Navigator for Choppy Waters Dr
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gue ph ISSN 0229- 2378 UNIVERSITY NEWS BULLETIN Volume 28 Number 6 84 02 09 Navigator for choppy waters Dr. Matthews installed as President Forty years ago last September, Burton Clare Matthews registered as a freshman at the University of Guelph. At winter Convo- cation last Friday he was presented by Board of Governors chairman, Cecil Franklin, as Guelph's fourth President and Vice- Chancellor. Between those years, Dr. Matthews was student football captain, Department head and Vice-President, Academic, at Guelph. He went on to become President of the Uni- versity of Waterloo and the Chairman of the Ontario Council on University Affairs. "If he is not ready now to chart a wise and smooth course for Guelph through the choppy waters of university affairs, then no one is," said Dr. Alvin Lee, President and Vice-Chancellor of McMaster University who spoke for all Ontario universities at the installation ceremony. President Burt Matthews is congratulated by Chancellor William Stewart. In his address to the graduates Dr. Matthews said he believes universities are still essential to the progress of our modern society. In these times of constrained fund- ing, universities must collectively state their case to ensure their appropriate share of resources, he said. However, simply stating the case is not enough, he continued. Each university must demonstrate its case through deeds by review- ing its academic programs, by committing itself to excellence, by reaching out to those unable to attend courses on campus, by enhancing and expanding co-operation and creative partnerships with other universities, government ministries, business and industry in teaching, research and technology transfer, by asserting and establishing its special character and capitalizing on its special strengths, and by daring to be different. One of the strengths of the Ontario university system is the diversity of its members, which needs to be encouraged,- he said. Continued on page 2. Head table guests are introduced at the Installation Luncheon. A time to speak University scientists and scholars must be free to "call them as they see them," said Guelph's honorary degree recipient, The Honourable Thomas Berger, in a Convocation speech last Friday afternoon. He called for preserva- tion of the independence of universities and the right of the people who teach and learn within them to speak freely. "To preserve the spirit of free inquiry at universities, to maintain the right of academics to hold and defend unfashionable ideas, we must preserve the independence of universities and the atmosphere at univer- sities that allows free inquiry and free speech," said the honorary Doctor of Laws recipient. Dr. Berger, who has spent a lifetime defending Canada's minorities and native peoples, said we must not lose sight of the fundamental goal of university life and train- Dr. Thomas Berger ing — to equip a generation to think critical- ly and to make critical judgements. only to allow political and social scientists to and try to envision the future that the post- Universities are supposed to instill a express views that may be unpopular with the industrial era offers. capacity for critical thought. At univer- established order. It also enables natural and Our ideas are still the ideas of the mid- sities we expect to find people who question physical scientists to pursue their research and to publish the results. nineteenth century, he said, and we need a the assumptions by which we live. We should philosophy to sustain us in the post-industrial welcome the expression of considered views Every citizen, not just university stu- era, an era for which we have no name, since that challenge established modes of thought, dents and university professors, should be we cannot yet discern its lineaments. "Where he said. free to think as he or she will, to believe shall we gain the insights ... if we do not what he or she chooses, and to speak his or Speaking about the B.C. provincial allow scholars and students — the whole uni- her own truth. All of us must think hard government's bill that would have allowed the versity community — to inquire, to reflect, about the future, he said. dismissal of any university professor with- to write and to speak freely on the choices out cause, Dr. Berger said the incident re- The public must look to scholars and that await us?," he asked. minded us that academic freedom exists not teachers to reflect on the issues of the day Chancellor William Stewart conferred degrees on graduates of the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Engineering progranns. ❑ Installation Continued from page 1. (Dr. Matthews' entire speech is printed on Page 3 of this issue of the News Bulletin). At the installation ceremony, The Honourable Eugene Whelan, federal Minister of Agriculture, expressed greetings and support for Guelph from the government. Dr. Harry Fisher, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Colleges and Uni- versities, brought greetings from the Ontario government. He also read personal greetings from Premier Bill Davis who referred to Dr. Matthews as a dedicated educator. Chancprograms.❑am Stewart conferred degrees on the graduates of the Doctor of Food Science professor David Arnott and Jennie Arnott with son, John, who graduated in Philosophy, Master of Arts, Master of Science, computing and information science this Convocation and daughter, Janice, who graduated Master of Landscape Architecture, Graduate in microbiology from Guelph last spring. Diploma and Bachelor of Science programs. ❑ 2 "Each university must demonstrate its case through deeds" The following is Dr. Burt Matthews' Installa- education, in Ontario, as elsewhere. Despite this evidence of widespread sup- tion Address as President of the University The enthusiasm for higher education was port for universities it must be acknowledged of Guelph, given February 3, 1984, at War fuelled by two main arguments, widely that the financial resources of government Memorial Hall: accepted and supported. One was that equality today are severely limited and the demands are of educational opportunity is a valid and many. You, Mr. Chancellor, know better than Mr. Chancellor, may I first of all express my important social goal, and the other was that most of us the pressures on government and on appreciation through you to the University for investment in highly-educated men and Cabinet when it comes to budget allocations. its "act of faith" in inviting me to become women will yield significant economic return It is because of these pressures, that the its fourth President and Vice-Chancellor. I to the Province and to the nation. In effect, universities must collectively state their use the phrase "act of faith" advisedly, higher education was seen as a progressive case to ensure receiving their appropriate because, however favorable the signs may be, solution to the inequalities of the human con- share. While this responsibility rests most only time will tell whether a wise decision dition, and to the problems of economic growth heavily on Presidents and Boards of Governors, has been made. It is also somewhat of an "act and development. faculty, staff, students, alumni and parents of faith" on the part of my wife and me to In this social and political environment, must be prepared to do their part. accept the honor and the responsibility it was relatively easy for administrators to We need continuously to remind ourselves, related to the Presidency of the University of request, and for politicians to grant, more our politicians, and the public whom we serve Guelph. Again, only time will tell whether we and more public funds to Universities. So that, for example, full equality of educational too have made a wise decision. universities grew and prospered, and much opportunity is not yet achieved. It is true We are indeed grateful for the support of was achieved. that the percentage of young people (18 - 24 our family, our friends and our colleagues who But the halcyon days for post-secondary years) attending universities has doubled in are present here this morning; and for the education and for universities are receding. the past two decades; and that the participa- warm expressions of support and welcome The resources that once flowed so relatively tion rate for women is now generally equal to that we have received from so many faculty, freely are now relatively very much con- that for men. But it is also true we have staff and students. strained. I do not believe this indicates any achieved much less in extending the benefits I first set foot on this campus 40 years change in attitude about the value of univer- of the university to the physically handicap- ago last September, when I registered as a sities. On the contrary, I believe that univ- ped, to people in remote areas of the Pro- freshman. Even then post-secondary educa- ersities are still viewed as essential to the vince, and to Franco-Ontarians. tion had a long and distinguished history in progress of our modern society. I hold this We need continuously to remind ourselves, this place. The first educational institution belief, not out of self-interest, but from our politicians, and the public whom we serve was established on this site more than a cen- what I perceive to be the evidence in the that the current investment in highly-trained tury ago. In 1874, the Ontario School of case. manpower is falling short of our own internal Agriculture (later to become known as the - If universities are not seen as funda- requirements. The National Research Ontario Agricultural College) opened its mental to the progress of mankind, why do so Council projects a serious shortage of scien- doors.