State Department Attacked (Press, 11 April 1972)

On 11 April 1972, the President of the New Zealand University Students' Association (N.Z.U.S.A.), Mr D. B. C. Cuthbert, announced that a nomination for the South-East Asian and Pacific student leader grant had been rejected by the United States State Department. The reason cited for this rejection was that the nominee, Miss Ngahuia Volkerling, a student from Auckland University, was labelled a "sexual deviate" due to her openness about being a lesbian on her application. Cuthbert expressed strong discontent regarding the decision and the secrecy surrounding it, stating it was unacceptable. The student leader grant scheme, which has been in existence since 1965, has allowed 19 New Zealand students to experience study and life in the U.S., with New Zealand being unique in that its national student body directly submits nominations after evaluating a broad spectrum of student leaders. Miss Volkerling was selected unanimously from 14 applicants by a selection committee consisting of the president of N.Z.U.S.A. and two former participants. However, her candidness about her sexual orientation led to the nomination's dismissal. Mr J. M. Houlahan, the cultural affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy, confirmed the rejection was due to her being considered a “sexual deviate” but declined to provide this explanation in written form despite repeated requests from N.Z.U.S.A. In response to the situation, the Auckland University Students' Association expressed unanimous support for a motion to withdraw from the student leader grant scheme at its annual meeting. This motion is set to be discussed further at the association's upcoming May council meeting. Cuthbert lamented that the discrimination displayed by a U.S. representative could jeopardise a valuable programme that has benefitted numerous New Zealand students. The student leader grant is part of various international grants provided by the U.S. State Department but is administered independently in the U.S. The final decisions regarding grant recipients in New Zealand rest with the U.S. Embassy. In contrast to Australia, where selection is handled by a vice-chancellors' committee, New Zealand's chosen nominees are determined by a student panel operating under guidelines established by N.Z.U.S.A., in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy. This year, the selection panel consisted of Mr Cuthbert, the education vice-president, and the association’s administrative officer.

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