Editorial
There is a need for
a non-military ROTC
Father Theodore Hesburgh, president of the University
of Notre Dame, has a good idea that has yet to receive the
publicity it deserves. He has called for the implementation
of a non-military counterpart to the Regional Officer Train
ing Corps on college campuses throughout the country.
An undeniable concern for peace dating some 35 years
and his perception that America’s college students have
become complacent about international affairs compelled
Hesburgh to advocate a “parallel choice” for our nation's
students.
His plan would not replace the military's ROTC’ pro
gram, but rather serve as an alternative path for those
students who “want to be all that they can be" without hav
ing to join the armed forces.
Hesburgh's conception would incorporate some of the
same aspects as the ROTC. The program, if ever adopted,
would provide full four-year scholarships in return for a stu
dent’s pledge to serve four years in the Peace Corps.
Graduates would also be required to serve as regional or
local leaders in the Peace Corps or in some other American
aid organization.
Entrance requirements would remain just as stiff, and
undergraduates would study the language, culture, social
and political condition of the places they wished to serve.
Rather than serve time on ships, airforce bases or
military training camps, the peace program’s graduates
would spend their summer months working with the urban
and rural poor at home and abroad. After graduation,
overseas returnees would receive the same free graduate
studies benefits as those returning from military service.
Hesburgh believes the cost of the program could be in
corporated into the Peace Corps budget and the remainder
into the federal student aid program. Yet implementaion of
his plan faces a long, uphill battle. The continual cuts in stu
dent aid and inconsistent federal funding of the Peace Corps
stand in the way of making Hesburgh’s dream become
reality.
Peace Corps officials concur. Deedie Runkel, a Peace
Corps public affairs officer based in Washington, D.C., said
that the idea would take a great deal of work with Congress
because of the sheer size of the program and the years it
would take to iron out all the details. For this very reason,
the Peace Corps is hesitant to push the plan through Con
gress at present, although it wholeheartedly embraces the
concept.
The idea of a “peaceful ROTC’” has too much merit to be
ignored. Not only would such a program offer American col
lege students a viable, peaceful alternative for global and
self discovery, it would send a positive message worldwide
that the United States is sincere about its commitment to in
ternational understanding and the betterment of the human
condition — admittedly, a lofty ambition.
Moreover, the Peace Corp leadership plan would be the
first of its kind, perhaps setting a universal precedent for
similar programs in other post-industrial nations. In order
for this to occur, however, the United States would have to
place world peace on a higher federal priority than it is cur
rently doing, which sadly is a doubtful prospect at best.
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“R«*d ths suspact his rights ovar and ovsr again... till ha confassss.”
Letters
Justice
Siias Bissell is not a terrorist
but a peaceful, caring person. It
would be ludicrous, if it were
not so tragic, that he should be
charged as a criminal by the
same government that has built
enough bombs to kill every liv
ing thing on earth many times
over, and has already killed so
many people in such terrible
ways.
I know first-hand about the
Weather Underground as my
own son was a member of that
group. During his growing-up
years he was a gentle, responsi
ble, caring young person, with
high moral standards and a
belief in non-violence.
He is that kind of person to
day During the 60s he became
involved in anti-war activities
because of his mounting sorrow,
then despair over the violence
we were committing in
Southeast Asia.
For many years the Students
for a Democratic Society (from
which the Weather
Underground evolved) con
ducted non-violent protests
against the Vietnam war. When
their peaceful protests met only
with the escalation of the war.
their frustration finally
culminated in actions that were
intended to destroy property,
not lives.
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My son remained
underground for 11 years, and
when he surfaced to face the
charges against him. he was
sentenced to 18 months of com
munity service, a fine and three
years probation by a wise
federal judge in New Jersey.
Like Bissell. my son is a
peaceful, productive member of
his community. A prision
sentence would benefit no one,
least of all the taxpayer. Silas
Bissell has already achieved his
own rehabilitation and con
tributed his own community
service.
Mildred O’Donnell
Springfield
Hang-up
In response In Blake Sliter's
lelter |()I)K. )an. give it a
rest!
I've been reading your gross
generalizations about a group of
students for the past year. It's
obvious that you have a real
strange hang up when it comes
to the Creek system. What is
this fascination all about?
II you despise them so much,
win don't you just ignore
them? Do they really have a
significant impact on your life?
In four years at this school as
a non-Greek. I have met a lot of
good people in the Creek
system. In the same time I have
met some that I don't care for.
So what! There is good and
bad in any group. Generalizing
is too easy. We are supposed to
be getting educated here. Blake
buddy! Why don't you put a li
tle more thought into things you
write? Save letters to the
Kmerald for more significant
social issues.
The Creek system does not
need you as a critic: or a con
sumer advocate. I suggest that
you spend more time trying to
do some good and less time
writing overly critical letters
about a group of people that you
have a personal vendetta
against.
Have you considered getting
professional help to deal with
your severe paranoia? Maybe
you should look into it.
|ay Dyer
Rhetoric and communication
Closer look
Concerning Mr. Sliter's con
tinued deluge of rhetorical anti
Creek excreta (ODE, )an. 28): As
a former Greek. I concur that the
system has inherent problems
(apathy, stereotypical images of
preoccupation with physical
gratifications). However, his
character assassination of
lambda Chi Alpha goes beyond
the pale.
While it is true that sexual
liaison is more easily facilitated
if initiated (pardon the pun) at a
fraternity function or, Sliter’s
favorite, a SWIMMING POOL, it
is just .is true that the same
thing goes on (goes down?) at
any bar. apartment, co-op. dorm
or party with more than two
members of the opposite sex.
It's really just a matter of where
you'd like to pick someone up.
as any cerebral dwarf could
discern.
Those associated with Lamb
da Chi Alpha are each deserved
of being seen as individuals —
as are any of us. Vet Sliter. from
atop his holy mountain, lightn
ing playing about his greying
countenance, looks down and
finds them wanting.
To those who would emulate
Sliter’s spewing of paranoic
ejaculate. I urge a closer look
and an open mind.
To Sliter. 1 would remind
you. sir. that it’s a certain kind
of fool who likes to hear the
sound of his own name.
Gordon Spencer Myers
Student
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