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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 1983)
Page 2/Tbe BattoHon/TburoOay. July 2\ 1983 opinion Boot camp abuse demands reforms by M*»wrll Glen mmd CmkIt Sbenrer WASHINGTON — From acrow the aisle, we could see that something sms troubling the yoting man with the Adidas running shoes and the all-American I 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 be la SB-hour train trip to Anniston. Ala., | and the Army training camp nearby. It was hu first time away from home. I the JO-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 I recruit, and neat the end of the con versa- Ition suggested that he keep a diary of his [boot camp experiences. He was enthu- Isiasm about the idea, and he might have ■remained so. But a week later, we stupid- llv tried to call him, causing holy havoc. "With so mafry recruits trying to enter the military... many drill sergeants are succumbing to some of their old ways." “Why did you tell the sergeant who I you were?*’ our would-be chronicler later I demanded over the phone. He then told lus bow his superior, upon receiving our (telephone message, had thrust him lagamst a barracks wall, vowing that the Ivoung recruit ^Wouldn’t talk again” if he (associated with reporters. As anyone (who’s either been there or I seen the movie “An Officer and a Gentle- Invan') knows, military training camp is (supposed to be tougn. But this young (man’s run-in «Mith authority made us (wonder whether military regulations lagamst physical and mental abuse were |as effe< live as fhr\ should be. From last October through March of Ithis vear, the Anmv alone received more (than 200 tompUinis about physical and (verbal abuse against recruits. Locally- Ihased mspec tors general verified only The Battalion USPS 045 560 Tma* Fret* AMooWlon SuuthwM )tHJfn«li«ni (.onlrrrtu r Editor Cay Ldaor . Spurn Editor Hope E. Paaath .. tsMry South John Wagner VafT Writer* Sew* Editor i j liaran Bithop. Brian Buyer. Hamilton Tammy Jonet Rohrn M<<>tohon. Karen Schrunaher. Angel Stoket. fI 1^. | txipy editor« .,., Kathleen Hart, Bevcrty Hamilton (arujumM ,.177 Scon McCutlar fhutogr apher « Brenda David ton. Enc Evan Lee, Barry Papke Id.'oriaJ Policy m • ft, ptoin fH tuppunmg newt l/wpe' "prinett m a (ipnmunM* tervttr u, least AitM It/iNwrwo and BrymiM i—pr BuHao. Opimium ea ipreaaed m the BsusbSn are thoae of the aduar or tks \m*krn. am*ds mmmmHasntr represent the opmttmeo4 I learn AJrM I mnmnmt admmuatrautrt m fat uKr mem | km. or t* the Bam* ht Begetna The Bsttahtm atm> art vet aa a Imhormtoty newspaper Itaeamidammm ia.0*himmam*pkattmrwpk} che wmhm the Department at Commtumca&oma (Jueemnnt or i t •/, .,i.< 'Inet let i i nmmr+u ttmt Urmmd Pj the < Policy llrngth aaa4 are nthfe-1 u» kakag • ui * they am longer ■The SH—UI Halt ream vet the nght to eda letiera for l«yW and Imgih. bur -fl make every eltun to maintain Ilka autkur • mwtM Kadi teller muat aiao be ^ned and lakou the address and miephone number oi the writer « Mibjro to* the Mine rat aM impmnaa and |lhe kattahnt. IIS gaud Mrthmatd I rasa AJrM Urn >. tadtega SflkMi. rx TTMt. or pkone (40S1 S4S jndk.had M aatk I earn AJrM rogulat r do nag aatk leaaa A jmmtmm. eacept for hrjulay and |Maii nibar nfmoBM are |l« 75 uet w rest am* |g& pe, lug rest a am as ■ > . J . ■Jsi Bcrmsot M* M pet ddtree The m *•—. tlk laaaa AJrM l mvermy. Ltd TX P7M* TX 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. t “With so many recruits trying to enter the military," Gilberd said, . . many drill set grants are succumbing to some of their oW 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.I., 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- , jetted 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 sergeanu. “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." ’ s . 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 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 Last in November Sources said the trip u 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 tuff 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* ^ven 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 Magd/me article but •he liked the photographs of herself and her parents taken when she was a baby. The snapshots found in a trunk in New lersey and sold to the 014*4/111* 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 set retary, said the first lady's birth date is July 6, 1925. ''Mrs Reagan likes photographs,” she •aid, and asked for copies of those printed As a result the THE SUPREME COURT DOESN'T THINK ITS WRONG TO EXECUTE A PRISONER DURING THE APPEAIS PROCESS... WE JUST THINK OF IT£TAKIN6THE TO A HI6HER COURT. V Save room for liberal arts by Susan Hampton “Amencsm 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." -Tne 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 die suggestions for cotnbat ing the weaknesses of our educational system are frightening to this liberally educated journalist, for they could put me on the endangered species lisu 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 wofld,” schools need to teach technological skills. Itnorovement in any endeavor re quires nigher exj^ectalions, asking more effort and raising the standards for acceptable. Roughening curriculum! and pushing stuaents to strive higher may go furtner toward improving our state of education than any ocher 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. 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 interesting. Kingman Brewster, former president of Yale University and former ambassa dor to the Uniteo Kingdom, made these remarks at a recent commencement address to a small liberal arts college. “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 it in the society as a whole —• not just some specialized corner of it. “If there are not some for whom lei sure can be reflective and creative, the society would cease to be supportive of those who do try to add to understanding and who do try to create." Society needs the liberally educated just as much as it needs doctors, sc ten uses,' economists, computer specialists and ser vice workers. When the expertise of the specialist is not enough, intuition comes ' into play. Liberal education develops in tuition, an appreciation of science, litera ture, arts and philosphy, and the ability to bring all into play when making deci sions. Liberal education, especially at the college level, is not for everyone. Howev er, it should be available for any student who wishes to pursue such a course, and not reserved only for a select few. On the elementary and high school, level, a healthy dash of liberal education might go a long way toward improving the overall state of education. A broad- based education helps open students’ minds to a larger perspective of Hfe and instill a thirst for learning. Every student who graduates from the American education system should be equipped with the skiUs to attain a happy, productive life. Liberal education does not have all the answers, but neither does back-to-basics, vocational training, and tougher curriculums. It’s going to take a combination of philosophies and a willingness to change if our educational system is going to im prove. But isn't the future of our chil dren — our society’s future — worth the effort? (Editor’s note: Susan Hampton is an editorial assistant with the Department of Communications.) Should police be camera shy? graphs suit the fi.4g4/ine says It will prims of the family photo- by Art Buchwald This is a true story which has more significance lor Americans than whether Wayne Newtcvi or the Beach Boys should have sung on the Mall on the Fourth of July. It concern! a man whom we shall call John Doe, who attended an anti-war de monstration near the Vietnam Memorial on the July weekend. He came with his camera urphoiograph whatever was going on. While looking around he noticed miite a few phoi* >g 1 aphers standing with tne 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 brm many photo exhibits of demonstrators held in America, but very few of police oflk ers taking pictures of them Doe told the officer ne hoped to win a prize. The oflicer demanded identification from Doe, which my friend refused to produce, t umg the Supreme Court case. Brown ys. Tekas, 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 lo, or that public safety is endangered Then the efficer wanted to know if Doe was a member of the KGB John denied it, cbjiming to be an ordinary American .u/m 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 jind 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 horiie, 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 wasnT 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 i^f Doe did not j identify himself he would tie 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? 4, 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 taking photos. Unfortunately, the main legal ques tion was never resolved. Is someone crazy for taking pictures of police taking pic tures of people demonstrating, or are the Park Police crazy for thinking you shouldn’t be allowed to do it? r t It would be nice for us camera buffs to know Berry’s World JO B