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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 20, No. 7. 30th May, 1957

More Cheerful Story

More Cheerful Story

Dr. Williams had a more cheerful story to tell, this time, in his usual survey of the past year's progress—mainly of course in buildings. In particular there is the Student Union Building (its pending erection has been one of Salient's most regular features) which at last seems likely to be finished in the near future. Last year a Deputation—most of whoso members were on the 1931 S.U.B. Committee—waited on the Minister of Education armed in particular with a bequest of £3,000 from Sir Charles Todd, and the decision of the students to levy a tax of £1 per student per year for the building. They got Government consent for the building. "When we have it, it will profoundly change the College—and for the better," Dr. Williams declared, comparing the future with our present wretched conditions—"We must lead the world in lack of student amenities."

The new Science Building is progressing well, mid the Gymnasium at Te Aro Park should soon be ready. The next project is the Arts and Library building, concerning which an approach was made to the Government at the end of 1956. "The matter is still 'under consideration'," the Principal stated amidst laughter. But in three years' time there will be 3,000 students, with only 190 places in the Library—and those "in compressed conditions."

His audience that night may be the last to graduate from Victoria University College, shortly the name will be changed to "University," what it is already in all but name.

"It is a good thing to have professors in their ivory towers, with complete freedom to think to no practical purpose," propounded Mr. Beeby (Law student) in toasting the Staff. And what is a professor? "A professor is one who teaches others to solve the problems of life which he has avoided by becoming a professor." Prof. Aikman, replying, declared himself so satisfied with Mr. Beeby's speech as to restore in bis marking the five points Beeby forfeited by his behaviour when bowling against the Professor in a recent match. He appreciated the fact that after people graduate it is possible to drop the student/tutor relationship, and to become friends." He hoped that the graduands would have the qualities of perseverance, commonsense, opportunism, and character, and in future years it will be possible to say of them that they carried with them "a wave of understanding."

Councillor Bateman apologised for his dress, rather conspicuous in the circumstances, apparently he had been misled as to the nature of the occasion by his Technical College colleagues. He himself was a fairly recent graduate in Philosophy—that was why he taught Mathematics. Like them he had gone out feeling he was going to revolutionise the world (he was in Extrav.), but was soon "ground down to life-size," for instance in the City Council.

Mr. D. Vere-Jones replied for the Graduands. He suggested, or rather stated, that his fellow men were all too terrified to think. (His fellow men, who were present as 'thinkers' did not make the slightest protest) and expressed the graduands' (whenever they became graduands') appreciation of the previous remarks.

The difficult task of toasting the Exec. ("Why the Exec.?") fell on Mr. Brown. He found the justification for their existence in the fact that they encourage students in extra-curricular activities, and so contribute to the failures of those who otherwise would compete with the present company.

Mr. Marchant replied with an amusing anecdote about Mr. Churchill and Mrs. Braddock (for details apply to the gentleman concerned), and the Vice-President, Mr. Wood field, proposed the toast to the ladies, without a story, so as not to rival his President. The other and female Vice-President, Miss Jackson, replied that women were not as inferior as we all felt, in fact they were not "just household and monumental figures." Mr. Hill gave the toast to absent friends.

We then sang Gaudeamus, at various pitches, and with various pronunciations, though the first verse went with aplomb. Only one verse of "God Save" was sung—ince the company knew it better and with the exception of the Republican, it went without a flaw.

Thus the ceremony ended and, taking another slice of ham, we departed.