Valedictory Address

“The Valedictory Address” Brunswickan 42, 7 (August 1923): 276-280. (UA Case 68, Box 1)

With the completion of today's Encoenial exercises, there comes the close of another chapter in the history of our Alma Mater. The close of a fantastic chapter of the unwritten records of the hopes and failures, the aspirations and the realizations of the several members of this, the ninety-sixth graduating class of the University.

As the youngest students of that greater University—The World—we are standing upon the threshhold of a new life and before we take that initial step which severs the connections with the surrounding circumstances of the past four years, there seems to come to us a strange blending of the past and the future. The words of the Persian philosopher and poet flash before our mind's eye:

"The Moving Finger writes and having writ;
Moves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a word of it."

For four years we climbed the narrow, rough and crooked little path to attend the lectures of our professors and the various social and athletic functions of the student body. Into this period are crowded a multitude of memories, which in later years we shall cherish even more than we do at this present. And today our ambitions have been realized—we have obtained the coveted parchments and the corresponding degrees. There remains but to say a word of farewell.

On a bright September morning in 1919, fifty-six class-mates climbed the narrow path, through the grove, as Freshman students at the University. The strength of the majority was ours, and any remaining forms of initiation which might have been attempted by upper classmen would have met with a freshman “scrag.” During the year the class was represented on the football, hockey, basketball and debating teams. In fact, the class of 1923 during its four-year-course has lent excellent aid to all college functions. Time passed quickly and many changes were witnessed, so that when lectures were begun in September of our senior year membership had been reduced to thirty-three.

Tribute to Memory of Fellow Student

With the reopening last September, it was evident that college-spirit ran high, and as fellow students and classmates welcomed each other back after a summer's absence, all looked forward to a brilliant year in student activities. Then, one day there came the sad news of one who would not return to his "Alma Mater, standing half-way up the hill." I refer to the accidental death while engaged in forest survey work in Ontario, of the late “Spike” Brennan, as he was known to his friends. Although “Spike” had attended college for only one year, he had formed a large circle of friends. His words of counsel and advice in student affairs gained more and more in weight, for he was recognized as a man of sound judgment. Again we remember him on the football field and in the hockey rink where his splendid display of good sportsmanship won him the applause and good feeling of his fellow students. The University last a good student; his class-mates a prominent and loyal member of the class; and his acquaintances atrusty friend. He has passed the Veil to the Great Beyond but his influence has endured.

The Past Year

The past year has witnessed a successful period for the Athletic Society. The football team were successful to a degree which is seldom attained, for in their regular schedule games not a score was tallied against them, and at the end of the season they retained their title as champions of the Intercollegiate Football League and winners of the Clarke trophy.

The hockey team were also successful in winning the Summer trophy.

While the basketeers were not as successful as the other teams, their games were cleanly played and were fine demonstrations of good sportsmanship.

With a review of the athletic situation comes a suggestion of compulsory athletics as found upon the curriculums of many American colleges--notably West Point. For with athletics established as a subject and inferior to no other, it breeds good health which is the prerequisite of all successful study.

The beginning of our senior year marked the adoption of a new mode of student government. The old form of the Students' Association was abolished, and in its stead there was established a students' council with -representatives elected from each class. This, together with the student's union forms the basis of the present student government. Due to the zeal and untiring efforts of the president of these societies the new system has proven a decided advance over the old methods.

Together with the change of government came a change in the policy of the student publication. For forty-one years it bore the ambiguous name of the University Monthly until the change of policy brought forth the more appropriate title of “The Brunswickan.” A system of distinctions has been established, and the magazine is at
present one of the healthiest of the student publications in the Maritime provinces, if not in Canada.

While the intercollegiate debating team were not successful in winning their debate with St. Francis Xavier, the debating society experienced a successful year. The value of the society is not appreciated as it should be, especially by the science students. The realization of the benefits afforded in this particular often comes too late.

The mock trial and the sessions of mock parliament were carried on as usual and the college orchestra was also a feature of the year.

Athletic activities in the form of basketball were carried on by the young lady students together with the first of a series of intercollegiate debates. While others of the ladies’ societies report an active and profitable year.

Considerable might be said of the various student activities, but time will not permit. Of the various social events, one need not repeat the accounts excepting to add that considerable credit is due the young ladies for their interest and invaluable aid in bringing all the social undertakings to a successful culmination.

Memorial Building Assured

The action of the provincial government in connection with the proposed amalgamation of the Maritime universities is laudable; for this, together with the grant of $50,000 towards the erection of a memorial building, is indeed an assurance of the future prosperity and expansion of the provincial university. At last New Brunswick
has a government which is fully in sympathy with the development of the highest state institution of learning.

Fire Protection

Undoubtedly the construction of the new building will be commenced in the near future. In this connection it is to be hoped that the plans will include the installation of a suitable means of fire protection. At present the University buildings with their equipment represent an investment of approximately half a million dollars, and excepting for a few small chemical fire extinguishers there is absolutely no means of protection from fire hazard. If at the present time an outbreak of fire should occur and it attained any size, the result would be the total destruction of the institution and a loss from which the University of New Brunswick would never recover.

Expansion

The erection of the Memorial building will herald the expansion of the science courses; the establishment of a much needed hydraulic laboratory, the enlargement of the departments of Chemistry, Physics and the Mechanical Laboratory. Even at the present time the professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering is greatly hampered by having too much work thrust upon him as the sole instructor for this department. It is plainly evident that an additional instructor in this department is required immediately.

Civil Engineering

It is no secret that during the past few years the efficiency of the Civil Engineering course of the University has been greatly increased, together with a corresponding elevation of standard. However, it is felt that there is a need of a general revision of the course to meet present day conditions. For, today, the engineer knows enough to know that he cannot know it all and therefore employs men who are experts in each of the branches of the profession that he may have occasion to use. In America more emphasis is being placed upon concentration of subjects; fewer subjects and less scattered ones. The graduate engineer must be more highly educated than his father was, and Prof. Magruder, of Ohio State University, declared not long ago: "Four years is not time enough in engineering, any more than it is in any other learned profession, all of which require six or seven years of education after graduating from High Schools.

In the United States, where proper perspective and teaching could not be secured for the subject, engineering colleges have been forced to establish departments of engineering physics, engineering English and the like. Completed courses that are valueless for any practical use do not commend themselves to practicing engineers. It is believed that if the course at U. N. B. were revised with regard to these very subjects of English, Mathematics and Physics, together with some of the more estranged subjects, then still greater efficiency could be secured.

Farewell

To you, Mr. Chancellor, and Gentlemen of our Faculty, we desire to express our appreciation for your many efforts exercised on our behalf. We thank you for your patience and faithful efforts in leading us to think for ourselves. In bidding you adieu, we shall carry away only the most pleasant memories and wish you success in your future work.

To the citizens of Fredericton, we extend our hearty thanks for the many tokens of thoughtfulness and kindness which we have received from you. You have entertained us in your homes and welcomed us to your churches; withal, you have made our stay in this beautiful city a pleasant one, and when you hear the roar of cannon from yonder hill in the early morning hours, remember that it is
merely the final salute of the class of 1923.

To the Undergraduates—we have worked together, played together, cheered together and accepted defeat together—you have seen wherein we have erred; seek to rectify it if you can. Keep us the old customs, sing the old songs, and “play the game.”

Mr. Chancellor, Gentlemen of the Faculty, Citizens of Fredericton and Friends—Farewell.

Alma Mater—Adieu.