The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-07
STUDENT ARMY
DISPUTE STIRS
De PAUW FIGHT
Removal From Compul-
sorry Class Reported Fac
tor in Oman Trouble.

Removal Of the De Paw uni
versity R. o. 7. c. unit from re-
CURED basis in 1929 by DR.. G. Brom-
ley Oman. president. is said to be a
strong factor in the growing Oppo-
sition to DR.. Oman among the
faculty.
The American Association Of Uni
verSity Professors has beeen lnves-
tigating the sudden dismissal last
June Of Professor Ralph Hufferd
who long has supported the military
corps. Dr. Oman. in answer TO a
query by The Times, declared that
he had no statement to make con-
corning the investigation
DR.. Oman, it is charged, arbi-
trarily removed the corps 10 ar
optional basis without asking a fac
ulty vote The faculty, it is said
was granted the right under the
university charter Of determining
changes Of curriculum.
Voluntary Plan Popular
Previous to this action and before
the incumbency Of DR.. Oman,
there had been a heated discussion
Of o. r. T c. units in academic
circles. Although a poll indicated
that the voluntary enrolment status
was most popular, the vote was very
close.
Defenders Of the military corps
claimed a majority when DR. OK
nam began his term at De Paw.
The faculty anticipated a vote again
would he taken, because the presi-
cents pacifist tendencies Wer @
known, However, DR.. Oman
abolished compulsory military train
ing without taking a poll
Faculty critics claim that this &C
ton created a spark Of resentment
that has grown with subsequent
acts, such as abolishing the faculty
privilege Of deciding educational
policies.
Professor Hufferd, the highest
ranking reserve officer in the
Greencastle area. actively had sup
ported the corps and had twice
spoken before the university chapel
on national preparedness.
Claim Oman On Fence
General George Van Horn
Mosely, commander of the Fifth
corps area, following an investiga-
ton of the De PAW situation.
asked DR.. OMAN to openly state his
position as to whether he wished
to Danish the Methodist university
unit.
Alumni charged DR.. Oman with
trying to appeaSe both the Metho-
dist and alumni factions without
taking a definite stand when he re-
Piled that it was the government S
privilege to demand removal Of the
corps Faculty critics claim that
Dr. Oman compromised with his
anti-military ideals.
They also charged that DR..
Oman with covertly sabotaging the
unit enrolment by propaganda so
that the membership would fall
below the number necessary for
maintenance.
Snap Course, He Claims
Although DR.. Oman stated that
his opposition to the corps was be-
cause it was regarded as a snap
course" giving a high percentage to
top grade, the grade distribution in
1929-3O reveals that two other de
partments, comparative literature
and Greek, had a greater percentage
Of high grades.
Observers claim that the resent
ment again was not over a clash
between military and pacifist poll
cieS. but in methods used by the
university president.
Both of these actions have in
famed not only the pre-military
group, but other professors who had
not previously entered into the dis
pute. They claim that their priv
leges have been violated.