Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

Page 16 text:

WORLD CHANGES WAR II A practical concession to the heat of the summer is the removol of jumpers for all class- room and laboratory work. Skivvy shirts and trousers are the uniform of the day, and yet it is not easy to concentrate on bookwork in the drowsy midsummer weather. noted much of the former social life. As the school year of 1942-43 progressed, more and more students left the campus for service in the armed forces. Those who remained joined the various reserve programs and continued their education while awaiting call. In the early part of 1943 both the Enlisted Reserve Corps and the Air Corps Reserve were placed on active duty, thereby removing a large percentage of the stu- dents from the college. At about the same time plans were completed to institute a Naval V-12 unit at Villa- nova during the forthcoming summer. It was to be com- posed of Navy-Marine Reservists who were called into uniform at this time. On May 30. 1943. the command- ing officer of the new unit arrived at the college, and by July the program was in full operation. Villanova, The outbreak of war in December. 1941, provoked an almost complete change in the educational program at Villanova. Courses of study were accelerated so that it became possible for the students to finish the regular four year course in three years. A third semester was added, beginning in the summer of 1942. to facilitate this change. There was now evident a new and imminent goal and a feeling of grim determination that elimi- Coptoin Morgan takes o group of newly-arrived civilians down to the Field Houso to bo transformed externally into morines and sailors. Early arrivals have already been outfitted and are return- ing to their rooms to examine this strange assortment of gear which hos been issued to them.

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THROUGH THE YEAHS holf century wos to see the increases that hove placed Villanova in the high collegiate status she enjoys today. In 1899. Rev. John J. Fedigan. O.S.A.. believing in the college, started work on College Hall and the Monas- tery. These were completed in 1902. and Father Fedi- gan's dreams for the expansion of Villlonova started to be realized. Three years later the Engineering Deport- ment wos instituted, and the gains were consolidated with the establishment of a Science School in 1915. This wos followed by the formation of the Summer School three years later, in consequence of which an extension school was placed in operation the following year. 1919. Throughout the latter years of this period the col- lege hod not been unoffected by the first World War. Villanova opened her doors to military students, and an Army Student Training Corps was maintained until late in December. 1918. Almost immediately following the war. the college began onew a period of growth, so thot in the late twenties it became necessary to establish a business school program and erect the Com- merce and Finance Building. It was during this time, with an enormously increased enrollment, thot Villanova secured the position she maintains today as one of the leading Catholic colleges in the notion. In 1928 one of the series of disasters which mark our history occurred when College Hall was destroyed by fire. With the same zeal that prompted Villanova's inception and growth, the college Fathers built again, and Mendel Hall was constructed to replace the demol- ished building. Despite the notional depression and the consequently lessened enrollment, the present Field House wos finished in 1932. In the same year a second major fire struck the campus and destroyed the imposing re- minder of the school's ear'ier days—the Monastery. Once more, and without delay to the educational pro- gram. Villanova quickly replaced the building, and by 1934 the present day monastery was completed. The era that followed. 1934-41, was a period of con- tinuing accretion ond consolidation. They were quiet years compared to the decades that had preceded them and in contrast to the years of upheaval that were to come. This peace, however, was broken by the ad- vent of the second World War, just as Villanova pre- pared to commemorate her centennial anniversary. Alumni Hall, only edifice remaining on today's campus from the group which comprised (he original college, ot one (ime housed oil of Villanova's scholastic facilities. Other buildings since hove been destroyed by the fires which hove marred every era of the school's history. In July. 1932. the lost big fire destroyed the monastery as Summer School students lobored to save what they could from the burning structure. Today—rebuilt, enlarged, beau- tified—buildings like Mendel Hall stand as an enduring tribute to the industry ond perseverance of Augustinion Fothers of more than a century.

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LIFE U IV T H like every other institution in the notion, hod chonged: it wos now o wor-time Villonovo functioning under 'ex- tremely adverse conditions. The presence of uniformed men. attending courses stressing specific navol needs, showed conclusively that Villonovo was doing her part in the country-wide war effort. Semester followed semester without pause for the formerly customary vacations. Trainees completed their courses of study and left for active service, but new men were always on hand to take their places. Clubs. E E A M P U S societies, and seminars were subordinated, os never be- fore. to the heavy class work. The high caliber of Villa- nova varsity athletic teams diminished. Intra-mural sports became more popular and extensive than in previous years. Programs designed to emphasize the necessity of physical training were added to the already packed scholastic schedules, and carried out on a strenuous daily basis. Reveille, roll call, drill, and inspection be- came the ordinary routine after class hours. Though preparing men for war. Villonovo did not Fother Stanford. president of the college. and Commander Milner, first V-12 commanding offi- cer. discuss the progress of the newly.estab- lished naval unit at Villanova. Father Stanford served on the board of civilian educators which helped organize the reserve training programs, and was fully aware of the Navy Department's objectives. Commander Milner was a Noval Academy graduate seosoned by many years of service and well acquainted with the traditional requirements for naval trainees. 13