Valedictory Address

“Valedictory of U.N.B. for 1944 by James L. Belyea in Absentia” The Daily Gleaner (18 May 1944): 4, 8. (UA Case 68, Box 1)

In absentia, James L. Belyea of Saint John was the valedictorian of the University of New Brunswick. The valedictorian has been in the Royal Canadian Navy for some time and his address was read by his classmate, Malcolm MacKay of Rothesay.

“Your Honour, Dr. MacKenzie, our distinguished visitors, ladies and gentlemen –

This afternoon you have witnessed the formal ceremony of awarding degrees to the earnest group of young men and women before you. Today they leave behind the trials of attending a university in the difficult times of war for a greater concern in the world of men about them.

For the past four years their position has not been the most enviable. These past four years have been years of war, and every one of their college days have been darkened by the shadow of unrest. They have watched their comrades follow the alluring call to arms while they manfully persevered at difficult studies. The distant promise of action, and the romance of the services have appeared most tempting while plodding through heavy texts to prepare for examinations. And these burdens have not been lightened by the customary diversions in which college people of a peacetime era engage. Social functions and intercollegiate sports have been voluntarily curtailed, and in their place the additional tasks of military training and war effort endeavors have been substituted. The traditional gaiety of a college existence has been exchanged for the concern and premature gravity so apparent in our Canadian youth today.

Possibly many of you may not realize how deeply these students are affected by the grimness of the war, distant though it may be. They envy their friends who are serving in the front lines, and tasting high adventure, whilst they strive to complete their demanding schedules of seemingly interminable schoolwork. The epithet of “draft-dodger” applied to these young people is most unreasonable and unkind. A rigorous system is in action in Canadian universities to weed out those doing unsatisfactory work, - and satisfactory work in Arts includes only the topmost part of the class, despite possession of passing grades by the remainder. Standards are being raised, not lowered, under the strain of war, and the pace is now suited for only the finest students.

Despite the unnatural conditions under which these young people are working, and the wartime conversion of youthful exhuberance to studious toil; to them the high praise awarded service folk is not extended. Yet theirs indeed is the duty to carefully prepare themselves for technical assignments in the great struggle; and theirs is the responsibility to take a leading part in directing the peace after the victory. The youth of our land are manning the aircraft, the tanks and destroyers to win that peace and freedom we so cherish, and it is they, and the young people in the universities (who are being trained to think as well as fight), who will inherit the peace that shall be ours.

The war has been difficult, and much remains to be won before final victory is achieved. Just as we are prone to consider the battle ours, and smugly proclaim the end to be in sight as the weight of armed might swings in our favour, so we tend to lose sight of the trails that peace will bring, and substitute visions of a new elaborate standard of living. But the cold facts remain – that we have not yet won the victory; and that victory may bring even greater hardships than the war has imposed. Hundreds of thousands of technically trained personnel will be immobilized by the services and war industries. Their reallocation to peacetime employments will not be immediately accomplished; and the supply of technicians will be greatly in excess of any conceivable demand. Thus enormous numbers of trained servicemen, now receiving trades-pay allowances, and skilled female war workers, will be forced to revert to the more poorly-paid ranks of unskilled labour. To aggravate these economic difficulties, the astronomical national debts now accumulating with every bond issue will have to be met. Our paths after victory will not be at all easy. The vast amounts of munitions and tools manufactured for war will not be of any use to ourselves, or to the hungry and impoverished millions in Europe and Asia.

These gigantic tasks, of finding employment for our returning service people, for our equally deserving war workers; and of providing relief and guidance to the vanquished – to forestall another world conflagration; will fall to a large extend upon this younger generation. And to the young people now attending the universities, who are being trained for professional responsibilities, and in the use of logic and judgment, will come the greatest opportunities for service ever offered to the youthful graduate. The challenge to accept leadership in the post-war period, and to forge ahead to new peaks of prosperity and international co-operation, goes out to these capable young people who graduate today, and to those who follow.

The government has decreed that those students who show an aptitude for university work be given every incentive to continue, though men are urgently needed in the front lines. This is as it should be, for the true strength of a nation lies in the wisdom of her people. Education is a powerful force, and may well be our greatest instrument in effecting a lasting peace amongst men. The flow of trained professional people and potential leaders from the colleges in wartime is as essential as the flow of munitions. Too small an interest has been shown by the public in education as basic tool of war, and as the greatest insurance for a continuing peace. The day is fast approaching when the educator will rank with the statesman in the determination of international policies.

Many thousands of servicemen will eagerly return to complete their educations after the war. Universities and schools will be sadly crowded by the influx, and public support will undoubtedly be necessary to alleviate the situation. National interests will require that this support be freely and fully given to provide these men with the best possible opportunities in the post-war period. And national unity and national welfare can best be fostered by a uniform educational system for the whole of Canada, – with equal opportunities for all to continue as far as their abilities and not their circumstances permit. Perhaps some day this may be achieved, but only if every one of us takes hold and determines that it shall be so.

The past four years at this university have taught us of the graduating class many lessons. We have learned through the classroom, the laboratory and field work the specialized knowledge that we shall carry with us into our chosen professions. But we have gained a great deal in addition through contacts with our professors and ourselves. We have learned something of tolerance, of tact, and how men may work together to achieve a given end. We have spent portions of our precious spare time on student organizations, societies, publications and sports. We have grown in the social graces, and in our powers of organization and leadership. We have learned to meet people living in different circumstances, and have made many friends, whom we shall be sorry to bid farewell as our paths diverge to new worlds.

Among those friends we most highly esteem are President N.A.M. MacKenzie and his charming wife whose sojourn here will equal ours in length. Their deep personal interest in all affairs of the university and its students have won the hearts of all. Dr. MacKenzie’s worthy counsel has been most readily accessible to any student at all times, despite his manifold duties in connection with the national war effort. His presence will be greatly missed, as will that of Mrs. MacKenzie, who has joined so freely with the President in patronizing all student endeavors. To them, the graduating class and the whole student body wish the greatest happiness and success in their new home.

Many changes in the University have accompanied our stay here. We arrived in time to view the opening of the magnificent gymnasium, another gift of our generous benefactor, Lord Beaverbrook. This splendid plant is the particular pride of the students, whose athletic development has been greatly enhanced by it. With our arrival came also the institution of compulsory military training in the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps, and two years later, the inauguration of the University Air Training Corps; both of which have proven invaluable in the development of qualities of discipline and leadership. Our second year saw the arrival of R.C.A.F. radio technicians, later changed to R.C.N.V.R. radio artificers, to take special technical courses of instruction on the campus in the Department of Electrical Engineering. The initiation of Blood Donor Clinics throughout the province necessitated the establishment of a Blood Processing Laboratory, and the Biology Department undertook to provide facilities. A well equipped laboratory, staffed by Dr. Argue and volunteer workers now process the blood donations collected over the province. The Chemistry Department also undertook to engage in research work for the National Research Council, and is staffed and equipped to play its part in the war effort.

The student war effort should not be overlooked. Moneys were raised one year towards the purchase of a Spitfire aircraft, and forwarded to Lord Beaverbrook. Succeeding years have seen the formation of a War Effort Committee to co-ordinate all student endeavors in this direction. Considerable sums have been raised and distributed to the Canadian Red Cross Society and other war services. Through the International Students’ Service, relief for students in war-torn lands has been solicited, and clothing and books gathered for refugee students. The students have eagerly given repeated blood donations, and many possess badges to signify the donations made. The co-eds have devoted themselves to making garments for the Red Cross, taking first aid classes, and doing volunteer work in the Blood Bank Laboratory.

These collegiate war efforts by the graduating class are now culminating in a greater personal effort as the graduates take their places in a nation at war. The majority are even now allocated to the armed services; some have already departed. The remainder are already making plans to join essential industries where their talents are sorely needed.

A large number of the original class cannot be present for the ceremonies of this afternoon, having joined the colors before completing their courses. Some have given their lives in the mighty struggle. We think with reverence of the three members of our class who have paid the supreme sacrifice: Frank A. Milbury, Harold R. Hatfield and James L. Richards. To the parents of these young men our sincerest sympathies are extended. To the parents of all those who have left our ranks to serve, and might be present but for the cruelties of war, we give our deepest thoughts. Our hearts are with them, their sorrow is ours.

To our own parents, whom we have invited to view the fulfillment of their hopes and desires, we owe a debt of gratitude. Theirs have been the deprivations, the anxieties and apprehensions that we might reach this goal. To-day as we receive our degrees, we feel as proud of them as they of us.

To the university itself, the class now bids a fond farewell. The memories of these halls we trod will forever linger with us. We have made fast and valued friends in the faculty, who have given so freely of their time and energies to aid us, in our individual difficulties. We have learned a great deal though personal contacts with them, that no text book can ever teach. It is with regret that we say farewell to the faculty, and to our many friends in Fredericton and the university. We wish the undergraduates every success in their determination to complete the courses which will make them such important people for the future. We would urge them to take the greatest possible advantage of the opportunities they now have to develop qualities of leadership.

Finally, to the graduates, I wish to bid a personal farewell. For the past four years they have been my closest friends; and these bonds are difficult to break as we scatter across the world to our various careers. I am sure that the success and rewards, that have been theirs in college, await them in the future; and they will prove as fine citizens as they have been students.

… Many have died that the things we cherish, the freedom we enjoy, might be ours. We have a sacred trust to fulfill. Do not forsake it. Though the way be hard, and able hands be few … take hold. Accept responsibilities as they come your way. Grasp firmly, and lead the others on. With courage and determination you will find the great success which shall be yours, - and your deeds shall reflect naught but glory on yourselves, your university, and your country.”