Editor's Note: The following composition was submitted to The Norwich Guidon by Col. McKean, vice president for student affairs and commandant of cadets, and by President Schneider as a Letter to the Editor.

On being a leader…

A leader does not belong to elitist, secret societies that work against or outside the organization they belong to. A leader does not succumb to peer pressure. A leader stands alone against the status quo. Leaders do what is right because it is the right thing to do, not because they were influenced or pressured by others.

Small groups that have camaraderie and esprit de corps are great. In today's world they are hard to find, but they are out there. I happen to belong to one of them - the United States Marine Corps. The Corps has taught me discipline, honor, courage - physical and mental, - and a sense of belonging to something bigger and better than myself. You, too, belong to a small group that teaches these same values - the Norwich University Corps of Cadets. I know how easy it is to 'dog the system'. There was not much in the way of good morale when I was a Cadet there. I will tell you why. Pride. No one had any pride in the school, the Corps, or themselves. As a former member of the Corps of Cadets cadre and NROTC battalion commander, I will tell you now from an outsider's perspective that Norwich University has a great name. Everyone that I have encountered since graduating who has heard of Norwich has had nothing but good things to say about it. Who would be stupid enough to argue against that? These 'societies' lower morale in the school. They are divisive and elitist. They break up the esprit de corps that Cadets are supposed to have in the Corps itself.

As you can see, the University does not tolerate these 'societies'. When I first came to the University, these societies were accepted and had a purpose. Through the years, because of the actions of a few, these societies were abolished. All of the effort that these societies have spent to try and remain secret, and for what? They haven't done anything for the betterment of the Corps except to tarnish its name and develop a separate class system. Years ago, these societies' sole purpose was to keep the good name of the Corps and to help fellow Cadets. All I can see now is that they are tearing apart the Corps that they fought so hard to protect.

Why doesn't someone, anyone, step up and be a leader? Set the example. If you do, you will be the example that others will follow. Your peers will look to you for guidance and for what is right. True, it takes courage, but that is what leadership is all about. As future alumni, do not let the actions of a few tarnish the good name of our school. Who wants to go to a school that they can't feel proud to have come from?

2 Lt. Christopher Hoover, USMC
Norwich University, Class of 2001

With reference to the 28 Feb 2002 article, "NU Student Tells Story of Alumni Weekend DUI Charge:"

If the administration is serious about helping its students to not drink and drive, they need to focus more on pro-active measures that address the real problem: a safe way to and from a night out.

Education about alcohol abuse should continue, but it's not the remedy. Show me someone who believes drinking and driving is not wrong. The administration needs to take active measures to accommodate their 21-year-olds' privilege to consume alcohol if they're not going to sponsor an establishment on campus for this purpose.

There is no excuse for driving after consuming alcohol, no matter how much alcohol was consumed; the inherent risks are not worth even one drink. The designated driver is one solution, but I have one more: If Norwich is receiving additional funds for remaining a "dry campus" then it should appropriate those funds for a van or bus to shuttle the over 21 year olds to "The Pub."

Any cadet/student that gets caught abusing alcohol (whether it be drinking in their rooms, underage drinking, DUIs - provided they get to keep their license - or whatever) should be added to a duty roster to drive the shuttle for the duration of their time at Norwich.

I know from my experience that this list of available people to perform this duty would never be in short supply. Additionally, students that receive "tours" for other than drinking violations, should be given the option to be shuttle drivers: one-tour would equal one-night of pulling the shuttle duty.

For those going to Burlington or other places, use the message board near the Post Office for students to coordinate their trips. For example, if I see on the board that some individuals are planning an evening in Burlington, I might be able to catch a ride and share the expense, or volunteer as a driver.

The solutions are endless. However, to not do anything but say, "They're cadets/students and it's their choice to make the right decisions," is irresponsible, when one considers that there are currently no programs to accommodate the legal consumption of alcohol.

Sincerely,
CPT Mark Maitag
NU '94

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank the worthless individuals who vandalized my truck sometime this past week and to let the campus know exactly what you people did.

You kicked a sizeable dent in my right door and rear side, bent the mirror back horizontal, and left a "mean" note with a threatening message saying if I didn't "park right next time you're going to park my truck for me [expletive deleted]." Ooooooh! Tough Guy! You couldn't have "just been mad," because you took the time to tape the note to my windshield.

I'll tell you what you did. You committed a classless and cowardly act, and I'm willing to bet you'll never be in a position to hold any real authority. You've demonstrated that you're nothing more than faceless little sissies, and you don't belong in a school that was built on honor and great men's blood and hard-earned accomplishments.

You need to take your immature little high school (behavior) to some college where there are lots of other, less industrious people like you, because you most certainly don't belong at this one.

Steven Whitesell

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