University Visited By About 1000

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32030, 3 July 1969, Page 14

University Visited By About 1000

About 1000 people, including 350 sixth-form pupils from 14 secondary schools, saw departments of the University of Canterbury at work during an open day held at the university yesterday. The open day was the first of its kind to be held at the university. It was organised

by a sub-committee of the professorial board, consisting of both staff and students, and under the chairmanship of the public relations officer of the Students’ Association (Miss M. Hobbs). About 150 students guided visitors round the various departments, the average tour taking about an hour. There were tours at both the city site and at Ham, but Ham was the most popular. Buses ran between the two

sites once an hour,, and a nursery was run in the Lutheran Hall, at the corner of Montreal Street and Worcester Street Visitors could attend some of the lectures if they wished but few chose to do so. There were no special demonstrations arranged, as the aim was to allow the public to see the university in the course of a normal day’s work. Miss Hobbs said the results of the open day were very pleasing, although she wished more people had taken the opportunity to visit the university. The cold weather, however, had not encouraged people to come. Many of the visitors had been agreeably surprised and impressed by what they had seen, and she felt that the open day, which had taken about two months to organise, had been worth while. Open day attractions included a Beatles Concert by the Music Society in the Ngaio Marsh Theatre, and later a music departmental recital, “Songs by Shakepeare,” with Elric Hooper and Maurice Till. Other student activities included a slide show by the Photographic Society, Pooh Society readings, simultaneous chess match played against several opponents by Mr B. Anderson, the New Zealand champion, and in the

evening a performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” At the city site, several laboratories and classes were open, and student activities included a Literary Society reading, a Christian Union seminar, and a recital by the Folk Music Club.