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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, April 21. 1959
Military Descended on KU For Training During WWII
Campuses all over the nation became centers for wartime training during the period from 1941 to 1945, and KU was no exception.
The Army ROTC program had been in operation here since 1919, but during World War II a new concept called the Army Specialized Training Program took shape.
The ASTP was a system whereby military trainees who met certain requirements were sent to universities for a specialized training program.
The Army program opened at KU on August 10, 1943, 18 months after the United States entered the war. The first class finished in March, 1944.
Early November of 1943 found the Army headquarters here being moved from Fowler Shops to the new military science building. Only the garage and offices had been completed, but during the national emergency there was no time to waste.
New Changes
KU made many more physical changes to allow for the large number of military trainees. Lindley Hall was turned into a barracks until 1945, and Hoch Auditorium was used for physical education and special examinations.
Fraternity houses also were used as barracks. One Army medical student dance was held at Barracks A—the Sigma Chi house.
In March 1944, a directive from the War Department sent the University into a flurry of excitement. Chancellor Deane Malott received notice that the ASTP would be cut to 35,000 men—primarily in medicine and engineering.
Drastic Cut
This War Department directive would mean a drastic cut in enrollment in Kansas colleges. KU would be affected least, but Kansas State College, Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia, and Fort Hays State College would lose half their enrollment.
Educators got busy and scheduled a meeting in Kansas City. College presidents from all over the nation gathered, among them the presidents of Cornell and Harvard Universities and the chancellor of Vanderbilt University.
The college heads requested the War Department to enroll 100,000 volunteer 17-year-olds in the Army training program.
The issue was never quite resolved, but the schools went on functioning as usual.
The gravity of the war effort was exemplified in an article in the Lawrence Journal-World in March 1944.
"The decision of the War Department to proceed to the quick liquidation of the greater part of the Army Specialized Training Program is based on the need of more young men of fighting age in the Army training camps. Sectors of violent action are increasing in number on the fighting fronts, and the end is not yet," the article said.
"The war is approaching its crucial phase, when all considerations unconnected with serving the immediate needs of the fighting fronts are waived."
The wholesale reduction of attendance for Kansas colleges was a new problem to be met.
The Daily Kansan gave a grim picture of the period. It said the pep and enthusiasm of the entire student body was lacking. The semester was then cut from an 18 week period to 26 weeks.
"The University has become warminded, although plans and schedules have remained much the same. The old 'college spirit' of goldfish swallowing and steak fries has passed. Instead, students are concentrating on the serious side, with fewer extra-curricular activities and less nonsense," the Daily Kansan reported.
As the end of March approached, the time drew near for the ASTP
tranees to leave and the University went through a series of parties, smokers, and speeches for the departing students.
March 30, 1944, the ASTP students shipped out and the registrar, Dr. Laurence C. Woodruff, announced that the enrollment had decreased to 3,168 students. Of that number, only 1,715 were civilians, the rest being Army, Navy and special aeronautical trainees.
Theatre to Present 'The Winter's Tale'
William Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale" will be produced in the University Theatre April 29 through May 2.
The production will be staged by Virgil Godfrey, instructor of speech. Settings are being designed by Bill Henry, Parkville, Mo., senior. Costume designer is Herbert L. Camburn, instructor of speech. Lighting will be under the direction of E. Arthur Kean, instructor of speech and drama and journalism.
The cast includes Sidney Berger, Brooklyn, N. Y., graduate student as Leontes, King of Sicilia; Topher Godfrey, son of director Godfrey, as Mamillius, young prince of Sicilia; Al Rossi, Chicago, Ill., graduate student, as Camillo.
Marvin Carlson, Wichita graduate student, as Antigonus; Steve Callahan, Independence senior as Polozenes, King of Bohemia; Bruce Lewelyn, Hutchinson junior as Florizel, Prince of Bohemia; John Welz, Goodland senior as the Old Shepherd; Harper Barnes, Kansas City, Kan., junior as Clown.
Robert Moberly, Excelsior Springs, Mo., sophomore as Autoleycus; Louis Lyda, Lawrence graduate student as Major Domo; Douglas Brown, Lawrence sophomore as a Lord; David Rockhold, Winfield sophomore as a Lord; Rex Buell, Sterling junior as a Judge, and Bob Thomas, Marysville freshman as a Shepherd.
Linda K. Plake, Prairie Village freshman as Hermione, Queen to Mo., senior as Perdita, daughter to
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Leontes; Joyce Elliott, Independence,
Leontes; Sara Maxwell, Columbus
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freshman; Judith Lea Thomas, Grand
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Okla., sophomore or Dorcas.
Organized Weekends
Karen Lipe, Kansas City, Kan,
junior, and Karen Duffy, Lawrence
freshman, as ladies-in-waiting;
Tomi Yadon, Lawrence junior, Karen
McMinssey, Lawrence freshman,
Linda Larson, Topeka junior, Larry
Sneegas, Lawrence sophomore, and
Danny Crouse, Hutchinson freshman,
as dancers.
The state flower of Georgia is the Cherokee Rose. Its state bird is the Brown Thrasher.
Twelve school fires occur daily in the U.S.
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Historical Speakers Include KU Faculty
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Two KU professors will speak at the 52nd annual meeting of the Mississippi Valley Historical Assn. in Denver, Colo., Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Donald R. McCoy, assistant professor of history and director of correspondence study, will present a paper entitled "Alfred M. Landon and the Election of 1936." Elmo R. Richardson, instructor of history, will report on "The West and the Secretary of the Interior, 1909-1913: A Problem in the Politics of Conservation."
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Dean of Med. School To Discuss Students
W. Clarke Wescoe, dean of the School of Medicine, will speak at the luncheon meeting of the Faculty Forum tomorrow in the English Room of the Kansas Union. He will talk on the freshman medical student.
Reservations should be phoned in by this afternoon to the KU-Y office (Ext. 227).
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