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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 6, No. 4 April 14, 1943

V.U.C. — Gatholic Students' Guild

V.U.C.

Gatholic Students' Guild

We have not appeared in these pages before, so perhaps we had better tell you about ourselves. To V.U.C. we are scarcely one year old, but strictly speaking we are 21, going on 22. Our founder, Rev. Fr. Gilbert, S.M., once Rector of St. Patrick's College, was a graduate of V.U.C. and Senior Scholar in Latin in 1908, so that although St. Patrick's is "the rock from whence we were hewn," V.U.C. is also part of our ancestry. As our parent Guild consists of graduates from everywhere, students from V.U.C., T.T.C., denial nurses and others, a University section was formed so that we could affiliate with the Students' Association. Our whole organisation is being affliliated to Pax Romana, the International University Catholic Student Movement.

What do we do? Well first what we are not. We are not a debating society—some of our members are keen on debating but that is their own affair—we are not a purely social club, nor are we a society for the study of one particular subject, say sociology, or ethics, or philosophy. We exist, according to the design of our founder, to enable our Catholic members to give a reason for "the Faith that is in them," and our non-Catholic members a rational explanation of that Faith in its relation to University life. Also, because we are not in a position to establish a hostel, we endeavour to give our members an opportunity for community life. We are located at St. Patrick's College, which, through twenty [unclear: od] years, has become part of us.

Our meetings? We hold them on Sunday, a time-honoured custom, and live up to the tradition of "Gaudeamus." First, we have an intellectual session during which Catholic principle in regard to say, education, science, history or some other University subject is considered. Then that "cuppa" with conversation!

After that we recreate according to the prevalent vogue—once it was play reading, now folk - dancing. T.T.C. inaugurated this. V.U.C. were dubious, even scornful; now as keen as anyone! As a variation, our General Guild holds several dances a year. Now you know us a little better.

"Changes in the population of primitive societies are caused by war, famine, plague and contact with Europeans."

—Dr. E. Beaglehole.