The Progressive Dons - a Rejoinder to Michael Hinton

In your issue of May 1lth Michael Hinton attacks certain aspects of my pamphlet 'The Faceless Ones', which deals with the domination of the citizens of Oxford by the University and Colleges. Some of the issues raised are of more than local significance, so I feel justified in replying in your columns, The essence of Michael Hinton's criticism is that the pamphlet is a diversionary attack on 'the mandarin establishment', this latter nature of society at large. Progressive dons it would appear are helpless victims of a vicious system. Using similar logic it would be possible for us all to argue that we are trapped in superstructures determined by factors beyond our control. In modern technological society it is impossible to say just how far education reflects the economic base and how far the reverse is true. We all inhabit very small corners of the universe, but as long as we persist in seeing the struggle as being 'out there’ - in industry, in Vietnam or whatever - then we have assumed the role of commentators (a role not unfamilar to progressive dons) and have abandoned that of factors. Perhaps it is true that progressive dons, being in a minority, are not responsible for the bursarial policies of their colleges - but I have yet to hear of a campaign by these dons to change these policies. Being progressive can be either a cheap or an expensive process, The acid test of the progressiveness of a given academic is his attitude to the struggle for student rights. During recent events at L.S.E. many leading progressive intellectuals betrayed the shallowness of their radicalism by siding with the establishment. It would appear that progressive dons are a far rarer animal than was hitherto thought. Many of the reported sightings of recent years have turned out to be a distant species of skilful mimics. My pamphlet™shows how the University and Colleges have prevented any proper planning in the centre of Oxford, have restricted the growth of council housing, and have generally ignored the needs of citizens. In no case where a bureaucracy, whatever it's nature, has usurped the right of people to control their social environment can such issues be labelled as irrelevant for socialists, % Obtainable from 24 Stockmore St., Oxford - price 10d., post free.