The return of ROTC

At first I was surprised that Obama juxtaposed those two thoughts. Repealing DADT was one of the only non-Pyrrhic victories Obama could show his liberal base this year, and instead of reveling in that for a second, Obama chose to bring up the conservative issue of allowing military recruitment and ROTC on college campuses. However, after I gave it some thought, I decided this was the right time to bring up the issue. And although I disagree with many aspects of the military-industrial complex in that it perpetuates a constant sense of militarism in our society, I support the president on this issue, and I think his advice should be heeded at Princeton and other elite universities.

In a way, it is an issue of accountability. During the Vietnam War, Harvard banned its ROTC program in an anti-war protest and other schools followed suit, Princeton not included. In the last 10 years or so, the dominant issue with ROTC programs has been DADT. Many schools have said they would not allow ROTC back onto their campuses until the discriminatory policy was repealed. Universities that have stated they would allow ROTC programs if not for DADT should now be true to their word. But implementing that policy change may not be so straightforward for universities.

It is possible that more liberal universities have been using DADT as an excuse to exclude the military from their campuses. If they now allow their ban to continue, their true motives will be revealed. I find it irresponsible to show such reluctance to change after your scapegoat is gone. Princeton, which has hosted an ROTC program since before the Vietnam War, welcomes this change. Emily Aronson, University spokeswoman, explained “The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell means that more students who previously would not have had opportunities to participate in ROTC can now do so, but it does not in any way change the status [of ROTC].” The University seems to understand what others may not: Opposing ROTC programs on campus isn’t the appropriate way to disapprove of the military. In fact it follows the classic “blame the soldier” mentality. Far from making a rhetorical and empty call to “supporting our troops,” I am saying that the problems associated with our military will not be solved by limiting individual civilian access, especially when such limitations manifest themselves as disproportionate representation within the military. Fortunately, recent statements from some schools, including Harvard, indicate they will be true to their word now that DADT is repealed. But this issue of demographic representation still needs to be addressed.

Because the U.S. military is a volunteer service, many people join the army at least in part to earn a living, which causes — in public perception, at any rate — children of privilege to be under-represented. Inasmuch as income is tied to social class and social class is connected to elite education, increasing Princeton’s presence in the military could help break down the rigid class divide that may exist there. This breaking down of barriers is important to Princeton because it ameliorates the stereotype that its students are elitists who refuse to roll up their sleeves and get into the trenches, so to speak. In an age when fear and hatred of intellectuals is the norm, we should be committed to showing the ways in which intellectuals fit into society and how we might all benefit from their participation.

It is also important for more students from elite universities to have an opportunity to gain experience with military service. To operate effectively, the large and complex structure that is the U.S. military requires smart people at every level. This is obviously not to say that the only smart people in this country went to Ivy League schools, or that the kind of smartness that Princeton attracts is the only one that would help in a military context. However, the critical thinking skills that are developed in a rigorous education are vital for the efficacy of the military’s overall strategy. For example, it is of utmost importance that the decision makers in the military who are advising the president have a thorough understanding of international relations, and Princeton has one of the best international relations faculties in the country.

I therefore support the president’s clarion call for colleges across the country to allow ROTC programs onto their campuses and specifically for Princeton to continue to offer the students of this campus a valuable opportunity. While there are certainly many valid critiques to be made about America’s military, expanding ROTC doesn’t exacerbate those issues but rather improves our military and its place in society.

Luke Massa is a sophomore from Ridley Park, Pa. He can be reached at lmassa@princeton.edu.