Facilities Offered
THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE announced recently that the available facilities at Dartmouth College have been reported to the Government in connection with surveys by both the Army and Navy preliminary to the possible establishment of officer-training centers in colleges and uni versities throughout the country. No action has been taken to date to indicate that Dartmouth will be asked to house either an Army or Navy unit.
As part of its expanded aviation program, the Navy recently sought four university locations for training units of 2,500 men each for three-month periods. In a preliminary survey of possible locations for the eastern V-5 training center, it was agreed that Dartmouth could not satisfactorily handle 2,500 men in addition to its own student body. The University of Georgia in the south and the University of lowa in the middle west have definitely been announced as two of the four selections, with the eastern and far western units yet to be located.
President Hopkins has advised the authorities in Washington that Dartmouth will share its dormitory, eating, classroom and gymnasium facilities with the services, but will also continue its own educational program, as it has without interruption since the founding of the College 172 years ago. The College will operate on the continuous, three-term plan for the duration of the war, he has said, and an expected shrinkage in enrollment will free some dormitory and other space for use by the Army or Navy. Limitations of the plant do not, however, permit accommodations in the near future of units larger than approximately 1,000 men.
In connection with the establishing of a V-7 training school of that size, the Navy recently inspected Dartmouth's facilities. It was felt that 1,000 prospective midshipmen could be handled by the College, beginning immediately after Commencement on May 10. Housing would be accomplished by a barracks type of room-arrangement in dormitories, with four men in two-room suites. During his visit to Dartmouth the Navy representative expressed complete approval of Dartmouth's plant, but predicted that since only one such V-7 unit was being established for the whole country a mid-western university would probably be chosen because of its central location.
Word has reached President Hopkins from the Navy Department that Notre Dame University has been chosen as the site for the new V-7 training center. The communication added: "The Bureau of Navigation is aware of the desire of Dartmouth College to be of the maximum service in this emergency, and Dartmouth College will receive full consideration for any other Navy training school which it may be necessary to establish in the future."
