Conscience at Work

Abstract

The Solomon denying federal financial aid to students who did not verify that they had registered with the Selective Service for the military draft was passed in the fall of 1982. In March of 1983, a federal judge in Minnesota issued an injunction against the law because its constitutionality was in question. That summer the Supreme Court struck down the injunction, and a year later, in July, 1984, declared the law constitutional. It was in early 1983 that I became aware of the debate over the constitutionality and fairness of the Solomon Act. I was working in the financial aid office of Boston University as a staff assistant/secretary. The president of BU, John Silber, was outspoken in his support of the law. Any potential noncompliant students he labeled coffeehouse martyrs. His answer to the practical question of what to do about the students who would lose the federal portion of their financial aid was a decision to deny university aid as well. In contrast, some universities decided to help students locate funds from private sources and still others, such as Yale, intended to make up the difference with university aid. The Silber Act provoked response. There were letters opposing his views from faculty and students in both the BU daily paper and the Boston Globe. On the other hand, one Globe columnist, Mike Barnicle, expressed his support for Silber, and his article was circulated in our office with approving highlights. One of my fellow staff assistants, Catherine, a peace activist, was well informed on the particulars of the Solomon Act, and was unwilling to be involved with its enforcement. She had approached the office's management as soon as she had realized what might happen, but she had received no response. Others in the office were concerned, confused, or opposed, but committed nonetheless to the field of financial aid. At a staff meeting Catherine and I tried to find out what would be expected of us as staff assistants, and whether the management would offer any alternative work arrangements for those of us who did not share Silber's views.