'Challenge to university’

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33193, 5 April 1973, Page 5

'Challenge to university’

The major task facing the University of Canterbury when it moves completely to 11am would be the re-establishment of the sense of identity which prevailed during the 19305, said the university's information officer (Mr E. T. Beardsley).

“Students were widely; tolerated in those days. There is no doubt that public attitudes toward students have changed since then,” said Mr Beardsley. whose address was the second of four lectures on the history of the university, arranged by the Department of Extension Studies as part of the university’s centennial celebrations. Mr Beardsley, who was appointed information officer in 1965 after a career in journalism, is a co-author of “A History of the University of Canterbury, 1873-1973.” Blooming times He described the late 1920 s and 1930 s as “the golden era" of the university, although he hastened to say that itli was not in any literal sense, i, for “it was certainly the; leanest period financially.” By 1930 there was a blooming of extra-curricular activities, brought about byp the development of a sense ! of community. New attitudes I seemed to appear—a cartoon or two appeared in the “Canterbury College Review”— and there was a questioning of things, said Mr Beardsley/ The audience of about 100, p although smaller than expec-i, ted, was receptive to Mr ; Beardsley’s anecdotes and ] turn of phrase. Most were ( middle-aged or elderly. i Mr Beardsley explained at . some length the story be-jj hind the university’s “skele-p ton in its cupboard”—a < plaque in memory of Alex- 1 ander William Bickerton. i]

The plaque, fixed on the west wall of the university hall in June. 1929. states thai Mt Bickerton was the first professor of the college being appointed in December 1873. It says that Mr Bicker ton was “much loved for hi? warm sympathies and ad mired for his daring flights of thought.” The latter was a reference tc his “theory of partial impact,” a theory of cosmic evolution which found little support in an age of sckepticism, said Mr Beardsley. Mr Beardsley said that Mr Bickerton was “frankly something of a crank.’’ When made Professor Erne ritus at the age of 86, Mi Bickerton, who died foui months later, caused “some difficulties” by bequeathing [his ashes to the college. Attempts were made to bury the ashes in the sand and I later to leave them at the left luggage office, but it was finally decided to place them behind the plaque. Delarrested A member of the Maryland General Assembly has been charged with transporting SUSIOm worth of heroin after his arrest near the State Capitol. Bail for Ames (“Turk”) Scott, aged 48, was set at SUS3O,OOO after a court hearing of an indictment charging him on eight counts of conspiring to distribute heroin since May, 1971.— Baltimore, April 4.