Modified applause

I have been a part time student at two other colleges in N.Z. and it may be interesting to record the first impressions of a stranger to Wellington and to Victoria.

Perhaps because the general body of students are not fresh from secondary school, there is a noticeable difference in attitude to lectures and lecturers. It is unusual but a good sign to hear discussion from the floor of the hall in a stage 1 lecture. I think that there more use is made, too, of the lecturers as tutors. They seem to be always accessible, and very easily approached and questioned.

"Salient" as "an organ of student opinion" seems to prove that all types of controversies, both national and international are being discussed in the college. The columns of the paper seem to be open to both parties and their comments or criticisms; how well it accepts similar criticisms of its editorial policy I don't know.

I have spent more time here between lectures than I have at other colleges—yet I have seen less people here who were just enjoying leisure for discussion or "sociableness." Perhaps when these new buildings eventuate it will be different. May I here support those who plead for a large and friendly Caf? It is a safety valve for students' theories, politics and general high-spirits. Most of all for comradeship.

But the most striking thing at VUC is its close connection with the city and community life as a whole. Perhaps because of the large percentage of part-timers, city events must affect varsity life more closely. But I feel that it is more deliberate than this. Victoria has made a point of keeping in contact with all aspects of city life, which affect citizens as much as students. These are fearlessly discussed within the college. I cannot tell how far the college has made the university part of the community, yet.

While this attribute of "awareness" is a praiseworthy one, I think that you have forfeited what I can only call University atmosphere. Admittedly a university can become an isolated community, interested only in intellectual theorising. But below that certain "smugness" there should be an atmosphere of leisure, a tradition that 12,000 miles and a colonial attitude cannot obliterate entirely.

I feel that in its attempt to be practical and up to date, VUC has lost something which sets a university apart from any other centre of learning. If VUC could achieve a balance between tradition and progress then it would be a unique university in NZ and would lend a service to the community and to this country.