What Is The University

Historical Statute

The British Columbia University Act, 1908 says that

"WHEREAS it is desirable to establish, in and for the whole Province of British Columbia, one University, for the purpose of providing facilities for Higher Education in all its branches...A University, to be called “The University of British Columbia.” consisting of a Chancellor, Convocation, Board of Governors, Senate, and Faculty or Faculties, is hereby established in the Province as a body politic and corporate."

In Section 102, the same statute says

Instruction in arts in the University (except post-graduate

instruction) shall be free to all regular students matriculated in the University, and who enter their names with the Registrar of the

University

Historical Calendar

The Calendar of the First Session (1915-1916) expands upon s. 102 by declaring that

The University of British Columbia is to be considered an

integral part of the public educational system of the Province. As such it completes the work begun in the public and high schools, holding to the high school, with regard to studies a position comparable to that which the high school sustains to the public school. As those who have passed through the public schools may freely avail themselves of the high school, so those who have profited by instruction offered in the high schools may advance to the opportunities afforded by the University. To encourage all who may be able to proceed to the higher education, the passage from one grade to another is made as easy and natural as possible. The Province, through the University, undertakes to furnish instruction in the various branches requisite for a liberal education, and in the technical branches that have a bearing upon the life and

industries of the Province.

A Body Politic and Corporate

William Blackstone says that "artificial perfons are called bodies politic, bodies corporate, (corpora corporata) or corporations" in his Commentaries upon the Laws of England. Artifice is defined in the Canadian Law Dictionary as "[a] fraud or a cunning device used to accomplish some evil; usually implies fraud or deceitfulness." One key distinction between a living creature and a corporation is that, as Edward Coke observes, a corporation has no soul.

Point Grey Building Inauguration

At this event at the University Campus held Friday, October 16 A.D.1925. REV. W.H. SMITH offers his benediction for the University which beesches God, "Almighty and Everlasting...the Father of Life and Foundation of all Wisdom,"

whose Son came into the world to illumine

all minds with a knowledge of what is most worth while, that thereby the hearts of the people of this Province may be enlarged, so that all living within our bounds may be ennobled in their

lives, and be made capable of building up a civilization patterned after Thee.

Further, MR. CHANCELLOR speaking in the Library to a General Assembly of Board of Governors, Senate, Representatives of Universities, Faculty and Students on October 15 of the same year, says that

it is with unfeigned delight that I see the

body of the Hall filled with the Students of the University. It is your Home and on

that account, I say it is very fitting that you should be first to take part in the Ceremonies.