OUR UNIVERSITY ASSET

Evening Star, Issue 17314, 30 March 1920, Page 8

OUR UNIVERSITY ASSET

A POLICY OF PATCH. ' SERIOUS OYERCROWDING. EDUCATION UNDER DIFFICULTIES. Most of us are proud of our City and its institutions, with a fair measure of reason for the pride. One of our besetting sins, however, is the tendency to rest on our oars, forgetful that our sister cities are all the time pulling a vigorous stroke. Otago University is one of those institutions, and in addition to giving reason for pardonable pride, it gives us several distinct advantages. Is the University valued aright by the average citizen? Do we realise what it means to the City as an institution of national learning? To put it on lower ground, do we realise that its existence in our midst brings a very large amount of money to our City each year? How much interest does the ordinary citizen take in the development and efficiency of the University? We heard much lately about the historical side of the University and some of its great and glorious associations. It is our business to-day to tell our readers something about the present capacity of the historic pile of buildings to meet the needs of a modern university. In the first place, let it be understood that almost in the midst, of the jubilee celebrations it was found necessary to refuse admittance to -sjtudeuts because the University buildings could not accommodate them. To-day the University is so seriously overcrowded that only the redoubled effort of the professorial and teaching staff maintains tlie high standard of past efficiency. The first thing about which Dunedin should in real earnest in connection with its University is the maintenance of its high standard and a constant upward reach. To-day the University attracts students from all parts of New Zealand, not only for the special schools, but for arts and science. They come also for the earlier years of medicine and dentistry, when they might easily follow those courses elsewhere. They must he encouraged, hut at the moment some of them are studying under difficulties. Even the casual observer must be struck with the evidence of a patchwork policy in the erection of onr University bnildings._ They arc not by any means unattractive. but tins policy of “ a bit at a time has left ns unready for the afterwar demand for education. Indeed, wo have always been a little behind the needs of the hour in the matter of accommodation. TVday we are far behind. , Physics is being taught under great aifficnlties, and the increase of students has been continuous for years. In ISld the students numbered 70;’ to-day the roll shows 161. This means, of course, that physics, biology, and chemistry classes are crowded, for the greater proportion attend all three classes simultaneously. The classrooms are quite uncomfortably packed. Lectures in many cases have to be duplicated, and the practical work has to be triplicated. The mathematics room is much too small-space for 30; 52 attend. The English class numbers approximately 240,_ and the class has to be taken in sections. The anatomy lecture theatre was built to seat ICO. The class now numbers 200. and has to he divided. The dissecting room was built to accommodate 80 stm dents. Only half the class can now be taken at one time, and it is then so overcrowded that the overflow has to be accommodated in the museum. The anatomy museum is totally inadequate, and is now merely a storehouse, as the specimens cannot be properly displayed owing to half the room being used as a temporary dissecting room. The assistants and demonstrators have practically no accommodation, only one small room Usft x 15ft) being available. The professors’ retiring room is practically filled with books, leaving little room for anything else. In _ the diagram room lack of space prohibits any ordered arrangement. The preparation room is far too small, and is crowded with specimens. All diagrams and practically all the work of class preparation is done in this room. The research room is so inconveniently situated as to practically exclude its use except during vacations! The class_ in' physiology is in much the same position as the class in anatomy, and there is also congestion at the Dental School. The increase from 3 to 56 students has taxed the accommodation to the utmost. The mechanical department has been enlarged by taking in the room formerly occupied by the bacteriological and pathlogical laboratory. The conservation department, where the various operations are performed for the saving of the teeth, is now comfortably filled, and as room has to he found by March, 1921, for 10 more chairs and accessories, it will then he mors than crowded. The anesthetic and extraction room is already far too email, while the X-ray and impression departments have to share the same room. The students’ accommodation this year is so limited that a* temporary structure will be erected alongside the main building as soon as the material is available. The bacteriological and pathological departments will also be housed in this temporary addition. The museum and library, which should each have separate rooms, are at present sharing the space of the lecture room. The staff of the school have also very jittle accommodation for their own use"! the biology extension at the museum will he a welcome addition, but competent authorities agree that it will prove quite inadequate for permanent requirements. The patch is not large enough, a.nd there are nuiny who uriie that the new -biology quarters should have been in a new building on Tanna Hill. The proposed extension can quite readily he utilised for museum purposes, and it mav probably be found advisable later on to have a new biological department on Tanna Hill. In the University proper some of the overcrowded departments must be put into new buildings, thereby making room for other departments at present overcrowded. A number of the professors have no private loom. Even the office needs extension, the question of heating is one for immediate attention. It has been considered at various times, and surely cannot be much longer delayed. In. several cases additional assistance :s also needed. It would appear from intormatiory gathered that a move concerted and definite policy in the appointment of assistants would be a wise step. Improve ments are being made in this direction. The salaries offered in some cases in past have been so inadequate that the ablest young men refuse to accept such positions. The present sca'es must be readjusted, otherwise the whole standard will be lowered. If higher rates were offered some of the brightest men and women would offer their services as assistants. Research students should ho encouraged, and later these could fill the nCjfj posts in New Zealand universities .cube employed in advancing onr industries. In the past the salaries offered for sonic of assistants positions have been niggardly, and it is little wonder that at times some difficulty has beer, encountered ' u filling the posts. The conditions and salary should be such as would attract l!v very best. Such a policy of itself would do much to maintain the standard of Otago University. It is idle suggesting tnat the policy of the past will do: we must grow with the needs of the time= Jt we ceasec to do that we will stagnate our past will be tarnished, and our future be barren.