Veterans Honored Off Campus

Accuracy in Academia ^ | November 10, 2014 | Malcolm A. Kline

[Academiadotorg]

This week Americans honor military veterans. On America’s college campuses, the attitude towards them is more ambivalent, at least when their presence on them is compared to their visibility in the rest of America.

For one thing, not every campus is closed for Veterans Day. To be sure, many businesses stay open upon that day as well.

Moreover, as the Veteran’s Administration web site notes, “there is no legal requirement that schools close on Veterans Day.”

Nevertheless, veterans on campus are few and far between. With the possible exception of Troy University, you will find few colleges and universities on which veterans are a noticeable presence on the faculty, despite the growing number of vets who go on to earn advanced degrees.

In fact, the U. S. Department of Education has openly stalked the very for-profit colleges where many vets, particularly when still serving, out of necessity pursue their education.

On the other side of the scale, by our count, only about half of America’s four-year colleges and universities play host to chapters of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). That’s up from the one-quarter ratio we discovered when we first looked at this question almost ten years ago but still indicates ROTC falls outside of academia’s concept of diversity.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) claims there are 2,870 four-year colleges in the United States. Against this backdrop, the official ROTC web site boasts of—

• 1,100 Army ROTC chapters;

• 160 Navy and Marine ROTC chapters; and

• 144 Air Force ROTC chapters

Still and all, whatever the Ivory Tower’s outlook, we would like to thank America’s military veterans for their service.

[Gamecock]

I work for a state university. Here is a data point

-We were open yesterday, but we are given a comp day during Christmas, partially to give us 2 weeks off during that time.

-The President of the University hosted a free breakfast for vets. It was very well attended. The Army band played during breakfast and an active two star made remarks, as well as other local dignitaries. About 300 Vets and 400 university staff were in attendance. The vets were made up of both students and faculty/staff.

-ROTC cadets and cadre were in attendance. A joint ROTC Color Guard presented the colors.

It was very well done.

[Academiadotorg]

that is so good to hear. Which university? or at least which state?

[Gamecock]

See your PM, it was in the State of South Carolina.

[Jack Hammer]

For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”

But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot;

An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;

An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool — you bet that Tommy sees!

[Academiadotorg]

I should move there.