Alma Mater.

One frequently hears Victoria referred to as "a glorified night-school." It is, or rather it should be, offensive to the ear of anyone passing through, or has already passed through, the college. But judging from the frequency with which one hears of it, such is evidently not the case. However, few cannot but feel that the average Victorian loathes the expression and would like to see something done to stop it.

Now that a hostel is being built, promising to bring more of that corporate spirit which we have hitherto lacked, into our life, we should look to see the attitude which has made this expression—which is nothing more than a catchword—so prevalent, quickly disappear.

The man who enters college to get a degree is in houour bound to bear the place all honour and respect. What meaner spirit is there than that displayed by the fellow who accepts a degree from his college and then turns dog on it? What good does it do a man to run down his college? He might just as well slander himself. Too many men appear to think that Victoria ought to have a good name before they enter it, and that it should just be holding itself in with impatience until the time arrives when it can heap honours and glory upon them, while they sit tight and do nothing to earn it. The good name of the place is dependent on every single one of us and the least we can do is to speak highly of it.

Let us, when we speak of Victoria, remember the brilliant men she has turned out in every department. The legal profession in New Zealand is almost entirely dependent upon her. The fact that it is a decided advantage for a man to get his practical experience at the same time as his theoretical, is the cause of the lectures at night. For this reason we are in a more difficult position than the other colleges where men can give all their time to their studies. We play a more important part than most outsiders realise. Other professions can draw their men from abroad to a far greater extent than the Law, which is dependent almost entirely on the men we turn out.

We have done, and are doing, our job well. Are we all too modest to be proud of Victoria or are we too apathetic? We have had a great past and we have a greater future before us. Let us forget the small mindedness which some have shown to their Alma Mater and their expressions of it, and try to make ourselves more worthy of the tradition that has been handed down to us, at the same time trying to make the college an object of even greater pride than she already is.