This paper examines the role of language in a conflict between a community, the university, and a number of would-be members, students who are not satisfied with the marks they have been given in University Entrance Examination. the a sample of texts written by Spanish students to appeal against the decisions of the Board The students' perception of their situation and knowledge of strategies to achieve their goals leads them to represent the social actors involved in different ways using different linguistic strategies (mainly varying degrees of suppression). The tenor relations so construed permit different speech acts in their interaction with the institution.