WASHINGTON, DC—On the occasion of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Anne D. Neal, president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, called for trustees of universities without ROTC to re-instate ROTC immediately.
“In light of the Congress’ recent repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ ACTA calls on the boards of trustees at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Brown, and Stanford to recognize ROTC on campus—and to recognize it now,” Neal said.
The repeal of DADT removes the institutions’ stated objection to the return of this important student service. While we are heartened by positive words outlined by University officials, good words are not enough. Trustees have an urgent obligation to go on record recognizing ROTC formally and fully as a student activity and setting into motion the process required to integrate ROTC back into campus academic life.
It is not up to the faculty, nor up to students, to decide whether to recognize this student program. The formal recognition of ROTC falls squarely on the trustees who are responsible for the oversight of student life and welfare.
We will be working with concerned alumni to ensure trustees take quick and thoughtful action to recognize and restore ROTC on campus and abide by the Solomon Amendment.
In June and October of this year, ACTA wrote to four institutions—Brown, Columbia, Harvard, and Yale—which do not currently recognize ROTC, calling for them to recognize ROTC formally and outlining the process needed to integrate ROTC into academic life.
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni is an independent non-profit dedicated to empowering trustees on behalf of academic freedom, academic quality, and accountability. Since its founding in 1995, ACTA has counseled boards, educated the public and published reports about such issues as ROTC, good governance, historical literacy, core curricula, the free exchange of ideas and accreditation in higher education.
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ACTA vice president of policy Michael Poliakoff’s remarks for the American Association of University Professors. Poliakoff calls on all university constituents to embrace ROTC as a student activity.
WASHINGTON, DC—”We praise the Yale Corporation for bridging the troubling chasm between the academy and the military,” Neal said. “By underscoring that defense of our liberties is an important form of public service, the trustees have exercised their fiduciary responsible to improve student life and learning. Now the trustees must work with faculty to ensure […]
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