The Pendulum Page 7 Veterans Corner Proposed ROTC Program Will Be By J.W. Bennett and Robin King Recently the 100 veterans who attend Elon College got a break. This break came when Congress over-rode President Ford's veto of the Vietnam Era Veterans-Readjustment Assis tance Act or the G.I. Bill. The main clause of the bill boosted the financial benefits given to veterans who are attending school by 22.7 per cent. This means that a single veteran attending school will receive $270 a month instead of $220 a month. A married veteran attending will now receive $321 a month: the old figure was $261 a month. The veteran who is married and has a child will now get $366 a month: the old amount was $298 a month. According to the G.I. Bill, the veteran now has 45 months to complete his undergraduate degree. This is a nine-month addition but does not cover graduate school. What these new benefits mean to the veterans here at Elon is hard to judge. Because of the cost of tuition, as in most other private schools, the benefits will not cover the full cost of going to school. This is oi^e reason that so few veterans attend Elon. The vc^teran population here at F^lon ranges from ages 21 to 45. Most of the veterans who attend Elon are commuters. About half of the vets are part-time students. Only five months remain for several million Vietnam-era veterans to apply for a new program of low-cost govern ment term life insurance. Certain veterans were made retroactively eligible for the insurance when Congress passed the law last year. Veterans discharged since then have been receiving automatic notices of eligibility and forms which must be filed within 120 days of separation. The deadline for veterans who were separated between April 2, 1970 and July 31, 1974, who are applying for' Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLl), is August 1, 1975. The program provides a maximum of $20,000 coverage for up to five years. ♦»* If you’re a veteran with a yen to travel or establish residence overseas, you’d better check with the Veterans Administra tion. Offered to Students Next Fall By Lance Latane According to Col. William B. \eal, the ROTC which will be included in Elon’s curriculum next fall can "reinforce a college education." During assembly on .March 4, the professor of military science at A&T University presented a film to explain his statement about the Reserve Office Training Program. The movie depicted a "newsman ” seeking an objective look at the ROTC on an early 1960’s college campus. His findings were clear; cadets and former ROTC stressed the values of self assurance, responsibility and leadership which the program instilled in its members. Others emphasized the security and positions of an Army career as an officer and the advantage that the experience holds for those who later decide to compete for civilian jobs. These aspects do have appeal. John Pelosky, a former Spec. 4 in the Army and Vietnam veteran who "knows the Army’s good points and bad points,” is a student here The Elon Sports Review by Gary F. Spider Sports Clipboard MARCH 17 Golf vs. High Point- Away 18 Baseball vs. Mars Hill-Away-1:00 p.m.. Tennis vs. Catawba-Away, Golf vs. H ampden-Sydney-Away; 20 Baseball vs. N.C. A&T at Elon-3;00 p.m., Tennis vs. Lenoir Rhyne at Elon; 21 Golf at Camp Lejeune Tournament 22 Tennis vs. High Point- Away, Golf at Camp Lejeune Tournament; 23 Golf at Camp Lejeune Tournament; 24 Golf vs. Lenoir Rhyne- Away; 25 Baseball vs. Mansfield Slate at Elon-2:30 p.m.. Golf vs. Pfeiffer. Atlantic Christian, Univ. of Baltimore at Elon, Tennis vs. NCC at Elon-2:00 p.m.: 26 Tennis vs. Guilford- Away: 27 Baseball vs. Guilford- Away-3;00 p.m. 28 Baseball vs. W'. Va. Wesleyan at Elon-l:00 p.m. 28-30 Golf at Kitty Hawk Tournament-Away; 29 Baseball vs. W. Va. Wesleyan at Elon-l:00 p.m. Football Notice The spring edition of the Elon College Fighting Christian football team will play an intra-squad football game on the Elon College practice field on the campus March 31 at 3:00 p.m. All students, faculty, staff, fans, and supporters are urged to attend. Thomas Moore, the 6-5 junior forward from Elon College, N.C. reaches low to grasp onto the ball. All players played well in the CC Battle. [Photo by Joe Chandler] considering the ROTC. He said "personal ambition” and job security were factors which interested him about the program. "It's not the money.” he said, explaining that he was receiving G.I. Bill benefits, "I'm looking forward to a career. " Anticipating the program he said, "1 think it will be good. .More people than you think are interested in it. With time,” he said, "people will become more serious about it. " His ideas reflect the comments of the Dean of the College Dr. Theo Strum. Dean Strum said that the college considered adding the program in 1967, but the campus climate, as in all campuses at that time, discouraged it. Now she says people are more " practical” in view of economic conditions and see in the ROTC program a career opportunity. The dean said, "Some 50 or 60 students have indicated, should we set up this program, they would be interested to participate.” She expects interest to increase with time. Dean Strum said that because some students were interested last year, the college contacted the Army to establish an ROTC here. They were referred to A&T’s Col. Neal, "Because to establish a program on your own is difficult, ” Dean Strum said, "Elon's ROTC would be a satelite'^ of A&T's program.” Col. .Meal has designated one of his staff to head Elon’s department. "We have confi dence in the personnel they have,” Dean Strum said. Eight courses will be offered for both freshman and junior cadets in the fall. Status and qualification for junior course means be a veteran or completion of one of the basic camps this summer. They are held at Ft. Knox, Ky. on May 30 to July 10, June 20, to July 31 and July 18 to Aug. 28. ROTC "fact sheets” were distributed after Neal’s film which stipulate enlistment conditions. Here are some important facts: 1. ROTC cadets (freshman and sophomore coursesi are under no obligation for active duty. They may withdraw at any time, but receive no pay. 2. Cadets during junior and senior years receive $100 per month for 10 months of the year. 3. For attending six weeks of advanced camp between junior and senior years, cadets receive $450.00 plus room, board and travel expenses. 4. All who successfully complete the program are obligated to serve in active duty and are commissioned as Second Lieutentants. Periods of obligation vary from a minimum of 90 days to a maximum of four years in the army reserves. 5. Program offered to men and women. 6. Credit, up to 12 semester hours. To get a better idea and understanding of the program, literature is available in Dr. Moncure’s office and the Student Affairs office. Mancini Says SGA Is Administration Puppet Brad Ballou, the 6-10 junior center from Halifax, Va., carries the ball past Pfeiffer Falcon players. Elon won the contest 69-67. This year’s CC Tournament turned out to be rather a surprise with Pfeiffer claiming the title after all the other colleges were defeated before the finals. By Debbie Cochran "‘The SGA at Elon College is a puppet. The students have no real voice. The administration does not listen to the needs of the students but is in the position to call all of the shots,” said Mark Mancini during an interview last week. Two weeks ago the Board of Trustees was approached with recommendations for student drinking in one's own room and an SGA student fee increase of $2.50. Both were refused. "We received no explanation as to why the drinking resolution was put down. As far as the fee is concerned, they claimed they did not see enough students willing to pay the extra $2.50,” Mancini explained. According to Mark, equal visitation in dorms, that is, for the women to be allowed in the men’s dorms from 2:00 until 5:00 Sundays, was defeated earlier by the trustees and again with no explanation. "I received a letter pertaining to this, asking to delay on this matter until a further date,” he said. Making the fraternity houses social areas went through the student senate but was rejected by the administration. “It seems quite hypocritical that students, faculty, administra tion and the trustees know there are parties in the frat houses, know there is drinking in dormitories, yet try to paint a prim picture of Elon." One thing that has been passed was the abolishing of strict campus. Strict campus is when a person is punished by being confined to his room except for meals and classes. ‘ ‘I might add this was done solely by the honor court with no support from the administra tion. ' ‘Sometimes I feel that I have wasted two years working with the SGA. I started out preparing for my presidential responsibilites a month before the 1974 semester. At that time I was optimistic; all the administration seemed to be backing me. I should have realized that when it really gets, down to the basic facts, administration doesn't really care,” Mancini stated. “It’s not so much the trustees as the administration that I’m down on. If the administration would back the students, the vote of the trustees would be much more favorable to the students. The administration’s major concern is the recruitment of new students, and they don't bother to evaluate the happi ness of the students already here at Elon,” Mark retorted.

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