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Universitvd Daliv Kansan. August 19. 1982
Photo by SUSAN PAGE
Maj, David Foley (left), Maj, Larry Bates and Capt. Roy Dixon spend time between classes in the Flint Hall reading room. The men are all full-time students as part of the U.S. Army's Cooperative Degree Program.
Army students at KU bring varied backgrounds to campus
BY LARRY FURROW Staff Reporter
Sixteen graduate students at the University of Kansas this fall are more than they seem to be. They are officers in the U.S. Army, temporarily shedding their brass-studded, ribbon-rowed uniforms to become full-time students.
These students said they viewed studying at KU as a unique opportunity to enhance their capabilities and careers.
The army students bring varied backgrounds to the University and arrive possessing a wide range of experiences.
Capt. Roy G. Dixon, 30, of Akademidia, Ark., was a tank company commander in Germany and now is for a master's degree in philosophy.
Having been at KU for one year, Dixon speaks with more experience than most of the Army students.
most of the Army students. "I've been readily accepted at KU,"
Dixon said. "Many of my fellow students are really curious, though, why the Army would send me here to study philosophy."
Dixon will study at KU for one more year, he will then be assigned to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., to teach philosophy.
Francis Heller, Roy Roberts professor of law and political science, was instrumental in creating the Army Cooperative Degree Program. This program allowed selected Army officers to begin their master's work while attend Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. They then finish their university studies during summer and fall terms in residence at KU.
Professors' attitudes about educating Army officers at KU have shifted considerably in the last 12 years, Heller said.
"The professors who went up to Fort
"To be honest with you, we had a rather sharp debate in the political science department back in 1970 about teaching the Army officers," he said.
Leavenworth in those days to teach classes were looked upon by other professors as suckers for Westmoreland's propaganda. There were others who said that we should aim to help the military improve itself, and one of the best ways was to provide educational opportunities."
Heller said that the debate continued for several months until the department decided to continue the Fort Leavitt campaign, with participants participating on a voluntary basis.
Lymn H. Nelson, director of graduate studies, department of history, has known Army students for more than 10 years.
"Some of us think that the act of getting them off the Army post and living in Lawrence is really helpful in terms of their careers," Nelson said.
"The family life of Lawrence and the non-regimented approach to education have to have a liberalizing and humanizing influence. It is refreshing for students who want to learn with new educational dimensions as well as new social'$^2$'s'$^3$'dimensions."