Past and present linked in speech to Chamber

May 18, 2007

By Silas Polkinghorne

President Peter MacKinnon invited audience members at his annual State of the University address to imagine a conversation across the ages and the generations – a dialogue between the first U of S president and the current president of the University now celebrating its 100th birthday.

“What would we say to (first President) Walter Murray, and what would he say to us?” asked MacKinnon at a Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Sheraton Hotel May 1. “I would say five things, before I would say to Walter Murray, ‘You have the last word’.”

First, MacKinnon would congratulate and thank Murray because he and his colleagues and fellow citizens had “the right vision, and you acted on it.” MacKinnon reiterated the statements of the University’s pioneers – that the U of S “should have an honoured place among the best”, and that as a public university, “we should serve the many-sided life of the community.”

“These are great signposts for early pathfinders,” MacKinnon said, noting Murray’s commitment to hiring distinguished faculty and building a College of Agriculture to serve the developing farm sector in a young province.

Next, MacKinnon would attempt to explain to Murray the change in the size and scope of the campus, he said. When Murray retired as president in 1937, there were 1,118 students, while now there are more than 19,000. Library holdings have grown from around 60,000 items to 4.5 million, and the number of campus buildings has increased from 27 to 179.

“I don’t think I would even begin to explain computers to him,” MacKinnon joked, but added he would mention the Thinking the World of Our Future capital campaign, the likes of which was unheard of in Murray’s day.

MacKinnon would also say that the University’s current leaders have honoured Murray’s ideals and are still committed to excellence – for instance, through research – and still serving the needs of the community. MacKinnon cited examples like support for the city’s arts scene with the faculties of Music and Drama, sports events like the Vanier Cup, the boost to the city’s economy provided through development at Innovation Place, and the transition program for students at the Royal West Campus.

His fourth message would be less positive, MacKinnon said, as “history is rarely a story of relentless progress.” He would explain that the university environment is highly competitive, and while change comes quickly, “universities are not the world’s most nimble institutions. We have to be more adaptable to change.”

Finally, MacKinnon would add “there is not a university in Canada that has greater opportunities than ours.” Taking into account the synchrotron and InterVac as well as groundbreaking work in public health, the unique combination of life science on campus, and the breadth and depth of the capacity of the 13 colleges, “there’s no doubt about our ability to be among global leaders,” he said.

Then, MacKinnon wondered what Murray might say in response. “I think he would say ‘wow’. I think he would also say that great visions stand the test of time. I think he would say that the vision of our predecessors for our first century remains current and appropriate for our second.”

MacKinnon was asked just one question from the audience, regarding tuition freezes. He said in recent years a greater financial burden has been placed on students, but the University’s most important source of revenue remains government. MacKinnon said he will continue to be “provocative” in conversations with officials and stress the importance of proper government funding to the University’s success.

“I hope we don’t go too much further down the road of increasing tuition dramatically, because I think it can have an adverse affect on access … When most of the revenue comes from tuition, the institution becomes increasingly a private institution.”