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ATTACK ON THE PROFESSORS.…

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ATTACK ON THE PROFESSORS. ABILITY AND LOYALTY IMPUGNED. ABERYSTWYTH COLLEGE TROUBLES. DR GWENOGFRYN EVANS' ONSLAUGHT. PEDAGOGUES WHO ARE TOO PERIPATETIC. STUDENTS "TREATED AS A NUISANCE." At the half-yearly meeting of the Court of Governors of the University College, Aber- ystwyth, Mr. David Davies, M.P. (the junior vice-president), presided over a large attendance. LORD RENDEL'S MUNIFICENCE. Principal Roberts announced that Lord Rendel, the president of the college, who had writtEm regretting his unavoidable absence, had within the last few days sent his annual cheque for £ 1,000. PRINCIPAL'S REPORT. principal Roberts in his report to the governors said the number of regular students in college for the present session was 460—242 men and 218 women—of whom 400 wolre pursuing full degree courses in the University cf Wales, including six post- graduate students. The remainder were taking London University courses, diploma oourses, and matriculation. The number of now students was 143. In the degree examina- tions of 1909 86 qualified for the degree of B.A. and B.Sc., 53 obtaining honours, ten of them in the first-class and 26 in the seoond, two for the degree of LL.B., two for the degree of M.Sc. in recognition of research, and seven for the M.A. degree, the dissertations pre- sented being in some cases of special merit. Eight students obtained the post-graduate certificate of the secondary training depart- ment in education The increased grant, continued the principal, would place the college in a position to add greatly to the opportunities afforded for post-graduate study and research, but the college was still greatly in need of provision for poet-graduate studentships, tenable for one or two years, to enable the'ablest students to enter upon the work of research, and thus eventually to qualify for the fellowships which the University of Wales would now have to award on a much larger eoale than hitherto. GEOLOGICAL AND ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCK An example of the work which opened out before the college in this direction might be taken from the department of geology. Wales was said to be the training ground of British geologists, and Mr. O. T. Jonee, the distinguished old student whom they were to welcome back as the head of this depart- ment, had recently carried out investigations in that district, not twenty miles from the college, which in the judgment of leading geologists, whom they had consulted in con- nection with the appointment, raised fresh problems of the greatest interest, which they hoped the students of the department would help to solve. The archaeological excavations recently begun in the district appeared to promise a field of hardly lees interest, while the treasures of the National Library afforded unequalled opportunities to quali- fied students of Celtic literature ana philology. Other fields of inquiry to which they had been looking forward, in connection with the agriculture and fisheries of the district, they might now hope to be able to enter upon. The number of students in the law department showed a steady increase, and they were looking forward to the estab- lishment of a Board of Legal Education for Wales, which would help to place the -work of this department on a per- ma.nent footing. The number of students taking Welsh was rapidly growing, and was now 98. It included, besides the normal students taking degree courses in Welsh, 33 normal students attending a specaol class which had lately been established tor their The total number of normal students now in the college was 142, all of these matriculated students pursuing degree courses. The summer school was attended by co bei-s from the affiliated counties, its work receiving high commendation from the inspector who visited the school on behalf of the Board of Education. Among the gifts presented to the college museum'during the vear were valuable botanical collections, pre- sented by the Rev. W. Hunt Painter Two important matters, the munificent conditional offer of the Llandinam family to bear the coet of erecting a college hall and the pro- posed extension of the Teachers' Training department, were under the consideration of the council, but they were not in a position to report upon them to the present meeting of the court. The rnnrvrt. was adonted. on the proposition of Principal Ainsworth Davies, of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, seconded by the Rev. T. E. Williams, Newtown A vote of thanks was passed to the Rev. Hunt Painter, Mr. J. B. Willans, Dr R. D. Roberts, and other donors for valuable gifts to the museum and library. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. Mr. F. M Campbell, Machynlleth, moved the adoption of the agricultural committee's report, which urged upon the court the advis- ability of taking steps to secure a portion of the Government's development graut toward assisting agricultural education. Dr. Griffiths, Swansea, seconded the proposi. -tion, which was unanimously carried. NEW TREASURER. Dr Gwenogfryn Evans proposed the elec- tion OIl Dr. Garrod Thomas, Newport, as treasurer of the college in place of Mr David Davies, now a vice-president. Dr. Emrys Jones, Manchester, seconded, and the proposition was unanimously agreed to, THE PROFESSORS ATTACKED. A recommendation was made by the council that the senate should have four representa- tives instead of two on the council, exclusive od the principal. The adoption of the recom- xnenoatkai was moved by Principal Roberts, who pointed out that the council was now a body of E6 members, and the work of the college had greatly extended since the charter was first drafted. Dr. Ethe, one of the staff, seoonded the adoption of the recommendation in a lengthy address. He said they only asked for what already was enjoyed by, the staffs of other colleges. It had been said that they had an ulterior, sinister design in making the xequeet. He frankly confessed that they had &n ulterior design, and that was to increase the prestige of the college and to make it more efficient. He wished to dispel the old. time-worn idea that professors and academio people were absolute fools in business. (Laughter.) He was proud to say that he was quite as good a business man as any business man in the town, and had often proved it 90 outside his own sphere. (Renewed laughter.) Dr. Griffiths (Swansea) strongly opposed the recommendation. He said that the very opposite thing should be done, and that the council should appoint four representatives on the senate. (Laughter.) CHARGE OF NEGLECT. ryn Evans thought they could 00 themselves that they had a Tery emcient staffj taken M a whole> but he not like to stake his eternal salva- tion by saYIng that every professor and lec- turer vas the ideal person for his post. They had given their time and energies for many years. some of them at very inadequate pay. One i of them had been paid double or nirift i y were worth. He had recently me nd stQdents of the college—all arts me":a;Jt a point of asking their °?1- h ,eir experience of the college, and ^A A hi* woriflr op*ui°n was the professor who LmOSt effl«ently. The whole nine would m6 rnai1, an<i mentioned him first, tliniieht it ^mion name, because he fessor Marshall lyh t0 his honour-Pro- n^wffi a MHe friar, who wenTau' m°ndioan* neglected his work A h u c^ntfy *nd interest in all the ? fh8° t0°n which was another rl X*' others, but they mST'"? ab°?t the oir lilrfnp- not altogether to t l^rt. hev I" Principal *° the college. (Hea/™^11"3^ °f loyal £ y «. f h6ar-> But was the u/,™, yai to the principal? MOSTLY CRANKS AND FOOLS." professor Genese (interposing): Is this rele- vant? Mr. Evans, continuing, said three years ago he met in the train one of the professors, wno made an onslaught upon him, which was the first idea he had of the feeling that existed. He said the council was made up of a lot of ignorant men; and what could they know of what was wanted for the college? Well (asked Dr. Evans), was the council ignorant when it elected the professors? (Laughter.) He thought the worst crime that any pro- fessor could bring against the council was that it had elected some of the professors and lecturers. When he asked this man what about the other members of the senate. he replied, "Oh! they are mostly oranks and fools." (Laughter.) Dr. Evans continued to say that the staff ha-d nothing to do with the administrative work of the college, and said that since he had been a member of the council it was his experience that the time of the committee had been largely taken up in composing the differences between the pro- fessors. (Cries of "Oh, oh!") Every member of the staff should give his entire time to his work, and in whatever time he had to spare he should refresh himself by some research work. Dr. Evans proceeded to summarise his objections, and said in the first place there was a want of confidence in the prin- cipal. (" No, no.") The principal always used to be consulted on every point that came before the council. Professor Genese: The principal and pro- fessort3 have consulted for years. AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT A DIS- GRACE. Dr. Evans said the principal's position should be as nearly neutral as possible, but the staff had turned him into a special advocate. As to the question of ulterior motive, it was well known that the recent action taken in regard to the agricultural department, which was a disgrace to the college, had given rise to this. They had something of the nature of a revolution in the agricultural department. Up to then it was thought every professor had a sinecure for life in the college, but that idea had now been removed. He also objected to the recommendation because it was proposed to elect assistant professors and lecturers on the council, some of whom were serving the college far better than their seniors. Then again, it seemed to him that another class wanted representation. The college was established for the education of the young. but a professor's creed was a very short one. He believed that everything was made for man, and that he was that man. The student. for whom the college was intended, was treated as a nuisance who must be attended to. (Cries of Shame," and Withdraw.") Dr. Ethe: Such remarks should not be made. The remark should be withdrawn. Dr. Evans: Whatever is offensive in the sentence I desire to withdraw, but I desire to emphasise the faot that the students are not always the first to be considered. Dr. Ethe: I must oontradict that. In every case they have been considered first for the last thirty years. PLEA FOR THE STUDENTS. Dr. Evans, continuing, said that if the recommendation was adopted he would move next year that means be devised to give the students representation on the oouncil. There were two sides to every question, and they did not know, as a council, what the student- always had a right to claim. They had a right to claim that members of the staff should be in continuous residence in term time. Mr. D. C. Roberts. Aberystwyth, said they had been told by Dr. Ethe that it was the council who took the first step in this blatter, but that was because they knew there was a, strong agitotioil going on amongst the professors. Dr. Ethe: That is absolutely not true. (Cries of Order.") Dr. Emrys Jones: Dr. Ethe sltould with- draw his remark. Dr. Ethe: We have never agitated for a fuller representation on the council. Dr. Gwenogfryn Evans: Dr. Ethe should apologise for what he has raid. Dr. Ethe said he would modify the remark, but Be would not withdraw it. Mr. Evan Evans, Aberystwyth. eventually proposed that the matter be adjourned, end that the court appoint a committee to con- sider any necessary alterations in the charter. This was seconded by Dr Evans, and was carried by 28 votes to thirteen. On the motion of Principal Roberts a com- mittee of nine was then appointed to go into the matter. It was decided that the next half-yearly meeting of the court should be held at Barmouth.

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