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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 1941)
^“^I'T of 3155 students enrolled in tlie University, more than one third, 1090, are registered in military science courses. Considering only the male 4 population of the campus, approxi mately two-thirds take some military science course. And yet, the military science de partment is housed in the poorest building on the campus. A long, low, rambling, frame building, dull and drab in its gray paint, it competes with Hayward stadium for the dub ious honor of being the most unsightly structure on the Oregon campus. Built in the summer of 1918, at an estimated cost of $5,000, the building has stood for over 23 years, a familiar landmark to Oregon students. Con structed in war-times from green lum ber and generally poor materials, it was never intended to be anything but a temporary, makeshift structure. And judging by the looks of the build ing now, the present war is not the first one that caused a shortage of skilled labor The building has long ago been con demned by war department inspectors as a fire trap. This caused war depart ment heads no little concern since there was, and is, several thousand dollars worth of government equip ment in the “barracks.” # * * JN 1937, 140 rifles were taken from the University of Oregon depart ment — not because the department didn’t need them—hut because it was unsafe to keep any more rifles in the “shack" than an absolutely necessary minimum. This reduced the number of guns in the possession of the Oregon department to about 340 rifles. At present, there are approximately 900 students registered in freshman and sophomore military science courses. By all rights, the department should have enough rifles for that number. In all probability, the depart ment could get that many rifles—if they had a safe place to keep them. As it is they have barely enough guns for every third man. And Col. Robert M. Lyon, commandant of the ROTC, admits that he is “loath to requisi tion for more rifles" without having a safe place to keep them. At present the military department has more than $45,000 in government equipment. It is a strange thing but the war department doesn't like the idea of housing $45,000 worth of equipment i na building 23 years old, which was worth not more than $5,000 at the time it was constructed. And in looking at that $5,000 it must be remembered that the “barracks” was built during a “war boom” when wages and prices of materials were sky-high. & # % course, the building lias since had considerable work done on it. It had to have new partitions put in so as to chaneg the “barracks” into classrooms, office, and storeroom space# A few weeks ago, workmen had to repair the roof. No. it isn’t a gag. cellent,” saying that ho could not give any outfit any better rating than “satisfactory” -which had such inade quate quarters. The incident serves to emphasize that the ROTC building is not only a direct contradiction to the fine record of the department but is an outright disgrace to a department in which one-third of the entire Oregon student body is enrolled. # # # rJHIIE building has been inadequate to the needs of the department for 9n jbejjesvie of America “JSOLATION” has become a word without intrinsic value in American 'foreign relations. For on this October 29, 1941 few are foolhardy enough to say that the United States is not as close to declaration of war as is possible under streamlined twentieth century diplomacy, by which wars are fought without proclamation. Whether or not the American public wants to go to war or thinks defenses are yet complete enough became almost a dead issue Monday. President Roosevelt blasted their timidity ... or caution . . # and declared that the “shooting has started.’’ The United States has gradually become aware that her international relations are on the brink of becoming more than a wary game of diplomatic checkers with the Axis. $ ❖ * "Y^rAR in modern times is not a thing with which to deal lightly. It is a totalitarian affair, enveloping every man, woman, and child in its enormous scope. A university community becomes more than a carefree campus . . . and higher education centers assume the role as an important crux in development of the efficient defense mechanism. So it is with the University of Oregon in this troubled year in which our century and a half old pledge to freedom and justice is being again assailed. Every department of the University has been coordinated to help prepare Oregon students for the eventuality of war, to build up a stronger nationwide defense front. Today’s defense' issue of the Emerald is designed to show Webfoots their University’s niche in the protection of America# Military science, civilian pilot training, engineering, surveying, mathematics, science, home economics, business administration, music, geology . . . every phase of the higher educational setup has assumed an added role of duty. America salutes these workers behind the scenes, who are the vital factors in building a nation capable of maintaining the principles on which she stands if war comes. The supports gave way and a portion of the roof caved in. Oregon has a truly fine military i'uished iteself in many respects. For guised itself in many respects. For one thing it has been consistently nvarded high rating by the officers who have come through to perform inspections. However, a few years ago lirigadier-General Ralph Talbot, who wax then Colonel Talbot, refused to jive the Oregon unit a rating of “ex several years. It was inadequate in 1933 when the total enrollment in the department was only 472 students. AY hat must it he now with an enroll ment of more than 1,000? Of course, with the increased en rollment, it has been necessary to in crease the teaching staff of the de partment. In 1939, the department had four officers—Colonel Lyon and three majors. Now, besides Colonel Lyon, one major and five captains are con nee ted with the University ROfC.j And there is not even room enough for the entire staff to have desks inj 1 lie main offices. A small room off the storeroom is being utilized by three of the captains as a separate office. Another “farce” connected with military department is the 60 by 100 foot drill shed at the rear of the barracks By the time a thonsand^ien have been put in the shed precious little space is left to execute military maneuvers. No, it isn’t even large enough for the companies to form in on a rainy day. * # «= gO, every time it rains on a Thursday afternoon things come to a halt— figuratively and actually. The boys can't drill because there’s no place for them to drill. There’s no place where they can get inside to drill and they can’t drill in the rain for it doesn't take much of a rainstorm to ruin a perfectly good press job. Recently, the military department conceived the idea of creating a spe cial honor company composed of those students who excelled on the drill field. It was proposed that the com pany would march two hours one evening each week in addition to the regular Thursday drill period. The next problem was to find a place for the company to march, for the military department is totally lacking in any lighted drill field or hall. Fortunately, the ASUO athletic department came to the rescue 1 gof fering McArthur court for one night per week. “It has been necessary,” said Col. Lyon, “to accept the gen erosity of the athletic department.” # % rJ~'IIERE have been many attempts to get a new armory or drill hall at Oregon. All have failed. Both the war department and the state board of higher education have been appealed to. So far, neither has felt able to do anything about it. At the present time, an effort is being made to secure WPA funds .for the construction of such a building. In order to do this funds for cost of construction, other than labor, would have to come from some other source. But. wherever the money is to come from, it is badly needed. At this time, when the entire nation is exerting every effort to build itself into a potent military force, the importance of the University BOTC program should not be forgotteu.—H.O. ^Jw-o- an the Ai&h By BOV METZLEK lecture of the week: “Citizen Kane” lias probably *been the most talked of picture of the year. Producer, director and Ac tor Orson Welles has made a pic ture that is different than any thing Hollywood has ever turned out. A new camera technique was used to give unusual angles and clear perception in both the background and foreground. “Cit izen Kane” traces the rise of the Hearst empire and for obvious reasons was shelved for a time until the ending was changed. “Citizen Kane” is top-notch en tertainment and should be one of the year’s ten best films. Musical News of the week: There have been comparatively few musical films this year due to the ASCAP-BMI scrap. All the studios will start putting money in song-plugging again, now that ASCAP and the networks have inked their deal which puts the songs back on the air waves this week. Bid of the week: The picture industry is going to Washington to make an appearance before the office of production manage ment, requesting priorities on the materials it requires for its full production of pictures. The re quest is expected to be acted upon favorably in that motion pictures are a “must” in the lives of all peoples, soldiers, sailors and defense workers. Football player of the week: 20th Century-Fox offered to liq uidate John Kimbrough’s con tracts for three more games with the New York Americans, pro football organization, if he would return to Hollywood to make a film titled “Brass Command ments.” Kimbrough refused the offer, admitting that he wants to make up for the poor showing in his first game. Premiere of the week: Pete Smith's newest short will be given a world premiere, unlike any opening a film has had, at tended by an un-named regi ment “somewhere in Alaska.’’ Only Smith and the army know the secret position of the soldiers who are stationed on the Pacific coast and actually participated in the picture. Film shows various duties of different U. S. fight ing units, and reactions of the soldier cast. Hero of the week: Sergeant Alvin C. York turned hero again because his World War I ex ploits garnered a half holiday for 304 students of York high school in Jamestown, Tenn., when the Star theater ran off two matinees (Please turn to page three) This One s On You By AL LARSEN Revolution in Sports He: “Who lost to Washington?’’ Him: “I dunno.” He: “Hey, who the heck lost to Washington?” Newcomer: “Cornwallis, wasn’t it?” This One’s Rich Marjf sent home for money to buy a leather notebook. The postman came. Mary got a LEATHER NOTEBOOK. Library Inventory Continues The Co-op store soon will be stocking eye balm for those who pei sist in doing their studying through the corner of their eyes. Oregon HEmerald :lass matter at the postffice, Eugene, Oregon! ” P year’ Entered as 6econd‘