‘Conceivably Finest In World'

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30804, 16 July 1965, Page 12

‘Conceivably Finest In World '

Massey College at the University of Toronto has the best facilities imaginable for both post-graduate residence and study, according to Dr. C. S. L. Keay, of the University of Canterbury physics department, who recently lived and worked there as a junior fellow. Dr. Keay said there were many touches of sheer luxury, but many of the practical ideas could be adapted for future Canterbury halls of residence. Massey College was opened in 1963, and Dr. Keay was among its second intake in September, 1964. About 70 residential places are available for junior fellows, mostly single men or others visiting the university for postgraduate work. About 35 married men, living off the campus, have dining and study facilities.

The college, built and furnished by the Massey Foundation, aims to serve men of high scholastic promise so that “through the fullness of its corporate life and the efforts of its members, the college will nourish learning and serve the public good.” Dr. Keay said the junior fellows were drawn from as wide fields as possible in academic disciplines, country of origin, and social experience. They studied in all faculties, came from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Western Europe, India, Russia, Nigeria, Australia, and New Zealand, and ranged from a newspaper editor preparing to take a university chair to a dentist setting up as a specialist. Dr. Keay said the physical arrangements were first class. Each fellow had his own comfortable study with single bedroom opening off it. Bathrooms were for exclusive use or sharing with no more than two others.

Built as a hollow' rectangle, the college was divided into five adjoining houses each of three floors with an average of only five fellows on each passage. This practically eliminated the distraction of pedestrian traffic and other noise. “All this adds to the high motivation for solid study,” said Dr. Keay.

But excellent communal facilities were available to encourage the meeting of minds. The magnificent dining hall was in the English university tradition, complete with top table. The common room was the centre for great debate and included a buttery bar. There were two libraries—one for study and one for recreation.

The buildings enclosed ,a pleasant quadrangle with pools and fountains, There

was a college chapel for private prayer and meditation, and services were also held there. The senior fellows, Dr. Keay said, included the university president, some faculty heads, and some members of the Massey family. For a start all expenses (apart from the resident’s fee of 800 dollars for 34 weeks) were being met by the foundation. the cost for each

student being at least three times this amount. After five years the college would be handed over completely to the University of Toronto. “It is conceivable,” said Dr. Keay, “that this is the finest university residential college in the world. I consider it a singular privilege to have been elected a junior fellow, as this provides the best imaginable environment for successful study.”