New Clubs

Many of the Clubs and Societies of Victoria University College have a long and honoured history, extending far back to the earliest days of the College. In both the sporting and the cultural spheres, these clubs have stood the tests of time and of varied enthusiasms to become settled parts of the tradition of Victoria. However, since 1948, when the last issue of Spike was published, we have seen the formation of several new clubs and societies, a fact which shows that students are not necessarily content with what the activities of those in the past have given them but that they are prepared to make the effort and strike out into new fields when their interests so lead them.

The formation of a badminton club had been considered for some time by the many enthusiasts who wanted to play this game in the upper gym. Finally, page 45 in 1953, the club was formed, and was immediately so popular amongst the large amount of students at Winter Tournament of that year that a team went to Auckland to compete with the other colleges, and its strength was apparent when it won the badminton competitions. Following the success of that tourney, which was arranged by the badminton clubs of the various University Colleges, there is now a strong move to introduce badminton as a full Tournament sport, and this will probably happen in a very short time.

The International Club was formed last year by a group of students from overseas countries and some New Zealanders. It began in a small way, but very soon its membership reached large proportions, and it is now one of the most popular clubs at Victoria College. Membership includes students from countries such as America, France, Turkey, Indonesia, Australia, India, Germany and Fiji, as well as from many other parts of the world. The International Club was formed to promote international good will among students of all countries and to provide a meeting ground where such an aim might be carried out. Conceits are given in which the dances and music of foreign lands are presented; discussion evenings are held, and members of the various Embassies have addressed the club on problems peculiar to their own nations. This all adds up to a very healthy spirit of friendship and co-operation between New Zealand students and overseas students. It is not surprising that the membership seems to increase with every function.

The Commerce Faculty has formed a club on lines similar to the Law Faculty Club, and this is concerned mainly with topics of interest to Commerce students, Both these clubs are composed largely of part-timers, who benefit from this association with other members of their own faculties.

In 1952 the Jazz Club made a meteoric appearance, and for a while was a most popular club in this College, as it provided modern music of a high standard. Professional musicians and musically inclined students joined to form jazz and Dixie bands which gave enthusiastic audiences the type of music which would do credit to a New Orleans night-club. Interest in this club continued high in 1953, but this year, owing to the fact that many of the foundation members have left the college—one is now a highly respected junior partner in a law firm in the city—interest has wanted.

Returning to the sporting sphere, we find that a Golf Club was formed last year by a band of enthusiasts. The claim of the club to having members who can turn on golf of a high standard was well borne out by the fine showing which Varsity golfers gave at Winter Tournament last year. Again, like badminton, there is a move to have golf introduced as a Tournament sport—it was arranged unofficially last year—and this will probably happen fairly soon.

From these notes it will be apparent that as time passes, the interests of students fluctuate and change. This is not a bad sign, but a healthy one. If there is a band of people who are keenly interested in a certain activity, let them form themselves into a club. The Students' Association provides the facilities for it, and offers financial assistance to those who are willing to take it. If interest wanes after a little, this is not a bad thing, because it merely means that interest has been transferred to other fields. And in the future, once the first steps are taken, there will always be the facilities and the benefits of the energies of a club's founders available for those that are similarly interested.

D. Donovan