MEET THE NEW PRESIDENT Pat's Patter by PAT HEDRICH (Ed. note: An alumnus, Alan Reyburn '56, writes to Pat from Ceylon). Dear Pat,-- It has been over three months since I left Canada; a lot of new experiences have occurred in that time. My particular job out here is to prepare a map of the land use of Ceylon, as part of a resources survey (geology, hydrology, forestry, soils, geophysics) to determine the present uses, to recommend better uses and to encourage the use of semi-arid areas. The country is about the size of New Brunswick, but only the southwest quarter receives enough rainfall for agricultural purposes. The programme is part of Canada's contribution to Colombo Plan aid. Ceylon is a most attractive and exotic island. The weather on the whole is pleasant and temperatures in Colombo are always about 83 degrees. The city of Nuwara Eliya, at an elevation of 6500 feet however, has had ice although we are not far from the equator. The mountains near the latter are breathtaking. During the height of the Roman Empire, Ceylon had a very high civilization, the ruins, mostly religious in nature, are very interesting. The people are on the whole clean, handsome and well-built. They are quiet, pleasant and anxious to help. However, there are racial and religious problems for which solutions must be met. The majority (6 of the 9 million) are Sinhalese and Buddhists. The most rabid minority are the Iamils (Hindus) which compose about 1/10 of the population. Sixteen months ago riots between the two resulted in murder, pillage, destruction and rape. Tension is still high. The rest of the population are: Burghers (the progeny of Dutch, Portuguese, English, etc., with the indigenous people), Moors, Malays, Indians and Europeans. Politics and government are like wrestling in Canada: a big farce. Since Ceylon achieved independence she has let democracy run wild. The prime minister, with the unlikely handle of Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike, is little respected. His opposition is a mixed bag of Communists, Marxists, Trotskyites and several individuals who profess allegiance to no one but themselves. A sometime friend of Miss Roy's (graduate students together at U of T I believe), Mary Christie, spent the month of August with the Project Manager and wife. She will have many stories to tell her students in her Toronto collegiate. Sincerely, Alan. ASSUMED DUTIES SEPTEMBER 8th As your reporter entered the office of the President of Waterloo University College, Herbert Melvin Axford was pouring over blueprints of the college campus. Though just arriving in Waterloo on Labour Day and as yet not totally unpacked, Dr. Axford, true to his dynamic personality, has already thrown his energies into the rapidly moving developments at the college. Following a brief discussion, your reporter was invited to accompany the President to his temporary home on Hickory St., where his charming wife, Joan, served tea and talked of their three children. Marilyn, age 8, Donald and Jimmy, ages 10 and 11 were at school in Lexington, the site of the new Axford home presently in its final stages of construction. The Axfords have lived in many parts of the continent and have camped in many others. They pride themselves for adapting quickly to their environment. A pride well justified for in three weeks they have established themselves as members of St. John's Lutheran congregation where Don and Jim have joined the cub and scout groups. H. M. AXFORD, M. Corn., Ph. D. Born in 1924, Herbert Melvin Axford received his elementary and secondary school education in his home town, Winnipeg. Upon graduation from the Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute in 1936, Herbert Axford began a career which carried him into various phases of the business world and through progressive stages in the field of education. As a buy-boy with Marshall Wells, a government agricultural assistant, a grade 2 clerk with the R.C.A.F. and a Canada Packers livestock accountant, student Axford both earned his tuition to the University of Manitoba and accumulated much of the practical administrative background which qualifies him for his new position. After completing his Bachelor of Commerce course Lt. Axford spent three years with the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve as paymaster, supply officer and maintenance officer. He pre-' presently holds the rank of Lt. Commander in that corps. While proceeding towards his Master of Commerce degree, he met the woman he was to marry. Then followed seven years of teaching assistantships, research and an instructorship at the University of Wisconsin and Knox College, Illinois. From Knox College, Assistant Professor Axford accepted the chairmanship of the Department of Economics and Business Administration at Pacific Lutheran College in Tacoma, Washington. Here he completed the thesis which earned him his Doctorate of Philosophy and an associate professorship. As secretary of the School of Commerce, University of Alberta, his next post, Dr. Axford accepted the call to Waterloo University College to become its sixth president. Welcome and best wishes to President Axford and his family. ALUMNI INVITED INSTALLATION CEREMONIES PLANNED President Axford has issued a special invitation to Alumni members to attend his installation as President of Waterloo University College. The ceremony has been set for Wednesday, November 4th, at 8:00 p.m. An academic procession will begin the proceedings at the Mutual Life Assurance Co. auditorium during which Dr. Axford will speak on the subject "Objectives in Higher Education." SEPTEMBER, 1959 Editornd: Donald W. Groff Asst. Editor : Richard G. Capling Staff : Miss Pat Hedrich Miss Sue Stark Carl H. Piellusch Published Bi-Monthly by the Alumni Association of Waterloo College WATERLOO PRINTING COMPANY Please advise change of address P WHO WILL WIN THE SOLID GOLD CUP? Oct. 24-ALUMNI REUNION-Oct. 24