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The following article is reprinted from Honi Soit, student newspaper of Sydney University. The author, Peter Tranter, lucidly describes how his attitude towards the University changed after he had originally entered if with the idea of obtaining a "meal ticket" degree. Some minor references to Sydney University specifically have been omitted some retained. The article applies to our own college, mutatis mutandis, no less than it does to Sydney University—testimony to the universality of the basic idea of the University which Mr. Tranter embodies in the motto "Think for yourself".
When I first came up to the University, after several years as a newspaperman, it was with the intention of spending a certain amount of money and time in study, and of receiving in exchange a degree that would entitle me to a professional life of comparative ease and security. In other words, a degree meant protection; protection had to be paid for; and the nature of the institution granting the protection was, so to speak, incidental.
In the course of time it became apparent that there was a good deal more to it than that. The University, it seemed, really was something more than a degree shop. To use a somewhat extravagant phrase, it was an introduction to a new world. There were new people, new diversions, new patterns of living, and above all, new ideas.
And the tragedy is that some people still continue to bolt through their courses, emerge with their decrees like so many rabbits with their lettuces, and vanish into professional life untouched by any of it. No doubt they are reasonably efficient practitioners of law, or medicine or whatever it might be. But they are not, in spite of the letters after their name, University men. They have missed the whole point of the thing. They might as well have done a correspondence course.
For the University is not (though some members of the staff seem to think so) a mere continuation of high school—a further stage of formal education, and nothing more, It is an academy, a meeting place, a forum and perhaps a theatre, all in one. It is a place to make yourself a wise man, a ready man and a man who can enjoy his life.
Rhetoric aside, the University can and should allow you to shape the way of your adult and professional life. The courses are intended to provide you with the means of making a living; the ideas and habits you acquire, and the friends you meet, with the way of spending it. That is the theory, at any rate. Like most noble theories, it is fairly leaky. There is still a good deal of truth in it—but only to the extent that the university is but what you yourself make of it.
You can have a good time and learn nothing. You can behave like the rabbitmen and learn nothing but what is in the curriculum. Or you can combine the academic and social in the proper proportions—and that is the whole purpose of the University.
The academic side of the picture is not particularly bright. The aim of most faculties is simply to turn out competent professional men—and one or two, by failing to keep abreast of modern development, are no longer doing even that. The great disproportion of students to teachers really forbids much more than this woefully limited aim. It is inevitable that there are sometimes bad or biassed teachers, inadequate facilities, occasional waste and mismanagement.
The system of examinations is a perennial bugbear. It is claimed that this, more than anything else, tends to perpetuate the high school atmosphere that still lingers in some faculties. (Another reason put forward for this is the marked drop, over the last few years, in the age of the average fresher.)
But this is the least part of the true University life. The best part of it in the sun and the sleepy discussion in the Quadrangle, the impassioned arguments over the coffee in Manning or the Union, the dim-lit smokey coffee-houses in the City and the Cross, the cheerful din in the pub with your mates, the wild parties and the quiet parties, the songs you've never heard before and the people you've never met before.
It is listening to the Coms and the near-Nazis, the evangelists and the man who has an international sign language. It is learning tolerance and tact—and if a few of your inherited ideas get shaken up a little in the process, maybe it's a good thing.
As to how to start doing all this—there are a lot of societies devoted to almost every form of popular amusement—political, and theatrical, and athletic and religious and God knows what. Join every one in which you're interested. It's one of the best ways there is of meeting people of similar tastes.
Contribute to Honi Soit—join its staff, which is an even better way of getting into the swim. Sit around after lectures and argue with people. Wander all over the University and get to know the place (you never know when it might come in handy.) Go to a few lectures in other faculties (illegal, but interesting).
Meet as many people, do as many things as you can. By the end of the year, of course, your habits and acquaintances will have settled down. But start with a good selection.
Remember, you don't have to work all day every day. Not even the curriculum expects you to—If you study properly there is still plenty of leisure time. There is a lot of truth in the old students saying: "First term, freshers swot; second term, nobody swots; third term, everybody swots."
Perhaps not more than one of every three of this year's freshers will ever graduate. It doesn't much matter. The other two will have given something to the atmosphere of the place, and taken away something for themselves. Do not forget that you are the future leaders of the community—the next generation's teachers and judges and scientists. It is only the mentally blind who can go through life untouched and uninfluenced by their days at the University.
In one thing the University is successful far more often than might be expected—in teaching the student to think for himself. (Not because it follows from any course of study, but solely because of the atmosphere and ideas to which the newcomer is exposed.) This, I submit, is of supreme importance in a society that is falling more and more into patterns.
The true individual these days is a rarity. Everything—his schooling, upbringing and social position—conspires to make him "one of the mob." To stand out from the herd he must above all else think for himself. He must reject other people's ready-made ideas, however facile and attractive, and try to work things out for himself.
Were I to found a University, I should choose for its motto no platitudious jingle of Latin but the Simple words, "Think for Yourself." There is nothing more important. Be an individual, and know yourself to be one—that is what the University should teach you regardless of all else.
Please don't be depressed by the weary morality of this article. What happened to the cynical newspaperman who came in the first paragraph? He appears to have turned into a sort of unpaid eulogist and star-gazer. But don't be deceived. The University is all of these things, but it is also, sometimes, disappointments and frustrations and hard, grinding work. All I say is: there is something there for you if you choose. The University is what you make of it.
Recent resignations of committee women, Jenifer Barnett and Judith Grocott, necessitate a new election for four Executive positions, which will be held on April 5, 6 and 9.
The association's Constitution provides that in the event of more than three elected members of Executive resigning during their term of office, elections must be held for all the positions vacated.
In August last year secretary John Marchant and treasurer John Whitta resigned but were later co-opted back to there offices.
Now that Misses Barnett and Grocott have resigned, Messrs. Merchant and Whitta, being merely co-optees onto Executive, are deemed in the terms of the Constitution to have automatically resigned also.
The new election necessitated makes all the more annoying at this late Stage the whole Marchant-Whitta affair. On August 7 last Mr. Marchant gave notice of intention to resign in protest over alleged apathy on the Executive members. Two days later Mr. Whitta "provisionally" resigned "in sympathy."
It was subsequently held that according to the Constitution both were deemed to have resigned from the moment of notifying their intention to do so.
After a stormy special general meeting, at which the air was less than half-cleared, and several farcical Executive meetings, both were co-opted to the positions they had originally held.
Two notable figures in New Zealand literature—R. A. K. Mason and Charles Brasch—were the guests of the VUC Literary Society in the staff common room on Friday, 9th March.
Among the sixty present to discuss New Zealand literature were poets Dennis Glover, Anton Vogt, Charles Doyle, Alastair Campbell, James K. Baxter and socialist Ormond Wilson. Chairman was James Bertram.
"This country's literature began in the thirties," said Charles Brasch, addressing the meeting, "when our writers began subconsciously to write for a New Zealand public." Mr. Brasch discussed the progress of that literature from "Phoenix"—a literary journal founded in Auckland, which James Bertram and R. A. K. Mason had edited—through Mason, Glover, Curnow, Fairburn and Sargeson to the young poets of the present generation. He dwelt especially with "Landfall," of which he is editor. "We wished to provide a literary journal concerned also with music, drama, art, and social comment. The best of overseas journals we did not copy, but took as a standard which we wished to attain."
The "Patriach of New Zealand Letters," R. A. K. Mason, seemed embarrassed by the effusion of eulogy, and spoke very simply. He called for a New Zealand poetry which is "clear and lucid," and which "speaks in the language of humanity."
In the discussion which followed Dennis Glover called for more satire in our verse writing, "defended" the State Literary Fund (a furtive glance—"is the Minister present?"); Alastair Campbell apologized politely for having ever disagreed with earlier poets; and James K. Baxter sprang to the defence of "difficult" poetry.
This was an auspicious beginning for the newly-reformed Literary Society.
* * *
Extrav is likely to be presented a month later than usual this year owing to inability to obtain bookings for the Opera House. Suggested dates are June 4 to 9 inclusive. Producer Ian Rich is also working on a script.
At a time when the smooth running of the Students' Association's affairs is particularly important—when Easter Tournament, Capping and Extrav. organization is under way—the association finds itself with an Executvie of only nine instead of the usual thirteen—and neither secretary nor treasurer.
Owing to the recent resignations of Miss Jenifer Barnett and Miss Judith Grocott, coupled with historical events (see report on page one) an election is necessary for the filling of four Executive positions including those of secretary and treasurer. Dates set for the election are April 5, 6 and 9.
It is unfortunate that at this stage the Marchant-Whitta affair of seven months ago should be dragged into the limelight again. Nevertheless, it is a distressing fact that while the resignations of Misses Barnett and Grocott were the immediate cause of the unsatisfactory situation, the resignation and counter-resignation fiasco last August is an equal contributor.
What is even more distressing is the fact that the resignations of Messrs. Marchant and Whitta were ill-considered and not fully justified, and they do not appear to have fulfilled any purpose which they might have been claimed to have.
The filling of the two vacancies on the women's committee calls for much serious consideration. It must be remembered that a person elected to Executive at this stage of the association's year will have only just learned the ropes by the time of the main election in June.
Care should therefore be taken to nominate only those likely to be suitable and willing to stand again in June; a long-term view of the matter is essential.
Editor of Salient this year is third-year Arts student Nick Turner, and ex-editor (
Principal points of the new business policy include change of printer for the paper and replacement of the subscription sales system by cash sales only. The revised advertising policy provides for a greater drive for commercial advertising as an important source of revenue and strict curtailment of free club advertisements.
Editorial policy provides initially for concentration on strictly student news to the exclusion of international affairs commentary and general articles.
The decision to change Salient's printer was made solely for financial reasons after a thorough and realistic examination of the paper's budget problems. A substantial drop in production costs is expected to result from the change.
Although the paper will be slightly different in appearance, mainly owing to the use of different typo faces, it is expected that the new look will be at least as attractive as the old.
Reorganization of Salient Room and a new staff setup are features of the paper's domestic administration. The large nominal reporting staff of previous years has been dispensed with and greater reliance placed on contacts and correspondents. This does not mean that new staff members are not wanted; the editor is anxious to hear from anyone interested in contributing to the paper on either literary, business or technical sides.
Salient Room will be open at specified hours each week throughout the year so that all students may have an opportunity to visit the paper's headquarters and meet the editor and staff.
"Visiting hours" will be advised on the Salient section of the club notice board. During those hours staff members will be present to discuss, and receive suggestions for the paper. Files of other New Zealand and overseas student newspapers will be available for reading.
On June 22 last year the newly elected Executive of the Students' Association was announced to the AGM of the association. Since that date Executive has met on eleven occasions (one a special meeting) and the time it has spent in deliberation amounts to some 40 hours. Many hundreds of hours more have been spent by individual members and sub-committees in investigation and discussion of the many schemes and ideas presented for their consideration.
What have they to show for it?
The activities of Executive have covered the whole field of student interest; from the Student Union Building to assistance given to newly formed clubs, from the Cafeteria to new lockers in the Gym and from hot water in the cloak rooms to discussion on the South-East Asian Scholarship fund. The cafeteria is amongst the most important of these as it is this facility which brings the majority of students into contact with the Association.
At the end of last year the firm then in control of the Caf, left, stating that neither they nor, they suspected, anyone else would be prepared to take over the management of the Cafeteria until a great deal was done to provide the proper facilities necessary for its efficient control. It should be noted that that firm did little or nothing to assist in this direction. The Caf, was left in an extremely dirty and disreputable condition when they vacated the premises.
The Executive sent a letter of thanks to the manager of the firm thanking him for his excellent service to the Association, white as all users of the Caf, in the third term will testify, the "service" left a great deal to be desired.
However, it is to the credit of the Executive that they took immediate action to improve conditions by drawing up a comprehensive report, setting out the necessary improvements, which after being adopted by them was sent to the College Council for action. The Council adopted it in toto and work on the Caf. was commenced early in the new year. The installation of new sinks and hot water facilities and a repaint of the kitchen were carried out, while a subcommittee of Executive endeavoured to find a new manager to take control.
After interviewing four applicants the committee appointed Mr. Wall, who has had previous university cafeteria experience at Otago, as manager.
In the common rooms also results of Executive activity are, obvious. In the women's common room a repaint and new lockers have given-more comfortable atmosphere and appearance; while the men have been treated to the extent of five new settees. The common-room controllers, especially (Diana Fussell and Tony Ellis) deserve congratulations for their practical and economical approach to the task of refitting the rooms.
An action which has received much criticism from certain groups of students was the re-organisation of notice boards, whereby an equal amount of advertising space was given to all clubs and societies. It is pointed out that a new notice board is to be placed to the right of the main stairs, operating on a card system of activities for This Week and Next Week. Thus it will be possible for all students to follow club activities and meetings from one centrally situated board.
Investigations are being made of the possibility of placing a notice board in the Cafeteria. Another notice board that has had its purpose improved by the secretary is, that now used by Executive, sited on the left of the main stairs, from which all students can readily gain immediate knowledge of the activities of Executive and N.Z.U.S.A.
An assistant office secretary has been appointed to assist with normal clerical duties and the sale' of stationery in the Association's office, thus enabling the office to remain open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Student Union Building has received more intensive attention this year than in the past and the results have been extremely gratifying.
The other sub-committees of Executive (Blues, Publications, Finance and Social) have all carried out their activities with goodwill and effort, and their members have endeavoured at all times to give decisions that would be of ultimate benefit to the Association as a whole.
With the exception of the farcical exhibition of resignation and counter-resignation which was the main feature of the early period of its term of office. Executive earnestly applied itself to the many problems facing the association and for the most part performed its duties very successfully. Only criticism of their recent meetings is the practice of holding matters over. This procrastination was particularly obvious when Executive twice put off the co-opting of a woman committee member to replace Miss Barnett.
This appointment could well have been made six weeks ago and the appointee could have been of great assistance during the difficult and trying period of enrolling when, with most of the male members in military camp, and the remaining women working, the brunt of the work fell onto the shoulders of the office secretary. E.U. members who offered their assistance and others. It is to be hoped than in future Executive will remember that action is always preferable to procrastination.
The president of the student's association having finished his stirring address of welcome, the buzz of voices grew louder as 400 freshers rose, somewhat uncertain of the next move. Mens' vice-president Jim Hutchison came to the rescue and directed the horde across the bridge from C3 towards the
Once again the inspired cry of "taku patu, taku patu, taku patu, Weir" was heard from afar and into a packed C.3 wound a sinuous serpent of green and gold hued skirts and football jerseys. Yes, it was the infamous Weir haka party who, on the evening of
The precision of movement and discipline of voices, lacking in the haka party over the past two or three years, gave an added polish to the proceedings of the haka party which comprised mainly second-year students.
Having snatched from the midst of the large crowd the accustomed number of fresherettes the Weir boys turned about and blazed a trail to the Upper Gym where Garth Young and his team were lined up to blow the brass, thump the ivories and clash the cymbals.
Bodies waved and jostled for positions and away they danced into the first "Gay Gordons" of the season, The crowds swung and sang; cigarcite smoke climbed to the ceiling and 16 dozen Coke soon vanished in mighty gulps. But wait . . . "Scots wa hae" . . . stirring pipe music arose from the floor below and behold the Senate arrived to pay their respects to the assembled multitude.
The haka party again swung into action and cleared the floor to allow Chancellor Terry Corbett to pro-nounce the oath and swear in the class of
Dancing continued through to midnight and happy crowds of freshers and others not so young wended their weary ways home well satisfied with the evening's performance.
The final event of the week was Freshers' Ball on Friday 9th. Gill Hemery and her assistants on the Social Committee worked hard for a week in preparation for the Ball and to them must go all the credit for its great success.
It is not easy to remain downstairs buttering water biscuits and brewing coffee when overhead 300-400 people are enjoying the dancing, and all the girls deserve congratulations on their fine effort.
"Congress? Well, there's swimming, snorkelling, diving, walking up the mountain, bows and arrows, volleyball, tenni-quoits, and bowling; talking in the evening and fishing in the moonlight. Yeah, there's plent on at Congress, enough to keep you going. How do I keep going? Me, I get on nicely, sleeping at the lectures!"
To the superficial observer that comment on Congress, from, incidentally, a play all about Congress, gives a pretty fair picture of the seven days, the seven daze and of course the nights at the ever Curious Cove, sun-drenched in those high hills of Marlborough's Queen Charlotte Sound. But it's only snperficial. There's plenty on at Congress, true enough, but it runs a little deeper than athleticism and sunshine.
While the off-beat fun is what one remembers over the years rather than the erudition of the talks and the discussion, looking back on Congress and congresses, one forgets that the ideas we talked about, had thrust at us, listened to, sometimes absorbed or digested only slightly, these often new and sometimes startling concepts became more part of us than we thought at the time.
For instance, the key idea of this, the eighth congress, was New Zealand. Within that framework congreasers thought about what sort of character the average New Zealander joker was, did some little soul-searching on their own account, thought about religion, the university man, education, radio, economics and university politics all in the context of New Zealand.
They discovered, for instance, that they thought New Zealanders were easy going and sports loving, but university students were lazy and reserved. While it would not be wise to draw too many conclusions from such a strictly limited survey—even though it was conducted by Canterbury's psychology professor Dr. A. Crowther—it shows a trend in the thought of the sort of people who are prepared to come to the Cove each year who are more or less typical of the New Zealand university student.
The isolation of religion from everyday life in, New Zealand was deplored by the Rev. Malcolm Wilson of Knox Church, Christchurch. He felt that the time had come for religion to be more integrated into our society and suggested that objective teaching of religion in schools by trained teachers and chairs of comparative religion and Old and New Testament studies at the Universities would be one step along the way.
Knowledge, in itself, was not enough, of course. Equally if not more important was for each New Zealander to examine the claims of, the Church and to live Christianity within it, he stressed. No nation can achieve a depth or greatness without faith and without religion, he said. The inference, for New Zealand, is appallingly clear.
The common idea of the University man as a good New Zealand joker who can mix his concrete or dig his ditch as well as any labourer during his vacation, came in for disapproval from Professor E. Percival, Canterbury's zoologist. He thought that the long vacation job had become an undesirable convention. When it was not financially necessary the student was far better in spending time advancing his own work, said the professors.
The student who would never be a working man was not going to benefit by knowledge of the working man and his habits. The student had a different purpose in life, he said, and it was better for him to concentrate on that.
Rather an interesting opinion nicely calculated to raise the hackles of the decent New Zealand jokers, which it did, and something worth thinking about.
Both Prof. Percival and Mr. J. Leggatt, head of Christchurch Boys, agreed that students were no duller than they used to be in the "good old days." Mr. Leggatt pointed out that with larger numbers being educated right through secondary schools and the universities instead of the select few, the average level of ability was bound to fall. It was one of the concomitants of mass education.
The dispersal of brains because of zoning was decried by this forthright school teacher. Instead of having the upper crust of the really bright school children scattered through different schools he would like to see them brought together more so that instead of them riding on the wave of their brilliance while their schoolfellows floundered behind them they would have more competition at a higher level.
For the would-be writer Talks Director. J. H. Hall of the NZBS, had some helpful words. He described how short was the New Zealand market for radio plays and especially serials. Here was a tailor-made and virtually untapped source for a bright adaptable pen, he told the congress. Mr. Hall also outlined the present broadcasting arrangements with its division into YA. YC. ZB and latterly YD He spoke strongly of this ad hoc arrangement, going so far as to call it chaotic. Sometimes I'm inclined to agree.
Speaking in a delightful Scots burr Dr. A. Douglas, Medical Officer of Health for Canterbury) spoke of the vast need for preventive medicine and discussed some of the avenues in which money could be well spent.
Asked by Chairman Danks, the earthy economist, what he would do with a few million, Dr. Douglas was not quite equal to the occasion. He did, however, assure Prime Minister (for the time being) Danks that the money would be spent most profitably, aye.
The chairman superb was Prof. A. J. Danks, Christchurch, economist, notorious for his expose of the fallacies of Social Credit. Master of the trenchant phrase and possessed of a truly delightful sense of humour, he never let the reins of control slip from his expert hands as he steered discussion after discussion through the Scylla of verbosity and the Charybdis of sententiousness.
I have seen many Congress chairmen, but none was better than Danks. His achievement, for that is what it was, will be remembered as possibly the best thing about the '56 congress.
In his ex eathedra address to the faithful he guided the unwary through a maze in search of economic man and through them to the conclusion that man's power to behave as a free economic agent-had disappeared with the workings of the Welfare State. An enlightening but at the same time sobering thought,
This congress was also notable for the presence of 20 or more Australian students for most of the time. All of them created a good impression and contributed something tangible to the success of the congress in the way of Trans-Tasman observation on the
They described New Zenlanders as easy going, hospitable, friendly and sociable, which if not very profound was a nice thought to remember when we next meet an irate tourist.
This was the first large contingent of Australians at Congress since the student exchange began. It is to be hoped that even more will come in the future as there is much to be gained from a mutual exchange of opinions in the convivial surroundings of Congress.
On the lighter side the entertainment was no less diverse. Good weather produced the usual crop of burnt bodies, aqua-ski neophytes, snorkel addicts and phosphorescence exploration. (For the benefit of the unscientific the plankton in the water at the Cove causes a most unusual effect at night, when the water takes on a weird luminescent glow.)
One of the brilliant highlights was the reading of Peter Cape's play, "Under the Wooden Mountain." Closely modelled on Dylan Thomas's "Under Milkwood," it was a colourful chronicle of congress, vigorous, extravagant and witty.
Sample quotes: "Kahikatea mountain, Kike-a-teer mountain, the wooden mountain, butter-box slab-side steep, stone bone-browed like a lecturer's skull. ..."
"... the sea slick as a cat in a morning coat nuzzles its paws and waits for the wind. . . ."
". . . the afternoon is full of flash and sunshine, beetroot bodies and sea-water. . . ."
" . . and the sun like a pat of butter slips down the frying pan sky. . .," . . o such a clattering and a shattering, a piecemeal pellmell brain-belting brawling of sound, berating and bedevilling the breakfast tardy boys of hut 18. . .."
In spite of the fact that there were seven days this year instead of ten the congress did not seem to suffer from truncation, It did lack, however, the stimulating intellectual atmosphere of some earlier gatherings.
The discussions were good as far as they went, but they never reached great heights. This could have been partly due to some of the subjects, interesting certainly, and well presented, but not the sort of stuff you get wildly enthusiastic about. The theme of New Zealand, after all, has most definite limitations.
But this is a question largely of comparison. There have been better congresses, I think, but no one went home from this one dissatisfied. Intellectually, socially and in every way it was—as it always is—the best holiday for everyone at university. If it sometimes fails to reach the heights one has known, one does not complain. Each one has its special attraction that makes it unique, and for that we must be thankful.
Describing the activity of the club in the previous year as "an outstanding failure," and naming certain meetings as "complete debacles," Alan Ward in the chair at the AGM of the Historical Society, March 13, called for a new and more positive approach to the Society's activities,
He asked the meeting to reject "over specialized, academic and uninspiring arty indulgence in 'dead' affairs of the past" and to concentrate on "live, social, economic and political history."
Certain objections were raised to this point of view. Dr. Munz said that while he agreed that last year's club was not exciting if what Mr. Ward proposed was adopted they might as well rename the society the "Current Affairs Club" or (worse) hand it over to the Psychology Department. "I have always thought that history was the affairs of the past, and I have never considered its study to be an 'arty indulgence'," he said.
Later, chairman Ward admitted that his remarks may have been "a little exaggerated," and there was general agreement about a course of action. The constitution which was adopted (the previous one had been lost, together with all Society records!) provided for "discussions, symposia, forums, film evenings, addresses ... on historical subjects of wide interest and importance, to cater for . . . students of all faculties."
Jenifer Barnett has resigned from Executive and left Varsity to take a job out of town. Judith Grocott, another member of the women's committee, has moved to Auckland to be with the family owing to ill health. Likely candidates for the two vacancies on Executive arc Jeannette McCracken (Music), Wendy Forbes (Arts), Alison Cochrane (Arts) and Gabrielle Jackson (Arts).
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If Cappicade this year is half as funny as editor John Gamby's appeals for contributions it should be a cracker.
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Did you meet any of the Australian students over here on travel exchange? A very pleasant crowd we found them. For the short while they were here they covered an astounding amount of the country. Of course, New Zealand doesn't rate as very large compared with Australia, but most of the visitors admitted they had not been out of their home states before.
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Engaged are Guy Powles and Bobby Gerrard, who plan to marry in late
Our congratulations to David Simmers on his Rhodes Scholarship.
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The social season got away to a bumper start with a highly successful ball on Friday of Orientation Week. Special congratulations go to Gillian Hemery and the Social Committee for a fine job of work. Next big evening lined up for the Upper Gymnasium is March 23, when Salient will sponsor another ball to launch its publicity campaign for the year.
Remember the date.
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VUC is host college at Easter Tournament this year; this means billets are wanted for competitors from other colleges. Got a spare bed?
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The recently-formed VUC Literary Society has been lining up some impressive names for its programme this term. We look forward with interest to the first issue of the society's publication, "Experiment."
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We note with pleasure and interest progress on the new science block at VUC; hope it won't be too long before the new Student Union Building is at the same stage.
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We consulted the authorities as to whether VUC could take any credit for New Zealand's first test win against the West Indies tourists. It appears Don Beard, one of the New Zealand team's most dangerous weapons, took an M.A. here some years ago.
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Big event on the Debating Society's programme for the year is the fiftieth Plunket Medal contest. Budding orators arc advised to get in some early practice—try a soap box on James Smith's Corner Friday evenings.
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The two university congresses during the vacation—NZUSA at Curious Cove, and UCSNZ at Knocknagree—both received much favourable attention from the Press. Things like that can do a lot to break down public prejudice against the University, even in Wellington.
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Editor Nick Turner tells us he wants letters from readers for Salient's correspondence column. Only condition is—no politics!
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Salient Room has had an extensive face-lift and must be one of the pleasantest places round VUC now. The editor tells us he regrets he is unable to serve coffee and biscuits (or anything else) but will be "at home" to visitors at times stated on the notice board.
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And talking about notice boards, have you seen secretary John Marchant's latest brainchild in the main foyer? Amongst other things it should do much to prevent major clashes in dates of club meetings.
On Friday, 30th of March (Good Friday) some 300 athletes from the other New Zealand Universities will arrive in Wellington to do battle in the annual Easter Tournament. Victoria are hosts this year and the organisers, who were appointed back in October, have worked steadily right through the vacation on preliminary arrangements.
Home Controller and Senior Delegate is men's vice-president and three time winner of NZU boxing title, Jim Hutchison; his Junior Delegates are Barry Boon (Sports), and Ted Wood-field (Corresponding).
The general programme has not as yet been finalised but the main features and sports venues are; after their arrival on Good Friday, teams will be welcomed at Victoria in the afternoon and Sports Council meetings will follow afternoon tea and the official photograph.
Saturday morning all sports will commence; cricket at Kelburn Park: swimming at Thorndon; basketball on the Varsity courts; tennis at Central Park; athletics at the Basin; rowing somewhere on the harbour; boxing in the Town Hall and shooting at Trentham.
On Saturday evening various sports' and delegates' dinners will be held throughout the city and all will later congregate in the Gym for a "hop" which will no doubt continue through to the wee hours.
On Sunday official church services will be held in some of the capital's main churches and a scenic drive in the afternoon plus a film showing that night will round off the day's proceedings.
Sports finals will continue on Monday, climaxing with the Swimming and Water Polo at Riddiford Baths in the Hutt and another dance in the Horticultural Hall.
Tuesday will feature two of the most eagerly awaited occasions of Tournament—they are the "Drinking Horn" contest in the afternoon and Tournament Ball at the Winter Show Cabaret with the announcing of blues at night.
Teams will depart on Wednesday evening and Wellington will again fall into its normal stupor and slumber while students regain breath for Capping.
The outstanding performances of Miss Betty Nelson leading to her selection in the New Zealand tennis team to tour Australia highlighted the vacation efforts of leading members of the VUC Tennis Club. Miss Nelson pas had a very good season, annexing the Canterbury womens' doubles title and reaching the semifinals of the South Island women's singles.
She was No. 2 in the Wellington Nunneley Casket team and in the challenge match against Auckland performed very creditably indeed, defeating the top two Auckland play-era. Her selection in the New Zealand team was well justified and we wish her every success across the Tasman.
The top University men's player, Murray Dunn, was No. 4 in the Wellington Wilding Shield team which narrowly lost its challenge against Auckland. Murray played well to win one singles and one doubles. On the tournament circuit, he won the South Wairarapa men's singles and doubles and reached the quarter-finals of the national men's singles and doubles.
Barry Boon, who was emergency for the Wilding Shield, won the Wanganui mens' singles and Taranaki mens' doubles titles and was runner up in the singles event at Taranaki.
Of the other three Victoria players who played in tournaments during the vacation, Larry O'Neill reached the finals of the Wellington mixed doubles and the South Wairarapa men's doubles and the quarter-finals of the New Zealand mixed doubles; Tom Eichelbaum won the Wanganui men's doubles and the Hutt Valley closed singles and was a member of the Hutt Valley Wilding Shield team; and Alan Robinson reached the quarter-finals of the N.Z. mixed doubles with Betty Nelson and won the Wairarapa men's doubles and mixed doubles.
Building progress on the AUC-VUC ski hut on Mount Ruapehu indicates that although some work will remain to be done the hut will he 'in use during the coming winter. Fortnightly working parties, from AUC and VUC alternately, have about one-third finished the hut. said VUC Ski Club president Bernie O'Shea.
Total cost of the hut when completed will be around £1200, and it will provide accommodation for 34 A party from VUC travelled to Ruapehu last weekend, and a combine
Although most of the money re quired is already in hand. Mr. O'Shea said donations towards the last £50 of VUC's share of the cost will shortly be called for.
From time to time Salient has accorded me the opportunity of speaking to its readers through this column. I welcome this opportunity of saying: a few words to the freshers of 1956 in particular, and also to the many students who have made use of and enjoyed the facilities provided by the Physical Education Department in past years.
Most first year students will be familiar with the handbook "An Introduction to Victoria University College," in which a brief description is given of the provisions made by the college for the promotion of student health.
Since my appointment as Physical Education Officer in
Practically every British university and university college now has staff and facilities for physical education as a vital part of student welfare services.
In all these colleges it has been recognized that whereas physical ill-health among students is no greater than among any other comparable section of the community there is a greater incidence of emotional stress. It is generally agreed too. that this threat to the mental health of students can be dissipated by ensuring a better balance in the interests and the demands that face them in their life at college.
Recreation is not the complete answer, but rest assured that your stay at Victoria will be much more valuable to yourself and to your future occupation if your physical education has kept pace with your mental development.
Some of the factors which have contributed to the anxiety states noted among university students are lack of adequate recreation, insufficient social contact among students, overloaded syllabus, frustration and absence of tangible rewards.
At Victoria a beginning has been made to counteract the effects produced by lack of adequate recreation. Facilities restrict our efforts, but the future looks brighter in this respect and shortly there will be accommodation for student extra-curricular activities that should contribute much towards the general welfare.
Until the time arrives when we have adequate buildings we must make the best of the facilities that have been provided. Standards of performance in various recreational activities might suffer through lack of suitable equipment but there remains much that is worthwhile if it is the result of student effort and enthusiasm.
There are many recreational activities conducted within the college. Some are sponsored and run by students themselves and many student clubs, somewhat arbitrarily divided under the headings "Cultural" and "Sporting," have had a long and distinguished (even notorious) past. Their history reflects the efforts and achievements of past students and in many cases can be viewed with some pride. Each year, however, their existence is for a short time threatened as new students decide where their interests lie.
When large numbers of freshers give their support to none of the clubs, then the quality of our University life is weakened. The Physical Education Department has given assistance to a number of the student clubs but it is concerned with the welfare of all students and makes some attempt to meet the recreational needs of any student or group of students who seek help or advice.
This year over 500 students have indicated that they wish to attend classes conducted by this department, Many of these and probably several hundred more have joined clubs affiliated to the Students Association—but over 1000 students have no part in university life other than attendance at lectures.
To the 500 students who have enrolled in classes, may I take this opportunity of asking you to facilitate the organization of a programme by attending the first meetings of the various activities.
If you are unable to attend classes would you please let me know and every effort will be made to include another more convenient time. Watch the department's notice board (opposite the club's notice board) for information concerning classes and new activities. Come to the Gymnasium and arrange your participation. Remember, the choice is wide the classes are voluntary and it is all free,
The performance of VUC's women rowing enthusiasts during the past few weeks have provoked much laudatory comment in the Press and among followers of the sport, and these girls will be able to prove again just how good they are when they compete in the first women's rowing events at Easter Tournament.
The first meeting of the women's section of the VUC rowing club was held last November, as a result of a suggestion from Canterbury that a women's rowing event be part of Easter Tournament. This idea was taken up enthusiastically by several women students at Victoria, although many were too much engrossed in finals to pay much attention. As soon as the vacation began, the eight members concentrated on learning how to row, using a dinghy lent by the Star Boating Club and coached by Paul Canham. A few weeks later they graduated to skiffs. Since most of the students were working, practices had to be Held in the lunch-hours throughout the vacation, usually three times a week, as well as in the week-end.
Of course, the members of the rowing club have had more than just hard practice to kep them interested. Sunday afternoons often combined work with relaxation, like a row to Oriental Bay follower) by a swim. In the few weeks before Tournament all available time is given to practice but even then regattas provide a welcome relaxation, though not, of course, for the men.
The women's rowing event at Easter should be very interesting, as Auckland's club was started at the same time as Victoria's, and is apparently every bit as keen; the Canter, bury crew has the advantage of more experience, having been rowing for three seasons.
Salient, a student newspaper in Victoria University College, printed by Kapi-Mana News Ltd., Plimmerton, and edited and published by Richard Nicholas Turner, journalist, of 54 Central Terrace, Wellington, for the Victoria University College Students' Association (Inc.), Wellington.