Some Penn State students in the United States Army Reserves are being called to duty.
So far, "several dozen" Penn State students have been called to action, said Jim Wager, Veterans Affairs.
"We've been seeing them (Penn State students) pretty routinely," Wager said.
Penn State has a policy to help students who must leave for duty. These students are permitted a military withdrawal, which allows students to get their full tuition back. It also allows them automatic re-entry into the university, Wager said.
Those who are called also retain any financial aid they have previously been given, said Brian Clark of Veterans Affairs. But to be eligible for military withdrawal, the student must present the registrar with the military order, he added.
Students who are called to duty also are let out of their housing contracts free of charge, Colleen Kosko, assistant director of the Assignment Office for Housing said. They are refunded the money for their room and board.
The only money not refunded is the money for food that the student has already purchased, she added.
But students aren't the only ones who may be called to the war front.
Penn State also has a similar policy in place for its employees, said Jim Elliott director of the Office of Human Resources.
If employees are called to duty, they must be given their current positions, or positions considered equal by Penn State, upon returning. But the Office of Human Resources is not aware of any Penn State employee who has been called to duty, Elliott said.
There also are governmental laws that protect reserves who are called to duty. The Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act allows men and women who are called to duty to get out of any leases, and prevents banks from foreclosing on their houses due to an unpaid mortgage, said Sgt. Dale Treaster of the Army Recruiting Station.
To get out of a lease at State College Park, 349 W. Clinton Ave., tenants called to duty would have to present military documents to prove they were called to duty, and their leases would be terminated 30 days later, said Pamela MacElree, a representative of State College Park.
So far, no State College residents have been called to active duty, Treaster said.
