THE UNIVERSITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15513, 21 January 1914, Page 11

THE UNIVERSITY.

CAPPING CEREMONIES.

TO BE ABOLISHED.

SENATE NOT UNANIMOUS.

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Dunedin, Tuesday. The University Senate spent a considerable time tins morning discussing the horseplay indulged in by students at capping ceremonies, and the question of abolishing tho present system of publicly conferring degrees.

Mr. von Haast moved that henceforth degrees be conferred at a meeting of the senate.

In the course of a long discussion, the conduct of students was viewed generally with great seriousness, and it was mentioned as a fact known to senators that it had caused persons withholding gifts they had intended to give the university. It was also stated that students, by such conduct, which last year had been premeditated and prearranged, were bringing themselves and the university into disrepute. Pointed reference was made to the Wellington fiasco, the chancellor stating that the students had attended dressed almost indecently. Professor J. R. Brown said that if the chancellor had exercised a little patience the meeting would have been comparatively quiet. J The Rev. A. Cameron counselled the senate not to view the students' conduct too seriously. Nothing compared with what he had heard at Edinburgh when Lord Hosebery gave a rectorial address. His Ix>rdslnp did not think that he had been insulted.

. The chancellor said that he did not view the matter from a personal standpoint at all. haj, ho did think was wrong was that students should organise beforehand so that there should be a disturbance. He did not object to »he students making witty remarks or making fun of a speech but organised disorder was a verv different matter. He was informed in Wellington and in Dunedin of what would take place. Lnless they could show that a university education tended to courtesy in life and « order and discipline, they would not get tb(; people to assist the cause of education. I rofeaaor Hunter supported the motion. He did not think that the universitv would get any credit from discussing the disturbance at Wellington. he Rev. Mr. Evans moved as 'an amendment, to add the words, "And that diplomas be forwarded to registrars in the several colleges." The amendment was negatived. Professor Hewitson moved as an amendment, " That degrees be conferred at a meeting summoned for the purpose at the four principal centres, the senate being responsible for the discipline." He believed the function could be made a useful one. and an effort ought to be made to amend it. Ho thought that to end it would be a confession of weakness on the part of the senate. The amendment was negatived and the motion agreed to.

SITTIBG OP THE SENATE

SPECIAL EXAMINATION.

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Dunedin, Tuesday. The senate, at its meeting to-day, asked Professor McLaurin to represent the Dominion at the celebration of the centenary and a half of the New York University, and Mr. Joynt or Professor Connail to attend the third centenary of the Groningen University. The Rev. Cameron moved, pursuant to notice, that the university hold a special examination in March of those obtaining partial pass matriculation. This was seconded guardedly by Professor Hunter, who saw difficulties in carrying out the proposal. The mover ought to have shown how many candidates were given a partial pass in any year, and how many subjects had been passed. Mr. Hogben said the proposal should be received with a great deal of caution. "When the proper time, comes," he added, "we should admit students on certificate from leading schools." This proposal would have a disturbing effect on secondary schoolsProfessor Tibbs viewed with great concern the prospect of having to coach students during the busiest time of the school year. Professor Haast opposed the motion on the score of expense and difficulty in obtaining examiners. The move- said he did not expect to carry the motion, but it would come in time. The motion was negatived on the voices.

DRASTIC CHANCES ADVOCATED.

PETITION FOR PARLIAMENT.

Dissatisfaction has been expressed by some young men and women who desire university instruction, with the manner in which the entrance examination to the New' Zealand University has been conducted (luring the past two years. It is alleged that only a small percentage of the candidates have been allowed to matriculate. In view of this, a petition has been drafted for presentation to Parliament, requesting that a change be made in the constitution of the University Senate As grounds for the petition it is contended that the senate is composed of members who are mainly out of touch with the wants of the community regarding higher education, and who are in no sense representative of the people of the Dominion. The majority of the members of the senate are said to desire to restrict unduly university teaching to a small number of youths of exceptional ability, and to refuse admittance to a vast number of young people who want higher education. It is further stated that with a view to rendering the entrance to the university more difficult, the senate lias, contrary to the practice which has endured for many years, ma/le it compulsory for every applicant for matriculation to pass an examination in mathematics, and that acquirements in languages or other branches of learning will not now be accepted as a substitute for mathematics. Only n very small fruition of the candidates who present themselves every year for matriculation ,'iiv allowed to pass and become students of the university colleges. Complaint, is also made that the business of the university is conducted by the senate in a perfunctory manner. One clauso in the petition says that " The method of appointing the members of the senate is v. rung and archaic, and the members should be elected by direct vote of the people, or by the education boards of the Dominion." Observing that there is an urgent necessity- to co-ordinate the work of the secondary school* and university colleges with the primary system of education, the petitioners ask that legislation be paused to provide for the abolition of the senate, and that a governing body lie substituted, to be called the " university board ;" also, tluit the office of "chancellor" be abolished, and the officer to succeed him he called the ' 'chairman." Amongst other requests, the petitioners ask that no profi*sors engaged in teaching at the university colleges be eligible lor election to the university board, and that every student be allowed to select the necessarv number of subjects for the matriculation, examination from the list supplied by the university, and that no subject be made compulsory for the examination.