VICTORIA COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1933, Page 10

VICTORIA COLLEGE

GENERAL SPIRIT GOOD

KEPLY TO CRITICISM

REPORT BY COUNCIL

The vory small number whose conduct and beliefs are in conflict •with the great majority of the community attract attention .entirely out of proportion to their influence in the college. Their influ-

ence must, and will, be restrained

vithin reasonable bounds. The council feels that the public can rest assured that the college spirit.

is on the whole good, and that the

groat .majority of the students livo an active normal life and deserve

to stand well in the estimation not only of their teachers and of the

council, but of the public,

In the above words the Victoria Collego University Council sums up its finding from the inquiry made following the recent discussion of the administration of the college, when it was suggested by some critics that influences were at work at the college which were subversive of religion, morality, nnd patriotism; that those influences operated through the subjects which were discussed by the various clubs and societies within the college and through the outsiders who were invited to take part in the discussions; and that the college authorities had failed to check those influences.

After obtaining a report from the Professorial Board (the council's report states) the College Council carei'uliy considered the allegations, and in so doing had examined the condition of affairs in the college under the headings of (1) clubs of the college; (2) subjects pf discussion; (3) persons invited to address clubs; and (4-) discipline and control. The report discusses tho various college clubs, of which there are 27, in detail, and remarks that a large number of the clubs are- purely social and athletic clubs. Tho clubs which hold discussions and may therefore influence the views of students are the following:—The' Debating Society, Free Discussions Club, Student Christian Movement, Evangelical Union, Literary Society, Commerce Society, Science Society, and tho Mathematical and Physical Society

NECESSARILY CONTROVERSIAL

The aims of these clubs and societies are set out and lists of subjects* discussed and of college and visiting speakers (where such visitors / are allowed by the rules .of the clubs) are given. It is remarked of |he Debating Society:— '

Every year the committee of the society chooses , controversial subjects because they are controversial, for the very raison d'etre of a debating society is controversy. Flirt***, the committee of the society considers that the meetings of the debating society of a University Collcgo are occasions on which the right of freedom of speech should be allowed to : the fullest reasonable limit a right which has seldom, if ever, been abused in jhe annals of the society

The aims of the Free Discussions Club, open to all members of the Students ' Association, which club was probably most discussed and which was disaffiliated following criticism, are stated as:—

■1. To bring together students of all creeds and opinion who wish to discuss the problems of life.

2. To stimulate a keen and intellectual interest in these _ problems, and develop a spirit of criticism.

3. To encourage freedom of thought, freedom of speech, xmd a readiness to follow resolutely truth, wherever it may lead.

4. To .provide the students of Victoria University College with a means' of viewing all problems of interest from all possible and no particular points of view.

Among the subjects discussed during the last three years by this club were Censorship, revolution, a case for dogmatic religion, the condition of Ireland, the examination system, Chiila of today, Soviet Russia, the deplorable state of the law, the future of morals, Marxism, the State in reality, and science—the doom of society. In addition to these the following subjects were introduced by persons not. student members of the club: —"What a Frenchman would think of New Zealand," Dr. I. Henning; "The Problem of Evil," Rev. H. Newell; "The Fiye-Year Plan," Dr. Sutherland; "Imjiressions of Europe and America," Dr. E. M. Campbell; "Necessity for Puritanism," Rev. A. N. Seotter; "Christianity," Rev. H. Newell; "Soviet Russia," Major Pharazyn; "New Zealand Legion," Mr. E. Parry; "The State," Mr. M. Riske; "Christianity, Nationalism, or Communism," Rev. AY. Bullock.

The aims of tho Student Christian Movement, tho Evangelical Union, Commerce Society, Science- Society, Mathematical and .Physical Society, and the Literary Society are also discussed.

The subjects on which addresses were delivered by visitors to the college clubs cover a very wide range, embracing history and literature, religion, science, transport problems, the New Zealand Legion movement, the FiveYear Plan, the dairy industry, Empire questions, the stage, "detective fiction," bird music, economics (including banking, Douglas credit system, the Five-Year Plan, exchange), mathematics, Japan and China,- Oxford Group Movement, etc.

MAINTAINING COLLEGE DISCIPLINE.

f'ln pursuance of its power the board exercises a supervision over all student activities within the college," the report. stat.es, "and it has never failed to' bring to its delicate task a judgment ajid a tact without which success would be impossible, and which have won the complete confidence of the council. No student club may be formed, no meetings held within the college, and, sii(Ee April, 1932, no persons not members of the c.ollege may be invited to address these clubs without the prior permission of the board. In general this power is exorcised by the chairman of the board, sometimes in conjunction with the executive of the Students' Association.

"Between meetings of the board the necessary disciplinary action is exercised by the chairman: Persons having complaints to make should address them to him. Every case brought to the notice of the board has been investigated, and such action taken as was necessary. If some of - the matters now in controversy had been niado fhc subject of specific complaint at the time of their occurrence, both the college authorities and their critics would have been saved a great deal of time and trouble.

"In the past two years only three complaints have been made.' In ono case the board took immediate action and prevented the offence from taking place. In another case the matter complained of had been already completed. The board dealt with it in such a man*cf as to obviato all further cause of complaint. In the third case the board

endorsed the action of thu executive 'of the Students' Association in disaffiliating the club concerned, and took the necessary disciplinary action against the student who had been the principal offender, thereafter reporting the matter to the council.

SUBJECTS OBJECTED TO,

"The outstanding points in the recent discussion are, in the opinion of the council, (those specially emphasised by Canon James in a letter to the chairman of the Professorial Board, namely, that debates have taken place during the past two or three years on sexual and religious subjects. Both the council and the board regret that such debates should have taken place, and are of opinion that no such debates should be permitted in the future. The bo^rd has already issued the necessary instructions to prevent tho further debating of these subjects. • • '

"So far, however, as religion is concerned, a distinction must bo drawn between the public proceedings of the Debating Society and the private discussions of the smaller clubs, some o£ which arc specifically religious in their character. '•

FEEE BUT NOT IRRELIGIOUS.

"The suggestion that the religious faith of the students is 'powerfully assailed' is easier to make than to refute, but the council believes it to be without foundation. The atmosphere is one of freedom but not of irreligion. Every denomination, and many sects, are represented 'among the students; and it is a matter for congratulation that, despite these varying religious sentiments, there is a completo absence of denominational or. sectarian bitterness. A largo number of the graduates of the college have taken religious orders. The information necessary to compile a completo list of 'these is not available; but there is no doubt that such a list would be very extensive and would embrace young men representative of practically every denomination in the community. ( The influence of such students on the general life of the college is a powcrfful antidote to irreligion. "On the question of the loyalty of the students it does not seem necessary to say a great deal. • It has no doubt happened in one or two cases that a person holding disloyal views has obtained access to the college for the purpose of addressing a club. This practice is now under supervision, and such incidents, are not ljkely to recur.

' 'The council is glad to be able to assure the public that there is no ground for suspicion concerning the loyalty of th« students as a body. It is true there is a mere handful of students who are influenced by extreme views and who express those views themselves; but the very great majority of the present students are worthy of the reputation which their predecessors have earned for the college.

POSITIONS OF HONOUR,

"Ex-students of the. college are to be found in positions of honour in the Church, in industry, in commerce, in thq professions of medicine, law and teaching, in the Judiciary, the Public Service, and in every phase of activity where useful service is to be performed. We feel that the same will be truo of our present students in the years to come. "The very small number whose conduct and beliefs are in conflict with the great majority of the community attract attention entirely out of proportion to their influence in the college. Their influence must, and will, be restrained within reasonable bounds. The council feels that the public can rest assured that the college spirit is on the whole good, and that the groat majority of the students live an active- normal life and deserve to stand well in -the estimation not only of their teachers and of the council, but of the public. . "Whether the council can do more than it is doing at present to assist the students to arrive at sound judgments and to develop their characters is a question which will continue to have its careful and anxious consideration," tho report continues. "It is well aware of its responsibilities both to the students under its care and to the general public for whom it acts, and it will endeavour to fulfil them to .its utmost ability, and will welcome any assistance, offered in this respect.

"In conclusion, the council does not feel it should conclude its report withouf> reaffirming tho confidence -it has already expressed in the professors and lecturers of the college who, it is satisfied, are faithfully serving the college and the community."