thedrifter
04-20-07, 07:57 AM
April 20, 2007
Military recruiters back out of UC Santa Cruz job fair
By Roger Sideman
Sentinel staff writer
SANTA CRUZ — UC Santa Cruz anti-war activists are claiming victory, saying their repeated efforts to keep military recruiters off campus have paid off.
Three recruitment offices announced this week they were backing out of a campus job fair set for Tuesday.
The announcement by the Marines and two Army recruitment offices comes after efforts by university officials to make military recruiters and targets of other campus protests feel more welcome and safe on campus.
"We hope that they've finally given up on UC Santa Cruz," said Alex Jabbari, a member of Students Against War.
The regional Marines recruiting office said it would not be attending due to an overbooked schedule. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ray Ward, a Capitola-based recruiter, said he was told Thursday the offices had canceled because recruiting at UCSC "wasn't worth their time" due to the hostile atmosphere.
The San Francisco Army office, Ward said, is simply "not as accustomed to the UCSC environment," adding that his office in Capitola is still eager to recruit students at UCSC.
Members of Students Against War have disrupted three recruitment efforts since 2005. Last April, four recruiters left the fair with a police escort after a crowd of student protesters blocked the entrance to the building where the Army and National Guard had set up information tables.
Next week, instead of a protest, the group will hold a victory celebration outside the campus bookstore.
The military's withdrawal was announced Tuesday, the day after student government leaders sent a letter to campus administrators warning them of a large counter-recruitment protest that could prevent other students from talking with civilian job recruiters.
After students and police clashed during a visit by UC Regents in October, administrators canceled a January job fair in which the military was scheduled to appear. The university then organized two forums where student activists were invited to hold a dialogue with campus police and administrators.
After the January job fair was postponed, recruiters said they were looking forward to returning as long as UCSC proves to be a good source of recruits.
Additionally, a special campus task force made up of faculty and administrators have drafted a set of policies that lays out how the university should respond during violent protests.
"From a university perspective, it's sad and unfortunate that we haven't been able to allow a space where guests can come, including the military, and where students can protest in a way that allows others to have their voice," said Jean Marie Scott, vice chancellor of student affairs.
"The campus continues our commitment to support freedom of speech and an environment of safety for faculty, staff and students," Scott said.
Universities that receive federal funds, like UC Santa Cruz, are required to allow military recruiters on campus. To exclude them would put those funds at risk.
Student activists say their counter-recruitment efforts are the most direct and effective way to make it difficult for the government to wage war.
Contact Roger Sideman at rsideman@santacruzsentinel.com.
Ellie
Military recruiters back out of UC Santa Cruz job fair
By Roger Sideman
Sentinel staff writer
SANTA CRUZ — UC Santa Cruz anti-war activists are claiming victory, saying their repeated efforts to keep military recruiters off campus have paid off.
Three recruitment offices announced this week they were backing out of a campus job fair set for Tuesday.
The announcement by the Marines and two Army recruitment offices comes after efforts by university officials to make military recruiters and targets of other campus protests feel more welcome and safe on campus.
"We hope that they've finally given up on UC Santa Cruz," said Alex Jabbari, a member of Students Against War.
The regional Marines recruiting office said it would not be attending due to an overbooked schedule. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ray Ward, a Capitola-based recruiter, said he was told Thursday the offices had canceled because recruiting at UCSC "wasn't worth their time" due to the hostile atmosphere.
The San Francisco Army office, Ward said, is simply "not as accustomed to the UCSC environment," adding that his office in Capitola is still eager to recruit students at UCSC.
Members of Students Against War have disrupted three recruitment efforts since 2005. Last April, four recruiters left the fair with a police escort after a crowd of student protesters blocked the entrance to the building where the Army and National Guard had set up information tables.
Next week, instead of a protest, the group will hold a victory celebration outside the campus bookstore.
The military's withdrawal was announced Tuesday, the day after student government leaders sent a letter to campus administrators warning them of a large counter-recruitment protest that could prevent other students from talking with civilian job recruiters.
After students and police clashed during a visit by UC Regents in October, administrators canceled a January job fair in which the military was scheduled to appear. The university then organized two forums where student activists were invited to hold a dialogue with campus police and administrators.
After the January job fair was postponed, recruiters said they were looking forward to returning as long as UCSC proves to be a good source of recruits.
Additionally, a special campus task force made up of faculty and administrators have drafted a set of policies that lays out how the university should respond during violent protests.
"From a university perspective, it's sad and unfortunate that we haven't been able to allow a space where guests can come, including the military, and where students can protest in a way that allows others to have their voice," said Jean Marie Scott, vice chancellor of student affairs.
"The campus continues our commitment to support freedom of speech and an environment of safety for faculty, staff and students," Scott said.
Universities that receive federal funds, like UC Santa Cruz, are required to allow military recruiters on campus. To exclude them would put those funds at risk.
Student activists say their counter-recruitment efforts are the most direct and effective way to make it difficult for the government to wage war.
Contact Roger Sideman at rsideman@santacruzsentinel.com.
Ellie