Should a uni's student council be allowed to take a position on broad political matters, or just restrict itself to matters affecting students?
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That was the question, which turned into a hullabaloo, at the ANU this week in 1967.
Of course the "political issue" was Vietnam and a motion the National Union of Students wanted the Student Representative Council to pass calling on Australia to make peace and end the war.
The council voted instead to disassociate itself from politics except when it related to education or the uni itself. Four members then resigned in disgust at being gagged.
One of them, T. Gascoigne said: "The function of the SRC is not only to represent, but also to lead and advise."
In a less controversial vote, a motion was passed unanimously calling regulations to be changed to allow alcohol to be sold in undergrad sections of the uni, such as the union and Bruce Hall residence.
Meanwhile, police warned Canberrans to be careful on firecracker night after more than a dozen people required treatment at hospital in the two weeks prior.
