\

by FRED MURPHY

reprinted from the MUSE by CANADIAN UNIVERSITY PRESS

lnvthe Soviet Union citizens are com- . pletely' dependent on the state for even their basic human needs. As well the state uses deception. propaganda. and even brutal force to achieve total control over its citizens. The technology of repression. however. had developed more subtle methods’for keeping citizens in than were used In Stalin's time when millions of Russians were sent to death camps. The state uses different methods to promote citizens allegiance to and compliance with the state depending on their age. position. and even geographical region. University students are sublected to perhaps the most rigorous applications of the instruments the state 'uses to bring up obedient ser- vants for the regime.

From Grade school through to graduating from university a Soviet student is constantly reminded he has to subjugate his own interests to the interests of the state, surpress his individuality. and conform to a model. Every student is also aware that he is accompanied throughout his life by a character report on which his future depends. This indirectly but powerfully influences students. especially university students. to conform to the state's precepts of good behavior. A student's background is one of the most important factors the authorities consider when a student applies to a university. On the application forms students are asked about relatives. nationality. and in. an Iri- direct way about relatives who had suffered under Stalin's regime. At many universities Jews are not accepted at .all. but they are not denied the right to apply. after all the Soviet constitution states "all citizens are equal". The application process has a mechanism for weeding out students with bad character reports and Jews. These undesirable «applicants may often obtain outstanding marks results in math. physics and chemistry. but exams in history and literature can be grated arbitrarily. If the administration wants rto fail the student they can give him a poor mark in these subjects and it is pointless for the student to argue because in the Soviet Union there is no logical approach to history or literature. Even if a student has passed these two stages there remains an in- with a panel that can ask an applicant any question they wish. This panel can deny admission toanyone on the basis of the interview and their decision is-tl'nal.

When applying to a university in Moscow

w..- "an...

Oleg Shmelof,_a 27 year old engineer. detected from the Soviet Union on June 5, 1980 at Gander Airport while en route to an assignment in Cuba. 'He attended a technical university in

Moscow from 1971 to 1977.

an outstder finds Muscovites seem to be more equal. Since an outsider has to compete for a residence permit to live in

- icyarmcr

“Marx’ statement that “A cen- sored press only serves to

demoralize. That greatest of vices, hypocrisy. is inseparable from it” would never be seen in a textbook on Marx.”

Moscow along with computing Irir :iil mission lorlhc universtly. he faces a Competition for admission that can be up to 10 times greater-than the Muscovile faces. Successful applicants from outside Moscow are given temporary residence permits which expire after‘one and a half to two years and have to be re-applied lor. This re-application process again places a

student at the mercy of the state and provides the state with a lever for’ln- lluencmg a student's behavior.

Students at technical universities have to receive a security clearance during their university career. This clearance functions as another means the administration uses for 'di‘tlmiésing br‘discipiining 'studenls \whose behavior is deemed unacceptable.

Students at leCthCE‘ll Ul'llVEfSllieS cannot .

continue their studies without a security clearance. A student’s answers to a questionnaire. his character report. and reports from the social organizations he is involved with are all taken into con- sideralion when the administration decides whether or not to grant a student his security clearance. This clearance is granted with a set of conditions he must comply with so as not to void his security clearance. For instance. the student may be forbidden all contact with foreigners. Clearance is also required for courses in

militarycducation which are a necessary

I: FEEDING STUDENTS & FACULTY AT "'S'I‘UIENT" PRICESH

SEIECI‘IOI‘B-FRCM THE MENU INCLUDE? :

part of the curriculum for males at most universities.

Perhaps the most important lesson a Soviet university student learns Is that he must please the state to get ahead and to avoid trouble. A student's devotion to the stain is measured by his degree of para l'cmation in activities sponsored by the Young Communist League (YCL) and the Student Union which are under the total control of the Communist party. These organizations also sponsor numerous social activities that are designed. it would seem. to insure that students have little time to spend alone. The YCL organizes a range of activities which students are required to participate in. These include a socialist competition, work on police auxiliaries. free weekend labour. in- doctrination sessions billed as lectures.

‘ and rallies. When visiting heads of state are

in Moscow the YCL is responsible for

,—

“Iflvcry student must take courses in the history of the Communist party, Marxist philosophy._ Marxist political economy, and “scientific” communism."

rounding up students to line the streets to greet the visitors, A whole day of classes is usually cancelled for this type of event as well as for May Day and Revolution Day rallies in Red Square. The YCL and the administration also make sure every student participates in elections - on the ballots there is always only one candidate for each position. Character reports on every student are written by the ad- ministration and the YCL annually. The YCL also forces students to write character reports on each other. Most students just write that so-and so is a good person but in some cases envy. hatred. or jealously may cause one student to give another a had report. These character reports introduce students to the fact that they have to iudge and be judged in terms of allegiance to the state.

Privileges are distributed to students not only acc0rding 'to their academic per- formance but also according lo their participation in social activities and their degree. of advancement in the YCL and

student union. These privuleges include special Lenin scholarships. trips to winter and summer reCrealion camps. admission to popular hockey games. concerts. plays. and parties. and the best rooms in the

H.O.P.E. coni.

After the presentation of

the more frightened Jill is, Thursday, March 26, 1981, page 13

I University Life In The Soviet Union

dormitories. In fact. during times when rooms in dormitories are scarce. only YCL activists get rooms. while other students are forced to seek housing on the expensive black market. More important than what a student may gain by his activities is what

“Marxism is distorted beyond recognition. Only those parts of Marx which the current regime finds useful for its purposes are

‘ studied.”

he may lose because of apathy or not partaking in YCL acliwlies. the YCL can give a student a bad character report that can plague him for life or the YCL could take away his room in the dormitory. Even worse the YCL could recommend the student be dismissed from universny in which case he is automatically drafted. Students have to get used to having their lives controlled by YCL activrsts In later life lhis translates into being controlled by Communist party members Students are

also exposed to a basrc truth of the Communist system that success and the privileges of the Soviet system are attained. as YCL activists well know. by showing one's devotion to the stale. ' Besides being dismissed on the recommendation of the YCL students can

“... a student must work for three years at a job the state appoints him to before he is allowed to apply for work elsewhere. ”

also be dismissed for bad marks or a refusal to do farm work - a necessary part of a student’s obligation while at university. At one university in Moscow a group of students were dismissed and sent to the army for mildly protesting about the quality of the food at their cafeteria. Students in vulnerable positions because o‘f bad marks or bad character reports are often given the choice of a trip to the army or collaboration with the KGB. who keep students under close watch. The YCL hierarchy are also approached and offered collaboration with the KGB; if they refuse their downfall in the YCL is inevitable.

cont.

next week

1

from p. 3

in the leadership Institute

of Folland College, to provide information On the subject

of nuclear hazards. Everyone is invited to attend. They also have an office at the Voluuntary Resource Centre 218 Kent Street and are will— ing to discuss any questions pertaining to nuclear power. If we don't start asking questions now, our children may not live long enough to have the c portunity to.

these points, the Premier

thanked the group for their

interest and support of his

government‘s stand on nuclear power, and stated that the

l government would examine the

. points presented.

While the government is examining these points, the H.O.P.E. group is contin— uing the attemp to present their information to people. _] This Sunday March 29, at

‘ 7:30 there will he a meeting

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