ABSTRACT
The death of Bazarov symbolized the falling away which almost inevitably afflicts the activist once he has been forced to face up to the inevitability of his relationships with the larger community. Student activism at trade union level can lead to certain reforms; the food and the lectures may improve because the intervention may to some extent at least spring out of direct knowledge and understanding. The universities have moved to the centre of the educational process — no merely informal system can now compete. The education they provide is primarily cognitive — it pays little attention to the education of the emotions. Student 'participation' at this level, then, might well be thought a very salutary experience, somewhat analogous to what takes place when student activists actually find themselves part of the larger community. University dons can no longer rely on the traditional respect accorded, in the past, to age and superior knowledge.
