East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-05-11
UNIVERSITY DAY
BEING OBSERVED
ALUMNI OF UNIVERSITY OF ORE.
CON PLEDGES RENEWED
HELP To INSTITUTION.
Patriotism of Members Is Taking Con.
crete Form in All Kinds OF Service
20 the country; 25 Per Cent of Men
Already Enlisted.

Alumni of the state university will
gather in many cities throughout the
state in observance of the occasion to
revive memories of their alma mater
and to pledge themselves anew to
helping the institution that has help
ed them. The letters sent to alumni
over the state by the committee in
charge explain something of the oc-
casion. In part the letter reads.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eu-
gene, May university Day of 1917
is a historic occasion. The stirring
events of today may serve to make it
unique in the annals of the institu-
ton.
In the national crisis that has aris-
en-, it is a matter of pride to be able
to say that the university of oregon
is bearing itself as befits an institu-
tion of high ideals and noble tradi-
tions. Both men and women of the
university have already taken hold of
the situation, and not only are arrang
ing to do their respective "bits." but
are preparing to make that bit as
large as possible. Trained service OF
a high order-service that will count
lis to be offered TO the government.
Perhaps you have not been able to
keep in close touch with all that the
university is attempting to do to help
the nation put up best possible fight.
When war was declared. the faculty
established compulsory military drill
for all male students and provided in
struction along military lines. The
courses inaugurated include military
tacics, military law, first aid. military
topography, gunnery mathematics
II. .s..se ak "a
to Gunnery and other military uses.
the chemistry of explosives, advanced
ordnance chemistry and signal prac-
tice For the women. Red Cross and
hospital courses have been establish
ed, together with work in setting up
| exercises to provide for endurance of
extra physical stress which may arise
from war conditions. The extension
i division has offered its extensive sys-
| tenn of offices all over the state for
the organization of Red Cross work
and other uses in connection with the
orga nization of the national defense
Furthermore, the extension division
| is devoting itself TO taking a military
| census of its alumni and other college
men of the state with a view to de-
termining the nature of their probable
service in war time.
| Many Enlisted Men.
Twenty-Five per cent of the men in
college have already enlisted in some
military unit such as tine regular ar
| my. aviation and signal corps, the
| national guard, the navy, the naval
reserve and the marine corps. Many
| of these have already left college TO
| join their respective units. As many
have applied for mem bership in
| the Officers reserve corps, good
| many of whom have already been call
ed to training camps while numbers
| have been excused from the last few
weeks of college work in order to give
their services on the farm, on which
| so much depends this year the
Il school of architecture is supplying nu-
/ merous craftsmen and other skilled
/ workers to the navy department. Pre-
medical students in the university are
/ preparing themselves for active serv-
| ice in hospital units of the army and
/ navy. but these have been, urged by
/ the government to remain in schooI
Il and get the benefit of as much inten-
sive training as possible before join
H ing any military unit The school of
medicine at Portland has abolished its
vacation for seniors and will graduate
its class of 1918 in January in re-
sponse to the extra demand for train
H ed medical men in connection with the
H expected campaigns.
n Scientists of the university have un'
dertaken special research work de-
signed to be OF service to the govern
1 ment.
The university is offering every
thing it has to the nation. and is only
anxious that the service IL may offer
j may be of a nature and quality that
n will make il felt in the days Of stress
TO come.
Keep Up High standard.
1t is in this spirit of service that
the university approacheS its first
Statewide University Day. While
the direct war service above enumer-
ated is of prime importance at pres
ent. almost equal Importance attaches
to the work of keeping up the actiVl-
ties and high standards of the uni
versity itself. and the cooperation OF
alumni and former students through
out the state is expected to result In
the strengthening OF the institution
and the filling of the gaps In its ranks
H which have been left BY the patriotic
students who are laying down their
books TO take UP the active defense Of
NJ the country EDkh S~hNSt
nearly all Of whom are below the
age When they can be drafted into
the military service. should be urged
! to continue their education. rather
than 20 volunteer for immediate ser
vice. This Is IN line with the policy
urFed in the recent speech OF Secre-
tary Baker before the presidents OF
state universities recently assembled
a. the nationai capitai. The purpose
Is 70 make It possible for each person
to give the best trained service ot
which be Is capable and the way for
4 the high school boy to increase his ef-
nciency. his power OF serving the ma
4 ton is to attend an institution OF
higher learning. where he can obtain
\ training that viii ut him for more
intelligent service than he can pos
sibiy give when equipped only with
his high school course. This training
Will not only be civil but military In