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Opinion
The Battalion
Page 9 • Thursday, June 13, 2002
For the red, white and blue
Increased patriotism has caused rise in military school applications
JAMIE DUFF
A merica’s youth is the future of this country. In the
events following Sept. 1 1, this statement rings
true. Military application submissions are rising,
proving that American patriotism is the highest it has
been since World War II. Now that America is in a war
against terrorism, young men and women want to serve
their country with pride.
More young adults are discovering the opportunities offered by the U.S. Armed
Forces and are applying by the thousands to all five U.S. Military Academies. One
would think 9/1 1 would have frightened high school seniors into recognizing the dan
gers of serving in the military but instead confirmed their desire to serve.
Washingtonpost.com cited that the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the
U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs received about 10 percent more appli
cants this year than they received last year. The Naval Academy has also received its
largest number of applications since 1990.
Since 9/1 1, the U.S. economy has suffered. College graduates are worried about
finding jobs, and many are extending their education to graduate school to keep out of
the rigorous job market. An education from a military academy is one of the best this
country can offer. After serving the military, each officer will be at the top of job lists.
While the rest of us spend 10 years paying for college and searching the market for
jobs after graduation, these cadets are getting an excellent education paid for by the
government, as well as a monthly stipend throughout school and, upon graduation, are
placed in officer's jobs with good pay and excellent medical benefits.
It is not easy to get into a military academy. Early planning and competitive grades
are essential. Military schools normally take one in seven applicants with an average
SAT score above 1200. Some would say these young adults are the cream of the crop.
Incoming classes usually have a large number of varsity athletes, former class presi
dents and National Honor Society students. Admission requirements include a senato
rial or congressional nomination, as well as a doctor’s approval following a rigorous
physical examination.
This focused generation of young adults is becoming an example for all future gen
erations to follow. The effects of 9/1 1 have been a wake-up call, causing everyone to
view the world in a different way. Our freedom has been threatened and, if this coun
try needs defense, these men and women want to lead the way.
The military actions of this country were not looked upon highly during our par
ents' generation when the debate over Vietnam was at its height. Contrary to today, it
was not as acceptable or fashionable to be in the military. Now that we have come
together as a nation, it is up to these young men and women to show all generations
what patriotism really means.
Despite the monetary reasons already mentioned, only one thing could cause an 18-
year-old high school graduate to choose a rigorous four years of uniforms, curfews
and 30-second showers over four years of beer and drinking parties. That is patriot
ism.
These future leaders may have to lay their lives on the line to protect this nation.
They are obliged to help and are willing to place themselves in the best position —
both mentally and physically — to do so. Americans need to tip our hats to these
young, brave future military officers who will dedicate years of their lives to hard
work, education and service.
Jamie Duff is a senior
English major.
Adjust for inflation
Financial aid needs to match rising tuition
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I n our increasingly competitive
economy, a college degree has
become a necessity. In light of
recent tuition hikes, however,
obtaining a degree is becoming
more difficult for many low and
middle income students, and gov
ernment leaders are not doing enough to assist
them with the cost.
Four years ago, 9.3 million people were
attending college; it is estimated that by next
year, the number will increase to 15.8 million.
According to the Advisory Committee on
Student Financial Aid, the high school comple
tion rates for low and middle income students
have increased by 20 percent over the past 10
years. A growing number of students are academ
ically prepared for college, but the college com
pletion rate for low income students is extremely
low. Many simply cannot afford to continue once
they are enrolled.
Tuition has been growing at twice the rate of
inflation. For a four-year public university,
tuition has increased $2,000 in the past 20 years,
and large state deficits are leading to even higher
prices.
So far this year, states have cut $1.5 billion
from higher education funding and are expected
to cut $4 billion next year. Some universities are
being forced to raise tuition by a considerable
amount. The University of Kansas, for example,
may double its tuition over the next five years.
Tuition keeps rising, but financial aid is not
keeping up.
Pell Grants were created in 1972 by the Basic
Educational Opportunity Grant program as a way
to make higher education available to all stu
dents. In 1975, Pell Grants covered up to 84 per
cent of college expenses at public, four-year uni
versities, including tuition and on-campus room
and board; today they only cover 39 percent.
Even the proposal to increase the maximum grant
to $4,000, which is not enough to offset inflation,
leaves half of a low-income student s needs
unmet.
Last year, 9.3 million students applied for a
Pell Grant, but only four million were awarded.
A $1.3 billion budget shortfall threatens to fur
ther limit the number of Pell Grants available^
the budget shortfall is not met by Congress, the
JENEFLE WILSON
maximum grant will only be $3,900,
and they will reach 400,000 fewer
students in need of assistance.
Recently, Mitch Daniels, the
director of ‘he national Office of
Management and Budget, suggested
a way to make up for the Pell Grant
budget shortfall. His proposal called for the ter
mination of a government program that allowed
college students to consolidate their loans under
a low, fixed interest rate. Instead, the loan would
be subject to interest rates that fluctuate with the
economy as they are being repaid.
This change would have raised the $1.3 billion
needed for Pell Grant funding, but it would have
done so at the expense of middle income stu
dents, who are also struggling to pay for college.
If the interest rate change took effect, accord
ing to the Massachusetts Public Interest Research
Group, a $17,000 loan would result in an addi
tional $6,400 in interest rate charges over 20
years.
For many students, college would not be pos
sible without loans and it would be cruel to bur
den them with making up for the budget short
fall. Thankfully for now, this proposal has been
dropped and student interest rates have lowered
considerably.
Education is the best way to ensure continued
economic success. According to the Census
Bureau, the average college graduate makes over
$20,000 more a year than someone with only a
high school diploma. The demand for skilled col
lege graduates will only increase. Jobs requiring
a post secondary degree are expected to account
for 42 percent of the employment growth over
the next 10 years.
With almost 16 million students enrolling in
college, government officials must do more to
provide equal opportunity access to higher edu
cation. Loans and Pell Grants need to be adjusted
for inflation and tuition increases to help students
get the best education possible.
Jenelle Wilson is a junior
political science major
FRANK CHANCE • THE BATTALION
MAIL CALL
Women's Center provides
inclusion and equal access
In response to Brandon Posvar's June 6
mail call:
Before people put too much credence in
Brandon Posvar's letter, they might pause to
realize that the petition he mentions criticiz
ing the Women's Center deliberately misrep
resents the center.
Posvar quotes the Women's Center's mis
sion statement that the center "serves as a
symbol for the University's commitment to
inclusion and equal access." The Women's
Center currently offers materials from the
Hope Pregnancy Center, a Christian organiza
tion encouraging abortion alternatives such
as adoption.
Posvar's petition and letter mention none
of this, and thus he deliberately misrepre
sented the Women's Center to try to stir pub
lic opinion against it.
Dr. Larson Powell
Women leaders have been
successful In other countries
In response to Cayla Carr's June 11 column:
Golda Meir ruled Israel in its vulnerable
beginnings. Indira Ghandi was prime minister
of India for 12 years and set the worlds largest
democracy on a course to become a high tech
powerhouse. Mrs. Thatcher, the Iron Lady,
shook Britain out of its long decline and ter
rorized European leaders with her handbag. I
pity any future foreign leader who would
patronize President Condoleezza Rice. If you
are looking for candidates in 2032, either of
my daughters would do an excellent job.
Michael Murray
If Ms. Carr believes that we are not ready
for a female U.S. President because she
would likely face criticism from foreign lead
ers, then by her own logic, perhaps Mr. Bush
should not be our president. The rest of the
world does not think very highly of him.
Wherever he visits, he is not respected and
people don't think he is very intelligent.
Whether or not they are right is a different
matter; however, based on her argument, he
should not be the leader of the United States.
Renee Butler
Class of 2000
Cross burning issue is not
about self expression
In response to Joseph Pleasant's June 11
mail call:
In Pleasant's mail call letter, he asserts that
Alsobrook trivializes the issue in referring to
the cross as two sticks of wood nailed
together. Alsobrook should know that a cross
does not represent just two pieces of wood
to most people. Even most non-Christians
know what the cross means to Christians,
and if two sticks of wood nailed together
were being burned for whatever reason, I
don't think it would be a coincidence that
they were in the form of a cross. Flistorically,
burning a cross on someone's property is
meant to intimidate, to instill fear and a
threat of violence to one's person, whether
such violence occurs or not.
In Pleasant's letter, he seems to express
anger with Alsobrook's words. In his opening
sentence he states that Alsobrook is "endors
ing cross burning." Alsobrook states that it
"pains" him to see a cross on fire and that he
"detests" such acts. Surely this is no endorse
ment thereof.
What Pleasant does point out though, is
that cross burning is a hate crime, not a
demonstration. Hate crimes are one of the
most serious offenses in our nation today. If
someone is going to burn a cross, it's usually
not in demonstration for or against some
thing, as burning the flag usually is. It is
meant to intimidate someone, whether they
be minority or not. It is meant to scare. It's
express purpose is to make someone feel
threatened and frightened; to feel hated.
Greg Manuel
Class of 2004
The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters must be 200 words or less and include the author's name,
class and phone number. The opinion editor reserves the right to edit letters for length, style and accuracy. Letters may
be submitted in person at 014 Reed McDonald with a valid student ID. Letters also may be mailed to: 014 Reed
McDonald, MS 1111, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-1 111. Fax: (979) 845-2647 Email: mailcall@the-
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