Wednesday, April 16, 1980
University Daily Kansan
5
ROTC cadets express concern about decline of military morale
By DAVID WEED
Staff Reporter
Cap. Edward Eldison, professor of Army ROTC, walked into a room where a small group of Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets were talking yesterday.
They started to stand, but he told them to relax. As they did so, the cadres resumed talking about subjects such as Army discipline, reinstatement of the draft, Iranianistan, the Vietnam War and the respect used to be given military personnel.
"My father's in the military," Scott Tucker told me. "A little little at ten years ago he'd be asked for identification and he d show his military ID. It was accepted and it commanded respect.
"But now the respect isn't there."
Maj. Mike Flanagan, assistant professor of Army ROTC, came in and joined the discussion.
The Vietnam War "destroyed" the morale of the military, he said, just the way it destroyed the morale of the government and the people.
"After all, the military is just an extension of the people," he said.
THE DECLINE of the military has alienated people toward the draft, Spangler said.
"People want all of the advantages of the society, but they don't want to do anything for it." he said
Tim Richards, New Orleans, La., junior.
said, "It seems like a lot of Americans want someone else to fight.
"They want all the benefits, but they don't want to stand up for them.
"Nobody's gung ho about war, but we aren't afraid to stand up for what we believe in."
The issue behind a war in the Middle East, possibly with the Soviet Union, would not only oil, Rick Norris, Liberty, Mo., senor, said, but also the American way of life.
"Beyond the military aspects of losing the Persian Gulf to Russia, industry and transportation would be destroyed," Norris said.
BUT SOME cadets said they feared that the United States was not prepared for a war with the Soviet Union.
"The next war will happen fast," Flanagan said, "and we need to be prepared."
Norris said the Soviets proved in Afghanistan that they could move massive amounts of men and equipment in a short time.
In 24 hours they moved tens of thousands of men and vast amounts of equipment into Afghanistan, he said.
"They didn't ask permission for air snuse. "Norris said. "They just did it."
If the Soviet Union moved into the Persian Gulf, Flanagan said, they could move easily through the Middle East and Africa.
Western nations would have no oil, Richards said, "and without oil you can't run an Army."
The only defense against an invasion of the Middle East by the Soviet Union would be nuclear. Snaner said.
THE MILITARY simply needs more money, Flanagan sad.
“It’s sad,” he said, “to see a military man and his family living on welfare, receive food stamps, in order to live. These are not going to lay down their lives for their country.”
Norris said that because of Vietnam, the United States feared another war.
"It's made the government afraid to put its foot down anywhere," he said.
Bob Wolff, Lawrence senior, said the movie "Apocalypse Now" was not an accurate representation of the Vietnam War.
"Nobody loves that smell."
"In one part of the movie," Flanagan said, "the Colonel says 'I love the smell of napalm in the morning.'
Norris said, "Our policy in case of war is to hold the enemy until we can build a military."
But Spangler said, "I don't see how we could hold anybody."
GORIS COMPARED the situation of the United States to that of Great Britain before World War II.
"We need to take time to build up our defenses just as Britain did against Germany," he said.
Spangler said it was disturbing to him that people wanted to give so little to American society that they opposed even registration for the draft.
Singing Jayhawks promote KU
Staff Reporter
It's a song and dance group made up of students. No, it's a public relations organization.
The University of Kansas Singing Jayhawks is a musical group spawned by the University's desire for a public relations tool.
Last year, Chancellor Archie R. Dykes told some music faculty members he wanted to have a singing group that could host alumn meetings and honor banquets.
The concept of the Singing Jayhawks became a reality last fall, when auditions were held and 18 students were selected.
Kansas State University has had a similar group for 40 years, and a University of Virginia group has made appearances on national television.
THE GROUP rehearsed and refined its act under the direction of George Duerkers, chairman of the department of music
education and music therapy, and Nancy Griffin, instructor of music education.
The Singing Jayhawks has a repertoire that includes jazz, folk, country-western, and pop music, as well as that KU standard, "I'm a Jayhawk."
"We started out in chair formation" said member Jamie Rich, Kansas City, Mo., junior; and then we started staging things, trying to create a scene where they crawl to, then walk to, then run.
Rich recently wrote and produced a 30-minute revue of music by Marvin Harnisch, with songs from the Broadway hits *Broadway* and *Year Year*, and the film "The Way We Were."
"In the Hamill revue we wanted to feature the different things we do best, including solos, duets and small ensemble
The Hamish revue was performed last night in the main lobby of Eldsworth residence hall, the group's first public appearance on campus.
THE VERSATILITY of the performers allows the group to decide its program selections on the spur of the moment.
"There have been times when we've decided what to do just five minutes before the show." Rich said.
The Singing Jayhawks rehearse twice a week, and since March, they have averaged three performances a week. For their effort, Jayhawks receive a $100 stipend and one credit hour.
Auditions will be held again next fall, and this year's members will have to audition again. Rich said.
"We're preparing a flier to send out to houses and dorms and all interested parties because we're looking for people," he said. He also like to get representatives from all areas.
"In maybe five years, we might be up there on the Dinah Shore show."
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