Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-11
SCHOOL GIVES
MANY TO ARMY
IOWA WESLEYAN COLLEGE HAS
DONE MUCH FOR COUNTRY
IN CRISIS.

Mt. Pleasant, Dec. 8.-Iowa Yves
leyan college has been taking the wal
seriously ever since that fateful day
last April when America pitted its
strength against German autocracy
The college is on war basis in every
department. All the superf1uous camo
fiouge Of college activities that are
popularity supposed to draw so heavily
UNFAIRLY dispensed with BY the student
body. At the same time there has
been no attempt to over due or re
strict normal activities.
Two days after the declaration OF
war the board Of trustees adopted
compulsory military training and with.
in week the male students were &C.
lively drilling. The result of this
work is reflected in the unusually
large proportionate number of stu.
dents that have drawn commissions
in the officers training camps and
non-commis doned ranking in the
draft armies. The college has to date
furnished one hundred and twenty
seven men for the army and the navy.
This is over sixty-five per cent of the
total male enrolment of the college
last year and 1t is believed that this
is higher proportion than can be
shown by any other middle western
institution.
Iowa Wesleyan has supplied one
colonel. one major. one captain, ten
first lieutenants, thirteen second lieu
tenants, two chaplains, six Y. M. G. A.
secretaries. two Of whom are across
the water and ninety enlisted men Of
the army and navy. It is interesting
to note that Of the 127 men in the SER
vice, only fifteen of that number were
drawn in the selective draft. There
were two Wesleyan boys with Cen
eral Pershing's first expeditionary
force and one lad has seen years
fighting with the Canadian army.
ATHLETICS SUFFER.
When school opened this fall there
was naturally large gap in the male
enrolment that could not be quite
filled by the incoming class. 1t was
found that there were but three mem
bers of the football squad left. De-
spite this handicap a nine-game sea
son was played out with green team
which won two of the three confer
ence games scheduled. Basketball
prospects never looked brighter than
this year. Last years team lost but
one conference game played out OF an
unusually long schedule. But when
the coach took stock it was found that
of the squad Of eight men Of last year
all but one were in the army. and that
the remaining player was here only
because the examining surgeons de-
creed it. But the basketball schedule
will be played out as in former years.
Now that the football season Is over
the boys are drilling regularly every
night. 1t is a common campus ex-
preston when an inquiry is made con-
corning former student. ooh. he Is
in the army, of course
ALL DOING "eIT."
The students that are on the camp
us are all doing their bit in big way
to help win the war. Instead Of school
five days a week, with classes out at
three, everyone Is attending classes
six days a week until 4:30 p. m. BY
this means the school year will be
shortened month, in order that the
students may have more time for pro-
ductive war work on the farm or
wherever else they may be needed.
Despite the increase Of college work
the girls have found time to slip In an
extra hour day to learn surgical
dressing and first aid work, in addi-
ton to knitting sweaters for the men
in the service.
The students tripled their assess
ment for the Y. NJ. c. A. War Work
fund. The fraternities and sororities
have called OF all formal social func-
lions. voting and paying the regular
for these events and
turning the money over to some form
Of war relief. The fraternities are
observing rigidly the meatless and
wheatless days.
1t Is surprising how much work can
be accomplished by body Of stu
dents periodically directed and guild
ed, who have as unit made up their
minds to "see it through"