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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 10, No. 1. February 28, 1947

A New University

A New University

In an article "Federalism or Separatism?" appearing in a weekly journal some months ago, some of the University's most active professors expressed their views on University organisation. Professor Gordon said that, to him, a University is "a community of scholars, both young and old, bound together in the pursuit of knowledge by the complementary activities of teaching and research." In order to make our university conform to this admirable ideal, we must have that independence which "is the very lifeblood of University institutions," and also "the necessary machinery for closer collaboration between student and lecturing staff.

The Academic Board and individual professors are doing their utmost to end the frustration which the present system offers to the brilliant and original teacher; the Students' Association and individual students must put their whole effort behind the move to establish Faculty Committees. On the front page of this issue are the tentative proposals.

In one University where Faculty Committees have been set up, students report that the lectures, once a set of deadly dictation periods, have now become lively, interesting and friendly because of agreements reached between staff and students as to the amount of material to be cyclostyled and distributed. There is also valuable help and advice handed on by advanced students who "know the ropes" to the not quite so fortunate freshers, etc. But even this is only a beginning.

If all students take this matter up seriously, Victoria will soon lose that odious title of "grown-up night-school" and will become that force in the community so much desired by staff and students alike. But it must be realised that it is an all-in effort. The first decisive step can be made if a large percentage of students turn up at the Special General Meeting which, it is hoped, will be held early in the term. Individual students may also help by submitting suggestions, possibly through the pages of "Salient."

With the large classes which are expected this year, professors will have many seemingly unsolvable problems, and it is just as vital that there shall be an organisation for presenting these problems to the student—so we may be sure that all members of the lecturing staff who really desire University reform will be in entire support of the scheme. So, let students and staff alike co-operate for their mutual benefit, and we shall have a new and rejuvenated University.