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The Daily OrangeROTC program in question at Columbia: Presidential election could spark reinstatement
By John Giammatteo
Posted: 2/21/08, 12:20 AM EST Section: News
After banning it for 39 years, Columbia University is now considering the reinstatement of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.
In 1968, Columbia was a platform for many large-scale anti-Vietnam War demonstrations on its campus. The next year, Columbia banned the ROTC program, citing issues such as a lack of control over the curriculum and the hiring process of ROTC officers.
Today, some are wondering whether reinstating the program would add to the character of the university.
"Changes in the ROTC program since the 1960s have since negated most of these issues," Sean Wilkes, chairman of Advocates for Columbia ROTC, said in an e-mail interview.
Currently, however, "the primary reason cited for the continuation of the ban on ROTC at Columbia is the university's disagreement with the Don't Ask Don't Tell law instituted by President Clinton in 1993," he said.
The Solomon Amendment, first enacted in 1996, allows the withholding of all federal funds from any institution that bars military recruiters or the ROTC program. The Supreme Court upheld the law again in 2006.
Johnson pointed out that nowhere else on college campuses is such discrimination accepted, saying "it seems there should be no exception for the military."
To date, the law has only been used to strip funding from schools.
That may change with the next commander-in-chief. Amid a heated primary season, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama agreed they would "vigorously enforce" the Solomon Amendment. John McCain has also voiced support, according to the Columbia Spectator.
Enforcement of the Solomon Amendment could spell trouble for Columbia and other universities. "In essence, the vast majority of Columbia's federal funding would be in jeopardy," Wilkes said. "The same would be true for other schools that currently ban ROTC, including Harvard, Yale and Stanford."
Schools without ROTC programs will have to take the time decide how to deal with the Solomon Amendment and the ROTC dilemma. But many institutions "have tried to find some way to balance the Supreme Court ruling" while attempting "to somehow lessen" its effect, Johnson said.
For now, students at Columbia who wish to participate in the ROTC program must travel to other schools, such as Fordham University or Manhattan College in New York.
"While it is burdensome to have to attend ROTC courses on other campuses, there are a number who are still quite willing to do so for the opportunity to serve their country," Wilkes said.
jhgiamma@syr.edu
In 1968, Columbia was a platform for many large-scale anti-Vietnam War demonstrations on its campus. The next year, Columbia banned the ROTC program, citing issues such as a lack of control over the curriculum and the hiring process of ROTC officers.
Today, some are wondering whether reinstating the program would add to the character of the university.
"Changes in the ROTC program since the 1960s have since negated most of these issues," Sean Wilkes, chairman of Advocates for Columbia ROTC, said in an e-mail interview.
Currently, however, "the primary reason cited for the continuation of the ban on ROTC at Columbia is the university's disagreement with the Don't Ask Don't Tell law instituted by President Clinton in 1993," he said.
The Solomon Amendment, first enacted in 1996, allows the withholding of all federal funds from any institution that bars military recruiters or the ROTC program. The Supreme Court upheld the law again in 2006.
Johnson pointed out that nowhere else on college campuses is such discrimination accepted, saying "it seems there should be no exception for the military."
To date, the law has only been used to strip funding from schools.
That may change with the next commander-in-chief. Amid a heated primary season, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama agreed they would "vigorously enforce" the Solomon Amendment. John McCain has also voiced support, according to the Columbia Spectator.
Enforcement of the Solomon Amendment could spell trouble for Columbia and other universities. "In essence, the vast majority of Columbia's federal funding would be in jeopardy," Wilkes said. "The same would be true for other schools that currently ban ROTC, including Harvard, Yale and Stanford."
Schools without ROTC programs will have to take the time decide how to deal with the Solomon Amendment and the ROTC dilemma. But many institutions "have tried to find some way to balance the Supreme Court ruling" while attempting "to somehow lessen" its effect, Johnson said.
For now, students at Columbia who wish to participate in the ROTC program must travel to other schools, such as Fordham University or Manhattan College in New York.
"While it is burdensome to have to attend ROTC courses on other campuses, there are a number who are still quite willing to do so for the opportunity to serve their country," Wilkes said.
jhgiamma@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
CU Alum
posted 2/21/08 @ 2:35 PM EST
The Orange has been hoodwinked into writing a "news" article about something that happened long ago.
Columbia is not "now considering the reinstatement of [ROTC]". (Continued…)
Betty
posted 2/21/08 @ 4:53 PM EST
I think this article is well researched and eloquently written.
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