A new GI bill is in the works, but just how it’ll look when its finally approved remains to be seen.

Currently, Democrats and Republicans are debating what sort of improvements will be made over the current bill with the Democrats wanting to provide full tuition coverage and a monthly stipend at public universities while Republicans are proposing increasing the monthly stipend from $1100 to $1500. Though the differences between the two main proposals are currently a wide void, there is agreement on one thing: the current GI bill is outdated and needs to be overhauled.

The original G.I. Bill was approved back in 1944 and has been credited with fueling much of our nation’s post-war boom. As military personnel returned from WWII duty, many registered for college, got their degrees, and entered the workforce. The American economy’s post-war expansion lasted for more than two decades and is considered by many to be the one of the strongest catalysts to ignite the economy in the history of our country.

Today, the needs of servicemen and servicewomen has changed, but the G.I. bill hasn’t kept up with these changes. Now with an all-voluntary military in play, political experts believe that offering greater incentives to serve is critical to attracting and building our military. Moreover, there is reason to believe that the current G.I. bill doesn’t go far enough for the level of service performed. Therefore, politicians of every political stripe are in agreement that the bill must be overhauled.

They just aren’t in agreement on how that will be done.

A proposal by United States Senator Jim Webb, a Democrat from Virginia, would lift the current $9900 college tuition stipend cap to allow students to attend school at their in-state public universities for free. In addition, Webb’s proposal would provide a monthly housing stipend.

Webb’s bill would cost an estimated $51.1 billion over the next ten years, but President Bush says that he will veto it as it is being attached to a funding package supporting the military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. The president doesn’t want such linkage, preferring to sign a bill that stands on its own merits.

Republicans simply want to give former military personnel an additional $400 per month which would be added to the $1100 monthly stipend they already get. This move would allow students to attend the school of their choice while providing a housing allowance.

Regardless of what the final bill looks like, veterans groups are unhappy that the action to pass a new GI bill has already taken 16 months without any end in site.

Resources

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

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Tags: G.I. bill, military, public universities, stipends, Student Loans, tuition

When it comes to college football history, few universities have the storied background of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. During the first half of the 20th century, and even as recently as 1988, the Irish of Indiana have routinely presented one of the best football programs on the gridiron.

More recently, Notre Dame’s program has reached the bottom going 3-9 last year including a loss to Navy, snapping the school’s 43 game winning streak against the Midshipmen. Although this year’s squad should improve significantly, the program is far from returning to its elite roots.

Notre Dame is part of the Big East Conference, playing against all schools in all sports except for football, where the program is independent. Notre Dame traditionally starts the year off playing four games against Big Ten opponents with two games scheduled against service academies Air Force and Navy. The remaining games include annual meetings with the USC Trojans and other nationally recognized programs.

Big East teams are only scheduled if they agree to play their home games at a large, neutral setting something that UConn has accepted, but Rutgers has rejected. Two decades ago that sort of demand might have been acceptable but given the current state of the Notre Dame program it simply isn’t any longer.

Notre Dame’s dreams of reaching national prominence again are just that — a dream. Quality high school players are realizing that other programs offer a virtual guaranteed bowl appearance and the chance to appear regularly before NFL scouts. True, Notre Dame’s expanded stadium and national television rights are a compelling reason to consider the school, but when it comes to on-field play, the fight has left the Irish.

It is time for Notre Dame to get real about its football program and make some changes, especially when their current national television package ends in a few years. Specifically, the Irish should:

End their independent football program. Geographically, the Irish are located smack in the middle of Big Ten territory — moving to a new conference and being available to play every sport is only fair. After all, we’re not talking about Ohio State, Michigan, or Wisconsin — Notre Dame will not be named among the conference elite until their recruiting produces a competitive program.

Kiss their television package good-bye. As the only school in the nation with a national television (and radio) package, Notre Dame is in a unique position financially. Unless the Irish produce a solid program by the time the contract is up for review, you can bet that the new deal will be a watered down version of the old one. Better to join a solid conference and share the spoils instead of embarrassing yourself on national television week in and week out.

Schedule true home and home games. Likely, if the Irish are admitted into the Big Ten, they’ll only have to schedule 8 conference games each year. That leaves three or four non-conference contests yearly with at least one service academy and USC included. For the remaining one or two games, the Irish would probably arrange home and home contests. Instead of putting the other school on the spot, the Irish should do the right thing and play at the regular venue. UConn caved in, but Rutgers did not — no school should be placed in an awkward position.

Will Notre Dame ever be named among the nation’s elite again? Perhaps. But, if the current state of the program is any indication of future trends, the Irish have a long way to go. Better to realize that now instead of losing at home once again to a service academy.

Public domain image obtained via Wikipedia.

Further Reading

Fighting Irish Suffer School-Record Ninth Loss This Season

Notre Dame Proves Again That Fans Don’t Matter: Scott Soshnick

Opponent Preview: San Diego State

Resources

College Search

Planning For College

Tags: Air Force Academy, Big East, Big Ten, college football, Fighting Irish, gridiron, Notre Dame, US Naval Academy