University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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 rolled and 20 individuals received commis- sions. The department is responsible to the 4th Region Headquarters, Fort Lewis, Washington, for military matters and is currently manned with nine military and two civilian personnel. The department provides traditional and non-traditional courses of instruction. Traditional instruction includes map read- ing, rifle and pistol marksmanship, tactics, leadership techniques and land navigation. Non-traditional instruction includes trips made to Colorado for adventure-type train- ‘ROTC is not the presence of the military in the university, but rather the presence of the university in the military.’ ing in the Rocky Mountains. These trips teach basic mountaineering techniques and serve as an excellent vehicle in helping students acquire and build self-confidence. Field trips are also taken for canoe-camping and other types of adventure training which enables interested students to learn outdoor skills, the importannce of teamwork and provide an excellent opportunity for person- al development, according to Minerich. Rappelling instruction provides an added dimension to this non-traditional side of the academic instruction. ROTC scholarships have been award- ed to many deserving KSC Military Sci- ence students over the years. Currently three scholarships are in effect. These provide an estimated $38,250 in revenues to KSC annually. Sgt. Maj. Wilder assists student in getting set to begin bis journey down the rappelling tower. The department also provides funds to KSC through a program that involves the U.S. Army Reserve components. This program is the Simultaneous Membership Program, designed for students who are members of the U.S. Army Reserves, or Nebraska National Guard, and simulta- neously in ROTC. The program provides the students with a $ 100 stipend per month and pays 75 percent of their tuition if they are in the National Guard, or 50 percent of their tuition if they are in the Army Reserves. The $100 monthly stipend for non-scholarship students provides KSC students with an estimated $35,000 in revenues annually. The department has been successful in achieving national recognition for KSC. In the past two years, two military students have received National ROTC Fellowships based upon their scholastic achievements and leadership potential. These fellowships allow recipients to attend a graduate school of their choice at Army expense. Addition- ally, there have been 15 recipients of the George C. Marshall Award. This is a prestigious award, only given to top Army ROTC students nationwide. A key objective of the department is to strive to increase enrollments in the ROTC program. Particular emphasis is being placed on freshmen and sophomore enrollments. Departmental faculty mem- bers make numerous visitations to high schools and two-year institutions through- out Nebraska. Emphasis is placed on the values of attending KSC first and then the added benefits of ROTC are discussed. One hundred and eighty nursing cadets were programmed for 27 sites in 1984. Cadet Sue Valentine noted, “I worked one-on-one with a nurse from the active Army, and I learned more in my six weeks at Womak (Army Community Hospital) by doing than I did in an entire semester at college by studying.” Field training for nurses isn’t ignored. Students will have one week of field training at a military installation as well as clinical training. After the week of field training, students go to an Army Medical Treatment Facility for five weeks of clinical training. If you’re looking for excitement and adventure, as well as assistance in the funding of your higher education, maybe you had better consider the ROTC Pro- gram at KSC. ROTC combines practical and worldly experiences with academic knowledge.

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ROTC: More than just rappelling by Mark Bates It all began in Captain Lloyd Minerich’s office as we were discussing the Army Reserved Officers’ Training Corps pro- gram at KSC. The next thing I knew I found myself standing at the base of a rappelling tower. Yes, Capt. Minerich had invited me to attend one of his rappelling classes. Not only had he invited me to one of his classes but he also invited me to join in on all the fun. My first thought was that this could be very exciting. That thought crossed my mind while I was in Capt. Minerich’s office. i But as I stood at the base of the tower looking to the top, a second thought came dashing through my head. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.” You see, I have a deathly fear of heights and when I saw the top of the tower towering 35-40 feet above my head, I definitely had second thoughts. Capt. Minerich helped me tie on the sling rope. He secured the metal “D-ring” onto my sling rope which was now tied in a fashion that it would serve as my chair on my journey down the tower. I climbed the rappelling tower. At the top, Sergeant Major Burton Wilder con- nected my D-ring to the rappelling rope. I moved to the edge of the tower. I yelled out “On rappell!” I’m not sure if this is a death cry or a warning similar to “Look out below!” Below me came a voice calling out “On belay!” I thought this meant “All clear down here!” You know, a reassurance that if by chance I came sliding down the rope at a high speed I wouldn’t land on someone. Capt. Minerich later told me that this meant the “anchor man” was ready. The man on belay holds the end of the rope so the ends won’t dangle in the air or lay on the ground. Looking over the edge of that tower with only about 40 feet of air and two ropes dangling between the ground and me provoked a third thought: “This is definite- Student rappells down the tower. If you keep your feet between the wall and yourself, you'll not have the painful task of plucking splinters from your face. ly crazy but it’s too late now.” I was over the edge and beyond the point of return. 1 began my journey downward, keep- ing my feet between the wall and myself at all times. Properly done, your feet will be the only part of your body coming in contact with the wall. If this is not done, you might find yourself plucking splinters from your face. I made it to the bottom with all my body in one piece and unbroken. After reaching the bottom, 1 found rappelling appears worse and more difficult than it really is. 1 found this experience very exciting. I guess I should have stayed with my first impression. There’s more to Army ROTC than just climbing up and rappelling down a tower. Army ROTC enables students to earn a college degree and an officer’s commission at the same time. It provides the Army with capable, college educated officers. Dr. Lee Druyfus, former Wisconsin governor and Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, said, “ROTC is not the presence of the military in the university, but rather the presence of the university in the military.” The Department of Military Science was established at Kearney State College in 1969. The program has shown consistent upward growth in number of students enrolled and in the variety and quality of instruction given to the students. In the school year 1970-1971 there were a total of 82 students enrolled in military science classes. Eight of these individuals received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army that year. In the school year of 1983-1984, there were 150 students en-

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KSC’s enrollment in the fall semester rose 8.6 percent from 8,035 students to 8,725, the largest increase among the state’s colleges and universities. President William Nester cited three reasons for KSC’s increase in freshman enrollment. Among them were KSC's quality educa- tion, senior faculty members at the fresh- man and sophomore levels, and a small enough institution so one can capture the college as a place that belongs to a student. KSC's Greek row received a new addition in the colonization of Phi Beta Chi sorority. To obtain chapter status, the sorority had to meet national standards, which included having 30 members and demonstrating that it was established on campus to receive its chapter within four years. The physics department sponsored a planetarium show, providing background information on the return of Halley’s Comet this year. Large crowds watched slide presentations about the comet, and faculty members later showed the comet’s position in the sky by using the star- projection machine. The American Heart Association sponsored a mini-triathalon for students. Entrants had to endure a three-sport test which included a 500-yard swim, a 6.5-mile bike ride and a three-mile run. The women’s cross country team qualified for the NAJA national meet held in Kenosh, Wl. The Lady Lopers finished 14th out of 33 teams with senior Barb Herbek placing 37th and freshman Donna Spickelmeicr finishing 38th. The men’s cross country team sent Neligh Junior Mike Hamm to the national meet, in where he finished 42nd. The Loper football team won its final game of the season against Washburn. Their final record of 3-6 was KSC's first losing season since 1960. Quarterback Brett Kuhn finished his career at KSC by setting career bests in passing attempts, passing completions and passing yards. Ted Murray set school records with most TD receptions in one game, most TD receptions in one season and most yards gained pass receiving in one game. The KSC volleyball team finished with a 26-20-1 record. Junior Linda Loschen was named to the Nebraska Athletic Conference First Team, and to the second team of the Central Stales Intercollegiate Conference. KSC’s athletic budget received a serious blow when the stale legislature cut the operational budget from $209,000 to $104,500 resulting in changes for the athletic departments and students. For students enrolled in seven or more credit hours, a $ 10 emergency fee was required at fee payment. The football team was forced to eliminate its first game of the season against East Central State of Oklahoma. The volleyball team reduced its number of road trips from hist year’s four trips to this year’s two. Michael Johnson, known for his pop song, “Bluer Than Blue” performed at KSC to a crowd of more than 150. More than 65 new faculty members and graduate assistants began instructing KSC students this year. 24