(This op-ed, by Union
College President Roger Hull, was published in the Times-Union on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003.)
By ROGER H. HULL,
Special to
the Times Union
Charles Rangel's introduction of legislation to resume the
military draft is an appropriate recognition that we are at war with terrorism.
However, he doesn't go far enough.
To my mind, it is time for real sacrifice. It is time for
“mandatory volunteerism.” It is time for required national service.
Decades ago, in a political campaign in Virginia, the
gubernatorial candidate was advised by a neighboring governor to surround
himself with young people “because only young people don't know that
things can't get done.” While that statement is obviously overstated, we
must, as in past instances of national stress, engage our young.
Franklin Roosevelt created the National Youth
Administration; John Kennedy gave us the Peace Corps; Lyndon Johnson
constituted the ACTION and VISTA programs; and, most recently, George W. Bush called for
the USA Freedom Corps to combine existing organizations and to “foster a
culture of service, citizenship and responsibility.” Hardly unique,
therefore, the call to our young to give something back to their nation is now
needed perhaps more than ever.
Such initiatives work. For instance, since AmeriCorps began
in 1994, more that 250,000 members have taught and mentored millions of
children, built affordable housing and engaged in environmental cleanup
efforts.
The contributions of young people, however, do not end with
those umbrella organizations. At colleges across the land, students give
countless hours of community service. While some of that service is part of an
internship or a course and while some involve stipends, most is voluntary.
Purely voluntary. Well, almost voluntary, because at my college, we do require,
as part of orientation, a day of community service to show students how easy it
is to make a difference.
And make a difference students do. From acting as Big Brothers
or Big Sisters, to rebuilding homes, to tutoring poor children, to teaching
kids how to use computers, to raising funds for those less fortunate, our
students have been busy giving back to society.
In the meantime, many older citizens question the finances
for programs like AmeriCorps, whose total budget would keep the Defense
Department running for a few hours. A strong military is essential. So, too, is
a societal commitment by all. Why not formalize what many of our young have
already embraced and create a national service corps?
As a father whose two sons will soon be of age, and as a
college president who for 22 years has worked daily with young people, I
believe that postponing professional careers for two years of national service
would be an appropriate price to pay for our democracy and that that price
might well be welcomed by many.
Congressman Rangel says that national service should be an
alternative for those who are drafted but who cannot serve because of physical
limitation or conscience. I disagree. All of our young people should serve —
either in the military or other forms of national service — not just those who
are drafted.
Would there be a budgetary impact to a program of national
service and would there be administrative obstacles to overcome? Of course. The
real issue, though, is one of priorities.
For democracy to work, citizens need to participate in the
life and well being of the nation. Let's give our young people the opportunity
to contribute. Let's have required national service. Ultimately, that action
would be the best tribute we can provide to the victims of Sept. 11.