War! That short word has dropped among us with all the force of the
bombs that dropped on Pearl Harbor. It calls upon each of us to reexamine
his plans for the future. How and where can we serve best? what is our
job?
Three major avenues of service lie open for us to travel. The armed
forces call upon the manpower of the nation according to a well prepared
plan, the selective service system. Industry needs workers and still more
workers to provide the machinery of defense and of offense. Education
turns to the development of specialized personnel to provide leadership
and technical skill. What road shall we travel?
The answer to the question is not to be given out of some store of
superior wisdon by.the faculty. Bach of us must weigh .many factors and
come to a decision that is valid for himself. Certainly no action should
be taicen hastily nor under emotional stress. Much that is vital is at
stake, -
for most of us the job must be to carry on to successful conclusion
the educational program upon which we are embarked. The appeal of
spectacular service with the armed forces of our country must not draw us
away from our appointed task until we are called. The selective service
system provides a regular supply of men for the army and the navy, Too
many of us forget that the system is selective, that is, designed to choose
from the manpower of the nation those best fitted to leave their present
occupation «.wri bear arms. We must equally resist the lure of high wages in
industry. We, who are in training in the colleges and technical schools,
bear a great responsibility in the prosecution of this war. Upon us rests
the duty to provide a continuing Supply of technically skilled and soundly
trained men and women. The production line cannot move, the front line
must halt, if that supply is depleted*
Civilian defense offers us many opportunities for service in addition
to that which we are rendering in pursuing our college training. We can
prepare ourselves tO' render aid in home defense units. Let us seek out
ways in which we can aid in local civilian defense. The total defense of
the nation is the sum of our individual efforts,