It is amazing how the more things change, the more they stay the same. Even though World War II was occurring during the spring semester of 1945, college life at the University of Virginia nevertheless continued to go on. Classes, sports, parties and everything else remained the same; however, while all this was going on, there was a general feeling of sorrow that lingered throughout the Grounds.
For the most part, the activities that took place at the University in 1945 are quite similar to the activities taking place now. The old newspaper, College Topics (which is now called The Cavalier Daily), covered topics concerning the students' social life. Fraternity rush was just as popular then as it is now. However, since the University was much smaller then, the newspaper was able to list all the men who were pledging and which fraternity they were pledging. The University's drama program was quite active and performed many plays such as Shakespeare's Macbeth. An annual Spring Concert was held at Cabell Hall which featured the University's Glee Club and Madrigal Group. The University also held ceremonies celebrating the Honor System's first hundred years. The Honor System was taken just as seriously then as it is now. Just during the Spring semester of 1945 three students were dismissed from the University for cheating or stealing. Information about the Student Council elections was a main feature of almost every newspaper. The only difference was that the Student Council then consisted of only men. The Student Council worked hard throughout the year to organize the Mid-Winter's Dance and the Easter Week festivities. Easter Week of 1945 was predicted to be "the biggest and bestest since the war." Students looked forward to a beerball game, a Cabell Hall concert, and a formal to be held that week.
Many familiar aspects of the University that we tend to overlook now were new or anticipated additions to the University in 1945. The co-ed enrollment at the time was higher than ever before; however, there were still very few women attending the University. Most of the women were from Charlottesville and only attended the Graduate School. A University operated radio station to be used for extending the University's educational facilities along with an expanded university press were both seen as post-war projects. The University administration was making detailed plans for a large student union where students could participate in many activities and where a functional university auditorium could be located. The University at this time also established a Foreign Service School, and the University's School of Architecture was accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.
While all of these college activities were taking place, it was hard to forget that World War II was going on. Many activities and feelings of despair emerged on the Grounds that never would have been created if a war was not taking place. Many students and graduates of the University of Virginia were fighting in the war. Some were killed in action, and many veterans disturbed by the war came back to graduate. A large number of these veterans felt the need to establish a University Veterans Association to aid them in making the difficult adjustment to college life after their service in the armed forces. As one of the ex-servicemen said, "The pleasures the seventeen and eighteen-year-old student enjoys are not identical with those we [servicemen] enjoy." (College Topics, Feb. 2, 1945: p. 2) As one College Topics columnist wrote: Men of college age will be uncertain of their ability to adapt themselves to college routines especially in classes with younger men. They may feel that it is useless for them to continue college, and that they should take the first available job offered... Many of the men who have already returned would rather not discuss what they have been through. (College Topics, Feb. 2, 1945: p. 2). A clinic for returned war veterans with a history of mental maladjustment was also established. Returned Marine veterans revived the famed "Dawn Patrol Unit." In the pre-war days "Dawn Patrol" served to give students pre-military training on drill and principles of combat. The "Dawn Patrol" also had a University rifle team that competed against the University's Naval ROTC Rifle Team. As part of the University's post-war plan, the University inaugurated a course of training leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education teachers or coaches in the elementary and secondary schools. The newly established Veterans Association of the University also submitted a petition requesting refresher courses for returned veterans.
On a national level, presidents of twelve leading universities requested President Roosevelt to delay consideration of universal military training in the post-war period. At the same time, he House passed a bill to increase Naval ROTC in colleges throughout the nation. Roosevelt proclaimed March as Red Cross, month and E.R. Slaughter, the University's gym instructor, headed the Red Cross War Fund campaign at the University of Virginia.
In addition to all the programs established as a result of the war, many of the every day activities revolved around the war. For example, the International Relations Club debated over many aspects of World War II including such topics as "should a hard peace be imposed upon Germany?" and "the 'Big Three' alliance." For the Mid-Winter's Dance the Navy men were lucky enough to get granted late leave for the night so they could stay out later than their usual curfew. Most of the speakers who came to the University spoke of war experiences. When Lieutenant H. Van Riper spoke of his experience while commanding a Landing Craft and of his ship which was loaded with ammunition and heavily shelled by the Nazis, the audience became very somber. Then, to contribute to the University's despair, President Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. The University, as all the world, was greatly shocked and bereaved. This tragic event occurred the night of the scheduled Easter Dance weekend that all the students had been looking forward to. Newcomb, the president of the University at the time, canceled the entire weekend's scheduled festivities. Although the students mourned the death of Roosevelt, they felt that the events should have gone on as planned. Fraternity parties scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were all canceled and the baseball game was postponed because soldiers were required to remain in Washington. Even though plans were made to have a festive weekend in May with a Navy Smoker and a concert, it could not make up for their missing the "best Easter weekend since the war." Easter weekend could have served to help get the war off of the students' mind; however, instead the students were left to feel only more sorrow.
It is hard to imagine the pain, sorrow, and fear that was experienced by the students attending Mr. Jefferson's University during World War II. However, it is even more difficult to imagine what the University would have been like today if there had not been a war -- would it be the same university that we have all come to love over the years?
By: Bonnie Stuck