OTAGO UNIVERSITY

Evening Star, Issue 17710, 11 July 1921, Page 7

OTAGO UNIVERSITY

STUDENTS' JUEiI.EE DINNED.

A dinner to commemorate tho jubilee of tho opening of tho Otago University classes on July 10, 1871, was held in the Art Gallery Hall on Saturday evening, and was very largely attended. Mr Gilbert Macloan (president of tho Students’ Association) occupied the chair, and was supported on his right by the Chancellor (the, I’ev. ))r Cameron! and on .his loft by Miss M. K. Bell (vice-president of tho association). Tho toast of 1: The University of Otago” was entrusted to Mr J. 11- Combes, who raid ho must distinguish what he meant by tho University. To him (here were three things that grouped themselves in thought. What was the University? It represented to him men of fifty years ago, the men of to-day, and there were the other men of fifty years hence. They were the University. There were a, good many things they would like, but at the same time they paid their tribute willingly to those who fifty veers ago laid the, foundation of their institution.‘ Such a gathering as they saw that night, was sufficient evidence of the fact that tho University was something more than a course of lectures. Behind it all there was the corporate life and tho university friendship. Tho I’ov. hr Cameron, on rising to reply, was received with “For he’s a jolly good fallow.” Ito said ho had great pleasure in- responding to tho toast which had been so cordially rocci’cd. Ho understood that all taking part that evening wove students or past students, and it was as an ox-student that he had great pleasure in responding to tho toast. Mr Combes had said that the University represented to him the men of fifty years ago, and the students of to-day, and the students of fifty years hence. Xow, ho wondered what the University represented to the community. .He was sure that a great many young people considered that tho University was represented by the carnival and procession. (Ban. ■liter.) Others IhoiHit that it represented the A team at football—’no did not mean this year. (Laughter.) lie was sure tint a great many people appreciated tho 'Varsity footballers for the splendid displays (hey had consistently given during many years past. (.Applause.) lie supposed to somo the University was represented merely by its buildings, and they made a pretty good show, hut thee would make a better one by and by if they only got their way. i ’pp'iiuse.) He 'i mposed there were others to whom the University was represented by the degrees .they got or hoped to get. But the I'nivoisitv stood for more than (hat. .Mere letters did not count for very much. The, professors formed a large part of tho University. He believed that '.he crealcsl object of the professors was to make their students become men and women of whom the whole community would bo proud—mcn and women who would make themselves. felt for the good of tho whole community. (Applause.)

Mr J. ' Cnirnoy proposed ‘’Past Students." They were all justly proud of the past students and the University, especially after having read Professor Thompson’s book. Comparatively speaking, it was a young University, but what traditions it had were due to the students of the days gone by. In these times of celebrations they would do well to remem- i her those who went forth to the war and j had not returned. Miss Francos Ross, who was warmly j received, said she considered it a very groat honor to Iso asked to reply (or the old students. As the years went by they realised how much they owed to those pioneers who made provision for the pursuit of learning in the Otago University. (Applause.) They owed much to the professors, those veterans of education who had left an indelible mark on our civic and national life, and a.so to' those pro- j lessors who had followed in their foot- ; steps. Tho scope of the University had increased beyond all imagination. _ Miss Ross also spoke of the groat hospitality ; enjovod by the students at the hands of | tho professors and their wives. Mr J. B. Callan, jnn., also replied. Ho, was afraid that if tho past students were asked ivhat they had done for the University they must answer that they had dono very little. They must themselves move than they had dono in tho past. lie congratulated the students on their very clover carnival performances. Ee advised all students to stay on at tho University as long as their parents would stand them failing. (Laughter.) Mr D W. Faigan proposed "The Teaching Staff.” The history of the University, he said, was the history of their professors. and that was shown by the fact that during the fifty years the University had been in existence many of_ the professors had been connected with from ten to twentv years and more. There was no movement in the history of the University that could have taken placo without the assistance of tho professors. In connection with the present staff, it had on it some of their most distinguished graduates, and associated with them were some of_ the leading students of bigger universities. They wore all men and women oi wide interests. . , Professor Thompson, who was received with cheers and loud applause, responded, fie said that they had heard so much durum the last eighteen month? « the greatness of the first professors that the present staff had rather “got the wind up. It had been somewhat unkindly suggested that (hough (he professors had increased in number from three to about thirty the sum total of brains on tn« tcachirig staff remained constant. (Laughter.) it T' the case of forty lecturers was even worse/for fifty years ago there was not a lecturer in the place. (T-a«gWer.) He referred to the presence with them of the daughter of Professor Shand, Mrsill Lean —(applause)—the daughter of Professor M'Grogor. Mrs Cos—(appiause Miss Ulrich” (daughter of Professor Uinch) (applause)—Mr Stuart Holmes (who he M eved, was the first student enrolled fifty years ago)-(app!ause)-and the Hon. Mark Cohen (who was also enrolled in the first year). (Applause.) They would find the present students grouped at the feet of four classes of teachers, professors, lechers’ assistants, and gas-heaters. (Laughter 1 The difference between the lecturer and professor was more apparent than real The professor had a billet and the lecturer had .ability. (Laughter) He was a lecturer hnnself once. One characteristic of the traditional professor known to every comic journal was Ins “wtraordinarv and appalling absence of mind This characteristic the professor illustrated with a choice selection of ■tones Ho said that every professor had a spectre haunting him—the question ot whether he was turning out men who knew their suhiect and were efficient Every one of them wanted to know not only if he tavmht his own subject, but if he made his students fit for more wisdom, ihe m-afes=or could not see tho result of Jus own efforts as men in other professions could He had to work on. hoping that its .would make the world a better place to live in for his children and the children of his students. (Applause.) Ur ML Marshall Macdonald proposed “Present Students.’’ He said ho did not think that the citizens of Dunedin appreciated sufficiently what tho University meant to them." Xo citv could help but benefit by the. influx of nearly ISO a year of tho picked brains of tho Dominion. Let them realise what a great thing_ it meant to Dunedin, these students comic" hero every year from all parts of the Dominion. Speaking of sex conseiousness > in "the University. ho said ho did not think tho men should allow themselves to ho iealous of their superior mental onuipment. (Laughter.) Ho believed that the coming ago was the ago of youth, and he felt sure that tho future of the University was safe in the hands of present students. (Applause.) Tho Chairman responded on behalf of ].TO students, and thanked the professors I and ex-students for the support they had | alwavs given their association. Miss M. E. Bell also returned thanks for the manner in which the toast had been honored. Women students, she said, had come to stay. Some of them had come to stay too long. (Laughter.) Mr T. B.’ Davis proposed the toast o’f “The Ladies.” which was replied to by Professor T. D. Adams. During the evening tho Knox College Orchestra played selections, and songs

were given by Miss Alice Wilkinson .and Messrs J. K. Davidson and Mortley Peake. Votes of thanks were accorded ( the performers and the student waiters.