Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1962 [PAGE 1509]

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1506

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[June 20

RELOCATION OF ALMA MATER STATUARY (12) Some time ago the officers of the University of Illinois Alumni Association requested the Physical Plant Department to cohsider the relocation of Lorado Taft's Alma Mater statuary group from its present location south of the University Auditorium to another campus area. Several sites were studied, among them the area in front of Altgeld Hall and the Mini Union facing the intersection of Wright and Green Streets. The Board of Directors of the Alumni Association has agreed to provide funds for the moving of the Alma Mater statuary and the construction of a suitable base on the new site.

On motion of Mr. Swain, this proposal was referred to the Committee on Buildings and Grounds for study and report.

RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS PROGRAM (13) In the spring of 1960, a University Committee' was appointed to study the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program of the University of Illinois and to make recommendations concerning its continuing place in the academic program. One reason for the study was the conflicting views of the Department of Defense and the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force concerning the organization of R.O.T.C. programs at colleges and universities. An even more compelling reason was the shortage of space for expanded enrollments, the failure of the federal government to provide training facilities, and the apparent inability of the Department of Defense to provide adequate officer personnel to staff expanded programs. Hence the study of the R.O.T.C. at the University of Illinois was made with the view to recommending improvements in the program as a continuing phase in the educational work of the University and to enable the University to maintain its contributions of trained officer personnel for the Armed Forces Reserves. T h e report of the Study Committee was released publicly in December, 1960, and was brought to the attention of the appropriate faculty agencies including the Committee on Military Affairs and the Board of Trustees. T h e Study Committee submitted a number of recommendations which have been the basis of continuing review of the R.O.T.C. program. One recommendation is still unresolved, namely, that the basic R.O.T.C. program be placed on a voluntary basis, at least for a trial period. Among the reasons given for the Committee's recommendation for voluntary R.O.T.C. are the following points: 1. T h e Department of Defense has indicated that a military requirement does not exist for a compulsory basic R.O.T.C. program and the Department of Defense has no basis for favoring such a program. 2. In institutions maintaining voluntary R.O.T.C, satisfactory enrollments have been maintained. 3. Space and personnel requirements for increasing enrollments under the compulsory program can not be met within the foreseeable future from resources ordinarily available to the University, and the federal government has given no indication that it intends to supply such facilities and personnel. Action to implement the recommendation on compulsory R.O.T.C. was not taken pending discussions with the Department of Defense as to reported new programs which would alter the relationship of the basic R.O.T.C. program to Officer Procurement and Training. During the current academic year, the military departments have announced plans for anticipated new programs. T h e Department of the Air Force has recommended a program which would provide for two years of air science (preceded and followed by summer camps) without the preliminary requirement of R.O.T.C. This program would permit the recruitment of students who complete two years of work at junior colleges and other transfer students. The University has been requested to concur in this program and to make it effective in the fall of 1963.

1 Harold W. Hannah, Professor of Agricultural Law and of Veterinary Medical Law, Chairman; Wylie H. Davis, Professor of Law; Herbert M. Hamlin, Professor of Agricultural Education; Stewart Y. McMullen, Professor of Management: Stanley H. Pierce, Profe5sor of General Engineering and Associate Dean of the College of Engineering; and Paul R. Shaffer, Professor of Geology.