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The Edit, definitely the highlight of my undergraduate work, moving me into many projects outside the university sphere. There is NO substitute for a coordinated, contracted project between several faculty mem bers and a student, all excited about a previously unexplored topic. The very unbureaucratic CU staff provided me with valuable assistance in fulfilling the goals outlined by my project. The catalog listing of CU consists in reality of informal meetings of fellow participants, all working together to work out problems encountered in doing independent research. Contrary to student fears, it doesn't take a necessarily detailed proposal to be admitted into the CU program. It does, however, expect a sin cere display that the student is unwilling to settle for a spoon fed education and that the student is resolved to develop the plan presented to his and the faculty advisor's satisfaction. The choice of faculty advisors is as important as the development of one's original proposal . Most faculty advisors understand that the project is NOT made up of courses listed in the catalog, but there are those that cannot grasp CU's basic philosophy. One advantage over uncoordinated 399 courses Is the fact that student papers are kept on file pernmanently at the CU library. Despite popular (faculty) belief, students will NOT undertake projects of the same quality (using 399) if CU Is phased out. Remember what we're here for? Let them switch the ad ministration around until their house Is in order, but don't let this valuable program be dropped just because of disillusionment on the part of those that don't care and don't understand what it's about. Kathleen O'Quinn Ed.--We couldn't agree with you1 more. The torpedoing of resounded like the clanging of a firebell in the night--a signal that the fire has started, a fire that will consume pregressive, in novative educational programs at USC. And don't think the lighting of the match wasn't timed, it's summer and many of USC's most concerned students are in nocently basking on . beaches miles away while their schogl is being changed. Cynicism Unbounded To The Editor: I am a student. I go to USC. I am being educated. What does that mean? A Good Student. Dear Good Student: You have joined the fighting Gamecocks of the military in dustrial complex. An answer cannot be given as important grades have not been received and all grades are subject to change. For your information here is your situation: Dept. of Sociology and An thropology - B. Dept. of Political Science - I. (Possible N.C.) Dept. of History - A. Dept. of Biology - B. Dept. of Psychology - I. ( Possible N.C.) School of Law - Failure You may want to talk with some of your professors about your situation. Gamecock. Ed.--Forthwith you get an "A" in cynicism and an "NC" In coherence. For our not un derstanding you, we'll take an "NC" in psychiatry. hlowever. both grades are subject to change when and if credible conm mianiientions are established. ..Feat By John Van Dalen Gamecock Staff Writer For personal reasons, the in dividual whose comments form the basis of this story has asked that his name not be used. For purposes of attribution whenever necessary, he will be hereafter referred to simply as Smith. He entered the Army in 1965 because at that time there was for him a credible rationale for our involvement in Vietnam. He was discharged in 1967 and after two years of self-searching and personal conflicts, re enlisted and was sent back to Vietnam. His recruiter tried to talk him out of re-enlisting. It was too late by then, however, and with the passage of a year came a more complete awareness of the scope of the war's tragic dimensions. Altogether he spent four years in Vietnam, through all three phases as he describes them, serving in the infantry, a security attachment at Da Nang, and later as a journalist. He was decorated 11 times. His goal though, was to "stick it out." After being discharged again in February, 1972, he came back to Columbia and has attended USC since that time, majoring in International Studies. He was involved with the now defunct Veterans Upward Bound Program and plans to work with the Veterans Affairs Office at USC. This is the background of a USC student and a Vietnam veteran, an individual who has strong feelings about our past in volvement in Southeast Asia and about society's present attitude toward Vietnam veterans. The Veterans Upward Bound Program, according to Smith, was an effort to reach un dereducated veterans who did not take advantage of educational programs available to them in the service. They were assisted in getting their general equivalency (high school) diplomas and helped with psychological problems. The program was aimed at Vietnam veterans but Smith says that many vets are wary of veterans wroIAn Vietnam Veter SP organizations and programs, feeling in many cases a sense of estrangement with "self-help" groups. The veteran, he feels, does not necessarily want the fact that he served in Vietnam whether under compulsion or voluntarily, publicized. - A general sentiment is that of lingering bitterness and resent ment toward American society. Many veterans came to see the military establishment which governed our role in Vietnam as a microcosm of society at home. Servicemen, Smith said, are made well aware of the op portunities for education and training within their branch of the service, but they are not as adequately informed about the specifics or particulars of the opportunities available to them. Career training in the army, he said, was only adequate as far as technical jobs were concerned. The training, he indicated, was not extensive. The basics were taught, but for thorough preparation, extensive training outside the service was often needed. Extensive training was offered in intelligence training and language schools. A new veterans bill upcoming in Congress is expected to in crease benefits and extend from eight to ten years the time a veteran has to take advantage of the GI bill after his term of service. When his application is accepted, he would be eligible for payment under terms of the GI bill for upwards of 48 months instead of the present 36 months. According to Smith, "It's important for people to be aware of the psychological problems of the Vietnam veteran. There were three distinct phases to the war as I see it." "The first distinct phase was early in 1965 through 1968. People basically went along with and supported the war-- there was still a feeling that something worthwhile could come out of the war cause, something redeemable. The period 1968 to 1970, up to the time of the Cam bodian incursions, was a phase that started shaking the existing foundations for support of the war. It was the point at which dissenters were rallying and at which the confidence and morale of our soldiers was being shaken. "The average serviceman had three forces to contend with: the foe itself, the military establish ment reacting strongly to dissent from home, and finally, and most importantly, the situation at home where the public no longer supported the war effort. The average soldier became more isolated, and thus bitter and resentful about our presence in Viet Nanm uliis an eaks Out "The third phase was after the Cambodian invasion. Drug use became prevalent. The army's basic tenets, its purposes and its organizational intrastructure in Viet Nam were being harshly criticized. The fighting had shifted from professional soldiers to raw recruits. There was paranoia at high army level because of sharply defensive policy positions. Many officers were leaving and the recruits and ordinary soldiers wanted out any way possible." In his view, Smith feels many Vietnam veterans are bitter and resentful about their period of service. Smith said, "The military establishment was so huge - it was an extension of American society; the injustice and inequality was all there except more acute and pronounced within huge, bureaucratic army bases that mirrored the values of civilian life. " "The military establishment executed a militaristic policy. Young Americans were thrown in willingly or unwillingly. G.I.'s in the latter part of the war felt that the American people were not behind them." This indifference was felt by the returning Vietnam war veterans. So, how has society and government responded to the problems-psychological, social, financial- of the returning Vietnam war veterans? "He gets his nominal benefits," Smith said, "but the nation has a moral obligation to these men. Government and society have shirked their responsibility. The veteran should be getting $400 to $500 beyond his educational costs; he should have health and dental care provided by the government for the rest of his life. But so much more is spenton the mechanism of making war and executing national defense policy than in helping the veteran after his commitment to the services is over."~ Smith's views and present philosophy about his involvement in the Vietnam War are presented through the filter of retrospect. Nevertheless, they are strong feelings arising out of four years of intimate connection with the Vietnam War. Smith said, "I and so many others felt such a sense of loss for the Vietnamese caught in the middle. Toward the end of my first year of re-enlistment , I started reconsidering my whole position about the war. I have a different frame of mind now. But I think every individual in this country is responsible for the war, the major difference being that I was actua1ly inolve in itt'