Why We Should All Care About DADT

25 September 2008 Columbia Spectator Op-Ed "Why We Should All Care About DADT" by Chuck Griffith.  Note: Griffith makes the human dignity argument for repealing DADT and does not even mention the sexual privacy and unit cohesion arguments that prompt others to think that having gays in certain roles in the military is problematic.

Why the Ivy League is Rethinking ROTC

17 December 2008 Time Magazine article "Why the Ivy League is Rethinking ROTC".  Note:  "ROTC supporters point to the debate at Columbia and its focus on "don't ask, don't tell" as a sign that students no longer have strong objections to the military more generally — and therefore would be receptive to inviting the program back if the policy were repealed, something more than 100 retired generals and admirals called for in November...  Allan Silver, a Columbia sociology professor who supports the return of ROTC despite what he calls its "abhorrent" policy on gays, [notes that] having future soldiers live side by side with students who sometimes criticize them would encourage critical thinking and thereby strengthen the military."

ROTC and Columbia University's discrimination policy

15 December 2008 Eric's Learning Curve blog post "ROTC and Columbia University's discrimination policy" by Eric Chen.  Note:  One of the leaders of the 2002-2005 ROTC advocacy movement at Columbia University questions the conventional wisdom that the "Don't ask, don't tell" law regulating the military conflicts with Columbia's antidiscrimination policy.  Columbia's  policy states that "Columbia University is committed to providing a learning environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment...Columbia University does not discriminate against any person in the administration of its educational policies... and other University-administered programs".  Since DADT is not unlawful; indeed it is the law, and since it is not one of Columbia's "educational policies", it is not clear that there is an actual conflict here.

Columbia Unveils War Memorial in Butler

12 December 2008 BWOG blog item "Columbia Unveils War Memorial in Butler".  Note:  The memorial also has an online counterpart on Columbia's website.

Dedication Speech for the Columbia War Memorial

12 December 2008 Dedication Speech for the Columbia War Memorial by LTC Eliot Goldman CC '79, USAR.  Note: Goldman concluded his remarks by speaking about ROTC.  "Not many schools have had an alumnus in the Oval Office. With a Columbia College graduate about to be Commander In Chief, we should see to it that President-elect Obama does not command a military that lacks Columbia graduates.  Three months ago, 100 yards from here, our president elect spoke of a recommitment to public service by the youth of America. Today we pay homage to Columbia men who have exemplified commitment to public service by making the ultimate sacrifice to the best country on earth. I leave you men and women of Columbia with the thought that the best way to honor those we pay tribute to with this memorial is to provide a new generation of Columbia men and women with the opportunity to also serve in our military. I challenge Columbia to reestablish ROTC so that this memorial will not represent a commitment of bygone days, but a commitment to the future of Columbia and our great nation. The President Obama Class of ‘83 ROTC Unit should be announced in 2009, and should stand up its first company shortly after that."

Nice to Know: ROTC Results Broken Down by School

11 December 2008 BWOG blog item "Nice to Know: ROTC Results Broken Down by School".  Note:  "Combined with Barnard's results, this means that two schools voted for, and two schools against, with the depth of opposition in Barnard and the size of the CC vote making the difference."

Why Columbia Should Welcome ROTC: Bad policy on gays is not a good reason for a ban

8 December 2008 Wall Street Journal op-ed "Why Columbia Should Welcome ROTC: Bad policy on gays is not a good reason for a ban" by Learned Foote.  Note:  One of the leaders of Columbia Students for NROTCexplains why, despite the "Don't ask, don't tell" law , he and other gay students think it is crucial for top universities to engage actively with the military and for their ROTC graduates be a "liberalizing influence from the bottom up".  "Let us do our duty as Americans. Let us imagine a military that represents our best values."

Our Fraudulent ROTC Vote

8 December 2008 Columbia Spectator Commentariat blog item "Our Fraudulent ROTC Vote" by Armin Rosen.  Note:  Judging by the two voting URLs examined by Advocates for ROTC, the one that appeared transiently in BWOG and another reportedly sent around by College Democrats, the query string of the URL contained two identifiers: a three or 4 digit ID number, and a 24 character alphanumeric string.  Presumably the alphanumeric string was a password that needed to match that assigned for the ID number in order for a vote to count.  Two types of invalid votes are predictable using such a system:  people repeatedly using the valid ID/password combinations that were circulated, and people attempting to vote for another ID number without knowing the correct password.  Presumably both types of improper voting would be detected.  One could argue whether the first or last or no vote should be counted for the disclosed ID/password combinations, but clearly no vote should be counted for the bogus ID/password combinations

Bringing ROTC Back to the Columbia Campus

8 December 2008 Solomonia blog item "Bringing ROTC Back to the Columbia Campus".  Note:  "A Columbia student has exactly the formula for getting homosexuals accepted by straight society and moving policies like 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' into obsolescence -- forget the 'Gay Pride' freak shows, and demonstrate that gays are simply another part of a functioning society".

The ROTC on Campus

8 December 2008 Washington Post groups discussion "The ROTC on Campus".  Note:  One of the comments thinks Learned Foote's argument for ROTC "because it rests, not on insulting or discounting the students opposition, but on the importance of relationship even when there is disagreement. Telling the students that they are ungrateful serves no purpose--it may not be true, it's alienating and divisive, and it's hardly likely to convince anyone of the rightness of your position. The "best argument" is the one that persuades, not the one that makes you feel morally righteous."

NROTC Ends Not With a Bang, But a Whimper

7 December 2008 BWOG blog item "NROTC Ends Not With a Bang, But a Whimper".  Note:  "Council and Senate sources confirm to Bwog that NROTC will not even be presented to the Senate. Whether individual school results will be released for CC, SEAS, and GS is still unknown."

Learned Foote Argues for ROTC in the WSJ

7 December 2008 BWOG blog item "Learned Foote Argues for ROTC in the WSJ".  Note:  In the comments, some raised the question of what the article could achieve by appearing after the ROTC vote, and others pointed out that there are votes coming up in Congress on the "Don't ask, don't tell" law, which would affect future consideration of ROTC at Columbia.

Ivy Leaguers in the Foxholes: ROTC back at Columbia?

7 December 2008 New York Magazine item "Ivy Leaguers in the Foxholes: ROTC back at Columbia? "  Note:  The item looks ahead to what may happen if the "Don't ask, don't tell" law is repealed.

Even Obama Can't Get Columbia University To Listen

5 December 2008 Human Events column "Even Obama Can't Get Columbia University To Listen" by Flagg Youngblood.  Note:  Austin Byrd, vice-president of the Hamilton Society, described how their "get out the vote" effort on the final day of the ROTC survey was short circuited by the voting being ended earlier than they had expected.  The survey email said "The survey will be open until December 1, 2008", which was interpreted by those running the vote as being 9 AM on that date.

ROTC: Wrong in 1968 and Wrong Today

4 December 2008 Columbia Spectator column "ROTC: Wrong in 1968 and Wrong Today" by Andrew Lyubarsky CC '09.  Note:  Lyubarsky  writes that "All the respectable voices of the liberal establishment here, from University President Lee Bollinger to Professor David Eisenbach, have expressed that they would bring ROTC back with open arms once DADT is reversed."  Lyubarsky disagrees, citing the military as "an institution which invades sovereign nations, bombs cities with white phosphorus, and tortures detainees in secret prisons".  He does not discuss the question of whether the military would be a better institution if it had more Columbia graduates

80% of Columbia students did not vote against NROTC

4 December 2008 Eric's Learning Curve blog post "80% of Columbia students did not vote against NROTC" by Eric Chen.  Note:  One of the leaders of the 2002-2005 ROTC advocacy movement at Columbia University ponders the state of mind of the 57% of Columbia students who didn't vote in the recent NROTC survey, and wonders how much of this apathy was due to lackluster efforts of the student councils to present the issue

Next Step Unclear After Split Survey Results

3 December 2008 Columbia Spectator article "Next Step Unclear After Split Survey Results".  Note:  University Senator Rajat Roy, SEAS ’10 said that because Columbia’s three undergraduate schools were lumped together in the poll, it will be difficult for senators to determine how to vote. “They didn’t divide up the vote by school, which was surprising, since that was first thing we [senators] told them to do,” Roy said.

Why Did ROTC Get 65% Student Support in 2003 and Only 49% in 2008?

3 December 2008 BWOG blog item "Why Did ROTC Get 65% Student Support in 2003 and Only 49% in 2008?"  Note:  The item mentions three hypotheses: less favorable attitude towards the military, increased LGBT presence, and a difference in the university and national political climate. 

NROTC Survey Results for CC, SEAS, GS: NROTC Loses By 39 Votes

2 December 2008 BWOG blog item "NROTC Survey Results for CC, SEAS, GS: NROTC Loses By 39 Votes".  Note:  It is not clear from the pooled results whether one or two of the three schools voted in favor of NROTC.  Results from Barnard were not yet reported, but were expected to favor ROTC less than other schools.

Students Roughly Split on NROTC Return

2 December 2008 Columbia spectator article "Students Roughly Split on NROTC Return".  Note:  The article notes that the survey was fought primarily over the issue of the "Don't ask, don't tell" law.  The 2008 Democratic Platform includes the following language: "We support the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and the implementation of policies to allow qualified men and women to serve openly regardless of sexual orientation" so support may change as the Democrats get a chance to implement their platform.

Was the NROTC vote “fair?”

2 December 2008 Columbia Spectator Commentariat blog item "Was the NROTC vote “fair?”" by Armin Rosen.  Note:  Rosen quotes a report that 4905 votes were recorded, including one ID for which 276 votes were recorded, and that after eliminating duplicates, 2971 votes were counted. If all this represents is elimination of non-final multiple votes using one ID, the tally implemented the procedure as announced.  The 276 votes using one ID may be from the posting of the voting URL for one person on BWOG (soon removed). 

GSSC President Calls NROTC Survey "Meaningless"

2 December 2008 BWOG blog item "GSSC President Calls NROTC Survey "Meaningless"".  Note:  BWOG quotes the full email to the College of General Studies student body from Student Council President Brody Berg expressing concerns about the NROTC survey vote.  One of the comments raises the prospects that "someone apparently used a "scattershot" approach - submitting the form with random identifiers in the hopes of landing upon a valid identifier."  Judging from the length of the alphanumeric password apparently need to make a vote with a particular ID number valid it seems that a well-designed system would not be vulnerable to such hacking.

BC's NROTC Results

2 December 2008 BWOG blog item "BC's NROTC Results".  Note:  Barnard students voted 736 to 453 against NROTC.

Educate Yourself, Student Government

2 December 2008 Columbia Spectator column "Educate Yourself, Student Government" by Adil Ahmed.  Note:  Ahmed argues that the the student government leaders should have gotten more involved in the details of discussions about issues such as NROTC at Columbia.

One Last, Mindboggling ROTC Survey Screwup: Councils Failed to Divide Votes by School

2 December 2008 Columbia Spectator Commentariat blog item "One Last, Mindboggling ROTC Survey Screwup: Councils Failed to Divide Votes by School" by Noah Baron.  Note:  Baron characterizes the ROTC survey as "effectively pointless" due to the failure to report vote tallies separately for Columbia's three undergraduate schools.

Between the Trenches: NROTC, Queer Identity, and the Soul of a University

December 2008 Columbia Political Review article "Between the Trenches: NROTC, Queer Identity, and the Soul of a University" by Bryan Lowder.  Note:  "NROTC itself isn’t the real issue—it’s just the symbol of a deeper conflict. Past all the rhetoric, the real fight is over the ideological soul of the University.  In a sense, the anti-ROTC side envisions an institution that stands as a model to the rest of society. Free from prejudice and discrimination, the school should be a so-called “safe space,” where academics work to improve the world without interference from governments. The creation of such a space, in their view, challenges societal injustice by refusing to participate in its propagation.  The pro-ROTC side has a more hands-on perspective. It imagines the University as inexorably linked to the nation-state (including the military), with an essential duty to engage directly with that construct.

A High Achiever Poised to Scale New Heights

30 November 2008 New York Times article "A High Achiever Poised to Scale New Heights".  Note: In an article about Eric Holder, expected to be nominated as US attorney general, his student days at Columbia are described.  "When he arrived at Columbia in 1969 as a boyish-looking freshman, he was recruited by upperclassmen to help take over the R.O.T.C. office. Armed with pillowcases and sheets, he joined several dozen students and christened the office as a student center named for Malcolm X."

NROTC and Columbia U

30 November 2008 Fox News video "NROTC and Columbia U".  Note:  Avi Edelman of Columbia's College Democrats and Learned Foote of Columbia Students for NROTC debate the return of Naval ROTC to Columbia.  Foote stressed that the way to get rid of the "Don't ask, don't tell" law is through Congress or the courts.  When asked if he would give up his opposition to ROTC if students vote to bring it back, Edelman said "I won't give up my personal opposition".

The Fight For ROTC

29 November 2008 Parade Magazine article "The Fight For ROTC".  The article notes that "Although more than 600 colleges in the U.S. allow ROTC programs on campus, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Brown, Tufts, Stanford, and the University of Chicago have maintained the bans they began in protest of the Vietnam War...   “The seven schools who exclude ROTC produce many of our leaders, yet their students have the least contact with the military,” says Sean Wilkes (Columbia University ‘06), chair of Advocates for Columbia ROTC."

Hope for Columbia's ROTC

26 November 2008 New York Post article "Hope for Columbia's ROTC".  Note: The article mentions scholarships as an argument for ROTC. 

Columbia University to Vote on Allowing Military Training Program on Campus

25 November 2008 Fox News article "Columbia University to Vote on Allowing Military Training Program on Campus".  Note:  The article refers to a group called "Columbia Advocates for ROTC", presumably meaning "Columbia Students for NROTC".  The article also notes that "Columbia has been working with the Defense Department" on the issue but no further details were given.  A video version is here, adding more errors such as the composition of the University Senate and the process by which ROTC left campus 4 decades ago.

Survey polls Columbia students on support for ROTC

25 November 2008 Associated Press article "Survey polls Columbia students on support for ROTC".  Note:  The article quotes some as defending the right to have a total campus ban on any activity that discriminates against gays, and others as defending the right to freedom of choice to enroll in an ROTC program.

Response to ROTC Posters

25 November 2008 Response to ROTC Posters by Columbia Students for NROTC.  Note:  Photos of posters by the coalition opposing return of ROTC to Columbia are accompanied by an analysis of the arguments made in the posters.

Fox News Talks About You Talking About ROTC

25 November 2008 BWOG blog item "Fox News Talks About You Talking About ROTC". 

Discrimination Debate

25 November 2008 Fox News video "Discrimination Debate".  Note:  The video segment discusses the ROTC issue at Columbia and the "Don't ask, don't tell" law.  One of the students interviewed is Lauren Salz (whose name was mis-spelled).  Also included is a video tape of then senator Obama expressing his support for ROTC at Columbia.

Faculty Hypocrites Against ROTC

25 November 2008 Columbia Spectator Commentariat blog item "Faculty Hypocrites Against ROTC" by Armin Rosen.  Note:  Rosen discusses the Faculty anti-ROTC ad that opposes moving forward on "hypothetical conditions" such the Democratic party implementing the commitment in its 2008 platform to "repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”".  He illustrates how 4 of the signers have written in detail about hypothetical conditions in other situations.

ROTC Survey In Your Inbox Now

24 November 2008 BWOG blog item "ROTC Survey In Your Inbox Now".  Note:  After many different reports, we now have the wording of the Columbia College version as "Do you support bringing a Naval ROTC program to Columbia's campus?"

Vote No on Columbia's ROTC Survey

24 November 2008 College on the Record blog item "Vote No on Columbia's ROTC Survey".  Note:  "almamater" dismisses the right of students to choose to do ROTC by writing "if ROTC was so important, students should have factored it into their college decision... The same goes for underprivileged students.... Remember, guys, this is Columbia, aka the University of Havana North. This is a school where we don’t observe Columbus Day of out respect for the struggles of Native Americans, even though our school is named after Columbus."

Columbia Faculty Opposing ROTC

23 November 2008 Petitions Online "Columbia Faculty Opposing ROTC".  Note:  An online petition takes an anti-ROTC position that appears to go far beyond opposition to the "Don't ask, don't tell" law.  It reads "We, the undersigned, represent a diversity of disciplines, personal experiences, and political viewpoints. However, as faculty members responsible for creating a welcoming community for all, committed to eternal questioning and the vital interplay of ideas, we are united in our opposition to the institution of an ROTC program on the Columbia campus."  In contrast, an ad to appear in the Columbia Spectator on 24 November takes a position focused on DADT.  Of the first 13 signers of the petition that is anti-ROTC per se, 10 signed the anti-DADT petition as well.

Professors Sign Petition Against NROTC on Campus

23 November 2008 BWOG blog item "Professors Sign Petition Against NROTC on Campus".  Note:  The ad to appear in the Columbia Spectator on 24 November appeals against moving forward on ROTC on the basis of president-elect Obama's plans to reform the "Don't ask, don't tell" law:  The ad reads "In contrast to those who have expressed support for ROTC based on hypothetical conditions, we recognize that any position on ROTC must be grounded in the present. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is official policy and exceptions cannot be negotiated".  See also an online petition that opposes ROTC per se, with no explicit mention of DADT.  Of the 34 signers of the anti-DADT petition, 10 also signed the petition that is anti-ROTC per se.

Vets, Cadets Weigh in on NROTC Debate

21 November 2008 Columbia Spectator article "Vets, Cadets Weigh in on NROTC Debate".  Note:  The article says that "one group has largely remained silent: Columbia students who participate in ROTC programs", while in fact one of the cadets, Kelley Victor-Gasper CC '09 was one of the panelists at the 19 November forum and three other current military students have been very involved in the current ROTC effort and had volunteered to be panelists if needed.  The article also quotes once of these students, Army ROTC cadet John McClelland as saying that "ROTC is not inconvenient to us" due to the availability of Army ROTC in the Bronx.  This underscores the current focus on providing an option for students wishing to do Navy ROTC, for which the only NYC program is both off-limits to Columbia students and also much farther away than the Army program at Fordham.

The Origin of the NROTC Professor Statement of Support

21 November 2008 BWOG blog item "The Origin of the NROTC Professor Statement of Support".  Note:  In response to a previous BWOG item, Sociology professor Allan Silver writes to explain the origin of the faculty pro-ROTC ad.  "There is no mystery, nothing is concealed, all is transparent."

NROTC Forum: Prepare for the Survey

20 November 2008 BWOG blog item "NROTC Forum: Prepare for the Survey".  Note:  The anti-ROTC side based its case heavily on the "Don't ask, don't tell" law and the 2 of the 4 people speaking for the pro-ROTC side were gay veterans who argued that both the military and Columbia need the diversity of thought that would result from an ROTC program.  Rahel Aima CC'10 of Students for a Democratic Society and the Columbia Coalition Against the War "compared the enforced adherence to military standards in the ROTC to forcing everyone who reads the Symposium to engage in pedophilia"

In Anticipation of Campus Survey, Panelists Debate DADT Policy

20 November 2008 Columbia Spectator article "In Anticipation of Campus Survey, Panelists Debate DADT Policy".  Note:  "Pro-NROTC students called for the reinstatement of NROTC on Columbia’s campus, a move they believed would change ... discriminatory practices from the bottom up. Students against NROTC’s return argued that keeping the program off campus would be a symbolic protest against biased practices."

The Right Kind of Conversation

20 November 2008 Columbia Spectator editorial "The Right Kind of Conversation".  Note:  Spectator wrote that the 19 November NROTC forum "allowed for a structured conversation to take place and should be used as an example for future discussions of contentious campus issues".

Faculty in Support of ROTC

20 November 2008 Columbia Spectator ad "Faculty in Support of ROTC".  Note:  The text is "We broadly support the return of ROTC to Columbia University -- some of us unconditionally, others if legislation prohibiting military service by open homosexuals is reformed, and/or provision made for faculty control of appointments, curriculum and credit.  We all believe, in principle, that an ROTC program at Columbia is an appropriate educational responsibility of the university."

Prof Club Backs NROTC

20 November 2008 BWOG blog item "Prof Club Backs NROTC".  Note:  "Some heavy (and not-so-heavy) hitting faculty came out in the Spec today endorsing NROTC's presence on campus. Bwog is inquiring into the genesis of the list--mostly male--and will update as information becomes available."  Others are welcome to sign the ad too.  See follow-up item on 21 November.

Yes on NROTC

19 November 2008 Columbia Spectator column "Yes on NROTC" by Lauren Salz BC'11.  Note:  Salz, director of the College Republicans, writes "If the military is not what we want it to be, then we must work within the system to change it. To get the best and the brightest into the military, we must allow the military to train officer candidates on our campus."

Tonight's NROTC Forum - Now With a Format!

19 November 2008 BWOG blog item "Tonight's NROTC Forum - Now With a Format!".  Note:  The event will have "3 questions about the impact on student life, the role of Columbia's NROTC history, and the role of DADT in the debate" as well as 30 minutes of audience questions.

Anti-NROTC Coalition Holds Meeting with Councils, Dems Put Up New Posters; UPDATE: Pro-NROTC Responds

18 November 2008 BWOG blog item "Anti-NROTC Coalition Holds Meeting with Councils, Dems Put Up New Posters; UPDATE: Pro-NROTC Responds".  Note:  An anti-ROTC poster is shown claiming that "If we were to welcome ROTC onto our campus, the 19% of our population who identify as LGBTQ would be legally barred from taking any ROTC-specific courses" and the pro-ROTC side countered by demonstrating that this is not the case at MIT.  An anonymous poster in the comments section suggests that pro-ROTC people "take all the energy you're investing here in trying to get the university to bend over backwards to accommodate ridiculous policy like DADT and instead combine forces with all the other pro-ROTC groups at other campuses and put pressure on congress to fix DADT."  That is in fact being done; details of such efforts over the past several years may emerge at the 19 November forum.

Councils to Host One Discussion Forum, Not Two, on NROTC

18 November 2008 Columbia Spectator article "Councils to Host One Discussion Forum, Not Two, on NROTC".  Note:  The forum will be on 19 November at 7 PM.  The survey will be open for at least a week after 24 November, until 55% or more of students respond.  "The group Columbia Students for NROTC held its own event on College Walk yesterday, offering passersby a script to call and petition congress members to repeal DADT. Justin Johnson, SIPA ’10, is a member of the group, and said despite opposing DADT, he would vote to bring back NROTC because it would draw more open-minded and affluent students to the military and because the government, not the military, is to blame for DADT."

ROTC Survey to Open Nov. 24

17 November 2008 Columbia Spectator article "ROTC Survey to Open Nov. 24".  Note:  The corrected version of the article gives the wording of the ROTC question as “Would you support bringing a Naval ROTC program to Columbia's campus at this time?”.  The article also repeats the common error of referring to "military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy", while in fact DADT is required by federal law.

Why ROTC Should Return to Columbia

14 November 2008 Columbia Spectator op-ed "Why ROTC Should Return to Columbia" by Prof. Allan Silver.  Note:  Silver, who opposed ROTC when it was de-certified in the late 1960s, writes that "The conspicuous absence from military service of those headed for leading positions in society is a civic scandal... When military service is not broadly shared, military and civilian society risk an unhealthy mutual isolation".  He proposes that Congress reform the "Don't ask, don't tell" law and reconsider some provisions of the ROTC Vitalization Act of 1964, and the military increase the number of urban ROTC programs.  "The government and the military must decide whether to invest in a diverse, regionally balanced, educationally qualified military leadership. Columbia must decide if it is prepared to include ROTC among its responsibilities... Whether you support ROTC now or after DADT’s reform, vote “yes” in the upcoming survey. Only voting “yes” makes it clear that in principle you want Columbia to make that contribution".

Anti-NROTC Groups Raise Their "Voices"

12 November 2008 BWOG blog item "Anti-NROTC Groups Raise Their "Voices"".  Note:  Professor David Eisenbach, one of the anti-ROTC panelists, agreed in response to a question that "Don't ask, don't tell" is a federal law and it is "now it is up to the politicians to end it".

NROTC Forum Previews Survey Opinion

12 November 2008 Columbia Spectator article "NROTC Forum Previews Survey Opinion".  Note:  A coalition of anti-ROTC groups held a panel discussion with a question and answer period.  The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network pulled out of the event at the last minute.  The article notes that "Some students who had graduated from the ROTC program also commented and asked questions, emphasizing their disapproval of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and challenging the panelists on some of their assertions."

From Murky Talks to Dialogue

11 November 2008 Columbia Spectator editorial "From Murky Talks to Dialogue".  Note:  Spectator discusses the planning of the survey on NROTC.

Today in ROTC-Related News: What Were They Thinking?

11 November 2008 Columbia Spectator Commentariat blog item "Today in ROTC-Related News: What Were They Thinking?" by Armin Rosen '11.  Note:  Rosen sees the lopsided anti-ROTC event planned for the evening of Veterans' Day as evidence that "these groups don’t really want dialogue".

Brace for Impact! What's Ahead for the NROTC Debate

11 November 2008 BWOG blog item "Brace for Impact! What's Ahead for the NROTC Debate".  Note:  The blog shows the "rather interesting poster" used to advertize for an anti-ROTC event and links to the website of Columbia Students for NROTC.

Questions and Answers About NROTC

10 November 2008 Questions and Answers About NROTC by Columbia Students for NROTC.  Note: Columbia students outline the case for Naval ROTC at Columbia in advance of the student survey scheduled for 24 November.

Obama Needs a Strong Foreign Policy

7 November 2008 Wall Street Journal op-ed "Obama Needs a Strong Foreign Policy" by Will Marshall.  Note:  The president of the Progressive Policy Institute gives advice to the president-elect: "At a Sept. 11 summit on national service at Columbia University, Mr. Obama chided his alma mater for barring ROTC from campus during the Vietnam War. As America's next commander in chief, Mr. Obama should take that message to other elite universities, and to places like the Marine Recruiting office in Berkeley, Calif., whose mayor, Tom Bates, earlier this year called the Marines an "uninvited and unwelcome guest."  Such gestures would go a long way toward allaying suspicions that the Democratic Party harbors anti-military attitudes."

First Signs of ROTC Debate Appear

6 November 2008 BWOG blog item "First Signs of ROTC Debate Appear".  Note:  The blog of The Blue and White, Columbia's undergraduate magazine, shows a poster "from the anti-ROTC coalition (so far including the Dems, Lucha, CQA, EAAH, and Proud Colors)."

Palling Around with Traitors, or Those Who Feel Like Them

28 October 2008 Columbia Spectator Op-ed "Palling Around with Traitors, or Those Who Feel Like Them" by Noah Baron '11.  Note:  Baron writes that as a gay student he'd feel unwelcome with ROTC on campus, fearing that "return of the NROTC will establish, for the first time in a long time, an entire department at this institution in which an entire section of our student body cannot participate".

Making the Case for the Military

28 October 2008 Columbia Spectator Op-ed "Making the Case for the Military" by Peter Meijer '10.  Note:  Meijer writes "“Don’t ask, don’t tell” is an atrocious policy, but it is largely a product of the very disconnect between the armed forces and general society that the administration’s ROTC ban fosters.... Supporting ROTC is not a vote for the military and its policies. It is a vote to bring knowledge of our fighting forces to campus, for the benefit of both the university and the armed forces."

On ROTC, Who Does Columbia Speak For?"

24 October 2008 Columbia Spectator column "On ROTC, Who Does Columbia Speak For?" by Armin Rosen.  Note:  Rosen compares Columbia's hosting of a speech by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to its unwillingness to host an ROTC program

Aries L. blog post on ROTC

23 October 2008 Aries L. blog post on ROTC.  Note:  The blogger, an architecture student at Columbia, expresses skepticism that the Navy would open an ROTC program at Columbia, and an ROTC advocate makes the case for ROTC at Columbia using statistics, analysis and history to detail the current and likely interest in ROTC from Columbia students.

A Bias-Free Campus?

20 October 2008 Columbia Spectator Op-ed "A Bias-Free Campus?" by Learned Foote CC'11.  Note:  Foote, the President of the Columbia College Class of 2011 and treasurer of the Columbia Queer Alliance, argues for asking the military for an ROTC program at Columbia despite the "Don't ask, don't tell" law.  "We cannot address discrimination by distancing ourselves from the military. We cannot ignore Columbia’s potential to create a liberalizing influence from the bottom up."

New Dates for ROTC Survey

20 October 2008 BWOG blog item "New Dates for ROTC Survey".  Note:  The blog of The Blue and White, Columbia's undergraduate magazine, publishes the Student Government Association email announcing that the ROTC referendums will be conducted in the week of 17 November, and the forums will be in the week of 10 November.

When and Why ROTC Should Return to Columbia --- Position and Discussion Paper

17 October 2008 When and Why ROTC Should Return to Columbia --- Position and Discussion Paper by Allan Silver, Professor of Sociology, Columbia University.  Note: Professor Silver presents a detailed history of the ROTC issue and why Columbia should re-engage with ROTC.

The ROTC Debate

12 October Barnard Bulletin opinion article "The ROTC Debate" by Sigourney LaBarre.  Note:  LaBarre quotes various arguments on the ROTC issue, mostly against ROTC, including the contention by Rahel Aima, CC ’10 and leader of Students for a Democratic Society, that ROTC should be opposed "not only because of the military’s discriminatory policy against homosexuals, but also because of its discrimination against all minorities". 

Response to Columbia President Bollinger's e-mail on ROTC

4 October 2008 Eric's Learning Curve blog item "Response to Columbia President Bollinger's e-mail on ROTC " by Eric Chen.  Note:  One of the leaders of the 2002-2005 ROTC advocacy movement at Columbia University writes between the lines of Columbia President Bollinger's 25 September email on ROTC.

Alumni Org Calls For Return Of ROTC

2 October 2008 Harvard Crimson article "Alumni Org Calls For Return Of ROTC".  Note:  The American Council of Trustees and Alumni sent letters to the governing boards of Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Brown and Stanford calling on them to reconsider their bans on ROTC.  "Paul E. Mawn ’63, the chairman of Advocates for Harvard ROTC and a retired Navy captain, said in an interview yesterday that ACTA “may not understand what the realistic target is” and that the goal should be official recognition" by the Harvard Corporation, "not the opening of a ROTC branch at Harvard.  “The reality is that there are so few students at ROTC anyway, so tomorrow if Harvard begged and pleaded the Pentagon to bring it back on campus, they wouldn’t,” Mawn said. “What has evolved around the country is core sites like MIT that service several different schools. MIT has the critical mass and good facilities and classrooms for the courses and drilling and other activities. There is no critical mass at Harvard.”".  Mawn called upon Harvard to pay the overhead fee for Harvard students taking ROTC courses at MIT, currently paid by the alumni-funded "Friends of Harvard ROTC Trust".

ROTC Debate May Return to USenate

1 October 2008 Columbia Spectator article "ROTC Debate May Return to USenate".  Note:  James Applegate, a professor of astronomy who served as co-chair of the task force in 2004-5, said of the new student-led ROTC initiative "This is a new thing for students, and faculty are saying, ‘Hey, we did this yesterday.’"

A Columbia Marine: To Obama: Help!

30 September 2008 Wall Street Journal column "A Columbia Marine: To Obama: Help!" by William McGurn.  Note:  McGurn profiles Austin Byrd CC'10, who has gone through Marine training.  Byrd says "What Columbia needs is a debate that cuts to the heart of this issue ... whether ROTC is fit to be on our campus."

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Cited In Bollinger's Opposition to ROTC

29 September 2008 New York Sun article "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Cited In Bollinger's Opposition to ROTC". 

Councils Set Details of ROTC Forum

29 September 2008 Columbia Spectator article "Councils Set Details of ROTC Forum".  Note:  The article states "The current discussion revolves around NROTC specifically because it is not available to Columbia students, unlike the other branches of the corps, which operate programs on nearby campuses."  Although there is a Navy ROTC program at SUNY Maritime in the Bronx, it is Navy policy only to allow students from other campuses if their university has a cross-town agreement with the host NROTC program.  There is no such need for cross-town agreements for Columbia students doing Army or Air Force ROTC at nearby colleges.

USenate Plenary Addresses ROTC, Economy, Brinkley

29 September 2008 Columbia spectator article "USenate Plenary Addresses ROTC, Economy, Brinkley".  Note:  President Bollinger said the University’s 2005 decision on ROTC would only be re-examined if students brought the issue to the Senate.

Allow Freedom for ROTC on Campus

27 September 2008 Wall Street Journal letters "Allow Freedom for ROTC on Campus".  Note:  In response to the 13 September editorial about ROTC at Columbia, one of the letters, by Columbia alumnus and retired Navy commander Edward A. Cook, calls on Columbia University to "allow at least one ROTC office on campus".

ROTC and Relativity

27 September 2008 Chronicle of Higher Education column "ROTC and Relativity" by Stephen Joel Trachtenberg CC'59.  Note:  The former president of George Washington University notes the pendulum swing from the 1960s, when students pushed for excluding ROTC at Columbia, to now, when they are pushing for its return

Pres. Bollinger Weighs In on ROTC Debate

26 September 2008 Columbia spectator article "Pres. Bollinger Weighs In on ROTC Debate".  Note:  Rajat Roy, SEAS ’10 and a University senator for the Engineering Student Council, "said that if [undergraduate] students don’t support the return of NROTC, senators representing them won’t consider it. But he pointed out that graduate students and their senators also have the option of raising the issue to the senate."

Exciting New Details About the NROTC Forums

26 September 2008 BWOG blog item "Exciting New Details About the NROTC Forums".  Note:  The blog of The Blue and White, Columbia's undergraduate magazine, reports that Student Councils will be encouraging the pro- and con- sides on the ROTC to organize and self-select a total of six students who would be representing them at the Columbia and Barnard forums slated for late October.

Lee Bollinger's Policy

26 September 2008 Power Line blog item "Lee Bollinger's Policy".  Note:  The item denounces as sophistry Columbia President Lee Bollinger's reference to the "Don't ask, don't tell" federal law as a "policy of the Defense Department".  It is unclear, however, whether Bollinger was intentionally misleading or just echoing the misleading title of the federal law which refers to itself as "Policy concerning homosexuality in the armed forces".

Letter from American Council of Trustees and Alumni

26 September 2008 Letter from American Council of Trustees and Alumni president Ann D. Neal to the trustees of Columbia University calling for the trustees to reconsider Columbia's ban on ROTC.  Similar letters were sent to the governing boards of Harvard, Yale, Brown and Stanford.

Student Councils Plan To Hold Forums on NROTC

25 September 2008 Columbia Spectator article "Student Councils Plan To Hold Forums on NROTC".  Note:  The student councils will host an open meeting on 26 September to plan forums addressing the possible return of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps.  "University Provost Alan Brinkley said that he personally would have no problems with ROTC if it repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. But, Brinkley added, the issue may be moot. “It’s very unlikely that ROTC would choose to come back to Columbia because there is just not enough interest in that to justify multiple ROTC units in the city,” he said."  It is not clear whether the contention that DADT is something other than a federal law was made by the Provost or assumed by Spectator.

Statement Regarding ROTC and the Campus

25 September 2008 Columbia University Office of the President "Statement Regarding ROTC and the Campus" by President Lee C. Bollinger.  Note: President Bollinger points out that students already have some ROTC opportunities available at other area colleges, and that current military policy is to aggregate ROTC programs so as to achieve proper scale.  He concludes "it is not at all clear whether a change of policy would have any impact on the current practice of having our students travel to one of the other campus ROTC sites, as do virtually all other students at New York area colleges and many others across the nation."

PrezBo Speaks On ROTC

25 September 2008 BWOG blog item "PrezBo Speaks On ROTC".  Note:  The blog of The Blue and White, Columbia's undergraduate magazine, comments on Columbia President Lee Bollinger's email to the Columbia community about the ROTC issue.  The blog item observes "unfortunately for the NROTC planners, the email also shows that PrezBo has not been paying attention to their efforts. Contrary to Bollinger's claim, there is no Naval ROTC program for Columbia students."  However, this is not correct since President Bollinger did not claim that there is currently a Naval ROTC opportunity for Columbia students; he merely neglected to point out that existing ROTC opportunities are limited to Army and Air Force programs.  Furthermore, making the claim that Bollinger has ignored the Navy part of the issue would require knowledge of all his deliberations, an assertion that is not credible.

Bollinger Defends Campus ROTC Ban in Email

25 September 2008 Columbia Spectator article "Bollinger Defends Campus ROTC Ban in Email".  Note:  Spectator quotes from President Bollinger's email to the Columbia community about the ROTC issue, which did not mention Naval ROTC specifically, and noted that "student leaders have said they want to deal specifically with NROTC because, unlike other branches of ROTC, it's not an option for Columbia students."

ROTC Public Forums Announced

24 September 2008 BWOG blog item "ROTC Public Forums Announced".  Note:  The blog of The Blue and White, Columbia's undergraduate magazine, published the email from Adil Ahmed CC'09, Columbia College Student Council Vice President for Policy, announcing plans for public forums on ROTC.

Legislate Slow, Homie

24 September 2008 Columbia Spectator Op-ed "Legislate Slow, Homie" by Adil Ahmed CC'09.  Note:  The Columbia College Student Council Vice President for Policy explains the rationale for a student survey on ROTC before the matter is taken up again by the University Senate: "If the survey shows that most students do not support the Navy ROTC, the senate will not even consider it. If there is overwhelming support, then it will surely take precedence on the senate’s agenda."

ROTC Meetings Opening to All Groups; Senators Pushed Out

22 September 2008 BWOG blog item "ROTC Meetings Opening to All Groups; Senators Pushed Out".  Note:  The blog of The Blue and White, Columbia's undergraduate magazine, discusses the process by which student councils are to decide on an ROTC referendum.

Will Ivy League Embrace R.O.T.C. Again?

19 September 2008 Christian Science Monitor article "Will Ivy League Embrace R.O.T.C. Again?".  Note:  The article notes that although it is unlikely that many Ivy League graduates would enter ROTC programs, "the impact on the military, and on the East Coast elite that still struggles with military service, would be enormous".

Attempting to Approach Controversial ROTC Referendum, Student Leaders Wonder Who Should Have a Say

18 September 2008 Columbia Spectator article "Attempting to Approach Controversial ROTC Referendum, Student Leaders Wonder Who Should Have a Say".  Note:  "The newest push to revisit the ROTC policy was spurred by engineering students who have expressed frustration that the naval ROTC—a route, they say, to recouping college loans—doesn’t operate a program in Manhattan.

Statement on NROTC

18 September 2008 Columbia University College Democrats "Statement on NROTC".  Note:  The statement says that NROTC "has no place in our community or on our campus" as long as the "Don't ask, don't tell" law is in place, and brands the law, passed by a Democratic Congress and signed by President Clinton, as unconstitutional.

ESC Views Proposal For ROTC Referendum

16 September 2008 Columbia Spectator article "ESC Views Proposal For ROTC Referendum".  Note:  "A student-referendum protocol that would allow students to vote to express their opinions on controversial issues made its way through the Engineering Student Council Monday night with some resistance."

Columbia Students May Vote on ROTC

15 September 2008 New York Sun article "Columbia Students May Vote on ROTC".  Note:  The article reports that a vote to hold "a student-wide referendum about whether the military program should be allowed ... could come as early as this week."  The article also described the reaction of 7,500 people watching video feed of the 11 September presidential candidate forum at Columbia.  "Mr. McCain was booed by students when he voiced his opposition to the ban, but that when Mr. Obama expressed a similar sentiment, the crowd had a different response.  "Almost everyone's expecting him to say no, because he's on our side, right? So then you heard him say 'yes' and everyone's mouths opened in stunned silence. It was absolutely priceless," Mr. Hirsch said."

CCSC Unveils Student Referendum Process

15 September 2008 Columbia Spectator article "CCSC Unveils Student Referendum Process".  Note:  A committee will look into ways to do online surveys of students to gauge approval for matters such as return of ROTC to Columbia.

Obama Flip-Flops on ROTC

15 September 2008 Columbia Spectator op-ed article "Obama Flip-Flops on ROTC" by Hannah Jones.  Note:  The writer, a Columbia College senior, argued that Senator Obama was wrong to suggest that Columbia students don't have a choice about serving in ROTC because they are free to do ROTC off campus and support ROTC verbally on campus.

Duty, Honor, Country… and Columbia: Bringing back the ROTC

15 September 2008 National Review article "Duty, Honor, Country… and Columbia: Bringing back the ROTC" by David J. Feith.  Note:  Feith, a senior at Columbia, recalled the hosting of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by Columbia in 2007.  "The value of engaging with Ahmadinejad, [Columbia President Lee] Bollinger argued, outweighed the costs of sharing a prestigious podium with a murderer of gays (not to mention American troops). Maybe the experience has led Bollinger, who in 2005 voted to uphold the ROTC ban, to reconsider the costs and benefits of sharing a campus with ROTC cadets and drill instructors."

Obama: Right on ROTC

15 September 2008 New Republic column "Obama: Right on ROTC " by Marty Peretz.  Note:  The Editor-In-Chief  wrote that Senator Obama's support for ROTC at the 11 September presidential candidate forum at Columbia "did not surprise me at all. It is an expression of his understanding the essentials of democratic life. That we need a military is axiomatic. That we need a bright and curious military follows from this first principle."  Peretz also wants to know what Senators McCain and Obama think of the "don't ask, don't tell" law.

Student Councils and Groups Meeting to Hold Referendum on ROTC

14 September 2008 BWOG blog item "Student Councils and Groups Meeting to Hold Referendum on ROTC".  Note:  The blog of The Blue and White, Columbia's undergraduate magazine, reports that "representatives from the CC, GS, and SEAS student councils, in conjunction with SGB, the College Democrats, CQA, CPU, the Hamilton Society, and the College Republicans, have been meeting since school began to discuss plans for a student referendum on the return of Naval ROTC to campus."

Obama and McCain v. Ivy League

13 September 2008 Wall Street Journal editorial "Obama and McCain v. Ivy League".  Note:  The Journal described the boos in the audience at the 11 September presidential candidate forum when Senator McCain called for lifting the ban on ROTC at Columbia and the "silence when crowd favorite Mr. Obama (Columbia '83) called the ban "a mistake"".  The editorial asked "if a bipartisan rebuke on ROTC is enough to shame Columbia and the other Ivies into changing their dishonorable act".  See letters on 27 September.

ROTC and the Ivies: The presidential candidates agree that the de facto ban by elite universities should end

13 September 2008 Washington Post editorial "ROTC and the Ivies: The presidential candidates agree that the de facto ban by elite universities should end."  Note:  The Post observes that "the restoration of ROTC at the Ivies might help reconnect two important American subcultures -- elite academia and the military officer corps -- that have grown apart"

Despite Campaign Halt, Event Focuses on Political Issues

12 September 2008 Columbia Spectator article "Despite Campaign Halt, Event Focuses on Political Issues".  Note:  The article discussed the pro-ROTC statements by Senators McCain and Obama at the 11 September presidential candidate forum at Columbia and interviewed Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Senator Joe Biden after the event, who agreed that ROTC should be a choice on campus. “I think that there should be ROTC on campus. No one has to show up and sign up. Just as I defended this University’s right to invite Ahmadinejad, regardless of how bad that judgment may have been, how can you say that there should not be an ROTC group here?"

School of War

12 September 2008 WNYC Brian Lehrer show "School of War".  Note: The show played the audio clip of Senator Obama's answer on ROTC at the 11 September presidential candidate forum.  Scott Jaschik, the editor of Inside Higher Education, noted Senator Obama's opposition to the "Don't ask, don't tell" law and observed that "if Obama were able to execute all of his plans, the opposition of many on campus to ROTC units might also evaporate".  He added that "some people are arguing that American society would benefit if more military leaders were educated at places like Columbia".  Robert McCaughey, professor of history at Barnard College and a former naval officer responded to

Obama, All Talk, No Action on Bringing ROTC Back to Campus

12 September 2008 National Review "Campaign spot" item "Obama, All Talk, No Action on Bringing ROTC Back to Campus" by Jim Geraghty.  Note:  Geraghty noted Senator Obama's pro-ROTC remarks at the 11 September presidential candidate forum and wrote "it would have helped if the senior lecturer/professor had ever said or done something about it while he was teaching at the University of Chicago, which kicked ROTC off campus during the Vietnam War ... The University's student newspaper has opined in favor of bringing back ROTC."

Serendipity and ROTC

12 September 2008 Critical Mass blog item "Serendipity and ROTC" by Erin O'Connor.  Note:  O'Connor argues that "the place to protest DADT, which the majority of us can easily see is misguided and wrong, is not ROTC. It would be a great, great thing to see Columbia decide to re-open the ROTC question, not only out of respect for all kinds of service, not only out of respect for Columbia students' desire to see ROTC return, but also out of respect for students' intelligence and freedom of choice."

Fox's Williams falsely suggested Obama has changed position in now supporting ROTC on campuses

12 September 2008 Media Matters for America article "Fox's Williams falsely suggested Obama has changed position in now supporting ROTC on campuses".  Note:  The left-of-center media watch group documents that Senator Obama took an approach to ROTC in a 15 January Democratic presidential debate that was similar to the position that he took at the 11 September ServiceNation forum at Columbia University.

An Absence of Service

11 September 2008 Townhall column "An Absence of Service" by Austin Byrd.  Note:  Byrd, a sophomore at Columbia and a Marine Corps trainee, notes the upcoming presidential candidates' forum on national service and writes "Columbia University has shown a glaring lack of service for 40 years, following its ban of ROTC from its campus in 1968.  How can one discuss fulfilling service to one’s nation without considering what is one of the vital forms of fulfillment, that of military service?  ... In what moral calculus could one’s sexual orientation ever trump the monumental gift of citizenship in and open, free, and safe society?"  He also notes "Even small gestures, such as waiving the Physical Education requirement for students involved in training could have a positive cultural impact at Columbia."

Obama and McCain Remarks at ServiceNation Summit Forum

11 September 2008 Congressional Quarterly transcript "Obama and McCain Remarks at ServiceNation Summit Forum".  Note:  Both Senator McCain and Senator Obama discussed ROTC.  McCain brought it up himself, saying "And frankly, we’re here in a wonderful institution. I’m proud that my daughter graduated from this school. But do you know that this school will not allow ROTC on this campus? I don’t think that’s right. Shouldn’t the students here be exposed to the attractiveness of serving in the military, particularly as an officer?  ...  I would hope that these universities would re-examine that policy of not even allowing people who come here to represent the military and other Ivy League schools and then maybe they will be able to attract some more."  Senator Obama was asked by moderator Richard Stengel "your alma mater, invited President Ahmadinejad of Iran to be here last year, but they haven’t invited ROTC to be on campus since 1969. Should Columbia and elite universities that have excluded ROTC invite them back on campus?"  Obama replied "Yes. I think we’ve made a mistake on that.  I recognize that there are students here who have differences in terms of military policy. But the notion that young people here at Columbia or anywhere, in any university, aren’t offered the choice, the option of participating in military service, I think is a mistake.  That does not mean we disregard any potential differences in various issues that are raised by the students here, but it does mean that we should have an honest debate while still offering opportunities for everybody to serve, and that’s something that I’m pretty clear about."

Why McCain, Time, and Obama Are Wrong About ROTC

11 September 2008 ObamaPolitics.com blog item "Why McCain, Time, and Obama Are Wrong About ROTC".  Note: Wilson, author of Barack Obama: This Improbable Quest, points out the lack of parallelism between Columbia's hosting of an appearance by Iranian President Ahmadinejad and Columbia's decision not to host ROTC programs since one involves speech and the other involves setting up an educational program.  He suggests alternatives for reconciling university norms with the ROTC Vitalization Act of 1964.  An ROTC program at Princeton already implements many such approaches.

Student Leaders Work to Expand ServiceNation Event

9 September 2008 Columbia Spectator article "Student Leaders Work to Expand ServiceNation Event".  Note:  Outside the 11 September presidential candidate forum at Columbia there will be "student groups managing voter registration, information booths to encourage community service, and bins for canned food donations. In addition to music and an open mic, organizers will set up a photo montage of students involved in community service". 

ServiceNation Announces Columbia University to Host "ServiceNation Presidential Candidates Forum"

3 September 2008 Columbia University press release "ServiceNation Announces Columbia University to Host "ServiceNation Presidential Candidates Forum": Presidential Candidates John McCain and Barack Obama will Kick-off the Two-day Summit on Civic Engagement and Public Service on Sept. 11".  Note:  The 9/11 timing, the setting at Columbia and the inclusion of military veterans make it likely that the ROTC issue will be discussed.  As noted in the ServiceNation press release, "the public is encouraged to submit on-topic questions for the candidates at http://tinyurl.com/6jmhd5".

Invaluable Vets

Spring 2008 Columbia Owl article "Invaluable Vets".  Note: Columbia "boasts the largest number of vets in the Ivy League".  Provost Alan Brinkley said “The opposition to ROTC was based on the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy that violates our own anti-discrimination rules...  I don’t believe those who opposed ROTC on those grounds had any animus towards veterans or the military.”

Military Men Reflect on Careers, Motivations

26 February 2008 Columbia Spectator article "Military Men Reflect on Careers, Motivations".  Note:  The Hamilton Society, an undergraduate military advocacy group, sponsored a program in which recent veterans described their experiences in the military.  Air Force Staff Sergeant Jason Kimberling said “I’ve walked through a lot of villages in Afghanistan where the Taliban has come through and cut the hands off all the children... When you see those things, it’s pretty clear in my mind the difference between what’s right and what’s wrong. I know why I’m there.”  Photos are at this link.

Columbia University Hamilton Society "Why We Serve" Event

25 February 2008 Columbia University Hamilton Society "Why We Serve" Event.  Note:  Photos from the even described the next day in a Columbia Spectator article.

Keep Columbia Out of the War

8 February 2008 Columbia Spectator column "Keep Columbia Out of the War" by David Judd.  Note:  Judd writes that it is a "black mark" on Columbia that a tenth of a percent of its endowment is invested in defense contractors, and "by maintaining its investments, Columbia does not maintain its neutrality. It has chosen to own a piece of the war".  He argues that Columbia should not support ROTC since the mission of the military "currently centers on a disastrous occupation".

Candidates, Cadets Wrestle With ROTC Presence

4 February 2008 Columbia Spectator article "Candidates, Cadets Wrestle With ROTC Presence".  Note:  The article discusses how to create an atmosphere supportive of ROTC at Columbia, from increasing the number of ROTC students to pleading with the military ‘Please take us seriously—we want to serve.’

Spectator Letter to the Editor

31 January 2008 Columbia Spectator "Letter to the Editor" by Aries Dela Cruz.  Note:  The vice president of the Columbia Queer Alliance criticizes the Spectator editorial that took a position on ROTC rather than following "Spec’s intended role as an objective instrument of campus media" and upholding "fundamental values of equality and justice".

Note From the Editor

31 January 2008 Columbia Spectator "Note From the Editor".  Note:  The editor clarifies that the 29 January editorial "was intended to convey the belief that Columbia should meet the needs of all its students. This includes the needs of those who desire to enlist in the ROTC program—but this also includes the needs of those who believe ROTC violates basic human rights."

ROTC, Not DADT

29 January 2008 Columbia Spectator editorial "ROTC, Not DADT".  Note:  Columbia's student newspaper called for the return of ROTC to campus, arguing that "the military has too integral a role in American culture and society to be summarily banned from campus... to deny the military access to campus outright disengages Columbia from military issues and renders the University largely irrelevant in discussions of how issues like DADT should be addressed."  See letter on 31 January and a note from the editor on 31 January.

ROTC Policy Opens Columbia to Awkward Comparisons, Criticisms

28 January 2008 Columbia Spectator column "ROTC Policy Opens Columbia to Awkward Comparisons, Criticisms" by Josh Hirschland.  Note:  Hirschland observes that "student and administrative actions have made it easier for those from outside the University to caricature it as anti-American" and "Columbia may have to adapt to changing circumstances or risk irreparable damage to its standing".

Bring ROTC back onto Columbia's campus!

22 January 2008 Young America's Foundation ad "Bring ROTC back onto Columbia's campus!" in the Columbia Spectator.  Note:  The quotes are from the Las Vegas Democratic presidential debate.

The Democratic Debate in Las Vegas

15 January 2008 Federal News Service transcript "The Democratic Debate in Las Vegas".  Note:  Moderator Tim Russert asked "There's a federal statute on the books which says that, if a college or university does not provide space for military recruiters or provide a ROTC program for its students, it can lose its federal funding.  Will you vigorously enforce that statute?" Senator Clinton said "Yes, I will...  I think that everyone should make available an opportunity for a young man or woman to be in ROTC, to be able to join the military and I'm going to do everything I can to support the men and women in the military and their families."  Russert followed-up by asking "Of the top 10 rated schools, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, they do not have ROTC programs on campus.  Should they?" and Clinton responded "Well, there are ways they can work out fulfilling that obligation. But they should certainly not do anything that either undermines or disrespects the young men and women who wish to pursue a military career."  To the same question about ROTC Senator Obama responded "Yes. One of the striking things, as you travel around the country, you go into rural communities and you see how disproportionally they are carrying the load in this war in Iraq, as well as Afghanistan. And it is not fair. Now, the volunteer Army, I think, is a way for us to maintain excellence."  Senator Edwards also responded affirmatively but switched immediately to discuss veterans' issue.  None of the candidates mentioned the "Don't ask, don't tell" law cited by these universities in banning ROTC.