Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn - Polywog Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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1 . ' , 151' rQN 'fgf 1 if ,f 5 I , ' 7 A if WV Q La f . ' I Whatever may be the outcome of the Wlorld War it is beyond doubt true that we have just passed thru an era that will quite definitely decide the future of the human race for many centuries to come. vVl10tllCI' the outcome of the titanic struggle will be worth the price paid remains also a question for the future. Yet it is for us the living to decide what shall be done with a universe left to us by a self-sacrificing humanity. The war just passed has shown a greater expense of life and energy than any other human und H men of a scientific trend of mind. it must be difficult to grasp the fact that such enormous sac-r' ' ideal. Pour la Patrie and For Democracy were the words that hurled millions of them brave the untold iniseries of war. There was not a nook on this globe tl ' humanity was at war, and there was not a great nation in existence that di It may then be definitely said that no matter how uncerta' aged we may be due to the state of flux in which our inst' have striven for an ideal and any step taken must America was among the nations idealism was the basic cause of l the abolition of a hostile a ual to claim to hav helped Amer' crtaking and as ihces were made for an men across the sea and helped iat was not alive to the fact that d not take a major part in it. in the future may seem to us: no matter how discour- ltutions are at present. yet we cannot miss the fact that we be in a direction toward it. that took a stand in the questions involved. and it is proverbially true that ier move. America asked no material comforts and demanded none. She fought for utocratic state among the family of nations. It should be a source of pride for any individ- e been a participant in the struggle, and equally much pride can rest with any institution that lea in those hours of need.

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Q Message from iBrssihent Qtkinsun To THE STUDENTS! I am glad of this opportunity to extend to you my cordial greetings and to express on behalf of the Faculty their full recognition of the line spirit that has prevailed during the year. The remarkable progress that has taken place at the Polytechnic in the development of standards of scholarship and high ideals of character and leadership would not have been possible without the enthusiastic and thoughtful cooperation shown by you. lVhile I, as President, shall always attempt to provide the best material conditions surrounding your work and to select wisely the men who are to teach you, I shall, also, as will my colleagues on the Faculty. encourage such supplementary activities as will tend to make your college life a happy one. ' As Americans you have the fullest opportunity to serve freely in the social and industrial struggle now taking place. As trained men who have been taught to think clearly on all questions, you have as well a special responsibil- ity to assist so that this almost revolutionary movement shall result in better conditions of life and happiness for the greatest number possible. Only as you realize this will the world be better for your having lived. Very sincerely yours, C

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II The first duty of a nation in fighting a. war lies in the concentration of her powers and resources. America soon recognized this fact after watching three years of struggle of the European nations. Expense was no consideration, neither were the leaders to be swayed fron1 a course of action following lines of cold logic. Along with patriotism must come the determination of correct values of the nation's energies, and to find the right niche for each man and institution was the big work of the national councils. The IVar Department chose the colleges of the country as the institutions for the llltlllldlllg of the materials necessary to lead and direct the vast armies and supplies of the American forces. The colleges and universities were called upon to direct the enlistment of their students into branches of the service that would promote the greatest efficiency in military forces. Each college virtually became an officers' training school and each college laboratory became an adjunct to the departments of construction and research. In the matter of student enlistment, the Polyteclmic Institute was among the first to answer tl1e Proclamation of VVar i11 April, 1917. The Polytechnic did not even wait for that inevitable date, but even as early as February, 1917, two companies of infantry were organized at the Institute, each headed by a member of the Faculty. Later, Dr. Chittenden sponsored a movement to organize Tech men into a company of the Twenty-third Regi- ment of the New York Guard. Professor Chittenden was commissioned First Lieutenant, and quickly succeeded in raising a company of infantry. From that time on, more and 111ore students began to appear in the study halls and recitation rooms in military attire, and at the same time many students left the Institute to join the colors in active service. The Honor Roll grew rapidly until, in the summer of 1918, more than 1825 students had entered the service. The faculty list had likewise grown and numbered twenty professors and instructors. In the Fall of 1917, the VVar Department called a council of representatives of the technical colleges of the country for the purpose of establishing courses in Radio Communications and Signal Engineering under the supervi- sion of the Signal Corps of the United States Army. The Polytechnic Instit.ute was represented by Dr. Sheldon. This conference resulted in the establishment at Tech of a course in Radio Communication that entitled the stu- dent to apply for a Signal Corps commission. Only seniors in the engineering courses were eligible, and twelve men were enrolled.