SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1937. Volume 8. Number 1.

To Freshers

To Freshers

With the continued influx of Training College Students and the facilities for free University education being made available by the Government through its resuscitation of general Bursary awards, we believe that we shall be welcoming to Victoria this year a record number of freshers. The lean years of depression have had their effect on University life at Victoria, and this has been manifest during the last few years by a slackening off of interest in College life generally, that is apart from pure study. Last year the re-opening of the Teachers' Training College brought to the various 'varsity clubs much fresh and enthusiastic talent. But it is to 1937 that we are looking for a renewed outburst of vigorous and progressive activity in all branches of College life. From you who are entering her portals for the first time, Victoria expects not merely selfish attention to the purely academic side of life here, but also a healthy and lively interest in those College institutions, which, if you will only realize it, can not only make your whole existence fuller and more interesting, but can also provide stimulating intercourse with other students without which no one can acquire that broad culture which should be the "raison d'etre" of all University education.

We welcome you, therefore, with the sincere warmth of 'Varsity fraternity, for two reasons. Firstly, for your own sakes. We can assure you that you are coming to a worthy almer mater whose traditions and achievements are more than comparable with those of any other College. We hope that the years you spend here among us, be they few or many, may be entirely pleasant and successful.

Secondly, we welcome you for the sake of the College. We feel certain that each of you has some contribution which he or she can make to the life of this College, and if everyone of you is prepared to co-operate in this way, there will be begun upon her a new era of achievement, the like of which has not been seen for many years.