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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 2, No. 4 March 29, 1939

Notes to Freshers and Others

page 3

Notes to Freshers and Others

A few words not only of advice, but also offered as a statement of what has been found: addressed to those who have aspirations. Advice: Forgot thorn. Unless you arc greater in your thoughts, and your will to action greater than any that has so far passed through this place your little life is plotted with a doleful and dreadful accuracy.

Perhaps you have heard mystic and romantic tales of the activities of the so-called left group of this place. Perhaps some of you are so phistically interested in those dynamic forces which are in constant motion about you. Perhaps you have heard that you may in some mysterious manner, be sucked Into this whirl of modern thought. Some more original advice. Forget it.

Worth Reading

You will find out if you have not already done so, that this College besides being able to support "Salient." also produces once a year a somewhat more ambitious and literary effort known by an equally pointed name as "Spike." The Editorial of last year's edition would repay reading. And when you have read it. I suggest that you do something about it besides talk. We have been talking for about thirty years now about the things that are wrong and the things that we profess to believe in, which is a very fine thing it is to be hoped that there is someone among you who not only thinks well, but does. The rest of us who have been here even a year have fallen under the cloud of excess thought, and who knowing little, are prepared to do less.

Action

We have our Debating Society Unfortunately, it has become a respectable radical circus fit for hysterical ravings and the extremely sallies or some three hundred of our fellows. Nothing is ever decided there, nor any course of action ever formulated. "Salient" has given you a nice little list of the motions passed by this august radical group. The trend which it points to with so much pride, has been a trend for at least ten years if not more. We have been expressing our opinions about such subjects for nearly double that period and not one person has arisen from this University with a plan of action and sufficient drive to lift us above expressing our opinions. Do not mistake me if I appear to decry expression of opinion. I do not but it is only half the story.

If any one of you believes that the University may teach a proper humlity and that a real knowledge or the manner by which we may better our own lot and the lot of others, may be gained there, let him shout out his belief If "Salient" Is true to Its purpose. It will listen to you and If you have really thought, and if you are not too conscious of your overwhelming mental superiority, you will not find those who are sincere scorning you.

It is a time for a certain amount of action. It is to be hoped that you not only discuss and reason, but instead of falling into that conventional radicalism which we breed here, actually endeavour to find out what you can do.

—N.R.T.