Army Will Bill West Point Student Who Left Criticizing Proselytizing

As previously reported, last December a West Point cadet, Blake Page, who had been disqualified on medical grounds from receiving a Second Lieutenant commission, resigned from West Point 5 months short of graduation in protest of the school's promotion of religion. At the time, it was reported that Page would receive an honorary discharge and would not have to reimburse the government for the cost of his education. Yesterday, however, NBC News reported that Assistant Secretary of the Army Thomas Lamont, while approving an honorable discharge, has rejected the recommendation of West Point superintendent Lt. Gen, David Huntoon that repayment of tuition be waived. Instead Page will be billed for over $200,000, Pages's supporters charge that the decision was in retaliation for the scathing commentary about Christian proselytizing at West Point that Page published  as he was leaving.