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l. The final communique re-affirmed the strategy for general nuclear disarmament developed in 1978 at the first Special Session. The nuclear freeze. proposed by Senators Hatfield and Kennedy, was up parently too controversial during this period of increased confrontation between the super-powers. But despite the current atmosphere, there was no backing away I was disappointed too, that the 157 national governments represented at New York did not reflect the growing public concern, as manifested in the huge peace demonstrations around the world - culmim ating in the 750,000 person rally in Central Park on June 12th. I was also not encouraged by the muted role which Canada played. But after attending the proceedings during the final week, I did find cause for hope in a number of positive developments. Many have expressed discouragement that the Special Session of the United Nations on Disarmament did not result in the creation of formal machinery to allow for nuclear disarmament. Hopes were high. . But possibly it was doomed before it started. Why? Because of the international political climate - the deteriorating rela- tions between the super-powers. Upon the retirement of Dr. Frank Petirrs in 1978, Tayler was chosen president and vice-chancellor of the uni- versity. During the period when he served as academic administrator, Tayler wit- messed a widening in the range of courses offered and a strengthening of existing programs at the university. New facul- ties in music, business and economics, social work and graduate studies were added. "I was looking for something smaller," he says. He came to Laurier in 1962 as a professor and chairman of the depart- ment of romance languages. After serv- ing also as chairman of the graduate council from 1963 until 1966, he was appointed dean of the faculty of arts and science in 1968 and served in that office until 1972 when he became vice-pred- dent, academic during the university's transition to a provincially-funded insti, tution. Tayler came to teach at WLL' in l962 just in time to experience the explosion of growth in the '60s and the subsequent period of restraint in the mrs. After spending a brief period in Europe, Tayler decided that he was tired of the size and impersonality’of life in To- ronto. He began his teaching career in 1941 as a lecturer of Italian and Spanish at the University of Toronto where he had completed both his undergraduate and graduate work. Advancing through the academic ranks, he eventually became chairman of the department of modern languages at the University of Toronto in 1961. The WLU president, who is retiring this week after 20 years as a professor and administrator at the university, says that Waterloo's two universities have had a tremendous influence on almost every facet of life in the city. Dr. Neale Tayler's many . years at Wilfrid Laurier University have given him an opportunity to witness dramatic changes within the university, both its campus and students, and in the c0mmu- nity itself as a result of the university's influence. . WALTER McLEAN Retiring president has witnessed dramatic changes in Waterloo Reflections of Waterloo 2. The launching of a World Disarma» ment Campaign was a major accomplish- ment. Aimed at the extension of public awareness around the globe, it received the complete support-of the Warsaw Pact countries. For the first time, the Soviet Union has agreed to allow the Russian people universal access to this program. 3. Canada has announced an increase of $300,000 to our existing Disarmament Fund of “50.000 - a further "substantial increase" has been promised for Canadian activities next year. 4. For the first time, there was substan- tial agreement with the recently released findings of the Thorsson Report to the United Nations and the Palmer Commis- sion. They confirm that defence spending does not create jobs. For example. we are currently witnessing the direct cohtritnr tion of massive U.S. defence budget increases not only to high interest rates in the industrialized West, but to the delay in general American economic recovery. from that 1978 agreement. 5. And finally. there was the strongest diplomatic recognition ever of the peril posed by the nuclear arms race, This was underlined in the fact that so many Heads of State addressed the Session. They spoke But one thing that has remained ever constant is the university's sound finam cial position. “Wilfrid Laurier is one of the soundest universities in the province," says Tayler. He attributes this to strict financial management. "We have worked within our operating budget," he explains. Since his arrival in 1962, the university campus has undergone extensive expan- sion, particularly in the '60s and early 'ros. After the demise of Willison Hall. which served as a residence and teaching building for over 50 years, many new structures have sprung up, including the library. seminary. residences, athletic complex and the Frank C. Peters build- mg. Students too have changed, in Tayler's opinion. "They have become more serious," he says. "They are aware that they have to tit into the world. They can‘t change it." "This allowed us to increase the student body and to broaden the courses. giving us the kind of quality we have today," he says. when he first arrived at Laurier, the Dr. Neale Tayler Nuclear disarmament "United Nations Special Sessions on Disarmament were never meant to be vehicles for changing policy directions. Rather they act as thermometers for testing existing areas of Consensus. This 'test' will have to be made again. following the disappointing results of UNSSOD H. In the meantime, the focus for our peace efforts should not be the United Nations. The disarmament issue is now firmly rooted in solid international research. The challenge is ttcreate the "political will" necessary in order that governments - especially the super-powers - change their policies on nuclear weapons. In the front line of the public education, campaign is the unnagging work of the non-govern- mental organizations (3,000 agencies were represented in New York) and the churches. . These were the thoughts of Prof. Ernie Regehr of Conrad Grebel College. Univer- sity of Waterloo. He served as a consultant to the Canadian Delegation to UNSSOD II from June T to July IO: of the economic threat eaach of us feels due to inflation, the spiralling unemployment rates of the industrialized nations, the staggering debt situation of the communist tyrannies, and the collective aspirations for our human race. The business community has benefit- ted too. The large influx of students and faculty into Waterloo each year has enabled many businesses, offering a wide range of products and services, to develop and prosper. The possibility of a constant and ready supply of highly trained personnel from the universities has also encouraged many industries to locate in the city, he says. Tayler feels the existence of such a large and vital university community has also done much to enrich the cultural life of Waterloo. A wide range of entertain- ment presented by talented artists, musicians and theatrical performers has war years, he says. "The universities have made Kitchen- er-Waterloo one of the top educational areas in the province." As two of the city's largest employers, Tayler points out that UW and WLU have provided jobs for workers at all levels. from laborers to highly-skilled techni- cians. u While Tayler has noticed many changes in WLU, he has also seen the city around the university grow from an essentially rural community into a thriv- ing industrial city, due mainly to the contributions of the two universities, in his opinion. The universities have provided both education and employment for many local residents. The proximity of WLU made post-secondary education possible for many Waterloo citizens who other- wise might not have been able to afford it, particularly during the depression and war years, he says. university was still sponsored by the Lutheran Synod of Canada. It used to operate on what Tayler calls “a nuts and berries budget." In 1973, when it became a provincially-funded institution, the university began receiving full grants, which doubled its income. The caution has paid off. The surplus money was invested and the interest re-invested and it now provides the university with a growing financial cush- ton. "We did not rush out and spend it." he says. "We moved cautiously and added students without adding expenses." PAT ARBUCKLE WATER L00 CHRONICLE, wsbuesoAv "The level of education required is rising in our society." he says. "We should be taking better qualified students and turning out the kind of graduates who can succeed." The '60s saw university doors swung open to admit anyone who wanted a iti',ti-Ci',et,r,,y, education. regardless of eir academic standing or ability. Tayler would like to see this trend re- versed. Universities must find a way "to alter the formula, with government approval, to allow them (universities) to maintain the level of quality with the funding they receive," he says. Meanwhile, Tayler would like to see the general quality rise in universities. With limited funding. this may, however. cause universities to become less access- ible to the general public. Adequate funding will be the greatest problem facing universities in the com, ing years he says. The current formula for calculating the size of provincial funding grants to universities, based on the number of students registered, is geared to a period of expansion and should be changed, according to Tayler. Universities will have a steadily grow- ing involvement in continuing education, he says. Recent technological advances are making it essential for many workers, even in highy skilled profes- sions, to return to school to upgrade their qualifications or undergo retraining. Tayler believes universities will have to play a much more active role in this process in the future. As the growth and expansion of the '60s has been replaced by restraint, and what Tayler calls "financial contraction," he sees the role of universities changing in our society. Laurier's faculty of music has made, its contribution too, attracting musicians; of high calibre to enrich local musical groups, including the K-W Symphony, “It has forced the city to widen its horizons and become more sophisticated," he says. been made available to Waterloo resi dents through the universities, he ex plains, " . Ruth Klaassen of Waterloo addresses the Session in her role as Director ot Canada's Peace Research Institute. Sh, recommends a similar line for futur, activity: “UNSSUD ll demonstrated quits clearly that the responsibility for champ now lies with individuals and non-govern mental organizations to focus pressure ow the political decision-makers. This role i vital if we are to achieve total nuclea disarmament. I think we have n choice." Some success has already bee achieved. But we are now into the Ion haul. As Mrs. Klaassen observes: "Th KW community now has a very hig recognition of the seriousness of this issue Neighbors are phoning to say they'w made a 180 degree turnaround to suppm nuclear disarmament. Six months age many had no opinion at all." The survival of the human family is a issue worthy of public debate and politica 11"P. On balance, I believe that UNSSO) II his helped to raise public awareness But mach remains to be done... Lasting consenws will only come from direct pressure on our national policy makers to change their political direc tion." .JULY728, we: a PAGE ,