Rutgers “Should You Enlist?” Report Spells Out Parents’ Rights Regarding Their Children and the Military

However, the high schools weren't very receptive to Venetis' and the students' efforts. Venetis was quoted as saying in the nj.com article: “We sent out letters to every single high school in the state, and we spent months following up, asking permission to enter, and nobody gave us access.”

Venetis and the students' research and efforts, via the clinic, included contacting high schools in order to interview administrators, principals and guidance counselors. However, only two high schools participated. This, unfortunately, didn't give Venetis and her team of students enough data to make any conclusions, or formulate plans for improving the way in which parents are informed. Venetis has plans to work with other advocates on pursuing legislative action as soon as January.

Despite the lack of input by the schools, Rutgers released the report this week, entitled, “Should You Enlist?”, minus the current local information.

The report strongly suggests that both schools boards and the state develop policies that make sure parents are informed they are able to opt out of a “No Child Left Behind Act” provision. This provision mandates that schools that are the recipients of federal funding give 11th- and 12th-grader students' names, addresses and phone numbers to military recruiters.

Department of Defense spokesperson Eileen Lainez was quoted as saying: “In the general population, there are fewer people who have served in the military, and research shows that many people are not informed about military life and the benefits of this career option.”

Venetis was quoted as saying about the report: “We say upfront it's not an anti-military or anti-enlistment report. The purpose of the report is to just let the public know about certain recruiting practices and all the money that goes in to recruiting and all the commercials that are really slick and can be really enticing but don't give all the facts.”

The nearly 150 page report reviews so called marketing ploys used by all branches of the military, and puts forth the premise that advertisements frequently don't give a realistic view of what military life is like; often the horrors of war are glossed over. As well, the report addresses the benefits of joining the military, as well as attending college, and tries to give each path the credit they are due. Venetis stands by her efforts through the clinic, viewing it as a public service for informing young people about the commitment which they're undertaking.
Venetis was quoted as saying: “One should not enlist for the wrong reasons: just because they think it's the only way to get a college education or it's the only way to get ahead. They should enlist because they want to fight for the United States.”

Penny M. Venetis is the Clinical Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Constitutional Litigation Clinic. Before joining Rutgers-Newark in 1994, Professor Venetis clerked for Judge Dickinson R. Debevoise of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. For four years, she also practiced law with O'Melveny & Myers, working on complex commercial litigation and human rights projects.