Montana labor news., 1938-06-02
Movement Started al
University 10 Abolish
Compulsory Training

Al Montana State university a
student committee has been formed
for the purpose of changing COM
pulsory military training to a vol
untary system. AT the present time
all entering freshmen and sopho-
mores are required to take military
training administered by the War
Department and the R. o. T. c.
The student committee which con-
sists of Roger Hoag, LETTERS; Walter
Coombs, Missoula; Leroy Purvis,
Great Falls; James Browning, Belt;
and William Scott, Great Falls, has
secured signatures of a majority Of
students on petitions requesting
President Simmons to call for a
faculty vote on the question. Be
sides this, resolutions asking for
optional rather than forced drill
have been passed by several Of the
campus clubs: international Rela-
tons Club, Student-Faculty Council,
Wesley Foundation, Pilgrim Club,
and the Missoula Peace Council
which represents twenty-six Missoula
organization.
The student committee in an open
letter to the faculty stated that
after consideration of all issues in
volved, it felt that (a) the ROTC
is not Of sufficient value education
ally to warrant the compulsory fea-
ture; ~ ROTC need not be com
pulsory for adequate national de-
Tense; and 81 ROTC is more effec-
tive on an elective basis. Because of
these three reasons the committee
has asked the faculty to change the
status from compulsory to voluntary.
Montana State University is not a
land grant school nor is there any
requirement or suggestion on the
part Of the War Department that the
ROTC be maintained on a compul-
sorry basis. Thus, because it is simply
a matter of curriculum change, the
faculty has full power to act.
Taking cognizance of the student
demand that action be taken on this
subject, Dr., Simmons, president, ap-
pointed a faculty committee to look
into the matter and consult with
various groups regarding the adj
visibility of making the change. On
this committee he appointed: NJ. j.
Mansfield, instructor in history;
Major Geo. B. Norris, professor of
military science; DR.. R. A. Diettert,
professor Of biology; DR.. W, E.
Schneider, professor of physical edu-
cation; E. L. Freeman, professor OF
English; DR.. A. S. Merrill, professor
Of mathematics, and It. c. Spaulding,
professor Of Forestry. This commit
tee is expected to act on the pro-
posal at an early date.
Leading national groups including
the American Federation of Labor
and many state groups and labor
organizations have gone on record
as opposing the compulsory feature
of military drill on the grounds that
it is not the type Of course that
should be made compulsory in edu-
cational institutions supported by the
state, and because it is in many cases
harmful to the students.
Military drill was made compul-
sorry at Montana State University
during the war-preparedness days OF
1917. After the war was over, there
was a great deal of complaint against
the system; students and faculty
joined in a denunciation of mill
tarizing the campus" However.
nothing was done to change it. Dur
ing the presidency of DR.. c. H.. Clapr
attempts were made to change to g
voluntary system but with little
success.
In the present attempt forty petit
tons for voluntary ROTC, carrying
the signatures Of one-half of the stu
dent body, are in the hands of the
faculty committee. Together with
these petitions is a brief for volun-
tary ROTC filed by the student com
mittee which shows that although
ROTC may have certain real adj
vantages which might warrant its
presence in the university curricu-
lum, it is felt that these advantages
are~not great enough that the course
should be compulsory for all fresh
men and sophomores for two years
The committee points out that ac-
cording to leading educational
authorities, ROTC is not of sufficient
value educationally to warrant the
compulsory feature. The committee
also shows hal officials of the
United States Army have stated that
the ROTC course need not be COM
pulsory for adequate national de-
tense.
The congressional study made by
a special subcommittee Of the
United States House of Representa-
tives on this question concluded that.
1.-THE great waste in compulsory
military units is caused by the neces-
sity of providing uniforms, equip
ment, and instruction for the large
numbers of unwilling students who
are drafted as cadets in the basic
courses. These students never con-
tinue with the advanced ROTC
course, without which they cannot
be eligible for appointments as Re-
enrxro 1ffioore NHovoorror tho hoe.