Senators McCain and Bayh PromoteService to U of M Students

On Monday April 9, Senator John McCain and Senator Evan Bayh came to Hill Auditorium to promote their joint “Call to Service” bill, currently pending in the U.S. Senate. Former dean of UMBS and Interim President of the University, Joe White, introduced both gentlemen as having a “deep, long and strong” commitment to community service. He lauded the Global Citizenship program, begun in his own tenure as dean of the Business School, as promoting to students the idea that with privilege comes responsibility, and an opportunity to help communities for their own prosperity and to meet the “most amazing leaders”, e.g. Eleanor Jositis of Focus Hope. He also commended business students for having built five houses through Habitat for Humanity.McCain and Bayh, from opposing political parties, came to the UM campus to promote the idea of giving Americans, particularly the young, an opportunity to serve their country. Both commended UM as the appropriate place to promote the Call to Service bill since in 1960, during his campaign, John F. Kennedy announced the formation of the Peace Corps on the Michigan campus. Senator Bayh went on to challenge students in the audience by asking whether this generation has “what it takes” to defend the principles and values Americans espouse.

The bill calls for going beyond Americorps, the Peace Corps, Senior Service to include military service as a component of service for young Americans. The plan entails 18 months of special reserve training, and 18 months of active duty in return for $18,000 in tuition money. This new “branch” of military service would be mainly for fulfilling homeland security needs. The senators emphasized that service men and women wouldn’t need to have the same training as regular military personnel, but that they could fulfill functions that are currently being fulfilled by active members. Moreover, this sort of military experience for men and women would be “good for society.”

In addition to discussing the specifics of the plan, students took the opportunity to ask questions about international and domestic concerns – which provided a forum for questions about U.S. involvement in Iraq, the Middle East conflict, the environment, military pay and the possible conflict between a military and a peaceful means of service. Among many questions the senators fielded from students, they addressed the issues of campaign finance reform and expressed their concern about the environment, such as the current cutbacks being made in requirements for fuel cells for cars.

Evan Bayh, the leader of the Democratic caucus of Indiana since November 1998, described as having “common sense, Hoosier values” had been governor of Indiana for two terms since 1989. He is co-sponsoring the Charity Aid and Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act in the wake of September 11 events. He also leads the National Democratic Leadership Council, which is comprised of moderates who work with community leaders to promote bipartisan charity efforts.

John McCain, former presidential hopeful and senior Republican senator from Arizona has been serving in national politics for 20 years. His POW status and contributions in the Vietnam War have accorded him the status of national hero in the eyes of many Americans. A ranking member of the senate commerce committee, to the chagrin of automakers and suppliers, McCain called for the raising of CAF standards in motor vehicles in production. He also co-sponsored the patient bill of rights.