Cox and box
Sir: Mr Tony Palmer, speaking, appropriately, from the Under- ground, (5 December) is full of righteous indignation over the poor student, desperately trying to par- ticipate but thwarted at every turn by dons so reactionary that they think their pupils should conform to civilised standards of behaviour. For those of us actually involved in university life, Mr Paterson's hysterical outburst seemed little concerned with reality.
'Student representation' is already well advanced in most universities. Indeed, many of us consider it to
have gone too far. For the views of the vast majority are inevitably neglected when, a priori, those undergraduates who sit on the many joint consultative committees called to discuss 'reforms' are members of the vocal minority which is dissatisfied with the present situation. Those who wish to retain the status quo are usually those least inclined to political activity.
The violent demonstrations and sit-ins, which Mr Paterson ap- plauds, have been caused by a small and easily identifiable group of left-wing extremists. But their action deserves less condemnation than the response of the university authorities, which has not been to remove the malcontents but to offer them concession after conces- sion. This 'peace at any price policy' has betrayed a cowardice and a callous indifference to the majority of undergraduate opinion against which Professor Cox's Declaration on Academic Freedom is a healthy reaction.
Francis A. Bowl, Chairman, The George Corrie Society, Jesus College, Cambridge
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