BRITISH LIBRARY OF POLITICAL & ECONOMIC SCIENCE
_
¦ r* " * *
18JUN1990
NEWSPAPER OF THE L S E STUDENTS' UNION
No. 139 FEBRUARY tSth, 1975 FREE
TO occupy or not to occupy, that was the question. The question was put to a packed Union Meeting of well over 300 people. The meeting was the culmination of if not exactly fourteen days of intense action, at least intense debate.
The Emergency Union Meeting held on February 11th was the result of the now infamous Motion 2 passed by Union on January 23rd. This, as you may recall, put five demands to the School and pledged Union to take disruptive action if they were not met in full.
As the disruptive action promised • in Motion 2 was not specifically planned, the Emergency Meeting ; was firstly to decide whether or not to take action, and secondly, what kind of action to take. Accordingly, two arguments were presented. Business Motion 1, proposed by IS. called for an immediate occupation of Con-naught House; a mass refusal to pay more than 80 per cent of listed refectory prices and full support for the NUS Grants Cuts Campaign.
Where to now?
An amendment to this was proposed by IMG, "supported" by the Broad Left. Basically this called for an occupation of S.75 and S.78, subject to the outcome of the Board of Governors meeting (to discuss the Nursery) on Wednesday, 13th. The amendment also called for consultations with the Joint Unions Representative Committee before taking any action, in order to gauge the college workers' views.
To cut a long story short, IS was proposing an immediate occupation. while the amendment proposed a build up of action giving itself the opportunity to act on new developments, and to develop greater mass support. However, the amendment also proposed to give the Nursery Action Committee and the Grants Action Committee power to call occupations as and when they felt fit. This is usjally the prerogative of Union
Meetings and riot committees, a point that lost the amendment considerable support.
The five demands themselves were more or less condensed into the fight for the Nursery being as IS considered, an ideal issue on which to fight. Therefore the debate swung to and fro over whether or not the Director had really made concessions on the Nursery, to ignore concessions anyway and work for total victory, not to take action of any .kind and accept whatever the School proposes.
Distinguished speeches for the motion were made by Jim Montgomery and Howard Feather, concentrating on the theme if you don't take action now you'll regret it and we mustn't waste the oppor-timity of getting the 300 people at the meeting on the occupation. In
fact Howard Feather's speech almost saved the day for the occupation, and even in ^spite of Abe Oppel's little piece against the motion (notably assisted by Glenys Thornton), kept the issue in doubt right up to the very end.
However, the voting crushed any hopes for an occupation. There were 82 votes for the motion with 214 against and 27 abstentions. The amendment was also defeated by 148 to 91 with 21 abstentions.
So, where does this leave the Union? An immediate occupation has been rejected, and a badly worded plan of action also rejected. Previous Union policy still stands The high attendance at the Union Meeting cannot be attributed to a sudden upsurge in concern and a mood for action by a great number of students. The word "occupation" merely attracted a large meeting to enjoy a bit of fun and games.
The task seems to be the same as usual. To really motivate and galvanise the great majority of students at LSE. Action and perhaps success will come if it is realised that the issues about which the Emergency Meeting was called do affect everybody and you can do something about it. Back to square one . . .
T.G.
AFTER an intensive campaign among the students and staff of Oxford University, the Oxford University Congregation refused to confer an honorary degree on Mr Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan. What is interesting to note in the saga that ended in Mr Bhutto's academic demise was the strong anti-Bhutto feeling among many prominent academics.
At the LSE we have our problems too. Mrs Helen Suzman, the lone voice of the Progressive Party before the last elections in the South African Parliament, is to be made an Honorary Fellow ~f ¦ the LSE. What is interesting to note in this case is the extent to which the woman has been split into two categories to make her acceptable at large.
The first of these categories is as a fighter against the "Apartheid"' system in South Africa. This image is, however, a distorted one for many reasons. Perhaps foremost among these is the fact that i the South African Government is so violently right-wing that even Mrs Thatcher would be regarded as "left wing" in South African terms. Indeed, one could even go so far as to say that Mr Powell perhaps shares more in common with Mrs Suzman than does Margaret Thatcher.
This strange state of affairs derives from the way in which the Progressive Party has had to mould its policies to woo White voters in South Africa without presenting formulae of action that would impinge on the economic security these voters at present enjoy under the "Apartheid"' system.
Bhutto to Suzman
i
It is not commonly known that the Progressive Party demands a qualified franchise. Why should this stipulation be placed on what is commonly regarded as an automatic right to exercise power through the ballot box by all adults? Is it because the Black people in South Africa are so backwards that they will vote for people in an unthinking fashion? Or is it a stipulation forced upon the Progressive Party due to the political thinking of the White voters. If it is the latter case then one may only conclude that political expediency has forced the Progressive Party to accept 19C principles due to the fact that the majority of White voters in South Africa still think in feudal terms. If the former argument is to apply then one can only conclude that at a global view, the application of this principle will disenfranchise most people in the Third World, and perhaps also many who enjoy this right in developed couijtries.
But there are many voices who will argue that she has in a commendable way tirelessly argued against the government in South Africa and that this has influenced a large sector of the White voters. And it is true, indeed, that the Progressive Party has increased the number of its representation in the South African Parliament. This increase, however, is not unconnected with the demise of the United Party, that impotent organ of Sir De Villiers Graaf. In fact, the UP is so torn apart that on
the 11th of this month ten influential members of the United-Party have left to form the Reform Party. This has been seen as a "Young Turks" movement within that Party since they have pledged themselves to a "left-wing" (sic) manifesto. This, in spite of the fact that the UP are ostensibly far to the right of the Progressive Part#.
We can, no doubt, expect the development of some formal links between the Reform Party and the Progressive Party in the near future. Already there has been
speculation that some Progressive Party MPs will back the new party.
Yet we, at this college, are now being told that we have to accept Mrs Helen Suzman as an Honorary Member. Perhaps to those unconcerned with the effect of the "Apartheid" system on the majority of people in South Africa this honour we are bestowing upon Mrs Suzman is of no account. To those who are concerned, however, this is a rather perturbing step. Members of staff and jtudents, who have the courage of their convictions, should take heart at the adult fashion in which the Bhutto Honour was questioned and debated at Oxford. Let us too debate this issue rather than ignominiously accept this decision of the award granting body.
Nursery news
HOPES for a Nursery were considerably strengthened after a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Court of Governors on Wednesday, February I2th, and the investigation of the alternative site on Friday, February I4th, by the Director, Professor Dahrendort, on the invitation of Mr Crispin O'Brien, Executive Welfare Officer.
The Committee did not offer any insurmountable difficulties to the realisation of the longstanding need, and with the Director and Mr O'Brien joining forces behind the project, there are high hopes for the realisation of it, quickly.
The alternative site to the groundfioor rooms in St. Clements, is the sub-basement of the Parish Hall. Also on the investigating team was the Assistant Bursar, Mr B. J. Silk, and the head of Nurseries for the Westminster Council, Mrs Pirie. Mr O'Brien is expected to mention another reason for the.Nursery that has been overlooked by the Administration, that of the availability of "raw data" for the Psychology Department.
PT
SSCs
APOLOGIES to Trade Union Studies people—they definitely do have an SSC (of a kind) which is very active—we didn't know because the Industrial Relations Dept. secretary didn't.
Accounting: Next Meeting before end of term.
Economics; April 23rd.
Stats.: Early next term.
Sociology : Feb. 18th.
Anthropology: Before end of term.
Soc. Psych : March 6th. Soc. Admin.: Feb. 26th.
Geog.: Next term ? Int. History: Before end of term. Int. Relations : March 6th.
"HAVING been" elected Returning Officer at the Union meeting of February 7th, it behoves me to open nominations for the Union Executive Committee (ten vacancies) and the two sabbatical posts of General ^cretary and Senior Treasurer. The newly elected officers will commence their duties at the end of the' Summer Term, to enable them to organise the next New Students' reception.
The Constitution states (in Part 2, Section 4, 1(a) that the election will take place during the eighth week of the Lent Term traditionally on a Friday. Accordingly, the election will take place on Friday, February 28th, and polling will be by secret ballot between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Nominations open on Monday, February 17th, and close on Friday, February 21st. The Hustings will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, February 26th and 27th (see notice boards for further details)."
R. W. Ingram
Grants
THE NUS WEEK OF ACTION
centred around the GRANTS AND CUTS CAMPAIGN is from February 24th-28th. Organisation should start this week through the Grants Action Committee, hopefully preparations will be less hurried than for last term and hence more effective. Details of GAC meetings (open to all) and of things going on will appear on the Daily News Sheet. A lot of help will be needed since this is the same week as Union Elections — so quite a few people ¦Rill be tied up campaigning and it is only possible to do a few things at once!
I
BKAVtR, Feb. 18th. 19:5—Page Two
LETTERS
• • •
DEAR SIR—I write in response to the article entitled "'Tory Tactics" which appeared in the last issue of "Beaver". Mr Cruse managed with usual ease to get his facts WTong. In writing to you I hope to clarify my position regarding the doctrine of the Union mandate at the LSE, with special reference to the Shrewsbury Two Pickets case.
The following are the factors which influence me in deciding a stand on various political Issues (in order of priority):
(1)	My conscience.
(2)	The mandate which has been given to me by those who voted for me.
(3)	Union policy as specified by the Union floor.
In most cases my actions will not be contrary to the wishes of the Union floor. Given the reference in the Students" Union constitution re: the supremacy of the Union floor in determining Students' Union policy, as well as the requirement that "the Executive. Committee shall be responsible to Union for the implementation of Union policy", where a situation arises in which my conscience or the mandate given to me by those who voted for me are contrary to the wishes of the majority of students who determine policy at a quorate
Union meeting I would clearly have to resign.
At the meeting of the Executive Committee of 8-1-75 various moves vi'ere made by John Cruse and members of the International Socialists to try and enforce my resignation. The issue was whether the Union Executive were mandated by Union policy to attend the picket in aid of the '^Shfewsbury Two". My view was that such action was not mentioned in Union -policy. In the vote on whether or not this was already to be considered as Union policy, sc^ cn members of the Executive thought it was and voted for. I voted against. This was interpreted to mean that I was voting against Union policy!
On reading what was the actual policy on this issue, and much to the embarrassment of the seven members of the Executive who thought that the picket was part of Union policy (especially to the chagrin of John Cruse), the relevant motion (see minutes of the Union meeting of 1-11-74) made no mention of the full support of Union for the Shrewsbury Two; made no mention of pickets or demonstrations, etc, In fact, the motion only called for a telegram to be sent to Roy Jenkins and Michael Foot.
Yours faithfully,
TONY BROWN
CROSSWORD
ACFtOSS
I.	Betting on a missile gets the bird.
7.	Evidence that it's alcohol.
8.	Annihilate Desmond at lUium.
9.	Ban Aunty from the cask,
II.	Chartered accountant on a box in a hut.
13.	Cockney fish is painful.
14.	Girl leads the remainder up the mountain.
15.	You say that's the den ? It's untrue.
16.	Villain and alien meet military student.
n. Imprison the hospital orderly.
21. Sounds logical enough for translation.
22.	For the dead? Well, he's not sleeping.
23.	Herb found at Scarborough Fair.
DOWN
2.	You train in O.P.E.C. as a safety measure.
3.	Earl Reti isn't a wholesaler.
4.	Hobo employs a musical instrument.
5.	Are any covering a space?
6.	"--for the Gospel makers."
9.	Half a knicker.
10.	Excite tlie healer in the exit.
12.	The answer's nearly a melon!
13.At	last in a mytiiical island!
18.	Pulled away a small city.
19.	Roguish gardening-tool.
20.	Fishy letter is the end!
GRAND INTERNATIONAL EVENING
FRIUAV, FEB. 28th at 8 p.m. at f .\RK-SALNDERS H.\LL,
Fitzroy Street;
with A STEEL BAND
and an Internationa! Buffet. DISCO & BAR. Admission Free Presented by Carr-Saunders Hall I Society & LSE',J O.S.W.C.
THE
GREAT DEBATE
RALF OAHRENDORF v. NIGEL HARRIS (I.S.)
on
What Future for Capitalism ?
Tuesday, March lUh
1.30 p.m.
in the Old Theatre.
DEAR SIR,—In his burning zeal to discredit Helen Suzman, longest-serving Progressive Party member of the South African Parliament, David Kenvyn has totally undercut his case by several instances of bland inaccuracy. Given his obvious interest in South Africa, it is hard to believe that this misrepresentation is not deliberately designed to give an incorrect impression.
Although it is true that the Progressive Party philosophy is based on the concept of capitalist, free enterpiise democracy, and therefore is diametrically opposed to communism, the Party has always defended the democratic right of communists to organise politically and propagate their case. It is widely acknowledged that it is this aspect of policy, more than the Party's race poUcy, that delayed for many years the election of more _^ogressive M.P.s to Parliament.
It is furthermore, an unequivocal and well publicised aspect of Progressive Party policy that the Party would immediately introduce free and compulsory education for all children, for the first eight years of schooling. Kenvyn blandly states that the opposite
RCPLY TO MULUR
is true. Progressive Party franchise qualifications for the common voters roll would be either—
(1)	ten years' schooling, or
(2)	eight years of schooling and earnings «f R7S0 per annum (1974 Rands i.e. £480) and, if your spouse qualifies, so do you.
It is true that Harry Oppenheimer, chairman of the Anglo-American Corporation, is a member of the progressive Party. However, the events at his Carletonville mine, incorrectly related by Kenvyn; cannot logically be linked with the career of Helen Suzman. Kenvyn's allusion to them can be dismissed as an emotive red herring.
As a student of the L.S.E., a member of the Progressive Party, and someone who has worked, not only with Helen Suzman, but also with several of the "insulted" persons mentioned by Kenvyn, may I record my pleasui'e at the honoiu- bestowed on Mrs Suzman and affirm my belief that it is timely and deserved.
Yours faithfully,
GRAHAM MULLER
Clapham, S.W.ll.
IT is not surprising that a member of the Progressive Party and a member of the Anti-Apartheid Movement should disagree profoundly about the role of the Progressive Party and its members. I cannot accept the 18th Century concepts of democracy as put for-
ward by the Progressive Party. They do not seem to understand that money has nothing to do with the right to vote and that education, far from being a qualification for voting, is a basic democratic right. Moreover, the earnings restrictions they seek to
Pi
from The Rt. Hon. Edward Heath. M.3.C.. M.P.
HOUSE Or COMMONS ^ January 1975


I sa'.v the news of your election, to the 2xecutive of the London School of Econo.'ni.cs student union l.ict '.v-aek in the r.ev/spaper. This -vvaa very good ncv.-r. md is evidence of the steady in Conscrvitiva opLnior. lu tho universities.
Pleace accept my hearty congratulations and b^st -.visheG.
J BlundeLl Esq.
DEAR EDITOR, — Having read about Felicity's death I was not surprised when an excessively reliable source informed me that '"certain members" of "Beaver's" editorial staff are intendin,? to increase the number of political articles within the newspaper to near capacity. I am not certain what they hope to achieve toy so doiiig, maybe they are seeking a form of self-satisfaction by seeing their opinions and ideas in print and from thence read by riveted L.S.E. students.
However, if their intentions are implicated, there will be few riveted students reading their articles and even less self-satisfied souls. On the back of Feb. 4th issue, G;H. headlined an article with the words "Does Cortes know what capitalism is?" I take it that those "certain members'' know what capitalism is, and are aware that one of its features in its crudest form is that of supply and demand. If "Beaver" becomes any more political in content than it is at present, there will be decreasing demand in readership. copies will be wasted, money v^ill be wasted, and eventually "Beaver" itself will waste away.
"Beaver" should be political, but
it should also be broader than just political, with articles covering a various expanse of topics, information directly relevant to the L.S.E., some covering sub,iects of general interest, and some purely for amusement. There is a possible danger that "Beaver" might be transformed into a glorified extension of union meetings with the "babies" of the I.S. and Broad Left fighting over their "rattles". Many of the political articles, such as that on Chile by Emma H-B in the Feb. 4th issue, are excellent, it is just that they need not be on every page, on every column, and on every line of newsprint. If one wants to read political articles from cover to cover, one can find the periodicals, newspapers and pamphlets that suit ones taste politically which, with all due respect, may well be writtten by moi-e experienced and profound journalists and political theorists.
My request is that the editors should to a certain extent try and produce a newspaper that the students at the L.S.E. wish to read, rather than one which they themselves want to produce, otherwise "Beaver" will follow the footsteps of the "Daily Express" into oblivion.
Yours ever,
Ed—see back page	NICK
impose is one that is obtained by not very many black people.
Mr Muller does not seem to understand, either, that membership of a party implies agreement oveP certain basic attitudes. The Progressive Party has not condemned the attitude of Mr Oppenheimer to his workers, therefore they must acc^t criticism. If I misreport^ the events at Carltonville so did my sources—"The Times", "Guardian", "Telegraph" and the "Financial Times".
Firiallj', I can only conclude that Mr Muller totally misunderstood my last remarks. I was talking aboub the Anti-Apartheid Group at the L.S.E. I did not mention their names because some of them are South Africans and their families could be subjected to reprisals by the Bureau of State Security. Mr Muller is not a member of that group and has never, to my knowledge, worked with any of us.
Library
DEAR BEAVER,—Following a certain letter that was published in. the latest edition of the paper, may we express our regret at Hoonie Feltham's elitist attitude, that allows her to take it for granted that failure on her part must be the fault of others.
Clearly, if the books that she requires ai'e out, some more competent reader must have succeeded in getting them. As for delays; perhaps we may make some suggestions and as Hoonie Feltham says that the Teaching Library is itt such an appalling state, may ws suggest that she and the other readers help us to remedy that!
Firstly.—
The time spent waiting for books would be enormously cut if all books were returned on time. (Perhaps you can afford the fines, but can your colleagues afford the delay?);,
Secondly;
If you have reserved a book,
look for the card in your pigeonhole and do collect it promptly. One day recently, nearly 65 per cent of a large set of reserve books were simply never collected. If the boofc ' is no longer of use to you, let iis know before the statutory three days are up—other readers will appreciate the courtesy of having the book released as quickly as possible.
Thirdly;—
The shelves would be in a muchi better order if readers replaced books in the correct places, instead ^ of dumping them at the far end 'f of the shelf or wherever there ha|H pens to be a space.
A moment spent obseriing ths classification system will save other readers a great deal of time and free the staff for more important duties.	•
VANESSA GILBEY LYNDA WELCH NINA RASBORSCHEG CHRISTOPHER WAIN

--^__________rep, jicin, <0—»rage liire
^ STARS ON TUESDAY *
AQUARIUS January 20th to February 18th Masculine Air Fixed.
Ruling Planet; Uranus (traditionally Saturn).
A bus5' February is ahead for Aquarians, Mercury is retrograde until the 20th. after which everything should brighten up! Students' Unions around the country will be approached by Hugh Lanning, dynamic fire sign that he is, who will be attempting to make a
¦	different sort of NOISE in the NUS Executive stakes. Hugh, brave and defiant, has stood alone
¦	out of the ranks of his Inter-' national Socialists Brotherhood
Hugh, will survive, and if not elected to the post of NUS Treas-' urer, will go on to form a Lanney-ite split. Margaret Thatcher <bom October 13th, 1925) will announce that she is disappointed that Germaine Greer has not sent fi enuch to congratulate her on her electoral success. P.S. Sir Keith Joseph will announce that Maggie Thatcher's children being bom of a mere class three person should have been drowned at birth (by the way good old Keith was , born under the sign of Aquarius on January 17th. 1918! like Jesus!).
PISCES February 19th to March 20th : Feminine Water Mutable.
Ruling Planet: Neptune.
For Pisceans February could be ene of the brightest months of your life, everything is going your way, iuck is on your side. Alastair Cos will find that his dream has come true; someone who has not teen close to him in the past will emerge as the unborn star of his life. Pisceans are wonderful lovers, and have a real flair for anything romantic — and are intensely sensitive when confronted with unexpected situations.
ARIES March 21st to April 20th Masculine Fire Cardinal.
Ruling planet; Mars.
In February, friends and relations will play a big part in your life, so the larger your social circle, the more varied your fortunes are
likely to be. John Carr is likely to be in for trouble during this month, as his social circle has undoubtedly been widened in his quest for power. His ambitions to become Queen, following the announcement of her £400,000 pay rise will come to nothing — but he could find comfort in his albino/ West Indian/Jewish ancestry. Maggie Thatcher's husband will announce the publication of his first volume of poetry and offer the story of his wife's bedtime habits to the Sunday papers.
TAURUS April 21st to May 20th Feminine Earth Fixed.
Ruling planet: Venus.
February is especially splendid for employment and the fulfilment of ambitions: if partnership affairs are going through a difficult patch, it is good to try and keep them on an even keel. Taureans do not find the hustle and bustle of city like much to their liking. David Kenvyn will retire to the highlands of Scotland on completing his PhD — he has discovered that the Welsh no longer hold any mystique for him. Behind closed doors, an evil plot is being hatched, and the vibes take a turn for the worse. The very existence of the work on which I am now engaged could be threatened.
GEMINI May 21st to June 20th Masculine Air Mutable.
Ruling planet: Mercury.
This month you should be full of new ideas and plans, and yet you will always be frustrated in their execution. This is an important month for your ambitions and your mental interests. This is the time to bring to a successful culmination your love/hate stabilising relationships. A waitress is spotted in a London restaurant. Is it? Yes it is. The daughter of the leader of the Tory Party, little Carol, struggling to see herself through University. The CIA will declare that it was behind the overthrow of President Allende, Edward Heath and General Alvarado of Peru, and finally the Broad Left.
CANCER June 21st to July'20th
Feminine Water Cardinal.
Ruling planet; Moon,
Mars is badly aspected in your sign during February, Cancer people often suffer from depression for no apparent cause, but this can occur particularly when Saturn is in your sign. So don't be too sad, Paul Cockerell and Gill Hibbert, you will feel solace in dealing with each other's problems. However March will be good. Promise! Secrets are slowly discovered, the ultra left and the respectable left combine against the independence of the Press. Tony Brown demands freedorfi of the Press and phones the "Jewish Chronicle" in disgust. The USSR announces its delight that Stalinism has come home to roost at the LSE!
LEO July 21st to August 21st Masculine Fire Fixed.
Ruling planet: Sun.
As February flows on. the more fortunate of you will be terminating in a pleasant surprise during the last week of the month. The 17th February is your best day for love, money and you name it! El Cid (who?) was born under the sign of Leo, and possessed the typical Leonine face. Strength, forceful eyes and a disquieting air of isolation. Pete Timmins (Leo) will get his hair cut and still retain his Samson like image! Nice one, barber! Oahrendorf announces that it might be possible for a nursery to be set up in his ofiice as he is so seldom there. IMG call off occupation of Dahrendorf's office and occupy Students' Union toilets to point out the lack of communication between elected sabbatical officers and the rank and file student movement.
VIRGO August 22nd to September 22nd Feminine Earth Mutable.
Ruling planet: Mercury.
It's all good news for you this
month, so go into it deeply! Jupiter's position in your sign indicates the benefits of unions (?). I mean real life unions, not student ones. The mass of students at the LSE vote for liberty, equality and fraternity. Howard Feather, who didn't attend the Union Meeting, assumes leadership of the rebellion. "Socialist Worker" pledges its full support. Revolution collapses. The Broad Left (who?) proudly announce that this proves that their analysis of all other students as degenerate is obviously correct. The CP and IS form an alliance against the rank and file movement. Margaret Thatcher stirs uneasily in her bed, one of her curlers has fallen out? No, it is her husband worrying about his job as director of the Burma Oil Company.
LIBRA September 23rd to October 22nd Masculine Air Cardinal.
Ruling planet: Venus.
k
For you this is the month of the unexpected, Saturn and Mars are swimming around in your sign, your situation will improve greatly in the last week of the month when new romantic attachments catch your eye. Again the 17th is a splendid day. Astrologically this seems quite a good day for everyone. To help survey on this please write and tell us about your day, giving date of birth and year. Dr. Payne from LSE Student Health Service announces that he received 82 Valentine cards and the Internal Mail Department will move a record 27 yards today (see "Times" Higher Educational Supplement). Abe Oppel (Libra) again writes a long, well punctuated and totally incomprehensible article: Geoff Roberts declares article to be politically incorrect because he cannot understand it (surprise, surprise!).
SCORPIO October 23rd to November 22nd Feminine Water Fixed.
Ruling planet: Pluto (traditionally Mars).
Think before you speak or act this month, but don't you always
anyway?! 'Venus enters your sign on the 17th ilucky day for many!) so make the most of it as usual. Beware of gossip and slander in the first half of the month. Gay Soc will take over the running of the Shop and Conservative Society announces its final domination of the Broad Left (who?). At a mass Union Meeting the "Beaver" production team are hung, drawn and quartered for being sexist, racist and politically unreliable (surprise! surprise! I).
SAGITTARIUS November 23rd
to December 20th Masculine Fire Mutable.
Ruling planet: Jupiter.
Your ruling planet is in your sign this month, so you can expect positive benefits and success. Venus, entering during the last week, produces children! John Cruse, born under this sign, becomes Dahrendorf's adviser on financial matters in place of Mr Pike. Mr Pike stands for the Union Elections as an Independent (?). The Grants Action Committee will have a meeting and Rosemary Nixon (Admissions) occupies the Registry to demand overtime pay.
CAPRICORN December 21st to
January 19th Feminine Earth Cardinal.
Ruling Planet: Saturn.
The Sun is in your sign this month, which means that financially you should be better off, you will succeed in anything you have a go at. Your practical nature will come to the fore at this time, and those 48 tins of baked beans you have hoarded couW lead to something. Mrs Thatcher gets boring and will not be mentioned again. Rumours of a military coup in Yorkshire lead to the election of Geoff Boycott (famous cricketer?) as President of the White Rose Republic. Bradford declares itself independent and Scotland moves into the North Sea to stake its claim on the oil fields — Hadrian's Wall (who?) is surprised.
(All predictions regarding- astrological signs are genuine, so there —Pete Timmins!
Son of Gaston Gnome
with the return of "Our Ralf" • Irom the glorious Workers' Republic, the Soviet Union, I can confi-4iently say that my father's release from "Coldishes"' has become more of a reality.
Apparently, Ralf very kindly ask&d Brezhnev whether it would not be an appropriate gesture to campaign for my father's release HDce this is "International Woman'd Year." Brezhnev asked for some form of reciprocity to which our Ralf suggested that he might be 6ble to have my father prepare a ¦thesis on "The Role of the Capitalist Ethic and Its Effects on the Workers of Great Britain During the Bourgeois Tea-Break."
Since these momentous events my lather has been given a "pass", not jmsimilar to those used by the .fascist South African government. ^Be is allowed to walk around he •torridors of the Fourth Floor in St. Clements but has to report to that erstwhile dishwasher, T. Ven-;fcWes, every five minutes. We are Sloping, however, to obtain a day-release pass from those S.S. thugs 3n "Coldishes". We have, in fact, J»d half-hearted positive response fiEd hope to interview him before ihe ink of tliis sentence has dried en the sheet.
INTERVIEW :
R. NIXON; "Gaston; is it true that the sausage rolls they have teen giving you contain the 'bug'?"
GASTON: "Yes, it is true that fexpletive deleted] the 'phone call in the bog. That is all I can say at the moment."
R. NIXON: "When they inserted the stiffened spaghetti in [indistinct and ina.udible] the worms were then added to the curry dish? "
GASTON: "Forgive me if I cannot answer clearly. They have been giving me double doses of recycled tea and I have been charged 2,000 volts for each cup. . . . Yes, the bean-like things are of extraterrestrial orij^. They do, of their own volition, insert themselves in the curry stew."
R. NIXON: "Is it true to say that C. Preud has, in fact, been the 'mystery' chef ^behhid all these dishes?"
•J
GASTON; "I can only say that a tin of doggie food once barked when they were escorting it to the 'Inner Magic Circle'. But we must not speculate too [indistinct . . . tape erasm-e at this point]"
R. NIXON: "When are you expecting to be released?"
GASTON: "So far I have been forced to consume all manner of dishes. But they have promised to review my application for habeus corpus as soon as I have finished off the vat of 'Chilli Con Carne' in which I was inserted during the beginning of my trial."
"As I think of that frail corpulent
figure being shut up in an empty dishwasher I can only weep. His moral fibre, his strong resolve, his defiance of the 'thugs' of 'Coldishes', gives meaning to human nature. All you good fellow students can be proud of this man. He is a giant among pygmies. Let us pause for a moment and give thanks" to his indefatigable work in exposing the natiu-e of the food ghettos in which we have to draw sustenance for the creation of ourselves as the leaders of tomorrow. Let us pray for his release. God bless you all. God bless the L.S.E." (R. Nixon exit).
ODE TO ABE'
by J. Mitchell
The cosmic void of putrid flesh. The voeat coloured rag. The egocentric puerile flab, The chinless, hairless fag.
The nova bubbling putrid scab, The crawling feeble head, The Kenosexual violent mess, The rotting festered dead.
The pulsing global acting cur, The retching spurting slime, The wrinkled acrid furrowed brow,
The iM decaying rhyme.
The universal sucking pig The slow maturing babe.
These words I give to you my son,
To you, the infant, ABE.
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BEAVER, Feb. 18th, 1975—Page Four
s/yo/v VIE M^AN business!...
.A PROPEfi- J "NATIONAU" OKMPAtGN

CUTS CUTS CUTS
Postgraduates suffer first, act last
WITH the inflationary spiral affecting living standards, it is not incidental that educational cuts should have become a priority money-saver. The effect that these cuts are having on graduate training in particular has so far received scant attention. Yet it is precisely in this sphere that cuts are having the most disastrous effects.
Graduate research grants are coming under close scrutiny by M.P.s and such grant-giving bodies as the S.S.R.C. and university or college- authorities. There seems, indeed, to be a growing mood in the House of Commons which argues that research should be orientated towards practical applications. This attitude has jeopardised fundamental research in many fields, including the pure sciences.
The Arts area of studies has been the worst hit. Literary, anthropological, and sociological research in particular has been severely cut
back on the grounds that a lot of the research carried out in these fields are esoteric. History is another area of cutback.
Figures released by the administration at L.S.E. show a net increase of 46 graduate students over last year's figures. What it fails to indicate is the breakdown of this figure into the category of fee-paying students ^nd S.S.R.C. grant students. Further, it fails to indicate whether the new part-time students include some of last year's full-time students who failed to obtain grants from the S.S.R.C. Or, whether grant cutbacks have been inserted in the 270 figure of reregistered part time students.
When Dahrendorf spoke to the union he mentioned the difllculty facing the graduate department in recruiting a cross-section of students and hinted that perhaps fee-paying students will maintain an even balance between fundamental
and applied graduate research. He also noted the problem that this posed for the average British student who relies on grant-giving bodies to carry out research.
So far we know of four cases of graduates failing to receive a grant renewal. These students have been forced to become part-time students while working. Their problems are compounded by the fact that employment which gives them some time to continue with their researches is scarce. Whether this is merely the tip of an unseen iceberg is difficult to estimate. There are no national figures available and one would expect that the release of these figures by universities would be too embarrassing to publish. Hopefully we may be able to approach our administration and. if possible, Dahrendorf so that this increasing problem within the graduate community can be more thoroughly tackled.
A superior cut above the rest
THE present economic crisis facing Britain has made it necessary, in the view of the Government, to cut public spending. Those items being cut are to be regarded as luxuries, and education falls into this category. During the 'sixties one of the main reasons for expansion in education was the need of the economy in a time of technological expansion for a workforce able to channel new forces in industry. Since this is no longer the case the educational system is being rationalised to fit in with the needs of the employers and owners of the majority of the society's resources.
We have to be quite clear against whom these cuts discriminate. Less money spent on education provides a positive disincentive to participate to those who are worse off, hence there is less demand and the government can claim to be providing enough places for those who want them. This allows for a more rigid selection in the higher echelons of education and ensures that enough
people will be channelled into the vocational sector and away from the academic. It should be clear that the demand comes from industry and employers and not from the would-be students. This reinforces the notions of academic excellence, but in this context it will be without equal opportunity.
At present we live with the myth of educational opportunity. For this myth to become a reality there is a need for a priority in Government spending. There can be no such thing as "equal opportunity" in a class, sex and race biased society. People are discriminated against by virtue of the social pressures upon them, they do not start out as equal and thus those who have the financial resources to alleviate other pressures upon them stand a better chance of success than those who do not.
The present situation facing this society is i-eflected in the state of the education system and the attitude and solutions offered by, first,
a Tory government, then a Right-wing Labour government, have been to cut public spending, instead of recognising that the root cause of the economic situation is the crisis of international capital and all its manifestations in our economy. Also that m tackling those problems it is essential • to have a perspective of a clear socialist answer to those problems.
Thus for those already discriminated against in society, for women, working-class and black people, there will be less opportunity, not more. This is a period where ant^ discrimination legislation is becoming a reality and producing vast contradictions. For women, cutbacks will mean that essential facilities will not be readily available, for those depending on discretionary awards (largely working-class) will be firmly on the "wrong" side academically; and special needs will not be catered for.
Rationalisation means at every stage of a student's education numbers can be determined. If the determination depends on the supply and demand argument it is not likely in reality to have much to
For discussion. The future of Beaver,..
JUST to show we are human, I'm going to break a rule that we've observed up to now—^the beUef that editorials are a fraud. They do not express the opinions of the paper; it has no opinions. Only vrriters have opinions, and through the various articles they pen their bias puts in its appearance. To permit a column that lets such beliefs rampage untrammelled is self-indulgence.
The reason I am writing is to put forward a plan "Beaver" should pursue in the future. In economic terms, "Beaver" has possibly reached its production frontier given its resources. If the grave deficiencies that the paper has are to be solved, if it is to widen its horizons even more, the only way forward is to have a fuU-time editor. After this issue, there will be one more this term, and'next term most likely one only.
If the "democratic process" is to become healthy in the L.S.E., it should be scrutinised through the third term as well as during the
first two. If the scrutiny is to have any meaning, it must be deeper and more searching than time and academic work permit it to be at the moment. If Information dissemination is to become more efficient, the "Daily News" will have to expand to include news as well as events.
As it is, the "Daily News" will stop early in the third term, for the same exam reasons that "Beaver" will halt, and we will then be totally dependent on that other L.S.E. newspaper, "Sennet", for our information about the L.S.E. Even a weekly "Sennet" wUl not be able to compete with an informed "Daily News" that is necessary given the time lags in producing any real newspaper. Those lags can only be effectively dealt with by the Students' Union owning their own small off-set litho press (like Imperial. Chelsea, Brunei, etc.), an aim which a fuU-time editor is the first step to.
I still see "Beaver" as being fortnightly until such a press is available. Even with a sabbatical editor it would be unwise to push the
rest of the "staff" to produce more frequently. The quality set by "Beaver" this academic year should be considered a minimum.
As for when the sabbatical should be introduced, next academic year would catch the new L.E.A. grant and the fit organisational strength that has been built up this year. Most certainly the time is ripe and, together with greater width of content, the result could only be a success.
Three items I would like to see next year, would be a regular column that the School's academics would write, some coverage of postgraduates and their existence and an explanation of what each department is doing. One department analysed every fortnight would be a greater contribution to interdisciplinary understanding than all the external B.Sc.Econ. subjects a small proportion of the population indulge in at the moment.
I believe all this is possible, as is much more, and all it needs is the desire of the rest of the L.S.E. to see it introduced.
P.T,
do with people's needs. Hidden within the demand aspect are those people socially oppressed into subordinating their demands. However, with the educational boom of the 'sixties there is far more of a tendency to regard education as the right it should be and not the privilege of the members of those classes who can afford it.
The growth of effective campaigns and campaigning bodies, both within the N.U.S. and the Labour movement as a whole, has vocalised the real demand, placing both quanti-tive and qualitative demands on the education system. Looked at in detail, the ramifications of the education cuts are enormous. Where colleges' departments have merged, staff have suffered, many losing tenure of their jobs. In many institutions this happens quietly, where staff leave they are not replaced, as in L.S.E. This has many implications for students, less staff to students will mean larger classes and more rigid teaching methods; there will be fewer jobs 'available for those qualified to take them and thus the vicious circle of fewer entrants is complete. This means that there is a basis for uniting staff unions, not only academic but all campus staff around these cuts.
Obviously many sections of the community are affected by the education cuts, and many people will be irate that their sector of education will suffer. It is also to be expected that some of these people will have reactionary and not progressive ideas in education. They may attempt to answer them in terms of the ivory tower concept of education.
Our real allies in fighting the cuts and for a comprehensive education system which is not discriminatory in nature, are those people against whom the education system already discriminates, and will increasingly do so; members of trade unions, women fighting for their rights, the black population and those of our own students who retain their concern for their education system and its uses. Thus it is amongst these people we must build our links, although others may be prepared to ally, we must be aware that in the long term they do not share our interests.
The manifestos of the three major political parties in the last general election made bland statements about "the worst economic crisis since the war." Whilst taking a different stand as to the causes of the crisis, our society does indeed face very major problems. Inflation rages at 20 per cent and mass un-
employment is rapidly becoming a reality. The Government has deemed that one way of facing this is to reduce public expenditure, as this is one area over which the Government has immediate control. In education the assumption behind the whole approach is that the main purpose of education is to provide trained personnel for industry. Anything more is a dispensable luxury.
This whole approach to education is totally unacceptable and unjustifiable. That we are part of a society ostensibly Interested in developing humanities, in "allowing" people to "express" themselves and develop their own ideas; it is ironic that we spend almost as much on developing the ability to destroy human life as on our education system.
So now we have a situation where cutbacks will have a vast effect upon students and our organisation through student unions and the N.U.S. The N.U.S. has taken up the campaign against the cuts; "Conference believes that the Grants and cuts Campaign can no longer be separated from the whole question of educational financing, because the grants increase is being offset by the cutbacks in expansion, and on existing education provision."
It was accepted at Margate Conference that to just campaign for a fair grants system in post-school education when the whole education system was under attack would be dangerously wrong. Thus the priorities for the Grants Campaign, and around the annual grants review (at the end of February), include the restoration of all the cuts which have been made and a s supplementation for inflation. It also makes the essential point that those opposing the cuts and defending jobs and living standards co-operate and co-ordinate action against those cuts.
The Government action has brought itself into conflict with all those interested in continuing the trend for expansion in education, and it is time we asked ourselves whether we not only want more educational opportunity, but to ask what sort of education should be offered: whether the real needs in education should be met, or the phoney needs of industry and big business: whether those children who are at present in primary school should have their futures jeopardised because the powers that be have seen fit to limit the opportunities open to them.
GLENYS THORNTON
L.S.E. Broad Left
J

BEAVER, Feb. l«th, 1975—Page Five
Children - the choices
A nursery at LSE
Are we nearly there?
Abortion: Two views
THE article on abortion in "Beaver" of February 4th dismisses blithely the argument that abortion is murder. But the foetus is alive—otherwise there would be no need to kill it. If human, then to kill it is to take human life. In such matters, the law does not usually allow individual conscience free play, for there is another person at the receiving end. If not, then why does it suddenly become human on leaving the womb? The ceasing of total dependence on the mother is not a sound criterion, since this can continue after birth.
However, it may be argued that the foetus, though human, is not a fully-developed human being. But then what about idiots, imbeciles and the like? To accept such an argument for abortion leads one to accept euthanasia for such people, »s in Hitler's Germany.
STEVE SCHWENK
Mr Schwenk has put forward the usual emotive arguments of the Anti-abortionists. His contention 3s that the foetus constitutes a "human
life"—this is not so. The foetus is not viable until 30 weeks—that is, the brain and spinal cord are not sufficiently developed for the foetus to function as "human life". Hence a miscarriage up to 30 weeks is not a premature birth and the present upper limit for abortion is 28 weeks.
After 30 weeks a baby is not totally dependent on its mother, it is dependent on care of some kind, but not necessarily maternal care.
Another aspect of S.P.U.C. propaganda (not mentioned by Mr Schwenk) is the adoption argument. Their solution for a woman faced with an unwanted child is for her to be part of a production line of suitably white, preferably female, physically whole babies for adoption by socially desirable white middle-class parents. This ignores the fact that the majority of women having abortions are married with children, that there are thousands of children waiting for adoption I largely because they do not coincide with the ideal), and that women forced to go ahead with having a child knowing that adoption is virtually the only answer, are reduced to the status of breeding machines.
G.H.
THE strong pressure on the School from the SU at last seems to be making an impression. Professor Dahrendorf has at last conceded that it is the School's responsibility to provide Nursery facilities. Furthermore he has clearly stated that the provision of welfare facilities should NOT be affected by the cuts. Perhaps the most promising thing to come out of our discussions with the Director was that the setting up of a Nursery cannot wait for the move to Strand House.
The Director will be bringing up the issue of our proposals for a joint student/staff nursery at the Standing Committee of the Court of Governors on Wednesday, February 12th.
The two possible sites for the nursery that we are looking at for the moment are the rooms S75/78, and the sub-basement of the Parish Hall. The problems involved with S75/78 are mainly to do with having to reschedule lectures from these rooms which are used very intensively. The Nursery Action Committee (NAC) are trying to get an architect and a social-worker with
experience of nurseries to look at the two possible sites, and compare suitability.
The Centre for Environmental Studies (CES) nursery is running smoothly at the moment and we hope to be able to place some more children there within a month or so. However, the CES nursery is nothing but a holding position until we get a permament Nursery within the LSE. The fact that many people cannot come to the LSE merely because of their children, is surely very worrying, especially when one looks at the high percentage of postgrads at the LSE.
It is very important that our campaign for a Nursery does not flounder as it has done so many times before in the last seven or eight years. An attempt at Kings to set up a joint Nursery with us has just bitten the dust, and it remains to be seen what the Court of Governors, the body with the final power to make decisions, makes of our proposals. Should we not receive a reasonable reply, the NAC will meet to discuss a course of ACTION which will help to implement our demands.
CRISPO.
Abortion Amendment Bill
Five hours of Parliamentary Debate
The Government had planned to withdraw it and send the matter to a Select Committee, where the Government hoped the debate would die quietly. But the sponsors out-manoeuvred the Government and gave the Bill extra vitality with a Second Reading win of 203 to 88, before letting it go on to the committee. This was the culmination of five hours' debate on Friday, 7th in the House of Commons, which was noteworthy as much for what was left unsaid as for what was said. The sanctity of life versus a woman's right to control her own body was not the battleground: that has been fought on l)efore. All agreed that the 1967 Act was not working as Parliament had intended, and the issue over which action was Joined was how to stop that intention being flouted.
The main question, therefore, was whether administrative steps should be taken, the Minister agreeing that Dick Grossman's view of his powers was erroneous in being so limited; the new view is that the Government and the B.M.A. can make the Act work as it should. The sponsors believe that only legislative action could be strong enough. The Lane Committee advocated administrative action, and was repeatedly referred to.
Mention of the Lane Committee drew the inspired remark that M.P.s are closer to the wishes of the people than the Lane Committee could be, so that ; the latter's views were of little value.
By contrast, another said that the great majority ef M.P.s, being male and beyond the "menopause", sheuld approach the subject of abortion with humility.
Foreign women (apparently a different race from _ "foreigners") were a big problem. Hordes come over to use our abortion facilities. But if they can have any other form of operation here, why not an abortion ?
And how can one tell a foreigner from a naturalised Englishwoman, or someone who has married an Englishman? Do they have to have their passports, husband's birth certificates, etc., checked by their doctors?
Still on foreigners. Western European countries are tending to bring in their own abortion laws, so the number of women coming from abroad will decrease.
Money, or at any rate too much money, is bemg made out of women's emotional agony. This is just one aspect of private enterprise co-existing with the Welfare State. Some of the referral agencies and private clinics exhibit the excesses of this co-existence.
Government licensing might or might not be able to control the profiteering.
Parliament is not competent to say when a foetus is viable (can be nurtured independently of the mother) and the time-limit should be decided by medical experts. This was regarded as a tactical argument in the attempt to kill the Bill. Viability may not be a sound test anyway, now that test-tube babies have arrived.
The Bill says that an abortion would be justified if. there were a "grave risk" to health, the present test being a "risk" to health. The present test can be interpreted to allow abortion on demand (because there are proportionately more deaths in childbirth than from an abortion), so the Act is unworkable. But what does "grave risk" mean?
There are different standards used in different parts of the country for judging when an abortion is justified. How is action by the B.M.A. capable of controlling a doctor's discretion?
In practice, the conscientious objection clause is sometimes only available to doctors and nurses at the risk of losing their jobs.
The number of abortions should be controlled because the lists of couples looking for children to adopt are growing. But pregnancy and childbirth is a terrible pimishment to endure for an unlooked-for conception, and should not have to be suffered just so that the baby can be taken away at birth. And there is a surfeit of children looking for parents to adopt them; they have the misfortune of behig coloured or of being no longer infants.
Teenage girls ought to be protected from the horrors of an abortion.
There was a report in "Der Spiegel"—a gossipy German weekly with a wide circulation—of unprofessional touting for trade by English doctors from German doctors. Unsubstantiated.
There is a trade in live foetuses. Unsubstantiated.
Statistics can prove anything. In this debate, they were used by those arguing against the Bill. Although the number of abortions has been increasing since 1967, last year's figures show what could be the beginning of a downward trend. And there are no pre-1967 figures to compare with; even the number of deaths from abortions is inaccurate because doctors were unwilling to let relatives suffer the social stigma of an unlawful abortion in the family. Compared with other countries, we have few abortions in proportion to the number of live births —one-sixth of New York's total and one-tenth of Yugoslavia's.
C.G.
Yugoslav hordes engulf LSE philosophy dept?
AFTER the Hungarian "revolution" (sic) of 1956, one Imre Lakatos "escaped", eventually ending up in England to study at the feet of the great master. This master, so well known to the Social Sciences for his books on societies, viz., Sir Karl R. Popper, weaned Lakatos off the dialectical outlook of science so prevalent in Eastern Europe.
Though Lakatos did discover English empiricism in a secret room in Hungary, and with it the thoughts of '¦Chairman Popper", he soon found himself disillusioned. Then he buried himself in his room for a week, only to emerge with high-pitched shrieks of "Ha! ha! zis man's an idiot, a blithering idiot!"
However, the death of Lakatos should not be seen as a timely respite for Popper, even though this is obvious in an academic sense. Now we have a tew Yugoslav philosophers to look forward to. It is obvious that the newly-developed "orthodox'' broom of Tito, that erst-
while monarch of Yugoslovia, has swept a few sundry philosophical cobwebs away from the Yugoslav Philosophic coterie. His broom seems to have been directed towards the "West", that area opposite from the "East".
L.S.E. may gather a harvest from these cobwebs. After all, we did get Lakatos. Maybe our philosophy department will see to it that other institutions do not receive these cobwebs. These philosophers seem to be in great demand at the moment. Care should be exercised, however, lest they too follow in the footsteps (academic) of Lakatos. Shall I say, then, that we can but wait and see?
A PHILOSOPHER
STOP PRESS: The telephone bill of the Philosophy Dept. has increased dramatically. This increase is not unconnected with calls being made to Belgrade, a little village in Yugoslavia.
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BEAVER. Feb. 18th. 1975—Page Six
LIBRARY—THE TRUTH
WHAT is the real situation in the Library ? Students have received conflicting reports both from the Administration and from pamphlets distributed by the Grants Action Committee, but the question is which of these are true. The answer is that both are misleading.
STAFF SHORTAGE
With regard to the staffing of the Library it has been claimed that the library is understaffed by 16 per cent due to the need to make cuts, but the truth of the matter is that the Library has not had a full complement of staff for the past five years ! During this time appearances have been kept up at the Counter Services at the expense of other Departments; ¦ it is only now that the Administration is making the Counter Services try to cope with their staff deficiencies, hence the voucher system.
Obviously there existed a problem of recruitment even before the cuts were implemented. The reason for this may be found in the lack of a career structure which does not allow unqualified staff to reach the higher realms of librarian-ship and the lack of encouragement given to unqualified members of staff to train. The result is that there is no incentive for staff to remain at L.S.E. and so little continuity amongst the unqualified staff, many of whom stay only a year. This points to a need for some form of sponsorship to library schools —¦a widespread practice amongst local government libraries.
EXODUS
In addition, the movement away of non-qualified library assistants to Local Government and Civil Service librarianship, is aided by the relatively low wage scales paid to such librarians in comparison with Local Authorities and the Government. Such low wage scales are incompatible with Mr Clarke's
'If you liked hooks you wouldn't send them to this library'

INHMiMfiMMMnM
I

The picture on the right shows a better part of the Reserve Stack—our photographer was not shown the worst parts where some books are stacked on the floor.
claim that the voucher sy.stem would save the equivalent of four full-time members of staff, that is the sum of £10,000 which, on the basis of £2,500 each, is somewhat in excess of the true figure which is nearer £1,500.
Furthermore, the claim that four full-time members of staff are saved by the voucher system is rather an exaggeration ;
it is more like one. However, the Library has not really met its worse staff problems yet; before the' end of the academic year there is likely to be an exodus of a large number of the unqualified staff, so the situation is likely to worsen unless the Administration takes steps to recruit more staff, staff who will need to be trained.
GAC WRONG
The claim put forward by the Grants Action Committee that the cataloguing of new books is being neglected is also misleading ; cataloguing has a high priority and a new book may reach the shelves within one week. Nevertheless the storage of books not on the open shelves is at a critical point with space
running out and books stored in so many places where tiiey might not be found from one year to the next. This raisesthe question of preservation—is the library doing its utmost to preserve books on the social sciences as it was founded to do, or is it only concerned with the mechanics of acquiring, as can be assumed from its increased purchasing of paperbacks.
STRAND HOUSE PANACEA ?
The .solution to all the Library's ills (as for those of the whole School) has been put forward as being in Strand House —but is this the case ? It becomes increasingly clear hat Strand House may never be used as a Library in the full sense, rather it may becomeyet another depository for the gnw-ing number of books and oher material, with the reaang rooms of the present library itill used for that purpose. Perlaps the Administration could day such fears by the publicatioi of the proposed plans for Stand House which remain a myaerj' to virtually everyone oubide the Accommodation Commiltee.
GOVT. MONEY
It is clear that the British library of Political and Econraie Science has become too lirge for the School to cope wit! on its own. There is obviously a need for the Government to play a larger part in its fiian-cing to allow it to come netrer to its aim of buying all books and material published on the Social Sciences and related iub-jects.
This would also allow acre money to be spent on the Teich-ing Library which has a ."ole similar to libraries in ffher Colleges and Universities in providing borrowing facilties for the students, but the e:ist-ence of the British Library within the School means that the grant to the School has to over both libraries to the detriient of the Teaching Library.
S.O.
L.E.A. system—postgrad problems
LIKE it or not this Union is to transfer to the L.E.A. system of financing—"like it or not" being with special reference to those at present having qualms about the way in which it will affect them.
At present the Students' Union receives a block grant from the School, and it is up to them how much we get. The Athletic Union is funded in a similar way.
Under the local education authority (L.E.A.) system the School would act more as a 'watch-dog' for public funds by scrutinising the Union budget. Once the budget is passed by the School the per capita figure is added to the fees paid by students and must be handed over lo. the Students' Union intact. Thus, under normal circumstances, the local education authorities pay for the Students' Union, since most undergraduates have their fees paid by their L.E.A. All apparently simple and painless for students and Administration alike.
As might have been expected— there are problems.
For the Administration, life should be easier — they will no longer have to consider the financial demands of the students against those from other sections of the School, as they do under the present system. They should also be quite happy to transfer certain costs to the Students' Union—especially floor space and cleaning—at their present calculation this will be £1.30 per capita, £4,170 approximately. This is not a very realistic figure considering the cost of floor space in Central London—one presumes it is quite likely to increase over the years.
For students matters are not so simple, mainly due to the large numbers of postgraduate and overseas students at the L.S.E., none of whom have any of their fees paid by an L.E.A. However, those who receive an S.S.R.C. grant, and those overseas students who get grants from their governments or other
bodies, will not be affected, for if ......................................
their fees are paid, so will their Union fees. The difficulty will arise with those self-financing postgrads, overseas and self-financing under-grad students who might be unwilling to finance an increased fee, perhaps as much as a £20 rise. These people must consider the facilities the Students' Union provides and the way in which it represents and works for them on their behalf. They must also consider how the introduction of the L.E.A. system will enable the Union to expand.
The Students' Union, mindful of the penurious state of some of its members (e.g. the Overseas Students' FunCt), has proposed that cases of hardship would be given exemption from the S.U. fee.
The Athletic Union will also have to consider its position, It is at present entirely separate from the Students' Union; under the L.E.A. system it vi^ould become one of the largest and most important societies of Union, thereby losing its autonomy.
G.H.
This is not as drastic as it sounds —provision will probably be made for the A.U. to continue to receive financing in proportion to its membership and the facilities it provides. This could easily be achieved by the A.U. contmuing to submit a separate budget to the School, to be considered independently before being incorporated into the whole Students' Union budget. In any case, they are likely to benefit as much as anyone from the increase in funds. As with the S.U., the Admin, is likely to off-load some of its costs (e.g. the sports ground) but this should not affect the overall rise in the amount of money available.
The only reservation expressed by the Admin, has been doubt over the attitude of students to the change, with specific reference to postgrads and overseas students, their contention being that Union meetings are unrepresentative. This question is also of importance to the Students' Union—so watch out for another "Beaver" poll. (P.S.: Thanks for replies to the Library poll.)
A.U. thoughts
AT the A.U. annual general meting the issue of the L.E.A. systei of financing arose. Owing to tlie aaall number present it was decided;ha(; a policy should not be formiated at that time. A special meetinfhas been arranged instead. A pUcy decision is needed as soon aspos-sible owing to a time limit forsub-mission to the School goveiing body. This issue is stronglytied with the Student Union whosfofia-cial policy is to change fronthe existing block grant system.
Whilst a policy was not deided upon, a recommendation (icani-mous) was made that the Ai.M. recognised the advantages oi the change to the L.E.A. system, specially the incr^se in budgetand equally the necessity of certaiipro-visions, e.g., the retaining o! the A.U.'s autonomy and a guarateed minimum proportion of financf
It is essential that as marr as possible attend in order to (tain a general concensus before fither talks and decisions take place.The meeting will be held in S O on Thursday, Feb. 20th, at 1 p.m.
BEAVER, Feb. 18th, 1975—Page Seven
Shop shut up—who*s talking?
MANY students have noticed that efficiency and the range of goods available in the Union shop have not been up to standard over the last months. The executive member responsible for the shop is Antonio Cortes (Broad Left). The Junior Treasurer with responsibility for the shop finances is Jim Montgomery (International Socialists).
This article attempts to reveal the financial facts, subject to audit; a chronology of inefficiency with regard to the performance of shop management ; the functions and responsibilities of Union officials; and the way in which the two officials named above have been responsible for the inefficiency in the shop as well as their failure to meet their responsibilities and functions as Union officials. It is my contention that, since Cortes and Montgomery have not fulfilled their duties they should at once resign or be censured at a Union meeting.
THE FiNANCfAL FACTS SUBJECT TO AUDIT
In a report submitted by Tom Bruin, Financial Secretary, to the Finance Committee of ath February, the following points were made:
(1).	The shop made a loss for the Christmas term 1974 of £513 compared with an estimated surplus for the corresponding term last year of £380, a change of £893.
(2).	According to the shop manager the profit margin for the shop is between
. 15 per cent and 20 per cent. Let us take 17i per cent, for example. "If this margin had, in fact, been added to the cost of goods sold, it would have produced a trading surplus before charging wages, etc., of £533, instead of the trading deficit of £186" — a difference of £719.
(3).	According to the report of the Financial Secretary, the final loss for the year may well be higher than £513, "as the first term in the past has been the busiest and most important."
(4).	The turnover of sales for the Christmas term 1974 was £2,868. That for the equivalent term last year was £4,979, a change of £2.111.
(5).	The turnover of sales for the month of January, 1975, was £1,303. That for the month of January, 1974, was £1,766, a change of £463.
FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE SHOP: CHRISTMAS TERM '74
1974	1973
... £2,868 £4,979 ... £3,054
Sales .....
Cost of Sales
Gross trading deficit
PLUS; Wages, casuals, etc. ..
Total loss incurred
£186 £32T
£513
SALES FIGURES FOR JANUARY '74 & '75
Jan. '75 £1,303
Jan. '74 £1,766
COMMENTS ON THE FINANCIAL FACTS
(It. Given the assumption of 174 per cent mark-up, and given the cost of sales for the Christmas term, 1974. as £3.054, then one would have expected such a mark-up on such a cost of sales to have produced a figure for gross sales of £3.587. Instead of reaching this figure, the shop only achieved a gross sales figure of £2,868, £713 lower than what could reasonably have been expected.
(2). If one takes the sales turnover figure for January, 1974 (£1,766) and assumes an inflation rate between January, 1974, and January, 1975, of 18 per cent
per annum, then it is reasonable to assume that the sales turnover for January, 1975, would be at least 10 per cent higher than for the previous year (i.e. a figure approaching £1,942). But, alas, we find that the turnover of sales figure for January, 1975, was only £1,303, down by £639.
(3).	Taking the turnover of sales figure for Christmas term, 1973 (£4,979), and assuming an inflation rate of 18 per cent, one would have expected the turnover of sales figure for the Christmas term, 1974, to have been at least 10 per cent higher than that for the previous year (i.e. £5,476). But, alas, the turnover of sales figure for the Christmas term, 1974, was only £2,868 — practically half the figure one could reasonably have expected.
(4).	To quote the Financial Secretary's report to the Finance Committee: "This loss would be a serious mattef at any time. In relation to the Budget deficit for the current year, which is likely to draw heavily on our reserves, it is particularly serious." Indeed, the Union shop is one of the main sources of funds for the reserves. Surely, in times of inflation, it should be a policy objective to boost our reserves. It is my contention that the policy of the shop has not been designed in such a way as to maximise such additions to Union reserves.
(5).	In December, the Financial Secretary, Tom Bruin, drew the attention of Antonio Cortes and the Senior Treasurer to the state of the shop and the probability of a serious deficit.
CHROMOLOGY OF INEFFICIENCY CONCERNING THE UNION SHOP
LAST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER 1974:
The Freshers' Conference. One would have expected the shop to have been open for the reception of new students, whose needs (note pads, folders, pens, etc.) should have been met by the shop. The shop did not open until October 7th. At this time various students were offering themselves voluntarily to run the shop, most of whom had little, if any, experience. There was no shop manager.
OCTOBER 21st, 1974;
Shop Manager appointed by Union with effect from October 21st, 1974, the shop having been without a manager from the end of September. The manager of the shop had little experience of running a shop.
NOVEMBER 4th, 1974:
Allocation of posts for newly elected Union Executive. At this meeting (see Exec, minutes of November 4th) Rachel Solomons and I offered to take responsibility for the shop. Antonio Cortes who was not at this meeting was provisionally given responsibility as Executive member responsible for the bar. This, however, he refused a week later at the following Executive meeting, in that he was against the commercial selling of alcohol. Rachel Solomons was given responsibility for the bar as a result. I had put myself forward for the post of Executive member responsible for the Union shop because I had been responsible for starting and running a Union shop/canteen in my previous college. Moreover, having had such experience. I had also formed contacts in the wholesale grocery and other lines. I was turned down in my application and Antonio Coi'tes. who had never had any experience of how to run a shop, was appointed. I was given responsibility for Entertainments. This frivolous attitude of not allocating positions according to experience is, indeed, one criticism which other members of the Union Executive must answer for when considering the current situation in the Union Shop.
NOVEMBER 25th, 1974:
Jim Montgomery appointed as Junior Treasurer responsible for the shop. Mr Montgomery had had no experience of how to run the financial side of a shop.
FEBRUARY 4th, 1974:
Finance Committee Meeting. Cortes was not present until the end of the meeting. Surely, given that the shop was in such a
precarious financial position due to mismanagement he should have at least attended this important meeting.
NOVEMBER 25th to FEBRUARY 4th:
Since the time of his appointment, and up until the Finance Committee meeting of February 4th, 1975, the Junior Treasurer for the shop, Jim Montgomery, at no time considered it necessary to introduce proper control and accounting mechanisms in the shop. In my opinion, and in order to attempt to maximise the financial and managerial policy of the Union shop, the following controls should have been introduced immediately by the Junior Treasurer on his appointment:
(1).	To keep a numbered record of all orders as well as a record of the price per item therefrom and the mark-up percentage. Prior to the 4th February, 1975, this had never been the practice of the shop.
(2).	To keep a file of all delivery notes and to match these with the respective invoices (kept in Tom Bruin's office). This had never been the practice in the shop prior to February 4th, 1975.
(3).	To compile a list of maximum and minimum stock levels in order to facilitate and improve the efficiency of ordering new stock. This would also give a useful indication as to which items on sale had a rapid turnover.
(4).	To produce by 5 p.m. every day an account of daily till readings and amounts banked each day. If this had been the practice of the shop prior to February 4th, 1975, then the following incident could be more easily traced: On the evening of Wednesday, 5th February, 1975, it was discovered by Tom Bruin that there was a disparity of £100 in the till. Moreover, the relevant reading from the till roll for this period had also mysteriously disappeared. I think it is fair to say that, if proper control procedures had been in practice during this period, the detection of this discrepancy would have occurred on the day in question.
(5).	To check and initial till readings every Friday.
(6).	All goods to be priced viith nonremovable labels.
(7).	To institute an effective security system to act against alleged shoplifting and thefts.
Albeit too late, these procedures have now been accepted by the Finance Committee. It is important to note, however, that the Junior Treasurer for the shop, Jim Montgomery, was not responsible for any of the above reforms. At no time whatsoever has he suggested the introduction or implementation of these procedures. Such as omission on his part must be stronijly criticised. In the Finance Committee these proposals were voiced by Peter Timmins. Tom Bruin and Chris Ho,vland (the Chairman of the Finance Committee).
FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF UNION OFFICIALS
AMD ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
(a) The Junior Treasurer Responsible for the shop
According to Part Two of the constitution of the Students' Union, Section 6 subsection Kbi, "The Junior Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial administration of the . . . Shop." By this. I think it is fair to assume that the general financial running of the shop comes under his responsibility. He should keep Union informed, in liaison with the Senior Treasurer, concerning the financial situation and progress of the shop. He should also be responsible for introducing, through the democratic procedures of Union, whei'e the need is evident, various reforms that might be expected to give rise to an augmentation and maximisation of the financial running of the shop. He should ensure that proper accounting and control mechanisms exist within the shop — e.g.: Stock check procedure; Balance checks: Order and invoice control procedures, etc.
As against all these functions and responsibilities, it is fair to argue from the facts already presented in this article that, on every single count, Jim Montgomery^ as Junior Treasurer for the shop, has failed in his duties and resnonsibilities to the members of the Students' Union.
¦
The prosecutor, Tony Brown
(b) The member of the Executive Committee of the Stuctients' Union with responsibility for the Union Shop
Alas, nowhere in the Constit:.ition of the Students' Union is it stipulated what shall constitute the responsibilities, duties, and functions of any member of the Executive Committee of the Students' Union, bar the sabbatical officers, in his her area of reference. This is not, of course, to say that such members (including myself) have no responsibilities or functions at all. In the case of the Executive member for the shop it would be fair to say that his duties are as follows: That he should be responsible for the general management policy of the shop: that he should ensure, in liaison with the Junior Treasurer for the shop, that the goods offered within the shop reflect, efficiently, the needs of the students in the college: that, given his overall responsibility for the management of the shop, he should also be resDonsible for the financial position of the shop as this is an essential component of shon management; That he should endeavour to ascertain from the students at the college, via survevs, etc.. what are the expectations of the students of a Union shop (i.e. the goods and services that ought to be provided); that he should take reSDonsibility for the actions or inactions of those persons emploved in the shop: that he should frequently be in liaison with shoo management as to the situation in the shop; that he should convene and chair Shop Management Committee meetings at regular and frequent occasions (only one such meeting has been held).
As aeainst all these functions and responsibilities, it is fair to argue from the facts already presented in this article that, on every single count, Antonio Cortes. ?s member of the Executive Committee of t^'e Union with responsihilitv for the S^ion has not come up to the standard required of him and that in not so doing he has failed in his duties and resronsihilities to the members of the StMdents' Union.
CONCLUSION
This article has fttemoted to illustrate h-^w the shop has been mismanaged, both financially and managerially. It has listed a fair and reasonable set of responsibilities that should be met by those Union officials responsible for the shop. In the light of the facts contained within this article, and in the light of the importance of the shop visa-vis the financial position of the Union reserves at a time of inflation and unjustifiable education cutbacl^s, it can be concluded that Antonio Cortes and Jim MontPomerv have fa'led in their responsibilities and should, therefore, resign or be censured at a Union meeting.
TONY BROWN (Vember of Executive Committne responsible for Entertainments)
BEAVER, Feb. 18th. 197S—Page Eight
The Executive - walks
We asked those on the Executive to write about their experiences. Every response was
' PAUL COCKERELL Broad Left/JACOSS General Secretary.
"ivVRITE a short piece about what y^u do!" I was told; so here it is, a, brief taste of what the job feas involved and is currently consuming time and energy (probably in that order).
Looking back, the number and v^iety of letters which have passed through my office surprises even myself. Questionnaires, requests for specific information, letters concerning the ULU SRC and Central/ Strand NUS Area, a letter from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office hedging over why Britain keeps silent over political oppression in Indonesia, letters resulting from the last handbook . . . and so it goes on. That of course is only external mail. Internal mail with
the School covers a similar range from curtains, to bomb scares, to the CVCP and the UGC, to Dr. Suzman's appointment.
Things what I have done (to maintain my new-found reputation for illiteracy — ta Sennet) mostly revolve around internal matters. Rightly or wrongly, most time is taken up pursuing administrative and mandated duties emerging from the Union or Executive. Thus as an example one could quote the drafting and presenting sabbatical officer contracts, checking out a common definition for the working of sabbatical officers (with reference to School status) with the Director or getting the past files into date order ready for binding.
A continuing task is the calling of Union Meetings (probably the most tedious job I am faced with) which is deceptive in the amount of time taken up, and the production of "Exec-news", <an innovation felt very important by the Executive. Of course there are Executive Meetings which usually fill an afternoon but if I might slip in a note: All Executive Committee meeting minutes are posted in the Concourse Area.
Current matters: New Students' Conference, which seems to be progressing smoothly. New Staff Contracts for which, after legal ad-
vice, I produced a second draft are now awaiting consultation between the ACTS branch with one of their representatives which will then come back to me and then hopefully can be presented to the E.xecutive. I might add that I feel very conscious.of the need to get this particular matter finalised as quickly as possible.
The Executive has instructed me to look into one specific area of overseas student fees, which I am doing-.
The Murray Report and the Son of Murray: I am currently working on a report for the Executive on the Miuray Report, and more specifically on the 2nd Report of the Consultative Committee for Coordinating Discussions on the Recommendations of the Murray Report, which may sound tedious (and will probably be found so by some Executive" members) but in fact is very important since the proposals currently being put forward would radically alter the face of the University of London. The Union has a chance to put in a submission to the Consultative Committee which I hope it will take up and to that end my report will carry a recommendation for debate by the Executive. The report should also be helpful to our delegation on ULU SRC in future discussions there on "the son of Murray".
' I::

SHAiLESH ADALJA Broad Left JACOSS I Overseas Students.
PEW people realise that no less than one in three students at LSE (1,200 from over 50 countries) is from overseas. The new post of Overseas Students' Officer was created after the election of November 1974 not only to give them rppresentation on the Executive but also to enable local and overseas students to work closer together in the general interest of the com-mimity as a whole.
¦ The discriminatory fees OS are forced to pay (£250 or 3^x our fellow home students are charged) by the government and LSE authorities is a major in-
justice. The government, as part of its vast cutback in expenditure, while wasting £3,000 milMons annually on defence and the weapons of death, is considering raising these to £1,000. This would force over 1,000 members of the Students' Union to leave the LSE. Discriminatory fees by preventing poor OS from Third World Countries coming to Institutes of higher education like LSE goes against the principle of equality of opportunity for all.
The motion I introduced in the Union last year proposing the Overseas Students Fund be expanded from £500 to £1,200 was unanimously passed. Until the balance of the fund, however, can be raised by another £2,000 some of the 35-50 OS who cannot pay the £250 fees out of their own resources will have to leave the LSE.
Union cannot afford a larger OS fund so last term I organised a hunger lunch in aid of the fund which raised a record unprecedented £30.00 in two hours. This term I shall soon be presenting a petition addressed to Mr Dahren-dorf and the government calling for an end to discriminatory fees and opposing any increases. Like the hunger lunch the petition has been important in bringing to the
forefront of peoples mind the injustice of discriminatoi-y fees.
I do not consider that the only duty of the OSO is to initiate policy from the top. The most important part of my duties is to be constantly available to see Overseas Students and the Overseas Student Societies whom I represent on the Executive. This is made easier through my Secretaryship of the Joint Action Committee of Overseas Student Societies: the organisation in which most OS are represented. I act as a liaison between the OS and Union Committees and local student organisation to achieve united actions on issues like grants.
Our Union, if it does not involve one-third of its membership (OS) will be a weak Union. By bringing the views and problems of the OS to the Union, they feel they have a voice in the Union and acquire a sense of belonging. This provides for a richer Union for all students. In the LSE we have a great potential for international contact between the peoples of the world, which is a force towards understanding, co-operation and friendship. To see that this potential is exploited through contact and united action between local and overseas students has been one of the most rewarding of my duties.

TONY BROWN
Independent Entertainments.
ACCORDING to reports in "Felicity's diary'' (now, thank God, defunct) I seem to have been doing little more than sleeping with Imagine, singing IRA songs, going to the opera, and generally causing much chaos. Though these reports are probably true they are not an exhaustable account of what I have (or haven't) been up to.
Although I originally never wanted the responsibility for Entertainments, the majority on the Executive Committee (Broad Left) thought that I'd be nicely out of the way looking after the "Ents Clique" and helping to arrange rock concerts, etc. Hopefully, the majority were wrong and, as John Cruse and others would vouch, I've had a lot if not too much, to say on other matters such as the Grants campaign, the doctrine of the Union mandate, and your friend and mine . . . the Union Shop. But more about these later.
The myth of an "Ents Clique'' is completely without foundation. Anyone can come to the weekly meeting of the Entertamments Committee and help to organise and decide what we provide in the way of entertainment for the School. Personally, I have often found that what events Ents actually did provide were only of a limited interest to the majority of students at the LSE. Such a feeling on my part has been borne out by the results of surveys which we have conducted. These indicated that only about 25 per cent of concert audiences (as opposed to audiences at lunchtime and other activities) were made up of LSE students. But frankly, the situation will not change until enough people with alternative ideas bother to come along to Ents. meetings.
Most of the credit for the successes staged by Ents. is ilue to the hard work and dedication of all on the Ents Committee, especially one Richard Rees, two french hen.?, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Concerts staged since I was
elected have been; Stefan Grossman (loss of £50); Manfred Mann's Earthband (profit £100 plus); Chilli Willi (£80 profit); Neutrons (broke even); G. T, Moore and the Reggae Guitars (loss of £30). Lunchtime free concerts include; Kursall Flyers and Greep. Both successes. Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias, The Hawaiian Tropi-canas, comedian Terry Se^brooke, and 400 pints of free beer were laid on for the Entertainments day. The whole structure of Ents. bureaucracy has been rationalised. We have also ventured into the catering scene with a thriving trade of hot dogs (the best in London at the price!).
The rationale of Ents, policy is to make a profit or break even on Public concerts so that this profit can be used to provide free entertainments for the students at LSE.-So far, the financial position is very healthy and contrasts with an overall deficit last year of £225. See the Ents article in this issue for future events.
As far as the workings of the Executive Committee are concerned, I think it is fair to say that some very useful work has been accomplished. Crispin O'Brien and James Mitchell have done a tremendous job on Welfare and Academic affairs respectively. However, the sarne cannot be said for the executive member responsible for the shop, whose attitude, I feel, is an embarrassment to the Executive Committee. The block vote taken by the Broad Left majority is also not conducive to Union policy which reflects the majority opinion of students at LSE.
If more time were spent dealing with the local inadequacy of facilities at the School rather than playing at politics in the- vain hope that the LSE Students' Union can influence the fa^te of world affairs, the Executive Committee and the Students' Union would take on a greater relevance to the actual needs of students, arouse more interest in its activities, and result in a greater variety of opinions being expressed by student representatives. The only place from which such a change can emanate is the Union floor. If you are dissatisfied with the way the Union works it is there that you have the opportunity to have your voice heard. It is very disappointing indeed that not more students wish to exercise this right. If they did, then we would not have reached a situation in which 77 people can determine policy for 3,500 as happened with the IS ultimatum.
JAMES MITCHELL
I
Independent Academic Affairs.
"tHERE'S not much doubt that a good 50 per cent of the College are only vaguely aware of the existence of an Executive Committee, far less when or where it meets or what it does. A momentary interest stirs around election ti'rne (even the
most apathetic student can't miss dozens of posters and reams of propaganda that suddenly appear), then students may take a cursory glance at the nomination papers and then dutifully stick their crosses by the Broad Left (or non Broad Left) candidates' names.
And here we are four months later writing about ourselves. As a group, can we look back with satisfaction over our term-and-a-half in office? Well . . . there have been cock-ups. I look forward to reading how our Exec member in charge of the Shop and Florries explains away the incredible deficit suffered by the Shop last term, or how the sabbatical Senior Treasurer ex-
plains how he manages to miss every other Exec meeting.
Personally — well I have the unenviable distinction of being the only member officially censured by the Executive so far, and on the plus side, one of the only three members who have been present at every Executive Meeting. And I look back with some satisfaction over the yer^r on the Undergraduate Studies Committee. For the first time we have a representative from every Undergraduate Department sitting on the USC, and we have successfully persuaded the School to introduce a "Women in Society" course in the Sociology Department for 75 6. There have been other
successes, and inevitably a number of disappointments (notably the failure of the School to recognise the falling in academic standards the cuts have produced). There is undoubtedly a lot of work still to be done.
Finally I would like to take this opportunity to make a personal observation. On the Executive Committee we are mandated to take the Union line, and if only 70 people turn up at a Union Meeting, this can mean the views of 70 people. I often talk to people who tell me that we are playing at politics or misrepresenting the views of the majority, but in the final analysis it is all down to you. I personally
believe that many students are playing games. They come straight from the restrictions of school to a place where it is expected of them to stand up and be counted, and this relative freedom sometimes goes to their heads.
Some students here believe that nothing is worth taking from the School if it is given, that concessions or compromises without a fight are valueless — and it's often these people who end up "representing" the School due to the apathy of others. If you are happy with the way things are going — great! If not, can we expect to see you in the Old Theatre on Friday afternoons at 4 p.m.?

BEAVER, Feb. 18tli. 1975—Page Nine
talks and writes...
different. After you've read them, tell us what YOU think Could you do better?
THE functions of the Exec-members can be separated into two main sections, the individual responsibilities of members' for certain functions of Union (Welfare, Finance, Academic Affairs, External Affairs etc.) and areas of collective responsibility, Grants, Shrewsbury pickets etc.
In their individual roles the record of the Exec this year has been fairly adequate, and continuous constructive criticism by fellow Exec members has ensured that mistakes have been at least partly remedied (e.g. the Budget taking so long, the handling of the Welfare Officer's dismissal and the long period before another appointment, the losses on the Shop and Ents Bar etc.).
I believe that it is in the other area, where responsibility is collective that the Exec has performed badly. Many members of the Exec played no part in the Grants campaign last term, nor have they attended pickets or demonstrations, or helped publicise them, even though it is Union policy (e.g. the Shrewsbury picket and the National Demo).
I consider this is a reflection of the political composition of Exec as both the real independents and the "Independent/Tories" have consistently failed to initiate action over the wider issues facing students. They were conspicuous in their absence in the organisation of last term's grants action.
A major failure of all the Exec has been in making its actions
criticism
FOUR of the Executive did not respond to our requests and promptings to write about any aspect of of it. Mr Roberts was unavailable, Mr Hoyland wrote 25 words and disappeared from the LSE for that night, Mr Cortes was barren of words, which regarding the interest the other members show in his activities is a disappointment, and Ms Thornton went to picket the ILEA.
Of those who did respond, there seems to be a reluctance to discuss some of the problems they should face. 'Whether an Executive Officer should promote policy is one such question they have never, as a collective, resolved. The issue hinges around the primacy of the Union Meeting in the Constitution, and that therefore, the Executive is not a policy making body.
If this popular position is adopted, and the Executive waits on the Union Meetings for direction, they will wait forever. It is surely the job of those intimately acquainted with the problems, to propose remedies, and see those remedies stand the test of a Union Meetings and subsequent practice. Also not tackled, is how the Executive gets itself known. The opportunity is there for them to meet people in the bar, refectory, societies, and Halls — all they have to do is devote some of their nights to that task. In the end, being an Executive Officer is a very full job, and for the sabbatical officers, a full-time one.
Like many bureaucracies the
JOHN CRUSE Broad Left/JACOSS Junior Treasurer.
known to the students at the LSE. Sorhe steps have been taken to remedy this, the minutes are posted on the notice board by the entrance to St Clements, and our General Secretary produces Exec News which is sufficiently humorous to be quite widely read. However, the presence of a member of "Beaver" in charge of Publications has not meant the establishment of the kind of rapport which had seemed possible at the beginning of the year.
The extent of "non-communication" is shown by the recent "14 days" motion passed by Union in which the amount of Union Grant demanded was incorrectly stated and the "LEA" system of finance (you'll be hearing more about it) was called by the wrong name.
It is difficult to see how (except through their various Committees) Exec members can establish contact with those students who do not attend Union Meetings (now on Friday afternoons at 4 p.m.) or end the myth of faceless bureaucrats which haunts all Union Office.
CHRIS HOYLAND Broad Left/JACOSS Senior Treasurer.
GEOFF ROBERTS Broad Left/JACOSS Junior Treasurer.
Executive tends to get bogged down in day-to-day work arid does not plan in the long term, or have a complete set of objectives. Instead of looking at the problems and trying to mould the manpower to their solution, the structure of the Executive is fixed and the pi'oblems are made to fit it, or are ignored. Thus with one sabbatical Treasurer the practice of having two Junior
GILL HIBBERT
Independent Socialist Publications.
UNLIKE some of my illustrious predecessors I can claim to know something of the functioning of Union Publications, i.e. "Beaver" and that other amazingly informative collection of pieces of paper — the Union Handbook, plus the slightly erratic Daily News Sheet.
The whole lot takes quite a bit of time and money but one way or another "Beaver" comes out regularly every fortnight and the Daily News has only missed a couple of days (either through breakdown of people and/or machines). Criticism is not always constructive — I wonder if those responsible for removing all those copies of "Beaver" at the beginning of term realise they wasted well over £100 of Union money — not. to mention a great deal of time and effort.
The Union publication's budget is one of the largest sections of the budget — hopefully it will become larger under the LEA system which should open up possibilities for a sabbatical Editor and a much improved Daily News — opinions on the matter will be gratefully received.
The Executive is often accused of being bureaucratic, there seems to be little realisation that quite a bit of pen-pushing is vital if the Union is to offer even the minimum of services to its members — the sometimes excruciating tedium of Executive meetings has to be put up with for such vital things as the employment of a new Welfare Officer to get done. Perhaps the Exec isn't the most efficient body out, why not stand for election and see what you can do.
GLENYS THORNTON Broad Left/JACOSS External Affairs.
Hh.

ANTONIO CORTES Broad Left/JACOSS Shop and Florries.
Treasurers is continued, a practice that was invented to help the Senior Treasurer in his non-sabbatical days.
Whilst that practice is festering, the growth of the postgrads has not been recognised. They are not considered a pi^oblem, because they do not fit into the organisation. Similarly, the growth in the turnover of the Union has not brought
CRISPIN oVRIEN
Independent Socialist Welfare.
THE post of Welfare Officer on the Exec seems to me to be very much what you make of it. My job includes, amongst other things, running an accommodation bureau looking after blind students, helping with vacation work, going to committees and perhaps most topical at the moment, the setting up of a nursery at the LSE. The nursery campaign is entering a crucial phase, but if things go well we just might have a nursery fairly soon.
In the absence of a Welfare Officer since Ms L. Lewis left, Emma and I have been, running an ac-
JOHN BLUNDELL
Independent Bar.
SINCE my election to the Union Executive two weeks ago my belief that the Union is irrelevant to the broad mass of students has been confirmed. The majority of Exec, members move in small incestuous circles between Flon-ies, the Bar and the Union Offices with a minimum of contact with Union members. Once elected Exec, members tend to become petty bureaucrats (and often not very good ones at that) representing nobody but themselves and their own tiny clique.
Union meetings have degenerated into a farce; January 23rd I am called "a lousy fucking bastard" for not calling quorum; February 7th I'm a lousy Tory bum for supporting a call of quorum. The now in-
about any increase in the sophistication of the techniques in handling the situation. It is blatantly obvious that the Shop is a tremendous" waste of energy for the benefit derived — yet no calculations were ever' made to warn of this situation that has arisen due to the unequal expansion of the Union's activities.
What is needed is not a shop, with margins so low, that it lurches from profit one year, to loss the next, dependent upon the relative inefficiencies of the management, but a small supermarket (in St. Clement's Concourse area?). What is needed is not a constant reminder of the short term objectives (keep the small shop out of losses), but the long term possibilities (get a bigger shop and guarantee that it will never go into losses).
commodation bureau with quite a high degree of success. If anyone out there knows of any available accommodation please could they bring details to Emma's office — SIOO.
Another area of my work is finding people to read to blind students. This scheme is going well at the moment, but we may need more people next term.
I go to several committees with the School, including the Student Health Service, Overseas Students Welfare, Refectory Advisory and New Students' Reception Committees. I am also a member of the CES Nursery Management Committee.
I believe my job is less politic U than most and mainly concerned with trying to help stu^Jents with any problems they may have. This; I believe, is absolutely correct for me as my main concern in LSE, i.e. with people — not machine politics.
I stood as an Independent, hopefully to fulfil an essential need in this Union of showing concern for people in a college which is well' known for its coldness and a tendency to alienate people. I hope I have done a reasonable job so far, and would be glad to talk to anyone who feels I have not.
famous Union meeting of January-23rd was so farcical that the Con-, servatives voted with IS for militant action in order to show the broad mass of students what a tiny minority could and would do if left to their own devices.
Some members of this year's Exec, have been obvious successes — Tony Brown, James Mitchell, Crispin O'Brien and Glenys Thornton — whereas others have not handled their portfolios quite so dexterously, e.g. Antonio Cortes and the Union Shop.
My responsibility, the bar, is quite appropriate for an ardent advocate of capitalism. A mcr^r effort is being put into streamlining suppliers this term and a 10 per cent discount has been negotiated with a number of firms. Hopefully this will allow prices to remain stable, at least in the immediate future.
The main bar problem at the moment is the number of glasses being stolen. At the present weekly rate we will lose over a 30 week year; 1,080 whisky glasses, 660 wine glasses, 510 halves, 360 pints,, approximate value £300.
This only counteracts our efforts to give you the most drink at the lowest price.
As for the apathy problem, what would happen if 3,500 people turned up demanding to get involved? The Executive, and practically everyone else has no answer because they are conditioned to think apathetically. Perhaps they ought to ask the question, is this the result of the Union, the School, or our life-time conditioning? Gace such fundamentals are confronted, the right policies and less wondering will occur.
The final question that some want answering is, what effect have the two sabbatical officers (Senior Treasurer and General Secretary) had? The answer is that the Union has stopped breaking down, as it used to, but what is still needed, is a way of ratifying, action when Union Meetings are inquorate. which they will be in the summer term, and the long holiday.
PT
Comment and
EF-AVER, Feb. 18th, 1975—Page Ten
^liW:
Twelfth Night
Shakespeare RSC-Aldwych
HOORAY 1 A goody. Peter Gills 32th Nite, out of Shakespeare with p. strong cast of runners is a tiirbling, prancing, clever, delight that critics may abstract about, but the rest of the audience will hugely recommend. Assuming the ¦lilamn thing is a comedy the cast liave arrived, by their varied means, at the desired ps'oduct.
Nicol Williamson (Malvolio) dominates the series of dominating performances that come from the scuttling Patricia Hayes (Maria), a (omplete Sir Toby Belch (David Waller), the wise-wise Clown (Ron ¦Pember), and a valiant Viola (Jane Lapotaire). Williamson's mincing, Knox-like skyscraper of a steward, allows the dream-topping that the rest of the cast flick on to the' sturdy base Ron Pember's Clown largely constructs.
His constant emphasis and reminders about the unreality of reality, the foohshness of wisdom, and the wisdoms contained in fooling, gives the production its drive, il-s universal hypothesis. This is supported by the dalek-gliding bushes that ponder on and off the stage, and the behaviour of the ^rees in the second half. Instead ii being carried on in traditional
„ V'*'
RSC manner a la the first half, they move of their own volition, a fact noted by the main character on stage at the time. Is this to be believed, are they loosing their hold on their own senses?
This possibility is helped by the impression of space and lightness the background "scenery" imparts. There is room to mislay their identity; gone are the claustrophobic integrating curtains that always imply other rooms with other plays and references going on in them. This isolation supports the introversion of the two main focal points of the play, the narcissistic Orsino and Olivia. They play their games of love with reference to ideals, not real people.
Fortunately for them their ideals turn up. And for those in the here and now, the "normal" life of like and dislike is emphasised with the abused Malvolio stalking out at the end, muttering threats but returning the stage to its clear rumbus-tiousness. That quality is the distinguishing mark of this vast pleasure. Like the nearly faultless Mprecambe and Wise, it's that good!
P.T.
' s.yJ.I
¦ THE problems thrown up by Mike Leigh and the actors who built up
•	this play, are individual professional ones. How does an old woman cope with her decay — how •do her relatives assimilate it — how do doctors and soldiers cope with death?
The thought and care in the .choice of characters, who by their relation to a central theme, death, can construct a play's rationale, are "'Obvious. The soldier who is the killer and the killed, the doctors who are the savers, and as the dis-
•	cussion on modern medicine hammers home, destroyers too, with the old woman as the meeting point for the two groups, are the bones of an attempt that is an honourable failure. It is ultimately a failure l>ecause the problems remain individual ones — the play spins apart under its own inertia.
But befprc that is apparent, we have been treated to a brilliant encapsulation of a middle-class doc-. tor (Chariest, by Matthew Guin-
ness that has given the play the tremendous acclaim the ICA blurb claims it has collected. This brilliance results in the play's lopsided condition, the four other characters, all working-class, emerging comparatively emaciated. What's more, it's practically, impossible to believe that the working-class doctor, Geoff, could undergo such a class-biased lengthy training, and still retain his class virginity.
The silence of the old woman, Mrs Wenlock, did not hover and haunt the participants — it and she were ignored. Because that silence was not discussed and hardly recognised, any centrality the play aspired to, was lost. One point the middle-class audience did appreciate was the meaningless of a type of working-class conversation: unfortunately they did not notice the vacuity of much of Charles' spinning talk. Which is another gooc reason to go and see this near success. It really is most interesting — as is the ICA.
PT
The Persuit of Loneliness
Philip Slater Penguin 50p
WELL it had to happen. Here's a book by an American subtitled: American culture at breaking point. In a calm and rational fashion, with Cfuotes from Dylan and the Beatles etc.. Slater exposes all that is sick in the world's sickest society.
We all know America's -faults: the cultivation of competitiveness instead of co-operation, bullying of smaller nations, profit over personal satisfaction, the elevation of technology to the place that should be occupied by nature in men's minds, the philosophy that biggest is best, etc., etc. (God the list is endless). The problem is looked at from the sociological/ anthropological psychological standpoint and shows that there is nothing good about America. In fact, Slater sums up American culture with the words: "It is characterised by the motivation of a man who kills everyone else that he might have a meal to himself and then flnds that the meal is too much for one person.'
All this is common knowledge; but there has never been such a comprehensive study of it before. Now I can call Americans the scum of the earth and back it up with facts, figures and concrete arguments. Couldn't ask for more.
Better still, he outlines that America's salvation
lies with the youth movement. He demonstrates that the antagonism of middle-class America to campus radicals' and hippies stems from their scarcely conceal^ envy for these groups' ability to enjoy life as their parents never dared to do. He says it is to be expected that there should be opposition to a generation that has overturned the worthless values of American society.
Mild though the language is, the message comes across loud and clear. It is a pity then that it fades towards the end of the book. Slater says he feels compelled to put forward an alteinative to the society that he has just verbally destroyed, but he obviously has not given it' enough thought. He finishes with a wishy-washy statement that both the old and new cultures could drive America to self-destruction on their own. He closes, therefore, by calling for some of the older generation to take the side of youth and help them turn established institutions into instruments that liberate people instead of imprisoning them. However, he doesn't convince me that America needs the old institutions at all. As he says earlier in the book: "Do you have to put anything in the place of war and plague?"
J.B.
The Marvellous Adventures of Cabeza de Vaca
MARX was mistaken (or misunderstood) about his comments on religion. He SHOULD have said: "Religion has been made the opiate of the working class by the ruling class and this represents their greatest crime for it is a sin not only against man but against God." Marx is as much to blame as self-important scientists and sociologists for the fallacy that God is dead, a ridiculous premise in face of the fact that religious experiences have been (and continue to be) one of the most common characteristics of humanity.
"Marvellous Adventures" describes one man's discovery of God in the fourteenth century. The book is based on the messages from De Vaca to the Spanish king. De Vaca was one of the four survivors of an expedition of 600 that went to America in search of riches. Finding himself alone and naked in a hostile country where nobody speaks his language he discovers self reliance. Later, forced to act as a doctor for the Indian tribes who have no
Hanlei Long Picador 40p
knowledge of medicine, he finds that be can heal through prayer. Thus, given a glimpse of God, he who had come to plunder and rob soon writes in terms of "coming back to conquer with gentleness not slaughter."
Like many before and since who found personal proof of the existence of God, de Vaca is unsure of how to communicate his experiences. His reports are therefore couched in vague symbolism and his new found divinity is tinged with lnuniliiy. Writing of the music he felt in his soul he says: "Your Majesty is renowned as a patron of music; here was a music it is possible you may never have heard.''
Also in the book is an uncharacteristic introduction by Henry Miller and another story of Spanish criminal greed told from the Indian's standpoint. Excellent value 'cause this book stays with you for' a long time and "Warms your soul on a moonless night" (Sutherland Brothers).
J.B.
Inside the Company a CIA Diary
Philip Age©	Penguin 95p?
PHILIP AGEE worked for the C.I.A. for 12 years as an officer in Central and South America. Now a socialist, his book is the most damaging exposure of the C.I.A. so far. Every colleague and agent that he worked with is named, as is every organisation that has been penetrated; the structure, hierarchy and methods of the "Company" are described in painstaking detail. Ignore the book's blurb; it does not deal with the Greek coup nor the death of Guevara, the Bay of Pigs is mentioned only indirectly and the fall of Allende occurred after the author had left the service. This is not a criticism for this was not the intention of Agee. He is writing about what he knows and he succeeds brilliantly.
The C.I.A. is depicted as an obsessed bureaucracy thriving in its own secrecy like a squid in its own ink. There is a welter of crypto-nyms (ODYOKE was the U.S. Govt., AVBLOOM was a covert action aimed at Uruguayan students, SMOTH was MI-6). All this secrecy created a special atmosphere; "I'm beginning to feel a kind of satisfaction and of being . . . (in) . . . an exclusive club with a very select membership."
The whole .gamut of operations that the Agency indulged in in this "U.S. protectorate" is documented. Governments are over-
thrown (Dominican Republic 1965), anti-socialist parties are secretly financed in elections (in Brazil in 1962 — "one of the . . . largest-ever political-action operations . . . a multi-million dollar campaign." Also against Allende in 1964), Cuban and other hostile elements are framed using white, grey and black propaganda. Scapegoats are found for inefficient but friendly governments and are imprisoned and maybe tortured. There is also time for routine surveillance and cultural activities.
It is important to remember when reading this book that, although it is set out as a diary, it was written several years after the events it describes with Agee under harassment from his former employers. This is a flaw since, with the best will in the world, it is impossi'ole to recall earlier beliefs and emotions accurately. As a result the opening pages are the weakest section of the book. Agee's earlier beliefs seem burlesqued, outblimping Blimp. If they were really felt they v/ould surely have been subconscious and unspoken— like a Victorian's innate acceptance of superiority. A more serious point is that Agee's political views now affect his choice of topics for the diary. The outstanding example concerns Cuba. The isolation of Cuba was one of the U.S.'s
main aims and Cuba is widely mentioned. The debacle of the Bay of Pigs and its effects on Agee's assignments frequently crops up yet the Cuban missile crisis is never mentioned. Think about that. The missile crisis nearly began World War III. It affected the whole world "out especially South America. So v;hy isn't it mentioned? Perhaps because U.S. policy here was totally successful and preserved peace.
This is not a spy-thriller but a serious study of a secret service. It is a pity then that there is no index — one is essential.
Agee concludes by writing that the amorality of the U.S. government's foreign policy was responsible for the abeiration of Watergate. (It is ironical that the "Watergate" was built on the ruins of an old C.I.A. building.) He believes that since the C.I.A. is merely an inevitable offshoot of capitalism the only solution is a socialist revolution. "It's harder now not to realise that there are two sides . . . and .harder not to lecognise that like it or not we contribute day in and day out either to one side or to the other."
Beg or borrow this book or, &s a last resort, buy it but read it.
G.T.
BANNER BOOKS CRAFTS
for Progressive Literature— Marx, Engels. St.aUn. Lenin and Mao with books from Vietnam and Albania — and! stationerj-
and crafts. 90 CAMDEN HIGH ST., NWI. Tel. 3S:-54J8.
BEAVER, Feb. ISth, 1975—Page Elevem
Hill
"3
DANISH
Pillow talk
TAKE a bevy of luscious lovelies, lots of innocent fun-and-games, sprinkle with plenty of laughter, mix the ingredients together and the result is DANISH PILLOW TALK, a wary saucy sex-comedy.
DANISH PILLOW TALK is the latest film from Palladium, the company that made the popular "Seventeen", "Bedroom Mazurka", ' Danish Dentist on the Job", and "Danish Bed and Board" — films which are all easy to laugh with as well as at, and "DANISH PILLOW TALK" Is no exception.
Young and lovelj', Beena (Birte Tove), has just inherited a large group of companies together with a beautiful estate — the latter administered by the very attractive Baroness Sikabild (Annie Birgit Garde). Beena is also in love with Sten Larsen (Ole Soltoft), an impoverished young engineer. Heavy death duties, however, could plunge Beena in the red unless, she marries the son (Soren Stromberg) of the owner of a rival concern. By a strange coincidence, the young man's name is also Sten Larsen — a situation which causes many complications.
But true love does not run smoothly. Beena's young engineer leaves her after their unsatisfactory love-making, accusing her of frigidity. On the advice of the Baroness, she consults a doctor who tells her she is just lacking experience. In an attempt to remedy this, Beena tries to pick-uJT a man but ends up in court on a charge of attempted rape. She later visits a live "pomo" show, and is herself picked up by a young lesbian. Although repulsing her advances, Beena encourages those of a young man who Joiiis them later for dinner, and in his arms she acquires much experience.
Sikabild, believing the impoverished Sten to be the heir to the Larsen Trust, attempts to reconcile him with Beena. All in the course of duty she decides to give him a lesson in love, and under her skilful tuition he realises he had a lot to learn.
Next day, the wealthy Sten calls on Beena but meets Sikabild instead. They fall in love and decide to marry, and Beena and her Sten, who now have no quarrel with their love-making, are happy, to follow suit.
With that rare combination of humour and sex, iwhioh is never offensive, DANISH PILLOW TALK is sheer entertainment.
(P.S.: This was the blurb they sent us.)
ENTSNEWS
WARNING: This Friday in the Old Theatre the dreaded Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias will be presenting their updated ?How for your entertainment. Admission is free: Attend at jtaur peril. The show officially begins at 1 p.m.
Following that event our next presentation will be the PETE ATKIN-JULIET LAWSON concert on Saturday, March 1st. Pete, with his songwrlting partner CLIVE JAMES have come up with five albums over a pex-iod of five years, and have collected fine reviews from some of the most respected rock critics. As Derek Jewell of the Sunday Times commented, "There can be no finer songwriting team anywhere today than Pete Atkin and Clive James. Their new album "Road of Silk" is their best yet; brilliant lyrics by Clive James, splendid in imagery, with composer Atkin singing clearly and expressively:" At the same time Dave Laing commented in Let it Rock; ¦'An album (Road of Silk) of dignity and maturity that is rare in this age of fibre, glass and glitter."
His most rgoeiit album, "Secret Drinker" benefits from Petes' experience on the road with a backing band towards the end of last year. The teaining up of a fairly typical ';petit bourgeois Englishman", self taught musician and arranger, and a rather untjTjical Australian with a rare gift for words.
Back in his college days in Cambridge, Pete became involved with the famous university footlights review, Also involved with the footlights was a distinctly unusual Australian who, unlike many of his contemporaries; is blessed with an ability to string together words in
The Valley
obscuredby cloud
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Music: Pink Floyd
French and English, with subtitles in both languages
At ABC Bloomsbury and Fulham Road.
THE combination of Schroeder and Pink Floyd made one of the first films about the drug culture and the search of its adherents for the meaning of life, MORE. It was set in Ibiza and shortly after the film's release the island became a hippie colony. What's going to happen now that this team has made a movie set in New Guinea?
The Valley is about four hippies who set out for a valley that has never been explored and is impossible to photograph from the air (the valley symbolises the unexplored area of the mind). The hippies are joined by an ambassador's wife (Bulle Ogier), who sjin-bolises the changes in the values of a straight who turns on to dope. I can't tell you much more 'cause I've only seen it once. But, first observations lead me to believe that the whole point is built around the director's philosophy that "Paradise has many exits but no entrances", a line delivered at a time when the hippies have nearly reached the valley.
If the plot doesn't interest you and the message seems like rub-
bish go and see The Valley anyway 'cause it's excellent value as entertainment or escapism. Verj- few movies have interesting plots or make valid statements, but none until now has been set in New Guinea. The movie is worth seeing for the breath-taking shots of the uncorrupted beswity of the country and the unspoiled primitive grandeur of the tribesmen. The tribes in New Guinea (played by the Mapuga Tribe) evidence no camera-consciousness and go about their festivals with unashamed enthusiasm. complete with painted bodies and slaughtered pigs.
Content aside, the movie has been brilliantly put together. The leading parts are superbly cast and, except for the minor actors, superbly acted. The photography is excellent in an unobtrusive way, so much so that you don't realise how good it was till you've left. I feel the director glossed over the difficulties involved in making a trip across unchartered territor>', but he makes up for it with the way he handles people and relationships. The music is by Pink Floyd, 'nufi said.
If I've missed the intellectual message of the movie you can find that out from TIME OUT. And 'cause I've ignored the explicit sex scenes, you'll have to see the movie yourself.
J.B.
such a way that it is a delight to the ear. These two qualities had alresuiy earned him a reputation as a fUm and television critic and writer in the quality weeklies. He is of course the man who adds the words to Pete Atkin's tunes; the inimitable Clive James. Their partnership began through a mutual regard for the music of Rogers and Hart, Both now feel able to write much more as half a partnership than they would as individuals.
Following the release of the first LP of their songs called simply "Beware of the Beautiful stranger'' and the presentation of a version of the Footlights review at the Hampstead Theatre Club, Pete with Julie Covington, landed a TV show, "The Party's Moving On" and a sequel, "What are you doing after the show." This National TV exposure did nothing to further the singing career of Pete Atkin and promises of future shows fell by the w^ayside as a new regime took over the TV station.
Clive and Pete were still exiting and a second album, "Driving through Mythical America" appeared; tf) date it's still Pete's personal favourite. By this time he was seriously into a singing career, building up a following in folk clubs and colleges. Success was also coming the way of CUve James with his appearances on television as a film critic and pundit, and as a journalist. However both Pete and Clive were anxious to make a breakthrough with their albums and a break came with the release of their third album, "A King at Nightfall" which brought them airplay and extensive critical acclaim. He was also getting rave reviews for his concert appearances, N.M.E. commented "I^ete Atkin was the undoubted hit of the night. Tongue in cheek, he related
T-
i
Pete Atkin and Clive Jones
to the large student audience, with his own brand of self piss take, he won standing ovations."
Encouraged by Pete's rapidly advancing career, RCA re-released the two first albums to remarkable success and the fourth albmn released in April, 1974, "The Road of Silk" also received great acclaim. The fifth album "Secret Drinker" shows him in a new perspective following his experience of touring for the first time with a backing band. Last Autumn he made his largest tour yet taking in major concert halls, the highlight being an appearance at the New London Theatre, Drury Lane. Returning now to the solo concert format of past times, we welcome Pete to the LSE on March 1st for the only London concert appearance of his forthcoming tour.
Also appearing will be Juliet Lawson, whose first album was re-lea.sed on Sovereign Records last year and was called "Boo". Maurice Rosenbaum commented in the
Daily Telegraph: "I believe that even on the strength of her first album alone, she is of the calibre of such gifted American singer-songwTiters as Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell or Carly Simon, while retaining her own individuality as firmly as they do theirs."
With two, such acclaim artistes on the bill it should be quite a night at LSE on March 1st. Advance tickets which have been pegged as low as possible are only 80p from the Union Shop or Revolver Records. Tickets will also be available through London Theatre Bookings of Shaftesbury Avenue.
Finally don't forget the concert on March 8th featuring MIKE HERON'S REPUTATION which features ex-Incredible String Band inembers: Mike Heron, Malcolm le Maistre and John Gilston supported by the Shortwaveband who have another ex-Incredible Stuart Gordon in their line. More about these acts in the next issue of "Beaver".
R,R,
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AN attempt to give a brief review of sport so far this term.
The best place to start would be the AGM of the Athletic Union, which took place a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, out of the twenty or so clubs a grand total of eight were represented and as if to add insult to injurj- of the eight representatives one was not even a fully subscribed member. Is this corruption or just plain apathy in the higher echelons of the sporting world?
What the clubs who wen represented said;
RUGBY:
Tim Jenkins, the swashbuckli^ captain of the club said that his boys were feeling the pinch. As a result, their planned foreign excursion has been shelved, replaced perhaps by an English forage instead. Keenness within the club, both on and off the field, is high, though it is suffering from the academic ambitions of some of their 3rd year stars. Never mind Tim, crack another barrel.
FOOTBALL:
Mr Ken Tightbelt Carr reported that his club's finances were in a fairly good state despite theic very successful outing to Nancy's (I knew they had it in them). This good state, however, may not remain for long as their Annual Dinner is due soon as well as a return visit of the French lads. Oa the playing fields the teams seem to be quietly successful with the 2nds reaching a semi-final and the 4ths reaching their league cu# final. Probably an all ticket match that one.
NETBALL:
Stephanie Taylor Marshall the captain/s said that her/their teaut, despite being supported by AU Emergency funds, had had a very successful term, keeping their :100 per cent record by winning their second game. She they said that everybody (except baskefils^tt players) was welcome to come ta training on Tuesdays 5-6.
VOLLEYBALL:
Also a new club, are said to be improving so fast that they might be able to arrange a fixture by next term.
GOLF AND SAILING CLUBS;
Dave — Sailors have more fun —-Beany appeared representing botti clubs. "It's like collecting directorships" he said. On the golf side he had little to report as he hasnt played this term and wasn't much interested anyway. He hasn't beeti out sailing this term either, .but it'll "only be a short time now". Oat the financial side he said he wsis managing quite well. Perhaps it's because he doesn't do anything.
GLIDING CLUB;
On the other hand, Dave Sager, president of the active gliding cluU is experiencing difficulty with ihis cash flow and also in organising
events.	, ,
IVIOUNTAINEERING:
Chris Hoyland said that his clutj Vi'as suffering from a "cruel cufr-'oack in allowance." Also after the disaster last term a certain cutbftclc in enthusiasm. Something was murmured about Switzerland (secret account number?).
TWELVE OTHER CLUBS:
I Mumble, mumble. Well we've got our money, who cares about AGMs. Mumble, mumble, where is 2 the AU room anyway. Mumble I (Apathy sets in — lights dim).
BEAVER, Feb. 181h, 1975—Page Twelve
Workers' control threat!
'The following article on "Beaver," written by members of the Communist Party and the International Socialists, fell into our hands on Thursday, February 13th. It describes how they see "Beaver" from their point of view (we presume it is an internal briefing document). After their article we investigate their claims.
"ONE would expect that a Students' Union newspaper, such as "Beaver", which costs the Union over £4,000 per annum to finance, would not see as one of its prime objects the ridiculing of the activities of that Union. On the contrary one would have thought that it would devote a substantial proportion of its editorial space to campaigning for support for an implementation of Union decisions. Such has been the role of "Beaver" in the past.
"In the years when LSE students were renowned for their militancy, now sadly past, "Beaver" was at the forefront of the fight against Adams and the School authorities. Read by the majority of the students at the LSE it played an important part in galvanising them into action. Today all it does is to encourage an atmosphere of apathy with its sometimes pathetic attempts to be funny at other people's expense which it could be said reflect the personal inadequacies of one or two of the editorial staff.
"The signatories of this article are not suggesting that "Beaver" should be a solely political paper. Of course a students' paper must contain material of general and sometimes special interest. Nor are we suggesting that attempts at humour or satire should be expurgated. What we are saying is that a Union paper has to be more than this.
"Students do not live in a world of their own whose boundaries are the Aldwych and Kingsway. They live in a world which constantly impinges on and determines their -/Education and life-styles. At this moment we are seeing conditions at the School deterioratjng, we are seeing the real value of our grants plummet as inflation rockets. We cannot just ignore all this and hope it will go away, We have to do something about it. And "Beaver" shouldn't try to pretend otherwise.
"Another related problem with "Beaver" that is causing concern is the degree of censorship that is being exercised. A number of articles, submitted by members of the Broad Left, IS, and the IMG have not been printed on the grounds that they were badly written or boring. One might suspect that the true explanation was that the editor disagreed with them. "Beaver" should, among other things be an open forum for discussion and exchange of opinions. It can never be this when censorship such as described above is in operation.
"In conclusion we should like to propose the following suggestions in relation to the production of "Beaver":
(1)	That its editorial content be directed towards campaigning for Union policy.
(2)	That it becomes a genuine forum for political discussion.
OKThat it contains material of
general interest, serious, humorous, satirical or otherwise.
(4)	That it provides an adequate news coverage of events occurring outside the LSE, especially those concerning students.
(5)	That "Beaver" become an eight page fortnightly with, eventually, a sabbatical editor paid the equivalent of the standard rate of grant during the term and for one week of each vacation (in order that the first paper of each term can be produced promptly).
"The signatories of this article will at a future date be moving these proposals as a motion at a Union Meeting.
18/C Pete."
CLAIMS EXAMINED
(1)	"Beaver" will cost "over £4,000 per annum". True; the budget figure is £4,030, based upon the supposition of 13 issues during the academic year (5 first term, 5 second term, 3 third term). So far 5 were produced in the first term (all 16 pages), this is the fourth this term (one 16 pages, three 12 pages), one more is planned (being 16 pages), and one only is planned for the third term (because of exams, but it could be 24 pageo. This will result in the budget being below the figure of £4,030. But this is not contentious.
(2)	One "would not" expect to "see as one of its ("Beaver's") prime objects the ridiculing of the activities of that Union." The first issue of "Beaver" carried the headline, "Students' Union starves — Ralf gets the Cream", the results of a questionnaire on Lecturers, a seminal article on Student/Staff Committee and an article on Fascism. The second "Beaver" again pushed Student/Staff Committees, investigated the way the LSE is run and carried articles on Union Finance, one written by Mr Hoy-land (CP) the Senior Treasurer. The third issue carried the headline, "VOTE, YOU BASTARDS, VOTE" in an attempt to get a high turnout at Union Elections. Also covered was. Discipline in the LSE and another article on Fascism, which is being turned into a book by Banner Books. On the back page was the first warning of the loss the SU would make this year, correct figures attacked in the Executive at the time as being inaccurate. The fourth issue carried the results of the Union 'Elections an article on the week of action by Ms Thornton of Broad Left, and an article on examinations. The fifth issue of that term criticised the then Welfare Officer, who later resigned, carried articles on academic affairs, conspiracy, classes, and, as usual Student/Staff Committees.
This term has seen the Director writing in the first issue, alongside articles on Chile, the NUS Conference, the Union Grant, the MSc Sociology course and SSCs. The second issue had two front page headlines that ran "Students wait as standards start to fall" and "How the LSE avoids its duty" on
the Library and Nursery respectively. The NUS University Special Conference and national Organisation of Labour Students Conferences were reported, Chile, SSCs, the Union Grant, Zimbabwe and Ministry of Defence research in Universities (written by a Broad Left member) were included. The third issue dealt with the Union Grant, the Library, the "Fourteen Days" (written by an IS member), Abortion (written by an IMG associate), Chile, the Undergraduate Studies Committee, the Shop, SSCs and South Africa. Judge for yourself about this issue.
(3)	The statement "that in the militant past, 'Beaver' was read by the majority of the students at th^" LSE" is unsubstantiated. Judging by the number of back copies in our possession and thrown out during the summer clear-out, this is untrue. There was also a lower print order.
(4)	"Pathetic attempts to be funny." This is purely a matter of taste, but one CP member wanted Snidelines and Felicity's diary stopped.
(5)	"The personal inadequacies of one or two of the editorial staff"
There have been 18 dedicated members of staff, at one time or the other. They are, Peter Tim-mins, Peter Capel, Annice Mah-mood. Abe Opel, Maggie Urry, Caroline Grace, Chris Tilley, Dianne Gillespy, Gill Hibbert, Steve Savage, Crispin O'Brien, Mac McDonald, Sheree Dodd, Chris Wells, Julian Brutus, Tony Greenwood, Jim Furlong and Emma Hamilton-Brown.
(6)	We agree that the paper should "be more than this" and we would confidently claim it is.
(7)	•' 'Beaver' shouldn't try and pretend" . . . that "conditions at the School" aren't "deteriorating" etc. See list in point 2.
(8)	"Censorship". No article by the IMG has not been printed. The only articles by the Broad Left not printed so far are those emanating from Mr Donaldson (CP), one of which was replaced by a better article on the subject and the other was criticised by Mr Muller of IS as being "politically naive". All IS articles have been printed, although one review article was cut by 40 per cent down to 600-odd words. An anonymous article submitted by Mr Muller was not printed because it was so bad, a fact admitted by Lindsay German, IS.
(9)	The proposals. "Editorial content be directed" is censorship. In any case, the appointed editor, and everyone recognises Peter Tim-mins as that, is removable from that post by a Union Motion of censure if the Union considers the editor is doing a bad job.
"Genuine forum for political discussion" — yes, but in relation to the rest of the paper, ie balance.
"Contains material of general in-' terest" — it does.
"Adequate news coverage of events occurring outside the LSE etc" — it does when taken in conjunction with the weekly Sennet.
" 'Beaver' become an eight page fortnightly" — it is fortnightly and is either 12 or 16 pages. Any reduction to 8 pages would mean more selection of events to be covered and would be a reduction in services offered.
Why should the sabbatical editor be not paid during the summer? To enable the paper and the Daily News to appear this year, Peter Timmins devoted the whole of his summer to that task. Also the production of a newspaper in one week is IMPOSSIBLE. The
printers alone require one week to produce an issue.
aO) The result of the Editorial team so far is 9 "Beavers" this academic year plus a Daily News Sheet. Last academic year in the first term only one "Beaver" appeared and there was no Daily News. In the second term of last year four "Beavers" appeared, three produced by Mr Timmips.
This term IS and "CP made a pact to "take over" "Beaver". On January 21 their representatives turned up to the open "Beaver" meeting. They were given assignments to carry out, the only result of which was Mr Donaldson's article, dismissed by Mr Muller. On the week of January 28, the meeting started late because Mr Timmins was delayed at a hospital. They did not wait. At the meeting of February 4 only Mr Donaldson turned up, and even he did not appear on February 11. They were also not about that night at midnight when the major part of the paper was finished.
At the Executive Committee meeting of February 12, a new "Beaver" Constitution was presented to replace an obsolete one dating from 1970. Broad Left moved that discussion be delayed, and by a vote of 6-5, with one ab-stension it was carried. After specific assurances had been given by the two Broad Left sabbatical. officers on another point, that they
would not hold caucus meetings in their offices during working hours (10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.), in Mr Paul Cockerell's office from 4 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., a Broad Left caucus meeting took place, which discussed the constitution of "Beaver".
When confronted by Mr Tony Brown on this point, Mr Cockerell denied it. Mr Brown then said, "You are a very sly man, Mr Cockerell" to which he replied, "No, I'm a bad liar".
Other CP proposals are that the Editor of "Beaver" should be on the Executive, thus removing his freedom, i.e. being unable to oppose Executive policy.
The hours of two of the Union Office staff of three, are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the other member working even longer.
The CP number 25 members and IS 15 with 6 sympathisers (see "Beaver" 134, page 6, article by IS member, Mr Montgomery),
This "Beaver" was produced by Peter Timmins, Tony Greenwood, Sheree Dodd, Gill Hibbert, Abe Oppel, Emma Hamilton-Brown, Chris Wells, Maggie Urry, Jim Furlong and Tony Brown. All opinions in the paper are those of the writers. Meetings every Tuesday at 1 p.m. for "business". @ London School of Economics and Political Science Students' Union, 1975.
BROWN FOR SHOP MANAGER
A FINE bit of finger-pointing on scant evidence from Tony Brown this week. Based on the report of the Financial Secretary, Tom Bruin, Tony Brown comes to conclusions about the Shop's position that are very dubious. The shop may well have made a loss in the last term of 1974 of £300, but that in itself does not mean an overall loss for the year. There is an assumption in Tony Brown's article, based on last year's experience, that any profit has to be made in the first term of each academic year. However, trading for this term does not substantiate this.
Average weekly takings have been around £300-£350. That leaves a clear profit of at least £25 a week after wages have been deducted. On Monday of last week the Shop took £107 alone. The Financial Secretaries' report regards money spent on stock as "cash down the drain". The whole emphasis of the report is that turn-over must be as high as possible. In fact, money spent on articles such as sweat-shirts and scarves will eventually come back to the Shop. Does Brown expect them to be sold over-night?
What function should the Shop fulfil in the Union? If Tony Brown could drop his clip-board attitude perhaps he would understand what the Shop should be doing. The Shop is not out to make a huge profit — the markup is only between 15-20 per cent. The Shop is not inefficient — the range of goods is going to be widened as it is. Without turning it into a miniature version of Sainsbury's, the Shop is trying to meet the needs placed upon it. Projected figures for losses are not yet fact. Already it can be seen that last year's pattern of trading is not being repeated this year.
Since the opening of the Shop there has been a manager who is a paid employee of the Union.
From the time of appointment both the Junior Treasurer and the Executive member responsible discussed the situation of the Shop with the manager and other people working there. The Shop was advei'tised. Records were kept of orders and returns submitted. The activity of Tony Brown may well qualify him for grocery profiteering. Perhaps he would like to apply his contacts to solving numerous problems of supply this year — such as the paper shortage. In addition, has he considered that the fall in immediate turnover in the first term (that has rectified itself now) — may be due to the declining real value of student grants?
Ultimately it is up to the members of the Union to decide if therp has been incompetence over the Shop. Tony Brown should be praised for his concern over the affairs of the Union. However, it would be unfortunate if he could be accused of an opportunistic attempt to make political capital (as opposed to financial capital for a change) out of the genuine difficulties that confront the Shop. For instance, is it relevant that Jim Montgomery is an International Socialist or Antonio Cortes a member of the Broad Left? Has Tony Brown asked the people who work in the Shop about its difficulties? Probably not. In conclusion, it is important to note that an Audit is at present in progress and that we are awaiting its results. One can only hope that Tony Brown will accept the results of this impartial audit rather than juggle with figures without any real knowledge of the supply and demand problems as regards the acquiring of stock and the ability of students to buy goods as their income falls in value.
JIM MONTGOMERY and
ANTONIO CORTES
Printed by Ripley Printers Ltd.. Ripley, Derby. Published by London School of Economics and Political Science, Students' Union, St. Clement's Buildings, Claremarket, London, WC2A 2AE.