University of Virginia Library

Students' Physical
Training Required

Every student in the College of Arts
and Sciences and the School of
Education who is now or may later be
qualified for enlistment in the armed
forces is required to take physical
training during at least five daily
periods each week, President Edgar F.
Shannon has announced.

The University's president also has
stated that a program of physical
training for first-year students in the
Medical School and for all students in
the Engineering School will be worked
out to conform with rigorous class and
laboratory hours which normally do
not permit their participation in the
regular sports program.

Captain Norton G. Pritchett has
amplified Mr. Shannon's official
statement with an outline of three
types of physical training, any one of
which will satisfy the University's new
war-time requirement:

1. Continued membership on any of
the intercollegiate sports teams
throughout the season.

2. Enrollment in the Navel ROTC
unit at the University or in the
University Unit known as the "Dawn
Patrol."

3. Participation in any of several
physical education classes which will
particularly emphasize body building
and conditioning.

Individual responsibility for
enrolling properly in activities under
any of the classifications, and for
maintaining a satisfactory standard or
performance in each is stressed by
Captain Pritchett.

"With so many students to care for,
we haven't the time of the clerical staff
to notify the individual student when
his standing is endangered by
unexcused absence from exercise. It
will be his responsibility to get the
exercise, or take the consequences."

The physical education staff is at
work now shaping up the training
program to be offered under the third
classification. Captain Pritchett has
briefly outlined the projected program
as including the regular fall sports
program of indoor body building
exercise, boxing, swimming, soccer,
cross country, basketball, and other
courses normally offered.

Other programs offered will be
special body building exercise in
out-of-doors groups, attainment of a
maximum of physical coordination
through proficiency in running a newly
constructed "obstacle course," and a
defensive combat course in accordance
with "Commando training" given by
the Army and Navy.