FRESHERS' WELCOME

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 63, 16 March 1933, Page 15

FRESHERS' WELCOME

DR. BRYSON'S ADDRESS

A very pleasant evening was spent in the Women's Common Boom of Victoria University College last evening, when Dr. Elizabeth Bryson gave an address of welcome to the new women students. Great improvements had taken place, she said, in the education for women since she was a student, one of the few women students at St. Andrew's ia Scotland. She recalled the struggles which women had had in order to receive equal educational rights with men, and recited some of the incidents of her student days. But what sne had noticed most of all and with regret, at Victoria College, ' was the absence of gowns. At St. Andrew's a scarlet gown and a trencher with a different coloured tassel for each year was worn by the students. The gown, sne said, removed all competition in dress, and upheld the important principle that only aristocracy in a University i s the aristocracy of brains. Dr. Bryson also pointed out the importance .of distinguishing between wisdom and knowledge, and emphasising the value of the former. Appreciation was expressed at the pictures that had come to the Common -Koom under the bequest of the late Mrs. Hannah, who had always taken so active a part in college life. A different atmosphere had enveloped. the room since its renovation. On behalf of the students, Miss Helen Dunn, women's vice-president, thanked ur. iiryson for her interesting talk, and urged the new students to enter their college life in the right spirit, by I mixing with the older students there land then. Miss Edna Purdie gave two humorous elocutionary items, which were very much enjoyed; and a dainty supper was handed round. Guests of the evening were Mesdames .boyd-Wilson, Cornish, Miles ' and Munro.