When Ohio University sophomore Kurt Hickman registered to be an Ohio National Guardsman, he signed up to be all that he could be and accepted every responsibility that came with it. Feb. 25, Hickman was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army while in Kuwait. His deportation, however, was not a result of failing to serve the United States in battle. The repercussions came instead as a consequence after Hickman refused to be vaccinated against biological weapons such as anthrax. The guardsman was in direct discordance with the Defense Department's regulation requiring troops in high-risk areas to be vaccinated. Hickman's Army rank was lowered from specialist to private, and it is likely that he'll receive similar punishment from the National Guard. Perhaps the most detrimental effect, though, will be the loss of tuition money that Hickman eventually will have to repay. His lawyer, Kenneth Levine, has spoken for Hickman, saying he always wanted to serve his country. Everyone enters the military hoping to help, but hoping and actually helping can hardly be considered the same. In the end, failing to fulfill a contract with the U.S. military does little to assist a nation at war.
The military has always stressed the importance of respect for rank and regard for regulation. These are the very principles that make the U.S. military the strongest in the world. Hickman signed his name on the dotted line, and when he did, he entered into a contract. The contract would provide him with an education, but not without a cost. In this case, the cost included going to Kuwait, following orders, and vaccination. When he disobeyed the order to be vaccinated, he failed to follow set standards. Performance in the Army is based on abiding by orders and respecting authority, two things Hickman did not do. Because he was not willing to hold up his end of the bargain, the Army clearly did not have to come through with their side of the deal. Being all you can be in the military means completing every mission whether that be battlefield combat or vaccination.
Dining Services can drop raise
Ten cents can't buy a costly new schoolbook Uptown or even dinner off the 99 cent menu at Wendy's. But 10 little cents have started a stir for students employed by Ohio University. Two years ago, an automatic 10-cent raise was created to encourage dining hall employees to return each quarter. Housing and Food Services announced the quarterly bonus for dining hall employees possibly could be cut because of budget problems. It is these cuts, though, that might save numerous other jobs from being lost. In the long run, it's more important for more students to have jobs than it is for a few to make a couple more pennies. When dining hall employees are already starting at $6 an hour, which is more than many students make, giving quarterly raises is not the route to take.
Students should get perks and incentives, but 10 cents is not the answer. Although every penny counts for college students these days, this raise is hardly going to have a major effect on whether employees continue working. Most students only work for one quarter at a time, and the dining halls make everyone re-apply each quarter. It is clear that money saved by cutting raises will still be used to aid student jobs. Once this happens, the Housing and Food Services should use other ways to reward employees. Administrators could consider other cost-cutting measures to ensure the school is saving money and employees are being satisfied. One option could be giving a high yearly raise instead of a quarterly raise. This would be an incentive for students to return the following year, and less money will go into training new employees. Programs can also be put in place to give employees free meals, Bobcat Cash, or other favorable deals for student workers. When alternatives are considered, budget cuts aren't so bad, even if it means losing the 10 cents. Change can be good.
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