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Page 2/The Battalion/Thursday, July 21, 1983
opinion
Boot camp abuse
demands reforms
by Maxwell Glen
and Cody Shearer
WASHINGTON —- From across the
aisle, we could see that something was
troubling the young man with the Adidas
running shoes and the all-American
appearance.
It turned out he’d lost one of his con
tact lenses and didn’t have a spare.
But there was more. The blond
haired Amtrak passenger had just begun
a 30-hour train trip to Anniston, Ala.,
and the Army training camp nearby.
It was his first time away from home,
the 20-year-old Pennsylvanian said, and
he was scared. Moreover, his parents
hadn’t said goodbye, which only made
him feel worse.
We talked for a while with the green
recruit, and near the end of the conversa
tion suggested that he keep a diary of his
boot camp experiences. He was enthu
siastic about the idea, and he might have
remained so. But a week later, we stupid
ly tried to call him, causing holy havoc.
“With so many recruits trying to
enter the military . . . many drill
sergeants are succumbing to some
of their old ways. ”
“Why did you tell the sergeant who
you were?” our would-be chronicler later
demanded over the phone. He then told
us how his superior, upon receiving our
telephone message, had thrust him
against a barracks wall, vowing that the
young recruit “wouldn’t talk again” if he
associated with reporters.
As anyone (who’s either been there or
seen the movie “An Officer and a Gentle-
man“) knows, military training camp is
supposed to be tough. But this young
man’s run-in with authority made us
wonder whether military regulations
against physical and mental abuse were
as effective as they should be.
From last October through March of
this year, the Army alone received more
than 200 complaints about physical and
verbal abuse against recruits. Locally-
based inspectors general verified only
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Barry Papke
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half of the reports, but sources close to
the Pentagon contended that official re
cords significantly undercounted the
actual number of incidents.
That often-abusive trainers still pla
gue boot camps doesn’t surprise Kathy
Gilberd, director of the National Lawyers
Guild’s Military Task Force.
“With so many recruits trying to enter
the military,” Gilberd said, “. . . many
drill sergeants are succumbing to some of
their old ways.”
Sheer volume, it seems, is overtaxing
the system.
Added an aide to the House Investiga
tions Subcommittee on Military Person
nel: “It’s a miracle that anyone but family
(members) ever hears of these abuse
charges. It takes a courageous recruit to
file a complaint.”
Several years ago, two deaths at Ft.
Jackson, S.C., and beatings of 20 recruits
at Ft. Dix, N.J., prompted the Military
Personnel Subcommittee to look into
trainee abuse. The subcommittee con
cluded that the Army hadn’t taken alle
gations of abuse seriously, and had sub
jected culprits to light punishments.
The subcommittee suggested that the
Army do more to determine each re
cruit’s capacity for stress as well as the
fitness of drill instructors themselves.
Since these recommendations were
issued in 1980, the Army says it’s streng
thened training standards, requiring, for
example, all drill instructors to attend an
eight-week school.
Yet only the Marines, under the initia
tive of retired commandant (and former
Joint Chiefs of Staff member) Robert C.
Barrow have instituted psychological
screenings for drill sergeants.
“I got hell from some of my associates”
for pushing the reform, Barrow told us
by phone from his residence in
Louisiana, “but it had to be done. Drill
instructors . . . keep long hours and
work with provocative recruits. (Instruc
tors) have to be checked out and trained
carefully.”
Such tough-minded reforms might
disrupt order in the other armed ser
vices, but should be welcomed. They
might prompt the Army to be more judi
cious when recruits and their parents
raise questions about poor treatment.
In the long run, they would help to
improve the military’s image and guaran
tee it more willing recruits, too.
Aides allot
more time
for sleeping
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Backstairs at the
White House:
President Reagan’s aides want to make
sure he does not become overtired on a
very grueling five-nation swing through
the Far East in November.
Sources said the trip is now tentatively
scheduled for Nov. 2-20 with rest stops in
Hawaii and Guam; then on to Manila, the
Philippines for one day; two days in
Jakarta, Indonesia; one day in Bangkok,
Thailand; two days in Tokyo and one day
in Kyoto; two days in Seoul and one or
two days more for rest in Hawaii.
Reagan’s 10-day trip to Europe in
June 1982 taught his top staff a lesson,
particularly when he fell asleep during a
televised conversation with Pope John
Paul II at the Vatican.
Like most travelers he suffers from jet
lag, even with a bedroom aboard Air
Force One, and so time is being allotted
for rest and relaxation, and especially for
sleep.
First lady Nancy Reagan may not have
particularly enjoyed the age references
in the recent People Magazine article but
she liked the photographs of herself and
her parents taken when she was a baby.
The snapshots found in a trunk in
New Jersey and sold to the magazine
show her as a baby in the arms of her
mother, Edith Luckett, and her natural
father, Kenneth Robbins. The photo was
described as circa 1921.
Sheila Tate, Mrs. Reagan’s press sec
retary, said the first lady’s birth date is
July 6, 1923.
“Mrs. Reagan likes photographs,” she
said, and asked for copies of those
printed.
As a result the magazine says it will
send her prints of the family photo
graphs.
THE SUPREME COURT POESNT
THINK ITS WRONG TO EXECUTE
A PRISONER DURING THE
APPEALS PROCESS,,,
„.WE JUST THINKOF
ITASTAKIN6TK
Save room for liberal arts
by Susan Hampton
“American education is lacking in the
basics. ”
“Our schools are not preparing stu
dents for future occupations.”
“What we need are tougher standards
— not enough is expected of students
today. ”
The state of education — it’s a subject
that has filled many newspaper columns
and stirred countless debates since the
National Commission on Excellence in
Education issued its stinging report.
Some of the suggestions for combat
ing the weaknesses of our educational
system are frightening to this liberally
educated journalist, for they could put
me on the endangered species list.
Let me first say that all of the above
statements about education today are
true. No student should graduate from
high school if they cannot read above a
third grade level, or write complete sent
ences, or square seven and get 49. But
sadly, many do.
Our increasingly technological society
needs students trained to keep it work
ing. Basic computer skills are prere
quisite for more and more occupations;
to help prepare children for making it in
the “real world,” schools need to teach
technological skills.
Improvement in any endeavor re
quires higher expectations, asking more
effort and raising the standards for
acceptable. Toughening curriculums
and pushing students to strive higher
may go further toward improving our
state of education than any other prop
osed changes.
But one area which seems to be forgot
ten is education for the sake of learning
— liberal education.
The liberally educated person may at
first appear to be a dinosaur in the 20th
century. Liberal learning generally does
not lead to a traceable career or have any
big vocational pay-off. “But what can you
do?” is often asked of the liberally edu
cated.
sure can be reflective and creatf
society would cease to be su
those who do try to add to undei
Nan El-S
break by
What the liberally educated can do is
maintain the vitality and continuity of
our culture. A liberal education requires
an individual to understand the values of
our culture, and breeds an appreciation
for and desire to conserve the best of
these.
At best, a liberally educated person
can contribute to the quality of life, and
help preserve a civilized and humane
guest
column
society.
At least, a liberal education makes life
and who do try to create.” W 4" 1
Society needs the liberally edw I II
just as much as it needs doctors.sow
economists, computer specialisissli
vice workers. When the expertistl -
specialist is not enough, intuitional ■“"*
into play. Liberal education deve;# ^ J
tuition, an appreciation of scienctB
ture, arts anci philosphy, and thcp Baitini,
to bring all into play when maki After a th
sions. piversity
Liberal education, especially®jg C * '
college level, is not for everyone,T’, ’ r a
er, it should be available for any f gji-, \yj at £ t
who wishes to pursue such acoui4^j s Seen
not reserved only for a select le^ldiWellingr
On the elementary and high|:45p.m. in
level, a healthy dash of liberaleiind the Con
might go a long way toward inipWa car.
the overall state of education. At p
based education helps open sft I
minds to a larger perspective ofST
instill a thirst for learning.
interesting.
Kingman Brewster, former president
of Yale University and former ambassa
dor to the United Kingdom, made these
remarks at a recent commencement
address to a small liberal arts college.
learning.
Every student who graduatesfn
American education system
equipped with the skills toattainalj
productive life. Liberal educatioij
not have all the answers, butneitw
oc
by Brig*
Battal
uth Coll
t to becom
“The more harried life becomes, the
more narrowly specialized all callings be
come, the more important it is to have
some people around who are concerned
with the quality of life and mind and spir-
back-to-basics, vocational trainin|U, neers u
tougher cuniculums. Kseofthei
It’s going to take a combm.Jstreet
philosophies and a willingnessto
if our educational system is
prove. But isn’t the future of oil]
dren — our society’s future—w
effort?
it in the society as a whole — not just some
specialized corner of it.
“If there are not some for whom lei-
rep
‘Being ri)
ikyard, it
jty for us
on this
iert Lytto
ch engin
(Editor’s note: Susan Hamplo®^ sl -
editorial assistant with theDepariy er t g e ,
Communications.) luing it wit]
ftd then <
Should police be camera shy?
sphalt. The
l y and pos;
'R at the jo
by Art Buchwald
This is a true story which has more
significance for Americans than whether
Wayne Newton or the Beach Boys should
have sung on the Mall on the Fourth of
J ul y-
It concerns a man whom we shall call
John Doe, who attended an anti-war de
monstration near the Vietnam Memorial
on the July 4th weekend. He came with
his camera to photograph whatever was
going on.
While looking around he noticed
quite a few photographers standing with
the park police taking pictures of the
people who were against war.
Suddenly he had his theme for a
photographic essay. He would do a series
of pictures on law enforcement officers
taking photos of people lawfully demon
strating on public land.
As Doe was shooting away, he was
approached by a senior officer from the
Park Police demanding to know what the
blank he was doing. Doe explained that
there had been many photo exhibits of
demonstrators held in America, but very
few of police officers taking pictures of
them. Doe told the officer he hoped to
win a prize.
The officer demanded identification
from Doe, which my friend refused to
produce, citing the Supreme Court case,
Brown vs. Texas, that a person did not
have to identify himself to the police un
less the officer can articulate he has com
mitted a crime, or that he is about to, or
that public safety is endangered.
Then the officer wanted to know if
Doe was a member of the KGB. John
denied it, claiming to be an ordinary
American citizen who liked to take
photographs of cops taking photo
graphs.
Later on, he thought to himself, had
he admitted being a member of the KGB
the Park Police would have probably left
him alone. It was Americans they ob
jected to taking pictures of them.
It was more than the Park Police offi
cial could deal with. Doe was bundled
into a Park Police car and taken off to the
station, where it was hoped he would
break down and tell the real reason why
he was taking photos of innocent police
photographers taking pictures of people
that didn’t like war.
In true tradition, Doe was permitted to
call a lawyer. He called an old friend
from his ACLU days and said, “Barry,
I’ve got a great case. I’ve been taken into
custody for taking pictures of Park Police
undercover photographers. We can
make legal history.”
Barry, who was at home, said he’d
come down, but his relatives were in town
and he was looking forward to spending
the Fourth with his kids and he wasn’t
about to spend the weekend in court with
John Doe arguing the merits of Brown vs.
Texas.
“But Barry, if we don’t fight for our
rights who will?”
“Lawyers who don’t have their rela
tives in town.”
The police officer seemed to be losing
his patience and said that if Doe did not
identify himself he would be taken to St.
Elizabeth’s, Washington’s mental hospit
al, for observation.
“But,” protested Doe, “that’s what the
police do in the Soviet Union. Are you
sure you people don’t work for the
KGB?”
By this time Barry the lawyer showed
up and a deal was struck. Doe would not
have to identify himself, keeping the
Brown vs. Texas principle intact, but he
would have to promise not to take any
more photos of police officers (i
photos.
TIS
Unfortunately, the main 1
tion was never resolved. Is someont|
for taking pictures of police tafei
tures of people demonstrating, oraf
Park Police crazy for thinkin||
shouldn’t be allowed to do it?
It would be nice for us cameraM
know.
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