“STUDENTS USED BY MASS MEDIA”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31767, 26 August 1968, Page 2

“STUDENTS USED BY MASS MEDIA”

Mass media in New Zealand used students as a means of selling their various wares, said the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury (Professor A. Crowther) in Christchurch on Saturday.

It wan unfortunate that students had been chosen for use in this way. They were no different from students of other years and were coping with changes in the cultural background as best they could, Professor Crowther said.

He was speaking at the opening of the celebration to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Helen Connon Hall, the university’s hostel for women students.

Students of today had changing patterns to manage, but were approaching them in the same sensible way as students had always coped with their problems, said Professor Crowther.

“We are living in interesting, unusual, but not really particularly difficult times. Any difficulties are largely brought about for us by the amount of mass media which has ehosen students as a way of selling their various wares.” No Seniors Speaking of the students' tendency to go into flats, rather than be subject to the authority at halls of residence, he said there was a danger of hostels being filled with young students, with no seniors to guide them. Although senior students liked the independence they could have flatting, there would always be room for some university students in halls of residence, so far as the immense advantages of community living were recognised, Professor Crowther said. Helen Connon Hall was a very suitable title for the

women’s hostel, he said. Helen Connon was the first woman graduate of Canterbury College and the first honours graduate in the British Empire. At the age of 23, she became the second principal of Christchurch Girls’ High School, and married Professor McMillan Brown.

The first six residents of the hall must have been a very determined group of girls for, in 1918, they convinced the board of governors of Canterbury College of the need for a women's hostel.

It was a fact that the council had always taken its students seriously and continued to do so. Professor Crowther said.

As a hall of residence, Connon, at the comer of Park Terrace and Chester Street West, had always been in close touch with the university, he said. Mrs J. Struthers, one of the first residents, recalled her

stay at the hall, from 1919 to 1921.

“I remember what was possibly the first student revolt in New Zealand.” she said. “It took place one Saturday evening in 1919, when the four girls in the dining room, after saying grace, surveyed what they had just given thanks for. They all stood up and walked out of the room."

She recalled that, in 1920, the hostel was full to capacity and the old coach-house in the grounds was repaired to accommodate six more girls. It had a dining room which was transformed into a dance hall on Saturday nights.

Miss Molly Mullen, the principal of St Margaret’s College, also had recollections of her residency at Connon Hall. She was there in the early 19305. A former warden. Miss B. M. O’Dowd, was chairman of proceedings at the official opening of the celebrations.