For the first time at NMSU, the history of World War II is being taught by three history professors, who each take a turn to give students a global perspective on the war's origins, events and aftermath.

Assistant professor Ken Hammond teaches the role of Japan and the Pacific Rim countries; assistant professor Nathan Brooks concentrates on the Soviet-German conflict; and associate professor Ray Sadler gives students the United States' point of view as well as a review of events in which Americans participated.

"It's not a standard look at the war," Hammond said. "The idea is that each of us brings to the classroom a new and unique perspective of what happened."

Hammond said the class gives students a look at pre-war conditions and studies the history of what contributed to the conflict.

"Most Americans believe the war started with the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor," he said. "At that time, other countries were already embroiled in war. The United States was actually the last major power to enter the conflict."

"There has been an explosion of information - a mountain of material related to the war - that's recently been declassified by the U.S. government and by other countries," Sadler said.

"We tend to be a little America-centric on the war. But there were a bunch of other countries that contributed to winning the war," he said.

Will history books have to be rewritten? "There's so much World War II-related literature now that it all can't fit in one history book," Sadler said.

Aggies fight for country

NMSU, then known as New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, was the site of a unit of the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) beginning in March 1943 and then the site of the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program (ASTRP) beginning in August 1944. Hundreds of military personnel received training at the college before they entered active duty.

Dean John Branson assumed the presidency of the college Sept. 15, 1941, when President Hugh Milton II, a U.S. Army colonel and then general, was called into active service. Milton officially re-assumed the presidency of the college on Jan. 1, 1946.

More than 2,000 ex-Aggies served in the armed forces during WWII, and 124 were killed in action.

Dan Trujillo, '92

Juan N. Franco, associate vice president for academic affairs at NMSU for the past seven years, has been named vice president for administration. "This title change reflects the increasing scope of responsibilities that Juan has assumed over the years," President William B. Conroy said. Franco oversees the admissions and registrar's offices, financial aid, minority programs and special initiatives, and academic support programs, as well as other areas.

A native of Fort Hancock, Texas, Franco earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and biology in 1970 from Sul Ross University and a doctorate in counseling and guidance in 1975 from NMSU. He served as a professor and department head of the counseling and educational psychology department in the College of Education before becoming the college's associate dean in 1987. In July 1990, he was named associate vice president for academic affairs.

NMSU is seeking comments from the public in preparation for an evaluation by its regional accrediting agency.

The university will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit April 5-8, 1998, by a team representing the Commission on Institutions of Higher Learning of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

NMSU has been accredited by the commission at the doctoral level since 1963. The team will review the university's ongoing ability to meet accreditation requirements. The public is invited to submit comments to:

Comments should address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Written, signed comments must be received by March 5, 1998, and must include the name, address and telephone number of the person providing the comments. Comments cannot be treated as confidential.

Lou Henson, '55, '56, who led NMSU's basketball team to prominence during the 1960s and 70s, has returned to his alma mater to serve as the Aggies' interim head coach for the 1997-98 season. Henson replaced Neil McCarthy, who spent 12 years as NMSU's head coach. The changes were announced by NMSU Athletic Director Jim Paul. Henson got his bachelor's and master's degrees at NMSU, lettered as a basketball player under Coach Presley Askew and was team captain as a senior. As NMSU's head basketball coach, he posted a 173-71 record from 1966-75 and led the Aggies to the 1970 Final Four, where they finished third nationally.

He was the winningest coach in NMSU history when he left in 1975 to become head coach at the University of Illinois. His 21-year record at Illinois was 423-224 when he retired at the end of the 1995-96 season.

Henson and his wife Mary bought a home in Las Cruces. "My intentions were to focus on another sport, golf, but severe tendonitis ended that brief career," he said.

He had been helping the NMSU Athletic Department with special projects when Paul asked him to serve as interim coach for a year as McCarthy was reassigned to an assistant athletics director position.

"So here I am today, ready to serve my alma mater as well as I am able," Henson said Oct. 16 when the change was announced. He is serving for the 1997-98 season on a volunteer and uncompensated basis.

Joann Cox, '83, always knew she would be a head women's golf coach someday; she just didn't know the team would be NMSU's top-10, all-American Roadrunners. Cox was named NMSU head women's golf coach Aug. 27, after leaving Las Cruces Aug. 1 to take a job as head coach at the University of Nevada. When the job in Nevada was not everything she expected it to be, and with her family still in Las Cruces, Cox was happy to return to her alma mater. As the former assistant golf coach at NMSU, Cox helped lead the Roadrunners on six trips to the NCAA championships. She has worked with four Roadrunners who have entered the professional ranks: Jane Egan, Lori Poling, Ce Ce Studer-Feltman and Jacque Vigil.

Cox earned a bachelor's degree in biology from NMSU. She got her start in golf in 1984, when her husband gave her a six-month anniversary present: golf lessons.

"I practiced a lot and mastered the skills," Cox said.

Paul Brilliant, former head coach of the Roadrunners, hired Cox in 1987 to help with recruiting. Cox received free membership to the NMSU course. In 1990, she joined the LPGA Teaching Division and earned her LPGA Class A license, which allowed her to work as an assistant golf professional at the University Golf Course.

Jean Renfroe

NMSU's new Student Club, now open in Corbett Center, will be decorated with Aggie memorabilia. If you can donate banners, pennants, T-shirts and other items displaying NMSU's logo and colors, or depicting the university's or New Mexico's history and culture, call the Alumni Association at (505) 646-3616.