iL NEWS
TOM BADEN, CITY EDITOR _ 470-2177
THE POST-STANDARD
By BRENDA CAWTHON
When the city school board heard
4 proposal to allow a peace group
the same access to high schools as
military recruiters, reaction was
swift from Education Commis-
sioner Frank Canino:
“[ kind of smell a rat here, I'm a
War I), and I
ntious objectors.
It looks like this might lead young
people to betieve that military ser
vice is not a good thing, and I don’t
believe that,”
SYRACUSE POST-STANDARD/Friday, Nov. 9, 1984/
Peace Group Wants Equal Time in City High Schools
Despite his initial reaction, Can-
ino said Thursday he and the rest of
the board are awaiting further in-
formation from the Syracuse Mili-
tary Counseling Service, which of-
fered the proposal. The service is
part of the American Friends Ser-
vice Committee.
‘The board is scheduled to act on
the proposal in December.
‘The city school board voted in
August to limit military represen-
tatives to two recruiting visits a
year in each high school, and to
allow them to see students who re-
quest such meetings. Under state
law, military and college re-
cruiters must have equal aceess to
high schools. Giving the peace
group access is entirely up to the
board.
Parents raised the “equal ac-
cess” issue Wednesday at a board
study session. To therm and to the
American Friends Service Com-
ternative counseling is a
way of balancing what Lynn
Strother of East Genesee Street
called a “heautifully packaged” re-
cruiting pitch.
‘The group is asking that infor-
mational literature and posters in-
forming students of the counseling
service be given to high school
guidance personnel. It is also ask-
ing to take part in in-service train-
ing sessions for guidance counsel
"Area military supervisors said
they have no quarrel with the
group's request. "That would be be-
tween them and the school board,”
said Capt. Paul Smallwood, who
handles Air Force advertising and
publicity in Syracuse,
Education Commissioner John
know more about the group,
qualifies them to counsel the coun-
selors?” he asked.
Strother said, “We just want (stu-
dents) to know what they are sign-
ing.”
‘The proposal said many students
(Continued on Page B-2)
Peace Group
Seeks Access
-To Schools
(Continued from Page B-1)
signs a contract agreeing to accept
a job and report on a specific day,
he is free to change his mind, said
Sgt. 1st Class Dianne Fortier of the
‘Army’s Syracuse recruiting sta~
tion
’s not so much that we want to
get in the schools, it's that the par-
ents want this information,” said
the Rey. Virden Seybold, director
for military service of the American Friends Service
id sai 4 possi i- Committee. Seybold said the coun-
ties for job advancement.” It _seling service would have to be ex-
warned, however, that “tife in the
: military often involves a six-year
can result in
panded if the school district ac-
cepted its proposal.
the whole point is to
stiff penalties in military court and
bad discharges,” It also raises
“; questions about the rights of a stu-
dent who has changed his or her
plans after signing up for the mili-
tary’s Delayed Entry Program.
(Under that program, a student
may put off entering the service for
up to 365 days. Until he actually
“inform students about how to be
wise consumers.”
Area recruiters believe military
personnel perform that task ade~
quately.
Fortier said applicants are
sereened and iters make sure
applicants know exactly what the
contract means before they sign.
. Nev. 13th
The Editorial Page
Access?
Not If Recruiters Do Their Job
The Syracuse Military Counsel-
ing Service wants equal time with
military recruiters in area high
schools, .
Unless we hear some compelling
arguments to the contrary, we
think the school board should tell
them to take a walk.
The counseling service, a pro-
gram tun by the Quakers, suppos-
edly is designed to alert potential
recruits about the fine print on the
papers they sign to join up after
high school, Do students know
about the penalties involved in
breaking their contract? Do they
know when they have the right to
withdraw from their agreement?
Do they, in short, know what
they're getting into?
These are good questions. But be-
fore sending these “consumer ac-
tivists” into thé high schools, let’s
r ne
get some answers. Are the military
recruiters trying to pull the wool
. over the eyes of these high school
kids? Are they misrepresenting the
situation, playing up the glories of
military service and soft-pedaling
the hard parts? Do parents send
their children off for military ser-
vice with bright shining faces, only
to have them end up feeling tricked
and cheated?
Military recruiters say they
make the rights and obligations of
service clear to interviewees. If
they don't, let’s hear about it, and
then let’s make sure the kids get the
‘whole. story — from the horse’s
mouth.
We'vé got tothing against the
Quakers. But we've also got noth-
ing against the military. Let’s not
make the job of encouraging bright
young people to serve their country
any harder than it has to be.
¢
SYRACUSE POST-STANDARD/Thursday, Dec. 6, 594/PAGE B-3
Lecal Mows
Superimtendent: Let Peace
Groups Brief Counselors
By ANDREW SMITIL
The superintendent of the Syra-
cuse school district Wednesday re-
commended letting a peace group
brief guidance counselors on alter-
natives to military service, but said
it is not necessary to let the group
have the same access to students as
military recruiters.
Lionel Meno said he thought the
Syracuse Military Counseling Ser-
vice, a group that lets potential re-
cruits know the minuses as well as
the pluses. of military. service,
should be able to point ont some of
those minuses to high school guid-
ance counselors. His comments
twice a year, see students if they
request it, provide briefings for
came after repr ives of the
and promote
group and of the Army — as wellas
several parents — offered their
views at a study session at Lincoln
Middle School.
The school board will vote on the
issue at its regular meeting Dec.
12.
Last month, the Syracuse Mili-
tary Counseling Service asked per-
mission to put pamphlets in guid-
ance offices, put up posters, hold
informational sessions for students
“peace jobs” at career fairs.
Glenda Neff, one of the group's
counselors. said the service gives a
balanced view of military service
to impressionable students who
may have been swayed by what
was termed the. “hard sell” of mili-
tary recruiters.
“We want to he available as neu-
tral figures. We have no investment
. in the outcome of the student's de-
\
éision,”’ unlike the military, she 4
emt long GOT Ta ES ee
—
sald.
Neff said many people who en-
tered the military Jater told her
they felt deceived by recruiters’
claims. She said certain jobs and
careers are not necessarily guaran-
teed by signing up.
Several commissioners asked
what kind of training the group's
counselors had, and Neff responded
that the counselors do not have spe-
cialized training.
In his recommendations to the
school board, Meno said the district
pays guidance counselors to help
students with their career choices,
not outside people:
Alexander Detuicia, the.school
board's president, asked Neff,
“How can. you tell students not to
believe the recruiter, and then ex-
pect them to believe you?”
Neff said the group is neutral,
while the military recruiters are
unquestionably selling something. :
Several parents spoke in favor of
letting the Syracuse Military Coun-
seling Service into the schools.
Chris Spies said he was con-
cerned for his son’s future, adding
that he was pressured as a student
to join Army ROTC. e
-“Tt’s true if you don't measure up
jaa job you get fired; it is also true
that if you don’t measure up in the
Army you could end up in the stock~
ade,” he said. f
Erica Lyon, a sophomore at Not-
tingham High School, also sup-
ported the peace group. “When stu-.
dents are making decisions as
seniors, they need all the informa:
tion they can get, because if you!
geof up: now, that’s your biggest
chance.” :
Syracuse Post Standard, February 26, 1987
Above, Christa Cocclol
‘experiences of racism
people at Thura
46, second from right, shares her
the: panolists. and- other. young.
day night's discussion at the Southwest Com-
Seeking Solutions
Young People Hope Discussions
Will Lead to Racisin’s Demise -
By A. LYNETTE WHALEY
Young. people ip Syracuse
ee racism end, and they
ing to keep. talking to-.
gether to come up with solutions.
At Teast that's what a group of
black and white students said.
2 Tharsday aight during @ panel
discussion’ deafing with racism
‘and how toovercome it.
‘Thitty: representatives of the
PEACE Inc. Teen. Program,
Youth for Peace and. Social Ac-
tion and area residents met to
begin searching for some of
those solutions.
“What I want to do is get the:
white and black tieighborhood to
18-year-old.
Mike Cuyler of Syracuse.
. Panelists Langston McKinney,
city’ jidge, and Randolph: Hew-
king, a professor in Syracuse Unt
versity's Afro-American studies
department, offered students
their’ views on racisin and what
itswitl take to rid the world of the
"disease."
“We have to decide.that rac-
ism is something we will not tol-
érate; and we havé to do every:
we ean to get rid of It,”
said,
Mc |.
Cuylér sald everyone has. to
recognize that racism exists but
Tefuse to participate in it. Haw-
kins suggested fighting racism at.
school, where it often begins.
"Students, you can ask your.
teachers why there are no black.
people in your history books and
nof let up until you get'a satis:
factory answer,” he said.
Hawkins said the teachers will
‘then question their superiors and -
the process will begin.
Ta a Crowd that often became
‘emotional and sometinies bois-
terous, the teens shared their ex-
periences with prejudice,
“come from North Syracuse,
and: there: aren't that: many
blacks lt North Syracuse,” began
Christa: Coceiole, 16, a high
school junior. “E have a lot of
black, friends, and when F see
them in the hall and I stop to talk
to them I get mocked by other
black students and told to get
low, City: Judge
Syracuse Univerally profes:
sapien sok
vy el FE TOT STANTATE
Langston McKinney, feft,
Randolph
“Coceiole also said she has to
deal with ridicule from other
white students because she has
black friends,
“If gets re angry, because I'm
‘trying to do something positive,”
she said,
Reynard Hutchinson, a pro-
gram coordinator for the PEACE!
Ine. Teen Prograin, told the stu-
donts, “There aré many pleces to
the puzzle of racism. But all of
us here show a desire to put the
pleces together ... and we have
to meet regutarly to make
hanges.” :
a
‘Thursday's panel discussion at
Southivest Community Center
was the second of its kind. Teen-
agers also. met of the Martin
Luther King holiday to discuss
the slain civil rights leader’s life
and what bis dream means to
young people today.
The success of that fitst meet-
ing prompted the youths to meet
again and discuss other issues.
id Thursday the discus-
sions will continue.
City School Board Puts Limits on
Military and College Recruiting
By BRENDA CAWTHON
For years, military recruiters
had unlimited access to Syracuse
high schools and the students who
attended therm.
It was simply a matter of making
arrangements with the principal or
guidance staff, and maybe setting
up a table near the cafeteria.
Some parents, community
groups and members of the board
of education apparently thought
the process was too simple. The
sometimes monthly presence of
military recruiters in high schools
became a minor but worrisome
issue for the district.
Tuesday the board adopted a pol-
icy that limits both college and mil-
itary representatives to two re-
cruiting visits a year in each high
school. It also stipulates that stu-
dents may set up individual ap-
pointments at other times.
Although members of the district
staff, the board and the recruiters
themselves say. the new policy is
not the product of any anti-military
feeling, Education Commissioner
Marjorie White said, “People tend
to be fearful of their youngsters
getting caught up with the idea of
going into the armed forces, when
they may have other plans for
them.”
Commissioner Shirley Moody
saw frequent visits from military
recruiters as ‘‘a little more
pressure on kids, with the service-
men trying to paint a pretty picture
of what it's like. The kids go in and
they find out that it’s not quite that
way.”
The commissioner said she’d
heard from a number of parents
“who don’t like the idea of the
schools being open to the re-
ceruiters. If they can come in, they
figure that anyone can come in, and
the kids wind up being exploited.”
Sgt. Larry Woodward, area su-
pervisor for Air Force recruitment,
said he understood the major con-
cern of school counselors and other
district personnel might be to “pro-
tect the kids from harrassment,”
but he said a low-key approach is
most common among recruiters
today.
In fact, “last year, parents did
most of the selling because they
didn’t want Johnny on the unem-
ployment line,” Woodward said,
citing the education and employ-
ment benefits available to enlis-
tees.
Figures provided by the district's
department of Evaluation and As-
sessment show that only 70 of the
city’s 1,105 June 1983 graduates
planned to enter a branch of the
armed services. The majority of
the graduates, 756, planned to at-
tend a two- or four-year college,
business school, or other post-sec-
ondary institution. Only about a
quarter of the class of 83 — 275
graduates — said they planned to
enter the workforce.
Qf those who decided on military
careers, 30 attended Corcoran
High, 17 were Fowler students, 10
attended Henninger, and 13 were
Nottingham graduates.
Arnold H. Berger, director of
pupil services, said the Army and
the Marines were the most aggres-
sive recruiters, visiting the schools
more often than Navy or Air Force
representatives.
“In one of the schools, they came
in whenever they chose to, and
there was no reason why they
shouldn’t have, because there was
no regulation saying they couldn't,”
Berger said.
Henninger Principal Peter Ka-
vanagh said that generally, “their
{the recruiters’) presence has not
been disruptive, although there
were some individual recruiting
sergeants who got a littic too enthu-
siastic.”
Kavanagh said the Army tended
to be the most aggressive in its re-
cruitment tactics:
“They might be up here more
ceften than the other (branches of
the service). I'd say, ‘Wait a minute,
you were just here last week.’ "
. Local Army recruiters could not
‘be reached for comment Tuesday.
However, Woodward said, the
Army traditionally has more job
openings which fequire fewer
skills, so it reerpits more.
The Syracuse School District
may be the only oge in Central New
York that has limited recruiting
visits, Fi
|
CITY SCUFFLE
Syptnc
New Famig
fen1e=~ &¢
He
Recruiting Pros and Cons
Peace group asks sare access to schools as military
meet
By WALT SHEPPERD
HE SYRACUSE PEACE
Council, the nation’s oldest local
anti-war organization, has created a
new ad hoc committee to battle the
military for the hearts and minds of local.
citizenry. Called the Syracuse Military
Counseling Service (SMCS), it is demanding
access to high schools equal to that of the
military in order to promote its anti-
militaristic point of view.
The “peace professionals,” as Syracuse
Schoo! Superintendant Lione! Meno has
termed them, claim high school students are
being deceived by military advertising. At
the city schoo! board’s November study ses-
sion, they requested permission to poster in
schoo! hallways, put pamphlets in guidance
offices, hold informational group sessions
twice a year and see students individually if
bere At the board’s December study
Meno proposed a compromise: The
SMCS would be allowed to do in-service
training for high schoo! counselors and
promote “peace jobs” at high school caréer
fairs.
it was a partial victory for the peace pros.
Now, however, unused to compromising on
issues like death, war and nuclear devasta~
tion, they must face the intricacies of board
room politics and the question of credentials
for the proposed counselors. But at least the
parties—the peace pros, the superintendent
and the military recruiters—~all voice the
same philosophical goal: They all say they
want high school students to have enough
information to make an informed decision
about joining the military,
The unanimity ends, however, on the
question of whether the military's recruiting
pitches tell the truth. “They don’t lie, but
they give a misleading picture,” says Karen
Beetle of the American Friends Service
Committee. “When they promise adventure,
it might really mean mopping floors for 2'4
years. And when they say ‘Travel to Europe
with a buddy,” they really mean train for
ground combat with the Soviet Union.”
The peace pros also quote the 1978 Beard
Report, a U.S. Senate study of the all~
volunteer Army. According to the peace
pros’ interpretation, the report found
recruiting pitches overstressed the positive
aspects of military service through verbal
promises and implications that created high
levels of expectations that were not met.
Beetle says the study found 90 percent of
enlistees felt they had been deceived.
Local Army recruiting executive Maj.
William White feels the peacé pros are
themselves painting a deceiving picture,
however. He says the 1978 study probably
reflects the low morale of the post-Vietrnam
era, when the ali-volunteer Army was-just
starting, and the “art and science of selling
the military” had to be learned by a new
recruiting bureaucracy. “Maybe the cook
loved Fort Sam Houston,” he notes, “but
hated the little white hat he had to wear.”
Contrary to the peace pros’ position,
White sees no deception in military advertis-
ing or in local recruiting practices. If any
were brought to his attention, he says
further, he would investigate and punish
offenders. And although the peace pros
hope SMCS counselors will be seen as neu-
tral figures with no vested interests in stu-
dents’ final decisions, White says that atti-
tude is another deception on their part.
“We're selling jobs,” he explains. “They're
selling a point of view. I've had meetings
with peace groups in Binghamton who said
they wanted to discuss similar issues, but
they always ended up at the same point—
with them calling me a bad guy because I
killed people.”
A recent federal district court decision
giving peace pros access to high schools in
Chicago maintained that military recruiters
created a “partial public forum” which other
groups must be allowed to address. Local
peace pros hope the case will provide
ammunition for their battle. The
ruiter:
on this front, although one said candidly,
“Any time somebody talks bad about you it
has an effect.”
For the record, most recruiters plead no
contest. White says the Army had no prob-
Jem with peace pros doing in-service sessions
for high school counselors. Publicity Officer
Capt. Paul Smallwood says the Air Force
has no quarrel with the peace pros, that the
real fight is between them and the school
board. A Marine recruiter says the work of
some peace groups has more effect on
recruiting than others, but sees no real prob-
tem for the corps on this issue.
The Navy is most cautious in responding,
but lends the issue its most concrete focus. A
local recruiter referred me to the Buffalo dis-
trict public affairs office, where Petty Officer
Ist Class Eric Bryant said that the issue was
not deception because the Navy offers “some
of the best training in the world, particularly
in the fields of electronics and auclear tech-
nology.” He passed the question of competi-
tion from peace pros on to Navy Recruiting
Headquarters in Washington, where it was
passed on to a press office in the Defense
Department. There, Maj. Pete Wyro said
simply, “It’s hot our problem.”
The latest report on the local front finds
Meno forming d broad-based committee to
study the issue and report back to him,
“hopefully in early January, so he can report
back to the school board. He says the com-
mittee will be looking for standards to judge
the adequacy of SMCS counselors-—-which
Beetle calls yet another deceptive issue.
But for most high school students the bat-
tle lines are already clearly drawn: The peace
pros offer moral arguments, the military
offers jobs. .
however, don’t see themselves as combatants
1984
April 24
May
June
duly
AUB.
eu
CHRONOLOGY OF THE SYRACUSE HIGH SCHOOL ACCESS PROJEUT
Uostate
membors sig
a coalition effort to approach the Syracuse City school
Board about equal access for military and draft
counseling concerns.
The First off-the-record meeting with Superintendent ¢
Schools Lionel Meno took place. AFSC and Upstate Resis
tance were represented. Meno informed us thal he would
rather have the military out than have us in. (He fea
the implications for other controversial issues of greating
military counselors access.) Je expressed an openness to
the idea of an in-service training program for guidance
counselors. He asked us to prepare an agenda and malerials
for the in-service. He received a copy of the Chicageu
court decision (which mandated equal access).
At our High School Access Project meeting we planned an
agenda for the in-service, discussed various materials to
present to Meno, and drafted our six point definition of
what equal access would include: postering, literature in
guidance offices, group meetings with students, career fairs,
an in-service program, and the possibility of follow-up
meetings with interested students.
At our 2nd off-the-record meeting with Meno we discussed
our agenda, left literature for hisaaff to review (eleven
items were submitted), and discussed the definition of
peace careers. We also discussed the procedure for making
group presentations in the schools (we would send a formal
letter to each principal's office). Meno agreed to contact
us about the literature by August 15. We planned to meet
again to continue the discussions and set the date for
the in-service training.
At a High School Access Project (HSAP) meeting we discussed
what to say on our outreach poster, and how to get draft
counselors more prepared and available to deal with presenta-
tions and calls. We discussed ways to integrate draft as
well as pre-enlistment concerns into the work.
Syracuse City School Board (hereafter the Board) passes a
resolution limiting military recruiters to two visits to
each school per year (each branch).
HSAP meeting is heid. We discuss a mock up of the poster,
printing prices and literature. Of the eleven pieces of
Jiterature submitted, four were approved: "Nine Things to
Remember", "What Do I Believe About War?!"', "Are You a
Conscientious Objector?" and "Responsibilities of
Guidance Counselors on C.0. status".
In our third off-the-record meeting with Meno the time for
the in-service is cut in half to i$ hours. Meno defends
the exclusion of pamphlets on military life, racism,
sexism, etc. No date‘is set for the in-service.
Oct.
Oct.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Dec.
15 & 30
ee
Meno telephones Virden Seybold of ASC to tell him that
the negotiations are off. Meno says he received phone
calls from parents upset’ about an article in the Peace
Newsletter entitled "We've Got our Foot in the Door..."
about the campaign for equal access.
Virden and Meno discuss Meno's "change of Heart". Meno
told Virden that the district's legal advisors had recom-
mended not to go along with our proposal. "If we let you in
we will have to make the school an open forum. The school
is not an open forum, court precedents affirm this. Any
future action will need Board approval.'"t The two options
are that either he will recommend that a committee be set
up to study the matter, or we can formally approach the
Board.
HSAP meetings at which we decide to approach the Board with
a formal proposal for equal access signed by local parents.
Logistics of writing and presenting the proposal are dis-
cussed. Presentations to Educators for Social Responsi-~
bility and a high school PTO take place.
A group of local draft and military counselors meet and
decide to form the Syracuse Military Counseling Service to
coordinate counseling services in Syracuse and to include
counselors working through several organizations. A
statement of purpose and outreach poster are drawn up.
HSAP proposal for equal access is mailed to Board members.
The proposal is discussed at a Board Study Session. The
proposal is postponed for more discussion and clarification
at the next Study Session in December.
A Syracuse Post-Standard editorial, "Access--Not if
Recruiters Do Their Job", opposes equal access.
A mailing about the HSAP is sent to area parents and peace
activists seeking their support and attendance at the Dec.
5 Study Session. Briefing sessions are scheduled for the
last week in November for those wanting more information.
HSAP meeting at which we plan strategy for the Board meeting.
Presenters share outlines and decide on final logistics.
The equal access proposal is again presented to the Board.
Presenters take questions. Parents, a student and veterans
speak in favor of the proposal. The Board's legal advisors,
recruiters and one parent speak against it. The Board is
split, with perhaps 3 of the 7 members clearly in favor.
Meno proposes the idea of a committee of parents, counselors,
community leaders and. administrators to study the situation.
He will come back with an outline of the committee's task.
The Board agrees to his proposal.
The Syracuse Post-Standard prints an op ed article by
Arsc’s Alan” Fike "Counsélérs Deserve Equal Time'.
Feb. 26
March 6
March 12
March 14
a3
Jirden and Meno talk on the phone. Meno asks Virden for
suggestions of people to serve on the committee. Meno con-
firms that AFSC and Upstate Resistance will be represented
on the committee, as well as recommend parents to serve.
Syracuse Post-Standard applauds the formation of the Recruit-
ment Committee in editorial "An Kye on the Recruiters",
A Syracuse New Times article, "Recruiting--Pros and Cons",
reports on the controversy.
Several articles in both Syracuse daily papers report on
the Board meetings discussing equal access.
HSAP meetings to discuss the make up of the Recruitment
Committee and who we might suggest to serve on it. We
agree to participate in this process and continually
review its progress and our desire to take part in it.
We agree that pursuing this course will be important for
future court action if not for the progress that comes
from the meetings themselves.
At the first meeting of the Recruitment Committee Meno
reviews the charge of the committee: reviewing district
policy on recruiters, studying the role of guidance
counselors in preparing students to meet with recruiters
for the most productive results, reviewing the concerns
about recruiter's inaccurate or misleading information,
studying the need for an in-service program for counselors.
Equal access was not on the agenda!! The convenor, Mr.
Balmer stated his intention of sticking strictly to the
agenda. Meno denied our request for student input on the
committee. The recruiters and counselors agree to write
reports for the next meeting.
HSAP meeting at which we agree to send a letter to Meno
and the Board about our opposition to the limited scope
of the Recruitment Committee.
Virden Seybold sends a letter to Meno asking him why the
scope of the Recruitment Committee has been narrowed so
as to exclude discussion of equal access.
Recruitment Committee meets for the second time. Reports
on college recruiting, guidelines are fine. Reports from
counselors on how often the military visits. All schools
were visited by recruiters at least twice a year. Admini-
strators affirmed that this committee would not discuss
military counseling/alternative information. Berger
affirmed that information could be given to the counselors
in an in-service program, Military explained how bad
recruiting practices would be dealt with. We raised the
issue of bad discharges. Committee agreed to look at
"Nine Things to Remember" leaflet.
April 10
April 29
May 15
May 20-23
May 28
June 19
-he-
Third Recruitment Committee meeting occurs. Balmer explains
that the Board affirmed the charge of the Committee as
being the four areas Meno initially outlined. Agreement
to recommend an in~service to the Board to help address
concerns about misleading information. Review of the leaf-
let "Be a Wise Consumer" ensued. All present made sugges-
tions for changes. A lengthy discussion of job guarantees,
what is biased or unbiased followed. We passed out dis-
charge statistics from Army Times (contradicting claims
made at the last meeting). The military was asked to bring
a copy of the enlistment agreement to the next meeting.
We agreed to come back with a version of the leaflet
incorporating in the suggested changes.
HSAP meets to discuss presenting more literature for the
Recruitment Committee to discuss. We will bring C.O.
literature to the next meeting. Discussion of relationship
between AFSC, UR, the Syracuse Military Counseling Service
and this group ensued, We agree that we are meeting as an
informal coalition of people from these organizations and
that currently this loose coalition's purpose is to
strategize for the Recruitment Committee meetings.
Army and Air Force recruiters passed out enlistment agree-
ments, discussion followed. All agreed to an in-service
(yet again), this time with the military also taking part.
Balmer reported that the Board had looked at the literature
passed on to them, but hadn't voted on it. Balmer agreed
to take the revised copy of "Be a Wise Consumer" to the
Board (copies were passed out). “Administrators argued
that military literature need not be reviewed by the Board.
Balmer agreed to take to the Board CO literature which
Virden presented.
APSC and Upstate Resistance leaflet city high school
students with pre-enlistment counseling information.
HSAP meets to discuss getting our phone number on the
literature given to students. They need to be able to
reach us directly. We will try to raise the issue of
sexism in the military. Should we lobby at the Board
meeting if our literature is challenged? Find out when
that might be, Since it looks like Balmer wants to end
the Recruitment Committee, how can we continue it. Get it
in the record at the next Recruitment Committee meeting
that what’ we really want is equal access!
Recruitment Committee meets for the last time, and the only
item on the agenda is the in-service program. What ebout
our literature? Berger said that only literature dealing
directly with careers could be passed out to students, and
that this committee cannot revise literature. Virden pointed
out that Berger had agreed to take this literature to the
Board. Berger said that after discussion with the District's
legal counsel it was decided that there was no point in
presenting it to the Board. This committee must stick to
its four charges. He mentioned that we are free to return
to the Board with the literature. Plans for the in-
service were then discussed.
July 8-
Aug. 27
Aug.
28
Sept. 11
Oct.
Nov.
Jan.
Jan.
Feb.
Feb.
10
11
-5-
HSAP held a series of meetings to collect resources, and
prepare for the in-service program to be held on Ang. 28.
Packets were prepared for the counselors and revised
copies of "Be a Wise Consumer" were printed for distribution.
AFSC and the Syracuse Military Counseling Service coordinate
a 13 hour presentation for approximately 20 high school
guidance counselors on pre-enlistment counseling, bad
discharges, conscientious objection, the Solomon Amendment,
and answered questions. The military had the same amount
of time for their presentation.
HSAP meets and decides to write the Board a letter asking
for clarification on the status of our proposal. We also
agreed to write a letter inviting community groups to
endorse our letter to the Board. Soon afterwards copies
of our letter to the Board, the invitation, our initial
proposal and "Be a Wise Consumer" were sent to about LS
community groups.
HSAP meéts to discuss follow-up on the letter to groups,
and the potential impact of the November School Board
elections on our work. Discussion of working with the
New York Civil Liberties Union on a lawsuit followed.
It was decided to stay in touch with them so that we
would be somewhat prepared should we feel a lawsuit
might be necessary. We discussed when to send our letter
to the School Board, without resolving the issue.
HSAP meets and discusses the election. All three seats
were won by péople who say they support our proposal.
This leads us to decide to wait until either January or
February to send the letter to the Board. We also checked
on the progress of gaining endorsers for our proposal.
Nine groups have responded favorably thus far.
HSAP meeting at which reports are heard on the positions
of School Board members. A decision is made to formally
approach the Board in February with our original proposal.
Endorsers are contacted to write letters of support.
Letter reporting on decisions and asking for letters of
support is sent to endorsing groups and individuals.
virden Seybold, Alan Pike and Mark Chupp meet with Skip
Meno, Superintendent of Schools. Meno made it clear that
he would oppose us if we returned to the School Board,
but that he was willing to work with us on other avenues,
specifically career fairs, guidance counselors and job-
related literature in the guidance offices.
HSAP meeting at which meeting with Meno was discussed.
After discussion, a decision was made to hold off on going
back to the School Board, to create more "good will" with
the school district. Specifically we would begin work on
brochures related to: "jobs for peace't, internship programs,
and alternative educational money.
A letter was sent out to our list of supporters informing
them of our change in plans.
HSAP meeting held to check on progress of our work. Brochure
work has begun, career fairs may not work out. Mark agrees
to begin making connections with job counselors.
SYRACUSE POST-STANDARD/Friday, Dec. 14, 1984/PAGE &-19-
‘The Editorial Page
The Syracuse School District’s
new Armed Forces Advisory Coun-
cil is a good idea.
: Although it sounds like a Penta-
gon think tank, the group is to be
composed of parents, school ad-
ministrators and others. A major
purpose of the group will be to re-
view information military re-
cruiters are providing students in
their visits to schools.
The idea grew out of a request
from local peace group representa-
tives for equal time with military
recruiters in schools. They said re-
cruiters could be misleading im-
pressionable young people with
An Eye on the Recruiters
promises of glory and adventure
while downplaying the fine print
about contractual obligations and
other hard realities of military ser-
vice.
The equal-time proposal seemed
excessive. Still, it makes sense to
take a good look at the recruiters’
pitches and make certain that stu-
dents are getting the whole story.
Parents ought to expect nothing
less.
The recruiters claim they al-
ready are doing a responsible job.
This may be so. With this new advi-
_ sory council, parents will have the
chance to make certain of it.
The Readers’ Page
Double Standard
For Counselors
No Less Outsiders?
To the Editor:
According to a story in the Dec. 6
Post-Standard, Syracuse Superinten-
dent of Schools Lionel Meno does not
feel it is necessary to allow the Syra-
cuse Military Counseling Service to
talk to high school students because
the district pays guidance counselors
to help students with their career
choices, npt outside people.
If that is the case, shouldn’t the
school beard refuse to let the military
recruiters talk to students on the
same grounds? Are they no less out-
siders? . ;
MARK T. KINNUCAN
201 Maple Grove Road
Recruiters ‘Tell and Sell "Em’
| researchers found that 90 percent of
To the Editor:
In your editorial about access to
highschool students by the Syracuse
Military Counseling Service, you ask
for “compelling arguments” and a
number of questions about recruiters.
If you take a look in your files, T
imagine you can unearth something
called the Beard Report. Of interest
now is their report on recruiting
practices and promises.
The report documents example
upon example of misrepresentation,
misinformation and unethical prac-
tices. A recruiter from Dallas is
quoted in the report saying “I'm a
salesman. Salesmen don't tell you
things that will cause you not to buy a
product.” Another recruiter gives the
ell ’em and
sell em”; say only positive things; let
them find‘out differently when
they’re in the service. Commission
~ LIONEL MENO
School Superintendent
the people whe applied to take col
lege courses — a big selling point —
were turned down.
The situation has improved. Many
recruiters were and are honest. But’.
many yield to the pressure to recrui
Thave worked with many people who
are absent without leave, vets and
people wanting to get out of the ser-
vice. I can assure you that, unfortun-
ately, many recruiters do not.‘‘do
their job.” :
The American Friends Service:
Committee and the Quakers have a
long history of fair, honest service to
peopie. I hope parents and school
board members who care about the
eritical decisions high school stu-
dents must make will recognize their
record and welcome the counseling
service. KATH BUFFINGTON
Olean
country, prepared press releases on important
issues, and spoke wherever there was an aud-
ience. In addition, we worked hard to keep our
supporters and counselees informed.
CCCO’s fieldwork covered the entire country
—North, Midwest, South, and West. A particu-
larly important development was our participa-
tion in the Dade County Youth Fair in Florida.
By court order, the American Friends Service
Committee had a booth located next to the
military recruiters. This year CCCO’s Field
Representative was invited to train those
staffing the AFSC booth and help run it.
Our non-fieldwork staff fulfilled speaking en-
gagements ranging from presenting a paper to
the American Association of Anthropologists to
talking about the military at a Philadelphia
neighborhood project. CCCO staff appeared on
radio and not only in Philadelphia but
in cities as far away as Phoenix, Arizona.
For our supporters and counselees, CCCO
News Notes featured extensive coverage of
recruitment, the draft, and the military. High-
lights among the many articles we published
included features on the APA lawsuit, the
successful suit by Clergy and Laity Concerned in
Chicago, and draft resistance in Puerto Rico,
Hungary, South Africa, and Greece. Our staff
writers also contributed extensively to The Ob-
jector,.the it blished by
CCCO-Western Region.
CCCO
...Living From Day to Day
Daily work at CCCO often seems: to consist
entirely of small, routine tasks.. There are so
many things that must be done. Every day the
telephone rings, and every day the mail arrives
and must be opened. Every other month,
reminder notices must be sent to people who
have not paid their literature bills. Someone
must see to the plumbing and make sure that
the copier is working. The books must. be
balanced. Literature orders must be filled. The
mailing list must be maintained.
None of this is exciting, but without it the
exciting projects would be impossible. CCCO,
which has no hierarchy and no chief executive
officer, runs smoothly because each staff mem-
ber takes responsibility for doing part of the
routine work.
CCCO
...Who We Are
CCCO was founded in 1948 as the Central
Committee for Conscientious Objectors. Its early
programs included aid to conscientious objectors
not covered by the law, legal support for draft
resisters, and counseling for COs_ seeking
discharge from the military. By the Vietnam
era, CCCO had developed literature and coun-
seling on all the alternatives under the draft and
on the most common discharges. CCCO publi-
cations such as the Handbook for Conscientious
Objectors and Advice for Conscientious Objec-
tors in the Armed Forces are standard works in
their field.
Today CCCO provides counseling and _infor-
mation to men subject to draft registration,
military personnel who seek discharge, and
young men and women considering whether to
enlist in the military.
CCCO
... Fundraising
CCCO is considered a tax-deductible charity
by the Internal Revenue Service. It is registered
with the Pennsylvania Commission on Char-
itable Organizations. The bulk of its income
comes from donations, many less than $20.00.
A copy of the last financial report filed with
the New York State Department of State may be
obtained by writing to New York State Depart-
ment of State, Office of Charities Registration,
Albany, NY 12231, or to CCCO.
AUDITED FINANCIAL REPORT
Fiscal Year 1985-1986
Support and Revenue:
Grants from private foundations 5,510.00
Contributions 176,095.54
Auxiliary Services:
Honoraria 2,695.40
Interest Income 7,292.22
Other 2.10
Literature sales 10,856.40
Total support and revenue 202,361.66
Expenses:
Program services:
Counseling, training, outreach 31,585.46
Periodicals 10,205.60
Salaries and benefits, program
personnel 90,716.76
Total program expenses 132,507.82
Support services:
General and administrative 11,858.81
Fundraising 19,736.58
Salaries and benefits,
support personnel 36,286.70
House maintenance and repairs 9,205.53
Capital improvements 1,913.11
Total support services 79,00.73
Total expenses 211,508.55
ccco 2208 South Street
An Agency for
Military and Draft
Counseling
Philadelphia, PA 19146
215-545-4626
rIELPING
FROM
DAY
TO
ANNUAL ecco
An Agency for
REPORT Military and Draft
1986 Counseling
To a first-time visitor, CCCO can be hard to
find. There is no sign, and the office is above a
beauty shop. It is an unassuming place with old
furniture and a few posters on the wall.
This Wednesday morning it seems quieter
than usual. Of six full-time and two part-time
staff, two are away on important speaking
its. Field Repr Bill Galvin
is in Georgia. Lou Ann Merkle, CCCO’s Youth
Outreach Coordinator, left the office early for an
appearance at a local high school.
In the reception area, Mike Barba is on the
telephone ordering supplies for the copier. In
the back room on the first floor, Patricia
Dunmore has filled the morning’s literature
orders and is recording them on a tally sheet. In
the back room on the second floor, Sabrina Sigal
Falls, who also edits the Military Counselor’s
Manual, is preparing an end-of-the-month fi-
nancial statement.
The other work today is taking place in the
computer room. Staff Attorney Jim Feldman is
at one computer revising a brief for the Atlanta
Peace Alliance. News Notes Editor Bob Seeley
is working on an editorial for the Fall issue. The
intense quiet of the room is broken occasionally
by a discussion about wording or a legal point.
This is how it was at CCCO during 1986. Our
work continued, quietly and for the most part
behind the scenes. To some of us the work
seemed endless. But as we look back at 1986,
we can be proud of what we accomplished and
hopeful about the future.
CCCO
...Reaching Out to Youth
The success of the all-volunteer military has
meant not less work but more for CCCO. Many
young people join the military because they
cannot find work or because they simply do not
have the facts about what enlistment means.
In 1986, CCCO began a major new program to
reach young people with alternatives to military
enlistment. We developed a series of six adver-
tisements for pre-enlistment counseling and
draft counseling. CCCO and consultant editor
doyce Brabner recruited more than 25 artists,
writers, and inkers, many of them among the
best in the field, for our comic book on war,
enlistment and the draft. Work on the comic
book has now begun. CCCO helped to start a
high school outreach group in Philadelphia and
in cooperation with Educators for Social Re-
sponsibility distributed display racks and liter-
ature to many Philadelphia high schools. We
also distributed the display rack to schools
around the country. And we are now planning a
national conference on youth and militarism.
In Atlanta, the Atlanta Peace Alliance is suing
the school board for the right to enter the public
schools to present information on enlistment and
the draft. During 1986, CCCO prepared some of
the briefs in the case, helped to argue it in
federal court, and arranged for friend of the
court briefs. We have now won a summary
judgment granting counselors partial access to
the schools.
CCCcO
... Helping Those in Need
Even as we try to reach young people before
they enlist, we know that many need our help
now. In 1986, we maintained and expanded our
services to military personnel and men facing
draft registration.
In April, we sponsored a major training
conference on military counseling for Congress-
ional aides who deal with military cases. Case-
workers who attended were pleased with the
session, and many have kept in touch with us.
During 1986 we also trained two interns in
military counseling. One of our trainees has
returned to England, where he will work with
American military personnel.
The most exciting development in our military
program, however, was the growth of military
counseling in Germany, where nearly a quarter
of a million American troops are stationed. Two
years ago there was virtually no counseling in
Germany. By the end of 1986 we had five
counselors and three attorneys located near
American bases, and we have scheduled intern-
ships for two counselors early in 1987.
To maintain the high standard of accuracy
which military counselors need, we prepared
and published three new chapters for our
Military Counselor’s Manual, and we published
an update of our Directory of Military Coun-
selors and Attorneys. Our Correspondence
Course in military counseling enables people
anywhere in the country to train themselves if
they cannot arrange for training in person.
Our work on the draft continued at a steady
level. As the government shifted from prosecu-
ting resisters to denying them federal benefits,
we joined with other groups to form the Fund
for Education and Training, an alternative to
federal funding for college and job training.
CCCO
. .. Protecting Conscience
Throughout 1986, CCCO and other groups
worked to protect the rights of conscience
against government attempts to restrict them.
In December, 1985, the Selective Service
System proposed new regulations which would
have made applying for conscientious objector
status and other classifications even more
difficult than before. The new regulations. also
eliminated provisions for posting the names of
counselors at local draft boards. In addition to
our official comments on this proposal, two staff
members wrote extensive personal letters to the
draft agency.
When Selective Service made the new rules
final in May, 1986, it ignored nearly all negative
comments and characterized its critics as well-
intentioned but ill-informed. The agency made
no attempt to respond to negative criticism.
Along with other groups, CCCO went to the
Congress, where we testified before the House
Subcommittee on HUD and Independent Agen-
cies. Our efforts led Congress to declare the
new regulations null and void early in the fall.
CCCO also submitted testimony to the U.S.
Sentencing Commission, which was considering
new. sentencing regulations that would have
affected draft resisters.
CCCO
...Maintaining Standards
Young people and counselors rely on our
publications and our expertise. And we work
hard to make sure our work is thorough,
reliable, and useful.
In 1986, we taped the first of a series of
with military veterans.
One Navy veteran described what it was like to
be under fire on an aircraft carrier off the coast
of Lebanon. And a group of Vietnam veterans
talked frankly and movingly about the war.
These and other interviews will enrich our
literature and our counseling.
Maintaining our library of military regulations
is difficult but essential. This year we spent
hours, and sometimes days, corresponding with
the military, filing Freedom of Information Act
requests, and following up by telephone.
We have also reorganized and expanded our
master bibliography on war, peace, and con-
science. This. annotated listing of more than 500
titles is for sale to the public.
To assure that our literature is clear and
accurate, we have developed a rigorous editorial
process. Every staff member has an opportunity
to comment on every manuscript. This year we
circulated 35 manuscripts. Twelve were pub-
lished during 1986. The others are scheduled for
publication—often only after extensive revision
—during 1987.
CCCO
... Informing the Public
wid ging intervie
To keep issues of conscience and war before
the public in 1986, CCCO staff traveled the
SYRACUSE POST-STANDARD/Wednesday, Dec. 5, 1984/PAGE AD
Counselors Deserve Equal Time}
By ALAN PIKE
A RECENT Post-Standard edito-
riat criticized the Syracuse Mili-
tary Counseling Service's recent re-
quest for equal time with military :
recruiters in the Syracuse city high
schools. Let’s look at the facts.
In a tribute to America’s veter-
ans, the Nov. 11 Herald-American
followed four young men from On-
ondaga County through enlistment
and basic training. Greg Fisher of
Fowler. High School, one of the four
men in'the article, was assigned to.
train on tanks after he finished
basic. “If I'd known that I'd be in
tanks, I'd never have joined,’ he
said. “I don’t want to do four years
of this.” He said he was guaranteed _
he would be studying computers,”
and he feels deceived.
Fisher’s recruiter denies any ca-
reer guarantees were in the con-
tract. But Greg Fisher is not alone
in his feelings.
According to the Beard Report, a
1978 study of the all-volunteer
armed forces prepared for the Sen-
ate Committee on Armed Services,
“In many cases the Army is not:
perceived by junior enlisted per-
sonnel as living up to the total ‘con-
tract.’ Often this contract is im-
plied rather than written and based
on verbal promises or implications
from literature, films and written
material.”
|. The four branches of the armed
. forces together spend $500 million
on recruiting each year. This
amounts to several hundred dollars
recruit. Much of this recruiting
is focused on appealing to enlistees
on the basis of employment, travel,
and a chance for a college educa-
tion. . .
Response
rale, an increase in soldiers who are
absent without leave (now a stag-
gering 10,000 yearly), more’ disci-
plinary courts-martial and can end
Let’s join other
cities around the
country by pro-
: viding Syracuse
“ city high school .
students with all:
the information
they need to
make’ an in-
formed decision
before joining
the military.
ina bad and lifelong em-
ployment difficulties.
IN THE COMING weeks, the
Syracuse City Board of Education
will decide on a request to allow the
Syracuse Military Counseling Ser-
vice to inform students of its refer-
ral program through posters, liter-
ature and twice-yearly visits to
high school guidance offices. The
counseling service provides refer-
rals for young men and women fac-
ing questions about military ser-
vice. Through a network of trained
counselors and cooperating agen-
cies, the service can provide infor-
mation on exemptions, deferments
and requirements with the Selec-
The Beard Report adds that
“These recruiting objectives by
their nature are positive, but over-
stressing these incentives has
created a flow of individuals into
the service with high expectations
that Army life will be an 8-to-5 job
with weekends off, 30 days paid va-
cation and a lifestyle comparable-
to that which might be available in
. the private sector.”
As the population of young men ~
gradually decreases over the next
few years and as the prevailing po-
' litical forces push for even greater.
troop strength, the pressure on mil-
itary recruiters to enlist new sol-
diers will be even greater. This will
not improve recruiting practices.
Disillusionment with the reality of
military life can lead to bad mo-
tive Service 5)
pre-enlistment counseling; dis-
charge upgrading; AWOL cases;
and legal difficulties after enlist-
ment. Counseling is free, non-advo-
cacy, and provided by trained vol-
unteers.
Let's join other cities around the
country by providing Syracuse city
high school’ students with all the
information they need to make an
informed decision before joining
the military. Let’s let them hear
about the opportunities the military
has to offer. Let’s also ensure that
they have access to non-advocacy
counseling and assistance if they do
have questions.
(The writer is clerk of the Upper
- New York State Executive Com-
mittee, American Friends Service
Committee.)
