Valedictory Address

“Norman M. MacLeod, U.N.B. Valedictorian Appeals For Action to Get More Students” Daily Gleaner (16 May 1935). (UA Case 68, Box 2)

The class of 1935 must say farewell. For today our direct connection with the University is ended. Today we leave.

We leave with regret. And I do not say that we leave with regret merely because one hundred and seven valedictorians before me have said it. I say it because never, perhaps, has it been more true. For never have the halls of learning and student life appeared more rosy than now, contrasted with the howling gale of a cold, bleak world. All former classes have regretted the pleasant associations and friendships which they left, while we regret, in addition, the sheltered life we leave. For it would be a mighty soothsayer who could say what lies before this class.

With Few Delusions

But even the howling gale, into which we go, teaches its lesson. And perhaps this class, less than any class preceding it, goes forth suffering from the delusion of the almighty degree blasting for its owner, a hallowed place in the sun. And for the same reason the class of 1935 has, perhaps, a better appreciation than most of the true meaning of education—that it is not a phase and does not occupy a certain period, but that it is the art of living and it extends from the cradle to the grave.

But we of this class, who are today graduates, do not wish to strike a pessimistic note. Those of you who remain we wish to encourage. For it is quite apparent that the more difficult the heights to be scaled, the better the preparation needed, And to you we would say, “We are happy that we have spent this time here—more happy than we, dignified graduates of an hour, can say.”

Advice to Undergraduates

It is difficult for us, on this, our day of academic triumph, to restrain from giving freely of our wisdom to the undergraduates. Between your academic and social life there should be a proper balance. In our years here we have worked some a played some. Some of us have worked too much at the expense of play and some of us have played too much. Both groups were wrong. Balance and a true perspective of values are essential if one is to obtain the maximum benefit from attending a university. It should have been easy to see that before. Perhaps you who are still student will learn more easily than we did.

There are athletics and debating, dramatics and journalism, and a dozen clubs and societies. And the existence of every one of them is justified. They all play their part in university life and they all have their use and undoubted value. But one must not get lost in a maze of activities and neglect each one for the others and the academic work for them all. It is wise to enter into one or two activities with vigor, support them well, gain from them the benefit which exists in them, and so have a balanced programme of work and hobbies.

Needs of Student Publication

One student activity in particular I will mention. That is your medium of expression. The Brunwickan. In the part the Brunswickan has been, more or less, expressive of student opinion. It is to be hoped that in the future the paper will always be more expressive I that opinion. Of late years The Brunswickan had been unfortunate in its editors. They have been men who, with the editorship, have accepted almost the entire burden of the production of the paper. They have worked far too hard and The Brunswickan has suffered. If those editors had concentrated on staff organization as ably and as faithfully as they did on the actual publication of the paper, The Brunswickan today would not be passing through such trying times. The trying times to which I refer have been characterized by the long succession of editors who have been forced to resign due to that editorship demanding so much time. For this same reason The Brunswickan has been subjected to certain criticism. It has been said that a student cannot be editor of the paper and at the same time pay proper attention to his academic work. I venture to disagree with that opinion. An editor with ability as an organizer would not find that position more demanding than other of the more important student positions. But it is essential that the editor be an organizer. That is more important than his being a good journalist.

The reason that I speak of the Brunswickan is that I should consider it most unfortunate if The Brunswickan should collapse. And this year The Brunswickan nearly collapsed. The Brunswickan, providing as it does a medium of expression for the undergraduates and a bond with the alumni, is an important part of university life and should exist. Proper and careful organization will ensure that existence.

Able Instructions

To the faculty, too, we must say farewell and with regret. During our association with you, you have helped us much as we would permit ourselves to be helped, you have given us as much as we would permit ourselves to be given. Our association with you has been successful, for during our years here that amount of help which we were willing to suffer has increased. At the university we have evolved from those boys and girls to whom college meant a contest, faculty versus students, to, perhaps, men and women receiving today degrees. We do not say that you, the faculty of the university, are beyond criticism. We do not believe in your perfection. But we have found you good men and worthy leaders. We are proud to have worked under you.

Field Secretary Urged

To the Senate, we of this class would say that you have done much for the University. And for that we extend our thanks. But there is yet more that should be done and more that you should do. This last year has witnessed a falling off of the number of students at the University. This is most unfortunate, not because of any ridiculous worship of numbers, but because of the financial strain which it places upon the fewer students. As you are aware, all student activities are finances by voluntary levy, which you, the Senate, refuse to make compulsory. With fewer students this levy becomes proportionately greater and it is proportionately more difficult for the students to carry on. Therefore the size of the student-body must be maintained. A field secretary should be engaged to interview prospective students and to publicize adequately but ethically, the courses that the university offers. The shackles of tradition must be broken.

The University of New Brunswick must meet her competition or suffer.

To the citizens of Fredericton our thanks are due. And it is fitting on this occasion to express those thanks. During our university life we have been made welcome in Fredericton. The business men have supported us in our venture, and the people have opened their homes to us. There has been no discord between town and gown. May it be ever so—a cordial friendship existing between town and university.

The Cry for Leadership

To the university as a whole we express our sincere gratitude. In all its phases, and there are many, it has helped us grow. And is not that the purpose of a university—to cherish the growth of students?

Today our country and the world are crying for leadership—and that leadership must be supplied by the universities. That is their function. This university has attempted to make us into potential leaders. If it has been successful in some of us then it has served society well. And so we pay tribute to the spirit of the University of New Brunswick. It is that spirit, in which we have dwelt, that gives to the university its undoubted and unchallenged value. May that spirit ever grow greater!

And I trust that some of us, who have today graduated, take with our degrees something of that spirit. For that is the part of the university to which we shall never say farewell.

And now to the rest, that which we must leave—farewell.