Five International Students Examine
A Comparison of Student Life
In America and Abroad
And a Proposal for the Campus:
An International House
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The fllowing are
excerpts from a tape recorded panel discus-
sion held at the Daily. The five foreign
students were first asked to describe student
activities in their own country and to com-
pare it, if possible, to the United States.
They then were asked to discuss the inter-
national center and to make any other ob-
Servations on American life.)
gRIGGS: THE National'Union of Aus-
tralian University Students is the rep-
resentative body for Australian students
at the national and international level.
There also is the National Youth Coun-
ci of Australia, which is associated with
the NUAUS. The NUAUS is represented
internationally in the International Stu-
dent Conference with headquarters in
the Netherlands and at the National
Youth Council World Assembly of Youth
in Brussels. Both are associated with the
United Nations.
In general, each of the ten universities
elects representatives to the NUAUS. This
person also has full voting rights on the
Student Representative Council at his
own university.
I have not compared the SRC and the
Student Government Council here, but my
impression is that SGC might be more
active simply because in Australia only
one of the ten universities is residential.
When people live away from the univer-
sity it takes a fairly concrete body to
bind the student activities together.
As for the role of Australian students
in international affairs-students are
very unlikely to take extreme views and
as -a result of this, Australian students
have often been on the executive com-
mittees of the ISCS and WAY.
Many Asian students are sponsored to
Australian universities and thus they are
fairly powerful groups, which form into
societies. The SRC at each university
always sponsors a program about the
middle of the year to make the normally
apathetic student aware of the activities
of the students from abroad. They mix
rather well, which considering the vir-
tually all-white society in Australia, is
quite a relief.
This exchange program really only be-
gan in the early 1950's when the Colum-
bo plan got under way. Australian citizens
seem to sponsor a large number of visit-.
ing foreign student delegations, and I
myself was in charge of a visiting Indian
student delegation which toured Aus-
tralia a couple of years ago. They seem
to have more effect or more import
than the regular resident foreign stu-
dents. In fact, I am quite in favor of
visiting student delegations. When stu-
dents who are actively participating in
campuses in foreign lands come to your
own university they actually have a
chance to compare within a few weeks of
each other the different conditions.-
MATSUMOTO: I cannot say that we
have a national student organization like
you have in the United States, but we do
have the so-called self-government stu-
dent union in Japan that was established
in cooperation with the International
Student Union. It is very difficult to
explain the present situation of student
activity in Japan because there are so
many factions. At one time I thought
there was only one organization, but
there are actually many factions and they
have inter-organizational conflict. Some
student organizations are very active in
Japan; at the same time we have some
organizations which do not want to par-
ticipate in activities of certain other
groups.
We can choose from many forms of
student unions at each university. We
have complete freedom in this choice and
the members are not required to perform
any particular duties. Most students are
not interested in these unions until some
political crisis and then there are many
who are eager to participate. For example,
when the political problem of the Japan-
Page Six
American security treaty arose, they were
very active, but after the issue subsided
the group was again weak.
ADALEMO: The Nigerian Student Un-
ion is a body of students both in the
universities and in the technical and
vocational colleges throughout Nigeria.
This student union has representation on
the ISC and always sends delegates to
the meetings. The student union has
organized an exchange system by which
two students go either to the United
Kingdom or to Europe for a period of
time and compare the atmosphere there
with that at the university in Nigeria.
They also arrange for students to rep-
resent the student body in some organ-
ization that is world wide in scope, for
instance, one member represented Ni-
geria in India when there was a panel
on the development of India as a country,
and he returned with a description of the
poverty stricken Indian people and other
things he saw on the trip.
Politics is one thing in which the
Nigerian students are very active, and
this is one of the aspects in which we
differ from the students in America. Ni-
gerian students in the university are re-
garded as adults, can take part in elec-
tions and may voice their opinions about
what is happening in the country. There
was a special occasion when they did
voice their opinions very vigorously. This
was in the case of the Nigerian defense
pact with Britain. In fact, they resorted
to mild violence which was resisted and
lead to an attempt to suppress them.
Later on, however, as a result of their
stand, the act was repealed+
In addition to this, the Nigerian stu-
dent union also organizes inter-college ac-
tivities in which all colleges participate.
I was president, of one club, the world
affairs group, and this, of course, was a
highly national body which was activated
in each college. These groups of the
national student association are working
toward the common goal of uniting the
students in working together to better
their opportunities and freedom of ex-
pression about what is happening in the
country. The Nigerian student union also
has branches throughout the world
wherever there are Nigerian students
studying abroad. There is a strong body in
England and one in the United States,
and these groups have a say in what is
going on back home.
MACHADO: I do think that inter-
national student activity here in the
United States is much more intense than
in Brazil. This is due to the fact that in
Brazil we do not have the "university"
in the real sense of the word. We have
different schools, like the law school and
the medical school, but they are not
together, and no strong bond exists be-
tween these schools. We have a national
union of students and it represents all
the students in the "universities." But I
would say that international student ac-
tivities exist in a stronger way in the
different schools than in the National
Union of Students. Each school has in-
ternational student activities of its own.
The law school, for instance, gets the
funds for its own program and congress.
The different schools are not on the
same campus. They have the "university'
but not the interchange. There is a plan
now-a-days for most of the cities to
start building universities, but this is
just beginning.
NORDINE: I am the general secretary
of the overseas chapter of the Algerian
Student Union in the United States. In
order to understand the task and goals
of the student movement in an under-
developed country, you must have an
overall idea of the situation in that
country. Algeria has been colonized, and
the most important impact of coloniza-
tion on Algeria was to deprive the nation
of its culture and its own language. One
'of the first tasks of our union was, then,
to restore our own culture and to edu-
cate the people in our own language.
The first reaction to the situation was
a moderate one: Morocco, Tunisia and
Algeria formed a national uniontof
Arabian students early in the century
and this unit has been functioning. How-
ever, the countries involved were faced
with different and specific problems. As
a matter of fact, Morocco and Tunisia
being protectorates had less problems
than Algeria, so the Algerians worked to
form their own union and it was finally
created during the war.
In 1954 UGEMA was created and our
first goal was to identify with the strug-
gle for freedom. I think it is difficult for
an American student to understand that
national unions of students overseas can
take political stands. Here in the United
States the student government councils
do not take political stands. SGC, for
example, is mainly concerned with the
activities of students here on the campus.
The tasks of the UGEMA were great.
In 1956 UGEMA called a strike for all the
Algerian students all over the world, and
they, of course, answered favorably. The
French government naturally got excited
about this situation, and the Algerian stu-
dents studying in France were, shall we
say, in a dangerous position. These stu-
dents had to escape from France and go
and study elsewhere, creating more prob-
lems of UGEMA.
During the seven years of war, UGEMA
has constantly been identified with the
movement for freedom, but now the task
is a bit different. The Algerian students
must face the problem of illiteracy, which
is at a rate of 80 to 85 per. cent. During
our studies abroad we try to do some work
-on these problems and campaigns. We
meet once'a year in the country in which
JOSE CLOVIS MACHADO
Brazil
we are studying to try to formulate an-
swers to some of the problems we have.
As for the union itself-it is now called
the General Union of Algerian Students,
because UGYMA had to differentiate
itself from the French student union in
Algeria. There is a national congress each
year, and for the first time the Congress
was held in Algiers this summer. I at-
tended and we elected a supreme body
and continued the chapters in foreign
countries. The students who can take
part in the activities of UGEA are those
who have the bacculaurate, that is, they
have to be at least a college junior here.
TRIGGS: ON THE question of politi-
cism, the national union of the Aus-
tralian students has traditionally been
apolitical. There are signs that this is
changing, but up till now this has been
pretty much the case. As for the relation
of the student to the overall conditions
of the country-Australians are becoming
particularly conscious of their position in
Asia.
They are at the moment the only fully
Western country in this isolated cell of
of the world, which itself is turning more
and more from the traditional land. They
are still members of the Commonwealth
and are likely to remain so dispite the
ECC, but they are turning more and more
toward Asia for their economic develop-
ment and cultural exchange. This is re-
flected in the nature of student activities
in the international sphere. They are
more concerned with the immediate re-
gion of Asia than they have been in the
past. There is a stepping up throughout
Australia of the realization that imme-
diate ties should be with the East.
The activities of the Michigan Union
embrace a far greater range than in Aus-
tralia. In Australia the union is much
more concerned with providing facilities
for eating, smaller sports and recreation,
rather than directing activities. For ex-
ample, the Michigan Union sponsors an
international week.
In Australia this sort of activity is left
to the students and the student represen-
tative councils. ,Here the more active
student groups appear to have student
clubs around campus. I admittedly have
not had much contact with them here,
but I would say that it is very much dif-
ferent in a non-residential university
than at a resident university like the
University of Michigan.
Perhaps we do have one thing which
is similar to your homecoming. One day
during the year and always a week day
is designated "Commoration Day." It is
a day that the students take off from
studies to say thank you to all the people
who have given grants to the school.
Traditionally it is the day when there is
a contest between the butchers and the
greasers-the medical people and the en-
gineers. There is always a big procession
in the streets of the university city, for
example, Sidney, and there is always
spoofing of some theme, national or in-*
ternational. Usually this tends to be a
little lewd, but not too lewd, so that they
pass the censorship tests. On this par-
To Ease
ful coexistence. For a long time this theo-
retical concept was not backed by condi-
tions favoring its implementation. In
those days Lenin's idea of peaceful co-
existence was regarded by the capitalist
states as an expression of weakness of the
Soviet Union. Today the idea of peaceful
coexistence proclaimed by the USSR and
other socialist countries, implemented in
their foreign policy, has become a realistic
historical possibility. For above all it rests
on the strength of the socialist world.
ONLY A FEW YEARS ago general and
complete disarmament might have ap-
peared as a slogan of pacifists. Today it
finds its place in the program of the CPSU
and in' other documents of the Communist
and workers' parties of all countries as
one of their principal objectives. It has
also found its expression in unanimous
resolutions of the United Nations.
Can anyone seriously suppose that these
new and fundamental principles of the So-
viet Union and the world Communist
movement proclaiming the possibility of
avoiding a new world war, peaceful co-
existence of states and also the possibility
of general and complete disarmament
have been adopted by the Communists in
order to mislead nations? That under the
disguise of these principles they are pre-
paring for war against capitalist states?
People of sound political judgment, ir-
respective of what they proclaim publicly,
cannot possibly accept it with sincere
conviction.
The Soviet Union, together with other
socialist states, has in fact evolved its pol-
icy, adapted it to the present historical
situation, to the current relationship of
forces between socialism and capitalism,
and, to the hard requirements imposed on
all states by the destructive force of nu-
clear weapons and ballistic missiles. As
soon as the West does likewise, giving up
its present policy rooted in the past, mu-
tual distrust and the danger of nuclear
war will be dissipated.
Indeed, dogmatism in practical politics
as in theory is very harmful. The Soviet
Union irrevocably broke with it at the
20th Congress of the CPSU in 1956. World
peace would be much more secure were
the United States to have its counterpart
of the 20th Congress and give up dogma-
tism in its foreign policy.
Much clamor has been raised in the
West following the resumption by the So-
viet Union of tests of new nuclear weap--
ons. Few people are possessed by the de-
sire to kill, but the instinct of self-defense
is common to all men. The resumption of
tests by the Soviet Union is a case in
point. They would not have taken place
if the United States and its NATO allies
had not taken various mobilization meas-
ures and resorted to threats of war in re-
sponse to our proposal to solve the Ger-
man problem by the conclusion of a peace
treaty.
SOON 17 YEARS will have passed since
the end of the war with Germany and
there is still no peace treaty. Instead, ag-
gressive militarism has been revived in
West Germany not without the assistance
of the United States and other NATO
states. The Government of the German
Federal. Republic advances territorial
claims against Poland and other socialist
countries. It persistently demands nuclear
weapons for the Bundeswehr. Nazi gen-
erals and war criminals serve not only on
the staffs of the West German armed
forces, but also on NATO staffs.
: What'the German Federal Government
is aiming at first of all is to destroy the
German Democratic Republic which, as a
socialist state, is a member-country of the
Warsaw Pact. The goals of the present
foreign policy of the Government of the
German Federal Republic would lead di-
rectly to a new world war.
The assurances given by Western states-
men that the Bundeswehr's integration in
the armed forces of NATO protects, the
socialist states from aggression by Ger-
man militarism are but political fairy
tales.
When the German Federal Republic
was admitted to NATO, it was still a weak
state. Its stronger partners in this Pact
could impose on her their will. Today the
situation is reversed. It is no exaggera-
to say that in NATO the German
Federal Republic is in fact only second to
the United States. The Bundeswehr has
become NATO's principal force in Europe.
And this counts. He who is strong imposes
decisions.
As there is no peace treaty with Ger-
many and the present policy of the Ger-
man Federal Republic, which plays an
ever increasing role in NATO policy, being
what it is, the Bundeswehr's integration
in NATO's armed forces not only does not
lessen the danger of a new world confla-
gration by German militarists, but on the
contrary-it increases this danger.
Many facts indicate that at present
there exists within NATO an intention to
place through this organization nuclear
weapons at the disposal of the German
Federal Republic by transforming NATO
into the "fourth nuclear power." The
means by which the Bundeswehr is to be
armed with nuclear weapons are irrele-
vant to the socialist states and the cause
of peace. What matters is the effect, and
if such a situation came about, it would
be much more difficult to turn back the
world from the road leading to nuclear
catastrophe.
The Bundeswehr's finger on the push-
button of the American nuclear weapons
would not change anything in the rela-
tionship of forces between the East and
World Tensions
To a German I
The Conference Table .
the West, but would reinforce the position
of the German Federal Republic, increase
the influence on NATO's policy, still fur-
ther encourage German militarists and
revanchists and bolster up their aggres-
sive spirit. Herein lies the threat of in-
creasing the danger to world peace should
NATO be transformed into an independ-
ent atomic power.
AN INTERNATIONAL convention out-
lawing the use of all nuclear power in
wartime would be useful. Of course, as
long as weapons of mass destruction exist,
no convention can guarantee against the
use of nuclear arms by the side which
loses a war carried on by conventional
weapons, should it possess nuclear arms,
But such a convention would neverthe-
less be of great moral and political value.
This is not only my personal view. An
opinion to this effect was expressed by
the socialist countries during the recent
session of the UN General Assembly.
In November 1961, the General Assem-
bly adopted by a majority a resolution de-
claring that the use of nuclear and ther-
monuclear weapons is contrary to the spir-
it, letter and aims of the United Nations,
that it is the contrary to the rules of in-
ternational law, as such, is a direct viola-
tion of the Charter of the United Nations
and a crime against mankind.
Poland, like the other socialist countries,
voted in favor of that resolution. Unfor-
tunately, the United States was among its
opponents.
I AM IN FAVOR of the cessation, by the
"USSR and its associates, of supplying
arms to elements in Laos, Viet Nam and
particularly Cuba. Moreover, I believe that
the cessation of supplying arms to these
and other countries must not be condi-
tioned by a previous East-West under-
standing on partial reduction of arms or
otherwise as to the checking of the threat
of a nuclear conflagration.
May I add that the Soviet Union has
repeatedly suggested to the United States
and its associates that the two sides re-
frain from supplying arms to certain re-
gions of the world, to which the West re-
fused to agree. Also, it is noteworthy that
arms supplies from socialist countries
came, as a rule, in reply to American arms
supplies.
The supply of arms to countries where
sharp social and political conflicts have
arisen or are beginning to arise, are, as
I see it, some of the main sources of the
existing international tension. No one,
certainly, not the major powers, ought
to intervene in the internal affairs of
other nations. Every nation must deter-
mine its own destiny, and freely dispose
of the resources in its own territory.'
TrHESOLUTION of the German peace
treaty should not be delayed until
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Thursday Afternoon Tea
... Or the Missiles
THE MICHIGAN DAILY MAGAZINE SUNDAY; OCTOBER 28, 1962