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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 2, No. 1 March 8, 1939

Saws for the Geese

Saws for the Geese

Freshers we notoriously bewildered when they enter Victoria's portals; will it is "Salient's" duty to guide them and assist them in their first few months. We realise, however, that our capabilities are limited—that there are greater men than our staff, whose advice might be welcomed by freshers.

Hearken, ye freshers, to their words of wisdom!

Professor Shelley

If I were bold enough to do it and foolish enough to think it would have any effect, I should say to freshers something like this: Don't be too fresh—that's the shortest cut to a most lamentable staleness. Remember that you do not attend a University—you are the University, and only so far as you identify yourself with it, with its traditions and Ideals, Its work and play, can the University be of any use to you or you to the University. Bernard Shaw says: "In Heaven . . . you live and work Instead of playing and pretending.... In Heaven" there is "no other joy but contemplation"; and much the same might be said of a University. A fresher has the chance of finding his Heaven in a University—he has an equal chance of drifting into a veritable hell. But then—that's the sort of thing Shaw said in 1903, and I can hardly expect the fresher of 1939 to think it is worth more than a passing smile, so there is no purpose in my continuing. The fresher must live his own life, and no one can teach him [unclear: how to live with any hope of success.]—all one can do is to warn him that life has a bad habit of escaping when one thinks to grasp it most securely, like a handful of water when one closes one's fist.

All good luck to the freshers, and may they be as alive when they leave the University as they are now they are entering it.

Will Appleton

At the outset I would state that the number of hours which can be spared each week for physical and mental recreation is just as important as the hours devoted to study. There is no golden rule but work—steady and intelligent work is the main Ingredient for success.

Lack of composure and want of confidence in the examination room are probably responsible for more failures than a deficiency in actual knowledge of the subjects. While concentrated and persistent study are essential, the cultivation of a degree of self-confidence is also necessary.

To pursue any vocation in solitude and isolation is at the best a depressing business, and nothing is better at the beginning of one's University career than to have opportunities of meeting with those who are fired with the same ambitions and aspirations. Success in a profession can best be obtained in the society of those who are encaged or who are likely to be engaged in similar pursuits.

Education which aims only at passing examinations is Incomplete. The ethical aspect of professional life—its traditions. Its observance of principles of right conduct, its progress in adopting itself to the ever-changing conditions which necessitate new outlooks, all form part of that education which makes a good citizen. The early Instincts which are formed by students of steady application, of thoroughness, and of resource, are the attributes which in their observance will tell in the long run rather than the highest places secured in [unclear: examinations] which in themselves do not afterwards always bring that success which such early achievements promised.

While it is a good plan to aim at success in examinations, this should not be the sale and ending purpose of an education, which should never [unclear: cease,] and in which other things enter which hastily acquired knowledge in Itself never gives. The foundation of life—in professional and indeed in all occupations—is character, and [unclear: environment] in education has no [unclear: little] influence in its development.

"Salient" wandered round last week among the bashful-looking groups of freshers and tried to gather their first Impressions of Victoria. Most of them were somewhat shy and hadn't a great deal to say, but with a little probing and a little guessing a few Interesting sidelights on our alma mater were collected:—

A volatile female with thick glasses and an academic [unclear: stoop] complained hotly of the lack of signs for freshers.

"Like a lot of lost sheep in a slaughterhouse."

Then a [unclear: tall], quiet swain: "It looks to me like a place of great learning and all the students look very scholarly."

"Salient" endorsed this, but the oracle went on to say that it was also an unfriendly place and had an air of "grim foreboding."

Next a [unclear: disillusioned] youth: "Not much good. "[gap — reason: illiegible][unclear: ot] a patch on A.U.C."

A young lady: "Well, It's given [unclear: re] a headache. The outside I thought was quite good but the Inside is worse."

Another [unclear: disillusioned] one: "It's got no medical faculty and the art students are allowed to mix with the science students. They even go into the science wing. Now, down in Otago——"

Here we stopped.

A Wellington College old boy:

Now We Know!

"The students are unimpressive and the building is worse than the West School Wellington College, and that's pretty bad."

Innovator: "Why don't you have female professors—young and pretty ones?"

Ditto: "Your main building's all right, but your gym, and other rooms over there are frightful, they're not even clean."

Young Hopeful: "I think it's got a glorious old-fashioned atmosphere of learning about it—it seems steeped in erudition. I think I'm [unclear: going to] have an awfully jolly time up [unclear: here.]"

Home Science? "It's dreadfully dusty and has a frightfully stale smell. The students all need a brush up and be made to look smart."

"The building is awful; the climb up the hill is hot and much too long-and the students are nuts." So there.

Here's something better: "I find it very friendly and Interesting. The students are a fine crowd."

"I hate Gothic architecture, so I don't like the line of your building, but it is much more congenial and friendly than I expected."

Terse Comment: "The men's common room is pretty good, but it's not a patch on their lavatory. The lavatory's the best part of the whole show."

Criticism: "I think it is ridiculous that they should close the common room in the afternoon when there are people here to use it."

"That goes for me too."

[unclear: Turmoil]: "I'm all mixed up, don't know where to go or what to do. very hot and bumped everywhere."

"I'm scared stiff. It's like a museum or asylum or something."

"The library's like a morgue."

[unclear: Supercilious] Head Prefect: "Is this the intelligentsia?"

Lastly a completely [unclear: blase] Head Prefect: "Well. I think the physiques of the men are awful. You're a lot of weeds. And the girls are not up to much. All together I think the joint's lousy!"