University of Virginia Library

ROTC Re-Accredited, Placed Outside College
Local Anti-Draft Group: 'A Threat To System'?

Donn Kessler
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

For a number of years
students have been involved in
anti-war activities, but it was
not until January 1970 that
these activities crystallized into
the establishment of a local
draft resistance chapter, a
chapter which has as its basis a
plan specifically designated "a
threat to the System" by
Curtis Tarr, director of the
Selective Service System.

Charlottesville Draft Resistance
was formed last year for
the purpose of ending the military
draft and all other forms
of conscription. It originated
the Charlottesville Pledge, a
promise of draft card return,
which has already been endorsed
by the Union for
National Draft Opposition
(UNDO), as well as the National
Student Association.

The Charlottesville Pledge commits
the individual to return his
draft card to his local or a national
resistance headquarters where it
will be forwarded to the proper
authorities and "to cease to cooperate
with any type of draft system
in any way" after 100,000 people
have signed similar pledges.

Charlottesville Draft Resistance,
which is also the local UNDO chapter,
is concerned with mote than
just ending the present system of
military conscription. It wants to
create an awareness of oppression
and that the only way to stop
oppression is by using the means
necessary for its end, whatever they
may be.

Though less than a year old, the
local chapter originated and distributed
the Charlottesville pledge,
partly organized the June 10
National Antidraft Day sit-in in
Washington, for which two of its
members are currently on trial, and
worked closely with Virginia Mobilization
Committee in providing literature
and information throughout
the summer session.

According to David Giltinan, a
founder of CDR, the chapter is now
attempting to alert students and all
draft-able people to the proposed
National Service Act, which, according
to Mr. Giltinan, "amounts
to forced labor."

Members of CDR will have a
table on Activities Night for anyone
who wants to join, sign a card, or
talk.

ROTC Cadets Parade In Drill On Physics Field

Faculty Decision Allows Academic Credit For ROTC Courses

Following the lead of the
committee, the faculty last May
reversed its December decision and
reinstated degree credit for ROTC.
It limited, however, the amount of
hours a student could apply
towards his degree in the College to
six. The faculty also recommended
to the President certain reforms for
the ROTC program.

In Wednesday's announcement,
the most significant reform seems
to be the removal of the program
from the College. ROTC is now
known as the Officer Education
Program and is separate from any
specific school at the University.

The program will be under the
administrative advisement of Frank
L. Hereford, Provost of the University.

The removal of the program
from the College will mean that the
six hours that a College student can
apply towards his degree will be
included in the 15 hours outside of
the College that any student can
apply towards graduation.

Students in the other schools of
the University will be under the
same rules as before concerning the
number of hours of ROTC that
they can apply towards degree.

In the administration of the
program, the University Committee
on ROTC will continue to advise
the President on all out curriculum
matters. The faculty of the College
will decide on ROTC curriculum
matters.

In commenting on the removal
of the ROTC program from the
College, Colonel James P. Robertson,
the head of the Air Force
ROTC at the University stated that
"similar plans have seemed to have
worked successfully at other
schools. Since these schools may
have different problems then we
have at the University, however, we
must wait and see if this plan will
work here."

As of now the basic ROTC
programs will stay the same. The
Army ROTC offers both a two- and
a four-year program. Students are
expected to also attend a summer
camp for one or two summers
depending upon which program the
student enters. At the end of the
program, the cadets serve two years
as a second Lieutenants in the Army
or Army Reserve.

The Air Force also has a two-and
a four-year ROTC program at
the University and Air Force ROTC
cadets must attend a summer camp.

Navy ROTC also has two programs,
one for students wishing to
make career out of the navy and
the other for students wishing to
serve in the Naval Reserve. Navy
ROTC cadets must take one
summer cruise during school. Upon
graduation, Navy ROTC cadets
become ensigns.