[Vision2020] U of I Discrimination to Veterans

[Donovan Arnold]

This wasn't an oversight. It was intentional. Vietnam Veterans were spat on and openly discriminated against for fighting in an unpopular war. The UI simply used language of the time to try and stop or curb it. 
 
When I worked on the ASUI and Graduate Student Constitutions we made sure that they updated them to include all veterans because we knew that the Iraq war would be unpopular. We also added sexual orientation. Hoover did not make protections of students and staff a priority, and did not add sexual orientation or change Vietnam veteran to just veteran status in the anti-discrimination clauses at the behest of some students. 
 
Believe it or not, we actually encountered some resistance to adding sexual orientation and veteran status, even in 2002. The veteran status was actually also intended to include protections for people that could not serve or did not serve too. As there are some people that discriminate against men that have not served in the armed forces or think they are inferior for having not done so, or they give special preference to others that have. 
 
Best Regards,
 
Donovan

--- On Sat, 4/11/09, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:


From: Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] U of I Discrimination to Veterans
To: "Paul Rumelhart" <godshatter at yahoo.com>, bear at moscow.com, "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>, vision2020 at moscow.com
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2009, 12:24 PM


Paul -

This is an extremely shady area.

Although the UI Faculty and Staff Handbook does mention veterans, the 
discrimination policy itself relates only to "Vietnam era" veterans.

The policy even makes reference to "Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment 
Assistance Act of 1974".  I suppose that 1974/5/6/7 was the last time UI 
seriously addressed the “veterans” issue, probably as a result of a major 
influx of veterans onto the campus as students during that timeframe.

By its own definition, the UI Faculty and Staff Handbook at:

http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/fsh/3065.html

"B-5. 'Status as a Vietnam-era veteran' refers to a person who served on 
active duty in the armed forces during the period from August 5, 1964, 
through May 7, 1975."

Thus, by its own policy, the University of Idaho excludes military 
veterans whose entire service is completed prior to August 5, 1964 or 
commenced subsequent to May 7, 1975.

I would be extremely interested in Lieutenant Colonel Zetterstrom's 
(Professor of Military Science), response to this oversight (and I am 
hoping it is merely an oversight), as well as the responses of Colonel 
Matthew Dorschel (Commander, WSU/UI Air Force ROTC) and Captain Ryder 
(Commander, UI/WSU Navy ROTC).

I further assume that if these commanders are aware of UI’s oversight 
concerning this issue, they probably consider just that, nothing more than 
an oversight, and march on.

As for my opinion, I feel that, oversigh or not, the issue MUST be 
addressed and appropriate corrections made, unless Walter Steed sits on 
this council, as well.  In which case, the proverbial buck will be passed 
to whover is called up to sweep up the mess.

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

Join us at The First Annual Intolerista Wingding, April 17th, featuring 
Roy Zimmerman and Jeanne McHale.  For details go to . . .

http://www.MoscowCares.com/Wingding

Seeya
there.

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