Comrades!
The Turtle is in full-throated
song once more. This is the biggest issue ever, some eight pages
longer than the first. A hundred copies of the last one vanished
at the end of last term, which is the way to make an editor smile.
Thanks to everyone who read one, and to those who said constructive
things about it. I'm aiming for another issue in eighth week, so
please flood me with articles in the next fortnight.
November is the season
of revolution, when mists and mellow fruitfulness give way to barricades
and the smell of burning rubber. As ever the Left in Oxford has
been in the vanguard. Seven buses gallantly went to London to demonstrate
our Unity, and some footling squabbling in the Oxford Student proved
that we didn't have any. Mrs Thatcher cam to the Sheldonian, was
roundly booed, and went away again. John Smith orated and was cheered
beyond his worth. The University Left Forum continues to keep us
in loving harmony; the Fabians have had over 50 visitors three times
this term; the Labour club has trawled a good crop of first year
members.
I owe many people a lot
of thanks: to the people who bought issue two, and caused it to
sell out; to everyone who sold copies; to everyone who wrote this
time at such short notice, especially the freshers who volunteered
articles blindly; to Oliver Pooley, John Armstrong and Ben Dalby
for the only light entertainment midst the worthiness; and especially
to Chris for typing half of it, finding the words to Solidarity
Forever! and hassling people for articles.
This issue is far too
academic, almost devoid of humour, and with faults like chasms.
As ever, I'd appreciate feedback, suggestions, requests and comments.
If you don't like it, please write something better (something funny
please!) for the next issue rather than dismiss the whole enterprise
as a folly. Send anything, however nasty, brutish or short, to me
at Balliol.
Ben Fender.
