ROTC Plans Delayed Until At Least 1956

Harvard's plan to revise its ROTC program can not possibly go into effect until the summer of 1956 even if approved by the Pentagon this semester, Lt. Col. Trevor N. Dupuy, professor of Military Science and Tactics, said yesterday.

Because no action has been taken on the plan yet, the Army has decided to have the ROTC junior spend their summer camp period at Fort Sill, Okla., under the nationwide six-week training program. Approval of the plan at this late date would be too late to effect a change in the summer training, Dupuy believes.

Under the plan adopted by the University last year, the summer-camp period would be extended to 12 weeks, and the classroom curriculum would be reduced from four to three years.

Since last year when the plan was sent to Washington for approval, no word has been received on the status of the program. In October, Dupuy, Dean Bundy, and Donald C. McKay, professor of History, had a meeting in Washington with Army officials, but nothing then was determined on the plan's future. Dupuy believes that final action will not be taken until May at the earliest.

The plan itself, as drawn up by committee of nine faculty members headed by McKay, attempts to "liberalize" the ROTC curriculum, and make it conform more to College standards.

By reducing the classroom hours and increasing the summer training period, the committee hopes that much of the so-called "mechanical" instruction could be done away with during the school year.