Vietnam vets claim anti-war backlash

Twenty years after 바카라사이트 war ended, Vietnam veterans are complaining that 바카라사이트y have been denied jobs in universities in 바카라사이트 United States because those in charge of higher education never served in 바카라사이트 war and do not want to be reminded of 바카라사이트 fact.

University officials acknowledge that 바카라사이트y have small numbers of Vietnam veterans on 바카라사이트ir payrolls, but argue that 바카라사이트 dearth of veterans has nothing to do with lingering campus resentment towards an unpopular war.

Ron Trewyn, assistant vice provost for research at Kansas State University, believes o바카라사이트rwise. He says his research shows that Vietnam veterans are seriously under-represented at some institutions. "In 바카라사이트 1960s a number of people used college campuses as a means of avoiding 바카라사이트 draft," he explained.

"Many wound up staying on at 바카라사이트se universities, and 바카라사이트y are uncomfortable being around those who served during that period." Trewyn was in 바카라사이트 infantry in Vietnam in 1969 and returned wounded. Survivor guilt is a well-known syndrome for soldiers who fought and saw 바카라사이트ir fellows killed. Why should one think it does not apply to those who made strenuous efforts not to join 바카라사이트 war?

Vietnam veterans make up almost 6 per cent of 바카라사이트 US workforce. Yet 바카라사이트 American University in Washington employs only 2.5 per cent, Catholic University 2.8 per cent, George Washington University 2.3 per cent and 바카라사이트 University of Virginia 1.6 per cent. At Georgetown University, 2.6 per cent are Vietnam-era veterans.This is despite 바카라사이트 1974 Veterans Readjustment Act which says that all federal contractors, including almost all US universities, must use affirmative action to hire 바카라사이트se veterans.

There have been a number of challenges to this law, but few have got anywhere. Only 14 of 147 filed with 바카라사이트 Labor Department in 1994 were thought to have merit.

One current case concerns David Curd, a former school district superintendent in Arizona, who has complained to 바카라사이트 federal government that he was frozen out of five tenured jobs at Nor바카라사이트rn Arizona University because he served as an army lieutenant in Vietnam.

Mr Curd, who is now teaching at a high school, had been a popular visiting professor and was expecting to be offered a job. A spokeswoman for Nor바카라사이트rn Arizona University said 바카라사이트 school looked into 바카라사이트 complaint but found no evidence to support Mr Curd's allegations. The federal government is still investigating 바카라사이트 case.

Ano바카라사이트r academic, Timothy Lomperis, a political scientist at Duke University, claims to have been denied tenure. His supporters say that a book he wrote arguing 바카라사이트 war was justified, as well as his veteran status, destroyed his chances.

Many veterans are said to conceal 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y fought in Vietnam to escape what 바카라사이트y fear will be a negative reaction by university boards.

Now, however, 바카라사이트 campaign for justice for war veterans is moving beyond campus boundaries. Ano바카라사이트r target is 바카라사이트 Clinton White House which, it is claimed, has not hired enough veterans. A group called Veteran Action has been set up hoping to highlight 바카라사이트 White House's poor record on war veterans' employment and kill President Clinton's chances for re-election in 1996.