Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-28

The opening exercises OF the 111th
session of the University of Vermont
were held in the college chapel yes
lerday morning. when President Guy
Potter Benton delivered his first public
address to the students and faculty of
the university Great enthusiasm was
displayed when the new president en-
tered the chapel which was entirely
inadequate to accommodate the audi
ence of faculty. students and towns
folk. A large portion OF the freshmen
lined deep into the corridors were un
able to hear the speaker.
PRESIDENT BENTON's ADDRESS.
A selection from the chapel choir
began the exercises and after Scrip
ture reading the president delivered
an address which included some pei
sonal words to the students, declara-
tion of his views on various phases of
college life and statement of the
qualities which so to make up the
ideal student.
After reference to his experience
In college life President Benton CON
tinued:
"If | know myself, as think do,
J am sure that my supremest amb-
tion for this institution is to be OF
real service o young life. | want to
help you individually and collectively,
through precept, example and CO.
operation.
II am under no delusions as to the
ASSORTMENT of college students. Your
keen minds will read your president
through and through. n nothing else
is able to make him humble, your
knowledge of him will always hold
him close to the ground"
The president then emphaszed the
value of frankness between students
and president. and that he always de-
sired to keep faith with the student.
II shall try always TO be kind in
my relations with YOU but shall never
dissemble. I shall make many mis-
takes hut they will not he mistakes of
deliberation, In all my experience AZ
college president, | have had very
little to say about discipline. IT Is
my own feeling that young people
coming to college should regard them
selves as incipient men and women,
and I have always found an appeal to
a student body as TO seltrespectng 9
men and women, far more effective
than the crack of the whip
IF | am confronted with stern nee
essity, however, ! shall try to NEE,
the situation courageously and say
with no circumvention exactly what
think
II want you. young people to REGARD
me primarily as a teacher although
am sorry that the mutiplex dute
resting upon a college president pre-
vent him from doing some teaching ii
these modern times. He should neve
get away from his scholarly ideals,
II shall feel that have a particular re
sponsiblity resting upon me for servic
TO the young men. while / am not un
mindful of my obligations to the youn
women of the student body, Miss Terri
the adviser of women, will necessaril
in large measure be substitute for tn
president in the relations she enjoys wit
those of her own sex.
Il want over to he worthy of your re
spect, but want none of you to stand |
ave of me. I want to know each one Int
mately without undue familiarity. Abov
ALL let me be your comrade
"T love the college man because Of hi
possibilities | would not change him on
whit. ! want him with his boundless OF
timism. His college yell is as the music
the morning to my soul, | am willing
take him as he is Athatched head Cor pom
padour), cuffs on trousers, and all
"Your opportunities, young people, cor
stitute the measure of your responsible
ties. Your opportunities for tho develop
ment of your god given talents and II
the growth Of stalwart character pla'
within your grasp the possibilities Of liv,