THE UNIVERSITY AND THE PEOPLE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 102, 24 January 1935, Page 8

THE UNIVERSITY AND THE PEOPLE

Through the death of Professor Macmillan Brown, whose services to education generally and Valued contributions to the ethnology of the Pacific islands especially marked his. life as a career of achievement, the post of Chancellor of the University of New Zealand has become vacant. Although the greater part of the. administrative work of the University devolves upon the Vice-Chancelloi. as. elite j executive officer, the Chancellor himself, if gifted with qualities ol leadership, is in a position to influence greatly the. nature am. direction of university policy. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the Senate, in its choice, of leader, will have regard rather to the conditions and the needs of the times than to the claims of seniority or succession among its present members. . So rapid and immense has been the increase of knowledge within the last half-century, and so tremendous have. been the changes which these have produced in the conditions of civilised life, that a closet connection between the University and the people is not only desira..ne, but urgently necessary. Civilisation is passing through a period of great difficulty and uncertainty- Ancient beliefs have been assailed, and traditions undermined. There is a tremendous conflict of opinions and ideals concerning human destiny and its fulfilment. In these intellectual storms the University to-day should stand as a cleai lignt. guiding and inspiring humanity. It should take stock of the world of its own times, and shape its policy accordingly. _ J. . In the constitution of the University of New Zealand it is provided that the members of the Senate “shall be appointed or elected for a term of three years, but shall, unless disqualified . • ■ be entitled to continue in office until the appointment or election of their successors.” A survey of the personnel of the Senate over a period shows that few changes have been made except when death has created a vacancy, that the phrase, “continue in office., seems to have become a more or less settled procedure. This is.in, itself an obstacle to that regular rejuvenation of the Senate which the conditions of modern civilisation imperatively demand, and the constitution clearly intended should take place. Hence through the simple passage of time the government of the University, and its policy, tend to lose touch with contemporary thought and progress. This tendency, is emphasised by the inclination of the University to. resent outside interference. It is jealous, of its authority and privileges, and properly so; but this very obsession engenders a certain isolation from its community, a danger which may be largely averted by regu.a'. infusions of new blood in its governing body.. The selection of Government representatives, if wisely made, should act as a corrective to undue conservatism. In the same way the representatives of the General Court of Convocation, the graduate body, if that electorate takes its responsibilities seriously, should help to keep the Senate up to date. Much, however, will depend on the Senate’s choice of a Chancellor, who should be a man of strong and compelling personality, of broad sympathies, and thoroughly conversant with contemporary world conditions and the progress and direction of events. What the modern university needs, as much as modern democracy needs, is wise and courageous leadership.