Advocate Of Mixed Halls Of Residence

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30277, 1 November 1963, Page 12

Advocate Of Mixed Halls Of Residence

The mixed undergraduate hall of residence at the Australian National University, Canberra, was most successful, and could well be studied for the Ham site. Dr. M. Gage, reader in geology at the University of Canterbury, said yesterday. Dr. Gage has just returned from a lecture visit to Canberra, and he and his wife lived at Bruce Hall for some weeks.

“It was particularly interesting to observe from within the successful operation of a mixed undergraduate hall. I would advocate the introduction of this system at Ham,” Dr. Gage said.

"As in all university halls, there are occasional individual lapses and excesses, but these are disciplined, and on the whole I have a strong impression that student behaviour is better than in separate halls. “My wife and I both feel that young men and women students, especially those coming from segregated secondary schools, are assisted by continual daily contacts in a mixed hall to develop normal, dignified and sensible relationships with those of the opposite sex. “We have much admiration for the success of the warden (Mr W. P. Packard) in bringing Bruce Hall successfully through the difficult early years when the students were almost entirely immature juniors, without having to resort to unduly restrictive or punitive discipline."