THE CAPITOLIST
Vol. VII, No. 10
Ford To Address Commencement Audience
by R. W. Bonaker
Mr. Robert D. Ford, State
Director of Selective Service and
a Capitol alumnus, will be the
featured speaker at today's
commencement ceremonies.
At 32, Ford is the youngest
State Director in the nation. He
was appointed to his post by
President Nixon in June, 1971.
He was born in Washington,
D.C., the son of a career civil
servant. He lived in several states
during childhood before
eventually returning to the
family hometown of
Duncannon, Pa., Perry County,
in 1952.
Ford is a 1957 graduate of
Su squ e nita High School,
Duncannon. Upon completion
of high school, where he
graduated 80th in a class of 81,
he worked briefly as a ranch
hand and rodeo bronc rider. In
September, 1958, he enlisted in
the U.S. Marine Corps, serving
three years as a clerk, radio
operator, and machine gunner.
He saw duty in Spain, France,
Italy and Greece. He was
released from active duty in
1961 and honorably discharged
in 1964, achieving the rank of
Lance Corporal.
In 1966, he entered
Harrisburg Area Community
College. Upon receiving an
Associate of Science degree in
1968, he transferred to Capitol
Campus, earning a Bachelor of
Business in 1970.
He attended college under the
G.I. Bill while working fulltime
nights and weekends. During this
educational period, he was
constantly on the Dean's List at
both schools. In addition, he was
a member of Chi Gamma lota,
the veterans fraternity at each
institution. Through the XGl's,
he initiated a counseling service
that is by veterans, for veterans,
which eventually became the
main thrust of Pennsylvania's
Program to Advance Veteran's
Education (PAVE).
Ford entered the service of
the Commonwealth upon his
graduation from Capitol. Under
the administration of Gov.
Raymond P. Shafer, he worked
in the Governor's Council for
Human Services, writing and
directing the PAVE program.
Under Gov. Milton J. Shapp, he
continued as Director of PAVE,
expanding the counseling
concept to include 48 schools
throughout the state.
His efforts on behalf of
veterans were twice cited in the
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD,
by senators Scott of Pa. and
Cranson of California. He was
appointed to a committee on
veteran's education by the
National League of Cities—U.S.
Conference of Mayors—which
also cited his efforts as one of
the key elements to be pursued
by the committee. He has
provided technical assistance to
several veterans programs in
other states.
In today's speech, he plans to
give graduating students an
observation of his experience in
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Mr. Robert D. Ford
the two years since he
graduated, of what to look out
for. "What I think most seniors
don't have when they graduate
are what the need most, and that
is a good knowledge of how to
impress people during the job
interview. It is so crucial to be
able to make a good
impression," he states. "There
should be course workshops on
the techniques of applying for a
job and preparing for tests. I
would also like to see more
practical experience gained
through fieldwork," he
continued.
He plans to give a short
speech, believing that a talk loses
its effectiveness if it drags out.
He says that he does not prepare
a manuscript when he addresses
a group of people.
Ford points out that the
Selective Service law affects all
men at some point in their lives,
yet it is one of the least
understood laws. He expects to
elaborate on points of the draft
laws to explain some main
points. He looks to the future,
favoring an end to the draft. "I
have a plan that would make an
all-volunteer peacetime army
work, but they haven't adopted
it," he says.
He is optimistic about the
success for an all-volunteer
peacetime army, but states
"Who knows how it is going to
work? He points to problems
with the current draft law where
"no matter how well educated
you are, you go into the
infantry, consequently there is a
lick of highly trained
personnel."
Under his plan, young men
who cannot afford to go to
college straight out of high
school, could enlist for two
years, and then receive a full
four year's allotment for books,
tuition plus a living allowance
much more than today's vet
receives.
In the past, the National
Guard has been a vehicle by
which those who did not want
to see two years active duty,
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CAPITOL CAMPUS - MIDDLETOWN, PA.
could serve in a limited way. An
end to the draft will cut down
severly the enlistments for the
Guard. The Ford plan would
promote enlistments in the
Guard by "stressing public
service such as work in
ecology."
The performance of veterans
in colleges is a record of which
Ford displays particular pride.
"They have the best attendance
and the highest single group
grade averages," he states,
following a study released from
HACC. "That's because they are
mature and are disciplined. Close
to 50 per cent of those in college
right out of high school never
fm ish."
Ford sees the future role of
selective service in the volunteer
age as continuing with every
operation except that of
inducting men into service.
"100,000 men will be classified
and serve as part of an
emergency pool-like reserve who
can be called up immediately.
However, there will be no
volunteer army in time of war,"
he stresses.
When the current draft law
expires in June, 1973, he sees
Congress as just letting the law
run out, but not taking action to
officially kill. "We have learned
from previous how bad a
mistake that would be. In 1947,
the law expired and they
dismantled the entire system. It
was such a hassle to start it back
up when we got involved in
Korea.
Klain To Be Presented Jordan Award
Ambrose Klain, associate
professor of regional planning,
has been cited by the student
body for excellence in teaching.
Professor Klain was selected
by Capitol Campus students as
the first recipient of the James
A. Jordan Memorial Award for
Teaching, established in honor
of Dr. James A. Jordan, Capitol
Campus faculty member who
died in a boating accident last
summer.
The student body selected Mr.
Klain from among nine faculty
members nominated for the
award. He will be presented with
the award at today's
commencement ceremonies.
In announcing results of the
student vote, Leonard H.
Thompson, Capitol Campus
senior and award chairman, said:
"Professor Klain is indicative
of what the award represents:
effective teaching, enthusiasm
and sincere interest in
accomplishing above average
results in his teaching efforts.
"This award is granted to
Professor Klain not only for
these qualities, but also for his
unlimited concern and
humanitarian attitude toward
every individual student. By
voting this award, the students
GRADUATION TODAY
More than 400 students will
be graduated in commencement
ceremonies today.
Speaker at
commencement exercises
scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
outdoors in front of the Main
Building will be Robert D.
Ford, Pennsylvania's State
Selective Service director.
Mr. Ford, at 31 the nation's
youngest state Selective Service
director, is a 1970 graduate of
Capitol Campus with a Bachelor
of Business degree.
Following graduation, he
worked for the Governor's
Council for Human Services,
where he implemented
Pennsylvania's Program to
Advance Veterans Education
(PAVE). He was named to the
Selective Service post last year.
Included among the 439
Capitol Campus students
scheduled to graduate are 398
candidates for baccalaureate
degrees and 41 candidates for
master's degrees.
Baccalaureate degrees to be
awarded are: Bachelor of
Business, Bachelor of
Elementary Education, Bachelor
of Humanities, Bachelor of
Social Science, and Bachelor of
Technology. Advanced degree
candidates will receive degrees of
Master of Administration,
of Capitol Campus hope to show
him their gratitude and esteem."
The award, initiated by the
Student Government
Association at the campus,
consists of a plaque and a
sculpture done by Oliver
LaGrone, a member of the
campus faculty.
Prof. Klain, a member of the
Capitol Campus faculty since
1968, teaches both graduate and
undergraduate courses.
Born in Czechoslovakia, he
received a degree in engineering
from the University of
Technology in Bruenn,
Czechoslovakia. He fought with
the Czechoslovak Army on the
Eastern front in World War II
and was honorably discharged
with the rank of captain of
artillery.
After immigrating to Canada,
he studied at Sir George Williams
University, Montreal, receiving
his B.S. degree in 1957. He
received his M.S. degree in city
planning from Case Western
Reserve University in 1961.
Professor Klain served as
senior planner with the Regional
Planning Commission in
Cleveland, Ohio, where he was
responsible for developing and
preparing studies dealing with
Saturday, June 24, 1972
Master of Education in
Elementary Education, Master
of Engineering and Master of
Regional Planning.
Most of the baccalaureate
degree candidates attended
Pennsylvania community and
junior colleges and other Penn
State branch campuses prior to
enrolling at the Capitol Campus
an upper-division and graduate
campus with undergraduate
programs beginning at the junior
year level.
Ninety-five of the
undergraduate students are to be
graduated with honors, having
attained at least a 3.40 average
out of a possible 4.00 average
during their two years of study
at the campus.
Dr. Robert E. McDermott,
Capitol Campus provost, will
preside at the ceremonies. Dr.
Richard H. Heindel, dean of
faculty, will present the
candidates for baccalaureate
degrees. Candidates for master's
degrees will be presented by Dr.
Ernest H. Ludwig, associate dean
of Penn State's Graduate School.
The degrees will be presented
by State Representative Hardy
Williams, a member of the
University Board of Trustees.
In the event of inclement
weather, the ceremonies will be
held in the State Farm Show
Building.
the waterfront of Lake Erie,
parks and open spaces, and
general aviation in Metropolitan
Cleveland.
From 1964 to 1968, he
taught city planning at Case
Western Reserve University and
developed the associate degree
program in urban technology for.
Cuyahoga Community College in
Cleveland.
Prof. Klain is a member of the
American Institute of Housing
and Redevelopment Officials
and other professional
organizations. He and his wife,
the former Phyllis Johnson, are
the parents of two sons. They
live in Camp Hill.
Student Position
Mr. Steven Berry, a senior in
Social Science and the past
President of the Black Student
Union at Capitol Campus, has
been chosen for a legislative
internship for the Summer of
1972.
He will serve on the staff of
K. Leroy Irvis, State House
Majority Leader. Mr. Berry's
option in Social Science is Public
Policy. He is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. R. Berry, of Philadelphia.