The James Logan Courier

By Stephen Aguilar and Christine Khayat, Courier Staff Writer

While Thursday’s Job-O Expo in Colt Court brought opportunities that were welcomed by many students, one booth seemed to sprout mixed feelings among Logan—the U.S. Army. Undoubtedly, if you walked through Colt Court and passed the job fair, you most likely saw the men in uniform, surrounded by students eager to talk with them or who wanted to try a few pull-ups, either out of curiosity or to impress those observing. Regardless, many did not feel the visitors were welcomed on our campus.

Senior Jerome Guintu accepted the military as just another job opportunity attending the faire. “There are many opportunities to come from it. Plus, I don’t really know what I want to do after high school.”

While it appeared most students agreed with Guintu’s stance, there were students that were present, perhaps not entirely obvious, who opposed the presence of the military. Abel Shifferaw, Senior, felt strongly that the Army’s attendance at a high school job faire was inappropriate and uninvited. “I don’t think that a military that has killed upwards of one-million in Iraq should be allowed on this campus to manipulate, brainwash, and lure children into their murderous, imperialistic ranks. The toys that they are giving away are simply traps to lure kids into an army/navy/air force that has caused death, destruction, and oppression to the people of the world from Iraq, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cuba, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Guatemala, and others.”

Despite the opposing perspectives, the US Army is still permitted to attend high school functions for the purpose of recruiting.