Aggies connect with Iraq war
With at least 43 Utah State University students activated in the war with Iraq, the conflict hits home.
Glenn Davis, university registrar, said the number of students involved in the war could be even higher. Some students were put on alert status before the beginning of spring semester and could have chosen not to register at all.
All of the students who brought their activation orders to the Registrar’s Office received a 100-percent tuition refund. Davis said the complete-refund policy is in accordance with university policy and will continue for anyone else who is activated.
Of the 43 students activated, 12 were actively involved in the university’s ROTC program. One of them was in the Air Force ROTC, and 11 were in the Army ROTC.
All of the ROTC students who were called up were freshmen or sophomores, said Maj. Rand Curtis, department head of military science. This is because juniors and seniors are officially seen as candidates for officers, he said.
They usually will not be activated until their training is finished, he said. The last time officers were activated before finishing their training was during World War II.
Curtis said his thoughts and those of the ROTC staff are with the troops.
“It is extremely difficult to sit at home when you know your buddies are putting themselves in harm’s way. I wish them godspeed and hope they get home safely,” he said.
As the war progresses, Curtis said, the hardest part is yet to come. Rebuilding Iraq is going to be difficult, he said.
In addition to the students, at least three staff or faculty members are involved in the war.
England said the number of faculty and staff involved is difficult to pinpoint exactly. He knows of three faculty or staff members who have submitted official employee action forms about military service. Seven more forms have been submitted but not processed.
Adrian Hinton, horticulture agent in Utah County, and Terry Messmer, Extension wildlife specialist, have been activated, according to Extension Vice President Jack Payne.
“We are proud that these colleagues and friends are part of the team that will be serving this country in Operation Enduring Freedom,” Payne said.
Aside from individuals that have been activated, the war affects all students, faculty and staff of USU.
Steven Hanks, professor of management and human resources, served as dean at the Arab American University in Palestine during the 2001-02 academic year.
He said he thinks the students are beginning to reconsider some basic assumptions and stereotypes.
“Perhaps the world is not as black and white as they perceived,” he said.
Hanks also said most Americans perceive the motives of the war differently from people in other parts of the world.
Curtis said his classroom atmosphere has not changed much, except students pay closer attention when the subject of the war comes up.
Christopher Keeley was working as a staff assistant in USU Extension Conference Services while working on his MBA when he was activated. He is a member of the Utah National Guard specializing in counterintelligence and is a Korean linguist.
Keeley has kept in touch with his friends and colleagues at USU through e-mail.
In an e-mail dated April 10, Keeley commented on the war.
“It was exciting to see the big statue of Saddam come down in central Baghdad. Wish I was there but am glad to have caught it on TV. The Iraqi people looked really happy to be free from the dictatorship. I know the war is not over and there are struggles still to go through, but it feels like the sun shines a little brighter today.”
The full text of Keeley’s e-mails can be found at http://www.usu.edu/war/warletters.htm.
-krasmus@cc.usu.edu
USU war-expert professorsLarry Boothe – USU Department of Political Science * Retired CIA officer who served in the Middle East
Mike Sweeney – USU Department of Journalism * Specializes in war reporting, wrote “From the Front,” a history of war through the eyes of correspondents
Peter Mentzel – USU Department of History * Specializes in the Ottoman Empire and is focusing on Muslim minorities in the Balkans
Steven Hanks – USU Department of Management and Human Resourses * Dean at the Arab American University in Palestine during 2001-02 academic school year
Leona Hawks – USU Department of Environment and Society * Utah contact for the National Extension Disaster Education Network