THE IRREPRESSIBLE STUDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 62

THE IRREPRESSIBLE STUDENT.

IN DISGRACE, BUT NOT DISMAYED

BURLESQUE CAPPING CEREMONY.

AUCKLAND, June 15. University students did a number of things last evening. Deprived of the usual capping ceremony this year, they held an unofficial one. They also filled the Town Hall to capacity, and kept the huge audience amused for more than two hours with topical burlesques, and raised about £lOO for the Auckland City Mission. The president of the Students’ Association (Mr D. H. Steen) had charge of the capping ceremony. In a short speech he explained that the New University Act made no provision for the public conferring of degrees, and owing to the conduct of certain students at the Easter tournament debate, the College Council had refused to hold a ceremony for the congratulation of the graduates. This, he said, seemed unduly severe, because graduates as a body were not to blame, and in any case the Students’ Association had done its best to identify the offenders, although without success. The disturbance had been deprecated by the association, and the committee in charge of the debate. Unfortunately the council had also declined to let the students hold an annual “rag” in aid of charity, as was done in certain universities in Great Britain.

After a topical song a dozen “girls” from the ‘‘Consolidated Stammer Schools,” in correct gymnasium dress, gave a ladylike haka and a fearful and wonderful display of eurythmics. A soloist in one of the new backless ballet dresses imitated Pavlova, but. was shot from the wings by a male person, doubtless a rejected lover, and was borne off dead. Next a model graduation ceremony was presented by a dozen students robed and made up to represent the president, registrar, and leading professors of the college. Degrees were conferred by the “president’’ “without the authority of the Senate” upon various well-known people, including the Commissioner of Police (Mr W. R. MTlveney), who received the third degree of N.P. (Nosey Parker). A number of prizes for athletics were presented. Mr A. E. Ford (tramway manager), for the three miles’ walk, was awarded a season ticket for a community bus.

One of the “Miss New Zealand” screen trials was staged by three students, and the “lady” was awarded one single ticket to Waikumete, the home of Auckland’s cemetery, for self and chaperon. The evening wound up with the frothblowers’ anthem, a series of hakas and much cheering.