The Oath

The new semester is off and rolling and this time around, I have a job on campus! One of my professors hired me to help with some research, mainly doing some statistical analysis on some data that another university is collecting related to something in the power system. I don't know much about it right now as things are just getting started. Stay tuned.

As part of getting this (paying) job I had to fill out paperwork to get hired on as a student at Wichita State. This was a mostly harmless but very repetitious process as I wrote down the same information on multiple applications: federal documents, state documents, university documents, background check authorization, etc. I'm sure I went through the name/address/birthday routine at least six times. It is in moments like this that the engineer in me kicks in and wishes for some kind of centralized database where all of this can be stored and easily accessed. It is then that the libertarian in me kicks in and points out what a dangerous idea this is. Oh well.

The most unusual part of the application was a simple one-paragraph section of the state paperwork which I will reproduce here in full:

STATE OF KANSAS EMPLOYEE’S OATH

K.S.A. 75-4308 et seq requires that the following oath from K.S.A. 54-106, be signed by new employees before entering the duties of employment and before funds for services may be disbursed:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the State of Kansas, and faithfully discharge the duties of my office or employment. So help me God.

___________________________________ Employee’s Signature

Not making this up at all. Coming across this stopped me in a bemused pause. I guess I was effectively going to be a state employee so I guess that means I have to take an oath of office. Sadly, I don't have a working knowledge of either the US Constitution or the Constitution of the State of Kansas and I hope that whatever knowledge I do have combined with my ability to "discharge the duties of my office or employment" will be good enough.