University Daily Kansan, February 27, 1981
Page 3
Group objects to rise in school militarism
BY ALVIN A. REID Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
Military influence in schools is growing by epidemic proportions, according to the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors.
Larry Spears, director of CCOO's reenlistment counseling program, said yesterday that in the last few years there was a tremendous increase in militarism in this country, and much of it centered on high schools and colleges.
"Students in high school or college should be free to make the decisions they want to and should not be steered into the military, only because they are confused with what to do with their lives," Spears said.
"Our organization doesn't want to give the impression that everyone doesn't get what they want from the military, but it's a proven fact that many people don't. Before students are introduced they should have information from both sides."
SPEARSHAIR the CCCO is a national, non-profit agency that counsels young Americans facing the prospect of war. The organization helps the military. The organization was
founded in 1948 in Philadelphia, where its national office is located.
He said the military lured students through many different programs including the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, ROTC programs and the delayed entry program.
"The ASVAB is a military aptitude test administered in 15,000 high schools by military personnel. The biggest problem with this test is that many administrators don't tell the student that the test is optional. We have some examples of students being forced to take the test." Sears said.
He said the ASVAB test had been criticized in Congress and was little help to students exploring civilian occupations, but the information obtained goes to many offices across the country and was used by recruiters for years.
Lawrence High School Principal, Brad Tate, said that LHS offered the ASVAB, but only to interested students.
"You bet we give the ASVAB test, to anybody who wants to take it," Tate said. "Students are told that the test is so easy, that people believe that anyone was forced to take it."
SPEARS SAID that ROTC and Junior
ROTC programs were other glaring examples of militarism in schools.
"ROTC and Junior ROTC programs now exist in nearly 2000 schools," Spears said. "These courses are taught by military personnel and are often of a higher quality than those top it off, they cost the American public millions of dollars each year."
The delayed entry program, used by several branches of the armed forces, allows prospective recruits to sign an order and not start basic training for up to one year.
"Once a student enlistee signs that contract he is bound by it, and discharges under the delayed entry are rarely granted." Spears said.
HE SAID THAT students who enlist under the delayed entry program are given bonuses for recruiting other employees in "am an undercover recruiting force."
Spears said another problem was high school counselors or college advisers who inadvertently help military recruiters.
"We feel that too many counselors guide troubled students to the armed forces only because they can't come up with the money to pay them for employment situation got worse and
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Tate denied Spear's allegations
students began wondering what to do many of them were directed into the armed forces.
On the Record
"Military recruiters are salesmen," he said.
Speer Speer's allegations.
"I think it ridiculous for him (Speer) to accuse students of taking the easy way out by sending students to the military." Tate said.
"The attitude of sending kids to the military for two or three years only is that they don't know what they want to do themselves went out with the '50s."
Spears said recruiters were experts who knew their jobs well and knew how to get positive results.
Owens suffered a throat wound in the incident. He is expected to testify April 26. The patient was charged with first degree murder in the December shooting of a transient hobo.
A Lawrence man was sentenced yesterday in Douglas County District Court to one to 10 years in prison for shooting a man who later became a prime witness in a Douglas County murder case.
Charles S. Meyers, also known as "Harley Charley."
The man, Billy Ray Keich, 35, of 1514 Lindenwood Lane, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery for the Sept. 7 shooting of Jerry Owens, also of Lawrence, following a dispute between the two men.
Owens testified at Dever's preliminary hearing in January. His voice was so impaired that he was unable to speak above a whisper.
KU POLICE are investigating the theft of a billfold from Robinson swimming pool Wednesday. The billfold belonged to a lifeguard.
The lifeguard told police that the thief used his bank card and withdrew $315 from his checking account.
THE LAWRENCE HUMANE Society, 1805 E. 19th St., reported to police polices with a stroke in the neck and stole and steal an Irish fisherer and a crossbred steer.
The University of Kansas Presents
The 1981 Symposium of Contemporary Music
Sunday. March 1
Sunday March 1
8.00 p.m. Concert
University Theatre
Karel Husa, Composer
Tuesday. March 3
10:30 a.m  a Lecture
Sawthorow Reception Hall
8:00 p.m  Concert
University Theatre
10:30 a.m. Concert Workshop
Swainout Recital Hall
2:30 p.m. Concert
without Recital Hall
3:00 p.m. Coffee
Murphy Lounge
8:00 p.m. Lecture with Music
from Art of Audition
Wednesday, March 4
2:30 p.m. Concert
Swatworth Rectal Hall
3:30 p.m. Coffee
House of Worship
8:00 p.m. Concert
Swatworth Rectal Hall
LeMans Family Fun Center 1601 W.23rd (Behind Perkins)
Pinball & PacMan Tournament
February 27 to March 6
Entry Fee $ 50^{\circ} $ No age limit
Cash prize to be awarded to top contestant in Pinball and PacMan contests. T-Shirts will be presented to the top 5 contestants in each contest.
Mon.-Thur. 10:00 - 1:00
Fri.-Sat. 10:00 - 2:00
Sun. 12:00 - 12:00