Show I UTAH'S UNIVERSITY HAD bREA T SHARE IN VICTORY Eager Workers Met Every Dema Demand d for Aid of Government By Louis W. W Larsen Now t-ow the war is over and we see our varied war activities somewhat in inthe inthe the perspective It is not so difficult to assess the value of this or that particular particular par par- service The smoke bt bf battle cleared away we truer visIon vision vis- vis Ion and do our stocktaking with surer calculation Some things that we were enthusiastic about In the outset as potent war winning agencies we came later to look upon as wasted ef- ef fort Other undertakings entered into with fear and trembling justified themselves wonderfully in vital re- re U It may be said fairly of the universities uni- uni of the land that their contribution contribution con con- to the happy outcome of the world conflict justifies the effort expended expended ex- ex In every wa way It was a mammoth mam- mam moth undertakIng on their part to forsake the pursuits ot of learning as it were over night and leap into belligerent bellig- bellig I erent action full armored The whole proceeding required sudden and violent vIolent vIo- vIo lent readjustments But it was all accomplished ac- ac with dIspatch and a spirit of loyalty that Is unexcelled I HERE TYPICAL I The war work achieved by the University University Uni- Uni of Utah is quite typical Two y years ars agO when the call to arms resounded resounded re- re I sounded from one end of the land to the other the state school plunged into Its new patriotic work with might and maIn It volunteered Its teachIng force and every other educational facUlty facility at Its command for any kind of labor laborthe laborthe the government saw fit to impose upon it The student body too showed a willingness to do Its bit either on thee the firing line or at any useful way station sta- sta Uon tion back of the line Both men and women were quIck to make sacrifices ot of a personal nature to insure the success of the great common cause STARS OF SERVICE Stars flashed out on the new service service ser ser- vice flag by the scores and the total was soon r reckoned in hundreds This was before conscription when the only possible motive for enterIng the ranks was loyalty War Var was declared In April and before the month was gone there were scarcely ly a hun half dred men left on the campus The women too took up arms such arms as they were capable of bearing The institution became vIrtually a branch of the Red Cross On sunny days the lawns wore the aspect of a vast knitting knitting knit knit- ting bee The girls girls' contribution for forthe forthe the first year was pieces of surgical surgical sur- sur dr dressings and knitted garments Upwards of a score of faculty men entered one branch of the service or another Several expert engineers conducted short intensive courses at training camps Others found theIr best opportunities at home by converting convert convert- convertIng Ing their laboratorIes into research bureaus A veritable army ot of the in institutions institution's in- in alumnI shouldered arms and went to the front Among theIr number number num- num ber were officers from the rank ot of brigadier general down AID TO POST GARRISON The university's proximity to Ft Douglas put it under a a. peculIar obligation gation to be of servIce to the soldiers stationed d there The school round found any ways to be helpful to them In the first place classroom doors were thrown open wIde The men were invited in- in vl ed whenever their military r regulations regula- regula gula- gula did not forbId to pursue courses free of tuition Scores of others were reached by by extension classes conducted conduct conduct- ed d at the fort French proved an es an-es- especially es- es popular subject But the second year ot of the war when the student army training corps was WiS inaugurated brought the acid test of the local schools school's service power A contract was enter entered d Into with the war department to train men vocationally vocationally voca- voca In relays of The first group arrived on the campus June 16 1918 They were Utah boys and they came fer r an intensive two months months' course in various practical l lInes Preparation for their coming had to tobe tobe be made on short notice The normal building was speedily converted into a barracks and the housing question thus substantially solved sol The Emery Continued on page 11 UTAH'S UNIVERSITY Continued from page 9 house with expanded facilities became became be- be came an adequate mess hall Tim The men were given wholesome food and plenty of it The onlY official criticism ever made was to tho effect that the boys were being fed too much OPPORTUNITY ENJOYED They enjoyed their training On the campus immensely and weno unanimous in iii declaring that It was a real personal opportunity to get at least the rudiments of It a trade Among other othI oth- I er things they studied the gas as engine I In all it 1 phases carpentry wireless telegraphy telephone engineering and masonry The vocational work was supplemented supplemented supple supple- by several hours dall dally ot of rigorous rigor rigor- us ous military drill The men were initiated ml- ml tinted in iii a real way into regular army life They Were subject every hour ot of the day to the Prescribed army dis- dis They left the campus August 15 physically fit nt well trained to do some particular task and to do it well A dozen or so of th the boys who proved particularly adept at their work were retained as instructors to help train other contingents to come The rest of the student soldiers were either sent immediately overseas pr PI to larger en- en for further training COME IN RELAYS These men were succeeded by another another an- an other who arrived August 15 Their work was virtually a repetition of the things done by the tho first unit to come except thata thaC a greater degree ot of efficiency characterized the train train- Ing Many lany things were learned In the first two months that In were a way a period ot of experimentation A real hostess hou house was established by the FaCulty Women's club or of the university The Women's restroom and spacious hall hail of the administration building furnished ample quarters Here the bo boys s 's were entertained and tendered many hOspitalities that brought the needed gleam ot of JOY into their strenuous days The training detachment had its own brass band an organization that acquired considerable local tame fame Thus the sOjourn of these men in training on on- the university campus campus cam cam- pus was made happy as well as profit profit- able They went abroad happy and confident having a clear notion of the I Ideals they were going to fight for and well trained for or the tight fight ARMY CORPS CORP Then came October 15 the inauguration inauguration ration of the S. S A A. T. T C. C proper The campus became in very reality a tary encampment under the direct control ot of the war department The Inducted In In- ducted men were put in classes A and B collegiate and vocational the commandant commandant com com- mandant having no less a rank than colonel In the first class there were Utah boys and in the second They had free uniform free subsistence subsistence I tence and the regular pay of the vate I This work was scarcely got substantially I under way when the Spanish Influenza influenza In- In i epidemic lilt hit Salt Lake City and closed up the schools When th boys s finally reassembled It was only to be mustered out ot of the service Thus did a piece ot of educational work that began with such enthusiasm and promise in not only Utah's university I but in sister institutions come to toan toan an end RETURN TO NORMAL Once more the university is back to the good old days running peacefully peacefully peace peace- fully and normally The quarter system system tem adopted to accommodate the school calendar to war exigencies will be permanently retained The winter I quarter Is nearly halt half gone and the school officials are more than gratified gratl- gratl fled fied at the attendance and the enthusiasm enthusiasm the students are putting into their work Men whose COurses were interrupted by the war are welcomed back back to school Hundreds of them still in uniform are familiar figures on the campus these days Men who come In late are behind and aged in every wa way Those who have served with the colors are exempt from the tuition fee Reconstruction Is the keynote ot of education now The ambitious am- am to give a full tull measure ot of service set ser vice in this new field of opp opportunity It has made a substantial beginning already Everything points to a bright future for the states state's chief institution o of learning |