COUNTERING MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Articles: Counter-Recruitment: General
Berkeley Marine Center Draws Anti-War Ire
CBS Local
Oct 3, 2007
Marine Captain Richard Lund recruits college students and graduates
as candidates for officer positions in the marines. But carrying out
that job in Berkeley is not always an easy task.
He has listened to a variety of complaints from members of the
anti-war group Code Pink in recent weeks.
"We are so shocked and horrified that the Marines have come to
Berkeley to prey on our children," said Zanne Joi, a Code Pink member.
Last week, the Code Pink group protested by defacing the recruiting
center and calling the recruiters liars.
In the face of all this, one might ask why would any recruiter want
to come to Berkeley?
Lund says that the office is close to the UC Berkeley campus and a
BART station that it is convenient for recruits.
But what about the Berkeley attitude?
"It was a little bit of a consideration, " Lund said. "But this is my
home. This is America. I'm from the Bay Area. I don't mind being in
any city, any neighborhood. To me it's all home."
The Marines did receive a couple of visitors who approve of their presence.
"It seems to me by trying to shut down recruiting on or near college
campuses, you're really violating the principles of free speech. And
I find that repugnant," said Berkeley resident Nancy Klein. "But we
have to be a little bit crazy here, it's kind of our persona."
Lund says the Marine Corps sets goals for each recruiting station
based on the number of students who live in the area.
This office recruits about 30 officer candidates a year, which is
right at the goal.
Other areas, such as Sacramento, often exceed their recruiting goals.
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