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7/1/1947 - Iowa State College; Student Interest by Albert Ravenholt

July I Mr Walter S Rogers Institute 0urrent Wet1 Affairs Avenue New York Dear Mr Rogers In attempting assess degree direction student interest middle I decided concentrate learning basis there young people going school isolationist charge often leveled section country Since letter I visited three institutions University Wisconsin University Minnesota Iowa State College At three schools professors assured their sumer attendance ismorerepresentativeoftheirrelarstudentbottt erbeen Tt insisted sprivily thenr ofvetere ecause goveent assistance centime their ththis slack period I found views which students express current domestic world problems often ading because little indication active those students comes puttin those ideas practice The situation University Minnesota illustrates pcint At university there approxiaately students enrolle which nearly veterans Yet Minnesota Daily found making survey spring members called polttica groups campus That number included members Republican Club equal number otned Democratic Farmer Labor Club about students members American Youth Democracy group The largest dynamic group politically active students Joined American Yeterans Committee Their memberhtp totalled The AVC rapidly becoming outstanding group focusing student interest affairs outside routine institution At schools I visited group shown imatnation willingness attempt outside academic under tangLing present world Membership campus chapters AVC limited students Here State College large percentage local groupsSO members young facualty returned Are Forces National mebership AVC large considering number fought claim total But organization growing calibre belonging AVO I At their recent mtional convention Milwaukee AVC fought issue color which hampering their drive aemberhip their student progrn The called Inde endant progresive represent conservative opposed membership clear victory Thenwho formerly president University Wisconsin chapter John Hi explained their program He insisted reasonable hopes within building their membership about That estimated about total number World War II veterans could expected active nterest public affairs He Americu Legion VFW spite their larger membership primarily preasure groups wherein young veteransdvirtually opportunity achieving anything construcivee While taking stand broad their concer would promoting dicusso wherever possible action local probleffis veteran their community In Isconsin AVC staged march state capital largely responsible defeat state legislature veterans bonus At University Minnesota AVC cooperation World Federalist group organized Affairs Conference spring brought Clifton Fadiman speaker The group Minnesota public forums discuss Ve teran bonuses Truman doctrine Taft Hartley Bill mentioned AVC length because their influence proportion their membership The majority students I without ready answers problems cttize looking leadership AVC appears group prepare provide In larger sense students schools I visited reflect views coaunitles They isolatlonit positive difficult become concerned events outide Wisconsin Minnesota Iowa As John leaving University Wisconsin Harvard expressed geograph entire heritage people Sn dlscouraes taking active interest international affairs Many older people still memories ountry They Europe their hands built farms factories wealth these states should concern themselves happene Ulgaria Java grows In their thinking I found students reflect recent politica history their states Fo better morning I listened Wisconsin state assembly ebate school appropriations Afterwards I illiam EvJue editor Capital Times Buth EvJue rival Roy Matson editor isconsin State Journal fairly opinion their state legislature different reasons Matron thought would foolish expect quality state senators representatives until decently member legislature receives total dollars rving Evjue critical control state lgislature because enemies Progressive partydwhat stood Evjue himself symbolic changes which deprived dynamic political leadership There together other members P rogresive Party Wisconsin Republican National Convention fight adoption party platform plank calling women surfstage Tody poltical wheel swung degrees paper Capitol Times about evidence remains powerful Progressive Party Th eubllcan Party undisputed control state legislature splat generally along lines represent rural opposed urban interests The political groups representing clearly defined interest objectives crystallized I think students their confusion reflect muddled political plcture I Indian student spent etudyin University Wisconsin impre ssion stood clearly Hie reply direct Aerican students interested their cguntry Indians India He added If professor Mac Murray dlsised Inlan university students would staged general strike The reference HowadJ Macurray granted leave absence political science department candldte Democratic tlcEet election U S senator After defeat board regen refused reappoint facualty although support president university Througou these states there rowin demand among young people education The nunber attending University isconsin increased before Between number school graduates continuing their studies degree granting collees Jumped The university I talked estimated figure would higher taken large number graduated school The University Minnesota restrictlng state students those surroundin states expect their total enrollm increase every until reach figre From continue Sur uyslde Washington where I I intend University British Columbia visit several school Washington 0egon before proceedin Utah I found message asked regiatrar office forward arive ashington The convenient address which reach Pacific Northwest South street Sunnyside ashington HereaIowa State College pcofessor Gilkey ltable helpful He family anxious Phil Talbot include Ames circuit makes returns