He talked to them soberly of patriotism, and called upon them for "deliberation and a little patience." There was danger of a stampede, he said, and he and the rest of the faculty were in a measure responsible to their fathers and mothers for them.
"You must keep your heads," he said.

"God knows, I do not seek to judge your duty in this gravest moment of your lives, nor assume to tell you what you must or must not do.

But by hurrying into service now, without careful thought or consideration, you may impair the extent of your possible usefulness to the very cause you are so anxious to serve.
Hundreds of you are taking technical courses which should be completed--at least to the end of the term in June.

Instructors from the United States Army are already on the way here, and military training will be begun at once for all who are physically eligible and of acceptable age.

A special course will be given in preparation for flying, and those who wish to become aviators may enroll themselves for the course at once.
"I speak to you in a crisis of the university's life, as well as that of the nation, and the warning I utter has been made necessary by what took place yesterday and to-day.