St. Martin’s School of Art Student Union, 1970

Reasoning that the student union of a forward-thinking art school could function in an entirely different manner to the traditional ‘beer and skittles’ model, John Goto stood for the post of Sabbatical President of St. Martin’s School of Art Student Union in June 1970. With the support of Craigie Horsfield, Andrzej Klimowski and others he was elected.

Horsfield, Klimowski and Goto then set about repainting and equipping the union area for their planned programme, which they outlined in the following pamphlet issued to all students (Sept. 1970). One room was painted black and a film screen and seating installed, whilst a dark green room with projection facilities housed audio-visual equipment, which was to be available to all students.

Having belatedly woken up to the cultural nature of the new union, the School’s senior management actively promoted traditionalist candidates in the election for three further union officers, and issued an unprecedented instruction that all students must vote in the coming election. Their ploy worked and the traditionalists won. As a result Goto’s position became untenable and he resigned. The familiar ‘beer and skittles’ brigade were back in the driving seat, and presumably the Principal slept a little easier at night.