Valedictory Address

"Valedictory Address" (16 May 1975): 1-7. (UA Case 68, Box 2).

A few months ago I had a dream. It was graduation day and suddenly I realized that I had to give the valedictory address. Unfortunately I had either failed to bring the speech with me or I had forgotten to write it, I wasn't sure which.

Luckily, Dr. Anderson called a fifteen minute intermission in the ceremonies, which seems to be a popular fad nowadays. And during this time I had planned to put my thoughts on paper.

But as often happens in dreams I seemed to waste more time than utilize it so I found myself no further ahead when the ceremonies resumed.

But a speech did not matter at that point, at least what I might have written on paper beforehand. I realized that it would be impossible to imagine how one might feel at this moment, a week before or two weeks. I knew that probably the most honest and sincere speech must come from the heart; that one must be inspired by the graduates, the people and the atmosphere.

William Wordsworth said, "Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feeling". Spontaneous is the key word. Poetry is emotion and emotion must then be spontaneous to be true.

In my dream, I gave that speech, but what we describe as off the top of my head. I remember the words to flow so easily. “People” was the important element.

That dream did much to influence what I have to say today. But the only regret I have is that I woke up before I found out if I got a standing ovation.

Many prospective graduates asked that I omit the old graduation day clichés. But leaving out those clichés is “easier said than done." When I reminisce over the four years I spent here, I feel nothing but clichés stemming from a lot of good memories. But this is virtually unimportant compared to how life here has influenced our individual growth. That dream made me realize we all have to be individuals, and that today, in order to be sincere, I must say what I feel rather than what people may expect of me.

The majority of us have matured at UNB. Our lives at university have helped us develop into the people we are. The friends we made, the events we witnessed, the pressures, the types of life we have experienced are just as important as the degrees we are receiving.

Therefore, for the next few moments I would like to reminisce over some of the events that we saw in the past four years. For what we live through is partly what we are.

In the fall of 1971, many of us were freshmen at UNB, but it did not take us, or the upperclassmen long, to make known our stand on world affairs. November 12th of that year, students at UNB and St. Thomas staged a demonstration showing their intense disapproval with the then proposed detonation of a five megaton nuclear bomb on Amchitka Island. Organized by the newly formed Mother Earth Fan Club, students witnessed the planting of a tree as the Amchitka Memorial, and participated in a march in downtown Fredericton.

That fall, students suffered through the traditional long line ups in an all day registration, but Senate promised to relieve future agonies by approving pre-registration. The majority of the hours and paper work was to rely upon the mail.

UNB in Saint John was also making progress in 1971. Senate approved a degree program for our port city counterpart. Third and fourth year courses were introduced in 1972 and 1973 respectively.

In the world of sports, UNB was also being distinguished by having four former Red Bombers drafted into professional football. Tony Proudfoot, Peter Merrill and Art Stotart were drafted by the Grey Cup Champion Montreal Alouettes while Dick Flynn was claimed by the Edmonton Eskimos. Those were the days for the Red Bombers.

Although not living a very successful childhood to this point, course evaluation was given birth in 1971-72. Problems continue to plague attempts at student evaluation of courses and it looks as though they will not be cleared up until co-operation is exercised by all professors, departments, faculties and students.

Political science students boycotted classes in February of 1972 on behalf of the Students’ Association for Political Science who were protesting rejection of their proposals to their department. They were demanding more student involvement in the organization of the political science courses and requirements.

Dr. James O Dineen tendered his resignation as President of the University of New Brunswick in March of 1972. The resignation became effective in June of that year and Dr. Desmond Pacey was named Acting President.

March 10th the Brunswickan celebrated its fiftieth anniversary under that name. In 1922 it had been changed from the University Monthly.

Students made great strides in representation when three students were elected to the Board of Governors for the first time. Michael Richard, Kenneth DeFreitas and Craig Wilson became UNB’s first student Governors in the fall of 1972.

In January of 1975 Dr. John Anderson was declared President of UNB. His official duties began in March of that year.

College Hill Student Radio, CHSR, made the headlines in September, 1973 when they received their license from the Canadian Radio and Television Commission. They were the second student radio station in Canada to obtain their license.

Dr. Anderson was also in the news in October of '73 when he returned from a two week tour of China with 15 other Canadian scientists. Later that month he was officially installed as President of the university at special ceremonies held at The Playhouse.

1973-74 was also a year for strikes. 46 maintenance crew members did not attend work due to illness described as maintenance flu caused by malnutrition from low wages. The janitors on campus caused an even bigger problem when they walked out. Some residences even took on their own janitorial duties during the strike.

Bottoms up was the theme for March 1974. Like all over North America streaking had struck the campus. Derrieres adorned the front pages of the Brunswickan and interrupted SRG meetings.

The fall of '74 was an important time for students when the new marking system was implemented. Discussions on the changeover from percentages to letters had dominated the previous academic year, but its maiden run became a reality. Our graduating class is the first under the new system.

1974-75 was also an expansion year for the university. Construction began on the new Aitken University Centre, our multi-purpose arena supported by the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation, and the integrated University Complex, more simply called the new science centre. The two buildings are the first major additions since the building boom of the Colin B. Mackay era.

This past year was also one for unity for students in Atlantic universities. UNB hosted the first student union conference which led to the formation of the Atlantic Student Federation – Fédération des Étudiants Atlantiques —chaired by its main instigator Warren McKenzie of UNB. Their projects have recently included student aid in the various provinces.

As buildings began to rise at UNB Fredericton, the Saint John campus had its own problems. Two people were injured when girders collapsed during the initial building of the Athletic Centre. The collapse was said to be due to inappropriate building procedures.

While students were receiving more opportunities of representation within the university structure, we were unfortunately hit with a case of immaturity. UNB suffered its first ballot stuffing case during the fall Student Council, Board of Governors and Senate elections which led to a by-election. Some students were concerned that the incident might have been a hindrance to the progress being made in giving students more representation and responsibilities.

The Maggie Jean Chestnut residence celebrated its 25th anniversary this past year. As UNB's first women's residence it was opened in 1949 in the name of Maggie Jean Chestnut, a 1927 graduate.

While old residences were having birthdays, two new residences were given birth. The Co-operative Apartments on Montgomery Street were reopened as women's and married students’ residences. Former UNB registrar Edith McLeod opened the women's residence in her name. The other, building was named for the late Fred Magee, a benefactor of the university.

Women's residences were causing problems for the Board of Governors and the Senate late in the 1975 spring term. The majority of girls wanted open rooms, such as the men's residences are permitted. However, their proposed trial basis was turned down, at least until fall.

The decision was made in March of '75 to raise tuition and residence fees for the next year, affecting all undergraduate faculties. Student union fees are also intended to be hiked. It seems as though inflation does not spare any Aspect of life including education.

There are so many events and aspects of life which may have affected us directly or indirectly in our growth as individuals. Many people are involved in our search for ourselves, and there are so many individuals each of us would probably like to thank today. But there are two people who deserve a special word of thanks from all students at UNB. I have saved this event until the conclusion because I feel it is one of the most important for students in our years here.

In November of 1972, the office of the Dean of Students was open to applicants for the first time. Today Professor Barry Thompson of the Physical Education department holds the position of "our own ombudsman". He deserves a word of thanks and encouragement from all of us. His office is concerned with the student at the personal level and as a community, as he is in charge of student services in any aspect of life at UNB. Your concerns have been his concerns.

But I am sure Professor Thompson will agree that his job was made that much easier by the man who pioneered the position in 1971-72; the man who set it up as a viable, efficient office for handling student needs and student problems. Without his guidance and hard work, the office of the Dean of Students might not be as valuable a source to students in an ombudsman role as it is today.

Therefore, on behalf of the Graduation Glass of 1975, I am pleased and honored to dedicate the valedictory address to the first Dean of Students at the University of New Brunswick, Dr. Frank Wilson.