Amherst College - Olio Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

Page 18 text:

Ill elll ll umun. unmu mmun mumu III::mnnn annum Illxnuuunn Zxllllllllll Iwlllllllll :umm ummm IIIIIIIIII Illllllll llllllll Illlllllll ,lH,,, 1 HU lllilll 'lllll' lu:::1::::::::ll hh ll ll:::::::::z:ll 111 srlelezr 1:2211 l,,,11,,, l::r:::1 21111-atlltifi-1:nll:::la::lla11121111-12:1111-if1112111112:llzzlzcsl:iw111111-if-11123 11fi -111 :tail-if-M11:11:11in-1-1111:11-112:11ll-11111111-Wit:l:l::l The Bear Qmung the Jfacultp It is safe to say that never in all its history has Amherst College gone through such a confusing series of changes and upheavals as during the opening term of the 1918-1919 college year. A rather large freshman aggregation barely balanced the depleted ranks of the three upper classes. However, the proposals made to establish the Students' Army Training Corps brought a considerable number of special students so that when induction finally took place Amherst had a total enrollment of about 415 undergraduates. In the meantime, the administration committee made hurried efforts to produce a curriculum in harmony with what the govern- ment was expected to need for the S. A. T. C. After this gigantic task had been completed and modified somewhat it was found arl- visable to suspend all classes for a short period of time as a preventa- tive measure against the influenza, then raging in Massachusetts. The entire absence of mortality during this period as contrasted with large death rates in nearby communities, more than justified this step. Finally on October 10, Amherst became a full fledged military unit under the eflicient command of Captain S. G. Eaton. Drill, mess, barracks, reveille, and the other ac- companiments of military life became the vogue. The curriculum, aimed to fit men for the various branches of the service, soon ran entirely on a war basis. But even as a military organization the college was not a stable body. Groups of men were constantly leaving for the several oHicers' training schools, while new material was being drilled into shape. When Cap- tain Eaton was transferred to New Hampshire State College, Captain Dan T. R. Dickson came to take his place, as commandant of the Post. As the signing of the armistice made the S. A. T. C. unnecessary in the government's opinion, demobilization began to get under way in December. Many of the special students left the college for good, and the administration was forced to undergo another metamorphosis to appear in the shape of the liberal college of the past. With the New Year, Amherst took on a familiar appearance. Upper classmcn direct from service in many parts of this country and overseas arrived daily with the result that the Hnal enrollment hovered about the 375 mark. In order that the undergraduates might be able to make up the work of the Hrst term, the period from january to June was divided into two terms equivalent to the usual two semesters. VVorking under these conditions the college soon found itself, and resurrected its numerous activities and sports which of necessity 2