Just as many students, both republicans and democrats, cheered the repeal of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy,” and saw it as a positive step towards bringing proper recognition to a small group of students called to perform in the utmost service, some on campus took the repeal as a way to continue to press partisan interests while keeping ROTC students off campus.
Here at Harvard, ROTC students are not allowed to participate in program activities on campus. Because of this policy, students must go to MIT many times a week to fulfill their requirements. This process takes away much of the precious time busy students have. Because of the military’s DADT policy, which Harvard held to violate the school’s anti-discrimination policies, Harvard perviously felt justified in imposing such a position on ROTC students.
However, the path has now been paved for ROTC to be back on campus. And what was written in a recent article in the Crimson is exactly what creates this discrimination in the first place. All things aside, whether you feel that homosexuals, or transgenders should be allowed to openly serve in the military, it is time that school officials and students alike stand-up for the rights of ROTC students on campus and fight this unfair discrimination.
Where are the articles declaiming their use as political pawns of the University’s private agenda? Where are the articles asking why they are discriminated against by their own university solely for representing the same people who risk their lives for us. This is not a right or left issue; it is one about coming together to realize the sacrifices of these young men and women. It is wrong to play politics at the expense of the ROTC students on our campus, and it is time to realize that for too long they have been discriminated against. Now is the time to make these discriminations obsolete.
Photo Credit: Harvard ROTC