10,000th Man Is Processed in Vets Guidance Unit Set Up by Harvard

Nathaniel C. Nash, IV '45 crossed the threshold of the Veterans Guidance Center in the Vanserg Building last Thursday afternoon, hesitatingly took a look around, and involuntarily become the ten-thousandth man to seek the Center's advice since March, 1945 when it first opened for business.

Established for the Veterans Administration by the University under the supervision of Robert H. Mathewson, associate professor of Education, the Center has thrived on an average of 20 new veterans daily passing through its rigors of interview, tests, and evaluation.

The procedure at the Center is for the veteran to be interviewed by one of ten highly-trained counsellors, who first learn the applicant's personal history and experience before assigning him approximately five of the more than 80 different examinations the Center has available.

When the tests are evaluated, the counsellor is able either to prescribe other tests or to advise the applicant where his abilities can best be put to use. Men may come back many times for further aid and advice until their individual problems are settled.

To evaluate, give, and record the tests, which are different for each veteran requires work of six people. Mrs. Elisabeth Stevens, in charge of testing, pointed out that electric scoring is of no value because of the wide variety of tests given.

The center has a library which contains information on educational and vocational opportunities as well as books for staff use. Also on file is a list of current job openings supplied by the Veterans Administration.

Men of wide educational backgrounds, ranging from illiterates to M.D.s. have come in for guidance, John Stauffer, assistant director said. Most of the veterans go into the skilled trades, he added although the profession and the arts are also represented.

Tests are available to measure all kinds of aptitudes from mechanical ability to musical pitch. Although the center was set up for men under Public Law 16. Stauffer started that any veteran who wanted to take advantage of the Guidance program might do go by registering at the Vanserg Office.