I ran across these startling images this morning while looking at some contact sheets of pictures from the Chemistry Department. This is typical—the most interesting photos on the page were the ones that the photographer took just so he could go get the roll of film developed. They’re undated, of course, and I have to think that this must be some ROTC thing. But why no uniforms?
Note the footpath headed towards Hamman. That’s gone now.
Bonus:
I think they are actually members of Rice’s chapter of the Symbionese Liberation Army. I could be wrong.
Who needs uniforms when you’ve got wide-leg pants suits!
The Army and Nary ROTC units both had on campus drill instruction with M-1 rifles during this time period. It looks like in the second picture the partial view of the person on the right appears to be in uniform and appears to be providing some instruction in the basic manual of arms for handling the rifle. Also, the Army and Navy had drill teams that performed in parades and sometimes competitions (including Mardi Gras, the main reason for existing), and they practiced in civilian clothes on campus during that time period.
ROTC members have often held drills in civilian clothes.
I’m pretty sure that ROTC was in Herman Brown at this time so it would have made sense for a little quick instruction to be happening nearby. Interesting that the women are wearing a sweater and a jacket and the guys that are visible, including the instructor, are in short sleeves. If I recall correctly, there were some Military Science courses that non-ROTC participants could take but they had to participate in some drills. And I thought the uniform was only worn one day a week to class?
ROTC moved into Herman Brown Hall in the early 1980s — shortly after the Jones School moved from Herman Brown to Herring Hall. They were given a set of offices on the ground floor, as well as two classrooms that were converted into an L-shaped multiple-purpose room.
Herring Hall was not yet built when I graduated in 1982. I believe it was built a couple of years later. So I’m going to be picky and say it was in the mid-1980’s.