The Institute Report
PUBLISHED BY THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
VOLUME I APRIL 19. 1974 NUMBER 8
VMI Cadets Lead Academic March on the Capitol
A small class of cadets taking a special seminar in "Renaissance Backgrounds" rubbed shoulders with internationally known Renaissance scholars for several days recently when they participated in a World Petrarch Congress sponsored by the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D. C., April 6-12. The Congress honored the 600th anniversary of the death of the famous Italian poet Francesco Petrarcha.
The dramatic focus of this week of scholarly lectures, musical performances, and pictorial exhibits was a "March on the Capitol," made up of the visiting scholars in their varied and colorful academic robes. They threaded their way from the Folger Library across the park in the rear of the Capitol and came to rest on the front steps of the Capitol building, where they heard addresses from several notables, including
OPEN DURING GARDEN WEEK: Featured with four
the Hon. Caspar Weinberger, Secretary of
Lexington's Garden Week tour of homes and gardens will be the Superintendent's
Health, Education, and Welfare, and
Quarters at VMI. The structure is a Gothic Revival house designed by Architect
Senator John Pastore of Rhode Island,
Alexander Jackson Davis and completed in 1862. Home for all ten VMI Superintendents,
reading excerpts from Petrarch's
the house is now filled with mementos collected from Thailand, Korea, Germany. China,
writings.
England. and India by Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Richard L. Irby.
This scholarly procession was led by VMI cadets in coatees. The combination of military and academic color drew a
Naval ROTC Program Approved
large crowd of onlookers, television cameras, and radio interviewers. In this A Naval Reserve Officers Training teres ted in the Marine Corps have an instance it might truthfully be said that Corps (NROTC) unit will be established opportunity for a commission through the VMI was leading the academic parade. at the Virginia Military Institute this Platoon Leaders Course.
Planning for the Petrarch Congress has summer, and instruction will begin in the Precedent exists for a Naval program
been going on for several years, involving 1974 fall semester. Approval for the new at VMI. In 1918, under the auspices of the the Folger staff with other co-sponsors, program was received by Maj. Gen. "Student Army Training Corps," a such as Verrazzano College in New York, Richard L. Irby, VMI Superintendent, Marine unit of one hundred VMI cadets and coordinating the contributions of such from the Hon. John W. Warner, Secretary was established. This unit was disbanded
international scholars as Jean de Seznec, of the Navy. a month after the end of the war. Giles Constable, Bishop Giovanni Fallani, The NROTC unit will be oriented There is a long-standing tradition of and such musical authorities on the toward the U. S. Marine Corps primarily, mutual respect and service between VMI
Renaissance period as Dennis Stevens, although graduates will also be eligible and the naval services, especially the U. Theodore Karp, and George Houle, as for Navy commissions. S. Marine Corps. VMI men who have well as the staffs of the Library of The Army and Air Force presently attained general or flag rank in the naval Congress, the National Gallery of Art, and maintain ROTC units at the Institute. services total thirty-three and include the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Graduation from VMI and successful such famous names as Generals Lemuel where the opening "Scholar's Mass" was completion of the ROTC program lead to C. Shepherd, Jr., VMI class of 1917, and celebrated by the Archibishop of a commission as a second lieutenant in Randolph McC. Pate, 1921, each of whom Washington. the U. S. Army Reserve or in the Air was Commandant of the U. S. Marine
Planning at the VMI level began last Force Reserve. In addition, Regular Corps, and Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, winter when Dr. Brewster S. Ford, Army commissions are offered to cadets VMI class of 1921. professor of English, wrote to Dr. O. B. who meet standards prescribed by the In addition, another former Marine (continued on page 3, column 1) Department of the Army. Cadets in-(continued on page 2, column 1) Page 2, The Institute Report, April 19, 1974 The seventh annual reenactment of the Battle of New Market will be held
Confab Studies Crisis in History
Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. at the New
A special conference of prominent history professors from major colleges and universities across the country was held at VMI April 5-7. The meeting was the second of two sessions at the Institute during which the problem of the declining popularity of college introductory history courses was discussed.
Sponsored jointly by VMI and the George C. Marshall Research Foundation, the discussions took place in the Marshall Research Library.
Dr. Henry S. Bausum, professor of history at VMI and organizer of the conferences, said that "although this topic has been discussed in sessions of the various historical associations, the meeting at the Marshall Library was one of the first national conferences to explore the broad range of problems and possible solutions regarding the subject."
The crisis regarding introductory history gained national attention two years ago at a special panel meeting of the American Historical Association. At that time, Dr. Bausum queried the chairmen of 326 history departments across the nation and discovered that of the 167 colleges which responded, enrollment in introductory history courses had declined in less than a decade from 52,000 to 38,000 and that many schools had discontinued introductory history altogether.
The thrust of the first session, March 13, was diagnostic; discussion centered on the nature of the problem, with several participants questioning whether it could actually be termed a "crisis." One participant asked: "Are we merely responding to an economic crunch?"
Naval ROTC
(continued from page one)
Corps Commandant, Gen. John A. Lejeune, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, served as the fifth Superintendent of VMI from 1929 to 1937. The Superintendent Emeritus of VMI, Lt. Gen. George R. E. Shell, class of 1931, served twenty-nine years in the Marine Corps before becoming the ninth Superintendent of the Institute, a position he occupied from 1960 to 1971.
In announcing his approval of VMI's request for NROTC, Secretary Warner said, "The fine young men typical of VMI should prove to be excellent officers, and the addition of this unit will double the opportunities for young citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia to pursue a commission in the Naval Service within their home state."
Mter a number of sessions, the participants were satisfied that a pressing problem had been identified, and the group concentrated on ways that history teachers might best respond to the crisis.
At the concluding conference, April 5-7, the historians discussed the variety of purposes behind introductory history courses.
In concluding the two sessions, the participants recognized the need for more awareness on their part of political decisions affecting undergraduate and secondary school history. They were in general agreement in seeing a need for a variety of undergraduate courses in history and that there is a place not only for traditional, chronological approaches but for thematic, topical, or comparative approaches as well.
The conferees also recognized a need for more communication within the profeSSion, the need for more conferences on the subject, and a need to keep the AHA Committee on Teaching better informed on the problems, innovative efforts, and issues related to introductory history.
In conclusion, said Dr. Bausum, "There was a strong feeling of pessimism about the future of the profession, but a strong sense of optimism about the need for history."
Participating were Dr. William H. McNeill of the University of Chicago who chairs a special Committee on Teaching for the AHA; Dr. Lewis Hanke of t~ University of Massachusetts and presIdent of the AHA; Dr. Peter Amann of the University of Michigan-Dearborn; Dr. Robert F. Berkhofer of the University of Michigan; Dr. Sidney Burrell of Boston University; Dr. John Cell of Duke University; Dr. S. Fred Edwards of the University of South Carolina; Dr. Melvin Kranzberg of Georgia Institute of Technology.
In addition, participating were Dr. Leonard Krieger of the University of Chicago; Dr. Bruce Mazlish of MIT; Dr. Edward Malefakis of the University of Michigan; Dr. Michael T. McCarthy of SUNY at Stony Brook; Dr. Robert McMath of Georgia Institute of Technology; Dr. Theodore K. Rabb of Princeton University; Dr. Dennis Rubini of Temple University; Dr. Jesse Silvergate of Florida Memorial College; and Dr. George V. Taylor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Also attending were Mr. Gerard McCauley, author's representative, of New York; Dr. Forrest C. Pogue, director of the Marshall Library; Dr. Thomas W. Davis and Dr. Donald E. Thomas of the VMI history department; and Mr. Anthony R. Crawford, assistant archivist of
the Marshall Library.
/
Market Battlefield Park. The event
memorializes the 1864 battle in which
previously untested Virginia Military
Institute cadets distinguished themselves.
The mock battle and the parking of
spectators' cars will both be within the
New Market Battlefield Park, according
to James J. Geary, park
director. He said a new area of the park
has been designated for parking and
there will be no cancellation of the
event because of wet grounds as there
was last year.
Faculty News
Maj. Thomas W. Davis, assistant professor of history, has been awarded a grant of $1000 by the American Philosophical Society for a research project to be carried out in London, England, this summer.
Maj. Davis will edit and write an introduction for the minutes of the Committee Appointed to Conduct the Application to Parliament for the Repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts, 1786 to 1790, a source he first encountered during a year of dissertation research in London.
* * *
Mr. Thomas Y. Greet, assistant professor of English, has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to attend a summer seminar of six weeks duration at Claremont Graduate School, Calif., on "Myth, Symbolic Modes, and Ideology." During his course of study at Claremont, Mr. Greet will undertake a project on "time in literature and the film."
* * *
Col. P. Allan Carlsson, professor of philosophy, attended the International Kant Kongress in Germany, April 4, marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), His scholarly paper, "Post Antinomies," will appear in a volume commemorating the Kongress. Col. Carlsson was assisted by a VMI Foundation Travel Grant.
A paper written by Col. Carlsson entitled "An Experiment in Teaching Logic" was read in his absence before the National Conference on Personalized Instruction in Higher Education, April 5-6 in Washington, D. C., by Mr. George Piegari, assistant professor of mathematics.
* * *
Lt. Col. Lloyd Halliburton, associate professor of modern languages, has been named to the Directory of American Scholars by the American Council of Learned Societies.
v --------
VMI Cadets
(continued from page one) Hardison director of the Folger Memorial 'Library, suggesting the cadets might lend color and ceremony to. the "March on the Capitol." Dr. HardIson invited the cadets to be guests of the Congress and participate in the parade. As a result, they were guests at the opening banquet, attended scholarly .and artistic events, and some w~re gIven personal tours of the Folger LIbrary by the director. The Petrarch Congress was a rewarding experience, both for the VMI ca?ets and for their teacher. "In the fmal analysis, however," stated Dr. Ford, "it was the particular quality of VMI a~d t~e striking image of the cadets ma~c~mg. m uniform that made this partIcIpatIOn
possible
-
an
ideal
example
of
t~e
symbiosis
of
military
and
academIC
excellence
that
the
Institute
tries
to
embody."
.
Cadets attending the ceremomes were James R. Cottrell, Rowland L. Lazenby, David L. Mund, Da vid N. Stormont, Blade
R. Thomas, Michael L. Thompson, CharlesF. Toler, III, Robert W. Trost, III, and John L. Williamson.
Mr. Joe Conner, VMI Post Police Chief, recently completed an Industrial Safety Course sponsored by the Virginia Manufacturers Association and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. The twenty-hour course was conducted at Lees Carpets in
Glasgow.
Mr. Conner has served on the VMI Security Force since 1966. Before coming to the Institute, he served eight years in the Lexington Police Department, four years as a sergeant. '"
In addition to his work as head of the security force at VMI, he IS well known In the community as a country-music musician and horseman. For twelve years he played the fiddle with the Virginia Ridge Runners country-music band.
VMI Awards 10 Scholarships
A scholarship program established by the VMI Board of Visitors one year ago will soon have its first recipients, according to Maj. Gen. Richard L. Irby, superintendent. . "
Entitiled "Institute ScholarshIps, the new academic award program involves ten scholarships of $500 each, for the first year only, to be awarded to the top ten applicants who matriculate at. ~~1. Applicants must be residents of YIrgmia.
Selection is made by the Supermtendent on recommendations from the Financial Aid Committee and is based on the student's record of all around excellence as demonstrated by college board scores, high school records (grade point average, class stand, and recommendations), extracurricular activities, character appraisal, leadership ability, and academic promise.
Ten students have been selected for the fall of 1974. These prospective cadets have until May 1 to reply to the scholarship offer.
Acaden1ic Reputation Rated High
The New Market Battlefield, Washington and Lee's Liberty Hall, Indian camp sites and burial grounds, and colonial homes will come under archaeological investigation this summer in a special course being offered in conjunction with the VMI Summer Session.
Anthropology 303, Field Techniques in Anthropology, is designed to introduce students to this fascinating study through fieldwork and classroom instruction.
The course will be open to all in the area who are interested in obtaining an exposure to anthropology.
Applications should be sent to Dr. Clark King, director, Summer Session. VMI, before May 15. Registration will be held at that time in Lejeune Hall at the Institute.
Dr. John McDaniel, professional anthropologist and an assistant professor at Washington and Lee University. will be in charge of the course.
Based on the resu ts of a recently published survey of entering college freshmen throughout the country, "a good academic reputation" was the reason given by most entering cadets to ~xp~a~n why they decided to attend the Vlrglma Military Institute. The survey was ~onducted in Sept., 1973, by the American Council on Education Office of Research.
This year's entering fourth class (freshmen) indicated that 81.3 per cent of its members selected the Institute for its national academic reputation. The percentage at VMI contrasts significantly with 53.0 per cent given in the survey for this category as the national norm for entering male freshmen in four-year colleges.
Next in importance as a reason for selecting VMI was the category listed in the survey as "offers special education program." In this category 32.5 per cent of the entering cadets indicated that they considered this to be "very important in selecting VMI."
The Institute Report is published by the Public Information Offic~ of the virgi?~a Military Institute. Issues appear bi:weekly September through April, except dun g Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Sprmg Furlough. . Official departmental distribution is made by messenger mall. . R t Inquiries suggestion,s and news items should be directed to The InstItute epor, Public Info;mation Office, VMI, Lexington, Virginia, 24450, telephone 463-6207. EDITOR-Maj. Edwin L. Dooley, Jr.
The Institute' Report is a bi-weekly newsletter designed primarily to keep faculty and staff up-to-date on the achievements of their colleagues, changes and progress at the Institute, and other such news <largely internal) about the Institute's people, plans, and poiicies.
/
/ Page 4, The Institute Report, April 19, 1974
VMI Calendar ofEvents
APRIL 22 -MAY 5, 1974
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1974: Observatory opens at dusk.
TUESDAY, APRIL 23,1974: I P. M. Gole; HOME, VMI vs. Appalachian State University. 2 P. M. Tennis, HOME, VMI vs. Madison College. 4 P. M. Lacrosse, HOME, VMI vs. Frostburg, parane ground.
Track, VMI at Bridgewater College.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24,1974:
8 P. M. At Southern Seminary, spring seminar with Pulitzer Prize poet Maxine Kumin. 8 P. M. Double feature movie, "Nosferatu," an old German silent film, and "Horror of Dracula," presented by Modern Languages Department, Lejeune HalL
THURSDAY, APRIL 25,1974: Noon At Moody Hall, Garden Week tour luncheon, until 2 P. M. I P. M. History 106 lecture, "Technology and Alienation," Maj. Donald E. Thomas, Jr., chemistry lecture room.
Golf, VMI at Bridgewater.
I P. M. Visiting VMI, foreign officer group from Army Transportation School, Fort Eustis, Va.
FRIDAY, APRIL 26,1974:
11 :30 A. M. Presentation of portrait, "Boy Colonel of the Confederacy," painting of CoL Henry K. Burgwyn, Jr., Class of 1861, Preston Library. 3 P. M. Baseball, HOME, VMI vs. Virginia Tech, Patchin Field.
Tennis, at Southern Conference Tournament, Friday and Saturday, Appalachian State.
8 P. M. Planetarium demonstration.
8 P. M. English Society Film Series presents five short experimental films, Lejeune Hall.
SATURDAY, APRIL 27,1974:
1 P. M. Baseball doubleheader, HOME, VMI vs. East Carolina State University, Patchin Field.
1 P. M. Fencers Challenge, HOME, VMI vs. Mary Baldwin College, Cocke Hall.
I P. M. Rugby, HOME, VMI vs. West Virginia Wesleyan, parade ground.
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 1974:
10:30 A. M. Learning to Live film series, Lejeune Hall.
2: 30 P. M. Spring picnic of the Faculty Men's Club and Woman's Club, from 2 :30 P. M. on, Boy Scout Camp, Goshen.
MONDAY, APRIL 29,1974':
Final examinations begin.
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1974:
8 P. M. Concert of the Paraiba University Choir, of Brazil, sponsored jointly by VMI and Washington and Lee, at
Lee Chapel. The choir is in this country to take part in the 4th International University Choral Festival at
Lincoln Center.
FRIDAY, MA Y 3, 1974:
I P. M. Registration begins for ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND, Moody Hall.
4:20 P. M. Regimental review.
5 P. M. Alumni reception for the Class of 1974, Moody Hall.
9 P. M. Alumni dance, music provided by The Flames, Moody Hall.
SATURDAY, MAY 4,1974:
11 A. M. Annual meeting of the VMI Alumni Association, Jackson Memorial Hall.
12 :20 P. M. Review for alumni reunion classes.
I P. M. Alumni luncheon, Moody Hall, tickets available at buffet line.
2:15 P. M. Soccer, Alumni vs. Varsity, parade ground.
3 P. M. Concert by Jud Strunk, '59, complimentary to the VMI community, Cocke Hall.
9 P. M. Alumni dance, music by the VMI Commanders, informal dress, Moody Hall.
SUNDAY, MAY 5,1974:
8 A. M. Pancake breakfast served at Moody Hall, $2.25 per person, until II A. M.
