Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-08
SCHOOL FOR RADIO OPERATORS
Another Department to Be Add
ed at University.
Students in Course VIII he Taken from
p Conscripted Men Of Second and
-, Following Drafts-sessions
~. in Evening.

to the work of instruction at the Uni
versity of Vermont This Is a school for
radio or buzzer operators. The federal
board for vocational education has made
an appeal to all of the schools in the coun-
try to take up this work. 1t is stated that
1900 buzzer or radio operators are needed
at the earliest possible date. The signal
corps Of the army cannot supply men fast
enough and the regular course of the
signal corps IL much more intricate than
necessary for merely radio or buzzer OPP
Grating. 1t has been decided, therefore, to
train operators for this work from the list
Of conscrpted men Of the second and fol-
lowing drafts. Their instruction Is to
begin, through the assistance Of the
schools Of the nation, within a very short
time. They will then get good start with
the work before they are called into the
environments
The University of Vermont is the first
school in the State to respond to this call
from the federal board. Dean J. w. Votey
Of the engineering department is now
taking UP the matter with the idea Of
getting the new school into operation as
soon as possible. The engineering depart
ment is already fully equipped for this
kind of work, owing to the fact that the
very best Of apparatus has been put in for
IL expected, also, that some Of the mem
bers Of the signal corps will be engaged
a. instructors in the new school.
The sessions will be held in the evening
because the laboratories at the university
are already overcrowded during the day,
10 that another course could not possibly
be squeezed in. Also. 1t is expected that a
large part Of the men who are likely to at
tend the coure will be busy during the day.
and can best take the time for this work
during the early part OF the evening. 1t
has not been definitely decided how many
evenings q week will be given to the new
school Of instruction. but Dean Votey ex-
poets that three evenings will be enough
to start with. II the class shows sufficient
interest, and is large enough to warrant
It. ave or six evenings will probably be
utilized each week, with the instructors
alternating The classes will last from
seven until nine o'loclock according to
present plans.
Nobody but the men who are on the
draft list, and who are likely to be
called for the second or third draft. will
be a admitted to this school for the present.
Also. each applicant must pass a ply
steal examination under the regular con-
Bcription laws in order to be eligible
to enter the school.
Although Dean Votey states that the
university is ready to open this course
on q weeks notice. 1t is not thought
probable that It will be possible to get
Il into operation inside of two weeks.
It. will first be necessary to get COM
plo:e list Of the conscripted men in this
vicinity. A circular letter will then be
mailed to each Of those on the list, ex-
planning to them the reasons for and ad-
vantagss Of the course and giving them
the opportunity to apply for admission
n they so desire. Those who apply will
then have to take the regular physical
examination before the exemption board
and 20 through the process Of claiming
Axsmption. II they intend to do SO. 1t
10 not the intention to admit anyone to
the course who will not have to go into
the army under the draft system.
It IL stated authoritatively that 1t will
probably take about 200 hours Of actual
training to give the men who receive
this instruction the required speed in
sending and receiving. The speed re-
quired to qualify is 20 words minute.
Men who take up this work, upon going
to the cantonment at the time they are
really drafted into the service, will be
transferred to the signal corps depart
ment and given more special training and
an opportunity for more rapid advance
ment than they could possibly hope for
by going in as privates in the ranks
It is understood that this training Is
for the war service only. There is no
requirement about remaining in the work
after the close Of the war. No charge
will be made to the men taking the
course. They will have to give only
their time and attention. Any applica-
lions for admission to the course may be
sent to Dean j. w. Votey.