Married members of the Corps of Cadets face different challenges

By Hilary McElroy
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

College life presents many challenges to students as the years go on and graduation becomes closer.

One challenge is finding that special person you might want to spend the rest of your life with.

For many students, marriage is something they only think about and plan for after college. But some Norwich University students have already taken their marriage vows, and they face challenges unknown to their single counterparts.

Norwich senior Daniel Boone has been married almost a year and a half. Seniors Karen Ganzzino and Scott Nale were wed in April 2000. And senior Whitney Potts Booth was married during winter break 2000.

Each of these couples share similar experiences juggling married life as well as school and career commitments.

"The bumpiest part of the marriage is being students at Norwich. If we can survive being married and attending this school, then we can survive anything," said Karen Ganzzino Nale, 22, a senior business management major from Burbank, Calif. "I think it's harder on us socially being married, because we're in the mentality of being married and having a family; most of our friends are in the college mentality of drinking, and partying."

"We've become more mellowed out now," said Scott Nale, 22, a senior business management major from Fountain Valley, Calif. "I look at what I was like just two years ago, and what a drastic change."

"My wife lives reasonably close to school, but it's still hard," said Daniel Boone, 21, a senior business management major from East Roxbury, Vt., "I'm lucky that I get to see her every day."

Not everyone is as lucky as Boone. Part of being a college student is learning the meaning of long-distance relationships. It seems hard enough when you're only dating, but when you're married it can be even harder.

"Being married kind of tames you down a little bit," said Whitney (Potts) Booth, 21, a senior biology major from Libertyville, Ill. "Socially, it is a little challenging; you have to think about what you're doing, like if you're flirting too much--which is something you can't do."

Booth's husband is 2,000 miles away in Texas. "The distance is hard; it stinks not to be able to see him all the time. I'm not crying in my room or anything, but it's hard," Booth said. "I talk to him at least twice a week on the phone and email as often as possible, and I see him in person during all the school breaks."

Academically, being married is no different. There is still homework, late-night study sessions, group projects, and professors.

"My academics come first," Boone said. "I attend all my classes, and get all my homework done. That's a priority.

"I go home and see my wife most every night as any reasonable husband should do," Boone said.

"Our grades have improved tremendously since we've been married," Scott Nale said, "We are more focused and use each other as support."

All of those challenges apply to any normal college or university. But now, add all those plus the stresses of the Corps of Cadets.

The Corps of Cadets Rules and Regulations clearly state: "Married cadets admitted to the University, as undergraduate members of the Corps of Cadets, will be required to comply with all regulations of the Corps of Cadets."

The final paragraph of Section VIII, Norwich University Corps of Cadets Rules and Regulations warns that "this requirement extends to cadets who marry after their initial enrollment. Married cadets will attend all Corps formations and will perform all duties required of their class and rank. The Commandant may be petitioned for exception to this policy on an individual basis."

"Being married and in the corps has its challenges,"

Boone said that because he was married and in the corps, as well. He "petitioned to live off campus and remain in the corps. I suggested that I would still be responsible for all formations and corps activities, but that request was denied."

Karen Nale faced a similar decision from the commandant's office.

"My husband and I petitioned to be off-campus-cadets this semester because we are married and want to live together, but he was denied and must technically live on campus," she said. "I lived on campus first semester this year, but due to my pregnancy this semester I took a medical leave of absence."

"So far it's not hard being married and part of the corps," Booth said, "But I've only been married a few weeks."

Being married in college may not be easy, but overall the Norwich cadets are handling the challenge.

"The greatest advice I can give to someone getting married is to really know who you are marrying, and to really communicate well," Booth said. "Especially when in college, communication is the key."

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