE's responsibility on South African profits should be decided by all its members—students and staff—in a secret and universal ballot. It cannot just be the Director's and the academic board's decision. We believe that South Africa on a scale of human rights violating regimes (among whom we may list Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Chile, Argentina, the Soviet Union, East Germany etc) comes closest to the ultimate negative pole. It is a system of institutionalised racism with no hope or escape for the suppressed majority. Moral protest, in order to be effective, has to be selective and to follow priorities: this is why we focus on South Africa as the worst human rights violator at present— and it is internationally recognised as such. Dahrendorf and the academic board's majority, however, avoided any sincere attempt to assess relative disreputability of profiting from South African racist super-profits. It was argued the School should not take political stands at all. The debate on South African shares was thus suppressed. Disinvestment from South African profits would imply:— . • a clear sign of support for the . struggle of the deprived and op-i pressed majority, welcomed by black . leaders such as Steve Biko and I Nobel Prize winner Albert Luthuli; ; • a further symbolic sign of dis-' approval of the South African rul-" ing class; ; • the recognition of an almost ; certain majority will of LSE mem-i bers. What then might have motivated ¦ Dahrendorf to put his personal ¦ weight so vigorously against disin-1 vestment? To urge all academic staff members via personal letter to vote to affirm an almost absurd intellectual stand: to define the keeping of the political investments as "non-political". As consequences of disinvestment the administration seems to fear:— • loss of £2,000-£3,000 by selling S.A. related shares now; • revival of a Leftist LSE image; • subsequent demands of other disinvestment campaigns. We don't think that all of these consequences would be that undesirable anyway; it would have been honest to face them as a challenge deriving from humanitarian commitment. Fortunately, however, LSE is not the private business of Professor Dahrendorf. We are positive that a majority of LSE members—students and staff—will show more serious concern on the moral commitment of what is also "our" LSE and support the social and political rights of those living in less fortunate countries. PAGE 5 THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT AND OVERSEAS STUDENTS This article has been written in order to clear up some distortions and lies stated in an article in the last issue of Beaver. Recently Shirley Williams made the following proposals : (1) On 5th December, 1978, the Department of Education and Science invoked Section 41.2 of the Race Relations Act in order to exempt local education authorities in relation to the charging of differential rents from overseas students for self-catering accommodation. This practice started in 1968 in a number of colleges and, meeting growing opposition, has now been "legalised." Thus immediately a number of colleges such as North London Poly responded by outlining rent increases for overseas students. (2) On 19th December, 1978, Shirley Williams announced increases in tuition fees for overseas students "only in real terms," i.e., about 10%. (3) In the recent past she has begun to advocate even further increases for students from "richer" countries under a policy of so-called "positive discrimination." (4) The system of quotas on overseas students is to be imposed more forcibly. The government argues that these attacks are being carried out in order to reduce supposed subsidisation of overseas students. In order to show the falseness of this claim we have to examine why overseas students are here in the first place and who benefits. BENEFITS TO CAPITAL Many students from "richer" countries simply cannot afford education in their own countries while those from most of the "poorer" countries have no choice as the education system in their country has been destroyed by the colonialists—in particular by the British imperialists. Furthermore the British ruling class benefits greatly from their presence : firstly, overseas students provide a very cheap source of research workers —* particularly post-graduates ; secondly, overseas students bring in a considerable amount of foreign currency to Britain; thirdly, overseas students are trained mainly in the use of British machinery and technology; fourthly, overseas students .provide a large number of influential contacts in the economic, political and military circles which rule their home countries. The education of overseas students is very. profitable for the British ruling class and has nothing to do with the charity of the British government — enough profits are made from Malaysia alone to finance 50 British universities. UiNdNG THEIR POCKETS A more subtle, but equally false, argument is the line that students are UNION SKETCH THE Union meeting on the 8th February was a little more serious and consequently better attended than usual. The main topic under discussion was the Union's response to the Academic Board's decision not to dis-invest in companies with shares in South Africa. The motion before the meeting proposed a hunger strike, the duration of which was not mentioned, but this did not stop it receiving overwhelming support. Even so it is doubtful whether even as many as 5% of those voting for the motion will actually forego their daily bread. It is interesting to note that this time last year the question of a hunger strike was brought up during the occupation which took place in support of another occupation at Thames Poly over the increase in tuition fees. Then it was laughed out of the meeting, the most scorn and derision coming from the SWP who called the idea ludicrous and said hunger strikes could not achieve anything as they were rarely mass movements of the workers. Obviously the party line has changed as SWP members to a man and woman voted in favour of this hunger strike. Liz Baltesz also took the opportunity to test the reaction to the idea of an occupation but the response was tepid to say the least. Talking of occupations, the Lent term is when they traditionally take place, although there is a danger that the recently arranged Rag Week may oust it from the School calendar this year. Over the. last few years, with the exception of two years ago when LSE occupied over the doubling of tuition fees, occupations have been a pure waste of time but reflecting a number of factors which only come together in the second term. First-years now know the ropes and are beginning to have political aspirations, especially in terms of the Executive elections which occur in a couple of weeks It was only very recently that a sabbatical was elected almost solely on the strength of his participation in an occupation. There is also a desire to let off steam before exams start pressuring even the most hardened politicos into the library for long periods at a time. Many feel the need to relieve the boredom a little, or to fill in time before the Easter holidays. And then there are those by ANTON CHAPMAN who feel duty bound to keep up the traditions of LSE, which has the added bonus of stories which can be handed down to future generations. For these people to have been to the LSE and not joined in an occupation or two (or three) is like visiting Bordeaux and drinking Watney's Red Barrel — the local delights must be sampled. I mentioned earlier that the meeting was well attended but as it was held in the New Theatre the ranks may well have been swelled by those still slumbering from the last lecture and those early-birds eagerly anticipating the next one. However I am sure that this would do a disservice to those who feel strongly about South Africa and attended the meeting solely on that basis. It must be the only thing they do feel strongly about though, as when the meeting reconvened in S075 after the New Theatre had to be vacated, about 60 people turned up to discuss issues of equal importance. Which only goes to show that your average student has a low tolerance for Union meetings or that they had all gone to stuff themselves prior to joining in the hunger strike. being subsidised by taxpayers. This plays on the fact that British working people pay large sums of money in taxes but receive very little back in return. It is true that the British ruling-class annually robs working people of huge sums of money in the form of taxation and that they dole out a small and ever decreasing sum in social expenditure on education, health, etc. The rest goes to line the pockets of the rich (billions of pounds are paid annually to financiers in interest payments on debts ; an £80 million grant was paid to Henry Ford last year, and industrial capitalists receive heavily subsidised electricity, coal, steel, etc., etc.) Secondly, this financial oligarchy of bankers and industrialists also make huge profits from the labour of the working people throughout the world (including from such states as South Africa). So, to argue that British taxpayers are subsidising overseas students is as meaningful as saying that home students are being subsidised by the South African or Indian people. In fact the only ones being subsidised are the parasitical rich ruling class which has been increasing its profits at the expense of a lower standard of living for all other sections of society. Education is not a charity provided by the rich states, it is something for which people throughout the world are paying-. Another misleading and false argument is that these attacks will affect only students from overseas. In fact, they are only the latest in a whole series of attacks on students in general (for example, the closing of teacher training colleges, etc.) and overseas students in particular. • SELECTIVE ATTACKS In order to try and dissipate opposition to its policies the government has been selecting one section at a time for special attack and using this to prepare conditions for attacking the whole student body. For example, tuition fees were first raised for overseas students and then—in order "to be fair"—the fees for everyone else were raised. In line with the overall racist policy of the government (as illustrated by its Immigration Laws, or the Home Office practices at Heathrow Airport) overseas students have been singled out for racist attacks. Firstly, the government's policy discriminates on the basis of nationality and secondly, in practice it is mainly those students from the 'poorer' colonial or neo-colonial countries who have been affected by the quotas and the rent and fee increases. It is on this basis that the London Student Movement organised opposition to Shirley Williams and it is on the same basis that she and her government have always been opposed in many other colleges. The article in the last issue of Beaver detracted from the serious nature of the problems faced by overseas students. Not only did it contain straightforward lies, such as the allegation that LSM called Shirley Williams (or the Labour government) fascist, it also tried to pass off the whole government policy as actually being in the interests of students. We believe that these attacks are a very serious issue for all students to take up, and that they have to be met head on. Krish Maharaj ALL GA US SEN GAITERS THE World Wildlife Fund has declared three of LSE's most well-known life-forms to be "endangered species". These are: Hacks (hackus hackus), lecturers (Klappus econo-mus) and Bores (Yankus Tedious). According to the conservationists, the so-called "silicon chip" could well spell th» final demise of these species, causing thousands of hacks and bureaucrats to ba "thrown on the scrapheap". What has gone wrong? A hundred years ago, Britain was the world's single largest manufacturer of hacks. The term "British hack" was a guarantee of quality and durability. Hacks were our single biggest export, sent all over the world to "run" our Empire. Unspiffing But today, the phrase "British hacks are Best" has become a hollow joke. The Japs and Krauts have long since overtaken us. with their competitive prices, new slimline "cool-running" transistorised models and reliable delivery dates. The British Hack Industry has been grinding to a halt over the past decade: it has been especially strike-prone and insufficient investment has led to models being dated and "old-fashioned looking". "Built-in obsolescence" and shoddy workmanship mean the life of an average British hack is only 2.7 years, as compared to an average life of 7.4 years for German models and a staggering 12.2 years for Swedish hacks. Drivel The nationalisation of British Hackland three years ago has seemingly solved nothing: losses have spiralled, while productivity has slumped. Thousands of workers in the industry have been made redundant, and there are even rumours that if the Tories win the election they will close the whole caboodle down. LSE has taken to importing foreign models such as the Japanese species Mori Shima and the German Klapp Holz. But with the advent of the silicon chip, everything could change overnight. Klappholz Instead of lecturers, the silicon chip could operate a pre-recorded tape (renewed once every twenty years or so) which would drone out "empirical facts" for a fixed period. The function of hacks could again be displaced by the chip, which could be programmed to produce interminable, boring reports every so often demanding the Union's "restructuring": co form "motions of censure for Union Meetings; to produce hackneyed 'election manifestos'; and to 'picket' various places deemed to be 'undesirable' (or, alternatively, to 'break' a picket line, depending on which political stance' the chip has been programmed to operate;." Even the Director of LSE, Ralf Dandruff, 53, could be dispensed with and replaced by a "dummy" which could write "liberal" dissertations for "quality" newspapers, make routine "appearances" at Berlin. New York and the Strand House Airport Library, and which could be praised for its "intellectual brilliance" and "administrative ability". Tilt Many people have suggested a "Special Committee" should be set up to "investigate" the far-reaching effects of the chip, which, as explained above, could destroy a valuable part of the British heritage. Ironically, however, the work of such a "Special Committee" could be done far more quickly and efficiently by a silicon chip, which if programmed correctly, could churn out endless reams of boring and pointless verbiage on "The Implications for Society Posed by the Chip" in a matter of minutes. Meanwhile, it looks as if some of LSE's rarer species will be in an "ongoing extinction situation" by 1982. NEXT WEEK: This column will be written by a silicon chip, as usual. PAG^6 BEAVER ARTS A night at the [rock} opera The idea of writing about opera is about as alien to James Gaussen as reviewing a "rock musical" must be to Jonathan Richmond. But they both thought it wouid be quite a hoot to have a go. So, two weeks ago they trotted off to see "Tommy" at the Queen's Theatre, and last week went a-reelin' and a-rockin' off to the Coliseum. Below are their impressions—rather different but, we hope, of interest. NOT a case of vibrato but vibration. Loudspeakers displaced air with catastrophic ferocity. Sound? Merely sound. Or- music? 1 am not sure. Tommy is struck deaf, dumb and blind by c; seeing his father killed, becomes pinball . champion of the world, recovers his faculties, achieves star fame, and in the end is ': crucified. At high volume. Allan Love as. Tommy clearly demon-: "strates a'change of personality — or father grows from impotent dummy to outrageous idol. His quietest aria entrata casa mid as he evokes; the world to enter Tommy's - Temple, to the accompaniment of soft, cooing female voices, is also his most effective. If not exactly parallelled by Sarastro and the Sun Temple of the Magic Flute, in its absurd little way it was along the same lines. the evening. The orchestra of 11 distinguished themselves mainly through their amplifier, rather than by their musicality. The production itself is stylishly staged, fend the mass of lasers was a diversion in itself. In all its frenetic madness, fro something different. Tommy is worth seeing. If only they would turn the volume down: Piano, pianissimo . . . Dido and Aeneas is about an inevitable tragedy, determined by fate. The production, borrowed from ENO North, is a simple one, with emphasis on the symbolic. The chorus, integral to the opera, form a circular wall. As Ian Watt-Smith said in a programme note. "Once Dido and ^Eneas step into the circle they enact a ritual, and tvhen one leaves the circle, the other dies." Although Christian du Plessis sang vEneas with some fervour, there was a lack of real emotional impact. Dido's lament as sung by Sandra Browne just did not cast the deathly, cold chill it ought, but then I suppose that after hearing Janet Baker singing this, anyone else's performance is inferior. The orchestra, sensibly reduced to chamber proportions, played with great precision and delicacy, conducted by Richard Hickox. James has more to say on the second opera, Les Mamelles de Tiresias. But I should say that Norma Burrowes has the voice to take on the virility of her transformed role, and that the whole company contributed to this crazily entertaining piece. Sick with laughter, we left the theatre. JONATHAN RICHMOND Colin Coperfield sang the famous aria BfAopino magnifico son io with great energy. Philip Corvosso was a satanic Kevin; Bob Grant as Uncle Ernie, resplendent in dirty raincoat, is a direct descendant of the Basilio type, though not sophisticated enough to effect una calumnia, his deviant nature leads him solely to an interest in "fiddling about". Amidst all the noise, the largely female choir was magnificent. Their gentle, enveloping sound, similar to the required in M«ptune in Hoist's The Planets, was really the only effective emotional implement of The setting was pretty dull, consisting as it did of two V-shapes and little else. However, the sprites (dancing figures) had nice buttocks, so it had its saving graces. Tiresia: Left to right, Eric Shilling, EmHe Belcouht and Norma Burrows. JONATHAN has already written at length about Tommy, so I'll be brief. My view, for what it's worth, is that the quality of the singing (apart from the chorus) was abysmal, the musicians were inept and the volume (even by rock concert standards) was far too loud. The plot, never the strongest part of the original work, was made still sillier, and the whole thing was downgraded from one of the finest pieces of late '60s music to a schmaltzy mass of West End cabaret. My advice to any "Tommy" fan would be to spend the money on the original Who album instead, if they have not already got it. On to more weighty matters now. At the London Coliseum we saw Dido and Aeneas, by Purcell. The music was quite pleasant, though it sounded very derivative of Handel. Indeed, it was a sort of classical Abba — tuneful (stacks of harpsichord and ear-seducing strings), undemanding and rather samey. But not exhilarating enough, I must confess, to prevent me from dozing off half-way through. at least it was comprehensible: "Mamelles", by the way, means . . . am, mammary glands — all right then, tits for my less highbrow readers. Yes, it was all about feminism, and it was amusiag. Most of the cast seemed to change sex or suffer an identity crisis during the pericrisanee, and at one stage members of the audience were looking around them as various gaudily-dressed singers appeared out ©f nowhere into the stalls rather like Peter Gabriel at the Hammersmith Odeon last December. The music was varied a»d imaginative, bordering on several styles — sometimes Wagner-like, at other times very light, and, especially towards the end it made definite bows to Gilbert and Sullivan. The lyrics were throughout delightfully inappropriate to opera — can you imagine an opera singer coming out with the line "Wovdd it be fair to describe you as an unmarried father"? In fact it sent up the whole cpera identity most effectively (c.f. lOccs "Un Nuit in Paris"). JAMES GAUSSEN Nor was the story-line particularly inspiring. Admittedly, it took me about ten minutes to register that they were singing in English. Most opera singers seem to be similar to punk-rock poseurs in that their predilection for trills and growls (or in the latter case, the attempt to demonstrate their working-class accents) tends to obscure the lyrics. In this case, it didn't much matter, as it appeared to be what can best be described as a "fiexi-plot" — Jonathan read the programme, kept awake during the whole performance, reread the synopsis and still couldn't figure out what it was all about. To duck the issue, I'll just say it was about Life —• to please the Left it was no doubt moralising about the plight of one-parent families living in inner-city urban streets, areas (or arias — geddit?). Les Mamelles de Tireslas by Poulenc was better. The plot was rather bizarre but Allan Love as Timmy National Theatre Roddy Hall if ax TIME Out summed up Betrayal as being a play about middle-class shagging, and someone to whom I spoke declared that if Pinter had written this play first he would have never got beyond the stage-door. As TO would themselves doubtless say, "Well, if you believe everything you read in the papers...'' Time: 1977 to 1968, backwards, in the lives of three friends, lovers and spice. Plot: two very old and firm friends, one of whom is having t?n affair with the wife of the other, who is himself adulterous. The betrayed husband is tolerant of the affair. Betrayal is Harold Pinter's first major play since No Man's Land. The language in Betrayal is sparser than No Man's Land and probably more so than all the other major plays, but it is not affectedly monosyllabic; it's a recording of the natural speech of three people who think about what they're saying. Yes, the pauses are there and the clarity of their significance is a good reflection of the overall style of the play. More than ever one is aware, as the characters wait, working out their words with precision, of the complete meaning of each word preceding the telling pause, of the full consequences of what has come before and of the power vested m the simple way of saying something to someone, relating, changing a world. One particular scene worth, describing takes place in a hotel room in Venice, where Robert and his wife (the adulteress) are on holiday, in 1973, with the affair still a secret from Robert. Through the accidental interception of a letter from his old friend Jerry to bis wife. Emma. Robert- has become aware that something is amiss. After a dramatically important but, for the protagonists inconclusive discussion on a variety of topics all spiralling in around the issue of Emma's affair, during which one realises that both are under considerable tension, shared by the audience, over the coming revelation, there is silence, and Emma accepts the lead given her by her husband, quietly confessing. It is a release catharsis. The occasion of Robert's discovery of the truth is a good moment for the main theme of the play to work itself out, for after the full extent of the affair ('Five years?') has become apparent Robert declares: "I've always liked Jerry. To be honest. I've always liked him rather more than I've liked you. Maybe I should have had an affair with him myself." This doesn't mean that Robert is coming out of the closet, nor is it merely a case of 'greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his wife for his friends', although that is a very large part of it, for Robert, in spite of his announcement of a preference for Jerry, does still display considerable sympathy towards his wife, if a little strained. The main theme could be that betrayal and love are intertwined and that Robert's love for both Jerry and Emma, if unequal, will involve him in betrayal both ways, whether or not he is betrayed, whether or not he rejects Emma for it. One of the first things I was taught in ray brief gander through literature studies was that there are few greater crimes than to talk about 'an allegory of modern man'; only Americans do that but I can't help myself. Pinter doesn't often help out with explanations of his work, but I think that even he would hesitate to claim that one can really sum up Man. modern or otherwise, in the actions of three people. Yet here is a closely ob- served triangle oi le*e. Such devices as- tfcue very precise language, the - pauses, the exposure of ambiguities, the reversal of the time flow focus attention on these lives, which, by retetiRg to our lives in some measure, dnsw us into some awareness of the friasoan condition (aaaaargh!). As a bonus in Betrayal, you also get, as light relief and to reassure you several cute ir^ments and many light remarks in the way ©f repartee, but if y#a laugh too much at each slice you're round to miss some vital words. Betrayal could '(•£ aaad has been, accused of being sJigtet. As a story it is a little banal, just another everyday tale of adultery in Kilburn complicated by the triangle being two-way, but such, is1 the concentration of meaning in. the dialogue and events, that I believe taiis to be a classic masterpiece -with more in three people and a couple of gross of words than. is. *aa«.y major dramatic Titauies, I FAX 0 HBHHBHraHmnffil OPERA-MAGIC FLUTE PAGE 7 JONATHAN RICHMOND THE MAGIC FLUTE is a Story of pure love and the barriers to its achievement, whose participants are involved in an abstract, mysterious environment in which the forces of good and evil interact, but in a way that is hard to pin down and define. It is only as the opera develops that, for example, the true nature of the Queen of the Night dawns upon us. All is symbolic, nothing real. Dent visualises Tamino and Pamina as "ideal figures, living only in imagination, and passing through the experience of a lifetime in the course of a few bars of music." The story is basically one of the love of Tamino for Pamina, and his quest to find and marry her that first requires him to be tested and enter the door of pure truth, to be initiated into the Sun Temple. Intertwined is the struggle between "noble" Sarastro and the "wicked" Queen. And Pamino is on a search for truth, Papageno's quest is only for food, drink and women. But perhaps it would be wrong to read too much into the serious message of the opera, The librettist, Schikaneder, wanted a "fairy tale plot of the conventional type" with "startling scenic effects with plenty of coloured fire and plenty of animals", according to Dent. And there is much comedy, especially connected with the so-human strivings and failings of Papageno and Monastatos, Sarastro's outrageous servant. > Serious, suDHme, supernatural, stupid? Perhaps all. The Magic Piute, a combination of the beautiful and the absurd and Mozart's last opera, composed when his mind was heavily turned to death, is unique. It is capable of satisfying all levels of intellectual enquiry. The humour can be laughed at without exploring any deeper. But more profound penetration unfolds a debate on the whole ques- tion of life. Maybe, within it is revealed the philosophy and heart of Mozart, himself. Bruno Walter has said that in Mozart were two souls: "He was the high-minded seeker, filled like Tamino with the ideals of exalted humanity. At the same time he was a cheerful, good-natured young man whose mind was bent on worldly pleasures. . . . The Tamino in Mozart's soul always had the better of Papageno and rebuked him for his frailties; yet again, on occasion, the latter showed himself recalcitrant in face of the former's moral admonitions, and we may assume that the struggle between the two souls, though never very violent, was everlasting." The new Covent Garden production conducted by Colin Davis, is in repertory until March 2nd. As usual, 65 Amphitheatre tickets at £3.50 will be on sale at 10 am on the day, together with Student Standing tickets at £1. Mozart lives. CINEMA BLUE C'CILILaVIR THE opening credits sequence (of which I missed half taking off my bicycle clips) is a good reflection of the quality of the rest of the piece. A claustrophic glide along the assembly-line for Checker cabs, weaving through the movements of men and machines, a freeze-frame of a man bathed in sweat, accompanied by the primal rhythm of the presses' opening and closing, discordant with the drills, rivet-guns, grinders and power-spanners, overlaid by the very heavy beat of the theme-music, little more than an orchestration of the presses' sharp thump. Harvey Keitel, Yaphet Kotto and Richard Pryor play three auto assembly workers in a Detroit plant, beset by monetary problems. They decide to rob their union's branch office. The robbery is a bust, netting them only $600. But they also find some papers, which, implicating union administrators in corrupt financial deals, become very hot property and before they are returned, cause one death, a lot of threats and the breakup of the close relationship of the three workers. Blue Collar is a thriller with a straight story about three men fighting against the powerful forces of corruption and includes, of course, a car- chase, fights, a death, intimidation—incredible tension. It is also an observation of politics at work, which tells us a hell of a lot about power tending to corrupt and all that. It is an examination of the world of work, its strains and evils — but also its necessity — no naivety here — with the few compensations, of shopfloor camaraderie, baiting the foreman, and relaxing afterwards, far outweighed by the dark shades of both the company's and the union's manipulation of the men for their own corrupt ends. Further, the story of the relationship of three men, their connections and distinctions, is deeply involving. There is also, as there must be in a film about auto workers in Detroit, the issue of racial tension and the conclusion that in spite of all the genuine buddy-buddyness, racism is not merely an attitude but a powerful social force which has through the years been given actuality as an institution and which even close friendship cannot conquer. The social divide is there. The point is emphasised by the final faded out scene, two men, fixed in expressions of the primal emotions of hatred and fear, crowbars descending on each other, one black, one white, held back by the two RODDY HALLIFAX forces of white government men and black workers, amidst the world of the machine. In Blue Collar the screenwriter, director Paul Schrader, and a very fine cast have created a taut, very absorbing, exciting film, with the assembly-line scenes being especially good — functional, acceptable, not entirely dehumanising sor-didness. I liked the note at the end of the final credits, to the effect that while the Checker Motor Corp. of Kalamazoo, Mich, are to be thanked for the use of their facilities in the making of the film, the conditions depicted are, naturally, in no way reflective of the conditions pertaining in the plant. Maybe people don't normally drive a forklift through a drinks machine in the Checkers Motor Corp. but I'd like to know how they moved several thousand tons of plant together and made it noise—and filth—producing for the film and then put it back, noiseless and self-cleaning afterwards, without losing a hell of a lot of production. Maybe the director has his radical views and Hollywood wants to make films with a difference, but it's still part of the world military-industrio, Wall Street, Socialist, Zionist, Ugandan and Yankee Imperialist auto-maker conspiracy. AMAZING CAPTAIN NEMC FROM some dark chasm in an unexplored ocean, the nefarious submarine "Raven" waits quietly for receipt of a billion dollar ransom. The United States faces nuclear blackmail from a sinister scientist, and only The Amazing Captain Nemo can vanquish the indomitable foe. Fortunately for Western civilisation, Nemo has just awakened from ¦ a century-long sleep, his suspended animation chamber having functioned perfectly. Naturally, the inimitable "Nautilus" is none the worse for wear. Its force field functions without a flaw, and its fis- sion-driven propellers can still yield a cruising speed of sixty knots. The U.S. Navy is easily persuaded to provide a ship's complement, intelligence (?) officers and telecommunications equipment. In return for these small favours, Nemo is asked to save the world from destruction, his suggestive reply being, "Well, I can save Washington, but first I must personally get the feel of this villain." Adventures ensure, Nemo is captured and wired into a brain draining machine. As the professor intends to conquer the world, he will need much intellectual assistance. But he TOM MULLEN won't get it from our hero. Nemo resolutely declares, " I will rid the world of the dark shadow you have cast across the lives of free men." And coming from an individual whose vocation is searching for Atlantis, such dedication is almost plausible. As certain as there is a flag to wave, the baneful asperser is defeated, and the power to blow up the world is taken from deluded scientists and re-Turned to the American military, where it belongs. Thus ends our tale of challenge and response : not with a bang but a sinking. SUB JUDICE WINSTON JAMES is a West Indian LSE student who was arrested after the adjournment of the trial concerning the violent death of Michael Feirrera on January 19th. He is charged with assault and obstruction. Michael Feirrera's mother was put in the dock for contempt of court because she was crying and a young black was arrested and bound over for holding up a protest at her treatment. Winston was arrested when he went to the assistance of a black sister. Only the police maintain that he attacked anyone. According to witnesses he was pounced upon in the hallway of the court and arrested when he tried to release his jumper from the grip of a policeman. Whilst in the court cells he was not allowed to see a doctor or telephone a lawyer. Winston was released on £100 bail and required to report to the local police station every evening. No such condition applied to one of the men accused of the Feirrera killing. This charge was dropped at a previous hearing and replaced by one of causing a breach of the peace — the only condition of this white man's bail was that he was not to frequent Hackney for his own protection. Unfortunately we cannot give Winston's own account of what happened at the court since this is sub judice. We will print this after his trial. The police have got away with a great deal in the past because they have legitimacy through SUS Ca law which allows the arrest of anyone police have reasonable suspicion is about to commit a crime) and various other repressive laws that are often harshly used against black people. At the moment, David McNee (Metropolitan Commissioner of Police) & Co are asking for even more repressive laws to increase the power of the state. Many people have been beaten, harassed and brutalised in the name of the law. Recently, several black homes in Hackney were raided by police, ostensibly to search for stolen electrical goods. None were found, yet several members of those families were taken to the police station for questioning and some were detained for as much as 36 hours. These particular black youths alleged that they were brutalised by the police and actually tortured in the process of police questioning (eg, pushing their heads into the bowls of lavatories) about crimes they deny committing. Again over the weekend, a 15-year-old sustained a broken leg when arrested by police. He was not allowed to see a doctor for until about five hours after the injury occurred. He was accused of breaking into a jeweller's shop by smashing the window with an iron bar, when in fact even the owner of the shop denied that the window was actually broken. These are just a few examples of many state attacks on black people, through the police. This brings into vivid focus the need for black people to organise themselves. It is very important as far as the British Lefl; is concerned to take seriously the attacks by the state on black people in various forms, eg the immigration laws, the recently-revealed virginity tests at Heathrow and the SUS laws, in other words, state racism. The NP is clearly an important force to be fought, but more, it is urgent that the forces of the British Left should be consciously deployed to deal with the question of the state and the harassment of the black people. A serious strategy has got to be worked out to attack state racism. The British state is becoming more and more authoritarian and its starting point and training ground for this seems to be the most easily isolated section of the community, i.e. the black population and more particularly black working-class youth. So we have to take up the question of the policies, actions and goals of the state in this arena of struggle. At the moment the black community is organising itself almost by default to take up this challenge. The success, however, of the black community in fighting for its liberation is very much dependent upon the actions and mobilisation of the predominantly white Left. Consequently it is very important that as many people as possible should join the black people in the pickets, demonstrations etc. This is not the solution in itself for the problems which they face, but it is a small step to their amelioration. London School of Economics is urged to support the picket in defence of Winston James on 27th February at 10 am, Highbury Magistrates' Court. PAGE 8 LONELYHEARTS CLUB GREAT BORES 4 LSE FORMED AT LSE HAVING arrived at the half-way stage of my University career I have decided that it is not really all that it is made out to be. I find the LSE far too impersonal. Of course there is little to do to change this. The LSE is not a campus university where everyone lives within a stone's throw of everyone else but even so I am sure that everyone at the college would like to know more people and perhaps create a warm community spirit which is definitely lacking. But how does one go about meeting other people ? The established places in the university are not particularly suitable. The Three Tuns community has much resemblance to the closed shop and where else is there to go ? The social life at the college is severely lacking to say the least. The ENTS Committee do their best, but do not perform their function particularly well given that it is a very hard job and there appears to be little alternative than to go to one of their functions. It seems the main problem is overcoming the apathy of the silent majority. Their events are often failures due to the lack of people turning up. And so to the point. Some friends of mine and I have decided to go against the norm and try to do something about things. We have set up the "Good Time and Party Organisation." The sole aim of this organisation is to encourage people to turn up to an event, meet new people and have a good time. The organisation has no ulterior motive neither is it a competitor to ENTS — it is simply an idea for people to have a good time. Of course if this idea is faced with the normal apathy, then the organisation will fold, hav- ing tried to do something about the boredom at the LSE and a few disillusioned students will return to their holes and continue as if the whole idea had never been conceived. If though, YOU are willing to try something different, then please show some enthusiasm by coming to our first event at the Carr Saunders Hall on 23rd February where we will commence the proceedings with a party where everyone must enjoy themselves. If there is any interest then we will arrange different things in the future such as a party on a beat, fancy dress balls, and an outing to Cambridge for a punt down the river, followed by a picnic. As well, PLEASE signify some form of curiosity or hope by signing one of the posters around the LSE. This could be the start of something big or perhaps not. If anyone is moved enough by this article and is prepared to help, please will they notify me through U/G Pigeonholes. Stephen Wise |sT7 : THURSDAY AFTERNOON FEVER LEGAL AID The Free Representation Unit The chairman of the tribunal wanted to know whether the woman was married. She was asking for money for her baby. "I don't think that's relevant," I told him. "The Commission have accepted she's fully responsible for the child." He asked the Presenting Officer, who puts the case for the Supplementary Benefits Commission. He told him she was married but the husband wasn't the father of the child. "She became pregnant on the day of her mother's funeral," he volunteered. This actually took place yesterday (last week, by the time you read this.)—not far frc m here. The chairman said his usual piece—I >;e been before him two or three times before— about protecting the taxpayer. As we left, he said, "You will make it clear to her that we're an independent tribunal, won't you ?" I became involved in this as a member of the Free Representation Unit. Many people now need to appeal against decisions made by government offices, or by their employers. Many of these cases are heard at tribunals, where legal aid is not available. The Free Representation Unit exists to help them. We take cases to Industrial, National Insurance, Supplementary Benefit and Rent Tribunals, amongst others. Problems are referred to us from agencies all over London. Some of our clients have difficulty in speaking English ; some are simply baffled by the appeal structure ; some have quite complex and difficult problems which require specialist advice. Could you help us? You don't have to have legal knowledge to begin, although of course it helps if you have ; what you do need is a certain amount of sympathy, understanding of people's problems and an ability to put an argument effectively. We ask new members to come to training sessions, where we give an outline of the sort of things you will need to know. Then, if you think you'd like to help, you will be able to accompany members on a couple of cases, until you are confident enough to take a case yourself. Our next training sessions are going to be at L.S.E. on 24th February and 10th March, both Saturdays, 10.30-4.00, in room 205. The first session will be on welfare tribunals, the second on industrial tribunals (which involve more of the law). Do come! FOR THE LOVE OF IRELAND O that the North and South could be As blessed and wed as man and wife —With love enough to stop the strife And tears within the ring of sea. © N. Racine-Jaques, 1979 V #5 CLASSIFIED Benefit event for African National Congress of the South African Youth Section. "Evening of Solidarity." Music by Belt and Braces. Banner Theatre presenting "The Great Divide," play on Racism and Fascism. Mayibuye—ANC Cultural Group. Chilean Singers. Haldane Room, 2nd March, 7.30 p.m. Admission £1.00. RESULTS OF GUNNAR NILSSON RAFFLE: Tickets DP1662 6 and DP4063 88. The sum raised was £82.03. Will winners please put a note in P. Besman's pigeonhole. LOST OR STOLEN One H/H 1C100 Amplifier, worth £120. Reward £10.—Contact Bill Smiles, S118. -SWP BITES PILLOWS eWToCti IS hbr inrsnosb To &Pfc:S5t\T Al/stsavc p-fectl JxxiS- ofi teAD, MP IF \6u &ZUZ/S THfir /oil Mr Kfjovi/ WW A Pf&vAkS- (T j^/a-K 6..... I am proposing this motion of censure because I strongly believe that unless this person is removed from all offices, the democratic structure of this Union will suffer drastically as a result and the sovereignty of Union floor will be put in serious Jeopardy. Moreover, this person has not attended the last four meetings of the Lavatory and Sewers Sub-Committee. This clearly constitutes a prima facie case of absolute disinterest in the democratic workings of Union. Furthermore, this person was actually seen to enter Garners Steak House in Chipping Sodbury to purchase a box of matches, clearly showing gross contempt for the struggles of the working class against their capitalis oppressors. This, to my mind, is totally unacceptable behaviour from a member of the so-called Executive Committee and deserves your contempt—that's my view, no confidence in the Chair ... DAWN OF A NEW ERA The LSE is not only a political forum contrary to the beliefs of a narrow-minded minority. Until now there has been no society that actually debates economics, which is incredible for an "J®11*" lion named the London School of Economics. Inspired by this, we thought Itwould be a good idea if the LSE had a society to justify its name—"The Economics Society." w. wr,„id like neople who are enthusiastic about and interested in K„»"micTta iTeSTh. opportunity to forth« th® th„»Bh informal discussions with both staff and students. 30 fah\T lS2 w^TbTa TheMEconomics of non-market Items." (Complements or Substitutes?) to bo given by Dr Psachropoulos. The second is a Cheese and Wine Paxty at the end of term. So just watch the notice boards. We hone to organise more talks and discussions but, remember that this is YOUR society It is up to you to come along and let us know what you wan^to^ discuss—anything from divorce to disinvestment. Let's not be apathetic any longer "and fefs make this society work, me LSE ought to be proud of it. , „• „ Those interested please contact Julia Redburn or Amanda Burre via U/G pigeonholes. ________________________ ___. PUBLIC LECTURES February 20 Tuesday The human factor in social administration—Professor J. H. Smith (Southampton). Board Room. LSE at 17.00. Ethics in the practice of law—Rt Hon. Lord Justice Shaw. Npw Theatre King's College at 17.30. Formen Deutscher Naturlyrik von Stefan Georges'Jahr der Seelebis Bertolt Brecht's -Buckower Elegien—Professor Dr. P. G. Klussman (Germanistisches Institut, Ruhr-Universitat Bochum). senate House, Chancellor's Hall at 17.30. _ Towards an iconography of Anglo-Saxon architecture—Dr. Richard Gem, Courtauld Institute of Art at 17.30. 21 Wednesday Malnutrition and government policy in inter-war Britain (provisional title) _0r d. oddy (Polytechnic of Central London). Chancellor's Hall, Senate House at 17.00. . Recreation versus Conservation: Environmental management in the English Countryside—Professor H. B. Rodgers (Manchester). Engineering Lecture Theatre. University College at 17.30. 23 Friday Lunch hour film: "Young Children in Brief Separation: Jane." Jeffery Hall, Institute of Education, at 12.45. 26 Monday The case against conservative macro-economics—Professor G. Akerlof. Inaugural Lecture, LSE, at 17.30. 27 Tuesday The Edwardian style. The Edwardian writer—H. G. Wells — Don Jacobson. Read Theatre, Imperial College at 13.30. __ Early Netherlandish painters and their workshops—Dr. Lome Campbell. Courtauld Institute at 17.30. March 1 Thursday Conversion—Psychological or Spiritual?—Dr. David Booth (Birmingham). Read Theatre, Imperial College at 13.30. . . ¦ Beyond the melting pot? Ethnic assimilation and pluralism m American life —Professor Stephen Thurnstrom (Cambridge). Board Room, LSE, at 17.00. The DV's The brief set on Monday was the last time the infamous LSE band, the DV's, will ever play-together again. ("Were they ever together any way ?" voiced a critic in the Ents room —<¦ thank you, Aidan). The actual musical content of the set was better than ever before, with the help of a professional mixer, and drummer Tim. Many of the old classics "(Do the) Steve Judson", "Anarchy," etc., were dropped for the new improved sound. At times they almost sounded commercially viable. However the Band split up in 'mid-chord.' with Walter Ego, Sam Snides and Lone Wolf walking off stage after 'Secret Agent.' So it's 'goodbye' to the old line-up : Naf (organ and vocals); Sam Snides (bass), Lone Wolf (lead guitar), Walter Ego (rhythm guitar). Toxis Tim (drums—for one gig only) and the (oft out of tune) 'Blow Jobs.' We will follow their individual careers with 'interest.' Buy badges now (25p from the Ents room) before the DV's become a cult. Secret Seven & Monos THE Secret Seven presented a neat tight set, with an interesting variety of songs. A sparsely populated Haldane Room saw "a very competent support act," in some ways better than the main band. Secret Seven are notable for unusually having a female on bass, and for their extremely tall and dominating lead vocalist. The band kicked off at a medium pace, the songs being typified by neat, precise, bass and guitar lines. Interesting harmonies and vocals interspersed with punchy lead guitar, all contributed towards the good reception the band deservedly received. So keep your eyes open, they could be playing a lot around London in the future. The set they played at the Valentine's Bop was in originality, presentation and content, certainly the best of the night. THE MONOS are a band well known for their stickers in the underground, but not for their music. They started in top gear, with their own brand of New Wave Rock and Roll. Songs came thick and fast, with very little change from the initial accelerated tempo. However, apart from the obvious energy expended on stage by the quartet of Bass guitar, Rhythm guitar. Lead guitar and Drums, the actual presence of the band left a lot to be desired. This wasn't helped by the bad acoustics in the Haldane Room and the small audience, who pro- duced about as much feeling of having a good time as the Reading Festival site does in December. Although the Monos worked imvt against the lack of any striking difference between their soa®s (they only used one guitar solo it* the entire set) the end result was music that could only be stomped to. For the sheer effort of their performance the small audieno? brought the Monos back for an encore. Although the porters repeatedly turned on the lights during the song, the band played on imitidt you the Bass played in Bb not Eb) for probably the most exciting part of their set. SAM JEN WOLF & SALLY" DON'T BE STIFF BE LIMP b N T SEN NT SENT T S ENTS S E NT S E EN T S E N Valentine's Bop The "Valentine's Bop" was an experimental attempt to solve the ever-increasing problem that faces LSE Ents. That is, very few students turn up to events, either to help or partake of the entertainment. The "Bop" was an attempt to put on an event that contained two bands, the DV's (beyond description) ana a disco, at a price that any student could afford. After "blanket publicity", we waited on the door with anticipation. The numbers were not too disappointing but, once again, LSE students were conspicuous by their absence. If the entertainment is not to your taste, please do n'ot just slag off our efforts but get off your arses and come to the Ents Open Committee meetings at 1.0 pm on Tuesdays and criticise. Until that happens I feel quite justified in describing you all as apathetic wankers. (I exclude from this those few of you who did turn up and made some constructive criticisms). On to the' event itself: the school authorities reluctantly let us book the Haldane Room from 5 pm on Monday. However, the adjoining room was used until 7.30 pm so the whole evening was shortened as the sound checks could not be made until after this time. Once the event did get under way most people seemed to enjoy themselves, although some of us feel the real highlight of the evening was the unique method of ensuring re-entrance. Gerry's heart motifs are now legendary and it was noticed that he lingered over certain hands . . . The disco was shortened due to the late sound check but all enjoyed bopping to the 'sixties sound of George and Mike. Where do Ents performers go in the winter season? From a Dutch newspaper, 24th December, 1978 :— "Duitsiandl IN WDR" Kanalen : 43. 50. 55 en 58. 17.00 Basisgemeente in de derde werld. Documentaire over katholiek missiewerk. 18.00 Sesamstraat. Voor de kinderen. 18.30 RockpaLeisfestival: Roy Harper, It is to he hoped that this new-found world-wide acclaim will not go to his head and that Mr Harper will return to make (yet) another come-back bid at the good ol' LSE. Where are they now? "... I have been asked by Nicky Home of Capital Radio's "Your Mother" show if LSE Ents are interested in playing host to the first outside broadcast of his new Saturday night programme. More details in a future "Entsnews," —Andy Cornwell, Beaver, Oct., '77. Fact: No such show ever took place. ,IJ>R£R Hwo .of • g MAX WCK CHtVS MAtH UNE Of C-Hnrt(j64 WO THe OF MAX.VJAF Co* SHSVLO txvt %£ ser HI AT-fH£ tSTC'Kj-THgM Ut&tSxMoM I1 KftV AHO SlVCfi A ortiCe. Ufl sine if -raS fruf.g -..... "ws £.flNWfWt ft H.f ftSO bo ONTO? dFTVg PWS ft HO tffWeWR ¦ PhcTOoNTnec Fffirf-r sc'/ffZOF'TFiOciC I flNOS&ftMg 1C.104 fiNOFRMW.^ V ' * I m/ Ki <#e WAl_T£ft weir Sam [we'll- Hftve A HVf AUSOM *© Ml 1 HIL ?i WB.4 wegKi UC MN e pntLS s£)V*6S fttfo 6*eCf!S$ AND J i -rfttce lots of seyttoidCr WWOS eoo Rock against the radio wavelength changes +TUi*TS'SlB&C£i' Saturday, 24th February After weeks of bargaining we finally came to a deal with the group of students from Bristol University who are organising this tour. For your pound (that's right only one pound !) you get five bands who are big in Bristol. After the poor turnout last week for the. Monos' gig, we are worried that we may have to revert to our old policy of not putting on small but good groups for small admission prices. Bristol University guaranteed 150 friends so if you students cannot fill the Haldane it will be real shame. This is a whole evening of good entertainment (the sole London date for Be Limp)—so be there. The bands on Saturday are: ; ¦ - The Spies Joe Public Crystal Theatre Dave Cohen The Syndrome The organisers are providing 100 free posters, and we would really appreciate some help putting them up. If you ca« help, come along to the Ents Room (S118) any time. LIST OF DISCOS Thursday, 22 Feb: Graduate Committee Disco Friday 23 Feb : Local Operater plus disco Three Tuns, free Friday 2 March : Soul Disco Three Tuns, free Saturday 3 March : Carr Saunders Disco Thursday 8 March : Gay Society Disco Florries Extension, 6 pm Friday 9 March : Pass field Disco PAGE 10 iijjjj ANARCHY IN THE A.U. THERE are currently four football teams at the LSE. Each week they do . their best to emulate Middlesborough, they play on Saturday mornings when they could be in bed, they go training when they could be in the bar, and the only remarkable thing about any of them is their mediocrity. There are currently four football teams at the LSE, and there is the Cosmos. HOCKEY WELCOME back to the team that never plays! Well, there have been two games this calendar year, with two slight reverses (defeats) v RCS 1-3 and QEC 1-4. The main excuse for these results, apart from LSE playing with only inne or ten men, was that the opposition managed to score more goals than we did. Other earth-shattering events include leading super-striker and modest with it Andy Tebb doubling his goal tally to two, and Nick Pascoe managing one in each end against QEC. In that game LSE played better without a goalkeeper than with. Thanks to Ian Rothery who made an interesting debut, Tony Jordan for commuting from Bournemouth, and to Lydia for "blowing the whistle, good pair of lungs there! Since Jan 31st all games have been frozen off or cancelled due to an abysmal lack of interest. On Sunday 18th Feb the UL Sixes might have been played and LSE might have been there, if six hardy players got up on Sunday morning! The ladies COSMIC FOOTBALL Originally labelled with the laughable misnomer "the fifths", the instant legends in yellow and green have set about destroying the AU mediocrity by playing a brand of football that combines all the excitement of Pele, Puskas and Paris '68. Indeed The Cosmos is a truly revolutionary body, overthrowing the stale complacency of LSE football and running rings round opponents. Their record of scoring 57 goals while conceding only 13, speaks volumes for itself. But figures alone cannot reveal the joy that fills their game, the style and panache untold by mere statistics. Cosmos football has truly to be seen to be disbelieved. The Cosmos is, though, more than a mere athletic exercise. For the Cosmos ethic now forms the basis of a lifestyle for its members. The camaradarie and comradeship that is so evident on the park runs throughout the whole of the lives of these most majestic of mavericks. This summer the Cosmos are making a brave attempt to extend their evergrowing fame on to a world-wide plane when they embark on their "blitzkrieg" tour of Berlin '79. This trip, described by a Cosmos spokesman as a "crusade"', is seen as the perfect way of rounding off an unbelievably succesful season. The Cosmos collective is, then, a vital and re-vitalising force in the LSE. The effect of their efforts is felt equally in the bar as in the Athletic Union office. Indeed • a spokesman for that most "venereal" of bodies is quoted as saying "You have undermined the whole structure of the AU." Let us hope that for all our sakes they continue to be truly cosmic. R.E, ELECTION RESULTS Congratulations to Phil Valentine, Lyciia Lietbury and Andy Tebb on their elections as A.U. President, General Secretary and External Vice-President respectively. Dave Squires and Jill Arnold were elected unopposed to the posts of Assistant General Secretary and Internal Vice-President. The votes cast were i General Secretary Lydia Lidbury ........................93 Sergio Pellogrenelli ............46 External Vice-President Andy Tebb ....................................66 Richard Mooney ..................59 President Phil Valentine ........................68 Pete Burbridge ........................42 Sergio Pellogrenelli ............32 Phil Valentine won by 80 votes to 53 on a second count under the S.T.V. system. Paul Knowles, Returning Officer. APOLOGY The "gang of three" and its subordinates (euphemistically termed the "Beaver Collective") would like* to apologise for the lower quality of this week's apology. We realise that the Apology is one of Beaver's most important features, one that has always maintained high standards in the past, and is indeed one of Beaver's, nay LSE's, most famous traditions. In fact, we shall go further. We are NOT going to apologise for anything this week. We didn't write most of this crap. God, we slave away night and day on your behalf, never getting a word of appreciation. And do we ever complain? Or boast about how wonderful we are? Of course we do. We're only super-human, after alt Some people say that the new Daily Star is the worst newspaper in Britain. They obviously haven't seen Beaver. (Or First Issue—sorry. Bill !) But none of this will deter us from our singleminded pursuit of satisfying the great majority of our egos. DUE to the continuing bad weather, interest in the Football Club has centred on the continuing outbreak of scrot-rot among many of the 1st XI players. The actual causes of this outbreak are not known despite thorough investigations by Department of Health officials. Reports that the AU office is to be placed in quarantine until the source of the infection has been located are, of course, completely. untrue. Scrot-rot symptoms are generally an inflamation of the more tender parts of the male anatomy accompanied by a rash and a definate itching sensation. Tim Roff, self-appointed scrot-rot expert, reckons that 15% of the 1st XI players have been affected, and that it must have FOOTBALL CLUB: STOP THE ROTH have also been suffering from terminal cancellation. With a few league games piling we still need players if spring arrives! By the way hockey players do not need "Mycota''—¦ only hand cream ! A. C. Tebb Club Captain The University of London Sports Council are holding their first-ever Buffet/Dance on Saturday, March 3rd from 9 pm to 2 pm. The evening is being presented by Capital Radio with all the regular Djs, free T-shirts, etc. Among the celebrities attending will be Sir Stanley Rouse of FIFA, and David Shaw of the Amateur Athletic Association. The whole thing is a non-profit-making concern, which means plenty of food and plenty of drink (especially after midnight). The price of the tickets Is £3.50 which can be obtained from Derek Philpott in the AU office (E.65) by Wed, Feb 21st. CRICKET WELCOME new students to LSE. I hope that this period of your cricketing careers will be enjoyable and satisfying. LSE Cricket Club runs two elevens and has a full fixture list, with three matches a week in the height of the season! Further details about the club are posted on the Cricket Club notice board, which is situated in the St Clements building, outside the shop. We are holding regular 'nets' at MCC Indoor Cricket School. Lords, between 7 pm-9 pm on Mondays until the end of term. Anyone interested is warmly invited to attend these practices however only 24 players can attend each session so it is imperative that you look at the noticeboard or contact me ( leave a message at the AU office E 65). I look forward to the coming season. David Mason adversly affected team performances! Tim is however at pains to point out (it really does itch!) that although numerous remedies have been tried (rubbing it in lemon juice, dipping the affected area in a cup of tea from Florries etc) the only real remedy is using Mycota Cream available-from Boots chemist and through prescription from the AU office. It does however appear that the outbreak of scrot-rot has been contained, and previously affected players such as Tim Roff, Fatti-Patti, and Paul (£6 a. go)",Tenneson report that it is generally receding and that any further visits to the clinic will be unnecessary. Watch this column for furthet bulletins. Meanwhile the rest of the Football Club has generally been quiet with few piss-ups and Zumba's. The 1st XI has become extremely boring, drawing again 1-1 with QMC (4th draw in a row), the only LSE goal being scored by Nigel (I've hurt my back) Hopkiss. The 2nd XI drew 1-1 with Royal — Holloway at home, the only goal being scored by Phil Valentine, when the ball bounced off his head and completely deceived the goalkeeper. The 3rd XI beat Royal Holloway 4-3, the LSE goals being scored by Greg McDonald, Paul Knowles, Liam O'Donoghue and Greasy Jim Ackers. The 4th XI kept up its bid for promotion when they beat West-field at home 2-1, the goals being scored by Barnv Appleby and Steve Jones (who also managed to miss ' a penalty). It was generally a good team performance despite the inclusion of that veteran midfield player Graham Harbottle. Mark Wilsorr-— B|P|||igH| ; i.i, HH siswsysSsMS Victims of scrot-rot horror take a day off training. Printed by Ripley Printers Ltd., Ripley, Derby. Published by London School of Economies and Political Science, Students' Union, St Clement's Buildings,