Let full-time students skip jury duty

The governor of Indiana has recently placed before the people of Indiana an agenda he wants to push regarding the importance of education. Although I disagree strongly with the governor on several points within his agenda, I do agree that education must be the most important basis for all decisions in a society and that everything else, not tradition or how things have always been regarded in the past, should take precedence over decisions that are made. Unfortunately, officials in Jay County do not feel that education is important and that common sense should not be used when making decisions since this is the way decisions have always been made in the past.
My daughter is pursuing an education currently at Ball State University. She is a diligent student who applies herself to her studies and doesn’t skip classes. In order to assist her in her studies, we have allowed her to live on campus. She does not have the luxury of a car, so she doesn’t get to travel home very often.
Now here is the problem. This week she received a summons from the Jay County Circuit Court to serve as a juror. I called the circuit court and explained to them that my daughter was a full-time student who lived on campus. I explained to them that she did not have a car on campus. I explained to them that she would have to miss college classes, which could not be made up which were paid for. I explained to them that someone would have to miss work and drive over 150 miles in one day to drive from our home in northern Jay County to Muncie, pick her up, return to Jay County, pick her up again, return to Muncie, and then turn around and return home. If she was selected for jury duty, she would miss several days of classes, which would further complicate the problem since she would be in the middle of the semester (mid-terms would be starting one week after the start of jury selection). My daughter might even have to repeat the entire semester at a cost of over $6,500 (tuition and room and board) if she missed mid-terms. Some professors have policies in place that there are no excuses for missing classes. You see, she attends the Honors College. They have different rules. My daughter has an A average. I really would prefer that she keep that average.
I know that judges have a lot on their minds. I understand that there are a lot of individuals who try to get out of doing this duty. But, let’s face it, full-time college students do not need the complication of dealing with traveling home for jury duty. They have enough on their minds. Isn’t it time that Jay County stepped up to the plate and gave these kids a break? If these students can prove they are full-time students living on campus in another county, they should be excused from jury duty. The summons says, “…you must appear on the date … unless you are excused or granted a deferral due to undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, or public necessity.” College students should qualify for any of these excuses. Education is important, and it shouldn’t be interrupted when there are several thousand other people in Jay County who could take their place.
Sincerely,
Cathi Godfrey
Rural Portland

Thanks
To the editor:
With the holidays behind us, the Jay County Salvation Army would like to thank all the volunteers who made this year’s fundraiser a success. Without you, many who are less fortunate would not receive the help they desperately need. Thanks to Dolphus Stephens and Flo Golden who organized the high school students. Thank you to James Fennig of Wal-Mart for your continued support. And Dave Ever of Marsh. Thank you to the students of Jay County High School and others who braved the snow, wind, and cold temperatures to help others. Thank you to the community for your generosity.
Denise Brewster
Chair
Jay County Salvation Army[[In-content Ad]]