"ROWDY STUDENTS."

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6861, 3 July 1909, Page 5

"ROWDY STUDENTS."

(To the Editor "N.Z. Times. "> ' Sir,— Having read the letter of "A Student" in Tuesday's "Times" re the behaviour of the undergraduates at the recsmt Capping . Ceremony, I feel that some reply is warranted to the aspersions cast upon the students. Without; attempting to exonerate them from blame, I should like to explain what seems to be a misapprehension pn the part of several of those persorfs who were present. ■'' Student" (who is evidently not a student of Victoria College) seems to think that tho undergracls entirely forget the purpose of the (Japping Ceremony, and that, their one and only object is to turn the ceremony into a pandermonlum, to howl down all those who wieh to speak and in general to misbehave as much as possible. This i* not so. Tho average student it is true, enjovs hearing a certain ainpunt of repartee, but .most certainly is . not in' svmpathy with the senseless interruptions and noises so much complained of. There aro however, always a few irresponsible undergrads who delight hi creating much din. It is unfortunate that the disturbance caused by these persons should bo taken to have the approval of the whole body of students for I aan sure. the ' students aS a whole regret their behaviour and none more so than the Students . Association Committee, who, .as in past years, did their best before the Capping to obtain for the speakers a fair hearing and to see that the ceremony was free from meaningless interruption. It is, however, no easy matter to suppress tlie unruly students who endeavour to heckle the sneakers as much as possible and the'Students' Association Committee have,-1 believe, apologised to those speakers concerned. It' is, of course, inevitable that some blame should attach to -the students when misguided individuals among them over boisterously declaim their presence, but when the public are given to- believe that the student", as a whole, delight in displays of lnrrakinism, and in fact, are nothing more or less than a. pack of hooligans, then I think it. is necessary that the attitude of the majority of the students on the subject of capping should be made lenown. I aro - quite sure ■ that it. was not the wish of the majority of students that the speakers .should he denied a fair hearing, and that they sincerely regret the noisy reception . given .to them. —T am, etc.. , . " 'AN TtNDERGRAD. June 30th.