From 1870 through 1889, all students (known as cadets) were required to take military instruction. From 1889 to 1967, all male freshmen and sophomores were required to take military instruction (after 1917, ROTC). In 1961 the Faculty Senate took no action on a proposal to make the first two years of ROTC voluntary. In 1967 the two-year compulsory requirement was eliminated, and all four years of ROTC became voluntary effective in fall 1968.