Butler University - Carillon / Drift Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

Page 13 text:

The arrival of the United States Navy Signal School on the campus last spring was the first step toward the revolutionizing of the campus and making the student body accutely war conscious. Over five hundred sailors were stationed in what was once the scene of Butler athletic events, the fieldhouse. Sleeping quarters were constructed in what used to be the gym, the track was covered with asphalt to serve as a place for drilling, and a new and modern kitchen and mess hall were installed. The out-doted heating plant was stripped and a new one was installed. The boys in blue soon became a familiar sight around the campus. They held classes in classrooms in Jordan Hall. Many of the campus sororities held socials and dinners in honor of the sailors. They were admitted free to Butler football games. The familiar football field was converted into a signal practice training field. The telephone poles became masts bearing pulleys and gaily colored signal flags. The field itself became a drilling ground for training the men. Commander H. C. Sigtenhorst commanded the ship. Classes were graduated from the school every three months. However, with the arrival of the army air crew mid-way in the second semester the navy was on its way out. The last class of signa men trained to serve their country at Butler was graduated early in June. ficial U. S. Niivy Photographs Mi

Page 12 text:

The 52nd College Training Detachment of Butler University was establis hed on March 1, 1943. The purpose of this work was to offer additional college training to air crew students who ore potential pilots. These potential pilots study physics, physics laboratory, mathematics, geography, his- tory, and English under a corps of faculty professors. Besides this academic work these students are required to take two hours of military work doily- one hour of physical education and ten hours of flying. The flying is conducted at Hoosier Airport under the direction of Mr. Shank who has thirty-two trainer planes. The daily schedule of these students starts at 5:30 in the morning and ends with taps at 9:30 each night. During the day they have one hour of supervised study and again at night they hove one hour and a half for concentration work. It is really a marvelous opportunity for any young man to attend college at the expense of his govern- ment and at the same time, learn to serve his country by becoming an aviator. The air crew students are stationed in the field house and in the various fraternity houses. Head- quarters ore in the former faculty lounge in Jordan Hall.

Page 14 text:

The war and rationing that has come with it has entailed other changes at Butler besides the advent of the navy and the army aircrew, the construction of the new gym and of a new cafeteria. Butler students amusements and social activities have also been revised and curtailed. Many of the sororities have entertained members of the armed forces at socials and dinners throughout the year. The fraternities, too, have done their share in acting as hosts for the servicemen at dinners and smokers. But for their own amusement students found that there just wasn t enough gas behind an A ' coupon to allow them to run off to Eaton ' s or the Porkmoor on Wednesday night dates in the traditional man- ner, and when cold weather set in, walks to the drug store became impractical as well as uncomfortable. So Butler s Student Council dreamed up a new form of entertainment for the students. A variety that needed no automobiles, no tires, no gasoline — one that was made easily accessible to all — by foot. The answer to the Wednesday-night-where- to-go problem was found on the campus in the Student Mixers. Several mixers were held throughout the year in the student lounge and the new cafeteria. They provided some place for the students to go, and they were inexpensive, 1 5c for one or 25c a couple. Another feature of the affairs was that both the men and the women students could attend them without dates if they preferred. The mixers were held from 9 until 10:45 p.m. so that students would hove no trouble in attending them after their regular Wednesday night meetings and so that sorority girls could get in safely under the wire without the usual last minute breath-taking rush. Joe Zainey s band, composed primarily of Butler students, was a regular feature of the get-togethers. Dancing could be found in the cafeteria, or if students preferred, bridge gomes were always in evidence in the student lounge. Refreshments were easily obtainable — a nickel in one of the coke machines and presto! All the mixers were chaper- oned by members of the Butler faculty and their wives and by Dr. Karl S. Means, president of the Men s Council. Another beauty of the mixers was that they were strictly informal — joe clothes were strictly THE dress. 10