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VOLUME LVI Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia. Friday, February 13, 1970 Number 19 Chaplain Wilson Expresses Views On Varied Topics This week your CAUKT chose to interview Chaplain Robert K. Wil-son to find out more about this man whose job it is to dispense spiritual nurture and to bridge the ever-widening religious gap in the minds of cadets. A native Ken-tuckian and a veteran of twenty two years of continuous active mil-itary service, Commander Wilson has devoted himself through the years to the study and application of Christian ethics. Through tours ' of duty which took him to Japan. , Korea. China, the Republic of the 1 Philippines and other parts of the I Orient, he came in direct personal i contact with the many Far East- 3 ern religions. One of his special- I tics is Comparative- Religion. He I has .studied for the past several I summers at Northwestern Univer- 1 slty in order to keep abreast the 3 latest developments in this impor-tant Hold. In 1967 Chaplain Wil-son was the recipient of a Ford Foundation Fellowship for the study of Indian religions and cul ture at the University of Virginia He majored in Christian Ethics at Union Theologclal Seminary In New York under the eminent theo logian Dr. Reinhold Nelbuhr Since Jackson Memorial Hall is the site of Chaplain Wilson's pri-mary contact with cadets f o r j o r t y - llve minutes each Sunday morning, the Interview began with a discus-sion of his sermons and their prepar.ation. INTERVIEWER: How do you go about building a sermon for ca-dets? And is there a clifTeience be-tween preaching to cadcts and. say, to civilians? WILSON: I have done very lit-tle prcaching to civilians, but a great deal to military servicemen and to cadets. There is a differ-ence. It is a delicate operation to zero-in on the wave-length of both "AM & FM" of cadets. The 700 cadets who have chosen to come to J. M. Hall on Sunday morning represent a very broad spectrum of denominations. I t iy to give a general type ser- Military-Industrial Complex Conference Phins Continued Bob Quinlan, chairman of the Publicity Committee of the Mili-tary- Industrial Conference, recently announced further developments in planning for the conference. The symposium will be held at VMI on 9-11 April. Tentative plans have been made to hold a military weekend at VMI dui'inti the conference. Cadcts from other Military coll«ges will be in-vited to the symposium, and will be allowed to stay in barracks if the proposal is passed. Al Bast Is in charge of this project. News releases have been prnted by the Publicity Con)mlttee, and will be is^iued to the news media on both college and national level A pruniotionul tape will also be made and sent to college radio sta-tions to further publicize the event. New authorities on this subject have accepted invitations to partici-pate in the conference. The new participants are: Robert I.ekach man. Chairman of the Economics Department at Stonybrook Unlver slty and author of The ,Age of Kings; Arthur Larson, World Rule Law Center, Duke University, former member of the Eisenhower .Administration; Theos Thompson, Commlsioner of the Atomic Energy Commission: Allen E. W<:inrub, student leader, Haivurd Univer slty; and George Wald, Professor of Biology, Harvaid University, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chem-isti'y. To Increase cadet particiiiation, cadets have been named to moder-ate panel discussions and a debate. Bill Williams will moderate the panel discussion on The Youth Re-volt on Campus, and Dave Tribo-let will act as moderator in the panel discussion on Force as an Element in Diplomacy. Tom Zar ges has been selected to lead the public debate to be held on Friday 10 April. Ice which will not olTend the sen-sibilities of any particular dcnj-mlnation. I try to tune in on where cadets arc. In the six years 1 have been heie I have dealt with just about everything from Playboy philosophy and situation ethics to science and the "God-i.s-Dead" theme. We try to bring in special-ists who can do ji'stlce to love, romance and marriage. We deal with the problems of loneliness, alienation, fru.stratlons, and the many 'hang-ups" which plague any college .student. Cadets aren't especially concerned with theology and abstractions. The object of a sermon Is to comfort the afflicted and to afllict the comfortable. Some of our cadets need comfort, ,ind many of them are all too com-fortable and need to be afflicted. As to the sources of my ser-mons, generally speaking they are result of my exposure to the college .subculture in one way or anothor. Often I choose a popular song such as the "Sounds of Sil-ence" by Simon and Garfunkle and use It as a springboard. I try to keep current by reading the liter-ature depicting the college scene. INTERVIEWER: How do you make your sermons revelant to cadet afl'airs and problems? — 'Many semions are generated from counseling sessions with ca dets. Others come as a back-lash from my courses In Ethics and Comparative Religion. Still otheis come I'rom my observation of those "up-tight" cadets who ai-e seek-ing real solutions to their prob-lems of meaning, of being. You know, I like Who am I? What am I? INTERVIEWER: Do you make any significant innovations in your sermons for special weekends knowing there will be more civi-lians in your congregation that Sunday? WILSON: Special week ends, like "Winter-Hops" mean that I have to communicate to a wider range of In-terests and needs in the congrega-tion. This certainly compounds the difficulty. I must somehow tune in to parents, dates, and cadets. There is always the possibility of alienat-ing soniebody In the group. It's a real challenge. INTERVIEWER: Could you de-scribe your role as an "out-of-the-classroom- an d-Commandant's Of-fice" personal advisor to cadet*? WILSON: I'm not certain I un-derstand what you mean by that question. I consider counseling my most important job on the post. To this end, I have been studying for the past several months and durins the semesters as well, at the University of Virginia where I am !i candidate for the Master's Degree in coun.selor education. I do have one foot In Academe and the other in the pulpit, and a third In my office as counselor. I am a special assistant to the Superin-tendent. therefore r. member of the Doctor Willimn C. Duvuloii To Spenk At VMI And W&L stair. .\Iy salary as Post Chaplain comes from a private endowment creatcd by the h^-irs of John M. Camp, a V.Ml gr.iduate of the Class of '0,1. My salary as LccUirer in Comparative Religion and Ethics comes from the .'*tatc. I act as liai-son between cadets, parents, and the admini.stration. I consider it a manv-splendored-job. INTERVIEWER: How do you feel abmit the so-called 'New Mor-ality." the new radicalism, the cur-rent opposition to military .service that pervades the American scene? How d ) the.se things affect cadets? WILSON: Now. that a three-stage rocket question if 1 ever heard one! As for the 'New .Morality" it is . really an ' Old Morality" dressed up in .1 new rhetoric. The formula for the so-called New Morality comes from Episcopalian Theolo-ginia. Jo.<eph Fletcher's Situation Kthics. This formula is greatly mis-understood by many people. Ac-tually. this is a most difficult ethic, one that Is hard to implement. Condensed to its essence it means simply this: "The greatest good is to love people and use things." That's as old as Jesus. Playboy people like Hugh Heffner reverse this high ethical concept and pro-ceed to use people and love things. Christian love Is an unconditional j thing. Playboy love Is too, too con-ditional! .^sk any Playboy Bunny about this. Love is a negotiable commoditv. People are used and discarded as so much rubbish. The so-calle.l ' New-Radicalism" is incu-bated in the middle class and up-per middle class affluence. It is a definite break with tradition and authorlt.v. It represents a dis-enchantment with middle-class mores and folkways, the e.stablish-ment. K is described by Professoir Roszak of California as "the coun-ter- culture." It thrives only in the luxury of affluence. Come a de-pression or recession and it will vanish. See CHAPLAIN WILSON Page 7 What's Oil The Inside Hill II i//i<(»i.« oil Rork I'uUe: r wf Formal Hops Rankem An- Cadets Too Lovkliu on "Coinimler CoimicUnisiifr page J page. 3 page a page a Special Performance Through the generosity of Brigadier General Frank McCarthy, USA ret., the VMI Corps of Cadets will at-tend a special performance of the movie, PATTON, which premiered in New York last week. General Mc- Carthy, a VMI graduate, is producer of the multi-mil-lion dollar film. General McCarthy has made arrangements with Mr. Ralph Daves, manager of Lexington's State Theatre, for this event. Mr. Daves has announced that the theater will be closed on the afternoons of the 5th and 6th of March to all except cadets, and members of the faculty and staff of VML There will be no charge for adinissiun. Professor William C. Davidon Chairman of the Department of Physics at Haverford College, Hav erford, Pennsylvania, will serve as a visiting lecturer at VMI and W&L, Thursday and Friday. Feb-ruary 19 and 20. Mr. Davidon will be visiting un-der t h j auspices of the American Asscoiation of Physics Teachers and the American institute of Phy-sics as part of a broad, nationwide program to stimulate interest in Physics. Lectures, informal discus-sion, assistance to faculty mem-bers concerning curriculum and re-search problems in physics will highlight Dr. Davidson's two day visit. University of Chicago Dr. Davidon is a graduate of the Univei'slty of Chicago and at-tended Purdue University. He was formerly employed as an associate ! 1 physlcii.t at the Argonne National Laboratories and also served as research director and research as-sociate at the Nuclear Instrument and Ch,;mical Corporation, Chicago and the Fermi Institute for Nu-clear Studies at the University of Chicago, respectively. His a'eas of research have in-cluded the theory of elementary particles and foundations of quan-tum mechanics and mathematical See PROF. D.WIDSON page 2 (^.aleiidar of Events 1:30 PM 9 PM FEBRUARY 13 13 13 13 14 14 14 14 a PM 7 PM 19 19-'»0 Varsity wieslling, V.MI at DaiiJoion College. Varsity track. HOME. VMI vs. Wake Forest. Midwinter Hops, formal, gymnasium, music by The Drifteis and Ginger Thompion an.l l!ie Odyssey. Planetarium demonsl,.-atlon. Varsity swimming. HOME. V.MI vs. Loyola. Varsity wrestling. VMI at Guiifoid. Varsity and rat baskelball. VMI at Wil'lam and Mary College. MiJwinter Hops, semi-fo.nul, gymnasium, music by New York Reek anJ Roll Ensemble and Cliuck Berry and Glory River. Varsity [rack, IIO.ME. VMI vs. Virginia Tech. Observatory showing. Coni-ert of the Paul Winter Conlemporary Consort, pre-sented by the Rockbridge Concert-Theater Series, Jackson Memorial Hall. (Admission limited to season sub-scribers.) Varsity baskelbal', HOME. VMI vs. The Citadel, with preliminary rat game, V.MI v.s. F e . i um Junior College, at 6 P.M. Field House. Sounding Brass Seminar, 19,10. Lejeune Hall. Faculty Woman's Club annual card party, .Moody Hall. Summer Reading Program panel discussi;;n, "Between Super Powers,' moderaltJ by Colonel B. M. Gilliam. Discussion of two books. "Pi'og:K>s, Coexistence, and Intellectual Freedom," by .\nJiei Sakharov and "On Dealing with the Communisl Woild " by George F. Kennan. Lejeune Hall. Varsity and rat basketball, \'.Ml ut Richmond. Varsity swimming, Stale Inlcfcollegiale Meet, William and .Mary College.
Object Description
Repository | Virginia Military Institute Archives |
Collection | VMI Cadet Newspaper |
Title | VMI Cadet. February 13, 1970 |
Issue Date | 1970-02-13 |
Volume/Number | Volume 56, number 19 |
Publisher | Virginia Military Institute |
Publication History | The Cadet (originally the Keydet), VMI's student newspaper, began weekly publication in the fall of 1907. Not published 1943-44, 1944-45, 1945-46 |
Frequency | Weekly during academic year, except during examinations and vacations |
Subject |
Virginia Military Institute -- Publications. Virginia Military Institute -- Cadet life. College student newspapers and periodicals -- Virginia -- Lexington. |
Digital Publisher | Virginia Military Institute Archives |
VMI Archives Records Group | Publications |
Rights | Materials in the VMI Archives Digital Collections are intended for educational and research use and may be used for non-commercial purposes with appropriate attribution. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. Acknowledgement of the Virginia Military Institute Archives Digital Collections is required. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information. |
Type | text |
Format | application/pdf |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Issue Date | 1970-02-13 |
Full Text Search |
VOLUME LVI Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia. Friday, February 13, 1970 Number 19
Chaplain Wilson Expresses
Views On Varied Topics
This week your CAUKT chose to
interview Chaplain Robert K. Wil-son
to find out more about this
man whose job it is to dispense
spiritual nurture and to bridge the
ever-widening religious gap in the
minds of cadets. A native Ken-tuckian
and a veteran of twenty
two years of continuous active mil-itary
service, Commander Wilson
has devoted himself through the
years to the study and application
of Christian ethics. Through tours
' of duty which took him to Japan.
, Korea. China, the Republic of the
1 Philippines and other parts of the
I Orient, he came in direct personal
i contact with the many Far East-
3 ern religions. One of his special-
I tics is Comparative- Religion. He
I has .studied for the past several
I summers at Northwestern Univer-
1 slty in order to keep abreast the
3 latest developments in this impor-tant
Hold. In 1967 Chaplain Wil-son
was the recipient of a Ford
Foundation Fellowship for the
study of Indian religions and cul
ture at the University of Virginia
He majored in Christian Ethics at
Union Theologclal Seminary In
New York under the eminent theo
logian Dr. Reinhold Nelbuhr
Since Jackson Memorial Hall is
the site of Chaplain Wilson's pri-mary
contact with cadets f o r j o r t y -
llve minutes each Sunday morning,
the Interview began with a discus-sion
of his sermons and their
prepar.ation.
INTERVIEWER: How do you go
about building a sermon for ca-dets?
And is there a clifTeience be-tween
preaching to cadcts and.
say, to civilians?
WILSON: I have done very lit-tle
prcaching to civilians, but a
great deal to military servicemen
and to cadets. There is a differ-ence.
It is a delicate operation to
zero-in on the wave-length of both
"AM & FM" of cadets. The 700
cadets who have chosen to come
to J. M. Hall on Sunday morning
represent a very broad spectrum
of denominations.
I t iy to give a general type ser-
Military-Industrial Complex
Conference Phins Continued
Bob Quinlan, chairman of the
Publicity Committee of the Mili-tary-
Industrial Conference, recently
announced further developments in
planning for the conference. The
symposium will be held at VMI on
9-11 April.
Tentative plans have been made
to hold a military weekend at VMI
dui'inti the conference. Cadcts from
other Military coll«ges will be in-vited
to the symposium, and will
be allowed to stay in barracks if
the proposal is passed. Al Bast Is
in charge of this project.
News releases have been prnted
by the Publicity Con)mlttee, and
will be is^iued to the news media
on both college and national level
A pruniotionul tape will also be
made and sent to college radio sta-tions
to further publicize the event.
New authorities on this subject
have accepted invitations to partici-pate
in the conference. The new
participants are: Robert I.ekach
man. Chairman of the Economics
Department at Stonybrook Unlver
slty and author of The ,Age of
Kings; Arthur Larson, World Rule
Law Center, Duke University,
former member of the Eisenhower
.Administration; Theos Thompson,
Commlsioner of the Atomic Energy
Commission: Allen E. W<:inrub,
student leader, Haivurd Univer
slty; and George Wald, Professor
of Biology, Harvaid University,
winner of the Nobel Prize in Chem-isti'y.
To Increase cadet particiiiation,
cadets have been named to moder-ate
panel discussions and a debate.
Bill Williams will moderate the
panel discussion on The Youth Re-volt
on Campus, and Dave Tribo-let
will act as moderator in the
panel discussion on Force as an
Element in Diplomacy. Tom Zar
ges has been selected to lead the
public debate to be held on Friday
10 April.
Ice which will not olTend the sen-sibilities
of any particular dcnj-mlnation.
I try to tune in on where
cadets arc. In the six years 1 have
been heie I have dealt with just
about everything from Playboy
philosophy and situation ethics to
science and the "God-i.s-Dead"
theme. We try to bring in special-ists
who can do ji'stlce to love,
romance and marriage. We deal
with the problems of loneliness,
alienation, fru.stratlons, and the
many 'hang-ups" which plague
any college .student. Cadets aren't
especially concerned with theology
and abstractions. The object of a
sermon Is to comfort the afflicted
and to afllict the comfortable.
Some of our cadets need comfort,
,ind many of them are all too com-fortable
and need to be afflicted.
As to the sources of my ser-mons,
generally speaking they are
result of my exposure to the
college .subculture in one way or
anothor. Often I choose a popular
song such as the "Sounds of Sil-ence"
by Simon and Garfunkle and
use It as a springboard. I try to
keep current by reading the liter-ature
depicting the college scene.
INTERVIEWER: How do you
make your sermons revelant to
cadet afl'airs and problems?
— 'Many semions are generated
from counseling sessions with ca
dets. Others come as a back-lash
from my courses In Ethics and
Comparative Religion. Still otheis
come I'rom my observation of those
"up-tight" cadets who ai-e seek-ing
real solutions to their prob-lems
of meaning, of being. You
know, I like Who am I? What am
I?
INTERVIEWER: Do you make
any significant innovations in your
sermons for special weekends
knowing there will be more civi-lians
in your congregation that
Sunday?
WILSON: Special week ends, like
"Winter-Hops" mean that I have to
communicate to a wider range of In-terests
and needs in the congrega-tion.
This certainly compounds the
difficulty. I must somehow tune in
to parents, dates, and cadets. There
is always the possibility of alienat-ing
soniebody In the group. It's
a real challenge.
INTERVIEWER: Could you de-scribe
your role as an "out-of-the-classroom-
an d-Commandant's Of-fice"
personal advisor to cadet*?
WILSON: I'm not certain I un-derstand
what you mean by that
question. I consider counseling my
most important job on the post.
To this end, I have been studying
for the past several months and
durins the semesters as well, at
the University of Virginia where
I am !i candidate for the Master's
Degree in coun.selor education. I
do have one foot In Academe and
the other in the pulpit, and a third
In my office as counselor. I am a
special assistant to the Superin-tendent.
therefore r. member of the
Doctor Willimn C.
Duvuloii To Spenk
At VMI And W&L
stair. .\Iy salary as Post Chaplain
comes from a private endowment
creatcd by the h^-irs of John M.
Camp, a V.Ml gr.iduate of the Class
of '0,1. My salary as LccUirer in
Comparative Religion and Ethics
comes from the .'*tatc. I act as liai-son
between cadets, parents, and
the admini.stration. I consider it
a manv-splendored-job.
INTERVIEWER: How do you
feel abmit the so-called 'New Mor-ality."
the new radicalism, the cur-rent
opposition to military .service
that pervades the American scene?
How d ) the.se things affect cadets?
WILSON: Now. that a three-stage
rocket question if 1 ever heard one!
As for the 'New .Morality" it is .
really an ' Old Morality" dressed
up in .1 new rhetoric. The formula
for the so-called New Morality
comes from Episcopalian Theolo-ginia.
Jo. |