UNIVERSITY NEWS BULLETIN Volume 23 Number 6 79 02 08 Dr. Winegard advises: Define liberal education U niversities are going to have to offer students a "truly liberal education program" if they wish to live up to the general objectives of the Prof. Hilton, right, and OAC Dean, Clayton university and maintain public support in the Switzer. years ahead. Dr. Winegard addresses graduating class. The chairman of the Ontario Council on might be convinced that the universities are trying to live up to the stated objective of University Affairs, Dr. William Winegard, who it be called "The History of Civilization," or disseminating existing knowledge in an order- was named a Fellow of the University of "The Understand of Man," or, simply, "The ly way and had not given up their fundamen- Guelph at winter Convocation Friday, said Liberal Program." Eighty per cent of the new tal goal of understanding man and the world." that current university practice seems incon- program should consist of required courses, Universities are going to have to fight sistent with one of the main objectives of the mostly interdisciplinary in nature and newly- for their fair share of the public purse in the university: to develop a more educated popu- developed specifically for the purpose. Dr. years ahead, and he reminded the audience, lace. Winegard added that universities should also there is no guarantee that they will win. Let In his address to the graduating class the give serious study to the removal of other them enter the fight, however, with the right former University of Guelph president said general programs and remove the hodge-podge flag flying, he said. universities would do well to review what options "because they are unworthy of the "If we, who are close to the universities, they mean by a liberal education. Providing university." want others to believe that the universities his own definition, Dr. Winegard said a gradu- The speaker could not provide the an- are worthy of support, we must show our ate of a liberal education program should swer to whether more public support and true colors of scholarship, truth, integrity, and have some understanding of human life, some more money would be forthcoming if univer- measure of the history of our civilization and sities followed his advice. "But more people Continued on page 2. that of others, a passing acquaintance with philosophy, some sense of the great political events and regimes, some appreciation of the Art Centre presentation arts and a knowledge of literature that pro- trays the climate of the times, past and present. Dr. Pauline McGibbon performed two duties of Guelph Vice-President, Administration, "It is the integration of philosophical, when on campus last Friday. As Chancellor Charles Ferguson, the newly-elected chairman political, scientific and literature studies that of the University she presided over winter of the Centre, University of Guelph curator, really determines whether or not an education Convocation ceremonies. As Lt. Gov. of On- Mrs. Judith Nasby who has been named di- should be called "liberal," he explained. "A tario, Her Honour formally signed a specially- rector of the Centre, also attended the cere- free choice, cafeteria-style education may be mounted copy of the Royal Assent of the mony. called 'general'," he said, "but certainly not Macdonald Stewart Community Art Centre li beral." Act (Bill Pr9) at a ceremony held at the Mac- Dr. Winegard proposed that universities donald Consolidated School. Funding Received re-examine their general programs in the arts Officially receiving the document were A Wintario capital grant of $456,100 and science. He voiced support for the honors representatives of the four sponsors of the has been awarded to the Centre towards the programs, adding however, that universities Art Centre project: University of Guelph pre- development of the community art gallery in should consider them as "semi-professional" sident, D.F. Forster; Dr. Fred Hamilton, the Macdonald Consolidated School. programs rather than continue with the con- i mmediate past chairman of the Wellington An additional $200,000 towards re- cept that they are the essence of liberal educa- County Board of Education; Norm Jary, construction of the Gordon Street building tion. But the general programs offer no real Mayor of the City of Guelph, and Lawrence which is across College Avenue from War study in depth, he said, nor do they offer a G. MacKenzie, Warden of Wellington County. Memorial Hall and encircled by the campus, breadth of study that can give students a Harry Worton, M.P.P. for Wellington has also been announced by the Minister of truly liberal education. South, a prime mover behind the development Culture and Recreation, Rueben C. Baetz. He called for the establishment of a of the Centre and the member who presented "truly liberal education program," suggesting the Bill in the provincial legislature, University Continued on page 2. Dr. Winegard Continued from page 1. civility. A society that cherishes these values, must, in the long run, support the institutions dedicated to them," Dr. Winegard concluded. Prof. Hilton honored Retired professor, Robert J. Hilton, was made a professor emeritus at the morning ceremony. Prof. Hilton was the first director of the Universitys Arboretum and chairman of the Department of Horticulture (later Horti- cultural Science) for a number of years. Art Centre presentation: A debt to repay Judith Nasby with Lt. Professor David Elrick, Land Resource Science, Gov. Pauline McGibbon gave the morning address. He dealt with the and Charles Ferguson. subject of change and adapting to change and then spoke out on "the severe financial con- Art Centre Continued from page 1. straints imposed on most foreign students." Previously announced grants were: a The firm of Raymond Moriyama, Archi- The present restrictive policy fails to $300,000 naming grant from the Macdonald tects and Planners, of Toronto, has completed recognize the worldwide character of graduate Stewart Foundation of Montreal; a $100,000 the preliminary designs for converting Mac- work and research, said Prof. Elrick, and, in grant from the National Museums of Canada; donald Consolidated School to the Art Centre. turn, greatly inhibits our own research cap- a $15,000 initial grant from the Ministry of The Centre will provide some 7,000 square ability. He said that research carried out in Culture and Recreation, and a $2,000 grant feet of space for art exhibitions and art events Canadian universities benefits all Canadians toward furnishings from the IODE chapters of all types, lecture and studio rooms, public and is unrelated to the country of origin of in Guelph and area. meeting rooms, art rental services and gallery the students involved. shop, a workshop for care of art works, and Many Canadians received their graduate - The immediate objective for the Centres 2.64 acres of grounds for outdoor exhibitions, education, and the funding for that education, board of trustees is to proceed with the con- art events, and special children's programs. in other countries. "I personally feel that I ceptual drawings for the building and to work Construction is expected to begin in have a debt which I would like to help repay. out agreements between each of the four September. The building should be completed q Surely Ontario and Canada can do better. We sponsors and the Art Centre. by the early fall of 1980 should 'reopen the door' ... we will all benefit," he said. q 55th College Royal planned The invitations are out, the judges and awards ing traditions. Other features are added over are ready and the participants are preparing. the years. This year, for example, student In four weeks time the 55th annual College competitors are invited to design an organism Royal begins at the University of Guelph. capable of withstanding better than they can From Friday, March 2 to Sunday, March 11 such aspects of the campus environment as over 100 executive members representing food services, 08:00 classes, and studying! some 80 departments, clubs and campus acti- Entries must be submitted by 14:00 on Fri- vities, will be involved with College Royal day, February 23 at Biology House, 640 79 and Open House. Gordon Street. Judging will be done by stu- "United We Grow" is this year's theme, dent ballot the first week of March. For more emphasizing how co-operation, co-ordination information call David Lloyd, 824-8002 or of facilities and combining of strengths have Pat File, 824-6270. helped the University to flourish. A public speaking contest is this years Although there are faculty advisors, replacement for the mini-series. According College Royal is planned and staged entirely to committee chairman, Quentin Martin, it is by the students. Every year visitors to Open open to approximately 15 speakers who may House, this year on Saturday, March 10 and speak for five minutes on the subject of their Sunday March 11, are presented with a show choice. While the judges deliberate, the audi- ence gets a chance to join with the speaker in President D. F. Forster and Prof. Elrick. reflecting consistency of quality. The secret lies in College Royals built-in apprenticeship a question-and-answer period. This event system. For every student in charge of some takes place Monday, March 5, at 20:00 in Room 103 of the University Centre. Aspirants The Learned Societies Conference for 1979 area of responsibility there is an assistant may sign up at the "Royal" office, level 2, will be held at the University of Saskatche- working alongside who steps into the lead University Centre, until Monday, February 12. q wan May 22 to June 8. In addition to the pro- position the following year.