TitleDesperate Dan vol.3 no.2 1974AuthorAnonymousDate1974DescriptionDesperate Dan was an irregular sheet produced at the University of Waikato in the 1970s through to the early 80's.
This satirical report critiques the University of Waikato’s use of architecture and aesthetics as subtle tools of political control. It praises Gay Gordon’s exposé on the strategic placement of the Student Union Building to suppress student activism. Through historical comparisons -from Gothic cathedrals to Roman grandeur- it argues that beauty often masks power. The piece humorously accuses the university of manipulating design to distract, intimidate, or impress, portraying students as innocent pawns caught between ideological extremes. It ends with a dramatic lament for reason, moderation, and the university’s lost integrity.Number of Pages2FormatPrinted documentVolume3Number/Issue2Year1974
