“STUDENTS ARE WE!”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10809, 27 January 1921, Page 5

“STUDENTS ARE WE!”

FROLICSOME GRADUATES

UNIVERSITY SENATE IN CONDEMNATION. “DISGUSTED AND ASHAMED.” A proposal that graduation ceremonies in connection with the confer - ring of degrees, on graduates of the university be re-instituted in the Dominion in suoh centres as the University Senate may think fit, was discussed at some length by the Senate yesterday. Rev. Dr Cameron (Dunedin; moved: ‘That on the request ot any College Council the Senate agrees to hold a graduation ceremony at thdt centre.” Mr H. F. von Haast (Wellington) said that if the students could not refrain from interrupting the speakers at their own functions, such as occurred] at Wellington last Easter, they could not refrain from interrupting the speakers at a graduation ceremony. He was not antagonistic to processional display, but he doubted whether the sort of procession that had been witnessed in some centres, in which buffoonery, masquerading, etc., were indulged in, would do much good. Suoh behaviour only alienated the public. Till he saw a new spirit in connection with the ceremonies, bethought they should not be permitted. Mr F. A. de la Mare said they should not funk the distribution of the degrees until they knew there was a conspiracy against them. One of the reasons why the students had made the ceremonies noisy affairs was that the public expected some excitement. , Mr von Haast: If they want a musical comedy, why have a graduation ceremony? _ Professor Segar said that he had organised certain functions in Auckland, and had induced several prominent people to participate, but he had been disgusted and ashamed at the result of the proceedings; the studente howled the speakers down. The Vice-Chancellor .Professor J. Macmillan Brown) said that until they had some sort of guarantee that such behaviour would not be indulged m, he did not feel like taking the risk again. . They should wait to see if there was a new spirit before they put their foot in it again. They should not permit the officials of the institution to suffer such indignities. Professor Wall (Christchurch), m supporting the motion, said that iiho students aid not welcome prolonged orations on university work, but expected bright and breezy references to the year’s progress. Professor T. A. Hunter (Wellington) pointed.out that the interruptions, at the ceremonies came from a relatively small section of the students. Some had told him that) they regarded interruptions as traditional. He would favour the motion if the universities could properly control the ceremonies, but he was not satisfied that that could be done in every centre. The Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) said that the spirit of interruption was atoll apparent at the last debating ceremony in Wellington. He knew as a fact that the Victoria College had lost a considerable grant that was about to be given to it by a certain donor on account of the disturbances. The misconduct of the students - only brought disgrace on the university. Professor J. Rankine Brown (Wellington) and Rev. Dr Cameron said they should certainly vote against the motion if it proposed the remsfeitutton of the ceremonies in all the colleges. The Senate could disallow ceremoniesin certain districts if it-felt that the noisy spirit stall prevailed in them. The motion was carried on a division by 13 votes to 8. The Chancellor remarked that personally be would not conduct any ceremony.