2008 Woodie Awards
Recruiter, ACLU debate campus access
Whitney Grunder, Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/29/06 Section: News
College and high school campuses are constantly welcoming recruitment opportunities to ensure that students are aware of possibilities for their future. However, some of these campus visits have students signing away their own lives without even realizing that they are doing so.
The United States government allows the U.S. Army to recruit young high school and college students on campuses across the country. Although recruitment is constitutional, it has stirred much controversy during a time of war and insecurity. On Monday night in the Student Union, Major Blake of the U.S. Army and Marvin Peterson of the American Civil Liberties Union met to debate the controversial issue of military recruitment.
Peterson started his argument by stating that young students, especially those who are of high school age, are incapable of making decisions regarding the option of joining the army without sufficient education or knowledge of the world's conflicts.
"I do not think that high school students should be sales-pitched to get in a career before they're ready to do that," he said.
Peterson spoke about young individuals who have entered the army and lost their lives as well as those who are no longer able to function normally because of the trauma caused by their experiences in combat. Many of these effects are irreversible.
Blake's rebuttal consisted of the legalities behind recruitment.
"The opportunity to recruit on campus is legislated by Congress," said Blake.
Both the Solomon Act and No Child Left Behind Act were enacted by the U.S. government to allow military recruitment on both high school and college campuses. Blake made sure to let the audience as well as Peterson know that the army is not the enemy. He argued that if anyone should be to blame, it is the U.S. government for legitimating the army's recruitment practices.
"With regards to recruiting, a lot of people seem to believe that we recruit without a conscience. It isn't something I believe blindly. It's something I believe because I have grown into the understanding of the importance of defending the constitution of this country. Defending this country requires young men and women, as well as old men and women to take an oath and support and defend the constitution," said Blake.
The United States government allows the U.S. Army to recruit young high school and college students on campuses across the country. Although recruitment is constitutional, it has stirred much controversy during a time of war and insecurity. On Monday night in the Student Union, Major Blake of the U.S. Army and Marvin Peterson of the American Civil Liberties Union met to debate the controversial issue of military recruitment.
Peterson started his argument by stating that young students, especially those who are of high school age, are incapable of making decisions regarding the option of joining the army without sufficient education or knowledge of the world's conflicts.
"I do not think that high school students should be sales-pitched to get in a career before they're ready to do that," he said.
Peterson spoke about young individuals who have entered the army and lost their lives as well as those who are no longer able to function normally because of the trauma caused by their experiences in combat. Many of these effects are irreversible.
Blake's rebuttal consisted of the legalities behind recruitment.
"The opportunity to recruit on campus is legislated by Congress," said Blake.
Both the Solomon Act and No Child Left Behind Act were enacted by the U.S. government to allow military recruitment on both high school and college campuses. Blake made sure to let the audience as well as Peterson know that the army is not the enemy. He argued that if anyone should be to blame, it is the U.S. government for legitimating the army's recruitment practices.
"With regards to recruiting, a lot of people seem to believe that we recruit without a conscience. It isn't something I believe blindly. It's something I believe because I have grown into the understanding of the importance of defending the constitution of this country. Defending this country requires young men and women, as well as old men and women to take an oath and support and defend the constitution," said Blake.