April 3, 1998

"Whatsoever things are true" -- true or false?

Our university crest bears the motto QUAECUMQUE VERA. We are meant to teach, learn and discover. Teaching and learning are not about competing or winning or being great. Discovery can defy common sense. None of these things is easily measured, least of all in terms of external funding. By emphasizing slogans, we are in danger of losing sight of our true goals. Recent acceptance of fee increases compounds the risk by making the university inaccessible to capable, but poor, students. Do we live up to our motto?

John Shaw, Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

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