Issue date: 11/9/04 Section: News

By Andrew Burleson

The number of cadets has decreased over the past two years, but women and minority membership has increased and the cadets' academic performance has improved, according to a report released to the Faculty Senate on Monday afternoon.

Corps Commandant Gen. John Van Alstyne, who issued the report, said there are currently 1,782 Corps members, down from 2,018 cadets in the 2002-2003 scholastic year. Women now make up 9 percent of the Corps, up from 6.6 percent last year. Minority enrollment in the Corps increased for blacks, Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans, while white enrollment decreased.

Faculty Senate member Linda Parrish said she thought the Corps has done the best job at recruiting minorities, but Van Alstyne said recruiting minorities is not difficult.

"Recruiting is not a 'black art.' You simply must target the people that you want," Van Alstyne said.

Van Alstyne said that although the majority of the Corps is Christian, the need for religious diversity is being addressed. The Corps includes a Jewish chaplain and a Muslim chaplain.

"I made it clear (to the chaplains) that their first priority is to ensure there is religious accommodations for everyone in the outfit and their job is to direct them to others who can guide them, like a pastor or a counselor," Van Alstyne said.

Faculty Senate member and associate professor in philosophy Richard Stadelmann teaches religious studies classes and said he has had many Corps chaplains in his courses.

"Over the years I've wondered why there can't be any Jewish or Hindu chaplains," Stadelmann said.

Public Affairs Commander and member of Company D-2 Charles Glover said membership in the Corps has fluctuated between 1,800 and 2,100 members for the past 20 years.

"It is a cycle. Our recruiting efforts are always at 110 percent, but sometimes there are factors that we can't control," Glover said.

Van Alystne said he moved physical training time from early morning to the afternoon to allow students more time during the day for scholastics and also allowed freshmen in the Corps to sleep during the day, which was not allowed until this year.

"Sometimes the best thing academically for a student to do is sleep," Van Alstyne said.

Glover said the changes in the Corps have met some resistance, but that the changes have improved students' grades.

"All the changes have been made to effectively utilize time and provide a scholastic environment," Glover said. "Any changes will be met with resistance or conflict - every day they are becoming more effective."

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