Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

EditorAnniversary Issue Staff Editor ............................... Robert Isbell Managing Editor ..................... Carroll L. Gilliam News Editor .............................. Jean Hill Sports Editor ....... .......... Kenneth W. Baldwin, Jr. Society Editor ........................ .Norine Corley Campus Edito; ......................... James Sheridan Feature Editor ................. ....... .Van Newman Copy Editor ............................ Tillie Young Exchange Editor ..................... . ... . Jane Dowe Staff Writers ........... Lloyd Huntington, Jack Xoiga* Joe Molony, Al Bahret, Ned Threatt Business Manager .... . .. .. .. .. . . . Harry W. Hiott, Jr. Advertising .. ..t'.............................Fred T9ley reedom:.Of Expression .Emphasized In 40 Years Of Gamecock's Service It is important that we commemorate the birth of THE GAMECOCK this semester. Its founding was an integral step in the building of a better Carolina which knows no limit. With it was born an institution destined to safe guard the interests of students and interests of the uni versity. Through its medium, students are able to hol4 the scales in one hand, the weights in the other, and balance reasons and opinions of an entire student body with the trend of times. Students, right or wrong, are protected in their political liberty as long as THE GAMECOCK lives. Free from fetters, students have diffused their voices through the years in the unadulterated ignorance or in telligence belonging to them and them alone. Not once in the 40 years of life has THE GAMECOCK been published with supervision other than by students. The feather doesn't belong in the cap of the students alone, but to the faculty for their broadmindedness, their appreciation and constructive criticism, and the adminis tration for their tolerance and protection in spite of the sometimes bitter attacks by THE GAMECOCK. I All of us take pride in our freedom. THE, GAMECOCK, be cause it has been free, is strong, and will go on shining with the light of free expression, conspicuous in the world of today when so many people have their thinking done for them at the expense of a muffled voice, a quenched spirit. Throu(h the 1pars, THE GAMECOCK cdtors have with virtually the same obstacles almost without varia tion. Editorials from the first year for:vard indicate that spirit of antipathy between various student factions. How ever the hand of the cards dealt, students have found refuge in the protecting arms of a free student press. Even though this student press has met with disfavor from many elements, its unshackled hands have afforded a stronger voice upon each succeeding skirmish. It is well that our editors are not elected. What a shame it would be for the leading extrovert or playboy of the campus to add another key to his chain via wrnenrment for himself the favor of the "whip" organizations of the campus. Let THE GAMECOCK through the years be free free to accept or reject the pro fferings of pressure groups. When each new staff takes up T HE GAMECOCK'S respon sibilities, a silent challenge from the years past reassures readers that T HE GAMECOCK is setting. out anew as the bulwark of student interest, protection and enthusiasm. With this challenge each staff holds a great part of the spikit of Carolina during its reign. Thus it is, with this issue we commemorate something that we hold dear in the folds of our grand traditions, the freedom of our newspaper. In the years to come, and with each anniversary issue to follow, we hope to see a greater GAMECOCK constantly fighting for a greater Caro hia, still free from the bonds of opp'ression of isolated forces. We challeng,e each succeeding staff to the ideals and prin ciples set before us and anticipate their undertaking for the perpetuation among them of responsibilities and conscience. --RnBERTnr ISEL CAROLI TWO W By J. R. SHERIDAN Campus Editor Surviving two world Wars, the iniversity has contributed great ly to the War effort and postwar adjustments. Along with colleges throughout the nation the uni versity has thrown itself whole. heartedly into tasks set before it by military leaders and states men. October, 1916, saw the YMCA raising $260 in a 4rive to aid some 6,700,000 men in prison camps in Russia, England, Fvance, Italy and Germany. Thousands of college students were among these prisoners who received black bread and coffee for breakfast, oil soup for dinner and supper. Scurvy was rampant, men's teeth rotted out and many were driven insane by the rigors of the prison camps. Military Training Voluntary Military training was introduced at the fall ses sion of 1917. President Currell asked for a student vote on the military training and all but one voted for some form of training. At the largest student body meeting of the year in April, 1917, 173 students volunteered for the reserve officers training to be inaugurated at the university under Gen. H. T. Thompson. Four companies were organized imndiately and drilled on the' campus from 7 to 7:45 a. m. every day excepi. Saturday. A few faculty members organized a squad to droill the bame number of hours. The coeds arranged for General Thompson to drill their Red Cross unit. For the first time since 1865 the sound of a bugle was heard on' the Carolina campus. Reveille sounded every morning at 6:30 and drill call at 6:50. During the year 1918 military training was compulsory for freshmen and sophomores. All undertaking the full two-year training received commissions. Student Planning Coeds formed a detachment of the National League for Woman's Service. They took courses in hygiene, first aid and dietetics. They trained and held themselves in readiness to go to supply bases and hospitals. Abolishment of athletic sched ules, to devote all spare time to military training, was announced in April. Also all classes wez'e ordered cut to three-quarter hour periods by the college military committee. An extra hour of drill was instituted from 6 to 7 NA WE) DRLD W During May, 60 men left to go to Fort Oklethorpe for officer training. Carolina also contribut ed 3. of its best miu who left as a unit to drive ambulances be hind French trenches. - They were to be a unit of a body of 14,000 college men mobilizing for ser vice in France. In October, 1917, classes were opened to officers and enlisted men at- Catmp Jackson. History, English -Literature, French, Ger manocivil engineering, math and criminal law were taught under the direction of the extension di vision. During the same month the to tal enrollment of the university was 361, exactly 100 less than the previous year's enrollment. The shortage was mainly in the law school and upper classes where the men had left for the armed forces. Demobilization of the student Army Training Corps unit began in the first part of December, 1918. All men were to be dis charged by Dec. 21. The univer sity then reestablish6d the peace time army R.O.T.C. which was compulsory for freshmen and sophomores. World War II Wirith the coming of the second world war the university got into the swing of things quickly and a naval R.O.T.C. Unit was estab lished in September, 1940, begin ning with a quota of 100 students. Registration totals were over 1,800 and the R.O.T.C. was ex pected to swell the lists. Many students were flying in the Civilian Pilot Training pro gram. All enlistees obligated themselves to go on active duty with the army in the event of a national emergency. By October of 1940 approximately " 700 stu dents and 10 professors registered for military service. Defense Plans A university National Defense Committee, composed of faculty members, administration, alumni and students, was apointed by President McKissick. The com mittee was formed to recomn mend and cons'ider the best meth ods by which the university could cooperate in the national defense program. In September, 1941, plans were completed for the construction of an armory to house the newly formed Naval R.O.T.C. and staff. A Red Cross program- was put into effect to teach courses in first aid and home nursing. Alpha Kappa Gamma, in cooperation with t-he nanaln defense program \THRS ARS * sponsorea the movement. A.K.G. vwas also active in raising money for -the "Bundles for Britain" campaign.' - As .the United States entered the war actively, the university had approximately 400 men eligi ble for service in the armed forces. Air Raid Training Faculty members, u"der the guidance of Dean Francis Brad ley, underwent training as air raid wardens sad upon coraii tion of their courses t,gght oth ers in the local high school clss rooms. Dean Bradley was later made head of a campus defense unit. The training emphasized protection during and clearing up after air raids. Students received the training as well as members of the faculty. President McKissick was made a member of a national advisory9 committee on officer procurement and training in colleges and ufil versities. The committee was composed of representatives of 27 colleges having naval units. Naval Training Embarking on a wide-flung na val training program, the uni versity turned out hundreds of naval trainees as well as con tributing many of its native sons. A naval V-1 reserve unit was es tablished to train officers and en listed men and a naval pre-flight training program was set up. Many faculty members taught classes of these trainees. A na val V-12 unit was also estab lished to train men. Keeping in close touch with Carolina men in the armed forces, the Alumni Association sent a ., total of 236,750 "Gamecocks" to men overseas in addition to tho sent to members in the United States. These papers brought home a little closer to men serv ing in faraway places and were deeply appreciated. Also a list of men in the service was printed each week in the school paper, giving their addresses. Veterana Return When the fkrst students re turned to Carolina under the G.I. Bill, the university had machin ery set up to take care of them. A. separate organization was or ganized to handle the ever in creasing flow of veterans. As the number increased, facilities were increased correspondingly. Tem porary buildings were construct ed to alleviate badly crowded con- .e diltions in the classroom and through the efforts of the admin istration, a housing unit was built for married veterans. Carolina has emerged from this last war with many more scars and bruises and difficulties than were acquired during the previous war( but one may rest assured that the university will carry on in the same fine tradition which had marked the institution since its founding in 1806. The historic school has well met the challenges set before it by two great world conflicts.