In the spring of 1941 before the United States became involved in World War II, students and faculty members had conflicting opinions about whether or not the United States should enter the war. For example, Professor of English Thomas M. Raysor and Professor of History Glenn Gray attacked American isolationist attitudes while “some students said old men were gambling with young men’s lives” (Knoll 102).

Whatever conflicting attitudes were held between students and faculty members became practically irrelevant as the United States entered the war on December 7, 1941. In September 1942, areas in Lincoln were proposed to serve for use of the military, including the newly built, but unopened Love Library. By December, the University of Nebraska became a participant in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). In March 1943, the first continent of corps cadets arrived and were housed in Love Library; in April, a second group comprised of ROTC students were called to active duty and stationed in the library as well (Knoll 103).

In Prairie University, Robert E. Knoll writes that “The year 1943 – 44 was disturbed and disorderly . . . ASTP and ROTC men came and went, studying very casually while in residence, and by April 1944 nearly all of them were on their way to military service elsewhere” (103).