Dr. Combs Speaks on Present War Crisis
Dublin Core
Title
Dr. Combs Speaks on Present War Crisis
Description
Dr. Morgan L. Combs responds to the declaration of war on Japan and informs students of what they should do during this crisis. Activities students can participate in to support the war effort are mentioned. President Roosevelt's statements on keeping students in college are also mentioned.
Creator
The Bullet
Source
The Bullet, vol. 15, no. 10, pp. 1-2
Publisher
Special Collections and University Archives, University of Mary Washington
Date
1941-12-12
Rights
Copyright is retained by Special Collections and University Archives, Simpson Library, University of Mary Washington. This item is available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Items may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes without prior written consent from the University of Mary Washington.
Format
JPEG
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
Bullet-Fredericksburg_VA_vol-15_1941-12-12
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Dr. Combs Speaks On Present War Crisis
Band Serenades Student Body Over Entire Campus
The colorful blue and white band of 50 pieces at Mary Washington College took their places on the stage after serenading for half an hour on the campus.
Dr. Combs said that this was a joint metting of faculty and students—a get-together before the holiday season. "We should be glad that we live in America which is the greatest and richest land on earth," said Dr. Combs.
"The most important thing is morale. Many nations in this present war have been defeated be- cause of hysteria and lack of emotional control. We remember the roads in France were so blocked that the armies could not move." He urged one and all to use their head in this emergency and then Dr. Combs referred to the position that Greece occuped with so few modern firearms and said that she was able to resist so long against such a powerful enemy because of the attitude and morale of the people.
In World War No. 1 President Wilson said, "Keep the road to the schoolhouse open." President Roosevelt has sent out a message to all colleges in the United States urging the students to stay in college during this emergency. He stressed the necessity for college students to take advantage of this opportunity to better prepare themselves for the greater task of peace-making. At the same time, time, he said that he had offered the services of this institution, the staff and the student body, to do any work or any task that they were invited to do, and added that if there were students available here who could do a certain job better than anyone else could do it, then, of course, that was their mission.
"Don't be discontented," he said, "because you cannot take up a rifle. Your place is just as important."
Dr. Combs said he wants to hear fun and laughter on the campus. 'I don't want to see long and gloomy faces." He said that he liked the plan suggested this week by a group reducing the formality and expense of our social pro- gram. Whenever a dance is planned on the hill in the future, a definite percentage of the intake will be donated to the service plan for the college.
"This tragedy has made us appreciate our country more than ever before and our opportunities, too. It will make us a better people in years to come. We are here to help students work out any problems that they may have because of this emergency and we ask the facility who are doing an excellent job today to do an even better one tomorrow that we may all increase our efficiency and unity."
The college is preparing a plan on which the student body and faculty will work as a unit. Dr. Alvey, dean of the college, following Dr. Combs' address enumerated our opportunities for service here on the hill. He said that the shortage of teachers alone this year would be 60,000. Many other fields are calling for thousands more. He said he understood the opportunity to make a higher wage by way of a short cut was a temptation, but in the adjustment later that a person who left his education unfinished will not be able to hold his place against the greater competition to follow.
Dr. Alvey mentioned among the other services, the Red Cross Relief Fund, First Aid training classes for all, Red Cross knitting classes, sewing, continued relief to our allies, and urged us not to forget the needy at home. The student body, several times a year, collects clothes for different organizations, sends Christmas stockings, dinner baskets, canned foods from the Y.W.C.A. and in other ways aid in keeping "the home fires burning."
Band Serenades Student Body Over Entire Campus
The colorful blue and white band of 50 pieces at Mary Washington College took their places on the stage after serenading for half an hour on the campus.
Dr. Combs said that this was a joint metting of faculty and students—a get-together before the holiday season. "We should be glad that we live in America which is the greatest and richest land on earth," said Dr. Combs.
"The most important thing is morale. Many nations in this present war have been defeated be- cause of hysteria and lack of emotional control. We remember the roads in France were so blocked that the armies could not move." He urged one and all to use their head in this emergency and then Dr. Combs referred to the position that Greece occuped with so few modern firearms and said that she was able to resist so long against such a powerful enemy because of the attitude and morale of the people.
In World War No. 1 President Wilson said, "Keep the road to the schoolhouse open." President Roosevelt has sent out a message to all colleges in the United States urging the students to stay in college during this emergency. He stressed the necessity for college students to take advantage of this opportunity to better prepare themselves for the greater task of peace-making. At the same time, time, he said that he had offered the services of this institution, the staff and the student body, to do any work or any task that they were invited to do, and added that if there were students available here who could do a certain job better than anyone else could do it, then, of course, that was their mission.
"Don't be discontented," he said, "because you cannot take up a rifle. Your place is just as important."
Dr. Combs said he wants to hear fun and laughter on the campus. 'I don't want to see long and gloomy faces." He said that he liked the plan suggested this week by a group reducing the formality and expense of our social pro- gram. Whenever a dance is planned on the hill in the future, a definite percentage of the intake will be donated to the service plan for the college.
"This tragedy has made us appreciate our country more than ever before and our opportunities, too. It will make us a better people in years to come. We are here to help students work out any problems that they may have because of this emergency and we ask the facility who are doing an excellent job today to do an even better one tomorrow that we may all increase our efficiency and unity."
The college is preparing a plan on which the student body and faculty will work as a unit. Dr. Alvey, dean of the college, following Dr. Combs' address enumerated our opportunities for service here on the hill. He said that the shortage of teachers alone this year would be 60,000. Many other fields are calling for thousands more. He said he understood the opportunity to make a higher wage by way of a short cut was a temptation, but in the adjustment later that a person who left his education unfinished will not be able to hold his place against the greater competition to follow.
Dr. Alvey mentioned among the other services, the Red Cross Relief Fund, First Aid training classes for all, Red Cross knitting classes, sewing, continued relief to our allies, and urged us not to forget the needy at home. The student body, several times a year, collects clothes for different organizations, sends Christmas stockings, dinner baskets, canned foods from the Y.W.C.A. and in other ways aid in keeping "the home fires burning."
Original Format
Newspaper
Files
Collection
Citation
The Bullet, “Dr. Combs Speaks on Present War Crisis,” Historic Preservation 303: Archives & Society, accessed April 19, 2026, https://www.hisp303.umwdigitallab.org/items/show/164.