28 JUNE 1975, Page 3

'Crisis' conference

Amid so much gloom it is worth recording that the University College at Buckingham (in familiar parlance, the Independent University), of its essence free of state finance, is holding its first major conference in London this week. The Independent University has been supported, since its foundation, in our columns and it has now arranged a formidable battery of economic and political contributors to discuss the theme, 'Crisis of Authority in the West'. Perhaps in order to demonstrate its economic and academic impartiality the IU has included among its speakers scholars from Iron Curtain countries, as well as the more familiar proponents of monetarism from Britain and the United States. The very strength and variety of contributors to this first major conference highlights the absurdity of the decision of the Council for National Academic Awards not to offer degree status to the IU.