In the Foreward to the first Student Handbook, published in 1928-29, Principal P.H. Elliott communicated to students the purpose and value of their handbook: "I would remind you that the control of College affairs is very largely in the hands of the students. If student self-government is to succeed, each student must become familiar with his privileges and his duties as defined in the new constitution which appears in full in these pages. I hope most sincerely that this book may be of value as a guide and as a stimulus to general participation in the exacting business of student life in all its aspects."
The President of the Alma Mater Society for 1962-63, Alfred Petterson, welcomed students to Victoria College with the analogy that "college is like the ideal summer job - eight hours a day, seven days a week, with lots of overtime for those who want it - overtime which pays time and a half. College, however, is not all academic work; there's also a social side to college life."
The Student Handbooks provided general information on the following headings: the Academic Calendar, Staff, Students' Council, General Information about Assembly, Lectures, Discipline, the Library, the Alma Mater Society, Constitution of the A.M.S., By-laws, Social Functions, Organizations, College Publications, College Yells, College Songs, Memorandum Blanks and Time Table Blanks.
Excerpts from three Student Handbooks have been selected to illustrate the contents at different time periods: 1928-29, 1945-46, 1962-63.
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Yell #11: KLA-HOW-YAH |
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The 1945-46 handbook, like many others, opened with an article entitled "Hints to the Frosh", written "by students who have learned by sad experience." It is suggested that students learn the College songs and yells (Hint #4), watch the notice boards (Hint #5), do work every day - keeping up is easier than catching up (Hint #8), talk over problems with professors (Hint #9) and remember that college work is not exceptionally difficult, but there is a great deal of it (Hint #11). To read the "Hints to the Frosh" from the 1945-46 Student Handbook, click here. |
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Of note in the 1962-63 Student Handbook is a section discussing the aims and services of The National Federation of Canadian University Students. The Handbook's three-page article begins: "This year for the first time, Victoria College hopes to join the National Federation. Of the forty campuses in Canada, only three do not belong, Victoria College, up to now, being one of them." Victoria College's campus transitional period is also acknowledged: "This year, with a sizeable new classroom block and a new Student Union Building opening at Gordon Head, we are going to experience some genuine growing pains." |
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In addition to academics and cheers, social events and graces can be important to new students. The 1962-63 Student Handbook advised men and women students as to appropriate (and inappropriate!) campus fashions. Women should be comfortable, "no silks, satins, or Cassini creations. Crinolines and other voluminous underpinnings are both out of place and awkward." Campus men usually sported "slacks and a sweater or sport shirt," however, it was made clear that "there is little demand for blue jeans, black leather jackets and hobnail boots."
To read guidelines for Men and Women's Dress from the 1962-63 Student Handbook, click here.
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