University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

Page 21 text:

rHE COLLECiE . . . ANn THE WAR . . President and Mrs. Baker still devote evenings to social affairs such as the 1941 Soph-Senior Hop receiving line pictured above; but this year finds the President much concerned in the College ' s part in national defense 171

Page 20 text:

THE PRESIDENT We were ready — we are serving is Massa- chusetts State College ' s proud message to the world. Our college has been among the leaders in planning and mobilizing for national defense and for allied victory. War, declared in September, 1939, dragged along as a token war. In June, 1940, France fell. At that time, while America still spoke of keeping out of a fighting war, this college prepared and sent to Governor Saltonstall a complete summary of how this college could aid in defending America. A College Defense CouncU was then appointed to study and report on the matter. Since Pearl Harbor and our subsequent entry into the war, we have adopted an accel- erated program. This includes shortened semesters with Commencement coming on May 17th, and a twelve weeks ' summer session which will continue each year through the duration of the war. This will give students their fullest college experience before they are called to industrial or military service. [16]

Page 22 text:

R. O. T. €. AS A MAJOR With polyandrous Bellona constantly demanding new bridegrooms, the R. O. T. C. has sprung into a sudden and eventful prominence on State campus. Commandant Donald A. Young was promoted first to the position of Lt. Colonel, then to that of Colonel; new member of the khaki department James R. Chambliss was advanced from a captaincy to a majority; and Staff Sergeant Patrick Creary retired from active duty after fourteen years of teaching. The student section of our military department kept hitting the headlines, too. A military society, Sabers and Spurs, modeled on the Scabbard and Blade, national honor fraternity of the R. O. T. C, was formed by junior and senior cavalry majors, and automatically Horsemanship at Horse Show, Gauniond on JuUus officers hA a ,ber-t»-« ' ' ,, ., for Victory Vin and Jack try out a hit of mechanization .18]