UNIVERSITY LIFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23060, 10 June 1938, Page 17

UNIVERSITY LIFE

WISCONSIN PRACTICE EXAMINATION BY FACULTY WIDE SOCIAL INTERESTS ■ ■ I Tho part that is played by extracurricula and social activities in the lives of American university students was mentioned by Professor J. H. Kolb, dean of the faculty of rural economics at tho University of Wisconsin, in a luncheon address to members of the Auckland University Commerce Students' Society yesterday. He said these interests were encouraged by many of those in the faculty and he, personally, felt that education could not come entirely from tho classroom.

There were 8000 students on tho campus at Wisconsin University this year, Professor Kolb said, and practically all were full-time. They entered tho college at, perhaps, the ago of 16 and completed a bachelor's degree in four years. From this point they had the opportunity of studying for a master's degree or for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and about 1000 students were undertaking these advanced courses of study at the present time. Methods of Examination "Students are admitted to the university not by examination but by certificate from their high school," he continued. "At the conclusion of their course, examinations are set by the faculty, instead of by outside authorities, as is sometimes the case in New Zealand, and in the graduate stago examinations are set from time to time by the various faculties as the student proceeds through his curriculum."

Students lived in fraternities, dormitories or in private houses, and a number had their homes in co-opera-tively managed establishments which, incidentally, enabled them to practice much of the knowledge gained at the university. Another very important feature in the social side of the activities was the university's union house which might be termed the citadel of student life. It was here that the various extra-curricula organisations had their headquarters, and eocial rooms and restaurants were also contained in the large building. Political Activities Among the extra-curricula activities were many professional societies a fraternities and clubs composed of members of the various schools and, in Dr. Kolb's opinion, these were of vast importance. There was exceptionally keen interest in inter-college and intermural athletics, while literary, dramatic and musical interests were fully encouraged and widely supported. "Politics within the university are very real and are genuinely fought and there is also keen activity in certain features of the national and State political organisations," Dr. Kolb added. "There are various political societies and there is very little, if any, interference by the faculty. The limits of propriety are not tightly drawn."