In Honor of the Young America Foundation
IN HONOR OF THE YOUNG AMERICA FOUNDATION -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 18, 2005)
SPEECH OF
HON. JOE WILSON
OF SOUTH CAROLINA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MONDAY, JULY 18, 2005
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, recently, ROTC programs and military recruiters have been under attack on college campuses across the nation. Some of our nation's leading institutions of higher learning have banned military recruiters from their campuses altogether. Not only does this weaken our military at a time of war, but it also denies students the right to serve their country while attending college.
During a time of war, it is imperative for America to have a military that can aggressively and effectively combat terrorism. As the father of two ROTC cadets at Francis Marion University and Clemson University, and as an ROTC graduate of Washington and Lee University who has served 31 years in the Army Reserve and South Carolina Army National Guard, I understand the importance of an educated and qualified volunteer force. Young leaders, such as my sons, Alan and Julian, should have the opportunity to both serve their country and advance their education through programs like ROTC. By banning military recruiting and ROTC programs from colleges, access to America's talented future leaders is being denied.
Recently The Washington Times published an article that discusses ROTC and some of Young America's Foundation's activities in support of ROTC and ROTC students. The article also tells the story of Lauren Daugherty, a student at Emory University, which does not offer ROTC. Miss Daugherty commutes four times weekly to a ROTC program at Georgia Tech, receives no credit for her classes, and is harassed by students when she wears her uniform on campus.
Young America's Foundation, a nonprofit group that is also preserving and protecting Ronald Reagan's Ranch, supports our young men and women in ROTC. For years, Young America's Foundation has sponsored speakers and other programs defending ROTC. From making attacks on ROTC programs and students known to Congress to providing speakers on college campuses who defend ROTC and ROTC students, Young America's Foundation is a welcome ally in making ROTC available to college students.
A second article, from the Young America's Foundation publication Libertas, describes several efforts to restore student rights to participate in ROTC on campuses across the nation. At Columbia University concerned students received 65% support from a referendum circulated to reinstate the school's ROTC program. The university's senate then formed an ``ROTC Task Force'' made up of students and faculty to discuss the issue. Students at Yale soon followed and started a ``Bring Back ROTC'' campaign. Their goal is to collect more than two thousand signatures on a petition that would force discussions between the group and the administration. The Young America's Foundation works directly with student-based grass roots operations like these every year. In the past they have given organizational support for campaigns to protect ROTC, and have arranged speakers to address students on campuses about the importance of ROTC.
The courageous efforts of students who stand up against anti-military faculties and administrations represent minority rights on campuses. It is detrimental to our national security to let anti-military institutions of higher learning weaken our armed forces. I commend the efforts of the Young America's Foundation, and other student led groups who fight for a strong national defense and freedom of association.
I ask that these two articles regarding the Young America's Foundation and their support for military recruiting and ROTC be included in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. ``Youth Group backs ROTC on campus'' The Washington Times. Thursday, April 14, 2005. Price, Joyce Howard. ``Students Willing to Defend Our Country Ridiculed on Many Campuses'' Libertas, Vol. 26, No. 2, Spring 2005. Rasmussen, Scott.(From the Washington Times, Apr. 14, 2005)
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