Posted on 03/11/2005 2:01:10 AM PST by paltz
U.S. military recruiters left a campus career fair an hour early on March 9 after extensive student demonstrations for and against military recruitment.
Over 100 students surrounded U.S. Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers recruiters’ tables at the Career Center Employer Showcase at Jack Adams Hall. A group of five College Republicans blocked protesters and yelled “Don’t join if you don’t want to.”
“Our military is racist, homophobic, sexist and screwing people,” said Students Against War (SAW) member Michael Hoffman, 24, a physics major. “Recruitment on campus is wrong.”
SAW members said they hoped the protest would rally students to take action against recruiters on campus.
“We don’t allow the recruiters on our campus because of the military’s discrimination of homosexuals,” said Alex Schmaus, an environmental studies sophomore. “(The) ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy … goes clearly against campus discriminatory policy. They shouldn’t be on campus.”
Sarah Ballinger, liberal studies major, said the recruiters’ early departure was due to the protester’s efforts.
“I think that if we weren’t there, they would’ve stayed until closing,” said Ballinger. “They realized that we weren’t going anywhere and they weren’t going to recruit anyone, so they left.”
Support for SAW’s protest was not unanimous, several College Republicans waved banners that read, “You don’t have to support the war to support our military” and “end the commie occupation of SFSU.”
Leigh Wolfe, 18, a broadcasting major and member of the College Republicans said he was disappointed that students were not more supportive of our nation’s military.
“I wish they had a little more appreciation for what our troops are doing overseas,” said Wolfe. “They’re fighting for us and dying to protect us at home and (the protesters) are pretty much anti-anything.”
The two-day career expo was co-sponsored by the science and engineering departments.
“It’s my understanding that if a university would deny access by military recruiters, that they could lose federal funding for financial aid and also any funding from the department of defense,” said Brewer.
“If there is a policy set up by the university about denying access to (discriminatory employers) then obviously I’d have to follow that policy. I’m not currently aware of any such policy.”
Political Science professor James Martel said recruiters should be kept off campus.
"The ban against gays in the military is pure discrimination, pure bigotry on the part of the U.S. government with no rationale whatsoever," Martel said. "It sends a signal to the entire nation that it's OK to discriminate against lesbians and gay men."
Tyson Eckerele, a 25-year-old biologist with the Army Corps of Engineering, couldn’t recall any similar opposition or protests on other college campuses.
“This hasn’t happened to us before at UC Berkeley or at Stanford,” said Eckerele, who is a self-described liberal.
According to Jim Fizzell, employee specialist at Stanford University’s Career Center, the Army has attended past career fairs on their campus.
“There’s never been a problem with them being here,” said Fizzell during a telephone interview. Brian Honeycutt, Master Sgt. and Air Force recruiter, was undaunted by the SF State protesters.
“They have the right to protest peacefully if they want to,” said Honeycutt. “But we aren’t leaving unless other employers want us to. They can protest all day and we’ll stay right here.”
Most employers who paid to attend the fair respected the students’ right to express themselves, but some felt the protest detracted from their goals at the job fair.
Nancy Peterson is a recruiter for John Muir and Mt. Diablo Health Systems said the protest discouraged students from entering the job fair and made the atmosphere uncomfortable.
“The temperature is about 98 degrees, we haven’t seen any nursing students, and you can’t be heard over the yelling,” said Peterson. “So it’s a bit disappointing for us here.”
Peterson said her organization wasn’t able to accomplish anything at the fair and would definitely ask more questions before paying to attend another job fair at SF State.
Pacific Medical Center recruiter Rachel Barnes has been to SF State three times before.
Jeff Boyette, an organizer with the International Socialist Organization (ISO) at SF State, was pleased by the fact that the recruiters left the career fair early.
“They’re a discriminatory organization that is taking our brothers and sisters and classmates to a war for oil and empire,” said Ballinger.
College Republicans vice-president Chris Finarelli demonstrated at Malcolm X Plaza and at Jack Adams Hall.
“I support SAW’s right to be here just like the Peace Corps has a right to be here, just like the environmentalists who solicit me every time I walk on campus here, just like UNICEF, they all have a right to be here,” Finarelli said.
“The military is an all voluntary organization, they’re not soliciting people they’re simply sit behind the table with their hands in their pockets and wait until somebody comes up and asks for some information.”
Ballinger said the recruiters’ early departure was due to the protester’s efforts.
“I think that if we weren’t there, they would’ve stayed until closing,” said Ballinger. “They realized that we weren’t going anywhere and they weren’t going to recruit anyone, so they left.”
Jack Brewer, the career center’s director, said the center treats all recruiters the same and doesn’t distinguish between corporations, non-profits or the military.
“It was the most entertained I’ve been since I’ve been here,” she said.
“Yes, it was indeed a success because a lot of the students came out for this,” said Boyette.
Ballinger said she wanted the military out of the school.
I support keeping alumni donations off campus, too.
Why don't our tax-supported schools teach these snotnoses something about American history?
OOooohhh... so you're protesting...Isn't that cute!
Looks like your link goes to a different story. Got a link for this one?
"“They’re a discriminatory organization that is taking our brothers and sisters and classmates to a war for oil and empire,” said Ballinger"
(yawn) More bleatings of the moonbats.
But remember, they support our troops, so don't question there patriotism.
(sarcasm off)
Our best marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen usually do not come from a college campus.
So much for the mask of " we support the troops".
Now that the election is over the real face of the Left is evident. Won't be long now before the spitting and baby killing taunts are standard fare.
"Pacific Medical Center recruiter Rachel Barnes has been to SF State three times before"
What is a recruiter doing there.. from what I'm told on tv there is no jobs even if you have a college degree.
"Sarah Ballinger, liberal studies major"
Wow, a lib studies major. Here's a line she's going to become familiar with in her professional career: "Would you like fries with that?"
Can anyone say this is not aiding and abetting enemies of the United States?
Nothing new here.
These same idiots' parents did the same thing during Vietnam.
It's part of the cycle of idiocy and leftism - ignorance begats ignorance.
True, but not in the sense that this student thinks. The U.S. military does take a keen interest in the ethnic background of its personnel, and is the most integrated occupation in America. You won't find more minorities in senior leadershp positions in any other job field.
homophobic,
I agree that 'don't ask don't tell' is a weak policy. Gay soldiers should be totally integrated or totally banned. This half step is bad for good order and discipline, because it says 'we make rules we can't really enforce'. At any rate, homophobia isn't the issue.
sexist
Same as #1
and screwing people,”
Okay, I'll give him that. I've been screwed over a bunch of times. I didn't realize that college students were up in arms over our lousy finace system, or the poor communication flow between officers, NCOs and junior enlisted, or why no one seems to be able to figure out how to fill out a DA-6 (guard roster) properly.
said Students Against War (SAW) member Michael Hoffman, 24, a physics major. “Recruitment on campus is wrong.”
I agree. If people on campus are this freakin ignorant, they need to stay in school and hit the books.
Okay. A good test of the developmental and formative powers of:
A) Enlistment in the Armed Forces
B) Education at places like SFSU, Spokane Falls Community College and the University of Colorado
Who is more likely to offer their seat on a bus to an elderly woman on a bus?
a) A Private in the US Army
b) A physics major at SFSU
Who is more likely to be on time for an important appointment?
a) A Sailor on the USS Nimitz
b) A philosophy major at SFCC
Who would be more likely to display true leadership in a difficult situation?
a) A US Marine
b) A Political Science Major at UC
Who is more likely to present a squared away appearance appropriate for any occasion?
a) Nearly any member of the Armed Forces
b) Any of the "b" choices above
The "A's" have it....BTW, love your tagline.....hilarious
Actually they do! I was a Navy recruiter for 3 years. The vast majority of my recruits were first semester (or 2nd) drops from the local college who found the core liberal course requirements too much.
In reading the story I noticed that most of those quoted protesters were like 24 years old! If one goes to college and make a solid effort don't you usually graduate at like 22? Not only are these "kids" professional students, they want to be professional protesters. Even after graduation they will be near the bottom of the earnings ladder for college grads while those who quit, joined the military, learned valuable life skills, and served honorably (whether gay or not - don't ask/don't tell works) - will find their earnings above them. These protesters obviously find it difficult to "go with the flow" thus in any corporate setting they will not last.
I say we keep taxpayer money from the school whenever there is a student protest like this. No matter what the official policy is, it is evident that the student's run the school. Go for the money!
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